Stories about Eastern & Central Europe
How the North Caucasus became one of Russia’s arms for imperial policy in Ukraine
The region may may seem loyal to the central authorities, but it took Kremlin about a hundred years of repression and killing tens of thousands of locals to achieve this.
Women in Moldova are better educated but earn less and marry earlier
Some National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova's data about women living in Moldova today
Anger and grief as Russians in Armenia and Georgia mourn Navalny’s death
At the time of writing this story, at least 387 people have been detained at events across 39 Russian cities since Navalny's death, according to the Russian human rights group OVD-Info.
We can do more to help Ukraine
Two years and thousands of sanctions later, Moscow’s war capacity remains intact — Russia keeps bombing Ukraine as much, if not more,than in February 24, 2022 when the full scale invasion began.
‘My message in case I am killed: Do not give up': Alexey Navalny predicted his own demise
"Navalny’s death was a murder — a planned murder, a murder methodically carried out, a murder of which the Russian state is guilty."
Armenia and Azerbaijan: The most recent flare up puts peace prospects on the backburner
Whether these recent developments further derail prospects for peace depends on steps taken in the coming months. For now, peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is hanging by a thread.
Vaccine hesitancy brings whooping cough epidemic to North Macedonia
Medical experts demand the declaration of a whooping cough epidemic in North Macedonia, as from January 1 to February 14, the Institute for Public Health had registered new 28 cases, mostly unvaccinated babies.
Hundreds of thousands supported anti-war candidate in Russia but he was banned from elections
Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova happened to be the main figures of the Russian elections in March 2024, although neither of them are going to be on the ballot
The battle of Bashkir people: Why the largest protests in wartime Russia happened in Bashkortostan
"Russia is stepping on ethnic rakes. The Bashkirs have their own land. At the heart of everything that happened is a word that is now distorted — patriotism."
In Moldova, asylum was denied to five representatives of the LGBTQ+ community from Russia
In all five responses published this week, Moldovan imigration agency claims that 'some individuals have certain obligations to protect their country, and their avoidance of military service in Russia does not pose a risk of persecution.'
Serbian media blame Armenian ‘betrayal’ of Russia for the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh
Serbian pro-government and pro-Russia media systematically promoted a narrative that the Western-oriented Armenian authorities gave up Nagorno-Karabakh by turning their foreign and security policy against Russia.
Fleeing home as a queer Ukrainian
After her own escape from Kherson just before Russian occupation, the LGBTQ+ activist coordinated with international volunteers and raised funds to help others evacuate from the city.
Russian series on Perestroika-era youth gangs breaks popularity records, defying attempts to ban it
Russian streaming services premiered the series "Slovo Patsana. Krov’ na asphalte" (The Boy’s Word: Blood on the Asphalt). Within just a month, it was breaking popularity records in Russia.
Belarusians returning home from immigration receive criminal charges
Human rights defenders say that despite the "agreements," criminal cases were initiated against people who believed the authorities and returned to Belarus.
Moldova chose finalists of the national selection for the Eurovision 2024
Among them, there are nine women and only two men, two songs called "Fever," and 10 out of 11 compositions are in English.
Documentary about the protest of soldiers’ wives, sisters and mothers created in Russia
Women demanding 'demobilisation' say: "Our topic, it's kind of forbidden. Do you understand? I'm scared to say what I think. I'm scared that I might never see my husband again."
The descendants of Buryat migrants in Mongolia have no feelings towards Russia
The Buryats left the Soviet Union for Mongolia in three waves in the beginning of the 20th century.
Slovenian rock stars Joker Out: From high school band to post-Eurovision success
Slovenian Eurovision sensation Joker Out discuss their creative process, touring and their upcoming album, which is going to feature songs in multiple languages.
Ukraine prepares to serve veterans with disabilities
By the time the war ends, Ukraine will get around a million and a half veterans. This is a huge number, which is beyond anything comparable across the neighboring countries
A horse for a car — a tale of modern diplomacy between Turkey and Hungary
Both Turkey and Hungary's leaders share more than their love for horsepower. They have both been fierce opponents to Sweden's NATO bid and share some authoritarian tendencies.
The Sniper Alley Project: Testimony to the resilience of Sarajevo siege survivors
Džemil Hodžić established the Sniper Alley Project in 2019, with the aim of collecting photographs, particularly those of children who lived through the siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996).