A quarter-century of independent Ukraine. Dimensions of transformation
On 24 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR proclaimed independence, and on 1 December the same year, the Ukrainian people ratified that proclamation in a referendum. The new Ukrainian state had some very important assets, such as the peaceful path that led to its independence, the fact that its territory was uncontested and its...
Ukraine’s Challenges Are Very Real, but Now Is Not the Time for the West to Let Up
Four years since its Euromaidan revolution, Ukraine is fighting for its survival as an independent and viable state. The country is struggling to hold together and resist Russia’s interference and pressure—in the military, diplomatic, economic, and media spheres. But simultaneously, an internal contest is occurring that will...
What is the Future for German-Polish Relations
Relations between Warsaw and Berlin are amongst the most crucial, and historically-burdened, bilateral entanglements in the world. The German-Polish historical rapprochement that was put in motion in 1989 has been one of the pillars of European order that has proved indispensable to the stability of Central and Eastern Europe. Yet, this pillar...
‘Waiting in vain’ Flash-mobs for Russia’s Ukrainian political prisoners as number rises well above 60
The Kremlin’s Ukrainian political prisoners were waited for in vain at countless airports throughout the world on November 26. There are now well over 60 known prisoners, held on spurious charges, and the number has risen alarmingly over recent months. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Poroshenko accused of following in Yanukovych’s tracks over retrograde law
A law recently passed and signed by the President in blitzkrieg fashion strips the heads and deputy heads of local state administrations of their civil servant status, with this removing any requirements for their appointment on a competitive basis, and restrictions on political party affiliation. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights...
Kleptocracy Daily | November 29, 2017
Tomorrow: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will speak at the launch of KI’s report on beneficial ownership, United States of Anonymity by Casey Michel. Read the report and join us at the Dirksen Senate Office Building from 9:30 a.m. The Russian billionaire next door: Putin ally Oleg Deripaska used a Delaware shell company to purchase a mansion...
Germany: Keeping an Eye on the Balkans
By Antonia Colibasanu Germany’s foreign intelligence agency is increasingly turning its attention to the Balkans, according to a report by German newspaper Berliner Zeitung. The agency, the BND, has not confirmed the story, but the media rarely report on the BND’s work. That they did in this case could indicate that the agency wants...
Securing Democracy Dispatch
News and Commentary Continuing social media response to Russian disinformation: Facebook announced that it is developing a tool in its Help Center that will show users a list of their followed or liked Facebook and Instagram accounts that were developed by the Russian IRA troll farm. The new transparency portal will be live by 2018. However, the...
November 27th, 2017
CAMBODIA Hun Sen Launches Attack On Cambodian Centre For Human Rights Liam Cochrane, ABC News Australia Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen—who was installed into power by Vietnam and survives largely due to Chinese funding—has continued his anti-foreigner attacks, this time targeting a major human rights organisation. Sen says the CCHR...
Russian-speaking Germans: Who are they?
Russia / Europe For many years, residents of West Germany born in the USSR were unofficially labeled “invisible migrants”. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, stories on the “Russian mafia” intially circulated through the German news media, but soon faded from the forefront. The topic of Russians in Germany in the years after unification has...
