Europe's East
Azerbaijan drops assault charges against jailed blogger
Azerbaijan has dropped fresh charges against a jailed anti-corruption blogger who has denounced his prosecution as politically motivated, prosecutors said Tuesday (22 January).
Russian Orthodoxy, a security issue in Ukraine
The politico-spiritual move away from Russian Orthodoxy, presented by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko as a major national security issue, has deeply angered Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has political ambitions in the region, writes Willy Fautré.
Russia plays for time in EU-mediated Ukraine gas transit talks
The EU mediated on Monday (21 January) talks between Moscow and Kyiv on the future of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, the only decision being that the sides agreed to meet again in May.
Azeri parliamentary cooperation chair: MEPs should check facts before they vote
Some events in Azerbaijan are treated in the EU with prejudice and intentional bias, and some MEPs have a clear agenda to make obstacles to the rapprochement of EU-Azerbaijan relations, Javanshir Feyziyev told EURACTIV in a written interview.
EU, UN welcome thaw in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations over Nagorno-Karabakh
The EU welcomed on Friday (18 January) a recent thaw in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Russian senator says US warship in Black Sea should keep its distance
Visits to the Black Sea by US warships have nothing to do with US security and are motivated by domestic politics, prominent Russian senator Alexei Pushkov said on Sunday (20 January), warning they should stay away from the Russian coast.
Ice is melting for Nagorno-Karabakh
Several indications signal a thaw in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and hopes for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, writes Ilgar Gurbanov.
Ukraine Orthodox Church obtains independence from Moscow
The spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide on Sunday (6 January) presented the head of the Ukrainian church with a decree granting it independence from Moscow, a historic split strongly opposed by Russia.
Dutch may take Russia to court over MH17
The Netherlands is considering dragging Russia to an international court over the downing of flight MH17 after talks over responsibility ground to an impasse, the Dutch foreign minister said Thursday (20 December).
Pashinyan: the Providential Man to solve Armenia’s problems?
A political earthquake hit Europe’s furthest far-flung frontier last week, as Armenians voted in what has been labelled their nation’s first free and transparent elections. But just who is the revolutionary leader that has captured the hearts of Armenia’s inhabitants?
Georgia’s new president seeks unity after vote protests
Georgia's incoming President Salome Zurabishvili vowed to reconcile political divisions and deepen ties with NATO and Europe at Sunday's inauguration that opposition protesters were blocked from reaching.
NATO: Baku is ‘perfect venue’ for talking to Russia
Azerbaijan's capital Baku has once again been the venue for a meeting between the top brass of Russia and US, at a time when relations between the two military superpowers are at a new low.
No new sanctions on Russia at EU summit over Azov Sea
European Union leaders will offer Ukraine help for its regions affected by Russia's actions in the Azov Sea when they meet on Thursday (13 December), but no new sanctions on Russia will be imposed.
Julian King: Russian info war preceded Ukrainian ship seizures
Russia launched a year-long fake news campaign about Kiev's and NATO's plans for the Azov Sea before seizing three Ukrainian ships and their crew there, EU security commissioner Julian King alleged Monday (10 December).
Election landslide in Armenia as revolution comes full-circle
Armenia confirmed journalist-turned-politician Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister on Sunday (9 December) as voters handed him a landslide victory and banished the former ruling party from parliament, after nearly two decades in power.
Armenia to hold snap polls to cement reform drive
Armenia on Sunday (9 December) holds early parliamentary polls triggered by reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan who seeks to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country.
Azov Sea tensions: OSCE offers its good offices
Ukraine and Russia should seize the opportunity for dialogue and diplomacy at this week’s annual meeting of Foreign Ministers from countries of the world’s largest regional security organisation, the OSCE, write Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Thomas Greminger.
Kerch Strait attack testifies that Kremlin’s aggression has no limits
The leniency of the West encouraged Russia to take its aggression against Ukraine to a new level, writes Mykola Tochytskyi, who puts forward several recommendations.
Official: Azerbaijan is ready for chairing Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022
Azerbaijan, a supporter of multilateralism and international cooperation, will chair the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022, with international peace and security as the top priority issues, a senior official from the country told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Thousands of Georgians protest ‘stolen election’, urge snap polls
Around 25,000 Georgians protested Sunday (2 December) against the election of a ruling party-backed candidate to the presidency and demanded snap parliamentary polls in a move that threatens to complicate the transition of power in the Western-backed nation.
Chizhov: The Ukraine conflict is not in Russia’s interest
In an exclusive interview, the long-serving Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov provided insight on his country’s position on the Azov Sea situation, which led to the cancelling of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Argentina.
Putin defends seizure of Ukrainian ships, Poroshenko invites NATO in Azov Sea
President Vladimir Putin insisted on Wednesday (28 November) that Russian forces were in the right to seize three Ukrainian ships last weekend, while his Ukrainian colleague Petro Poroshenko invited NATO ships in the Azov Sea.
Former French diplomat wins Georgia presidential election
Results from Georgia’s presidential runoff showed the ruling party-backed candidate, who favours balancing the ex-Soviet republic’s relations with Moscow and the West, defeating her rival who advocates a stronger pro-Western line.