Stories about Politics from June, 2010
Russia, US: “Burger Diplomacy”
Vadim Nikitin wonders if the Medvedev-Obama meeting is a sign that “[…] the Russian President, for so long considered a mere window dressing to Prime Ministerial rule, might stick around longer than Putin might like?” Robert Amsterdam writes that “burger diplomacy” is “[…] an apt epithet for a relationship that...
Ukraine: Gorbachev and Chernobyl
Window on Eurasia writes about Mikhail Gorbachev's order to hold the May Day demonstration in Kyiv shorly after the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Hungary: Pál Schmitt, a Presidential Nominee
Hungarian Spectrum writes (here and here) about Pál Schmitt, the current speaker of the National Assembly and a nominee for the Hungarian presidency.
Hungary, Slovakia: “Since the Slovak Elections”
Hungarian Spectrum posts an update on the Hungarian-Slovak relations.
Guinea: Live Reporting an Historical Election
Guinea Elections contributors have been live tweeting the Guinean presidential election of June 27, 2010 [fr]. As shown on this photo, the ballot count has already started [fr].
Russia: Chechen President Launches Blog
Ramzan Kadyrov [EN], president of the Chechen Republic [EN], launched a blog ya-kadyrov [RUS] at Livejournal. In his first post Kadyrov writes that he is “a sociable and to the limit outspoken person”, and that he “hopes to develop friendship and discuss various events with his readers”. There is no option to...
Rwanda: Update on Semadwinga's murder
Update on the killing of a senior political figure in Rwanda, Denis Ntare Semadwinga: “Semadwinga was linked to a dissident faction of the CNDP that had written a letter denouncing the party's leadership back in May. The signatory of that statement, Patrice Habarurema, was arrested by Rwandan police shortly afterwards.”
Australia: Dramatic Fall of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
It was swift and secret. Kevin Rudd has been replaced as Prime Minister of Australia by his deputy Julia Gillard. She is the nation’s first female PM. Here are reactions from bloggers who rarely post about politics.
Rwanda: Worrying signs in Kigali
Worrying signs in Kigali: “Jean-Leonard Rugambage, the editor of the Umuvugizi newspaper in Kigali, was gunned down in front of his home on Thursday. A man came up to his car as he was driving into his gate and shot him in the head and chest, killing him immediately.”
Bolivia: Evo Morales and His Indigenous and Environmental Challenges
In the blog Pronto, Miguel Centellas writes that despite the logical assumption that indigenous groups would never go against Evo Morales, “the government is losing its grip on the indigenous movement.” Centellas analyses the indigenous and environmental challenges the Bolivian government is facing.
Guinea-Bissau: Are Armed Forces linked to Narcotraffic?
General António Indjai, who led the military unrest of April in Guinea Bissau, was yesterday appointed [pt] Armed Forces Chief of Staff by President Malam Bacai Sanha. The blogosphere has been talking about his aledged active role with narco trafficking [pt].
Bangladesh: Hartal Is Back
Hartal, a South Asian form of strike action is back in Bangladesh after almost three years. Bangladeshi netizens react.
Mozambique: 35 Years of Independence
On the 35th anniversary of Mozambique's independence [en], blog Moçambique Para Todos [Mozambique For All, pt] publishes several opinion articles, reflecting upon the political situation and the economical dependency of the country as well as the conclusions of a survey related with the political decisions which were made in 1975.
Rwanda: A Journalist for Umuvugizi Killed in Kigali
Jean-Léonard Rugambage, a journalist for the suspended bimonthly magazine Umuvugizi, was killed on June 24, 2010, Jeune Afrique reports [fr].
D.R. of Congo: The Murder of Human Rights Activist Floribert Chebeya
Floribert Chebeya, the leader of a human rights organization in D.R. of Congo, was found dead on June 2 under suspicious circumstances. Protests against his murder and other killings and rapes are planned by the Congolese diaspora this week.
Indonesia: Video on protest against mangrove forest conversion
EngageMedia uploads a video of a protest action demanding the Aceh Governor in Indonesia to stop the conversion of mangrove forest to palm oil plantation.
Nicaragua: Riot Police and Citizens Clash in Small Town
Rodrigo Peñalba republishes a message and video sent to him by Lázaro Díaz from Boaco, a small and peaceful town in Nicaragua currently going through violence after the mayor was deposed. In the video you can see the clash between the riot police and the protesting citizens.
Russia: Charges Against Alexanyan Dropped
Robert Amsterdam reports that “Russian prosecutors have finally dropped their case against Yukos lawyer Vasily Aleksanyan”: “But I don't really see this as a sign of clemency or change, or a sudden recognition of judicial independence. Russia just admitted that it held an innocent individual for two years for no...
Poland: “Still Divided”
Raf Uzar summarizes the results of the first round of Poland's presidential election and concludes: “What is really thought-provoking is the fact that after centuries of turmoil and upheaval, Poland is still a country divided.”
Russia: President Medvedev is “iPhone Compatible”
Julia Ioffe announces at True/Slant that “Russian president is iPhone compatible.” More on Dmitry Medvedev's visit to California by Julia Ioffe – here, here, and here, and by Jamestown Foundation Blog – here.
Russia: Cocks and Prayers
Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog writes about a “Prayer for the President” and “a kind of re-embrace of Tsarist symbolism” that seems to be taking place in Russia. Julia Ioffe writes at True/Slant about “the Cosmic Cock of War” that was painted on one of St. Petersburg's bridges “in...