Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from May, 2007
Estonia: The Emperor's Menu
Nami-Nami examines the menu of the Emperor of Japan during his recent visit to Estonia: “The only ‘outsider’ is the snow crab, which was caught in Kamtchatka.”
Latvia: Doctor to Become President
All About Latvia reports on the election of the new president: “And this is the first time in my recent memory, the Parliament voted in a person opposed by so many organizations.”
Macedonia, Greece: Name Dispute
The Macedonian Tendency posts a note on the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
Russia: Off-the-Beaten-Path Research
Darkness at Noon blogs on his scientific research from “a run-down bus station in a little village about 2 hours outside of Lipetsk, which is itself about 10 hours from Moscow by train”: “Never did I think I would long for Moscow so intensely, but after a week in and...
Russia: Export of Bio Specimens Banned
Russia bans export of biological specimens, Siberian Light reports.
Russia: Pirates Strike Back
Russian pirates strike back: “By buying licensed Windows you sponsor the war in Iraq.” See the poster at Russian Marketing Blog.
Ukraine: Kyiv Mayor and Orphans
Scenes from the Sidewalk reports on Kyiv City Administration's attempts to deal with the problem of orphaned children in Kyiv.
Ukraine: Tsushko's Illness
Foreign Notes writes on the speculation around the sudden illness of Ukraine's minister of internal affairs: “Any number of unexplained deaths and assassination attempts on highly placed politicians and businessmen over the last decade and a half [including that of a former Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Kravchenko who committed...
Ukraine: Crisis, Again
Abdymok.net reports: “the so-called agreement reached under the rug at the presidential administration in the wee hours of may 27 lasted . . . about 72 hours.”
Russia, Austria: Raiffeisen, Murder and Money Laundering
Robert Amsterdam writes about the alleged ties of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) of Austria to murder and money laundering in Russia.
Latvia: Gay Parade and Other “Problems”
“Gay parade is the least of our problems,” writes All About Latvia: abortions, the lowest life expectancy in the EU, and human trafficking are no less – if not more – significant.
FSU: Interview With Edward Lucas
Peteris Cedrins of Marginalia interviews Edward Lucas, the Central and East European correspondent of The Economist – and a blogger.
Russia: KPRF/Just Russia Merger?
Siberian Light reports on the proposed merger of the Russian Communist Party with Sergei Mironov's Just Russia: “[…] I’m sure there are many within the Kremlin who would like to see the influence of the Communist Party diluted still further – although they are broadly supportive of Putin at the...
Slovenia: Vinko Bogataj
The Glory of Carniola writes about the Slovenian skier Vinko Bogataj (who happens to be much more than just his magnificent 1970 crash).
Bulgaria: Academy of Sciences Tour
Sofia's Hidden Beauty tours the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Poland: “A Teletubby in the Closet”
The beatroot writes on the Polish Children’s Ombudsman (Ombudswoman) Ewa Sowinska and her discovery of a “Teletubby in the closet.”
Albania: Paramotor Photos
A sampling of Alket Islami's pictures of Albania from the air – over at Our Man in Tirana.
Albania: Ban on Smoking
Our Man in Tirana reports on whether the ban on smoking in all public places really works.
Ukraine: Internal Troops
“When Ukrainians send Troops to suppress protestors they never – thank God – seem to arrive. In Russia (and the remainder of the CIS) they always arrive and, as in Uzbekistan in 2005, they shoot to kill,” writes Taras Kuzio and shares ideas on how to transform Ukraine's “internal troops”...
Russia: Attacks on Gays and a British Diplomat
“This weekend marked yet another not particularly glorious episode in Russo-British relations, as one diplomat and two (well known) British gay rights activists were attacked in separate incidents,” writes Siberian Light.
Belarus: Blogger br23/Uładzimer Katkoŭski Passes Away
Belarusian blogger Uładzimer Katkoŭski/br23 passed away in Prague on May 25 at the age of 30. As one of his online friends wrote, "To a large degree thanks to his effort Belarusian-language Internet is now what it is."
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