Memorial for a dead Russian soldier, 2000, near the town of Andi in Dagestan along the Chechen border. Photo by Thomas Dworzak/Magnum.
(via architectureofdoom)
![roadsandkingdoms:
Nine Things to Love about Chechens
[Photo by Yuri Kozyrev | NOOR]
Several days after the Tsarnaev brothers’ chaotic murder-spree ended on the deck of a boat in Watertown, the long assault on the idea of being Chechen is just getting started.
Here’s what we know so far. The brothers were Chechens by blood, but not by birth or biography. The older one, Tamerlan, appears to have spent no more than two days in Chechnya in his entire life. His brother had never been. From reports of the younger brother’s hospital confessions, it appears that the two didn’t have connections to overseas extremists; they may have just been murderers with wifi and access to angry imams on YouTube. Until we know for sure, though, the media is employing some impressive rhetorical jujitsu to tie them to the Chechen wars. As USA Today described them yesterday, they are “two brothers born near war-torn Chechnya”. Actually, it’s a 2000 mile drive from Kyrgystan to Chechnya, so you could just as soon describe them as being born near the white-sand beaches of Goa.
But we are talking about Chechens and we will be for the foreseeable future. Before we all get carried away in a flood of reports about the warlike nature of Chechens or the jihad baked into their blood, it’s worth pointing out that Chechens are people too. Their culture goes far beyond bloodfeuds or radicalization. I drew on my own time among them, and on the experiences of everyone from diaspora Chechens to foreign correspondents, for a list of Nine Things to Love About Chechens. Yes, there are more than nine, smartass, but this is a start.
Our List of Nine, from Fedoras to Filial Piety, on Roads & Kingdoms](http://25.media.tumblr.com/49ffbe300ff006f76adab503fbb598d5/tumblr_mlrnr8WhC51r72qvgo1_500.jpg)
Nine Things to Love about Chechens
[Photo by Yuri Kozyrev | NOOR]
Several days after the Tsarnaev brothers’ chaotic murder-spree ended on the deck of a boat in Watertown, the long assault on the idea of being Chechen is just getting started.
Here’s what we know so far. The brothers were Chechens by blood, but not by birth or biography. The older one, Tamerlan, appears to have spent no more than two days in Chechnya in his entire life. His brother had never been. From reports of the younger brother’s hospital confessions, it appears that the two didn’t have connections to overseas extremists; they may have just been murderers with wifi and access to angry imams on YouTube. Until we know for sure, though, the media is employing some impressive rhetorical jujitsu to tie them to the Chechen wars. As USA Today described them yesterday, they are “two brothers born near war-torn Chechnya”. Actually, it’s a 2000 mile drive from Kyrgystan to Chechnya, so you could just as soon describe them as being born near the white-sand beaches of Goa.
But we are talking about Chechens and we will be for the foreseeable future. Before we all get carried away in a flood of reports about the warlike nature of Chechens or the jihad baked into their blood, it’s worth pointing out that Chechens are people too. Their culture goes far beyond bloodfeuds or radicalization. I drew on my own time among them, and on the experiences of everyone from diaspora Chechens to foreign correspondents, for a list of Nine Things to Love About Chechens. Yes, there are more than nine, smartass, but this is a start.
Our List of Nine, from Fedoras to Filial Piety, on Roads & Kingdoms
(via thetuqay)
“Muslims face prejudice, but Muslims from the Caucasus face a particular kind of prejudice - the kind born of ignorance so great it perversely imbues everything with significance.”
—
The Wrong Kind of Caucasian by Sarah Kendzior on Al Jazeera.
if you’re going to read something on the Boston bombing suspects and the way the media has been treating them, I recommend this.
(via umnica)
![fotojournalismus:
Tsakhur wedding. The bride is covered and weeping all through the ceremony. A mirror is carried to protect her from the evil eye. Mishlesh, 1997.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbw7ykr5QK1r44q44o1_500.jpg)
Tsakhur wedding. The bride is covered and weeping all through the ceremony. A mirror is carried to protect her from the evil eye. Mishlesh, 1997.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]
![fotojournalismus:
Republic of Dagestan, October 2000.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbwelkwncI1r44q44o1_500.jpg)
Republic of Dagestan, October 2000.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]
![fotojournalismus:
Chechen rebels take Grozny back from the Russian Army, 1996.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbwh96pmB11r44q44o1_500.jpg)
Chechen rebels take Grozny back from the Russian Army, 1996.
