Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from March, 2009
Latvia: Data Inspectorate vs Penguin Movement
Free Speech Emergency in Latvia reports that “the Latvian Data State Inspectorate has summoned the administrator of the website of the so-called Penguin Movement to explain what it claims were violations of laws and regulations with regard to handling and protecting personal data.”
Macedonia: Upcoming Elections
Central Europe Activ writes about the upcoming elections in Macedonia.
Russia: Obama Ice Cream Ads
Sean's Russia Blog writes about Russian ads featuring Barack Obama.
Albania: Anti-Smoking Law Not Working
Albanian Blogger writes that Albania's “antismoking law has gone up in smoke.”
Russia: Lake Baikal Blog
Siberian Light links to a blog about Lake Baikal – Baikalogy.
Ukraine: “NEVER Step Out Without a Passport”
Turkish Invasion writes about a recent encounter with Kyiv police.
Slovenia: Economic Situation
Sleeping With Pengovsky posts an update on the state of Slovenia's economy.
Russia: Caucasus Situation; Spring Draft
Window on Eurasia writes about the situation in the North Caucasus – here and here – and about the spring draft into the Russian armed forces.
Romania: TV Ad Breaks
Csíkszereda musings writes about ad breaks on Romanian TV: “In Romania, you can not only go to the toilet, you could run a bath, lie in it for half an hour until the water gets too cold, get out, shave, trim your nose hairs, get dressed, go to the kitchen,...
Latvia: Health Care Budget Cuts
Latvian Abroad cites an example of how “the budget cuts are taking their toll” in Latvia: “Sometimes, it's a very heavy toll.”
Hungary: Foreign Media Coverage
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the coverage of Hungary in the U.S. and Canadian media.
Czech Republic: After the No-Confidence Vote
Updates on the situation in the Czech Republic following the no-confidence vote – at The Czech Daily Word and A Fistful of Euros.
Global Recession Survey: Survival Tips and Business Opportunities
Everybody is trying hard to cope with the global economic crisis. Bloggers are offering survival tips to their readers. Businesses around the world are adjusting. Some are even profiting from the crisis. In this post, I will feature individuals and companies exerting their very best to overcome the recession.
Serbia: “Ten Years of Nothing”
Paul Currion of The Unforgiving Minute posts his thoughts on the 10th anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia.
Serbia: More on NATO Bombing
Belgraded links to blog coverage of the 10th anniversary of NATO bombing, including his own 2006 post: “In the beginning, the first few days, it was scary because nobody knew what to do in this situation. This was the kind of things you only see on movies. The sirens go...
Russia: Sochi's Mayoral Race
Updates on the Sochi election – FP's Passport: “The world's most entertaining mayor's race.” RFE/RL's The Power Vertical: “The opposition sees opportunity. The Kremlin sees danger. And the pundits have something new to talk about.” Sean's Russia Blog: “The election circus in Sochi has some new developments. The alleged polonium...
Russia: Financial Leasing Company's Default
CrisisCrunch writes about “the default by Financial Leasing Company (FLC), the first default of a Russian state-owned company since the 1998 financial crisis.”
Serbia: IMF Loan
A Fistful of Euros reports that Serbia has received a 3 billion Euro IMF loan.
Serbia: Remembering NATO Bombing 10 Years Later
On March 24, 1999, NATO forces began attack on Serbia and Montenegro. The bombing went for 78 days. A few thousand people were killed, many buildings, bridges, railroads, roads and factories were destroyed. Also, many people still experience mental and psychic effects of the fear they had been through. Ten years later, Serbian bloggers are reminded of those terrible days. Below is a selection of some of their journal notes and recollections from the beginning of the war.
Belarus: Death Penalty and the EU
Vilhelm Konnander writes about death penalty in Belarus and how it should affect the EU leaders’ approach to the country.
Belarus, U.S.: “Nationality Censorship in the U.S.”
Evgeny Morozov writes on Newsweek.com about a case of censorship by a U.S. web-hosting company involving a Washington, D.C.-based Belarusian, Yaraslau Kryvoi – LJ user yarik, whose own English-language account of what happened is here: “When I called for clarifications, a Bluehost representative told me that I “abused” their terms...
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