Minorities 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.

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.

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.

Tbilisi’s Armenian Community Celebrates Christmas

Jan 8, 2024 | Armenia, Georgia, Minorities, Religion

Almost two weeks after Christmas was celebrated elsewhere in the world, and a day before Georgia celebrated Orthodox Christmas, Tbilisi’s ethnic Armenian community celebrated its own on 6 January this year. According to the census in 2014, some 53,000 ethnic Armenians reside in the Georgian capital while some 168,000 ethnic Armenians make up Georgia’s second largest ethnic minority, not including those residing in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.

New Narratives Necessary for an Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace

Dec 18, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Commonspace, Georgia, Minorities, Nagorno Karabakh

Commonspace, a publication by LINKS Europe, has published my latest on the need for positive and alternative narratives in the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict. This has been a problem for decades and while any grim reality needs to be reported on that should not be at the expense of genuine real-world positive examples that can at least represent a glimmer of hope for two societies that remain isolated from each other.

Ethnic Incompatibility or Coexistence? Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Georgia

Dec 8, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Minorities, Nagorno Karabakh

Despite the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict that has waged for three decades, and despite the ethno-nationalist narrative of alleged ‘ethnic incompatibility,’ the two groups do actually co-inhabit and co-exist in many villages, towns, and cities in Georgia. Ever since first hearing about the ethnic Armenian-Azerbaijani co-inhabited villages from Michael Andersen, a Danish journalist, in 2008 I’ve made a point of visiting them ever since to at least offer one positive example of co-existence between the groups albeit in a third country.

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.

Gardabani’s Ashiqs: Guardians of an Ancient Musical Tradition

Sep 1, 2023 | Azerbaijan, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities, Music

Nestled within the lush green landscapes of Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region, the municipality of Gardabani is home to many from the country’s largest ethnic minority: Azerbaijanis. Here, despite concerns of dwindling numbers, the age-old Turkic tradition of wandering minstrels has continued. Known as ashiqs, these troubadours are skilled in the art of performing poetry over music, usually performed on the saz, a stringed instrument resembling a long-necked lute.

CATEGORY RESULTS