Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from November, 2017
Contrary to Social Media Claims, Serbia's President Has Not Named a Street After War Criminal Ratko Mladić
Social media users falsely blame Serbian President Vučić for renaming a street after the war criminal from the Bosnian War, using his footage from a 2007 radical party protest.
Russian TV Backs Down After Calling Armenian Hero ‘Fascist Collaborator’
"Garegin Nzhdeh is one of the greatest heroes of the Armenian nation and monuments to him should be erected not only in Yerevan, but also in different parts of Armenia."
Serbian Journalists Call on Citizens to Support a Media Freedom Campaign
Journalists and activists lead by the group ‘For Media Freedom’ took to the streets of five Serbian cities to pledge support from citizens for demands presented to the government.
Identity Theft Risk Prompts Estonia to Block the Certificates of 760,000 ID Cards
On November 4, 2017 the Estonian authorities disabled the certificates of more than 760,000 national electronic ID cards due to a security vulnerability that could have compromised cards issued between...
In Macedonia and Serbia, Right-Wing Politicians Make Their Followers Swoon—Literally
Both Serbian President Vučić of Serbia and former Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski have tried to spin incidents, in which attendees to their public appearances fainted, in their favor.
Barbie Hijab Comment Highlights Why Some Russian Activists Don’t Support Presidential Hopeful Navalny
"Congratulations, Alexey! With one tweet you’ve written off all of your potential Muslim voters. You apparently don’t want to become president."
Video Games Are the Latest Additions to Russian Infowarfare
The defense ministry's tweet purported to show drone footage of ISIS convoys moving under US protection. There was just one problem -- none of it was real.
Albanian Activists Hold Two-Day Protest Against the Building of Hydropower Plants in Valbona National Park
There are three hydropower plants under construction, and eight more are being considered by the Ministry of Energy in the pristine natural heritage areas across Albania.
Amid the Vast Universe of the ‘Valerian’ Movie, Ukraine Gets a Special Shout-Out
The opening scenes of the film include a Ukrainian cosmonaut crew lead by a woman with the country's flag on her sleeve.
Macedonian Fugitives from Justice Seek Refuge in Hungary
On 18 October, former secret policemen Goran Grujovski and Nikola Boshkovski were apprehended by Greek authorities at Thessaloniki airport while attempting to board a flight bound for Budapest.
Today's Russia Fails to Live up to the Sky-High Hopes Buried With Time Capsules in 1967
Time capsules from 1967 -- the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution -- are being opened across Russia for the centennial. The contents are somewhat discouraging.
What Happens when Montenegro Citizens Return Home After Fighting in Foreign Wars?
The documentary "The Road of No Return?" raises the issue of Montenegro and Balkan citizens who participate in foreign wars in Syria and in Ukraine and then return home.
Macedonian Court Ruling Favors Formerly Jailed Journalist, Indicates Government Conspiracy
Kezarovski spent the better part of three years as political prisoner, under conditions tantamount to torture.
In Offhand Remark, Putin Says Someone Is Harvesting Russians’ Biological Material
"...someone is collecting images of our voters and using them in some way…images are one thing, but did you know that biological material is being collected across the whole country"