Eastern Europe
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.
Hungary: Socialist Party establishes right-wing militias
By Markus Salzmann, 14 July 2009
The Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) is introducing so-called “village guards” throughout the countryside. These will be armed and will carry out the functions of the police.
Right-wing opposition wins Bulgarian parliamentary election
By Markus Salzmann, 13 July 2009
The right-wing “Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria” won the parliamentary elections held in Bulgaria last Sunday, with the governing coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party suffering a heavy defeat.
Limited concessions and unresolved tensions after US-Russia summit
By Niall Green, 8 July 2009
The US-Russia summit marked an attempt to improve relations between the two countries, but did not resolve any of the fundamental differences between them.
Hungary: What accounts for the success of the extreme right?
By Markus Salzmann, 17 June 2009
The election result for the neo-fascist Jobbik organization in Hungary demonstrates how extreme right organizations have been able to exploit the economic and political crisis in Eastern Europe.
Twenty years after the collapse of Stalinism
European politicians stand reality on its head at Vienna gathering
By Markus Salzmann, 5 June 2009
Just days before the European elections June 7, representatives from politics and business met in Vienna to celebrate 20 years since the fall of the Stalinist regimes in Eastern Europe.
Poland: Last shipyards in Gdansk threatened with closure
By Marius Heuser, 29 May 2009
Ceremonies currently taking place marking the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Stalinist regime in Poland have been overshadowed by shipyard workers protests in Gdansk.
Besancenot in Poland
Polish PPP congress marks lurch to the right by the new European left
By Marius Heuser and Tadeusz Sikorski, 22 May 2009
In a speech given in Katowice, Poland, the head of the NPA (New Anti-capitalist Party) justified his alliance with a group that has no connection with socialism and which includes openly right-wing forces.
Biden in the Balkans: US asserts interests in shattered region
By Paul Mitchell, 21 May 2009
The US administration is moving to reassert its authority in the Balkans as a divided European Union fails to push through the measures that were agreed in the Dayton Accord for this key strategic region.
Five years after entry to the EU: Eastern European countries in crisis
By Markus Salzmann, 9 May 2009
Five years after their acceptance into the European Union amid a fanfare of expectations and celebration, 10 central and Eastern European countries are amongst the worst hit victims of the international finance crisis.
Europe faces ever deepening recession
By Chris Marsden, 28 April 2009
The IMF has predicted a deepening recession in Europe, with the euro zone’s economy contracting by 4.2 percent this year, significantly worse than its January forecast of a 2 percent decline.
Hungary: Change of government head augurs massive social attacks
By Markus Salzmann, 24 April 2009
Former “Young Manager of the Year” takes over as new head of Hungarian government in a coup organized by the outgoing prime minister.
Poland: 21 die in homeless shelter fire
By Stefan Steinberg, 17 April 2009
A fire at a homeless shelter in Poland last Sunday night killed 21 people and left many other residents badly injured. The three-storey building in Kamien Pomorski, housing 77 homeless people, including women and children, was turned into a charred skeleton.
Georgia: Mass protests highlight political crisis in the Caucasus
By Markus Salzmann, 15 April 2009
The justified anger of broad layers of the Georgian population against its right-wing, corrupt government only finds a very distorted expression in the current protests being led by an opposition alliance recruited in the main from former Saakashvili supporters.
Moldova: Violent protests in aftermath of elections
By Markus Salzmann, 13 April 2009
Bloody street fighting in the wake of parliamentary elections in Moldova has focused international attention on the former Soviet republic.
Kosovo: Evidence of KLA torture and murders revealed by BBC
By Paul Mitchell, 11 April 2009
More revelations have emerged about tortures and murders carried out by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999 and the occupation that followed.
Obama pursues US strategic interests in Turkey
By Bill Van Auken, 7 April 2009
In his two-day visit to Turkey, President Obama sought to distance himself from the disastrous foreign policy legacy of George W. Bush while pursuing the same strategic interests of US imperialism that motivated the wars launched by his predecessor.
Turkey: Municipal elections reveal deep socio-political divisions
By Sinan Ikinci, 1 April 2009
Losses for the ruling AKP reflect a growing political polarisation in Turkey. The results represent the first electoral setback for the AKP since 2002.
