Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from July, 2023
Why is Kyiv giving Taiwan the cold shoulder? Interview with Ukrainian MP Mykola Knyazhytskyy
While Taipei continues to support Ukraine by sending humanitarian aid, including to refugees across Europe, official Kyiv sides with Beijing and fails to acknowledge Taiwan's overall support.
The future of Ukrainian New York
A frontline town in eastern Ukraine restored its historic name and gained fame in 2021. Now, activists and supporters are trying to preserve what they can after losing their home and friends.
Barbie in the Balkans: From disinformation to Yugonostalgia
The news about the ban of Barbie movie in Vietnam was used as inspiration for disinformation in the Balkans, with false claims about censorship in Serbia.
Taiwanese citizens take the nation's defense into their own hands: Interview with scholar Wen Liu
For people in Taiwan living under regular military threats from China, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has prompted queries about the Taiwanese military forces' own readiness and resilience.
Undertones: Inside Russian influencer chats in Argentina
The conversations happening on these Telegram channels do not have to do with Russian politics - but with Argentina's
The Belarus regime’s crackdown on civil society continues
The number of political prisoners in Belarus continues to rise; by the end of June, there were 1,496 individuals languishing behind bars on politically-motivated charges.
‘People in Belarus live in constant terror, fearing a system that can arbitrarily target anyone’
"Our human rights work in Belarus involves direct action. We engage in activities such as collecting resources, learning to purchase necessary items and communicating with the families of political prisoners."
‘Please hate the terrorist state’: Trans people and allies speak up against a transphobic law in Russia
A group of anonymous activists who call themselves The Ural Queer Republic, from the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, announced an action and launched Twitter and Telegram channels before the approval of the law.
About 47,000 Russian soldiers died during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine
In just 15 months of fighting in Ukraine, three times more Russian soldiers have died than Soviet troops did over 10 years in Afghanistan.
China uses higher education to increase its influence in North Macedonia
"Probably the most important and long-term strategy for anchoring China’s soft power in North Macedonia is the opening of the Confucius Institute in Skopje, at the oldest and most renowned public university, Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 2013."
Death and defiance in a historic Ukrainian city after a Russian rocket strike
Ten people were killed and 42 wounded in Lviv, a city packed with tourists, civilian volunteers, and those fleeing the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian east and south.
Undertones: Brazilians are embracing Russian narratives when convenient
Polarization impacts Brazilians’ perception of the war in Ukraine – in some cases by embracing Russian narratives
Kenya draws inspiration from Estonia in its journey toward e-governance
Kenya is a thriving democracy, but its internet penetration rate stands at only 33 percent, posing a crucial question: Is the country prepared to embrace the wave of e-governance?
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