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 August, 2008
Georgia War: Russian Critique of Western Media Coverage
LJ user rusglory discusses (RUS) how Western media – from a Russian point of view – have been complicit to Georgia's information war and comments on pictures alllegedly illustrating his point.
Georgia War: What Status for Russian Forces in Georgia?
LJ user dao_b asks (RUS) the potentially provocative question of what status the Russian forces in Georgia have: Peacekeepers when part in an armed conflict or occupiers?
Georgia War: Questioning Ukrainian Arms Trade to Georgia
Taras Kuzio writes about alleged crimes in Ukrainian arms’ trade with Georgia and suggests that some of the guilty should be brought to justice – paradoxically ex President Kuchma and former Prime Ministers Yanukovich and Kinakh.
Georgia War: Peace Threatens Territorial Integrity
Da Rússia [Portuguese] writes about the problems with a Russo-Georgian peace treaty brokered by French president Sarkozy, and refers to Russian analysts’ conclusion that it might continually set Georgia's territorial integrity in question.
Georgia War: Russian Disappointment With Belarus
Osteuropablog discusses (GER) an article on Russian newssite Novyj Region 2, claiming that Moscow is disappointed with failing support from Minsk during the Russo-Georgian conflict.
Georgia War in Initial Retrospective
GUS-News presents (GER) a retrospective of developments in the Russo-Georgian crisis in the last few days, with an emphasis on Russia.
Georgia War: Georgia Will Join NATO
AnTyx claims that NATO Secretary General has expressed certainty of future Georgian NATO-membership, and continues to account for Estonian reaction to the conflict, concluding with the statement – quoting John McCain – “I am a Georgian”.
Georgia War: The Pipeline That Was Not Bombed
Eternal Remont comments on one of the apparently erroneous stories picked up by the media, namely the alleged Russian bombing of the crucial BTC-pipeline, which BP & co – running the pipeline – has no knowledge of.
Georgia War: Assessing the Democratic Peace
The 8th Circle continues the discussion on the democratic peace and liberalism from the perspective of the Russo-Georgian conflict.
Georgia War: Consequences for Ukraine
Buffalo Expatriate discusses the consequences of the Russian-Georgian conflict for Ukraine.
Georgia War: End of War – At What Price?
Transatlantic Politics asks what price will have to be paid by Georgia to gain peace on Russia's terms, noting that Moscow has already demanded Georgia's demilitarization, and wonders whether the situation might result in a brutal regime change, end of Georgian NATO-aspirations, and increased Russian leverage on Caucasus’ energy resources.
Georgia War: Russian Blogger Reaction on the Conflict
LJ user pro_kuratora posts (RUS) a compilation of reactions from the Russian blogosphere on Russia's conflict with Georgia.
Georgia War: Is it all over now?
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido (Ilya Yashin) comments on (RUS) Russian president's, Dmitry Medvedev, order to Russian troops in Georgia to “end operations.” Is the war over now?
Georgia War: A Polish View
Raf Uzar writes about mixed opinions in Poland about the conflict between Russia and Georgia, emanating primarily from uncertainties on what Polish president Kaczyński might get up to, as he prepares to head off to Tbilisi.
Georgia War: Russia Halts in Fight Between Democracies
Baltic comments on Russian political action and relations as for the ongoing war in Georgia, a first fight between democracies since 1898, and that Moscow has now ordered a halt to Russian military operations in Georgia.
Georgia War: Russian Bureaucratization of Power
I ya upyus nedolgim schastiem… blames (RUS) the increasing power of bureaucrats or facilitators – koridornye – in Russia for the war with Georgia, when parties, politicians, and business are caught up in the process of the koridornye.
Georgia War: The Grief of Living With Conflict
LJ user herectus discusses (RUS) the difficulties of having to cope with the distrust of living with conflict as part of everyday life.
Georgia and Estonia: Small and Vulnerable States
Osteuropablog discusses (GER) the similarities between Georgia's and Estonia's international positions as small and vulnerable states, and also wonders what will happen to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russian Sochi – a city located near to the ongoing conflict in Georgia.
Georgian War: Russian military performance
Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia analyses and presents his views of Russian troops’ battle performance in the ongoing war with Georgia.
Russia: Threat Against Georgians in Russia
Suomalais-venäläinen kansalaisfoorumi relays a news report on plans by a Russian racist organization to attack Georgians living in Russia.
Georgia War: Regime Change Russian Style
Sean's Russia Blog presents his views and observations on how Russia, allegedly, wants to accomplish a regime change in Georgia in the current conflict.