Eastern Europe
Impact of Hungary’s toxic mud disaster
By Markus Salzmann, 1 December 2010
Nearly two months after Hungary’s worst environmental disaster, no one in the world of politics or business is prepared to take responsibility for the devastating consequences.
World Bank report points to deepening social crisis in Russia
By Clara Weiss, 26 November 2010
The World Bank’s recent report on Russia points to the social crisis affecting the population as the result of the global economic downturn.
US takes extraordinary steps to extradite alleged Russian arms dealer
By Niall Green, 19 November 2010
The United States has exerted enormous political pressure on Thai authorities to extradite Viktor Bout, a Russian accused of being a major international arms dealer. Both Moscow and Washington greatly value Bout as a man who knows too much to be in the hands of their rivals.
Disputed Pacific islands spark tensions between Russia and Japan
By Andrea Peters, 5 November 2010
Diplomatic tensions have erupted between Russia and Japan, following a high-profile visit by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to the South Kuril Islands.
Moldova before the elections
By Diana Toma and Mark Salzman, 29 October 2010
The Moldovan elections to be held on November 28 are the third elections the country has held in less than two years.
Hungary’s toxic sludge disaster and the case for socialism
By Paul Mitchell, 16 October 2010
The six-foot-high tidal wave of caustic sludge that buried several Hungarian villages last week and swept away houses, cars and bridges claimed nine lives.
Strikes erupt over public worker pay cut in Romania
15 October 2010
A spontaneous strike by employees of the finance ministry has turned into a major crisis for the government.
Far-right party wins Hungarian municipal elections
By Markus Salzmann, 11 October 2010
Twenty years after the collapse of the Stalinist regime in Hungary, an extreme right-wing party is taking control of the state.
Dismissal of Moscow mayor reveals tensions in Russian ruling elite
By Vladimir Volkov and Andrea Peters, 9 October 2010
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev dismissed Moscow’s mayor Yuri Luzhkov September 28. One of the most powerful politicians in the country, Luzhkov had occupied his post for 18 years, virtually the entire post-Soviet period.
Toxic sludge catastrophe in Hungary
By Stefan Steinberg, 8 October 2010
The devastation following the release of a tidal wave of toxic sludge in Hungary is part of the high price the population is paying for the implementation of the free market economy.
China and Russia strengthen strategic ties
By John Chan, 6 October 2010
Amid rising tensions between China and the US and its ally Japan, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement with Chinese President Hu Jintao for closer relations.
Thousands demonstrate in Bucharest against social cuts
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, 25 September 2010
Over 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Bucharest on Wednesday to protest against the Romanian government’s austerity policies.
Russian president defends authoritarian rule in the name of “democracy”
By Vladimir Volkov and Andrea Peters, 23 September 2010
At a recent international forum, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev outlined his views on the meaning of democracy.
Hungary—Fidesz now in power for over 100 days
By Markus Salzmann, 16 September 2010
In its first 100 days in office, the Hungarian government headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has introduced a series of laws and initiatives aimed at building up authoritarian structures in political and social life.
Roma family gunned down in Slovakia
By Stefan Steinberg, 3 September 2010
The recent shooting of a Roma family in Slovakia is a product of the racial prejudice sanctioned by the Slovak state.
Russia to partially privatize major industries
By Niall Green, 30 August 2010
The Russian government announced last month that it would sell minority stakes in 11 state-owned companies.
The political and social roots of Russia’s wildfire disaster
By Andrea Peters, 21 August 2010
The wildfire disaster in Russia, which is now abating, has exposed the decay of social infrastructure resulting from the restoration of capitalism and the vast chasm that separates ordinary working people from the ruling elite.
Austerity measures intensify social crisis in Romania
By Diana Toma, 17 August 2010
The latest austerity measures introduced by the Romanian government will invariably intensify the social crisis in a country already ranked as one of the poorest in Europe.
IMF, European Union increase pressure on Romania
By Andrei Tudora, 11 August 2010
International financial circles are demanding that the Romanian government of Emil Boc prosecute deeper attacks on the working class, in the form of austerity measures.
Moscow suffocates as wildfires continue burning
By Andrea Peters, 10 August 2010
Moscow health department reports a near doubling of the city mortality rate, as heavy smoke caused by burning wildfires continues to blanket the area. The public health crisis is a product of the dismantling of Russia’s public infrastructure and the semi-privatization of the country’s forestlands.
Dramatic increase in HIV infections in Eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 10 August 2010
The spread of HIV/Aids is directly related to the destruction of the health system and social infrastructure carried out at the beginning of the 1990s in the name of the free market.
