Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from January, 2007
Russia: Amber
Copydude writes about the sorry state of the Baltic ecology and about the amber mines of Kaliningrad.
Russia: Conversation With Litvinenko's Widow, Part 10
Part 10 of the conversation with Aleksandr Litvinenko's widow is translated and posted at A Step At A Time.
Poland: Politics
“This is not a deeply unpopular government at all. It’s supporters appear to quite like it,” writes Warsaw Station in a lengthy post (followed by a lengthy discussion).
Poland: Sex Scandal and Cronyism
Traveling Life writes about Poland's ongoing sex scandal and about yet another case of cronyism: “I know that each political appointee has an army of advisers to make sure he doesn't screw up too much. But at some point we have to ask when the sheer incompetence of political appointees...
Poland: LOT Airline
“LOT's passenger numbers have risen by less than 2 percent last year at the time when millions of Poles are traveling to work in Irland and Britain.” Polish Matters writes about plans to revive the ailing airline.
Poland: Clothing for the Pope vs G-Strings
A small Polish town is divided: is it a sin to make sexy underwear for a company that used to make ceremonial clothing for Pope John Paul II? The beatroot has more on it.
Poland: PM With a Broken Arm
The beatroot writes: “[The Polish president's twin brother] breaks arm after falling on ice. Does that make him a lame duck Prime Minister?” A commenter responds: “He's a right wing duck, so breaking he left wing is part of his project, surly?” And another one: “Populism and regionalism, only requires...
Poland: Anti-Missile System
The beatroot argues that “the critics of the decision of placing a US anti-missile system in Poland are being as paranoid as the US government.”
Poland: The Soviets’ Nuclear Arsenal
The beatroot writes about the “now unclassified documents which show that Poland was nothing more than a buffer to the West for the Soviets and one that they could afford to make into a nuclear desert!”
Russia: On Economy
The Russian Dilettante comments on Masha Lipman's recent column.
Russia: Litvinenko a Target
La Russophobe posts parts of a report from the Polish newspaper Dziennik on the use of Aleksandr Litvinenko's image for target practice by the FSB, and links to a video and photos.
Russia: Conversation With Litvinenko's Widow, Part 9
Translation of part 9 of the interview with Marina Litvinenko is posted at A Step At A Time.
Czech Rebublic: New Arms Race?
NvB: Bored in Brno writes that the “proposed radar stations around the Czech Republic may be a forerunner of the new silent arms race.”
Czech Rebublic: Dechovka Music
NvB: Bored in Brno writes about dechovka music and posts a YouTube video of Eva and Vasek, “the most successful musical group in the [Czech] Republic from the standpoint of record sales”: “Happy listening! And remember, every Czech is not just a musician but also a dancer.”
Czech Rebublic: Straznice Folk Festival
NvB: Bored in Brno writes about the history of the folk festival in Straznice that will be held June 21-24, 2007.
Albania: Petrella Castle
Stepping Stones posts pictures from a trip to Petrella Castle, about 15 km southeast of the capital Tirana.
Albania, Serbia: Views on “Greater Albania”
Our Man in Tirana writes about the views of the international community as well as the Albanian populations of Kosovo and Albania on the idea of a “Greater Albania.”
Czech Rebublic: Return of the Drawings
Four Bees reports on the return of the drawings that were looted by the Nazis in 1939 to the family of a Brno lawyer.
Czech Republic: New Government
The Economist's Edward Lucas writes about the Czech Republic's new government.
Serbia: Mladic and the EU
Neretva River points out some legal issues that might make the transfer of Ratko Mladic to the ICTY impossible.
Ukraine, Romania: Serpent Island Dispute
Ukraine List writes about a Ukrainian-Romanian dispute over Serpent Island: “The island itself is just a small chunk of limestone (.17 km sq.) with a layer of topsoil. […] The geo-political history of the island is a bit complex […].”
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Daria Dergacheva is the Eastern Europe editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
