· July, 2012

Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from July, 2012

Russia: Pussy Riot Members Remain in Jail

RuNet Echo  10 July 2012

Amnesty International started a sms action campaign calling for the release of three jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot. The women — Nadezhda, Maria and Ekaterina — were detained after performing an anti-Putin song in a church in Moscow back in February. An announcement on their blog [ru]...

Russia: A Great Firewall to Censor the RuNet?

RuNet Echo  10 July 2012

The Russian language section of Wikipedia suspended service today in protest against a draft law now under review by the Russian parliament that many believe threatens the RuNet with censorship. Kevin Rothrock reports on the political context and details of the legislation.

USA: Macedonian Blogger Climbs Denali in Alaska

  10 July 2012

Mountaineer and artist Ilina Arsova blogged [en, mk] about her climbing the Alaskan Denali (aka Mount McKinley), the highest peak in North America. She previously covered her expeditions to Kilimanjaro in Kenya & Tanzania, and to Ama Dablam in Nepal.

Macedonia: Quoting Havel

  10 July 2012

The link to the famous open letter – “Dear Dr. Husák” [en, cz] (1975) – written by the then-dissident Václav Havel to the Czech Communist Party leader, has been shared by many Macedonian Facebook users, accompanied by excerpts such as this one: ‎”The number of people who sincerely believe everything...

Russia: Caucasus Stereotypes in Film

Global Chaos comments on a recent video report by Radio Free Europe examining changing stereotypes of the Caucasus in Russian cinema. The blog asks whether the caricatures often adopted for public diplomacy purposes are counterproductive or not.

Russia: Netizens Respond Online and Offline to Devastating Krymsk Floods

RuNet Echo  9 July 2012

On July 6-7, more than 170 people died in the devastating floods in the south of Russia. Bloggers have been arguing about possible causes of the tragedy in the hardest-hit town of Krymsk; many are already there as volunteers and journalists, and much of the current online discussion focuses on the relief effort, too.

Russia: Parkhomenko Chronicles Krymsk Statements

RuNet Echo  8 July 2012

In a widely shared Facebook post [ru], journalist Sergei Parkhomenko lists a series of contradictory official statements by the Russian authorities about the flooding in Krymsk, arguing that the state is flip-flopping and deceiving the public.

Russia: Krymsk Footage & the Reservoir's Owners

RuNet Echo  8 July 2012

Krasnodar environmental activist Suren Gazarian blogs videos from the wreckage in Krymsk, dismissing the theory [ru] that the flooding was caused by water released from the Neberdzhaevsky Reservoir. Marina Litvinovich, meanwhile, provides background [ru] on the reservoir's corporate ownership, including recent criminal charges against members of its board of directors.

Russia: Krymsk Floodgate Conspiracies

RuNet Echo  8 July 2012

In the aftermath of flooding in Krymsk that has claimed over 140 lives, bloggers debate whether officials are to blame for water that may have been released from a nearby reservoir. Evgeny Shultz tries to debunk [ru] this theory, whereas local Yulia Andropova claims [ru] that her father was present when the...

Moldova vs. Moldova: Who is the Winner?

  6 July 2012

On June 28, 1940, Moldova was overrun by the Soviet troops, after it had been given up by Romania. The Soviet Union quickly added it to its territory. Was it liberation or occupation? Diana Lungu reviews the opinions of Moldovan netizens.

Ukraine: Now That Euro 2012 is Over

  3 July 2012

Although the image of Ukraine has not improved with the help of Euro 2012, the "friendly" grassroots initiatives have certainly contributed to improving the experiences of foreign visitors and left positive memories of Ukraine for many. Tetyana Bohdanova reports.

Ukraine: “Football is Over”

  2 July 2012

On Facebook, Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov comments [ru] on the end of Euro 2012 in Ukraine: “Football is over. Europe has won and will depart tomorrow, leaving Ukraine in its own political shadow. […]”

Serbia: “The ‘Accidental’ Belgrade Pride”

  2 July 2012

Amila Bosnae interviews Boban Stojanović, one of the organizers of the “accidental” gay pride parade in Belgrade – which went without incidents: “There were just over 50 of us. You see, this wasn’t a real Pride, but a small street action. We’re happy with it because as activists, we always...

The Balkans: “The ICTY’s U-turn over genocide in Bosnia”

  2 July 2012

Marko Attila Hoare of Greater Surbiton comments on the ICTY’s decision to acquit Radovan Karadzic of one count of genocide in Bosnia, noting that “[t]he contradiction between the Trial Chamber’s rulings over Milosevic in 2004 and Karadzic in 2012 indicates that it is not operating on the basis of consistent...

About our Eastern & Central Europe coverage

Filip Stojanovski
Filip Stojanovski is the Central Europe editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Daria Dergacheva
Daria Dergacheva is the Eastern Europe editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.