Eastern Europe
Romania: Presidential elections at a time of crisis
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, November 19, 2009
The ongoing political crisis in Romania has reached a new high point just days before the presidential elections scheduled for November 22. What is taking place is a bitter struggle between rival cliq...
Ukrainian economy suffers sharp fall in 2009
By Niall Green, October 29, 2009
Five years after the “Orange Revolution,” the Ukrainian economy is in the deepest crisis since the post-Soviet economic and social implosion of the 1990s.
Romania: Boc government resigns after no-confidence vote
By Marcus Salzmann, October 27, 2009
Five weeks prior to scheduled presidential elections, the Romanian government led by the Democratic Liberal Party prime minister, Emil Boc, has collapsed following a vote of no-confidence in parliamen...
Russia: Workers at AvtoVaz protest against mass layoffs
By Vladimir Volkov, October 24, 2009
Following a wave of labor actions across Russia in the summer and early fall, workers at auto giant AvtoVaz are protesting mass layoffs.
Romania: General strike intensifies political crisis
By Markus Salzman, October 12, 2009
The Romanian government has collapsed as strikes and protests expand.
Bosnia faces collapse
By Paul Mitchell, October 8, 2009
A number of reports have pointed to the increasing threat of Bosnia and Herzegovina collapsing, and even about the possibility of war breaking out.
EU report states Georgia started 2008 war with Russia
Georgian attack unjustifiable under international law
By Niall Green, October 2, 2009
Following a 10-month investigation, a European Union report has found Georgia the aggressor in its 2008 war with Russia, directly refuting claims made not only by the Georgia government, but also by i...
Mass sackings in Russia
AvtoVAZ to lay off 28,000, Aeroflot 2,200
By Niall Green, October 1, 2009
Russia’s largest car maker will axe more than one quarter of its total workforce, destroying 27,600 jobs. In a double blow, Aeroflot airline announced that it plans to cut 2,215 staff.
Economic crisis, geopolitical rivalries overshadow Ukrainian election campaign
By Niall Green, September 23, 2009
As in the disputed presidential election of November 2004, bitter disputes between rival sections of the ruling elite—and the interests of foreign powers—are dominating the campaign for Ukraine’...
Poland: Government escalates privatisation drive
By Peter Kloze, September 18, 2009
Confronted by a ballooning budget deficit, the Polish government has decided to intensify its drive to privatise key sectors of state-owned industry.
US suspends eastern European missile shield plan
By Niall Green, September 18, 2009
President Obama announced the suspension of plans to develop two bases in Poland and the Czech Republic as part of a missile defense shield. The move is seen as a political gesture to secure Russian s...
Venezuela, Russia in $2.2 billion arms deal
By Bill Van Auken, September 15, 2009
Sunday’s announcement by President Hugo Chávez that Venezuela has reached a $2.2 billion deal to purchase Russian tanks and missiles is symptomatic of the growing international tensions in Latin Am...