Russia bans grain exports, world wheat prices soar
By Andrea Peters, 7 August 2010
The Russian government has banned all grain exports, in response to widespread crop failures caused by a severe drought. The agricultural crisis has sent wheat prices soaring in Russia and internationally.
Forest fires kill 50 in central Russia
By David Firestone, 6 August 2010
Forest and peat fires, resulting from sustained record high temperatures and unusually dry weather, have been raging across central Russia for over a week.
Russia to expand military aid to US occupation of Afghanistan
By Niall Green, 30 July 2010
The Kremlin has announced plans to begin shipping arms to support the US occupation of Afghanistan along the Northern Distribution Network that passes through Russia.
UN court upholds Kosovo’s declaration of independence
By Julie Hyland and Paul Mitchell, 30 July 2010
The United Nations International Court of Justice ruled last week that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008 was legal.
IMF and EU step up the pressure on Hungary
By Markus Salzmann, 28 July 2010
The International Monetary Fund and the European Union have tightened the screws on Hungary following a government decision to introduce a levy on banks and insurance companies, and delay the introduction of some of its planned austerity measures.
Russian government to slash budget deficit
By Andrea Peters, 21 July 2010
In recent weeks the Russian government has announced its intention to slash the country’s federal deficit by half by 2013, a move that will require drastic reductions in government spending.
Bulgaria: European business calls for harsher measures
By Markus Salzmann, 20 July 2010
The European elite and the IMF are demanding that the Bulgarian government implement the brutal type of cuts already introduced in Romania, Hungary, Latvia and other Eastern European states.
Czech government announces drastic economic measures
By Markus Salzmann, 19 July 2010
The new so-called “Coalition of Budget Responsibility” plans to implement the severest social cuts in the history of the Czech Republic.
Polish presidential election: Komorowski’s victory augurs massive social attacks in Poland
By Marius Heuser, 6 July 2010
Bronislaw Komorowski, the candidate of the governing conservative Civic Platform (PO) party was able to win 52.6 percent of the vote in the second round of the Polish presidential election held on Sunday.
Slovakia: new right-wing government announces austerity program
By Markus Salzmann, 3 July 2010
The new government of Slovakia has announced a savage austerity program that amounts to a declaration of war on the population.
Kyrgyz ethnic pogroms leave 2,000 dead, 400,000 homeless
By Alex Lantier, 22 June 2010
Bloodshed continued in Kyrgyzstan after ethnic pogroms left thousands dead and 8 percent of the country’s population homeless, and amid continuing political conflict after the April ouster of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Hungary: New government presents radical austerity package
By Markus Salzmann, 19 June 2010
Only one week after taking office, the new Hungarian government led by Victor Orban has put forward an unprecedented package of austerity measures.
Romania’s health service on brink of collapse
By Diana Toma, 18 June 2010
Cuts prepared by Prime Minister Emil Boc and the IMF will have a disastrous impact on Romania’s already devastated health care system.
Ukraine abandons NATO candidacy
By Niall Green, 12 June 2010
The new administration in Kiev seeks to improve ties with Moscow and the EU, while preparing with austerity measures against the working class.
Public sector strike against austerity in Romania
By our correspondents, 9 June 2010
A strike of public sector workers in Romania took place on 31 May to protest the government’s IMF-imposed austerity program.
Russian-EU summit produces few agreements
By Niall Green, 5 June 2010
The Russian-EU summit held last weekend produced no significant agreements as both sides attempted to shore up their relative positions in the face of Europe’s deepening financial crisis.
Major Czech parties suffer massive election losses
By Markus Salzmann, 3 June 2010
The conservative Citizens Party (ODS) and the Social Democratic Party (CSSD) have suffered massive losses in recent parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic.
New Hungarian citizenship law creates tensions with Slovakia
By Markus Salzmann, 2 June 2010
The Hungarian parliament passed a law last month conferring Hungarian citizenship on ethnic Hungarians who live in neighbouring countries.
40,000 rally against government austerity programme
Largest protest in Romania in 20 years
By our correspondent, 1 June 2010
On May 19, some 40,000 workers took to the street in Victory Square, Bucharest, in the largest demonstration in Romania since the downfall of the Stalinist regime in 1989.
Greek debt crisis exacerbates problems in Eastern Europe and Balkans
By Markus Salzmann, 26 May 2010
The debt crisis in Greece is placing Eastern European states under increasing pressure.
