Europe's East
Tens of thousands rally in Belarus against post-vote crackdown
Tens of thousands of Belarusians staged a wave of peaceful protests on Thursday (13 August) against President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and an ensuing brutal police crackdown.
Belarus starts to release prisoners as EU weighs sanctions
Belarusian authorities on Thursday (13 August) began releasing some of the thousands of people detained in a crackdown by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko that has prompted the European Union to consider imposing sanctions.
Belarus should not be a province of the Russian neo-empire
On the eve of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council this Friday (14 August), there is need for urgent contacts between EU representatives and the Belarusian Foreign Ministry to clarify and resolve issues related to the political crisis in Belarus, writes Petro Poroshenko.
EU says Belarus vote not free, threatens sanctions
The European Union declared Tuesday (11 August) that the Belarus presidential election that returned authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko to office had been "neither free nor fair".
Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanovskaya taken to Lithuania
Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has travelled to Lithuania from Belarus amid the protests and is safe, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said in a Twitter post on Tuesday (11 August). Tikhanovskaya emerged as Alexander Lukashenko’s main rival at Sunday’s...
Poland calls for extraordinary EU summit following tainted Belarus election
Poland on Monday (10 August) called for an emergency European Union summit on the situation in Belarus after clashes in the night in Minsk following a disputed presidential election.
Europe must not allow Lukashenko to continue his manipulations
The EU must shape at least two different policies towards Belarus - one for the regime that stole the elections and one for the civil society, writes Urmas Paet.
What is happening in Belarus cannot be called elections
After 9 August Belarus will have a totally illegitimate president, and the West must be prepared for the perspective of the illegitimate Lukashenko, writes Andrius Kubilius.
Belarus police crackdown on mass protests against strongman president after election
Belarus police fired water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades in a crackdown on protests that erupted on Sunday (9 August) as President Alexander Lukashenko was set to claim another election win in the face of the biggest challenge in years to his grip on power.
Zelenskiy’s oligarch friend accused by US of stealing, laundering billions
The Justice Department of the United States accused on Tuesday (6 August) Ihor Kolomoysky, an oligarch considered close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, of stealing billions from a bank he owned, and of laundering this money over the world.
Ukraine expects to swap 100 prisoners with Russian-backed separatists
Ukraine expects to exchange around 100 prisoners on each side with Russian-backed separatists within weeks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff told Reuters on Thursday (6 August) on a visit to eastern Ukraine.
Rising star shakes up Belarus strongman’s re-election bid
Belarus holds presidential polls on Sunday (9 August) with a novice opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge in years to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus leader claims opposition ‘massacre’ plot ahead of vote
Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday (4 August) accused the opposition and Russia of planning violent unrest and vowed to defend his regime as early voting began in presidential elections.
Ukraine says no plans to resume gas purchases from Russia
Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz said it would not resume buying natural gas from Russia, suspended since late 2015, until Moscow offered it competitive prices and conditions.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Dangerous trends in Armenia – Azerbaijan conflict
Although currently it seems that there is “relative calm” on the border, Armenia and Azerbaijan continue fighting verbally on the social media and, more dangerously, physically in foreign countries where they have settled, writes Vasif Huseynov.
Report: Preventive communication needed on Armenia-Azerbaijan border
A communication channel set up in 2018 to discuss incidents along the front lines could be used for sharing preventative information to protect farmers and minimise risks of escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, a recent report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) suggests.
Georgia: continued EU support needed to fight ‘information disorder’
Anti-Western messages in Georgia have doubled in number, with a particular increase in anti-American and anti-NATO messages related to the US support on security issues and the post-Soviet country’s integration into the transatlantic defence alliance, a recent report has found....OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Caucasus: Armenia’s ‘New war for new territories’
While Europe and the rest of the world is trying to cope with the coronavirus and searching for ways to re-energise their pandemic-affected economies, fighting broke out on 12 July on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia would appear by any rational analysis to have the only motive for starting the recent border skirmishes, writes James Wilson.
Ukraine reassures EU as Brussels and Kyiv sign loan package
The European Commission's economy boss, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal signed on Thursday (23 July) a large loan package supposed to stabilise the ex-Soviet country's ailing finances amid international concern that its leadership is backtracking on reforms.
Ukraine’s government and pro-Russian separatists agree ceasefire deal
Ukrainian, Russian and negotiators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reached an agreement on Wednesday (22 July) for a full ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine from 27 July.
Borrell in three-way call with Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
In a three-way call on Wednesday (22 July) with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell called for an end to armed confrontations following a flare-up of tensions last week along the international state border between the two countries.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Five reasons why Armenia is resorting to military provocation
Azay Guliyev explains why recent clashes at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be taken seriously by the international community.
Clashes resume on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
Border clashes erupted again early on Thursday (16 July) between arch-foes Azerbaijan and Armenia after a brief pause the previous day, officials in both countries said, amid a flare-up over a decades-long territorial dispute.