The Caucasus

This is a non-political blog about the Caucasus region. The Caucasus is a region that is politically in Europe but geographically in Eurasia. It is one of the most diverse regions in the world, home to over 50 ethnic groups.

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Give me a smile … New serie - new photographer moments by @demipress. People around the world = #DemipressPeople 📷.

In the north of #Azerbaijan, in the mountainous region of #Quba, is one of the highest, most remote villages in the #Caucasus area and indeed Europe, Xinaliq. This is the bakery girl of #Xinaliq. This is one of those days of adventure and learning that will live deep in the memory for a long time.. The views, the drive, the quiet expanse, the remoteness, the wonderful people, the heritage, the culture… every bit of it unique and special. A must see! Stunning moments by my picture story #DemipressAserbaidschan and #MeinAserbaidschan. (hier: Xinaliq,Quba)

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Children of Grozny. First Chechen War.

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Abkhazia, Old and new Athos / fotomm

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Tbilisi, Georgia

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Chernigovka.

By  Katya Malinovskaya

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Ananuri, Georgia by Alex Rodoman

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Temple complex Barbary Macaque Mago-Yerdy

Timur Agirov

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Tsminda Sameba | Georgia (by Malgorzata Kopzcynska)

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Dombay,  Karachay-Cherkess Republic

by in-windows

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Abkhazia | Georgia (by Vladimir Sokolov)

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Winter evening by SosoMeladze

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Azerbaijani dancers

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Spetsnaz GRU 247th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Airborne Division in Dagestan, 1999

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The Problem: For women living on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, personal health and wellbeing are rarely a priority. Lack of employment combined with constant sniper fire makes it extremely challenging for women to stay in their homes, let alone take care of themselves. These women only see a doctor once they have discovered a health issue which is often already at an advanced stage. Many of these afflictions are very treatable, but only if they are caught in the beginning stages. This is why women (and men) need to take preventative measures and ensure that they are screened regularly for generic reproductive health issues. However, along the border there are no local health clinics that provide gynaecological services or mammograms. This means that in order to get any type of medical attention, women have to travel all the way to Yerevan, and for many this is simply not possible. Yet they want to stay in their villages; the places they were born and grew up and have lived their entire lives. And we want to help them. We want to make it possible for them to live happy and healthy lives with their families in their homes. The Solution: The Berd Women’s Resource Center Foundation identified this problem and asked us at the Homeland Development Initiative Foundation to help them resolve it. If women on the border can have easier access to the tools and education they need in order to stay healthy, then it will be easier for them to stay in their homes. Together, we are raising the funds needed for women in the villages of Berkaber, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Aygepar, Movses and Berd, to be able to have access to these tools and education. With the money raised we will be able to bring sonography equipment to the border and over the course of several days, women will be able to come and get screened for free. If after this preliminary screening they find any irregularities, we will bring them to Yerevan for further testing.
 Please spread the word, share the campaign, get your women's group involved, your church group involved, your friends involved... Let's together make life a bit easier for Anzhela and the other women in the villages along the border.

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ONEArmenia is partnering with Sahman NGO to provide 18 families from Baghanis, an Armenian village bordering Azerbaijan, with 4 beehives each, allowing them to create a stable income and sustain themselves through honey production. As these regions are under constant sniper and small arms fire from Azeri positions, most of their fields are unusable (or only cultivated at night). Thus, they are raising $30,000 to build a series of villager-owned and operated bee hives in Tavush. Here are some sweet facts: ONE beehive can produce up to 25 kg of honey per year, and in Armenia, EACH kilogram can be sold for up to 7 USD.... and with 7 USD, a family in need can put food on the table for 3 days. In border villages such as Baghanis, starting a beekeeping business can mean the difference between local development vs. total emigration. Baghanis is located a few kilometers away from the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There is no industry, and most of the village’s lands are inaccessible because of border issues. The economic conditions and the lack of jobs force many villagers to leave. We want to give the people of Baghanis the opportunity to earn a stable income and sustain themselves. Beekeeping is neither time-consuming, nor overly complex, but it is a lucrative trade. For the last four years, Sahman NGO has been working with similar villages in the Tavush region. Their model has proved efficient, with 30 greenhouses and 112 beehives. For us at ONE Armenia, Sahman NGO, and the local community, it is crucial that the project’s impact goes beyond the 18 families. For that reason, the future beekeepers have already agreed that they would give back to their community by donating 1kg of honey per hive over 2 years. The donated honey will then be sold to help fund the local kindergarten. Donate generously, and share with your friends!

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Քրիստինա Իլիկչյան. ծառայության ղեկավար, հրահանգիչ-պարաշյուտիստ, տնային տնտեսուհի եւ մայր

Christina Ilikchyan: head instructor, parachutist, housewife, and mother (PHOTOS)

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The Caucasus

Յովհաննէս Այվազեան Hovhannes Aivazian (Ivan Aivazovsky)