World economic crisis provokes fall of Hungary’s government
By Markus Salzmann, 31 March 2009
The resignation of the Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is a result of the rapidly deteriorating economic situation that has led to political turbulence throughout Eastern Europe.
After the slaughter: political lessons of the Balkan War
By David North, 30 March 2009
The capitulation of Serbia to the US-NATO onslaught brings to an end the last major strategic experience of the 20th century. Its bloody conclusion endows the century with a certain tragic symmetry. It began with the suppression of the anti-colonial uprising of the Chinese Boxers. The century closes with a war that completes the reduction of the Balkans to the status of a neo-colonial protectorate of the major imperialist powers.
Czech government ousted as economy flounders
By Stefan Steinberg, 27 March 2009
The Czech government led by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek narrowly lost a vote of confidence in parliament March 24 and the government coalition will be forced to step down.
Polish economy tumbles as global investors take flight
By Marius Heuser, 4 March 2009
Twenty years after the restoration of capitalism, the Polish economy is facing economic collapse as foreign capital flows out of the country.
Russian government moves to save big business, suppress opposition
By Vladimir Volkov, 4 March 2009
The Kremlin’s initial declarations about Russia’s supposed immunity from the global economic crisis have been replaced with statements of fear about economic destabilization and social unrest.
Brussels: Divisions dominate EU summit in face of deepening crisis
By Stefan Steinberg, 3 March 2009
At the Brussels summit, EU nations were unable to agree on any concrete measures to combat the mounting economic crisis.
Latvian government resigns as crisis deepens in Eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 25 February 2009
Latvia’s centre-right government resigned last Friday, against the background of a worsening economic crisis.
Romanian government agrees to drastic austerity package
By Markus Salzmann, 14 February 2009
Romania’s grand coalition government is determined to shift the burden of the economic crisis onto the backs of the country’s working people through harsh austerity measures.
The Russia-Ukraine gas conflict and the geopolitical struggle for control of energy resources
By Vladimir Volkov, 3 February 2009
The natural gas dispute sharpened Ukraine’s political and economic tensions, provoked a wave of anger in Europe and reinforced European desires to diversify its sources of gas.
The crisis in Eastern Europe and the lessons of 1989
26 January 2009
Twenty years after capitalist restoration, east European economies confront catastrophe.
Economic crisis unleashes violent protests across Eastern Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 26 January 2009
The international economic crisis has hit Eastern Europe with full force and brought long-simmering social and political tensions to the surface.
Ukraine and Russia reach gas agreement
By Niall Green, 26 January 2009
A deal has been reached to end the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Millions across Europe have been left with little or no gas for heating in the middle of winter.
Lawyer and human rights activist Stanislav Markelov murdered in Moscow
By Vladimir Volkov, 23 January 2009
On January 19, Stanislav Markelov was shot in the head and killed in central Moscow. The 34-year-old lawyer and human rights activist was president of the Institute for the Supremacy of Law.
Belarus receives $2.5 billion IMF loan
By Niall Green, 22 January 2009
Belarus has secured a $2.5 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund. The bailout comes amidst a crisis of the economies of the whole eastern European region.
Russian gas supplies through Ukraine resume
Dispute exposes crisis of European energy strategy
By Niall Green, 13 January 2009
Russia, Ukraine and officials from the European Union have agreed to a deal to resume natural gas supplies to Europe after Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom turned off gas supplies for Ukraine on January 1.
With sub-zero temperatures across Europe
Russia-Ukraine gas dispute leaves thousands without heat
By Niall Green, 10 January 2009
With sub-zero temperatures across Europe Russia-Ukraine gas dispute leaves thousands without heat By Niall Green 10 January 2009
With sub-zero temperatures across Europe
Russia-Ukraine gas dispute leaves thousands without heat
By Niall Green, 9 January 2009
Natural gas supplies from Russia to Europe via Ukraine have been halted or greatly reduced in the latest stage of a dispute between the ex-Soviet neighbours over prices and allegations of unpaid bills.
Ukraine-Russia gas dispute disrupts European supply
By Niall Green, 8 January 2009
Gas exports from Russia to Europe via Ukraine have come to a complete halt, according to Naftogaz.
