Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from September, 2014
New Document Leak Reveals Scope of Collaboration Between Moscow and Donetsk
These documents offer fascinating insights into the relationship between the Russian Far Right and the separatists now active in eastern Ukraine.
Anton Nossik on the Coming End of Facebook, Twitter, and Google in Russia
Media expert and founding member of the Russian blogosphere Anton Nossik explains why he thinks the end is nigh in Russia for websites used by billions around the globe.
Who Needs Roads? Russia Entertains Lunar Ambitions
Russia is revitalizing its Moon exploration efforts, with plans to launch a full-scale lunar colonization and development program by 2030. Sounds awesome, right? The RuNet begs to differ.
Here's Why Mail.Ru's Complete Control Over VKontakte Is Bad News
Russia’s Internet group Mail.ru has acquired the remaining stake in VKontakte, and is now the sole owner of the biggest social network in the country.
How Not to Understand the Kremlin's Internet ‘Kill Switch’
The justifications for preparing a “self-sufficient RuNet” are weak. The tools necessary for such a feat, moreover, would empower the Kremlin to restrict Russia's vital communications in an instant.
Ukrainian Band Blows Up YouTube with Wild Apple-Inspired Music Video
A little-known Ukrainian indie rock collective has captured the hearts of YouTube users—and Apple fans—with a cleverly shot music video that now has over half a million views.
In Crimea, No Room for Blogger Liza Bogutskaya And Her Pro-Ukrainian Views
Liza Bogutskaya's outspokenness against what she sees as Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea has made her a favorite of pro-Ukrainians online and an enemy of the Russian state administering Crimea.
How Russia’s Anti-Profanity Law Is Affecting Independent Filmmakers
Russian filmmakers are still grappling with how the anti-profanity law will affect their work and Russian culture at large.
Macedonian Media Stonewalls Popular Hip-Hop Artist's Pro-Freedom Song
Popular Macedonian hip-hop artist has seen his career come to a near stop after releasing a song and music video that discusses freedom of speech issues in Macedonia.
Ice Bucket Challenge, Meet Ukraine's ‘Blood Bucket’ Challenge
A group of European youths are raising awareness of the conflict in Ukraine with a gory twist on the infamous Ice Bucket Challenge. The buckets are filled with metaphorical blood.
After US Ambassador to Ukraine's Twitter Gaffe, RT Says ‘World Won't Be Duped Again’
America’s social media outreach on the Ukraine crisis has always been flawed, if only because Uncle Sam is up against an adversary that frequently camouflages online propaganda as “grassroots” activism.
The Internet Helps Double Russia's Number of Extremism Cases
The number of criminal cases opened on extremism charges in Russia doubled during 2014, and the Internet is responsible for the growth, as more political activity and activism happen online.
Ukrainian Daredevil “Mustang Wanted” Now Officially Wanted in Russia
Mustang Wanted has had quite a week, infuriating the Russian authorities, inspiring Ukrainians, and earning some unexpected money for his cause against Moscow's intervention in Eastern Ukraine.
Queer Tango Instructor Murdered in St. Petersburg, Throat Slashed
St. Petersburg’s LGBT community is certain Katya Khomenko’s career as a gay tango instructor played a role in her murder.
North Caucasians’ Sad, Paradoxical Fight in Eastern Ukraine
In the North Caucasus, the long-deteriorating security situation and repressive local regimes have long burdened the population. Sadly, the region's structural violence is now spreading beyond, into Ukraine, too.
Russia Cracks Down on Internet Free Speech, Except When It's ISIS
The Internet army of the "Islamic State," having lost some of its battles in the West, is now allegedly recruiting and fundraising on the Russian social network VKontakte.
Russian Nationalists Grasp at Straws with ‘Scottish Solidarity’ Campaign
Russians' connections between the Scottish and Eastern Ukrainian independence movements are, for the most part, thoroughly imagined, but the fantasy has produced several funny pictures.
Russian Email Giants Yandex and Mail.Ru Bleed Passwords, Deny Hacking
Russia's largest email services, Yandex and Mail.Ru, were both hit with password leaks, resulting in millions of passwords published online, but denied their servers had been hacked.
Social Media Users Pick at Hospital Food in Hungary
A blog, ‘Kórházi koszt‘, was launched over the summer of 2014 in Hungary, exposing the poor quality and small rations of food in Hungarian hospitals. The blog rose from the outrage among Hungarians who stayed at hospitals and received not only small portions of food, but often cheap and “disgusting”...
News of the Latest McDonald's Closure in Russia “Devastates” Obama
When current events inspire Russia's satirists, the RuNet produces some amazingly funny short stories. Russia's ongoing assault on the McDonald's food chain is having such an effect.
The Ukrainian Officer Tweeting from the Frontlines of the War in Donbas
Sergei Misyura, whose twitter account has over 15,000 followers, spent four months with the 72nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, fighting in the 'Anti-Terrorist Operation' (ATO) in Luhansk region.
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