Stories
The Grey Wolf Sign: A Fair Sign of Celebration or an Unacceptable Political Message?

The Grey Wolf Sign: A Fair Sign of Celebration or an Unacceptable Political Message?

Who could think that a football match would trigger debates on the genesis and myths of the Turkic people? Merih Demiral, Team Türkiye’s midfielder has come under a spotlight after he displayed a Grey Wolf gesture to celebrate his second goal.

Stories
Abishovs family

Landmine Victims: Struggle for Safety in Post-Conflict Azerbaijan

The Abishov family is among the many Azerbaijani families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones to landmines. As more lives are claimed by landmines planted due to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, urgent international support is essential to address this ongoing problem.

Stories
Saule Suleimenova

Saule Suleimenova: Celebrated Kazakh Contemporary Artist on Life, Family, and Art

Meet the artist who is turning plastic bags into art and giving ordinary people a voice through her artworks.

Tbilisoba 2024: Warm Celebration in Tbilisi's Old Town

Tbilisoba 2024: Warm Celebration in Tbilisi's Old Town

Despite Tbilisi’s relatively modest percentages of ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani populations, these communities retain their identities while coexisting amicably in shared areas of the Georgian capital. At festivals like Tbilisoba, both groups come together to celebrate their shared country of birth.

50

Number of wooden mosques in Georgia’s Adjara district

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$150-$300

The fine for graffitiing on administrative buildings in Tbilisi, Georgia

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5000km

The annual journey Omid, the Siberian Crane takes

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16kg

The weight of the Lelo Burti ball

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3200

The number of contenders Azerbaijani film Hadis was chosen from to be shown at 2023 Annecy International Animated Film Festival

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Politics & Economy

More mass graves found as Baku calls for more cooperation from Armenia in tracing long-missing Azerbaijanis

Discoveries of more mass graves in Karabakh reinforce memories of tragedy, with nearly 4000 Azerbaijanis still missing from the war with Armenia in the 1990s. Baku demands more cooperation from Yerevan in seeking closure for affected families.

Politics & Economy

Media Policy Examined as Azerbaijan Ramps up for COP29

In November 2024, around 80,000 people, including 7,000 journalists, will arrive in Baku as part of COP29, the latest United Nations Climate Change Conference. How ready is the country for the global media spotlight?

Politics & Economy

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Seek to Reduce Trade Barriers

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan aim to double trade to $10B annually by removing barriers and promoting free trade. Focus areas: agro-food and industrial cooperation.

Saiga Steaks: Kazakhstan to Cull Thousands of Once-Endangered Antelope as Numbers Rebound
Central Asia, Stories

Saiga Steaks: Kazakhstan to Cull Thousands of Once-Endangered Antelope as Numbers Rebound

Due to the once-endangered saiga antelope population increasing tenfold, the Kazakh government plans to cull 337,000 to protect farmers from agricultural damage caused by the animal’s grazing habits.

Uzbekistan’s Tourism Villages
Central Asia, Stories

Uzbekistan’s Tourism Villages

Uzbekistan’s tourism village scheme is highlighting best practice in community-based tourism by supporting the rural tourism industry, with one village, Sentob, winning the 2023 UNWTO award for Best Tourism Village.

Yurt Central Asia
Central Asia, Opinion

Are Glamping Yurts Yet Another Cultural Appropriation in The West?

Traditional housing used among many Central Asian nations today is utilized as an eco-friendly glamping option in the Western world. This is not the first instance when the heritage of the oppressed and underrepresented ethnic groups is used for profit. Yet who is to say what makes it cultural appropriation?

Caspian Region Gets New UNESCO Listings
Caucasus, Central Asia, Culture

Caspian Region Gets New UNESCO Listings

On September 18, Unesco unveiled 27 new World Heritage features including three in the Caspian Region countries, plus the extension of another in Azerbaijan.

How Kazakhstan Is Reviving the Aral Sea that the Soviet Union Destroyed
Central Asia, Stories

How Kazakhstan Is Reviving the Aral Sea that the Soviet Union Destroyed

Kazakhstan is leading the charge in reviving the Aral Sea, which while once a vital ecosystem, now remains a stark reminder of environmental consequences.

In Kazakhstan, the Fight Against Animal Cruelty is Far from Over
Stories

In Kazakhstan, the Fight Against Animal Cruelty is Far from Over

Despite new laws regarding animal abuse, incidents continue to make headlines in Kazakhstan, but what more is being done to prevent these horrific acts of cruelty?

Opinion

ProTenge’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief Found Guilty of “Spreading False Information”

Investigative journalist, founder, and editor-in-chief of the independent media ProTenge Jamilya Maricheva was fined for her January post on Telegram expressing support for Radio Azattyq’s journalists.

Opinion

Kazakhstan: Will The New Amendments to the Law “On Mass Media” Infringe Media Freedom Even More?

RFE/RL’s lawsuit against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, a potential ban on foreign media, and discrimination against journalists—Kazakhstani media’s troublesome reality.

Opinion

The Latest Misogynist Remarks from Kazakh Politicians

As the government in Kazakhstan is reviewing a new bill with harsher sentences and penalties for domestic violence, Kazakh politicians continue to shock the public with their misogyny.

Mosque in Oskemen, Kazakhstan

The Rising Divide in Religious and Secular Societies in Kazakhstan

Amidst the news of the Kazakhstani politicians trying to regulate the rise of religious extremists, we spoke with Ayan Oryntay, a religious studies scholar from Kazakhstan, to try to understand the current state of affairs.