Feature Stories
507 Posts
• 0 Followers
Feature Stories
A stage for rebellion: stand-up amidst Georgia’s protests
As Georgia’s political divides widen and the threat of censorship looms large, the country’s stand-up scene is providing a space for debate, but may now be in the firing line. ‘So, why aren’t you at the protest?’, asks the voice on the main stage at a bar near Tbilisi’s central Rustaveli Avenue. The awkward chuckles of the audience at the open mic night mingle with the sounds of protesters a few streets away. A protest march against the adoption of the ‘Russian’ or ‘foreign agent’ law atte
Armenia
The ‘Black Garden’ becomes ‘a black corner’ for Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians
One year has passed since the exodus of practically the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh. OC Media reconnected with refugees interviewed in the immediate aftermath to hear how they are a year on. On 19 September 2023, Azerbaijan launched its last large-scale military offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, calling it an ‘anti-terrorist operation’. Days later, the region came under the full control of Azerbaijan. Armenians living in the region had not expected such an outcome, continuing to wait
Chiatura Manganese Mines
Dying on the steps of parliament — Georgia’s Shukrutians make last bid for their homes
After over a month on hunger strike, mostly on the steps of Georgia’s parliament, residents of the village of Shukruti are facing declining health and plummeting temperatures, with little hope of saving their village from destruction. ‘I don’t think I’ll witness my child growing up. I don’t have much energy left in me, maybe a few days? I don’t know’, says Giorgi Bitsadze, 33. Bitsadze has always been the funny one, cracking endless jokes to friends, family, and anyone he happens to meet.
Armenia
When advocating for peace becomes treason — the arrest of Bahruz Samadov
Azerbaijan’s arrest of researcher and writer Bahruz Samadov has led to widespread outcry, and speculation about the implications for the prospect of peace or further war with Armenia. On the evening of 21 August, Azerbaijani social media filled with posts calling for any information on Bahruz Samadov’s whereabouts. Samadov was visiting Azerbaijan while on holiday from his studies, and had gone missing that afternoon, shortly before he was expected to meet a friend. After two days of silenc
Chiatura Manganese Mines
Three in Shukruti sew lips shut in protest against manganese mining
On Sunday, three protesters from the village of Shukruti sewed their lips shut in an attempt to attract attention to their protest against the damage manganese mining is causing to their homes. This latest action follows more than five months of continuous protest by local residents. Sunday morning was gloomy in the protest tent. People had been gathering since the early hours, knowing that some of the protesters had made the decision to take the extreme measure of sewing their lips shut. W
Beslan School Siege
‘No-one was held accountable’: Beslan, 20 years later
Twenty years after the Beslan School Siege, many of its victims continue to seek accountability from Russia’s leaders, who appear determined to ignore their calls. Until 2004, few outside of North Ossetia knew of the existence of Beslan, a town of just 35,000 people a stone’s throw from the regional capital, Vladikavkaz. That changed on 1 September 2004, when more than 30 armed men stormed a local school during a ceremony to mark the beginning of the school year. During a three-day siege, t
Most popular
Enter your email and click "Subscribe"
to start receiving newsletters.
