The United States of Anonymity
By Casey Michel Download the full report here For years, Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” was considered the world’s premier arms dealer, with clients ranging from those in Muammar Qaddafi’s Libya to those in Mobutu Sese Seko’s Democratic Republic of the Congo. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko,...
Scientists Probe Baikal Seal Deaths
The die-off of the unique animals is bringing overfishing, pollution and other pressing environmental issues into focus. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Central Asia and the Bolshevik Revolution Centennial
Although it happened thousands of miles away, and did not reflect any of the local political currents at work in 1917, the October Revolution had a profound impact on Central Asia. From EurasiaNet.org. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Moldovans Don’t Speak Romanian, Angry Dodon Declares
The outside world sees little difference between the main languages spoken in the neighbor countries, but many Moldovans beg to differ. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Poland seeks to deny entry to those with ‘extreme anti-Polish attitudes’
In a further sign of strained relations between Warsaw and Kyiv, Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said on Thursday (2 November) that procedures to bar people “with extreme anti-Polish attitudes” from entering the country are being launched, drawing an angry reply from Ukraine. …read more Source:...
Washington is a city for sale
What do General Michael Flynn, President Donald J Trump’s first National Security Advisor, Paul Manafort, Trump’s erstwhile campaign chief, and Tony Podesta, the lobbyist and brother of Hillary Clinton’s former campaign chief, John Podesta, have in common? They have all been accused of taking money from dodgy dictators to...
Why Was Zapad-2017 So Important?
The strategic joint military exercise Zapad-2017 took place from September 14-20 at several training grounds in Russia and Belarus. According to official statements, the total number of troops participating in this military drill was 13,000. However, the real figures could well have been significantly higher. The official scenario of Zapad-2017...
Abducted & tortured Crimean Tatar: “If I don’t speak out, they’ll come for others”
We cannot know how many Ukrainians the FSB have abducted and tortured in Russian-occupied Crimea to extract ‘confessions’ to non-existent crimes, however Renat Paralamov hopes that his refusal to remain silent can help prevent the number becoming even higher. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Hazing, Suicides and Unreported Deaths in the Russian Army
Security This October, Russia launched another round of military conscription. Despite upbeat official rhetoric, the news media have recently published a number of alarming stories about soldiers committing suicide. Although the situation has been gradually improving, this brings to light a problem that has afflicted Russia’s armed forces...
Russians persecuted and jailed for fighting for Ukraine in Donbas
One Russian has been jailed for over three years, and another, extradited from Tajikistan, is about to be put on trial in Russia for taking part in the fighting in Donbas on the side of Ukraine. The FSB and Russian courts treat anybody supporting Ukraine as a ‘mercenary’, while notorious mercenary Arseny Pavlov [‘Motorola’] and other...
