Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from January, 2008
Ukraine: NATO Problems
Foreign Notes writes about the bad timing of the current NATO-related initiatives undertaken by Ukraine's leaders.
Russia: Ukok Princess
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about plans to re-bury the mummy of a Scythian princess in the capital of Russia's Altai Republic.
Lithuania: Vytautas Sriubikis; the Hill of Crosses
Viola in Vilnius writes about Lithuanian flautist Vytautas Sriubikis – and briefly mentions the Hill of Crosses, quite an extraordinary place near the town of Siauliai, which “not surprisingly is a hill covered in crosses, and a bit of a place of pilgrimage.”
Albania: Eda Zari
Albanian Blogger writes about Eda Zari, an Albanian singer who has recently given up her Albanian citizenship.
Serbia, UK: Fascism and the Left
Greater Surbiton writes on leftist interpretations of fascism – and of Serbian politics.
Serbia: Support for Vladimir Vukčević
Alan Jakšić of Balkan Anarchist declares his support for Serbia's war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević, who has recently “received a death threat from fellow Serbs in the diaspora.”
Hungary: “Is Budapest Scarier than LA?”
Pestiside.hu responds to an LA reader who is afraid of going to Budapest.
Poland, Ukraine: The Border
Our Man in Gdansk writes about Poland's eastern border, the non-Schengen, closely guarded one: “A lorry driver died in the 20-mile queue at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing at Dorohusk. Warsaw sat up and noticed: Poland has an eastern border.”
Russia: Hajj Quotas
Window on Eurasia writes about hajj quotas and how it relates to Russia's Muslims.
Russia: Decossackization
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the history of Decossackization in Russia and recommends a book on the subject, written by Gregory Tschebotarioff, a former Cossack officer, now a professor at Princeton University.
The Balkans: “Jestdej”
Sleeping with Pengovsky posts a copy of the Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’ – spelled phonetically by Croatian musicians: “… For all of you native speakers out there – if you ever wondered how English sounds to people from the Balkans – take a look at the above picture. It just doesn’t get...
Ukraine, Russia: Monopoly
MoldovAnn asks readers to vote “for Kyiv to become one of the 22 cities of the world to be included in the new Monopoly World Edition game board.” Robert Amsterdam writes about real-life Monopoly being played in Russia by the Kremlin.
Ukraine: A Porous Border
Ukrainian news site Korrespondent.net posted a translation of a Sunday Times story on Ukraine's porous borders and illegal migration. The English-language original has received 16 reader comments so far, the Russian translation - 88 comments. While many readers admitted that the problem of illegal migration existed in Ukraine and that corruption among officials contributed to it, most did not seem happy about the Sunday Times' story.
Ukraine: Crimean Tatars Protest
Orange Ukraine writes, among other things, about Crimean Tatars’ protests in Simferopol over the long-delayed construction of a mosque.
Ukraine: Anthrax Housing
Ukrainiana reports that Kyiv authorities have decided to go ahead with the plan to build a house at the site of a 19th-centruy anthrax cemetery.
Russia: Kasyanov and Zyuganov Out of the Race?
Siberian Light reports that it is likely that former PM Mikhail Kasyanov will not be able to run for president of Russia. Vilhelm Konnander reports that it is also likely that Communist leader Gennadiy Zyuganov will withdraw from the race.
Russia: St. Pete Tailors
Megan Case writes about affordable tailors in St. Petersburg.
Poland: More on Healthcare
The beatroot visits a state-run and a private clinic in Warsaw to get a sick note and a medicine – and ends up writing about disadvantages of each option.
Latvia: Old Believers
Aleks of All About Latvia writes about the Old Believers’ community in Latvia.
Czech Republic: Fake Radiation Leak Alert
The Czech Daily Word reports on a recent fake radiation leak alert in Brno.
Slovenia: EU Presidency Update
Marko Bucik writes about Slovenia's “overshadowed” EU presidency: “Then comes Kosovo. This will be perhaps the only headline news for the Slovenian Presidency – be it good or bad news.”
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
