Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from May, 2014
Russian Internet Users, Putin is After Your Digital Wallets
The offices of Yandex.Money, the popular online payments system associated with Russia's largest search engine, were searched by Russia's Investigative Committee.
Police in Macedonia Strong-Arm Journalists Into Erasing Riot Arrest Footage
The riots, sparked by the murder of a 19-year-old, created tension between ethnic Albanian and Macedonian populations of the capital city Skopje.
Now Russia Wants to Tighten the Noose Around News-Aggregation Sites
Russian lawmakers are taking steps to classify news-aggregating websites as mass media, which would require companies like Yandex to register with the government and face stricter regulations.
Ukraine War in Real Time
Last Friday Ukrainian violence became even more viscerally evident on the Facebook account of one of the cyber-punk, post-state, viral-citizen-armies operating in the region.
Serbian Bloggers Censored for Criticizing Flood Relief Efforts
Bloggers, journalists and rights-conscious Internet users have flooded the Serbian web with republications of a blog post condemning the government for stifling free expression during the country's state of emergency.
Russia's Hashtag Activism in Ukraine
Russian activists are capitalizing on #BringBackOurGirls by framing in analogous terms Ukraine's capture of two Russian journalists, hoping for a similar groundswell of awareness and public outrage.
Russian Digital Sovereignty Is Here and, Yes, It Includes Schoolgirls
No sooner than Basov announced the search engine's moral superiority did Russian bloggers begin posting screen captures of curious search queries conducted using Sputnik.ru.
GV Face: People Powered Flood Relief in Serbia
This week we talk to friends in Serbia involved in relief efforts. What are next steps for citizens and government? And why is social media under threat?
Euromaidan Six Months Later, Remembering What Was Won
Whatever happens next, participants of Euromaidan events will forever preserve memories of these months, both the good and the bad.
Escape from Ukraine, or Return of the Tomato Terrorist
After coming in contact with separatists, Morozov was arrested and accused of being a spy: "I don't hold it against the militia who tortured me in Antracite" he later wrote.
In Eastern Ukraine Conspiracies Believe in You
Several Russian journalists made connections between Eastern Ukraine separatist leaders and Russian billionaire Konstantin Malofeev.
Persecuting Russian Bloggers Doesn't End with Censorship
Pro-Kremlin Internet activists are now targeting tech volunteers working for Russia's top blogger, who is already blocked online and under house arrest.
Tens of Thousands Stranded, Serbians Take Flood Relief Into Their Own Hands
As Serbia and Bosnia live through the worst floods the region has seen in 120 years, relief and aid efforts are mostly being led by civilians and civic movements.
Sultan Suleimanov on the RuNet's Last Chance
Suleimanov attended an invitation-only meeting at Roscomnadzor, the Russian government's chief censorship agency, which is tasked with enforcing a series of recent laws that limit the freedom of information online.
Countdown to the End of Twitter in Russia
The deputy director of Russia’s chief censorship agency, Roscomnadzor, has threatened to order a block on Twitter or Facebook entirely, in a matter of minutes.
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
