· January, 2006

Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from January, 2006

Kazakhstan: Shortage

Ben Paarmann says that Kazakhstan's economy may benefit from hydrocarbon resources, but that it is at risk due to a dangerous shortage of skilled and professional workers.

26 January 2006

Poland: Highly Paid Poles

Bialynia says that highly paid Poles are invading the British Isles. Since Poland joined the EU, many Polish footballers have found it much easier to play in the Premiership and...

26 January 2006

Uzbekistan: Crops to Oregon

Registan.net reports that an Oregon nursery is working with farmers in Uzbekistan to introduce Uzbek crops to Oregon's farmers. Among the crops he thinks would succeed in the Pacific Northwest...

26 January 2006

Kyrgyzstan: Probing NGOs

Registan.net reports that Kyrgyzstan is pressuring its large NGO community and asks whether or not the new government is trying to protect itself from what it might perceive as a...

25 January 2006

Mongolia: Chingis Crazy

Mongolian Matters wonders how long it is until almost everything in Mongolia is named for Chingis Khan after hearing that the capital's airport is being renamed for the 13th century...

25 January 2006

Poland: New Jerseys

p3 reports on the new jerseys for the Polish national soccer/football team. These new jerseys incorporate more than just the colors of the national flag to give players a bit...

25 January 2006

Uzbekistan: Fighting For Morals

In the midst of Uzbekistan's very cold winter this year, fur-lined underwear have become popular. This has alarmed the government, and they have banned the underwear for fear the soft...

25 January 2006

Slovenia: Rooting for Science

The Glory of Carniola weighs in on the side of James Randi and the scientific method on the news that Slovenia may accept homeopathic medicine as as legally registered treatments.

25 January 2006

Afghanistan: Crimes!

Afghan Lord reports that crime is on the rise in Afghanistan as people who have returned from war have joined gangs of highway robbers.

24 January 2006

Afghan Whispers

There is a new Afghan blog which promotes peace and non violence in the world. In Afghan Peacemakers we read : The concept of non-violence as a method of change...

23 January 2006

Azerbaijan: Black January

Carpetblogger (who is sadly relocating from Baku to Kiev) reports on Azerbaijan's day of mourning on January 20 to commemorate those who died when the Soviet used force to crush...

23 January 2006

Russia: Forging Uzbek Ties

Tim Newman says that Russia's new deal for Uzbek gas is yet another piece of evidence that charges that US policy towards Uzbekistan was driven by a desire for gas...

23 January 2006

Poland: Acceptable Discrimination

the beatroot, in commenting on a travel guide for the fictional country of Molvania, takes issue with the failure of political correctness to extend to central and east Europeans.

23 January 2006

Kazakhstan: Dutch Disease

Ben of neweurasia reports that Kazakhstan is seeking to avoid the problems associated with an economy based on resource extraction by investing in industry with a high value added component.

20 January 2006

Tajikistan: Traffic

neweurasia reports that Tajiks are suffering from the increased drug traffic across the country from Afghanistan.

20 January 2006

Poland: Plumber Sacked

the beatroot reports that the brains behind the wildly successful “Polish Plumber” ad campaign has been fired by the new government.

20 January 2006

About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage

Filip Stojanovski
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.


It takes only $2500 to support one region for a month