Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from July, 2013
Bosnian Lawmakers Fail to Meet ‘Babylution’ Protest Demands
Bosnia-Herzegovina's parliament has missed the July 1 deadline set by angry protesters demanding members fix a lapse in the country's law that is preventing newborns from being given an identity number and, by extension, travel papers and healthcare.
Egypt's “People's Revolution” in the Eyes of Russians
As with past protests in the region, Russians have been actively following the events in Egypt.
Slovenian Start-Ups on Kickstarter
Four Slovenian tech start-up companies have exceeded their initial funding expectations and managed to accumulate a total of some 400,000 U.S. dollars in funding on the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarted...
Crooks, Thieves and the Independent Mayors Who Run Russia
The mayor of Yaroslavl will spend the next two months behind bars on extortion charges. A former United Russia member who ran as an opposition-friendly independent, Evgeny Urlashov won the mayor’s seat roughly a year ago in a highly publicized election that seemed to mark a highpoint in the 2011-2012-winter protest movement.
The New Despicableness of Doubting Navalny
Alexey Navalny's closing statement in a trial that could land him in prison for up to six years was a stinging, poignant speech against the current government, which he called...
How Edward Snowden Divides Russians
When Edward Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow, it placed Russia at the center of what had primarily been an American story. For Russians, his prolonged stay in Sheremetyevo has turned the question of what should be done with him from academic to practical, as his fate now rests largely in Russia's hands.
Russia's #1 Social Network Attacked Abroad
On June 26, 2013 VKontakte co-founder Nikolai Durov reported that Ukrainian authorities have seized the company's Ukrainian servers.
Eastern Europeans to Boost UK IT Industry
The UK labour movement restrictions placed several years ago to prevent migrants from Romania and Bulgaria from moving permanently and seeking employment in the UK will be lifted on January...
The Day Russia's Libraries Stood Still
On July 2, 2013 three of Russia's popular online libraries blocked user access to their websites and collections as a way to protest a new law aimed at combating internet piracy: "On their side is money, power and congenital brain failure. On ours -- technology, science and the aspirations of millions of people."
Russia's Amnesty Proposal Tests Entrepreneurial Attitudes
Boris Titov, the Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights, has proposed an amnesty program for economic crimes. Under his plan, some 10,000 men and women incarcerated for economic crimes would be freed. Not everyone on the RuNet, however, thinks it's such a great idea.
Croatia Joins European Union Amid Cheers, Skepticism, Apathy
After nine years of waiting, Croatia has joined the European Union as its 28th member state. But response to the Balkan state's entry on July 1, 2013 appeared to be lukewarm.
Roberto Beličanec, Macedonian Media Expert and Vocal Activist, Dies
Macedonian media expert, activist and blogger Roberto Beličanec died of heart attack on June 29 at the age of 41. Beličanec was one of the few remaining publicly vocal proponents of liberty and human rights in Macedonia, with a large social media following as a result of his courage to openly speak against the misuse of power, against corruption, censorship, and hate speech.
Beethoven to Mark Croatia's EU Entry
ArtsJournal.com was among the few to notice and post a video of Croatian President Ivo Josipović playing Beethoven to celebrate Croatia's official entry into the European Union on July 1st.
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