Latest posts by Daria Dergacheva
‘Are you rejoicing at the prospect of a decrepit and impotent maniac being swept away by a pack of brutal bloody cannibals?’ Twitter users are divided about the armed coup in Russia
Mercenary troops have reportedly seized control of military infrastructure in both Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh, the two largest cities in the south of Russia.
Rumors blame Ukrainian saboteurs for setting wildfires in Russia
Alexandra Arkhipova, an anthropologist and folklorist, argues that the belief in "Ukrainian saboteurs" is a classic example of a social phenomenon known as "moral panic."
Residents of Ukrainian town occupied by Russia recount stories from a flooded Oleshky
People on the occupied by Russia left bank of the river Dnipro were abandoned by occupational authorities during the flood. These are their stories.
Alexey Sidorenko: ‘As we speak, with every new prison sentence, the situation worsens’
Inside Russia there’re still civil society organizations continuing to do very important work even though they haven’t loudly declared themselves anti-war.
The war has spread to the territory of Russia. Authorities are ignoring it, there is chaos on the border
On the morning of June 1, representatives of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia legion, who are fighting on the side of Ukraine, announced a new raid on Russian territory.
Negotiations for Moldova's accession to the EU could commence this year
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, made an impactful statement suggesting that Moldova could potentially become an EU member despite the unresolved Transnistria conflict.
Russia may ban transgender transitioning
Over the past year, the situation for the transgender community in Russia has significantly deteriorated. in May 2023 the Ministry of Justice actively discussed either making more difficult or completely banning transgender transition.
‘Almost all famous artists have left or will leave [Russia], and those who remain will be blacklisted and banned’
For Russian rock, the “golden era” was the years of the underground, the end of the 70s and the first half of the 80s. The question is, will this “new underground” emerge?
#FramedinBelarus: An art group makes embroidery depicting the stories of political prisoners
The project aims to create portraits of each illegally convicted citizen in Belarus (political prisoners) using the traditional Belarusian embroidery technique of red thread on a white background
For Moldovan singer, Eurovision results are a bit of a ‘déjà vu’
Both the winner, Swedish singer Loreen, and Moldova's Pasha Parfeni participated in Eurovision 2012. In 2012, Loreen won the contest, too.
‘You gave me wings': Moldovan Eurovision finalist thanks his fans
Along with the Moldovan singer, musicians from nine other countries qualified from the fist semi-final for the Grand Final: Croatia, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.
Russia arrests anti-war poet, claims terrorism charges for a theatre play
This is the first case of detention for a play in today's Russia. Prison sentences on charges for "publicly justifying terrorism" involve five to seven years in prison.
Antiwar art on the streets of Saint Petersburg: A form of resistance
A showcase of antiwar art that appeared on the streets of Saint Petersburg in 2022 and 2023, all of which have already been destroyed by the authorities.
Ways of punishing dissent in Lukashenka’s Belarus
The regime of Belarusian dictator Lukashenka continues to repress Belarusians in many ways, some of them unheard of since Soviet totalitarianism.
Moldova's Eurovision participant makes humorous plug for support on official Instagram
Pasha Parfeni, a Moldovan singer who was chosen during the national round to participate in this year's Eurovision, posted a picture of his car which he wants to sell
Musicians receive draconian prison sentences for setting fire to military draft office in Russia
While some other musicians from the "older generation" of Urals rock club are either supporting or keeping silent about the war, the younger musicians from the Urals are protesting
‘History of love in the country of hatred': influencers detained in Russia for LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’
Apart from widespread censorship, the Russian "anti- LGBT propaganda" law leads to unprecedented pressure on LGBTQ+ people and the organizations helping them.
Russian decolonisation and Eurasia: An imperial legacy? Risks and opportunities for Tatarstan
Public attention to political and economic inequality in Russia’s regions, stirred by the debate on decolonisation, represents a welcome and much-needed development
How Russia has changed a year after the invasion of Ukraine
Local politics has been put on the back burner, civil society is in shambles and opposition media is trying to reach Russians while in exile
Moldova refused to use language constructed by Soviet cultural policy
The Moldovan language was constructed during the early Soviet cultural policy. Now, the parliament changed its name to Romanian because they are practically identical languages.
Weathering Russian xenophobia in everyday life
In recent months, there has been more talk about "Russophobia" — anti-Russian sentiment. What they face is nothing compared to what national minorities face in Russia.