Thousands of Slovenian students protest attacks on their conditions
By Alexander Fangmann, 22 May 2010
Thousands of Slovenian students took to the streets of Ljubljana Wednesday to protest the introduction of a bill in parliament that both limits their ability to work during their studies and places a maximum wage on their earnings.
IMF dictates shock program to Romania
By Andrei Tudora, 18 May 2010
The scale of the new IMF dictated attacks to be imposed on Romania is unprecedented even by the country’s past standards.
Tensions build in wake of Russian mine disaster
By Fred Williams, 18 May 2010
In the nine days since two explosions killed scores of miners at the Raspadskaya mine a political crisis has been building in the Kemerovo region in southwestern Siberia.
Ninety feared dead in Russian coal mine explosions
By Fred Williams, 11 May 2010
As many as 90 miners and rescuers have died in a Siberian mine disaster. As in the recent West Virginia disaster, the causes are bound up with increasing productivity and a lowering of safety standards.
Protests grow in Romania
By Diana Toma, 8 May 2010
The austerity program agreed by the Romanian government led by Prime Minister Emil Boc is meeting with increasing resistance on the part of the Romanian people.
Twenty years since declaring independence from the USSR
Austerity in Latvia: a warning to the international working class
By Niall Green, 4 May 2010
Twenty years after declaring independence from the USSR, the Latvian government is carrying out savage austerity measures in collusion with international financial elite and their representatives in the IMF, the European Union, and the government in Riga.
Hungary: Right-wing Fidesz wins two-thirds majority
By Markus Salzmann, 27 April 2010
The right-wing conservative Fidesz (Federation of Young Democrats), led by Victor Orban, won a more than two-thirds majority in the second round of the Hungarian parliamentary election.
Following death of Kaczynski, great powers vie for influence in Poland
By Stefan Steinberg, 19 April 2010
There is an element of the grotesque in both the domestic and international efforts to sanctify the figure of deceased Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
Right wing wins large majority in Hungarian election
By Markus Salzmann, 14 April 2010
The right-wing Federation of Young Democrats (Fidesz) won an absolute majority, while the neo-fascist Party for a Better Hungary took third place in parliamentary elections held in Hungary on Sunday.
IMF head dictates terms to Romania
By Andrei Tudora, 13 April 2010
During his recent visit to Romania the director of the IMF stressed the importance of austerity programs and urged the political establishment to take responsibility for such programs, despite public opposition.
Polish president Lech Kaczynski (1949–2010)—from Solidarity advisor to right-wing politician
By Marius Hauser, 13 April 2010
Poland’s late president Lech Kaczynski, who died Saturday in a plane crash, was a loyal representative of the country’s ruling elite and sought to establish authoritarian forms of rule based on reactionary Polish chauvinism.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski dies in plane crash
By Alex Lantier, 12 April 2010
Polish President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of other government officials died Saturday in a plane crash near Smolensk in western Russia, where they were traveling to a joint commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the World War II Katyn massacre.
Right wing expected to win election in Hungary this weekend
By Markus Salzmann, 10 April 2010
Opinion polls are predicting a landslide victory for the right wing Federation of Young Democrats (Fidesz) in Sunday's election.
Moscow underground bombings linked to crisis in North Caucasus
By Niall Green, 7 April 2010
The Moscow underground double suicide bombing, March 29, in which 40 people were killed, was a tragic and reactionary product of two decades of brutal warfare and repression by the Kremlin in the North Caucasus republics.
Train bombing in Moscow kills dozens
By Andrea Peters, 30 March 2010
Bombs exploded in two Moscow metro stations on Monday morning, killing at least 38 people and injuring dozens more. The Kremlin is blaming separatists from the north Caucasus and is using the incidents as an opportunity to step up repression.
Russia and India improve relations
By Deepal Jayasekera, 23 March 2010
A short visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to India on March 12 resulted in a slew of bilateral agreements and improved strategic relations.
Czech Republic: Trade unions call off transport workers strike
By Markus Salzmann, 12 March 2010
The calling off of a strike by transport workers in the Czech Republic came precisely at the time of the general strike in Greece and when strikes and protests were being held in many other European cities.
Russian President Medvedev signs strategic, business deals in France
By Kumaran Ira, 10 March 2010
France and Russia signed energy, military, and industrial deals as France tried to rally Russian support against Iran and develop its influence in eastern Europe.
The Ukrainian election and the demise of the “Orange Revolution”
By Niall Green, 3 March 2010
The crushing defeat of Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine’s presidential poll in January and the election of Viktor Yanukovich in the second round vote held February 7 mark the ignominious end of the 2004 “Orange Revolution.”
