Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from April, 2023
Human trafficking, forced labor and exploitation of migrants in Russia
Russian authorities trafficked people for illegal actions that they were forced to commit while being trafficked, such as prostitution, illegal presence in the country or drug trafficking. Many are deported.
Ukrainian couples weigh sperm freezing as the war wages on
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war, the demand for sperm freezing has significantly increased as couples look to the future. For Ukrainian soldiers, the process is free.
Musicians receive draconian prison sentences for setting fire to military draft office in Russia
While some other musicians from the "older generation" of Urals rock club are either supporting or keeping silent about the war, the younger musicians from the Urals are protesting
Ukrainians boost resilience and spread laughs with wartime memes
"When aspirations, opinions, values of a number of people correspond, they create a meme. Often, it is something nice, likable, cozy, childhood-reminiscent which could comfort, at least for a while."
Russia, Ukraine, and the reemergence of demonstrative political murders
Fomin was one of "patriotic" war bloggers who grew more and more critical of the Kremlin, saying its moves were not decisive or radical enough.
Montenegro on the edge: Let down by the West
The new Montenegrin president, Jakov Milatović, promises EU membership within his five-year mandate, a revived economy, and to unite the country. It sounds good, but if you look behind the hype, a worrying picture emerges.
Unpacking the controversy around Russian tourists in Indonesia
Tensions between Indonesian citizens and Russian visitors have boiled over after numerous cases of bad behavior from Russian nationals have strained relations and forced officials to take action.
‘History of love in the country of hatred': influencers detained in Russia for LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’
Apart from widespread censorship, the Russian "anti- LGBT propaganda" law leads to unprecedented pressure on LGBTQ+ people and the organizations helping them.
Russian decolonisation and Eurasia: An imperial legacy? Risks and opportunities for Tatarstan
Public attention to political and economic inequality in Russia’s regions, stirred by the debate on decolonisation, represents a welcome and much-needed development
‘I was overwhelmed.’ Ukrainians recall the first hours of the full-scale Russian invasion
In February 2023, Global Voices asked Ukrainians to share how they spent the first minutes and hours after they learned that Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
‘Until Russia's colonial mindset changes, it will pose a threat': Interview with Buryat activist
Despite claims by the Kremlin that it is fighting colonialism, any attempt to point the finger at long-lasting Russian and Soviet imperialism is severely crushed in Putin's Russia.
‘I will not write about this war,’ says acclaimed Ukrainian writer-turned soldier
I’m not sure how long it will take to make sense of all that has taken root deep inside us during the long months of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Wagner recruitment of volunteers in the Western Balkans region prompts debate
Politicians from neighboring countries have been warning of spreading of PMC Wagner group influence via Serbia, where recruitment advertisement scandal was hushed up.
The story of a Ukrainian man in charge in the Chornobyl exclusion zone under Russian occupation
He saw and knew that the Russians were entrenching themselves in the exclusion zone, exposing themselves to danger. He could have told them, but no one asked.
Undertones: ‘Ukrainians have developed their own vocabulary about the war,’ Ukrainian scholar says
Dr. Tanya Lokot provides insights into the media landscape of Ukraine, outlining its dynamics.
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Daria Dergacheva is the Eastern Europe editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
