“The steepest drop in democratic quality in Eastern Europe”: Georgian democracy downgraded

February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 lossi36

Democracy in Georgia declined sharply according to the most recent democracy index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Based on indicators measuring electoral processes and pluralism, the functioning of government, political participation, democratic political culture and civil liberties, Georgia dropped … Continue reading “The steepest drop in democratic quality in Eastern Europe”: Georgian democracy downgraded

Balkans, News

Nothing new on the southeastern front: corruption, poverty and discrimination in Bulgaria

February 15, 2019 lossi36

– A Eurostat study published on January 15th show that 32.4 percent of retired people in Bulgaria are at risk of poverty. Estonia (46 percent), Latvia (44 percent), and Lithuania (37 percent) are the only counties with higher shares on … Continue reading Nothing new on the southeastern front: corruption, poverty and discrimination in Bulgaria

Caucasus, Politics

The sound of money in the mountains of Georgia

February 13, 2019 lossi36

Futa Dadeshkeliani was a Svan prince from the Becho Valley during a period of independence for upper Svaneti in Georgia. He wished to consolidate power in all thirteen communities of the principality, and after much effort and conflict he succeeded … Continue reading The sound of money in the mountains of Georgia

Eastern Europe, News

New law on sexual consent and public broadcaster dismissed

February 8, 2019 lossi36

– On January 1st, a Ukrainian soldier was killed, despite the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian military regularly reports casualties in attacks by Russian-led troops in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Meanwhile, UNICEF has expressed concern about the deepening … Continue reading New law on sexual consent and public broadcaster dismissed

Eastern Europe, Politics

Estonian Newcomers Make Waves Before March Parliamentary Elections

February 6, 2019 lossi36

With only thirty-five days until the polls close in Estonia, newcomers to the political arena continue to make waves. Estonian elections have long been dominated by two parties; the Centre party and the Reform party, but this year is different: … Continue reading Estonian Newcomers Make Waves Before March Parliamentary Elections

Central Europe, News

The dawn of Poland-Italy cooperation and anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

February 4, 2019February 5, 2019 lossi36

– January 7th: Poland’s new year started big, with a controversy over the salary of one of the directors of the National Bank of Poland (NBP). An article in Gazeta Wyborcza, published at the end of December, escalated into a … Continue reading The dawn of Poland-Italy cooperation and anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

Central Europe, News

Character assassination of a teenager and V4 leaders plan to meet in Jerusalem

February 2, 2019 lossi36

– The government of Hungary’s decision to modify its labor law (deemed the “slave law” by protesters and the opposition) and to establish a new administrative court in Hungary, which was voted through on December 12th 2018 (read more about … Continue reading Character assassination of a teenager and V4 leaders plan to meet in Jerusalem

Culture, Eastern Europe

Border crossing – a photo essay by Petronella Dahl

January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 lossi36

Only 80 kilometers from the Polish border you’ll find the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Easily reached from Kraków by train, it is one of the most accessible cities outside of the European Union’s eastern borders. The history between this part … Continue reading Border crossing – a photo essay by Petronella Dahl

News, Russia

American suspected to be a spy arrested in Moscow and Russian movie smashes box-office records

January 25, 2019 lossi36

– At the end of December, Russia arrested a suspected US spy in Moscow. Paul Whelan, а former US Marine, faces ten to twenty years in a Russian prison after he was found with a memory stick containing state secrets. … Continue reading American suspected to be a spy arrested in Moscow and Russian movie smashes box-office records

Caucasus, Politics

Looking for justice in Armenia: A plea to hold the corrupt accountable

January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 lossi36

After the so-called Velvet Revolution in Armenia in Spring 2018, the country in the South Caucasus has become the rising star of hope for the feasibility of profound and non-violent democratic change from below. Under enormous public pressure, former Prime … Continue reading Looking for justice in Armenia: A plea to hold the corrupt accountable