Stories about Eastern & Central Europe
Violence against women has been promoted in the Balkans through pop music for 40 years
An artist stirred controversy with her documentary film “Violence against women in domestic songs” where she examines violence against women portrayed through turbo-folk, pop, rap, and hip-hop songs.
Undertones: How Russian media lies to Russians about Ukraine
"It is sanitized military propaganda intended for domestic consumption.”
Name calling, nukes, and Interpol: The latest on Azerbaijan-Russia tensions
Three days after Delyagin's remarks on Russia's television channel, the prosecutor's office in Baku filed a criminal lawsuit against him and asked Interpol to issue a search warrant.
War, words, and worries in Central Asia
Each state responded differently to the war: ignoring it altogether, incorporating their own national interests, and adapting to the changing course of war, while trying to withstand Russian pressure.
European Court of Human Rights vindicates Macedonian journalists convicted of defamation
In 2014 and 2015, Focus journalists had to pay more than EUR 9,000 as damages to the former director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (ASC) Sašo Mijalkov for defamation and insult.
Satellite mapping project tracks damage to Ukrainian communities
Satellite Images Map of Ukraine incorporates satellite images, drone footage, and 3D visualization to track, organize, and verify damage done to Ukraine.
‘The world’s perception of Ukraine has changed’ says singer from cult band Okean Elzy
Singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk from the Ukrainian cult band Okean Elzy spoke to Global Voices about Russian celebrities, his urge to perform during the crisis and why writing music is impossible.
WAR IS WAR: Vkontakte users discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Given the likelihood that Russian social media API will be closed for further research, Global Voices investigated the opinions of VKontakte users on the Russian war with Ukraine.
Tensions mount in Karabakh as parties exchange blame
The Azerbaijani army's seizure of a strategic village of Farrukh has led to accusations of a ceasefire violation leveled against Azerbaijan by both official Yerevan and Moscow.
The climate consequences for Nepal of the war in Ukraine
The Ukraine crisis is likely to sideline the climate goals of Nepal for the next few years; however, this may be an opportunity to phase out fossil fuels.
Syria's dire economy and years of fighting send young ‘mercenaries’ to fight in Ukraine
Syrian mercenaries, having fought in Libya and the Nagorno-Karabakh region, are now making their way to Ukraine, driven by extreme poverty, and political rapprochement between the two regimes.
There will be a world without Putin, but can we live in a world without Russia?
Cracking on Putin and his entourage seems the right thing to do now. But how can we keep a dialogue with his successor to avoid future wars?
What does Russia’s history of urban warfare in Aleppo and Grozny mean for Ukraine?
By weaponize refugees and using illegal munitions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will continue to exacerbate one of the worst humanitarian crises in Europe since World War II.
Montenegrin teenagers release an antiwar song for the children of Ukraine
The song and the video clip were published by the media company Vijesti which uses them for promotion of humanitarian actions to help Ukraine.
Japan's complicated response to the invasion of Ukraine
The Russian invasion has also reinforced Japan as a country unwelcoming to refugees, and has shattered the nation's rejection of nuclear weapons.
Climate justice for women’s rights
“Women are often the first to see the negative effects of climate change because they work with the soil and are dependent on it, especially outside cities.”
Keeping fakes under control: how legislation on disinformation turns into a censorship tool
In some countries, the legislative initiatives that operate with the terms fake news and disinformation become the instruments of surveillance, the silencing of voices, and the fight against dissent.
Music in times of war: Song as a form of Ukrainian resistance
In Russia's invasion of Ukraine, culture and identity are at the center of the conflict. In this context, Ukrainian band "Okean Elzy" has stepped up to inspire the Ukrainian resistance.
Russian opposition leader Navalny calls for continued resistance after receiving 9-year sentence
On March 22, Navalny was sentenced to 9 years in a strict regime colony, where he will be kept isolated with communication with other prisoners and with the outside world.
An underground comic book displays the zeitgeist of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia
The comic book "Streetdog and Rat" ("Džukela i Pacof" in Macedonian) was published in October 2021. The author Matej Bogdanovski has given Global Voices permission to publish a segment translated into English.
Croatian citizens and businesses express support for Ukraine in various ways
Protest participants displayed Ukrainian and Croatian flags, shouted slogans and sung Ukrainian songs. The protest also featured banners with photographs comparing Donbas with the siege and bombardment of the Croatian city of Vukovar in 1991.
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Roman Shemakov is the Eastern Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
