Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from November, 2019
13 November 2019
12 November 2019
Belarus 2020: A course to decolonisation?
Belarus is the most Russified post-Soviet country. In recent years, a series of creative civic initiatives to promote the Belarusian language have been launched to change that.
US withdrawal from Syria tests Russian soldiers’ social media use
New footage from Syria shows that despite new information security measures, the Russian military is willing to weaponise its soldiers' social media posts when it is timely to do so.
11 November 2019
Putin announces plan to ‘replace’ Wikipedia
The publishing house behind the Great Russian Encyclopedia has allocated two billion rubles (over $30 million) aimed at developing a “domestic equivalent” to Wikipedia by the end of 2022.
8 November 2019
Chechen leader suggests killing users who ‘insult honour’ online
For several years, human rights defenders have consistently cited Chechnya as one of Russia's most repressive regions, citing widespread torture, disappearances, and a complete intolerance of dissent.
7 November 2019
Bulgarian prosecutor refuses far-right party's request to close down human rights NGO
On September 30, two VMRO-BND officials asked the prosecutor to dissolve the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee for “interfering with the judiciary” and engaging in "openly anti-Bulgarian activities."
6 November 2019
Environmentalists raise alarm over hydropower boom in the Balkans
More than 2,700 small hydroelectric plants are either planned or under construction in the region. Critics say governments aren't properly assessing their impacts.
Behold Russia's new ‘sovereign internet’
The "sovereign internet" bill is about bringing the "critical infrastructure" of the RuNet under the state's oversight. That could mean a more effective implementation of Moscow's laws regulating expression online.
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
Maxim Edwards is the Eurasia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Filip Stojanovski is the Eastern & Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
