Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from February, 2009
Georgia: Eurovision Pop Protest
Writing for the new Frontline Club blog, Matthew Collin says that Georgia might use this this year's Eurovision international song contest to be held in Moscow to poke fun at its foe in last year's short lived August war with an entry entitled “Put-In Disco.”
Japan: Hetalia Axis Powers and the limits of parody
Hetalia, a satirical manga set mainly during the Second World War and featuring national protagonists of that era, has attracted attention among both domestic and international audiences for its caricature of world nations. In this post, read reactions in translation from bloggers in both Japan, where the manga originated, and in Italy, the country most strongly ridiculed.
Russia: Yandex, Anonymity, “Oligarchs”
A few updates from IZO: “Yandex (acronym apparently of Yet ANother inDEXer), which is way ahead of Google in Russian search, is opening an office in Silicon Valley”; Ministry of Internal Affairs demands “an end to anonymity on the internet”; Russian organized crime in Israel; and what awaits “most of...
Ukraine: The Plight of Irina Gavrisheva
Jeff Mowatt draws attention to the plight of wheelchair-bound Irina Gavrisheva, who “writes and publishes website appeals and articles about helping sick children of Zaporozhye, on behalf of the Happy Child fund” – and needs money for a surgery herself.
Russia: Blood feuds increasing problem in Ingushetia
WindowsonEurasia writes about the increasing problem of blood feuds in Ingushetia.
Russia: George Soros on effects of economic crisis
A Step At A Time comments on an article by international financier and philantropist George Soros on the economic crisis and world affairs.
Belarus: The case of external liberalisation
LJ user Plaschinsky begins [RUS] a series on the externally driven liberalisation and transitional democratisation of Belarus.
Estonia: National author as gay icon
Itching for Eestimaa reflects over the Estonian 19th century author Kristjan Jaak Peterson and his potential as a gay icon.
Ukraine: History of Anarchism
Der Spiegelfechter writes about [GER] anarchism in Ukraine during the Russian 1917-21 civil war.
The Balkans: “Balkan Males” Blog
Belgraded has discovered a blog “that's completely dedicated to good looking Balkan guys.”
Russia: More on Racial Violence
Moscow Through Brown Eyes posts more notes on racial violence in Russia.
Poland: Social Networking and Migration
the POLSKI blog writes about the popularity of Nasza Klasa, a social networking site: “And like Facebook it’s put people who haven’t seen one another for years in touch again, revealing the extent of Polish migration over the past 40 years.”
Hungary: The Roma and the Killing of Marian Cozma
Marian Cozma, a Romanian handball player, was killed in a nightclub fight in Veszprém, Hungary, on Feb. 8. Here's some of what's been written by bloggers about the circumstances of Cozma's death.
Ukraine: National Security Meeting
Ukrainiana writes about the National Security and Defense Council meeting and translates some of the transcripts – here and here.
The Balkans: War Movies
Gray Falcon critiques some of the Balkan war movies.
Ukraine: ‘Faina’ Sailors Charged $200 for Phone Calls
Petro's Jotter writes that “the sailors released from the Ukrainian owned vessel ‘Faina’, that was captured by Somali pirates last September, have been charged 200 USD for phonecalls made while in captivity”: “I suppose it will help offset the 3.2M USD ransom.”
Ukraine: Profile of a Chernobyl Employee
Michael Forster Rothbart writes about one of control room shift supervisor at Chernobyl Power Plant, whom he photographed for “a series of panoramic portraits of Chernobyl employees en milieu“: “The photos are equally about the people and the places they inhabit. Daily lives in this unique environment.”
Serbia: Belgrade Prices
Belgraded and Balkan File discuss whether Belgrade is a cheap city or not.
Russia: “A ‘Fifth Wave’ of Emigration”
Window on Eurasia writes about “a ‘fifth wave’ of emigration” currently affecting Russia, as “tens of thousands” of Russia's managers and entrepreneurs are now seeking employment abroad.”
Poland, Pakistan: Piotr Stanczak's Death
The beatroot writes about the death of Piotr Stanczak, the Polish engineer who was kidnapped four months ago in Pakistan and beheaded last week.
Russia: The Washington Post Coverage
The Ivanov Report reviews and critiques the coverage that Russia received from the Washington Post in January.
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