Latest posts by Veronica Khokhlova from December, 2009
Russia: “Cyber-Tatars”
Evgeny Morozov reviews the newest issue of Digital Icons (formerly known as the Russian Cyberspace Journal), which includes Dilyara Suleymanova's article that “explores how Tatar groups use Vkontakte, one of...
Russia, U.S.: Brittany Murphy in Moscow on Dec. 19?
LJ user becky_sharpe (Bozhena Rynska, Gazeta.ru‘s gossip columnist) claims (RUS) that actress Brittany Murphy, who died on Dec. 20 in Los Angeles, was a guest at a private party in...
Russia: Yegor Gaidar, Russia's Economic Reformer, Dies at 53
Yegor Gaidar, a Russian economist and politician who initiated the 1992 "shock therapy" reforms, died in Moscow on Dec. 16 at the age of 53. Russian bloggers' responses serve as a vivid reflection of how divided people still are on Gaidar's legacy and on the direction the country has taken since the demise of the Soviet Union.
Denmark: Ukrainian Blogger's Photos of Mass Arrests
Sergey Kovalyov (LJ user skovalyov; #skovalyov on Twitter) posts seven photos of mass arrests of protesters on Amagerbrogade in Copenhagen and writes (RUS) about it on his blog.
Ukraine: Bureaucracy and Incompetence at Defense Ministry
Sergei Maximishin, an award-winning Russian photographer, has recently tried to get the Ukrainian defense ministry's assistance in doing a photo story on the Ukrainian navy and army for a German magazine. He ended up defeated by the Ukrainian bureaucratic monster, but posted a detailed account of the ordeal on his blog.
Ukraine: “Bumpy Road to Democracy”
At OpenDemocracy.net, Andreas Umland writes about two books that “cast light on what the Orange Revolution was really about, and review its significance against the background of developments in Russia.”...
Belarus, Russia, Ukraine: Borders and Identity
A poll on how Belarusians view themselves ethnically, and the problems of demarcating the Russian-Ukrainian border – at Window on Eurasia.
Ukraine: Emotions and Politics
Emotionally charged Ukrainian politics – at Ukrainiana: a “shocktivist” women's movement FEMEN on a popular TV talk show; and a televised quarrel between the Ukrainian president and the interior minister.
Russia: Three Stories of Extreme Poverty
Russian photojournalist Oleg Klimov shares three stories of extreme poverty that he happened to overhear while waiting for a train at the train station in Syzran, a city in Russia's Samara region.
The Balkans: A Travel Roundup
“Street and alternative photography of Belgrade” – at Belgrade Raw; “Other people's journeys: Balkan travelogues 2009” – at Balkanology Blog; a map of Belgrade's hostels – at Belgraded; a review...
Poland: “My Polish Street”
At Polandian, “My Polish Street” series – here, here, here, and here. Also, a post on “drifting” into “voyeurism” in Krakow: “Having a designated smoking window that looks directly onto...
Czech Republic: Travel Roundup
The Reference Frame writes about a replica of Prague's Old Town City Hall in Seoul. The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks writes about Jan Žižka, “the most feared and respected military...
Russia: Drug Abuse; HIV/AIDS
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elizabeth Rigbey writes about drug abuse and harm reduction efforts in Russia. Sean's Russia Blog writes about HIV/AIDS in Russia. Scenes from the Sidewalk links to a documentary...
Russia: Climate Change in the North
AskYakutia.com and Window on Eurasia write about climate change issues in the Russian North.
Russia: Flu Panic in Orenburg
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elena Strelnikova writes about flu panic in Orenburg.
Poland: Jaruzelski and the Soviets in 1981
The beatroot reports on the release of “documents which appear to show that General Jaruzelski did indeed request support from Moscow if Solidarity protests got out of control.”
The Baltics: Laughland's Piece
Itching for Eestimaa dissects John Laughland's piece in The Brussels Journal, “The De-Russification of the Baltics Serves a Geopolitical Purpose”: “…I believe it contains some interesting and all-too-familiar anti-Baltic memes....
Ukraine: UK Ambassador's Blog
Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, blogs about an annual charity bazaar in Kyiv and the need to establish the “world-wide recognition for Brand Ukraine.”
Ukraine, Afghanistan: Mayors and Corruption
Petro's Jotter praises Kabul residents for having their mayor sentenced for corruption and misappropriation of $16,000 – and offers a Ukrainian perspective: “Imagine how full the Kyiv jails would be...
Ukraine, Germany: Esquire Article on the Demjanjuk Trial
Foreign Notes links to an Esquire article “on the Demjanjuk ‘trial’ currently being staged in Germany.”
Russia: Interview With Blogger Anatoly Karlin
An interview with Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion (formerly of Da Russophile) – at Siberian Light.
