Poroshenko accused of creating a weapon against critical NGOs, like in Russia & Kazakhstan
Ukrainian civic activists have expressed anger over public claims made by the President’s spokesperson that two contentious bills imposing extensive reporting requirements on NGOs, though not, for example, political parties, have been agreed with civic organizations …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Armed Conflict in 2017 Part Three: 2018 Forecasts for the Rohingya Crisis and Ukraine.
Predicting the future trajectory of armed conflict is a notoriously difficult task, even when limited to a period of only one year. Events internal to a country are capable of producing unwelcome surprises: in the DRC we have witnessed the Kasai region plummet into horrendous violence that began over the matter of a local succession, at a time...
World Bank Launches Ukrainian Crop Receipt Programme
The IFC, the commercial arm of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Swiss and Ukrainian governments, is rolling out a new financial instrument – crop receipts – across Ukraine to expand access to finance for small farmers, boosting agricultural productivity and supporting economic growth. Crop receipts are a pre-harvest financial...
Menacing attack on the son of a Crimean Tatar National Congress member
23-year-old Fakhri Muratov was dragged from his car in Russian-occupied Crimea on February 6 by men in masks and without any insignia. The men proceeded to beat him and then search his car, before driving off. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Kleptocracy Watch | January 12, 2018
The week’s leading news and features on globalized corruption and the threat to democracy… TOP STORIES Global Magnitsky Act: 52 individuals and entities were sanctioned in the first tranche of designations – but the real story is the extraordinary Executive Order that Trump signed to do it, writes Rob Bershinski. (Just Security) Beyond...
Germany’s Critics of Russia Sanctions: What Motivates Them?
Russia / Europe At the end of January, the prime ministers of five regions in what was formerly East Germany demanded a softening or lifting of the European Union’s sanctions against Russia. “Restrictive policies are not working. We need new approaches,” said Reiner Haseloff, prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt (CDU). The head of...
Reforming Ukraine’s Energy Sector: Critical Unfinished Business
Transforming Ukraine’s energy sector is essential to strengthening the country’s economic and national security. Despite intensified efforts and some recent progress, the outlook is troubled. …read more Source: Carnegie...
Beetles Chomp Down Belarusian, Polish Forests
The infestation is but one symptom of a pestilence spreading across the northern hemisphere. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
12 Traditional Ukrainian Dishes You Must Try
Source: The Culture Trip The peculiar features of traditional Ukrainian food have been forming over centuries. The neighboring countries, climate conditions, rich soil and hard-working locals have influenced the complexity of the dishes. Ukrainian dishes are generously flavored (with garlic often the main seasoning) and, despite the contradictory...
Understanding Russia’s Appetite for Uranium
Economy Russia is the third-largest consumer of uranium in the world, and the country aims to be a key driver of growth in uranium markets over the next few years. The evidence of Russia’s intent can be seen domestically through its own nuclear power expansion efforts. In Central Asia, Russia draws on close ties from the Soviet period to...
