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 March, 2011
Russia: Election monitors harassed
Putin Watcher reports on the threats, harassment, arrests, and beatings election monitors from the organization Golos have received while monitoring the recent regional elections in Russia.
Hungary: Protest against media law
Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest shares her impressions from a protest against the new media law in Hungary.
Belarus: Presidential candidate disappears
Bloggers in Belarus discuss the disappearance of former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich. LJ user illdoctor fears [RUS] that he is the latest victim of the Lukashenko regime, and LJ user senseisekai thinks [RUS] he is either on the run from the KGB or has fled abroad.
Russia: Militsia out – politsia in
Stanislav of Mat Rodina addresses the problems of the Russian militsia (police) changing names to politsia and whether this is merely a cosmetic change or an honest attempt to reform Russian law enforcement.
Russia: A slap in the face of public taste
Putin Watcher writes about the avantgarde art group Voina and how its art happenings challenge the boundaries of public taste.
Latvia: Shortcomings of an Internet census
Juris Kaža of Telecoms in Latvia points to some major shortcomings in integrity for the Latvian national census, to be conducted by way of the Internet.
Hungary: Constitutional questionnaire
Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum discusses a questionnaire sent out to Hungarian citizens asking them what they think should be included in a new Hungarian constitution.
Estonia: Elusive historical memory
Itching for Eestimaa reflects upon the elusiveness of historical memory departing from impressions of Estonian schoolchildren.