Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from March, 2009
Poland, Belarus: TV Polonia/Belsat TV Controversy
Andrei Khrapavitsky writes about the controversy surrounding the recent sacking of Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy, director of TV Polonia and Belsat TV.
Czech Republic: Government Loses No Confidence Vote
Dr. Sean's Diary writes about “he first time a Czech government has been unseated by a vote of confidence since 1989 and, if I'm not mistaken, ever in modern Czech history.” Eternal Remont is pleading: “Oh Czech Republic, do NOT go Ukraine on us…please.”
Hungary: Gyurcsány's Possible Successors
Hungarian Spectrum writes about PM Ferenc Gyurcsány's possible successors.
Ukraine, EU, Russia: Gas Pipelines Deal
Robert Amsterdam's Blog and Streetwise Professor write about Russia's reaction to the deal signed between Ukraine and the EU to upgrade Ukraine's gas pipelines.
Serbia: More on 10th Anniversary of NATO Bombing
More coverage of the 10th anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia: Balkan File; Bill's Blog; Gray Falcon; and Nothing Against Serbia.
Estonia: “Kevadväsimus”
Itching for Eestimaa writes about kevadväsimus – ‘spring fatigue’ in Estonian: “It is the yearning for sunlight and all of the earthly pleasures that you know must be right around the corner coupled with the grim knowledge that nature will find a way to delay your satisfaction for as long...
Serbia: 10 Years Since NATO Bombings
A Yankee-in-Belgrade writes about the NATO bombings of Serbia that started ten years ago – and posts a picture from that time.
Ukraine: Women
Alina Rudya's Kyiv Post piece on Ukrainian women has generated 133 comments so far – as well as a discussion at Natalia Antonova's blog.
Latvia: Corruption and the New Bridge
Baltic writes about Latvia's corrupt political “elite” and its role in the scandal surrounding the construction of a new bridge in Riga.
Slovakia: Presidential Election
Central Europe Activ and A Fistful of Euros write about the presidential election in Slovakia.
Hungary: PM's Resignation
Coverage of the unexpected resignation of the Hungarian PM at Hungarian Spectrum – here and here; Central Europe Activ; A Fistful of Euros; Pestiside.hu; and Eternal Remont.
Ukraine: Ternopil Regional Council Election
Regional council election in the western Ukrainian region of Ternopil took place on March 15, following much political drama and resulting in the victory of an ultra-nationalist party and poor performance of the prime minister's bloc. Below are views of several Ukrainian bloggers on the possible reasons for such an outcome.
Russia: Dealing with demographic decline
Eternal Remont reports on how Russia tries to lure back emigrants to avert the country's seemingly unavoidable demographic decline.
Czechoslovakia: Tiresome narratives of Prague '68
Dr. Sean's Diary reviews the second episode of BBC 2's series The Lost World of Communism, dealing with communist Czechoslovakia, and finds it rather basic and tiresome.
Ukraine: West turns its back on Kiev?
Kiev Ukraine News Blog re-posts a Newsweek piece, which argues that the United States and the European Union are turning their backs on Ukraine, reverting the celebratory politics of an increasingly distant Orange revolution.
Russia: Opposition waking up to realities?
The Ivanov Report departs from its principle of not commenting on Russia's democratic opposition, which he feels refuses the realities of Russian politics for futile protest. As Boris Nemtsov and other opposition leaders are now seeking public office, a change in the opposition's attitude to politics might be discerned.
Latvia: Nothing special, just crisis…
Baltic reflects on the economic crisis in Latvia, departing from the slogan “Nothing special, just crisis” – a phrase uttered by the country's former finance minister, showing what many Latvians consider an alienated political élite.
Russia: Attacks on Journalists
Sean's Russia Blog writes on two most recent attacks on journalists in Russia.
Russia: Photos of Moscow
LJ user victorprofessor (RUS) posts a series of breathtaking photos of Moscow that were taken from the roof of a not-yet-completed high-rise on Mosfilmovskaya Street.
Russia: Demographics and Abortion
Russian Policy Daily translates from an interview on Russia's demographics, quoting and citing Svetlana Rudneva, head of the “Family and Childhood” foundation.
Serbia: Dragan Markovic Palma and Anti-Discrimination Law
Balkan File writes about a Serbian politician who seems to think that “if it is enshrined in law that homosexuals can’t be discriminated against, straight men in Serbia are going to suddenly become gay and there will be a lot of unsatisfied Serbian women.”
About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage
