The Significance of High Readiness Forces for NATO Credibility
Even though the U.S. has in the last decade reduced the number of its troops in Europe from 98,000 to about 70,000, NATO’s ability to deter Russia and to perform expeditionary missions is largely based on American military resources. After the withdrawal of the last armoured brigade from Europe in 2013, just two U.S. Army brigades (airborne...
What Russia Wants
Russia wants to be recognised as a great power. But in the face of criticism over its actions in Ukraine, Syria and elsewhere, Moscow asserts that its legitimate strategic interests are being ignored and the nature of its foreign policy is deliberately misrepresented. Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia HE Mr Grigory Logvinov gave a...
Vigilantes in military gear accused of new attack on Roma in Kyiv
A family who recently spoke out publicly about disturbing measures to drive out Romani residents of Kyiv have been set upon by a group of former soldiers whose civic organization was organized under the patronage of an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
The Reform Story Isn’t Over in Kyiv
In the West, many people are ready to write off Ukraine. They wrongly believe that Ukraine’s reforms are stagnating, corruption is widespread, and the country is at war. But Ukraine’s reforms are definitely not done. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
The (New) State of Alania
A recent referendum renaming South Ossetia opened up the age-old topic about Alanian history and heritage in the Caucasus. From JAMnews. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
NATO looks healthier than expected – but trouble is brewing
So far, 2017 has been a good year for NATO. Donald Trump, who infamously wrote off the alliance as “obsolete” during his election campaign, reversed gear in April, praising it as a “bulwark of international peace and security”. The new French president, Emmanuel Macron, has promised that France will “honour its commitment to alliances”. And the...
Congress Should ‘Phone a Friend’ When Sanctioning Russia
Discussion of additional U.S. sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 presidential election and general bad behavior is heating up in Congress, but lawmakers should coordinate with our allies before acting. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held hearings in March and April to assess options for further...
Dozens Detained in Raids on Ukrainian Tax Offices
Corruption crackdowns have tended to fizzle out in Ukraine. Will this one be any different? …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Prominent Russian Director Questioned in Fraud Case
Cultural luminaries rise in defense of Kirill Serebrennikov following searches of his home and Moscow’s Gogol Center theater. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Politicians jeopardize role of main human rights body in Ukraine
Three of Ukraine’s main parties have put forward ‘their own’ candidates for the now vacant post of Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsperson, and human rights groups are up in arms. There can be no political quotas or wheeling-dealing about a person appointed to protect all citizens’ rights in the country, they insist …read more...
