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 January, 2009
Russia-Ukraine: Giving Kiev the blame for gas conflict
Peter Lavelle has his say about the ongoing gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine, putting the blame heavily on Kiev.
Russia-Ukraine: Gas crisis from a German perspective
Gerhard Mangott analyses [GER] the Russo-Ukrainian gas crisis from a German perspective, and Der Spiegelfechter provides an extended account [GER] of developments.
Latvia: People, politicians, and guardians
Baltic publishes the latest Latvian opinion polls, showing how people consider politics under the threat of international financial guardianship.
Russia-Ukraine: Variables of gas war
Streetwise Professor analyzes a few factors of significance for the ongoing gas war between Russia and Ukraine, whereas Leopolis presents some views from Kiev.
Russia-Georgia: Overcoming war by wine?
Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia discusses how Georgian wine producers are seeking to get Russia's ban on Georgian wine import lifted.
Estonia: Acquittal of Bronze Soldier Activists
Itching for Eestimaa comments on the acquittal of four activists charged for organizing the spring 2007 protests against removal of the soviet Bronze Soldier momument from central Tallinn.
Russia: Realizing impact of international economic crisis
Streetwise Professor discusses how Russia's leadership is beginning to admit that Russian economy is in trouble as part of the international financial and commodities’ system.
Poland: Difficulties in adopting the Euro
Polandian discusses Poland's difficulties in fulfilling requirements to adopt the Euro as currency by 2012, while neighbouring countries succeed in it the one after the other.
Russia: Confronting the Public Chamber
Grigory Pasko of Robert Amsterdam presents his views of Russia's Public Chamber as an incompetent replacement of civil society and argues why he thinks so.
Russia-Ukraine: Explaining enigmatic gas row
Steve LeVine of The Oil and the Glory explains some aspects of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis from the perspective of international energy pricing.
Lithuania: France behind EU demands for nuclear shutdown?
Lituanica quotes and discusses allegations by Baltic media that France would have put pressure on Lithuania by way of the European Union for the closure of the country's Ignalina nuclear power plant. The suggested reason would be France's interest in supporting its own nuclear industry.
Poland: Top five politicians in 2008
Raf Uzar picks out his choice of Poland's top five politicians in 2008 and tells his readers why.
Lithuania: First woman defence minister
Lituanica comments on the appointment of Lithuania's first female defence minister and posts a translation of a TV-interview with her on major defence issues.
Belarus: Minsk meets Hollywood
Andrei Khrapavitski of Belarusian American Blog shares his impressions of Defiance the first Hollywood blockbuster about Belarus – a story of World War II partisans – to hit international moviescreens.
Czech Republic: Havel and Klaus documentaries
Dr. Sean's Diary reviews two TV-documentaries of respectively Czech leaders Vaclac Klaus and Vaclav Havel.
Russia: Summing up economic crisis
A Fistful of Euros sums up the mounting economic crisis in Russia as regional and international markets go further into recession.
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