Rising unemployment fuels social tensions in Russia
By Andrea Peters, 20 February 2010
A sharp rise in unemployment in Russia, which now stands at 9.2 percent, is leading to growing social discontent.
Political turmoil continues in Ukraine after presidential election
By Andrea Peters, 13 February 2010
Ukraine remains embroiled in political conflict after last weekend’s run-off election that gave the presidency to Viktor Yanukovich, who defeated rival Yulia Timoshenko by a margin of just over 3 percent.
Russian economic crisis fuels political tensions
By Andrea Peters, 8 February 2010
The Russian economy declined dramatically over the course of 2009, according to recently released data from the federal statistics service.
First “bad bank” set up for Eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann and Wolfgang Weber, 30 January 2010
A so-called “bad bank” for heavily indebted East European countries had been established in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Romania: Education system on the verge of collapse
By Diana Toma, 25 January 2010
The introduction of free-market relations into the states of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe 20 years ago has led to an unparalleled social and cultural decline.
Ukraine election marks declining US influence in region
By Niall Green, 21 January 2010
The humiliating defeat of incumbent Viktor Yushchenko in Sunday’s Ukrainian presidential election represents a serious blow to the strategic interests of the United States.
Egor Gaidar (1956-2009): Architect of capitalist restoration in Russia
By Vladimir Volkov and Andrea Peters, 18 January 2010
One month ago, Egor Gaidar, a leading figure in the restoration of capitalism in Russia, died of a heart attack. The policies he implemented had a disastrous impact on the country and resulted in an immense growth in social inequality.
Widespread disaffection in lead-up to Ukrainian presidential elections
By Niall Green, 16 January 2010
Five years after the “Orange Revolution,” and with the country mired in economic crisis, the same oligarchic politicians vie for power in an election that has generated little enthusiasm among the Ukrainian people.
New Romanian government prepares massive social attacks
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, 13 January 2010
Romania’s newly elected government, led by the right-wing Democratic Liberal Party, has made clear that it intends to fulfill the demands laid down by the International Monetary Fund, European Union and national big business interests.
Russia announces expansion of nuclear capabilities, sanctions pre-emptive nuclear strikes
By Andrea Peters, 7 January 2010
In late December, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced that his government intended to develop a new generation of nuclear weapons.
Five years since Ukraine’s “Orange Revolution”
By Niall Green, 28 December 2009
Five years after gaining office in the “Orange Revolution,” Viktor Yushchenko faces defeat in an election in which the same oligarchic forces vie for power as in 2004. Meanwhile ordinary Ukrainians endure the ravages of the global economic crisis.
Romania: Twenty years after the overthrow of Ceausescu
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, 24 December 2009
In Romania, the character of the transformation that occurred in Eastern Europe 20 years ago was more transparent than elsewhere. The Stalinist elite exploited the protests by the population to secure its power and privileges on a capitalist basis.
Great power rivalries inflame Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
By Niall Green, 23 December 2009
The scramble for control of access to the oil and gas riches of Central Asia threatens to reanimate the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
China opens a major gas pipeline from Central Asia
By John Chan, 21 December 2009
The opening of a gas pipeline linking Turkmenistan to western China is another sign of rivalry among the major powers for domination of energy-rich Central Asia.
Violence escalates in Russia’s North Caucasus republics
By Niall Green, 15 December 2009
Russia’s North Caucasus republics continue to experience ongoing insurgent attacks and abuses by government forces, as the region remains mired in instability and corruption.
Election result intensifies Romania’s domestic crisis
By Markus Salzmann, 12 December 2009
The very narrow victory for the current office holder, Traian Basescu, in the second round of the presidential elections in Romania will only deepen the country’s two-month-long government crisis.
At least 118 killed in Russian nightclub fire
By Andrea Peters, 9 December 2009
A fire at a nightclub in Perm, Russia on Saturday night has taken the lives of 118 people so far, with over a hundred more still hospitalized and dozens among them listed in critical condition.
Russia proposes new organization of European states
By Niall Green, 9 December 2009
Reflecting tensions and antagonisms building up in Europe, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is calling for a new European treaty to replace the existing structures of NATO and the OSCE.
Germany: The dispute over Erika Steinbach
By Justus Leicht, 9 December 2009
The controversy surrounding the expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe at the end of the Second World War has re-emerged in the dispute over the figure of Erika Steinbach.
Abstention and fraud mark first round of Romanian elections
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, 28 November 2009
The presidential elections which took place last Sunday in Romania reveal that 20 years after the fall of the despised Stalinist Ceauşescu regime the country is far removed from any sort of stability or genuine democracy.
