Caspian Post Archives - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant

Tbilisoba 2024

Oct 17, 2024 | Balcani Caucaso, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities

Earlier this month, Tbilisi celebrated Tbilisoba, the city’s annual harvest festival. Over the years it has changed significantly and seems smaller than before. I first covered the event in 2011 but the best so far remains 2014 when there was more representation of traditional Georgian folk dance and music as well as by ethnic minorities such as the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. This year, that was held relatively far away from Tbilisi’s Old Town and Rike Park with very little publicity or in some media any at all. Nonetheless, those that attended appeared to enjoy themselves sufficiently and I managed to photo stories.

One Caucasus Festival in Georgia Bridges Regional Divides

Sep 1, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities, Music

This month, against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, a unique four-day festival in Georgia celebrated its tenth anniversary. Held annually in August, the multi-disciplinary One Caucasus festival aims to rediscover a spirit of unity and cooperation that once flourished among the diverse nations of the region.

End of an Era: Russian Border Guards Depart Yerevan’s Airport

Aug 6, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Russia

Russian border guards left Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport last week, concluding their nearly 32-year presence. The first point of contact for many citizens and tourists arriving by air in Armenia, their exact duties and numbers were never formally announced. The 1992 agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia instead only refers to the Border Directorate of the Federal Security Service (FSB) ensuring the protection of the border with Turkiye and Iran.

Georgian-Azerbaijani Communities Embrace Novruz

Mar 27, 2024 | Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities

This year, Azerbaijani-Georgian communities across Georgia came together to celebrate Novruz with a variety of events and festivities.

Armenia and Azerbaijan Ponder Return of Non-Enclave Gazakh Villages

Mar 15, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Post

Last weekend, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Shahin Mustafayev, called for the immediate return of those non-enclave villages controlled by Yerevan in the Gazakh region of Azerbaijan. On Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the issue during a live press conference.

Beyond Borders: Parajanov Centennial Marked in Yerevan and Tbilisi

Jan 15, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Corruption, Georgia, Minorities

This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of legendary ethnic Armenian film director Sergei Parajanov. Very much a child of the South Caucasus, Parajanov’s work encompassed Armenian, Azerbaijan, Georgian, Moldova, and Ukrainian influences, with his legacy living on today.

Europalia 2023: Cultural Diplomacy Strengthens Ties Through Art and Music

Nov 28, 2023 | Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities, Music

Earlier this month Georgia was the theme of the Europalia biennial in Belgium. With a rich history of art, culture, dance, and music of its own, it was therefore encouraging to see that one of the performers from the country was the ethnic Azerbaijani Ashiq Nargile. This was a welcome inclusion of a representative of Georgia’s largest ethnic minority in the programme.

Armenians and Azerbaijanis Dance Under One Sky in Georgian Village

Nov 27, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh

Nestled in the hills and forests of Georgia just a kilometre from the country’s border with Armenia, the residents of Khojorni, a small village numbering just 635, held on 18 November the first of what it hopes will be an annual multicultural festival, Under One Sky. Though such events are not uncommon throughout the country, what made this one special was that the population comprises one made up of ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Brussels Meeting Cancelled as Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian PMs Share the Stage in Tbilisi

Oct 27, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, Caspian Post, European Union, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh

Despite hopes that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev would meet in Brussels towards the end of the month, the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, yesterday said that it will now not take place. Giving the reason as “time constraints,” he made the announcement while participating remotely in a conference held in Yerevan.

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