OC Insider

49 Posts

•

0 Followers

Hey, Trump! Game on.

•2 min read

Dear reader, Trump, Orbán, and Putin’s war on the media has entered a new era. When they failed to destroy us with their big lies, accusations in the mirror, or false balances, they struck where we are most vulnerable — our near-total dependency on philanthropy. My favourite part of founding OC Media was feeling connected to all the brave, uncompromising journalists in the Caucasus. I loved brainstorming stories with our Daghestani journalists, refining conflict-sensitive terminology, or trave

OC Insider

Azerbaijan’s first independent media outlet closes after 35 years

by Aytan Farhadova

•2 min read

On 13 February 2025, Turan closed its offices. It was the first independent media outlet to emerge in Azerbaijan, working consistently for 35 years. ‘Founded in 1990, in the final days of the Soviet Union, we have endured the challenges of transition, war, and reform while remaining committed to journalism that serves the public interest’, Turan’s director Mehman Aliyev wrote in a statement addressing the outlet’s closing. In his letter to the readers, Aliyev explained the reason Turan was clo

OC Insider

The shameful capitulation of the US

by Nate Ostiller

•4 min read

In a matter of weeks, the US, under President Donald Trump, has shattered its reputation as a reliable ally and partner, perhaps irreparably. While the most harmful and immediate impacts of the retreat from the global stage by the US will likely be felt in the Global South, where USAID cuts will decimate public health programmes and lead to possibly millions of preventable deaths, I would argue that Eastern Europe and the Caucasus will feel America’s retreat most strongly from a geopolitical st

OC Insider

Independent media is on the brink of collapse in Georgia

by Mariam Nikuradze

•2 min read

Months before the parliamentary elections in Georgia, a lot of people I’d meet would ask me what Georgia would be like if Georgian Dream would stay in power. I’ve met a lot of you who are receiving this newsletter, and I’d tell you that Georgia would take the path of Belarus and Russia, where there would be no civil society and media, where people would have to choose between leaving the country or going to jail. While I think it was an accurate prediction, I am still surprised how fast Georgia

OC Insider

Genocide denial: a pattern for the Armenian Government

by Arshaluys Barseghyan

•2 min read

The fact that I am writing the second newsletter in less than a year about how the Armenian Government disseminates Armenian Genocide denial narratives is a clear sign that we are dealing with a pattern and not an exception. ‘We need to understand what happened and why it happened. And how did we perceive it, through whom did we perceive it’, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinayn said recently about the Armenian Genocide, sparking outrage. What many in Armenia and the diaspora saw as questio

OC Insider

Georgian Dream’s search for friendship with Trump may be falling flat

by Nate Ostiller

•3 min read

Well, here it is — President Donald Trump, 2.0. As an American, I feel a strong sense of despair and concern about the state of my country and what will happen to minorities, the queer community, climate change, free speech, and countless other domestic issues. As a fervent supporter of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression and a past resident of Kyiv, I also worry about Trump’s plans to cut back on critical US aid for the country. Based on Trump’s campaign statements, he is likely aching

OC Insider

To many more recognitions of the Circassian Genocide

by Yousef Bardouka

•2 min read

It finally happened: Ukraine recognised the Circassian Genocide. Some of you may not know this about me, but I am a diaspora Circassian, born and raised in Jordan. I grew up in a Circassian community, and I went to a Circassian school, but had this recognition taken place, say, 20 years ago, I likely would not have batted an eye, and neither would many others, whether my age or older. There was a time where we Circassians — at least in Jordan — were not aware of what had happened to our ancest