Deepening economic crisis in eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 27 November 2009
Recent reports indicate that the economies of many central and eastern European states are headed for new shocks.
Russia: Economic crisis fuels differences within Kremlin
By Andrea Peters, 25 November 2009
The impact of the global financial crisis on the Russian economy is fueling conflicts within the country’s ruling elite over the administration of state resources.
Deepening economic crisis in Eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 24 November 2009
Recent reports indicate that the economies of many central and eastern European states are headed for new shocks.
Romania: Presidential elections at a time of crisis
By Diana Toma and Markus Salzmann, 19 November 2009
The ongoing political crisis in Romania has reached a new high point just days before the presidential elections scheduled for November 22. What is taking place is a bitter struggle between rival cliques within the ruling elite over power, influence and money.
Ukrainian economy suffers sharp fall in 2009
By Niall Green, 29 October 2009
Five years after the “Orange Revolution,” the Ukrainian economy is in the deepest crisis since the post-Soviet economic and social implosion of the 1990s.
Romania: Boc government resigns after no-confidence vote
By Marcus Salzmann, 27 October 2009
Five weeks prior to scheduled presidential elections, the Romanian government led by the Democratic Liberal Party prime minister, Emil Boc, has collapsed following a vote of no-confidence in parliament.
Russia: Workers at AvtoVaz protest against mass layoffs
By Vladimir Volkov, 24 October 2009
Following a wave of labor actions across Russia in the summer and early fall, workers at auto giant AvtoVaz are protesting mass layoffs.
Romania: General strike intensifies political crisis
By Markus Salzman, 12 October 2009
The Romanian government has collapsed as strikes and protests expand.
Bosnia faces collapse
By Paul Mitchell, 8 October 2009
A number of reports have pointed to the increasing threat of Bosnia and Herzegovina collapsing, and even about the possibility of war breaking out.
EU report states Georgia started 2008 war with Russia
Georgian attack unjustifiable under international law
By Niall Green, 2 October 2009
Following a 10-month investigation, a European Union report has found Georgia the aggressor in its 2008 war with Russia, directly refuting claims made not only by the Georgia government, but also by its backers in Washington and the US media.
Mass sackings in Russia
AvtoVAZ to lay off 28,000, Aeroflot 2,200
By Niall Green, 1 October 2009
Russia’s largest car maker will axe more than one quarter of its total workforce, destroying 27,600 jobs. In a double blow, Aeroflot airline announced that it plans to cut 2,215 staff.
Economic crisis, geopolitical rivalries overshadow Ukrainian election campaign
By Niall Green, 23 September 2009
As in the disputed presidential election of November 2004, bitter disputes between rival sections of the ruling elite—and the interests of foreign powers—are dominating the campaign for Ukraine’s presidential election to be held in January.
US suspends eastern European missile shield plan
By Niall Green, 18 September 2009
President Obama announced the suspension of plans to develop two bases in Poland and the Czech Republic as part of a missile defense shield. The move is seen as a political gesture to secure Russian support in Afghanistan and Iran.
Poland: Government escalates privatisation drive
By Peter Kloze, 18 September 2009
Confronted by a ballooning budget deficit, the Polish government has decided to intensify its drive to privatise key sectors of state-owned industry.
Venezuela, Russia in $2.2 billion arms deal
By Bill Van Auken, 15 September 2009
Sunday’s announcement by President Hugo Chávez that Venezuela has reached a $2.2 billion deal to purchase Russian tanks and missiles is symptomatic of the growing international tensions in Latin America.
The failure of Russia’s free-market pension reform
By Vladimir Volkov, 17 August 2009
The dismal failure of Putin’s pension reform is having a profound impact on the social consciousness of the Russian working class.
Lithuania leads Baltic economic slump
By Jordan Shilton, 11 August 2009
Economies in the Baltic region are set to suffer steep declines in output this year. On July 28, Lithuania released economic figures for the second quarter of 2009, revealing a year-on-year contraction of 22.4 percent of GDP.
Republic of Moldova: Pro European Union forces win parliamentary election
By Markus Salzman, 8 August 2009
In the Republic of Moldova, opposition parties oriented to the West won with a slender majority in the country's second parliamentary election within four months.
Great power rivalries and the Nabucco pipeline project
By Niall Green, 1 August 2009
The Nabucco natural gas pipeline will traverse Turkey to supply Western Europe, bypassing Russia.
Violence increases in Russia’s Caucasus republics
By Niall Green, 31 July 2009
A recent spike in violence between Russian security forces and local militants indicates that Moscow has no plans to loosen its military grip in the North Caucasus.
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