Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from October, 2021
Publishing house removes section on transgender individuals from Russian translation of teen health book
According to the publisher, Belaya Vorona, making the book available to Russian teenagers was more important that "preserving the deleted information".
Cats, crows and planet Earth: drawings by Belarusian political prisoners
Drawings sent to friends and family by Belarusian political prisoners, detained in a crackdown after the 2020 elections, provide an insight into their lives.
We need ‘painless’ glucose monitors, says Mia Chichkarikj, a 16-year-old diabetes patient from North Macedonia
“This should be a plea to the authorities at the Ministry of Health, to take our needs for 'painless' glucose monitors seriously and to provide them as soon as possible.”
‘I wrote the book you all wish you had when you were 15,’ says Afroczech Obonete Ubam
Czech Nigerian activist and writer Obonete Ubam interviewed ten prominent Afroczechs in his latest book, to talk about discrimination, integration and role models for an emerging community in the Czech Republic.
Between two borders: you can’t get through
By offering its territory as a transit zone, Belarus created a problem for the EU and a financial opportunity for itself, charging refugees for Belarusian visas.
In Belarus, subscribing to Telegram channels branded as ‘extremist’ may now get users in trouble
While it's not clear whether the Belarusian police will actually be able to dispense prison terms, "nobody can be sure" they won't be criminally charged for subscribing to Telegram channels.
Turkey and Armenia ready to ‘normalize relations’ after nearly 30 years
Almost three decades later, Turkey is now considering reopening its border with Armenia. The border has been closed since 1993.
Combatting stereotypes: The need to recognize male victims of wartime sexual violence in Bosnia
According to testimony, the systematic scope and nature of conflict-related sexual violence against men demonstrate that it was an instrument of ethnic cleansing through the destruction of families and communities.
Ukraine’s trans-border transplant quandary
Going abroad for organ transplants is common in Ukraine, but the logistics are tricky. But a new law and enthusiastic regional doctors could make a national transplant system a reality.
Why are Czech elites being captured by Beijing narratives?
The ties between outgoing president Zeman as well as economic relationships over the past few years, especially in the media, raise concerns about the public narrative around Sino-Czech relations.
Campaign to brand Russian journalists and media ‘foreign agents’ picks up pace after elections
The effects of Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ legislation against media and civil society have been direct and deeply troubling. They are now, in effect, deemed ‘enemies of the people’.
Relations between Turkey and Russia: ‘It's complicated’
On September 29, the leaders of two countries met in Russian Black Sea city of Sochi to discuss economic and strategic deals and their presence in conflict zones.
Animal rights activist in North Macedonia threatened after blowing the whistle on possible lion cub trafficking
While handling lion cubs is forbidden by law in North Macedonia, social media posts by nouveau riche or would-be-influencers revealed them bragging about socializing with a cub nicknamed "Simba."
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