Sunday, May 19, 2013

News and Features from the Caucasus

Ilkin Rustamzade

Azeri Activist Charged With Hooliganism Over Internet Video

A court in Baku has charged a young Facebook activist with hooliganism over a controversial "Harlem Shake" video.
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Dzokhar (left) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, suspected of carrying out the Boston Marathon bombings, in a handout photo released through the FBI website days after the April 15 attack.

FBI Probes Exiled Chechen Rebel For Link To Bombing Suspect

The FBI has been investigating a former Chechen rebel fighter over his association with one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
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Video Georgian Gay-Rights Rally Disrupted

At least 17 people have been injured by violence that broke out in Georgia's capital before the start of a rally to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.
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A combo photo shows Tamerlan (left) and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Report: Boston Bombings Suspect Wrote Message On Boat

A CBS News report says Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wrote a handwritten message describing the attacks as retribution for U.S. wars in Muslim countries.
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Playing with fire? The stage for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest is unveiled during a news conference at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden on May 2.

Sweden Plays Eurovision Host, With Main Sponsor Mired In Scandal

The multinational musical glitzfest known as Eurovision holds its final in Sweden. But the main sponsor of this year's contest raises eyebrows for its ties to human rights abuses in the former Soviet Union.
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Patriarch Ilia II

Patriarch Iliya II Calls For Gay Rally Ban

The head of Georgia's influential Orthodox Church has called on authorities to ban a gay-rights rally set to be held in the capital, Tbilisi.
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Chechnen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (left) with French actor Gerard Depardieu

Depardieu To Shoot Films In Chechnya

French actor Gerard Depardieu plans to make two movies in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.
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Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili

Georgian PM: Equal Rights For LGBTs

Georgia's prime minister says sexual minorities in his country "have the same rights as any other social groups."
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Azeri Parliament Passes Libel Law

Azerbaijan's parliament has legalized tighter Internet controls in a move the country's opposition groups fear could be used to curb online dissent.
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Georgian Prosecutor-General Archil Kbilashvili

Georgian Probe Targets War With Russia

Georgian Prosecutor-General Archil Kbilashvili told journalists that eight top investigators from his office, the Interior Ministry, and the Military Police, will look into "possible criminal activities during and after the war" between Georgia and Russia in August 2008.
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