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The fight continues while religious radicals gain power. (Photo courtesy of US Army/Spc. Jordan Carter)

Afghanistan: A Critical Battle in the Country’s Culture War Looms
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
On the battlefields of southern and eastern Afghanistan, Islamic insurgents are struggling to persevere in the face of the formidable firepower of NATO and American forces. In the country’s culture war, however, religious radicals are poised to achieve a spectacular victory, according to two self-styled free speech advocates.

Official to US: Azerbaijan "Proceeding on Its Own Path"
BY MINA MURADOVA
Six months ahead of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections, American criticism of President Ilham Aliyev administration’s political practices suggest that the normally strong relations between Washington and Baku have hit a speed bump. Some local analysts contend that the sharp exchanges are not that unusual during a campaign season, and have little significance for long-term relations.

Iran: From Germany, Rap Group Challenges Male-Dominated Society
BY ANTOINE BLUA
Not allowed to sing in Iran about the harsh treatment of women in society, the Iranian rap group Tapesh 2012 (Pulse 2012) is doing just that -- from its base in Germany. The group’s latest song, "Ma Mard Nistim" ("We Are Not Men"), focuses on the Iranian feminist movement and its struggle to overcome violence against women.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Georgia: US and EU support for Tbilisi Grows amid Escalating Tension with Russia
BY NINA AKHMETELI
With Georgian-Russian tension over the break-away territory of Abkhazia continuing to rise, the United States and European Union are stepping up diplomatic intervention efforts.

EURASIANET AUDIO FEATURE

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Natanz, a secretive enrichment facility in the Iranian dessert, opened a window on Iran's nuclear program. This EurasiaNet slideshow documents that visit, as well as the progress made by Iran toward harnessing nuclear energy.


Tajikistan: A Ruling Family Feud Appears to Turn Bloody
As if Tajikistan didn’t have enough problems, now it appears that President Imomali Rahmon’s family is beset by intrigue. In a twist worthy of a television soap opera, Rahmon’s son, Rustam, reportedly shot Hassan Sadullayev -- his uncle, and the president’s brother-in-law -- in connection with a struggle for control of one of the country’s leading banks.

Caspian Basin: No Way to Halt Sturgeon Poaching
Momentum is building among Caspian Basin governments for a moratorium on sturgeon fishing, in order to protect the lucrative caviar trade. Informal discussions with fishermen, however, suggest that an official ban would be unlikely to halt the dangerous depletion of sturgeon stocks.

Armenia: Administration, Opposition Take Tentative Steps toward Opening Dialogue
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
They may still hate each other, but political necessity is pressuring two arch foes in Armenian politics, President Serzh Sarkisian and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, to start talking to each other. Even so, significant obstacles stand in the way of the start of a substantive political dialogue.

Tajikistan: Government Shakes Down Population Amid Deepening Economic Dysfunction
Channeling the spirit of Joseph Stalin, officials in Tajikistan, Central Asia’s poorest state, have asked residents in the capital Dushanbe to give up part of their salaries "voluntarily" to help finance construction of a hydropower plant. The fear of government reprisals is compelling many Tajiks to comply.

 
 
REGIONAL DATEBOOK

May 7: Inauguration of Russia's President-elect Dmitriy Medvedev following his victory in 2 March election (Russian sources)

May 8: Russia's State Duma expected to confirm outgoing President Vladimir Putin as prime minister (Russian news agency Interfax)

May 12-13: Russian State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov visits Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani website Day.az)

May 13-15: South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo visits Kazakhstan for talks and signing of agreements on cooperation in energy and construction industries (Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency)

May 18-20: South Korean Prime Minister Seung-soo Han visits Azerbaijan; economic cooperation agreements expected to be signed (Azerbaijani news agency APA)

   
 
TODAY'S WIRES

Poppy harvest creates easy work, good money

Kyrgyz president orders help for children infected with HIV due to apparent negligence

Turkish jets bomb northern Iraq, targetting Kurdish rebels for 3rd straight night

Kazakhstan seeks identity on the big screen

DAILY NEWS
SPECIAL FEATURES AND PROJECTS

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Armenia: Vote 2008

Nine candidates say they can deliver. But are they focused on the future or the power feuds of the past.

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Georgia: Vote 2008

It's been called a vote to decide if Georgia has a future. But what shape will that future take?

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Armenia: Vote 2007

Did the 2007 parliamentary vote in Armenia prove democratic?

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Kyrgyzstan: Revolution Revisited

Did Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution deliver as expected? Meet Kyrgyz citizens who describe how, and if, their lives have changed.

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Azerbaijan: Elections 2005

Did democracy prevail? Explore the conflicts and controversies driving this critical race.

EurasiaNet Special Feature
Georgia: Revolution in the Regions

The 2003 Rose Revolution was supposed to change Georgia forever. But did it? (Flash Player 7 Required.)

Turkmenistan Project
The Turkmenistan Project promotes civil society in Turkmenistan through grantmaking and programmatic activities in areas ranging from arts and culture, access to information, and public health.

 

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