Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from September, 2008
Central Europe: Cheap Travel
The Czech Daily Word writes about the wonderful travel opportunities that Central European citizens enjoy, now that the borders are open and cheap plane tickets are available.
Poland: Krakow, Now and Then
Photos of ten Krakow buildings, now and then (100 years ago) – at Polandian.
Hungary: Another Study On the “Extreme Right”
Hungarian Spectrum reviews a study of history and “prejudices” of the Hungarian “extreme right.”
Poland, Russia, U.S.: A “New Cold War” or Not?
The beatroot hosts a discussion of the Polish-Russian-American relationship in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Poland, U.S.: Ancient Kings and Presidential Candidates
The beatroot muses on what's considered “politics” in the United States and Poland.
The Balkans: Driving Through Bosnia
Csíkszereda Musings recounts a summer drive through the Balkans and, among other things, compares Bosnian motorways to those in Romania.
Romania, Hungary: Hockey and Football Update
Csíkszereda Musings posts “a short Transylvanian sporting update.”
Estonia, Finland, Russia: Relationship Now and Then
A Step At A Time writes in depth about the relationship between Finland, Estonia, and Russia – now and in the past.
Ukraine, Russia: Kvas
Darkness at Noon posts an ode to kvas: “To be sure, kvas is the national drink of the East Slavic peoples. Vodka doesn't count because it is consumed largely for its well-documented medicinal benefits. Or at least this is what a local guide in Odessa recently told me. And while...
Russia: “Stirka” Bar in St. Pete
Eagle and the Bear writes about a St. Petersburg bar named “Stirka” (Laundry).
Russia: Svetlana Bakhmina
Robert Amsterdam writes about the case of Svetlana Bakhmina, a jailed former lawyer for Yukos and a pregnant mother of two children.
Russia, U.S.: Kremlin for McCain?
Robert Amsterdam explains why the Kremlin may prefer John McCain as the next U.S. president and notes that “Mr. Putin and others should be careful what they wish for.”
Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership
The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...
Ukraine: MTV and Domestic Violence
Natalia Antonova links to her piece on GlobalComment about “MTV Ukraine and the normalization of domestic violence.” LJ user maryxmas has translated Antonova's text into Ukrainian; a Russian translation is posted in the feministki LJ community.
Ukraine: Battle for Crimean minds
Kyiv Scoop discusses how pupils and people in Crimea are influenced to love Russia and loath Ukraine.
Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?
Foreign Notes posts a translation of an article by Party of Regions’ (PoR) Andriy Kluyev, calling for renewed efforts in forming a solid and long-term Ukrainian government – presumably a PoR-Tymoshenko coalition.
Russia-Georgia: Reports on military and civilian death tolls
Wu Wei comments on and links to reports on Georgian military and civilian death tolls in the recent Russo-Georgian war. She also posts an interesting overview of demographic developments in Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
Baltic States: Unity project for next generation of Balts
Lituanica reports from a Baltic youth conference, where visions of bringing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania closer together stood out as the vision of a young Baltic generation.
Estonia: Top-ranking official in spy scandal
Osteuropablog comments on [GER] an article in Estonian newspaper Postimees of spy charges brought against a top-ranking official in the Ministry of Defence.
Russia: Ingushetian president accused of journalist murder
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum posts a translation of an article from Ingushetiya.ru, where the news site accuses the president of Ingushetiya for ordering the murder of its owner.
Estonia: Calls for change for unfamiliarity with continuity
Itching for Eestimaa discusses how a growing number of Estonians call for a government change for the mere reason that they are unaccustomed to having cabinets in power for more than two years at a time.