Life

Andrey Kolioglo came out in March 2018 and faced widespread harassment. Since March 2022 he lives in France, where he was granted asylum in the wake of the discrimination he faces in his native Moldova.

Coming Out in Gagauzia’s Conservative Society

“Living life with a constant feeling of fear; this is what you have to get used to here if you are gay.”

15 Sep 22

In this handout photo released by the telegram channel of Sevastopol mayor Mikhail Razvozhaev on July 31, 2022, Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Vladimirovich Razvozhayev, center, stands at the scene of explosion at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea.

Fear Spreads in Crimea

Drone strikes and unexplained explosions prompt Moscow-controlled administration to urge citizens to hunt for possible saboteurs.

14 Sep 22

Moldovans Face Bomb Threats and Cyberattacks

Attacks are tracked to pro-Kremlin forces as tools to put pressure on Chisinau in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

5 Sep 22

Thousands of university places remained vacant as Armenia recorded unprecedented low results in the admission exams. © Dato/Wikimedia

Armenian Universities’ Lost Applicants

Thousands of places remain vacant as students fail entry tests due to low quality education and fewer applicants.

31 Aug 22

Maxim, an eight-year-old copper-coloured Maine Coon cat.

How a Ukrainian Cat Escaped Russian Captivity

Amid multiple tales of looting and destruction, a rare happy ending.

29 Aug 22

Village leader Dina, 62 enters a bomb-damaged auditorium in a town which was partially occupied by Russian forces until recently in Kherson Oblast on May 08, 2022 in Zagradivka, Ukraine. Most of the Kherson Oblast region fell to Russia shortly after the Feb. 24 invasion, as Russia sought to create an overland corridor from Crimea to separatist-held areas in the east. © John Moore/Getty Images

Collaboration, Theft and Corruption: How Russia Tried to Co-Opt Kherson

The occupying forces are appointing local sympathisers to run services and private enterprises in the southern region. But it’s not working out as planned.

15 Aug 22

Ayten Osmanova arranges a colourful hijab in her atelier in Azerbaijan's capital Baku. The designer started her fashion business to cater for the increasing number of liberal believers who, like her, sought a modest apparel with a modern, colourful twist. © Lamyia Adilgizi

Azerbaijani Women Embrace The Headscarf

Islam is on the rise in the oil-rich, secular South Caucasus country and the hijab is a way to make a statement.

26 Jul 22

A microdistrict with more than 10 three-story buildings is being built in the village of Ivanyan, close to next to the base of Russian peacekeepers. Construction is ongoing to house thousands who have been displaced from the territories that Azerbaijan's armed forces regained control of as a result of the 2020 war. © Arshaluis Mghdesyan

Nagorny Karabakh’s Fearful Calm

Residents of the South Caucasus region feel subject to political maneuvering beyond their control.

18 Jul 22

A sign warns against the danger of mines in the Black Sea. Russian forces have laid mines in the sea, while some parts of the seashore in Odesa were mined by Ukraine's Armed Forces to prevent Russian landing. © Micheal Shtekel

Deadly Mines Infest Odesa Coast

Explosive devices that can be triggered “by a strong wave” continue to endanger both civilian lives and shipping.

18 Jul 22

High migration and low birthrate are the key causes of Armenia's depopulation. For the first time since 1998, in the first quarter of 2022, the number of deaths registered exceeded the number of births by 609 people. © Gayane Markosyan

Armenia Faces Demographic Risks

For the first time since 1998, deaths outnumber births, escalating the country’s demographic crisis.

13 Jul 22

Support local journalists

DONATE