Opinions

The Russian Dream “reunification plan” is a dream scenario for Russia
The Russian Dream “reunification plan” is a dream scenario for Russia

Georgia’s de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili wants Tbilisi to apologize for the 2008 war Russia waged against his country. In return he promises Georgia’s reunification under a scenario that would benefit Moscow.

Diana Shanava
04 Oct 2024
The Economy of Death: Russia’s Military Expansion and Its Human Cost
The Economy of Death: Russia’s Military Expansion and Its Human Cost

Russia needs recruits to cover its heavy losses on the Ukrainian front. To avoid an unpopular mobilization, Moscow has created an economy of death, in which Russians stake their lives for money.

Kaczyński and his party in big trouble
Kaczyński and his party in big trouble

Law and Justice (PiS) is getting into more and more trouble – the party is shaken by scandals connected to its eight-year rule, financial problems, and increasingly strong internal conflicts.

Why is Serbia seemingly trying to court Estonia?
Why is Serbia seemingly trying to court Estonia?

As Serbia’s relationship with the EU are tensed by a range of issue, including support for Russia, Belgrade is opening towards Estonia, one of Europe’s harshest Russia critics.

Moscow's “red lines”: Putin's imagination vs. the hard reality of war
Moscow's “red lines”: Putin's imagination vs. the hard reality of war

Russia is threatening to unleash a nuclear Armageddon if certain “red lines” are crossed to prevent the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. However, the threats do not seem as serious as Putin wants everyone to believe.

Russia both criticizes and fuels Romania’s neo-Nazism
Russia both criticizes and fuels Romania’s neo-Nazism

A recent report published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes Romania’s “neo-Nazism” and describes as state policies the actions of certain pro-Russian extremists, including figures praised and cited by Kremlin propaganda.

Cezar Manu
25 Sep 2024
Between Profit and Principle: The Dilemma of Foreign Businesses in Russia
Between Profit and Principle: The Dilemma of Foreign Businesses in Russia

Sanctions and public pressure generated by the invasion of Ukraine forced many Western companies to leave the Russian market. However, there are enough investors who chose to stay, drawn by its potential.

Belarusian ultras opposing Lukashenko are now fighting for Ukraine
Belarusian ultras opposing Lukashenko are now fighting for Ukraine

Ultras have been at odds with Lukashenko over his clampdown on national identity, Covid policies and rigging of elections. Fleeing persecution at home, some found their way to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.

Are the EU and China heading for a trade war?
Are the EU and China heading for a trade war?

The first "shots" have already been fired: the EU is preparing taxes for the Chinese electric ve-hicles, and Beijing is investigating European subsidies for some products exported to China.

An ongoing challenge: connecting the Baltic countries to the EU
An ongoing challenge: connecting the Baltic countries to the EU

After two decades in the EU and NATO, the Baltic States din not yet fully connect their infrastructure with that of their partners. The railway infrastructure is particularly problematic.

Russia's Shadow Fleet: A Response to Sanctions and a New Business Model
Russia's Shadow Fleet: A Response to Sanctions and a New Business Model

O flotă de petroliere „fantomă” a ajutat Rusia să evite sancțiunile occidentale și să-și vândă petrolul astfel încât acesta să ajungă pe piețele globale.

The new nuclear arms race
The new nuclear arms race

Russia, China and the United States, as well as smaller countries, appear to have all enrolled in a new nuclear arms race. The typical Cold War rhetoric is also back, with Russia threatening to use its strategic arsenal.

The Kursk offensive, one month on: how it shaped the perception of the war in Russia and Ukraine
The Kursk offensive, one month on: how it shaped the perception of the war in Russia and Ukraine

The Kursk offensive succeeded in raising Ukrainians’ morale, both on the frontlines and at home. Moreover, it has made many Russians wonder if the war is unfolding as well as they are told.

Marin Gherman
06 Sep 2024
The importance of critical and strategic materials for China's hybrid warfare
The importance of critical and strategic materials for China's hybrid warfare

China seeks to achieve its economic and geostrategic ambitions by controlling the market for critical minerals and boosting its energy output.

Estonia is debating whether to send back fighting-age Ukrainian refugees
Estonia is debating whether to send back fighting-age Ukrainian refugees

As Estonian resources for refugees are dwindling, and Ukraine is increasing efforts to draft fighting-age men that have left the country, there’s a debate whether Talinn should send refugees back home.

In Bulgaria, the EU dream is gradually turning into a RU nightmare
In Bulgaria, the EU dream is gradually turning into a RU nightmare

After Bulgaria’s parliament approved a controversial ban against “LGBTQ+ propaganda” in schools, both pro-Russia and populist pro-EU parties are eying a Russian-styled “foreign agents” law.

