Europe's East
Council of Europe warns Armenia over plan to block court entrances
Monitors from the Council of Europe, the organisation specialised in human rights, appealed on Tuesday (21 May) to the authorities in Armenia to refrain from any actions that could be seen as undemocratic, following a judge’s decision to release former President Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.
High fives, selfies and a snap election as Zelenskiy takes power in Ukraine
Television comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy took the oath of office as Ukraine’s new president on Monday (20 May), promising that as hard as he had worked in the past to make Ukrainians laugh, he would now work to keep them from crying.
Future of the Eastern Partnership: The Polish view
An “Association Agreements plus” with a secretariat, a rotating presidency, and the creation of a regional economic area. These could be the next steps for the "Eastern Partnership" (EaP) launched 10 years ago, writes Prof. Jacek Czaputowicz.
Ambassador: For Georgia, the Eastern Partnership means a lot
In a wide-ranging interview, the Ambassador of Georgia to the EU talked about the lessons learned from 10 years of Eastern Partnership, her country’s reforms, relations with neighbours, including the biggest one – Russia.
Volunteering initiatives build new society in Ukraine
In various initiatives to build a new civil society, the communication between Ukraine and international allies wouldn’t be possible without the English language, writes Kate Rohozhnykova.
How to rectify Georgia’s statehood
It is a well-known Georgian secret, that the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili runs the country’s affairs through his “Georgian dream” political party, police and judiciary and even some other political parties and most of the mass media, writes Nino Burjanadze.
Russia offers passports to east Ukraine, president-elect decries ‘aggressor state’
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on Wednesday (24 April) simplifying the procedure for obtaining a Russian passport for residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine, prompting calls from Kyiv for more international sanctions.
Ukrainian President-elect calls for IMF talks to lower gas prices for households
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy's team on Wednesday (24 April) called on the government and state energy company Naftogaz to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund on lowering household gas prices from 1 May.
Ukraine enters uncharted waters after Zelenskiy wins presidency
Ukraine entered uncharted political waters on Monday (22 April) after near final results showed a comedian with no political experience and few detailed policies had dramatically upended the status quo and won the country's presidential election by a landslide.
Russia’s ally message to Ukraine’s probable new President: Do deal and get territory back
Ukraine's new president could regain control over the separatist-controlled east of his country within months and get cheap gas and major investment from Russia if he does a deal with Moscow, the Kremlin's closest ally in Ukraine said.
EU should prevent any disruption of Ukrainian elections
Incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s supporters are trying to portray opponent Volodymyr Zelenskiy as pro-Russian. But there is no evidence of his “pro-Russianness”, and he has explicitly backed plans to join NATO and the EU, writes Oleg Sukhov.
Why Armenia’s prime minister is a threat to rule of law
Robert Kocharyan, one of Armenia's former presidents, sent this op-ed from prison, accusing the current prime minister of abuse of power, at a time when in his words Nikol Pashinyan is on “a photo-op tour of European capitals pledging his commitment to strengthening the rule of law”.
In blow to Poroshenko, Macron to receive Zelenskiy before presidential run-off
Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a political novice and favourite to win Kyiv's presidential vote, will head to Paris Friday (12 April) to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.
Georgia remembers its 9 April
On 9 April 1989, Soviet tanks rolled into Tbilisi, and Georgians realised Gorbachev’s regime was just as steeped in blood as that of his predecessors. Thirty years on, Georgia remembers its heroes, writes Natalie Sabanadze.
Ukraine elections elephant in the room ahead of Eastern Partnership talks
Ahead of the Eastern Partnership's (EaP) tenth anniversary in May, EU foreign ministers are next week set to review the progress of the bloc’s framework with the six countries, with the situation in Ukraine being the elephant in the room.
Mogherini: ‘Inshallah, EU and Azerbaijan will soon finalise their agreement’
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini expressed hope on Thursday (4 April) that the EU and Azerbaijan would conclude a new trade and political agreement very soon, using the Arabic expression Inshallah (God willing).
EU undisturbed over conflicting Nagorno-Karabakh messages
Conflicting messages about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been aired in recent days: "Territories for peace" and a “new war for new territories”. But the European Union made it clear it trusted the messages of peace.
Not an April spoof: Comedian races ahead in Ukrainian presidential election
A comedian with no political experience raced ahead in Ukraine’s presidential election on Sunday (31 March), offering a fresh face to voters fed up with entrenched corruption in a country on the frontline of the West’s standoff with Russia.OpinionPromoted content
East finally meets West in Azerbaijan
Safety and gender equality cement Azerbaijan’s place as the shining example of a modern Muslim democracy, writes Vadim Gusman.
Putin in Crimea as Russia marks five years since ‘reunification’
Russian President Vladimir Putin flew into Crimea on Monday (18 March) to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Moscow's annexation of the strategic peninsula from Ukraine which was condemned by the West but remains popular among Russians.
Russia slams ‘hypocrisy’ of new Western sanctions ahead of Crimea anniversary
Ahead of the fifth anniversary of Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, condemned by the West but celebrated by most Russians, the United States, Canada and the EU slapped new sanctions on more than a dozen Russian officials and businesses in response to Moscow's "continued aggression in Ukraine."
Ukraine tempted by the Trump model
Voters in Ukraine may be tempted by a Trump-style option at Presidential elections at the end of March. Be careful what you wish for, warns Dmitriy Frolovskiy.
Puppet policy won’t solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The recent assertions by the Armenian Prime Minister to involve the illegal puppet regime established in the seized lands of Azerbaijan, in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, can only paralyse the whole process, writes Hikmat Hajiev.