Azerbaijanis in Georgia celebrate Novruz with a surreal twist
In Georgia, the Azerbaijani community celebrates Novruz like in Azerbaijan, but in the village of Sartichala-Mughanlo, the celebration takes a unique turn: costumes, fires and a fundraiser for the community
Media Freedom in the Western Balkans: Challenges in the Framework of EU Enlargement
As political interference and threats to journalists grow, the EU's new legislative measures, including the anti-SLAPP directive and the European Media Freedom Act, aim to safeguard press freedom in member and candidate countries. A recent webinar highlighted the struggle for media independence in Albania and Serbia amid their EU accession efforts
Balkan migrants in Turkey: Naturalization, identifications, and associations
In the new episode of the podcast The Southeast passage, Elif Becan discusses the integration of Muslim migrants from the Balkans into the Turkish Republic during the interwar period
Easter in Tbilisi: a night of light, faith, and tradition
As midnight arrived in Tbilisi, Easter awoke in a glow of candles and prayer. This year, for a change, Georgian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Easter occurred on the same day, April 20, just as it did elsewhere in the world. Text and Photographs by Onnik James Krikorian
Austro-Hungarian spas in Romania
Băile Herculane is among the oldest and most popular spas in Romania. It reached the peak of its splendour in the second half of the 19th century, when the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Novruz celebrations in Georgia
Last week, the ethnic Azerbaijani community of Georgia celebrated the annual Novruz festival, the coming of Spring. Photos and texts by Onnik James Krikorian
Tbilisi’s Holiday Protests: Georgians March and Dance for New Elections
In Tbilisi, street protests launched at the end of November calling for new elections continue. A large part of the population refuses to accept the outcome of a controversial vote to elect a new parliament on October 26. Photos and texts by Onnik James Krikorian
Georgia, protests continue
Anti-government protests continue unabated in the Georgian capital. They were sparked, after October's controversial elections, by statements by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, according to whom the government intended to suspend EU accession negotiations. Although the numbers of the demonstrations are controversial, participation is transversal: from left to right, from intellectuals to workers. Photos and texts by Onnik James Krikorian
Georgia, back to the streets
After the controversial elections held in October, thousands have taken to the streets against the government turning away from the European Union and moving closer to Russia. But the demonstrations continue: on 29 November, especially in Tbilisi, new ones broke out. Photo and text by Onnik James Krikorian
Nor Sunnies nor Shiites, heterodox Muslims of nomadic origins and mystical traditions: Turkish Alevis are estimated at around 10-15 millions against a total population of 70 millions. Enthusiastic supporters of Atatürk laicism, they were always seen with suspicion by the central authorities and the majority of the population. "The Lion and the Gazelle", a documentary film by OBC
The unique experience of a group of architects and sculptors in 1960s and 1970s Yugoslavia, introducing new ways to remember World War II and the victory upon Nazism and Fascism. The curse of history at the beginning of the 90s, with the nationalist forces using those same memories to manipulate the different national communities and lead the country into war. A journey into European memory of the 20th century, the century that started and ended in Sarajevo
Michael is on the tracks of the Indo-European language, Gianni is an Arbëresh and teaches Albanian at the University of Calabria, Monica was the first researcher in Italy to obtain a PhD in Albanology. A group of linguists travelling into the majestic beauty of Albanian mountains in a quest for lost words and languages. “Lips, eyes, ears” traces a portrait of an unusual job, introducing a special perspective on today's Albania, its culture, and its landscape
It was called Crvena Zastava, Red Flag, and it was the biggest car producer in the Balkans. Following the fall of Yugoslavia, it entered a devastating crisis, reaching its peak during the Nato bombings of 1999. While the factory lost its workers, the city of Kragujevac became one of the main destination for Kosovo refugees. A story on the violent transition from socialism to the market economy. Zastava Planet has been produced thanks to funding from the Autonomous Province of Trento
Artan Puto, born in 1969, is a university professor; however, people in the streets still recognize him as the star ofTomka and his friends, one of the most popular children’s movies of Albanian cinema. An unusual point of view on today’s Albania and on the changes which took place in this country. A documentary film by Micol Cossali and Davide Sighele, now available in streaming
Ten years after the massacre of July 1995, this is the story of the town that has become a symbol of ethnic cleansing and racist violence in Europe. The documentary brings the viewer from Tuzla - where women fight for the investigation of their loved ones' disappearance, through Potočari - former headquarter of international peace forces, and all the way to Srebrenica. Going back and forth between present times, history, and memory, parallel narratives unfold, surrounded by a sense of alienation, in the heart of a town where the conflict does not yet seem to have found an end. “After Srebrenica” was filmed thanks to the support of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
