About: authoritarian regime
A letter from a Russian friend
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is so brutal and ruthless because this is where the fate of the so-called "Russian world” is decided, writes Orhan Dragaš.
Turkish philanthropist Kavala jailed for life, activists protest
Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala was jailed for life without parole on Monday after he was convicted of trying to overthrow the government by financing protests, in a case that Europe's top court and Western powers say is politically motivated.
The Ukraine war and the Balkans: When autocrats pose as stability guarantors
The war in Ukraine has triggered Western Balkan autocrats to position themselves as guarantors of stability and for that reason, regional political initiatives by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić should be ended, experts concluded at a conference held in Sofia on Monday (11 April).
The EU should not turn a blind eye to Putinist methods at home
While the EU is right to reshuffle its policy priorities in the short term to respond to Russia’s war of aggression, European leaders should not turn a blind eye to democratic backsliding within our own borders in the name of unity against Russia, writes Sophie Pornschlegel.
Putin misled by ‘yes men’ in military afraid to tell him the truth, White House and EU officials say
Russian President Vladimir Putin was misled by advisers who were too scared to tell him how poorly the war in Ukraine is going and how damaging Western sanctions have been, White House and European officials said on Wednesday (30 March).
After new nine-year sentence Navalny rallies supporters from jail
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny urged his supporters to show their opposition to the Russian government after a court sentenced him to nine years in prison on Tuesday (22 March) for fraud and contempt.
Putin warns Russia against pro-Western ‘traitors’ and ‘scum’
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (16 March) delivered a stark warning to Russian "traitors" who he said the West wanted to use as a "fifth column" to destroy the country.
Anti-war protester in studio disrupts live Russian state TV news
An anti-war protester interrupted a live news bulletin on Russia's state TV Channel One on Monday (14 March), holding up a sign behind the studio presenter and shouting slogans denouncing the war in Ukraine.
Russian law on ‘fake news’ prompts media to halt reporting as websites blocked
Russia blocked Facebook and some other websites and passed a law that gave Moscow much stronger powers to crack down on independent journalism, prompting the BBC, Bloomberg and other foreign media to suspend reporting in the country.
Russia threatens jail for ‘fake’ news about Ukraine conflict
Russia's parliament on Friday (4 March) passed a law imposing a jail term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally "fake" news about the military, stepping up the information war over the conflict in Ukraine.
EU urges Moscow to free Navalny on anniversary of his arrest
The European Union called on Moscow on Monday (17 January) to immediately release Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic, who was jailed a year ago in what the EU condemned as a politically motivated act.
Russia brands key Navalny aides ‘terrorists’
Russia has branded two key allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny "terrorists and extremists", a government database showed Friday (14 January), days ahead of the anniversary of the opposition leader's arrest.
EU, US widen Nicaragua sanctions as Ortega begins new term
Daniel Ortega was sworn in Monday (10 January) as Nicaragua’s president for a fourth straight term as the EU and US tightened sanctions over impugned elections held in November with all his challengers in jail. “Yes, I swear,” said strongman...
Russian court orders rights group Memorial to close
Russia's Supreme Court on Tuesday (28 December) ordered the closure of Memorial, the country's most prominent rights group that chronicled Stalin-era purges and symbolised post-Soviet democratisation.
Turkey’s crisis rattles the faithful in Erdogan’s heartland
Turkish President’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s single-handed policies have triggered a 56% fall in the lira this year and driving up the cost of living for ordinary Turks. Nevertheless, Erdoğan's party still enjoys more support than any other.
Council of Europe to discipline Turkey over jailed activist
The Council of Europe said Friday (3 December) it will launch disciplinary action against Turkey for refusing to free prominent activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala, triggering a procedure used only once before in the organisation's history.
Venezuela President Maduro brands EU electoral observers ‘spies’
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday (28 November) denounced members of the EU’s electoral observation mission who monitored voting last weekend as "spies," and accused them of looking to "stain" the regional elections on their preliminary report.
Turkey holds first Kavala hearing after row with Western allies
A Turkish court on Friday (26 November) will hold the latest hearing in the trial of philanthropist businessman Osman Kavala, whose case provoked a diplomatic tussle between Ankara and its Western allies after they called for his immediate release.
EU observers report irregularities in Venezuela vote
An EU observer mission on Tuesday (23 November) reported irregularities in Venezuelan elections for governors and mayors over the weekend, in which opposition parties participated for the first time since 2017.
Commission compromising Rule of Law standards in the interest of Orban-Vucic axis
The last European Commission report on Serbia is a blatant example how the rule of law standards can be compromised under a Commissioner representing Viktor Orbán’s ideology, writes Viola von Cramon-Taubadel.
EU Commission, Council of Europe deplore closing down of Russian NGO Memorial
Closing down respected Russian rights group Memorial would deal a "devastating blow" to civil society in the country, the secretary general of pan-European rights body the Council of Europe said Friday (12 November).
Serbia uses football to score geopolitical goals in former Yugoslavia
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has been using a range of different yet seemingly innocent means to achieve his political goals, both literally and figuratively, Serbian journalist Darko Čačić reports for EURACTIV Bulgaria.
Erdogan threatens to expel 10 Western envoys
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday (21 October) threatened to expel the US, German and eight other Western ambassadors after they issued a rare joint statement in support of a jailed civil society leader.