The Importance of the Zapad 2017 Exercises
The Zapad 2017 Russian military exercises were just one element of an extensive plan to checking its armed forces’ combat readiness. At the same time, the exercises were used to test the experience gained by the Russian army in combat operations in Ukraine and Syria, and to practise full-scale conventional conflict. The manoeuvres proved...
Russia’s Foreign Policy of Disruption
By Jacob L. Shapiro The Trump administration came to office hoping it would be able to find a more cooperative basis upon which to work with Russia than previous U.S. administrations had. Of course, the Bush administration and the Obama administration tried to reset U.S.-Russia relations as well, to no avail. Less than a year into Donald...
Russia’s Interference in Germany Will Continue beyond the September 24 Elections
On September 24, Germany holds a nationwide election. If the polls and experts are accurate, it should be a humdrum affair. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will receive the majority of the votes, sending her to a fourth term without breaking much of a sweat. However, all elections, even predictable ones, have...
Ukraine must create an independent anti-corruption court
Transparency International calls on the Ukrainian authorities to create an independent anti-corruption court as part of Ukraine’s legal obligations and its commitments to the EU and the International Monetary Fund. Only this will strengthen the country’s efforts to fight corruption. Ukraine’s President Poroshenko has stated that...
The Last Hurdle for Ukraine’s Recovery
…read more Source: Project Syndicate (Czech...
Q&A with New OSCE Rep on Freedom of the Media
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representative on Freedom of the Media plays a vital role that is valued by journalists and media freedom groups for its ability to speak out in defense of press freedom. At a time when press freedom is deteriorating in many OSCE states — including Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip...
‘Alternative for Germany’ and the Kremlin: A marriage of convenience?
Russia / Europe ‘Alternative for Germany’ (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD), a political party founded by Eurosceptics in 2013, which emerged in its current political shape in 2015, has became a notable political force in German politics within a short space of time. Representatives of AfD have already been elected to 13 of the 16...
ETLA forecast: Finland’s GDP will grow by 2.9 per cent in 2017
FINNISH ECONOMY 2017/2 Finland’s economic environment is favourable: economic growth in the euro area and China has strengthened and growth in the US continues at a moderate pace. The greatest risks are related to financial markets, international politics and trade liberalization. Finland’s GDP will grow by 2.9 per cent in 2017....
A View From Ukraine’s Edge
Bessarabia is a remote multiethnic region in the southwestern corner of Ukraine. But with its peculiarities, it can be considered as a more extreme version of Ukraine as a whole. …read more Source: Carnegie...
Dramatic Acquittals in Trial over Odesa 2 May 2014 Riots
There were violent scenes in Odesa on Monday evening following the sensational acquittal of 20 pro-Russian activists who had been charged over the fatal disturbances in Odesa on May 2, 2014. The outrage from some quarters, and the prosecutor’s stated intention to appeal the ruling cannot hide the brutal truth that a guilty verdict, given...
