· February, 2012

Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from February, 2012

Russia: Great Lent Has Begun

RuNet Echo  29 February 2012

Citizen media outlets have captured the multidimensional essence of the Russian Orthodox Lenten season, which began on Monday, including issues such the religiosity of post-USSR Russia, the liturgical calendar, the peculiarities of the Orthodox traditions and fasting rituals compared to those observed in the West, and the public statements made by prominent church officials.

Slovakia: Chuck Norris Bridge

  29 February 2012

In the situation when the U.S. action film star Chuck Norris leads in the public vote for the name of the bridge across the Morava River into Austria [en], blogger Ondrej Horváth recommends [sk] asking Mr. Norris before making the final decision, because otherwise it is possible that the bridge...

Latvia: Flagging for Free Speech

  27 February 2012

Juris Kaža of Free Speech Emergency in Latvia reports that Latvian security police has closed an investigation into an Internet call to desecrate the Latvian flag, which is illegal in the country. The case was closed as there was no evidence of any victim of flag burning.

Russia: The “Big White Circle” Protest in Moscow

RuNet Echo  27 February 2012

On Sunday, Feb. 26, thousands of people gathered in central Moscow for the Big White Circle protest, forming a human chain along most of the length of the Russian capital's 15.6-kilometer/9.7-mile Garden Ring, protesting against corruption and demanding a fair presidential election, which is to take place in one week, on March 4.

Russia: Bloggers’ Photo Reports and Reflections on Pro-Putin Rally in Moscow

RuNet Echo  25 February 2012

On Thursday, February 23, ten days before the March 4 presidential election, the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin addressed thousands of people at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. A number of Moscow-based bloggers attended the event, too. Below is a selection of their photo reports and observations, along with some of the remarks from their audiences.

Russia: Pro-Putin Rally in Vladivostok Causes Controversy

RuNet Echo  23 February 2012

Pro-Putin rallies, also known as Putings, took place in many Russian cities last weekend. One such Puting caused a scandal in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, which is renowned for its strong support of the opposition and for anti-Kremlin moods in general. Masha Egupova reports.

Russia: Navalny vs Kadyrov

RuNet Echo  22 February 2012

At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Valery Dzutsev reports that Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya, has called politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny “a real chatterbox” – and Navalny retaliated by publishing (here and, later, here; ru) “the results of his investigation of the Chechen police’s car inventory acquisitions, naming and...

Russia: Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Quintessential ‘New Russian’

RuNet Echo  20 February 2012

Billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev serves as an example of the quintessential 'New Russian' through his controversial activities during the Yeltsin era, his modern business practices, and his extravagant international spending - he has just purchased the most expensive New York City apartment to date.

Poland: Gossip Portal Accuses Mainstream Media of ACTA Ignorance

  15 February 2012

A Polish gossip portal's take on the massive anti-ACTA protests has highlighted issues that are truly relevant for today's young people. Katarzyna Odrozek reports on the avalanche of reactions from netizens and the mainstream media that this unlikely source of serious reporting has created.

Slovakia, Hungary: Shrouded in Smog

  14 February 2012

Blogger Ulrika Lejnarová, highlighting air pollution data from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute [sk], wonders [sk] why Slovakia, while often paying attention to the critical conditions in Hungary [en], is doing little to inform its own citizens of the domestic situation adequately, in order to avoid health complications.

Hungary: Another Environmental Catastrophe in the Making

  14 February 2012

In October 2010, a toxic spill from a red sludge reservoir in Kolontár caused the greatest environmental disaster in Hungary's recent history. Atlatszo.hu and Greenpeace are now drawing attention to another hazardous waste reservoir, in the town of Almásfüzitő, which is "leaking like a sponge" and is already causing grave environmental and health damage.

Bulgaria: Thousands Take Part in Anti-ACTA Protests

  12 February 2012

Hundreds of anti-ACTA protests took place all over Europe for Saturday, February 11. Bulgaria was no exception: thousands of protesters braved cold in Sofia and 14 other Bulgarian cities and towns. Even though much remains to be done, these rallies have shown a breach in the Bulgarians' apathy wall.

Macedonia: Coping With Ice and Snow in Skopje

  10 February 2012

GV Author Filip Stojanovski posts pictures of Skopje's snowy and icy streets and reports on his blog: “[…] the pavements and the side streets in the municipality of Centar remain icy. Some are covered by layers of ice or re-frozen slush, by old frozen snow, or an unevenly hardened mash...

Russia: “Anti-Gay Propaganda Bill” Passes Second Reading

RuNet Echo  10 February 2012

St. Petersburg is getting closer to signing into law the notorious "anti-gay propaganda bill." "Will talking about Tchaikovsky be banned?" tweets British writer and actor Stephen Fry. Some of the Russian netizens' reactions are translated below.

About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage

Filip Stojanovski
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Daria Dergacheva
Daria Dergacheva is the Eastern Europe editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.