Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from September, 2016
Ukrainian Ministry of Information Policy Thanks Facebook Bots for Their Hard Work
The Facebook bot war between Ukraine and Russia rages on. Will the Russian government find a way to crack down on spammers?
Vladimir Putin and the Fake Brides of Red Square
Last holiday weekend, Moscow wasn't the only thing being celebrated: part of the spectacle appears to have been arranged to remind Russians that their president is a virile, red-blooded man.
Macedonia’s Amazing Disappearing Interior Minister
Macedonian politicians appoint a placeholder crony to ensure that party loyalists get the Interior Ministry's top positions ahead of snap parliamentary elections.
The Week That Was at Global Voices Podcast: Disturbing the Peace
This week, we take you to Ukraine, Russia, Singapore, India and Brazil.
Charlatans and Mainstream Media Try to Profit From Earthquake Panic in Skopje
Alternative medicine TV show host "Ivan the Healer" published a post and backdated it to make it seem that he had predicted the series of earthquakes that shook the city.
How Fake Stories Reported in Russia's News Media Regularly Fool Everyone
In August, something all too typical happened in Russia's news media: a perfect example of where fake news stories originate, how they’re spread, who is responsible, and who believes them.
Commemorating Biljana Garvanlieva, a Macedonian Filmmaker Who Gave Voice to Marginalized Women
"As an engaged documentary author my motivation is to break the existing image about women in Macedonia."
Yugoslav Comic ‘Dikan’ Is Back to Remind Us We're All Descendants of Migrants in Some Way or Another
"Finally, we, the Early Slavs, have inhabited the Internet, too. We bid you a warm welcome and pleasant stay."
She Says Uterine Cells Can ‘Remember.’ Meet Russia's New Children's Rights Commissioner.
Russia's new children’s rights commissioner believes in "Telegony," a pseudo-scientific theory holding that children can inherit traits from a mother's previous sexual partners.
Russia's Pokemon-Go-Playing Atheist Outlaw Has Some Powerful Enemies
Out of respect for the blogger, the church says it won't “force Christian forgiveness” or “Christian love,” explaining that he hasn't asked for the former and rejects the latter.
A Man in Crimea Self-Immolated to Save His Wife’s Cafe From Officials, Who Razed It Anyway
Late last week, 75-year-old Yalta pensioner Alexander Strekalin poured acetone down his back, lit himself on fire, and collapsed near Primorsky Beach. Days later, he died from his wounds.
Russia's Pokemon Gulag
Ruslan Sokolovksy’s alleged crime was filming himself playing Pokemon Go inside a Russian Orthodox cathedral. If convicted of the charges, he could go to prison for up to five years.
‘Spy’ Trial Against Macedonian Journalist Is Postponed Amid Calls for His Release
"Such cases are intended to punish the disobedient journalists and intimidate and discipline the others."
A Postcard from Slovakia’s Vietnamese Community
"Even though in these neighborhoods, more Vietnamese are living, they are mostly not recognized by the municipality."