[Credit : Thomas Dworzak]
Daghestani woman kills wolf with bare hands
DAGHESTANI WOMAN KILLS WOLF WITH BARE HANDS, GOES ON VIDEO EXPLAINING HOW
Karena Avedissian, Armenian cemetery in Grozny, Chechnya
Slideshow: Chechnya’s Forgotten Armenians, ianyanmag
Davide Monteleone: Chardon Rouge / Red Thistle
On view now through November 3, at Galerie La Petite Poule Noire, in Paris:
An exceptional journey through North Caucasus: “When North Caucasus emerges from the shadows of History, it’s always in a tragic light”, says Davide Monteleone, who’s been roaming the region for years. But the photographer is searching for what’s left unaccounted by the media when the region is under the spotlight. In the North Caucasus countries (Chechnya, South Ossetia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Dagestan), stubbornly subjected to destruction for three centuries, and now still coping with the consequences of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Davide Monteleone chases what lies beneath everyday life, the persistence of enduring traditions, the attachment to a past, a history. His journey is like holding your breath in an universe that seems immutable.For more information about the exhibition, visit lapetitepoulenoire.fr, and to see more of Monteleone’s work, visit davidemonteleone.com.
(via fotojournalismus)
![fotojournalismus:
A Chechen girl with the balloons in Grozny. Chechnya, 2002.
[Credit : Yuri Kozyrev]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7zn5aYGxA1r44q44o1_500.jpg)
A Chechen girl with the balloons in Grozny. Chechnya, 2002.
[Credit : Yuri Kozyrev]
London2012 was over and out last night (with a bang). Here’s a look at how the Caucasus did:
Armenia: 3 medals - 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in weightlifting and wrestling.
Azerbaijan: 10 medals - 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 6 Bronze in boxing, weightlifting and wrestling.
Georgia: 7 medals - 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze in judo and wrestling.
North Caucasus: Among Russia’s 82 medals, I counted 2 Armenian names (in judo and boxing), as well as in 8 North Caucasus ones in wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and judo.
Never ever, under no circumstances pick up a street fight in the Caucasus.
PS. This interactive map by the Huffington Post lets you look at the medal count by population and wealth, which, as expected, puts the Caucasus ahead of the likes of Germany and Great Britain thanks to a little statistical play.
Photo credits:
1: Roman Vlasov of Russia stands on the podium with his Gold Medal, Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia (L) the Silver and Emin Ahmadov (R) of Azerbaijan and Aleksandr Kazakevic of Lithuania the Bronzes after their Men’s Greco-Roman 74 kg Wrestling Gold Medal bout against Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia on Day 9 at ExCeL.
2: Sofiane Milous of France (white) competes with Hovhannes Davtyan of Armenia during the men’s 60kg Judo on Day 1 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on 28 July 2012.
3: Cenk Ildem of Turkey (red) competes with Artur Aleksanyan of Armenia in the Men’s Greco-Roman 96 kg Wrestling on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL
4: Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan celebrates victory against Jaime Yusept Espinal of the United States in the men’s Freestyle 84 kg Wrestling on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL
5: Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan in action against Tim Schleicher of Germany in the Men’s Freestyle Wrestling 60kg 1/8 final match on Day 15.
6: Aliya Garayeva of Azerbaijan competes during the Individual All-Around Rhythmic Gymnastics final on Day 15 at Wembley Arena.
7: Sergiy Bezugliy (R) and Maksim Prokopenko of Azerbaijan compete during the Men’s Canoe Double (C2) 1000m Sprint on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Eton Dorney
8: Vladimer Gegeshidze of Georgia competes with Saman Tahmasebi of Azerbaijan during their men’s Greco-Roman 84 kg Wrestling 1/8 final bout on Day 10 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL
9: Zaur Kuramagomedov of Russia (R) competes with Revaz Lashkhi of Georgia during their Men’s Greco-Roman 60 kg Wrestling quarterfinal bout on Day 10 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
10: Gold medalist Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia poses after winning the men’s -66 kg Judo on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL.
“Central Perk” cafe in Grozny, Chechnya. Plays Friends on a loop… with English subtitles for some reason.
Kabardino-Balkaria, outside Nalchik, on the road from El Brus. Desolate, small road side town with folks doing their best. A middle of nowhere Last Stop.