Latvia bailed out by IMF and European Union
By Niall Green, 7 January 2009
On December 23 the International Monetary Fund approved a €1.68 billion (US$2.35 billion) rescue loan for the ex-Soviet republic of Latvia, as part of a €7.5 billion (US$10.5 billion) bailout.
Russia cuts off Ukrainian gas supply
Energy conflict threatens EU shortages
By Niall Green, 3 January 2009
The Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom turned off all gas supplies to Ukraine, threatening supplies to the European Union.
Kosovo’s dirty secret: the background to Germany’s Secret Service affair
By Peter Schwarz, 1 December 2008
The arrest of three German secret service agents in Kosovo exposes the sort of society that has been developed with German and American support in this former part of Yugoslavia—one mired in corruption, organised crime and secret service plots.
World financial crisis bankrupts Eastern Europe: The toll of capitalist restoration
10 November 2008
Massive state bailouts throughout Eastern Europe are rendering a historical verdict on the project of capitalist restoration.
BBC describes evidence of Georgian war crimes in South Ossetia
By Simon Whelan, 10 November 2008
Journalists working for the BBC have unearthed evidence of Georgian war crimes against South Ossetian civilians.
A damning admission on the Georgian war
8 November 2008
The New York Times on Friday carried a front-page article citing a report by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whose monitors were in Georgia when the fighting broke out, which demolishes the official US account of the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war, according to which the war was an act of Russian aggression.
Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa
7 November 2008
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Czech government in crisis following election debacles
By Markus Salzmann, 4 November 2008
Prior to taking over the presidency of the European Union, the Czech government has suffered a series of election defeats and is in deep crisis.
Huge IMF bailout for emerging economies
By Peter Symonds, 1 November 2008
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), backed by central banks in the US and Europe, has taken drastic steps over the past week to prop up so-called emerging economies around the world from Asia to Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Eastern European economies face bankruptcy
By Niall Green, 23 October 2008
The economies of central and eastern Europe are being rocked by the crisis of world capitalism, compounded by the corrupt and pro-big business policies of their local elites.
Ukraine: US-Russia conflict provokes government collapse
Cheney’s visit
By Niall Green, 10 September 2008
The coalition government of Ukraine, made up of the party of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the smaller Our Ukraine party of President Viktor Yushchenko, collapsed in bitter acrimony on Wednesday, September 3.
Former Yugoslav war crimes tribunal spokeswoman indicted for contempt
By Paul Mitchell, 5 September 2008
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has indicted Florence Hartmann, the spokeswoman of the tribunal’s former Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte from 1999 to 2006, on two charges of contempt of court.
Cheney in Georgia: Gunboat diplomacy in pursuit of oil
By Tom Eley, 5 September 2008
The US is continuing to ratchet up tensions with Russia in the aftermath of last month’s war in the Caucasus.
International tributes for Russian Marxist historian
Vadim Rogovin buried in Moscow
By our correspondent, 6 October 1998
More than three dozen people gathered at the Moscow Crematorium September 21 to mourn the passing of Vadim Zakharovich Rogovin, Russian Marxist historian and sociologist and author of a six-volume study of the Trotskyist opposition to the rise of the Stalinist regime within the Soviet Union. Rogovin died of cancer on September 18. He was 61 years old.
Vadim Rogovin: 1937-1998
Russian Marxist Historian Dies in Moscow
By David North, 18 September 1998
Vadim Zakharovich Rogovin, the Russian Marxist historian and sociologist, and author of a monumental six-volume study of the Trotskyist opposition to the rise of the Stalinist regime within the USSR, died of cancer early Friday morning in Moscow. He was 61 years old.
International market turmoil: A sea-change in world economy
By Nick Beams, 28 August 1998
World markets went into a tailspin on Thursday, as panic spread over the global implications of the Russian meltdown and the deepening crisis in Asia.
Russian crisis shakes global markets
By Nick Beames, 25 August 1998
The announcement by the Russian government that it was devaluing the rouble, suspending trading in the short-term Treasury bill market and imposing a 90-day moratorium on international debt repayments resulted with the largest one-day fall on the London stock exchange since October 1987
Rival business, political cliques jockey for power in Moscow
Yeltsin's sacking of cabinet jolts Washington
By Barry Grey, 25 March 1998
Russian President Boris Yeltsin's sudden dismissal of his cabinet last Monday apparently took domestic observers as well as Moscow's Western allies unawares.
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