Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from June, 2014
Between Ukraine and Russia, Kazakhstan's Chocolate Might Come Out a Winner
Kazakhstanis can be very, very patriotic about their national chocolate, Rakhat. With Ukrainian chocolate disappearing from the lucrative Russian market, some hope it is Rakhat's turn to shine.
Russian Emigration in the Internet Age

Russia’s emigration in the Internet Age: people leave—to escape, to explore, and to unwind—but nobody really disconnects.
Some Clarity on New Russian Blogger Regulations

The Russian agency in charge of regulating the Internet, Roskomnadzor, has released a new document detailing how laws governing blogs will operate when they comes into effect later this summer.
Meeting with Putin, Industry Leaders Ditch Users on Digital Rights

Vladimir Putin attended a much-anticipated meeting with Russian Internet industry leaders in Moscow today. Did they discuss Internet freedom? Barely.
Vinegret, Anyone? These 5 Videos Will Help You Become a Russian Master Chef
Most often, Russian cuisine is associated with pelmeni, pancakes, and vodka. Over the generations, however, Russians have loved and cooked a much wider array of national dishes.
From the Cyber-Trenches of Eastern Ukraine

The leaders of the the opposing militias continue to use social networks to reach out with news of their military campaigns.
Jen Psaki, the Russian Internet's Public Enemy No. 1

“Psaki” has become a stigmatizing catch-all term for everything Russians dislike about US foreign policy (especially America’s involvement in Ukraine).
It's a Risky Business, But Russians Are Fighting For Their Environment
Despite of risks ranging from physical violence to legal prosecution, Russians are engaging in environmental activism in numbers—and with a level of sophistication—never seen before.
Celebrating Russian Crimea with a Candy

A Russian chocolate company in Novosibirsk has released a new candy bar called “The Crimea” with the slogan, “Just try to grab it!” A product announcement shared with the press...
Russian City Hosts Pole Dancing Performance on International Children's Day

Last Sunday, Tolyatti celebrated its 277th birthday and International Children's Day. Ironically, it also hosted an outdoor pole dancing performance at a car show.
Europe’s Far Right Are Inspiring Russians

While the electoral success of the Far Right worries some in the European community, many Russians have welcomed the surge in Euro-skepticism as a vindication of Moscow’s anti-EU posturing.
While He Was Burying His Grandmother in Bosnia, Floods Submerged His Home in Serbia

In this moving diary of events relating to the first few days of the floods in the Balkans, Rastko Šejić vividly describes scenes of tragedy and immense human strength.
3 Ways the Russian Government Plans to Police the Web

Several state agencies in Russia are now involved in drafting bylaws that will determine how officials actually enforce a series of controversial new Internet regulations.












