Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from September, 2013
Russian News Websites Black Out to Protest Journalist's Arrest
A photographer was among the 30 activists arrested by Russian border guards on board Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise. His detention has riled up Russian journalists and other media figures.
Russia’s Hunger Games
There are two hunger strikes in Russia today, one by a famous Pussy Riot member and another by a mothers' group. What do the different receptions online say about Russia?
Europe Warns French Minister over Statement Regarding Roma Community
Les derniers propos du Ministre français de l'Intérieur, Manuel Valls ont relancé la polémique au niveau des rapports houleux entre la France et les Roms, en France et en Europe.
Rumors Fly that Putin Has Remarried
There have long been rumors that Putin has a romantic relationship with gymnast Alina Kabaeva. That gossip has flared up again, with suspicion that they may finally have wed.
Blogger Claims Russian Foreign Minister to be Sacked
The blogger el-murid claims that this signals a change of policy in the direction of accommodating the US in passing a UN resolution authorizing military action in Syria.
Floods in Romania Take Nine Lives, Thousands Evacuated
Torrential downpours caused the water level to rise rapidly on September 12th. Among those who died was an eight-year-old girl swept away from her father's arms.
How Russians Read McCain's Pravda Op-Ed on Putin
While Americans were incensed at being lectured by a foreign politician whom many regard as either an idiot or a hypocrite, many Russians, it turns out, reacted no differently.
Is a Monument to Chechen Women an Affront to Russia?
Ramzan Kadyrov caused an outcry in the blogosphere when he dedicated a monument to a group of Chechen women who died during the Caucasus Wars in the 19th century.
EU Prepared to Impose Sanctions on New Member State Croatia
"I think we just broke the speed record in having sanctions introduced," one Twitter user observed.
Police Arrest Protesters Protecting Macedonian City Park from Destruction
The protests, which began a month ago, are against the construction of a government building in Bristol Park, one of the last remaining green spaces in Skopje.
Hungary's Justice System Slow in Fighting Racial Crime
After 5 years a Budapest court sentenced four men to life in prison for the murders of several Hungarian Roma. Hungarian government under pressure to prevent and fight racially motivated crimes.
Croats in Vukovar Protest Use of Serbian Cyrillic on Government Buildings
A part of the ethnically Croat population of Vukovar has staged violent protests this week in Vukovar due to the posting of signs in Serbian Cyrillic on state buildings.
To Some Opposition Bloggers Alexey Navalny is “Führer”
Alexey Navalny addressed a crowd of supporters the day after he lost the Moscow mayoral election. Some found his performance disconcerting.
GV Face: Understanding #RussiaVotes 2013 with Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov
Our RuNet Echo editors Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov discuss the aftermath of #RussiaVotes and give their insight into Russia's provocative and often humorous citizen media scene.
How Russians Read Putin's NYT Op-Ed on Syria
Many RuNet users have hailed the President’s overture as something of a needed display of Russian moral authority on the world stage.
UNESCO Patron of First SEE Science Promotion Conference in Serbia
The Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN), under UNESCO patronage, is hosting the First Regional Science Promotion Conference with the aim of gathering science promotion professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts...
Belgium FEMEN Leaves The International Movement
“We are announcing the closure of the branch FEMEN Belgium. We took this decision unanimously because of different views upon the internal organization of the international movement FEMEN. We have...
#RussiaVotes Live Blog: Russia's Regional and Local Elections
Project editors Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov offer live blogging coverage of Russia's 2013 regional and local voting. Follow events as they unfold online.
Presidents, Oligarchs and Potash: Russia's Trade War With Belarus
Belarusian authorities arrested Vladislav Baumgartner, CEO of Uralkaliy, a large Russian potash mining company. Russia retaliated by cancelling some of its subsidies and banning Belarusian pork imports.
Day Before “Election Silence,” Russian Candidates Rock Out
Yekaterinburg mayoral race frontrunner Evgeny Roizman welcomed Russian rock music legend Andrei Makarevich in a concert that encountered yet another act of intimidation by local police.
Russia's True Symbol: A Chechen Mosque?
The second round of a contest to choose ten lesser-known Russian tourist attractions turned violent on Saturday, August 31, 2013, when a crowd in Grozny began egging select telecoms offices.