Putin’s Syria Narrative Must Win Russian Public Opinion–But It’ll Be A Hard Sell
Image credit: Russian Presidential Press OfficeAnalysis and Commentaryvia ForbesVladimir Putin has embarked on Russia’s first military action outside the former Soviet Union, and he must now convince Russian people that his intervention in Syria is necessary and in Russia’s best interests. In his three previous propaganda-driven...
OSCE/ODIHR trains police commanders from Poland on human rights-based policing of peaceful assemblies
195231 Human rights-compliant policing of peaceful assemblies was the focus of training for Polish officers, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Szczytno, Poland on 28 and 29 September 2015. Bringing together 25 police commanders from across Poland, the participants discussed how human rights...
Energy Sanctions and Russia: What Comes Next?
This brief discusses the effectiveness of Western sanctions on Russia’s energy sector following Moscow’s 2014 intervention in Ukraine. The author explains that although the Russian oil and gas production and exports are unlikely to be significantly affected in the short run, in the long run, as the Russian oil and gas industry loses...
A Cure For No Disease
‘Europe’s last dictatorship’ stood still for nearly a week in early October while holding one of its most significant events. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Hybrid: what’s in a name?
Security analysts and practitioners have a tendency to coin new terms which capture the challenge(s) they are facing or the mandate(s) they are supposed to embrace. Terms such as ‘low-intensity conflicts’, ‘failed’ or ‘fragile’ states, ‘asymmetrical’ threats or even, for that matter, ‘comprehensive approach’ are all...
Hybrid operations: lessons from the past
The security situation in and around Europe has changed dramatically over the past two years. The conflict in Ukraine and the success of the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East and North Africa have put territorial defence and homeland security back on the agenda in Europe. Hybrid threats and operations against the EU and its partners are real...
Politician’s Arrest, Release Spotlight Moldova’s Split Personality
Pro-Russian party leader claims to have tapes incriminating leading politicians in misdeeds. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
US fears a Russian attack on undersea internet cables that could plunge world into chaos
EPA/Pavel KonovovIt may sound far-fetched at first, but there’s a growing fear of the damage a newly aggressive Russia might inflict in a time of tension or conflict simply by damaging or cutting the undersea cables that carry almost all of the West’s internet traffic. The New York Times reported that Russian submarines and spy ships...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 27 October 2015
The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”, including the Addendum. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. There was an increase in fighting around the area of Donetsk airport. Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM observed...
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 27 October 2015
Please note that this report is for media and the general public. SUMMARY Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs. A forty-first Russian Convoy crossed the Donetsk BCP. DETAIL OM’s staff...