The Middle East has avoided a major war, but extremists are still fueling the conflict
The Middle East has avoided a major war, but extremists are still fueling the conflict

The threat of a major war in the Middle East has diminished after the latest missile barrage exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. However, Muslim and Israeli extremists are blocking peace talks in Gaza and the long-term settlement of disputes in the region.

Mission: Polish Greta Thunberg
Mission: Polish Greta Thunberg

A little girl accredited as a journalist in Poland's parliament has sparked debates about the limits of freedom of expression, the involvement of children in politics and their manipulation by adults, including their own parents.

August 23, 1944, a turning point in Romania’s history constantly seen through a political lens
August 23, 1944, a turning point in Romania’s history constantly seen through a political lens

Ion Antonescu’s arrest and Romania turning arms against Nazi Germany were two events that have been permanently interpreted through the lens of politics, to the detriment of a critical analysis, free from ideological constraints.

Cosmin Popa
23 Aug 2024
Was Georgia’s shadow ruler really marked for assassination?
Was Georgia’s shadow ruler really marked for assassination?

Tbilisi claims that oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili was targeted for assassination by a cabal that also tried to kill Donald Trump and Slovakia’s Robert Fico. Georgia’s opposition says this is nonsense.

Diana Shanava
21 Aug 2024
Bloated kulaks and evil-minded Americans: satirical propaganda in communist Romania
Bloated kulaks and evil-minded Americans: satirical propaganda in communist Romania

Graphic or militant (political) satire was one of the main methods of castigating the enemy of the people in communist systems.

The Paris Olympics: dinner, bread, circus, TV and networks
The Paris Olympics: dinner, bread, circus, TV and networks

Politicians have always sought to take advantage of the prestige the Olympic Games bring, using it to get their messages across. Tyrants like Hitler and democratic leaders like Emmanuel Macron made no exception.

How Russia Bypasses Sanctions
How Russia Bypasses Sanctions

How Russia is living under sanctions, how it circumvents them, and what lessons a market economy can draw from this experience?

Russian politicians in Estonia are tested with doubly severe rigor
Russian politicians in Estonia are tested with doubly severe rigor

After Prime Minister Kaja Kallas decided to move to work in European structures, the Estonian government cabinet changed. The new Minister of Infrastructure position was unexpectedly awarded to a Russian-speaking politician, Vladimir Svet.

The Silent Front: Meet Those Who Are “Dreaming in Bulgarian” in Moldova and Ukraine
The Silent Front: Meet Those Who Are “Dreaming in Bulgarian” in Moldova and Ukraine

“Dreaming in Bulgarian” is an exhibition in Sofia by photographer Mihaela Aroyo, based on her years-long research of the community of Bassarabian Bulgarians in Moldova and Ukraine

The Hezbollah-Israel conflict: what is the arsenal of the “Party of God”?
The Hezbollah-Israel conflict: what is the arsenal of the “Party of God”?

Hezbollah fighters can be a dangerous foe, even for one of the world’s best equipped and most prepared armies, the Israel Defense Forces.

Did the Georgian Dream end Georgia’s European dream?
Did the Georgian Dream end Georgia’s European dream?

Following the US announcement to review bilateral relations with Georgia, the EU announced the suspension of the country's accession to the European Union. The party of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili will no longer be able to use the successes of European integration in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Diana Shanava
26 Jul 2024
Polish internet is full of Pro-Russian propaganda and Poland seems helpless
Polish internet is full of Pro-Russian propaganda and Poland seems helpless

Pro-Russian communication channels have significantly infiltrated the Internet and social media platforms in Poland and Eastern European countries.

Reporting from Ukraine: Pokrovsk, the Russians' main target in Donetsk
Reporting from Ukraine: Pokrovsk, the Russians' main target in Donetsk

Almost two years after announcing it would annex four regions of Ukraine, Russia is still trying to fully occupy the marked territories.

Alex Craiu
24 Jul 2024
Latvia and China: restrained relationship with no hope of sincerity
Latvia and China: restrained relationship with no hope of sincerity

With the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia's relations with China have become even more restrained than before, and things are unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

Belarus is a country under sanctions. How does its economy, society, and state survive?
Belarus is a country under sanctions. How does its economy, society, and state survive?

So far, Western sanctions had little impact on Belarus’ economy. However, they made the country increasingly dependent on Russia and they caused new rifts within the society.

Two Romanian history lessons for Putin’s local admirers
Two Romanian history lessons for Putin’s local admirers

Russian propaganda is now fixed on Romania and Moldova. The Kremlin is reiterating a number of older Soviet narratives, such as the one on Moldovenism, while at the same time spreading new lies, for instance claiming Romania has allegedly given Moscow its treasure.

Cosmin Popa
16 Jul 2024
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