Life

A makeshift shelter for migrants in Berlin. © Armine Avetisyan/IWPR

Armenian Migrants to EU Face Rejection

Thousands apply for asylum in Europe on flimsy grounds; very few are accepted.

3 Nov 22

Gedatsi is a beer bar in Zugdidi, western Georgia. The name means "to drink'' in Mingrelian. Zugdidi is the administrative centre of the Samegrelo region, where most Mingrelian speakers are concentrated. © Lana Kokaia/IWPR

Georgia Risks Losing its Language “Treasure”

The lack of official status and the fear of separatism have drastically eroded the use of Mingrelian and Svan.

21 Oct 22

Oleksandra Protsenko-Pichadzhi headed the new organization of Ukrainian Greeks in Greece. © Photo courtesy of Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine

Ukrainian Greeks Face Twin Perils

An ongoing battle to preserve culture is further endangered by the devastating impact of the war.

19 Oct 22

A war veterans protest on April 25, 2022 in front of the Yashat Fund in Azerbaijan's capital Baku when dozens of former combatants from the Karabakh war asked for more support from the state. © Mikroskop Media

Mental Health Crisis Among Azerbaijani Veterans

Since 2020, 45 former combatants from the Karabakh war have taken their life as ex-soldiers continue to struggle with trauma and socio-economic difficulties.

19 Oct 22

A residential building in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. © podrobno.uz

Russians Flock to Central Asia

Fears of price rises, unemployment and accommodation shortages as hundreds of thousands seek to avoid military service.

15 Oct 22

Ekaterine Marikashvili, a sergeant and a senior sapper of the EOD group. © Photo courtesy of E. Marikashvili

Georgia: Women in the Army

“When I put on my uniform for the first time, I felt so strong and proud.”

15 Oct 22

Volunteers at the support center for residents of temporarily occupied territories in Zaporizhzhia. The centre was set up by residents of Tokmak, a city in Zaporizhzhia region, which fell under Russian control in the first weeks of Russia’s invasion. It is one of the many grassroots initiatives that have been providing the core of the humanitarian support to Ukrainians directly affected by the war. © Zaporizhzhia Centre of Investigations/incentre.zp.ua

Grassroots Groups Lead Ukraine's Aid Efforts

Informal volunteer initiatives receive a fraction of donations but provide the bulk of humanitarian assistance.

4 Oct 22

The town of Alaverdi in northeastern Armenia, near the border with Georgia, crossed by the Debed river. A criminal case was filed in late July, following a complaint that the river, a source of irrigation for some two dozen villages, had been polluted by Nahatak tailings. © Mania Israelyan/IWPR

Armenia: Mining Leaves Toxic Legacy

Activists call on government and local industry to respond to recent research revealing major hazards.

3 Oct 22

In late September, the LGBTI community in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv defied ongoing shelling to hold a week of Pride events under the slogan, United as Never Before. © KharkivPride

Ukraine: Amid War, LGBTI People Fight for Equal Rights

The issue of same-sex marriage has been thrown into focus by the ongoing conflict.

3 Oct 22

A village in the Leylek District of the Batken region after conflicts.

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Violence Spurs Calls for Compromise

Complex geography and domestic politics mean a solution remains elusive.

21 Sep 22

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