Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from July, 2009
Russia: Mourning Natalya Estemirova
A Step At A Time translates LJ user kutuzov‘s comment “on the political background to Natalya Estemirova’s murder” and links to Prague Watchdog's photo report on “the vigil-cum-rally that was held in Moscow on July 23 to remember the murdered human rights activist.” Oleg Kozlovsky writes about and posts a...
Czech Republic: Significant Czech Woman Abroad Award
CzechFolks.com writes about the 2009 winners of the award for Significant Czech Woman Abroad.
Russia: Notes From Samara
Sergei Khazov's Notes from Samara – at OpenDemocracy.net.
Russia: Stalin
Sean's Russia Blog writes about “the protest against Stalin haters worldwide,” launched by some of Russia's communists.
Ukraine: MP's Son Killed in Car Crash
Ukrainiana comments on the death of another MP's son, caused by reckless driving: “Had he killed somebody else with his car, he would’ve most likely gotten away with it.”
Russia: Making (Some) Sense of LiveJournal
A number of studies of the Russian blogosphere have been produced in the past by various entities. Russian bloggers, too, are trying to make sense of the space they operate in. Recently, LJ user fritzmorgen has drawn a list of issues that, in his opinion, tend to cause controversy among LJ bloggers. He has also assessed his own views, and, in the process, sketched explanations of some of the Russian realities.
Hungary, Bolivia: Update on Rózsa-Flores’ Case
Hungarian Spectrum posts an update on Eduardo Rózsa-Flores’ case.
Belarus: Flooded Streets of Minsk
Heavy rain caused flooding in the streets of Minsk on Friday: LJ user toxaby (RUS) posted 45 photos and LJ user black-hg (RUS) posted two.
Russia: One Day in the Life of Doctor Liza
LJ user drugoi documents (text in Russian+photos, some of them graphic) one day in the life of Elizaveta Glinka (LJ user doctor_liza), who heads a volunteer effort to help Moscow's homeless, poor and drug addicts by providing them with food, clothing and medical aid, and who is also the founder...
Russia: Markets Shut Down
Scraps of Moscow writes about Moscow authorities’ recent decision to shut down Cherkizovsky and Izmailovsky markets: “It is a shame that Luzhkov and others favoring the reconfiguring of Moscow markets to exclude for'ners have failed to understand that such pockets of other-ness always added to Moscow's richness. And even operating...
Russia: “Leaving the Caucasus, a Taboo Subject”
Robert Amsterdam's Blog links to Kerkko Paananen's translation of an article by Igor Averkiev, “which argues that Russia would be stronger, more secure, and better off if it pulled out of the Caucasus.”
Moldova: RFE/RL's Blog on Repeat Vote
Natalia Morari is blogging in English at RFE/RL's #moldovavotes, a blog set up to cover the July 29 repeat parliamentary election in Moldova.
Hungary: The Hungarian Guard Banned
A paramilitary association called the Hungarian Guard was banned at the beginning of July after more than a year of investigation by Budapest Court. Guard members and supporters held spontaneous and officially organized rallies in Budapest to save the organization.
Albania: No Playing in Parks
Living in Shkoder, Albania learns that kids aren't allowed to play in Albanian parks.
Russia: Medvedev and Sick Babies in Gelendzhik
LJ user baxus writes a letter (RUS) to president Medvedev, in which he describes how his infant son and many other kids got sick in Gelendzhik, a Russian Black Sea resort town, and what an ordeal it was to move around the area on the day of Medvedev's visit, due...
Democracy Video Challenge Winner Showcase
What is Democracy? That is the question more than 900 participants set out to answer through their videos, in response to the Democracy Video Challenge set up by the US Department of State and many other partners, open for participants from all over the world. Today we show you the winning videos which explain in their own way the phrase Democracy is...
Russia: Social Networking
Profy writes about social networking in Russia.
Poland: #KDT Battle in Warsaw
Polish blogosphere had an interesting day today due to the conflict between shopkeepers of Kupiecki Dom Towarowy - a shopping complex in the center of Warsaw - and the police. Sylwia Presley reports on the bloggers' coverage of the confrontation.
Macedonia: On Visiting Offline Museums
Volan recommends visiting what's in his opinion is a somewhat neglected Macedonian National Gallery at the Daut Pasha Hammam in Skopje, situated in a former harem bath of a high Ottoman official, presenting reproductions of some of the most notable paintings [MKD] and other artwork from the XIV to the...
Russia: Channel “2×2″ censors Putin episode of South Park
The recent decision by Russian television channel “2×2″ to cut a scene in an episode of the US cartoon series ”South Park” has sparked anger in the Russian blogosphere. Ruth Collins reviews some of the bloggers' reactions.
Russia: Rallying the youth
Sean's Russia Blog writes about President Medvedev's efforts to rally the Russian youth to politics.
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.
