I am a Swedish specialist on politics and security in Russia and “Eastern Europe.” I have been dealing with the region on and off since the early 1990s and been around quite a lot.
At Vilhelm Konnander's Weblog I blog about all the thoughts and reflections within my field that I need to get out of my system. No wonder, given the theme of my blog: Politics & Security in Russia, Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia. On Twitter @vkonnander.
Latest posts by Vilhelm Konnander from September, 2008
Belarus: Greens fight for gay rights
LJ user palitekanom reports on [RUS] actions by the Belarus Green Party to defend the rights of the LGBT-community in the country and a proposal to impose sanctionary measures against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.
Ukraine: How Russian is the Crimea?
The 8th Circle discusses the Crimea and Ukrainian fears of a Russian secessionist movement, arguing that the peninsula could be compared to other European regions, which today could not be imagined seceding. He also refers to a new book on this theme by Ukrainian writer Taras Kuzio.
Russia: A demand for 19th century art
Just A Mon comments on soaring international prices on Russian 19th and early 20th century art – especially that of landscape painter Aivazovsky.
Belarus: Parliamentary elections no way to reforms
A Fistful Of Euros writes about Sunday's parliamentary elections in Belarus, where all seats were won by the Lukashenko regime, and sees little hope for change in comparison with other countries that have undergone transition.
Ukraine: Battle for Crimean minds
Kyiv Scoop discusses how pupils and people in Crimea are influenced to love Russia and loath Ukraine.
Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?
Foreign Notes posts a translation of an article by Party of Regions’ (PoR) Andriy Kluyev, calling for renewed efforts in forming a solid and long-term Ukrainian government – presumably a PoR-Tymoshenko coalition.
Russia-Georgia: Reports on military and civilian death tolls
Wu Wei comments on and links to reports on Georgian military and civilian death tolls in the recent Russo-Georgian war. She also posts an interesting overview of demographic developments in Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
Baltic States: Unity project for next generation of Balts
Lituanica reports from a Baltic youth conference, where visions of bringing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania closer together stood out as the vision of a young Baltic generation.
Estonia: Top-ranking official in spy scandal
Osteuropablog comments on [GER] an article in Estonian newspaper Postimees of spy charges brought against a top-ranking official in the Ministry of Defence.
Russia: Ingushetian president accused of journalist murder
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum posts a translation of an article from Ingushetiya.ru, where the news site accuses the president of Ingushetiya for ordering the murder of its owner.
Estonia: Calls for change for unfamiliarity with continuity
Itching for Eestimaa discusses how a growing number of Estonians call for a government change for the mere reason that they are unaccustomed to having cabinets in power for more than two years at a time.
Belarus: Elections without political life
LJ user junkie beatnik comments on [RUS] the absence of political life in Belarus, where neither opposition nor government seem to comment on politics with only a week left until parliamentary elections.
Belarus: Youth activists in strange accident
LJ user toshirskij directs attention to [RUS] a Charta 97 article reporting on an opposition youth activist from the Young Front in a freak car accident. Returning from a meeting in preparation for protests on parliamentary election day 28 September, the wheel of his car fell off at high speed,...
Belarus: Making it in the sausage competition
LJ user luchecon received a phone call [RUS] from his worried grandmother, that Belarus is cutting down the meat content in its sausage production, because it cannot meet the price competition with Russian sausages’ lower meat level. As it turns out, Belarus has a meat deficit, substituting it already with...
Russia-Georgia: The Spoils of War
Robert Amsterdam writes about alleged war profiteers following Russian troops into Georgia.
Russia-Georgia: Reflections on Russian Military Operations
Wu Wei reflects upon the Russian military operations against Georgia following the escalation in South Ossetia into full-scale war and poses questions about mistakes made on both sides.
Estonia: Next population count by cyber census
Osteuropablog notes [GER] that the next Estonian population census in 2011 may be conducted by way of the Internet.
Belarus: Chernobyl Children Banned US Trip
Osteuropablog comments on [GER] how Chernobyl children in Belarus are denied going to the US for rest and treatment.
Eastern Europe: Blogs in German on the Slavic Triangle
Krusenstern presents [GER] a list of 24 blogs in German about Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Ukraine: 77 words on parliamentary upheaval
Eternal Remont notes that the latest political crisis in the Ukraine – the dissolution of parliament – was rewarded a full 77 words by a subsection of The New York Times. In his view, the next turmoil might end up in the Gardening Section.
Belarus: Lukashenko threatens break with the West
LJ user navigatar writes about [RUS] threats by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to break relations with the West, in case the results of Sunday's parliamentary elections are not recognised.
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