Talk Eastern Europe

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe we return back to Belarus and the society which continues to face severe repressions by the regime. In this episode, Maciek has a conversation with Alexandr Chavoski from the Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation, an NGO based in Estonia. They discuss a unique strategy by this NGO to raise awareness in Europe about the situation in Belarus, the current situation in the country and the terror faced by journalists who try to report the truth.ResourcesThe Story of Belarus – listen to a special 10-episode audio documentary: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-story-of-belarusLearn more about the Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation and how to support their efforts: https://byculture.org/Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMSy0y7xMIdqJTtki8Ux_kQ “What’s ahead for Belarus” An online discussion with Victor Martinovich available for TEE Patrons here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45077562 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope>> Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe returns to the Southern Caucasus with a look at the political situation in Georgia. Immediately following the parliamentary elections last October, the united opposition failed to recognize the outcomes of the elections as free and fair and refused to take their seats in the parliament. Since then, social frustration with the political situation has grown and exploded after the brutal arrest of Nika Melia – the leader of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement. The current situation, which is exacerbated by the pandemic, leaves a lot of questions ahead for Georgia, including its Euro-Atlantic path. To help understand the situation there, Adam sits down with Anastasia Mgaloblishvili an analyst and recent election observer in Georgia for her take on the situation.>> Resources“When institutions fail, boycott and street protests remain the only instrument” By Anastasia Mgaloblishvili. New Eastern Europe issue 1-2/2021, https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/when-institutions-fail-boycott-and-street-protests-remain-the-only-instrument/“Make Georgia great again”, By Archil Sikharulidze . New Eastern Europe 04 January 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/04/make-georgia-great-again/“Georgian democracy on life support” By Shota Kincha. New Eatsern Europe 02 March 2021 https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/02/georgian-democracy-on-life-support/“Crisis spiral in Georgia and Moldova – commonalty, distinctions and ways out” By Denis Cenusa. New Eastern Europe 08 March 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/08/crisis-spiral-in-georgia-and-moldova-commonalty-distinctions-and-ways-out/ Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEuropeMissed our exclusive patron zoom meeting on Hungary? You can watch it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tee-patron-zoom-47909846 >>> Help New Eastern Europe – buy our latest issue debating the current state of democracy in the region here: https://bit.ly/3oMbKpdTalk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe features a discussion with Reinhard Krumm, the founder and director of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe, he was previously a journalist who spent a lot of time in Russia and the post-Soviet space; and was the Moscow correspondent for Der Spiegel.In the episode Adam and Reinhard discuss dilemmas in German-Russian relations, the EU’s approach to Russia, following the visit of Josep Borell to Moscow, and how Germany’s Ostpolitik look’s like from today’s perspective.*** Check out a special 5-episode mini-series looking at issues in Eastern Europe from a German and Polish perspective:- You can listen to the English version here: https://www.spreaker.com/show/polish-german-perspectives-on-the-east - Or in Polish here: https://nowa-europa-wschodnia.simplecast.com/episodesResourcesRead a special report titled: „Ost/Wschód: Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe. Current state of affairs, scenarios and recommendations” - http://www.kew.org.pl/ostwschod-final-report/Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope >>> Help New Eastern Europe – buy our latest issue debating the current state of democracy in the region here: https://bit.ly/3oMbKpd

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeIn December 2020, Maia Sandu became the new president of Moldova. Her main focus so far has been a strong foreign policy, meeting with neighbours and western partners. Domestically, the political situation gives the impression of looming chaos. Her main aim is to force new parliamentary elections, while her opponents plan to stop her at any cost.In this episode, Adam and Maciek catch up with Oktawian Milewski, a political scientist specialising in Central and Eastern Europe. They discuss an early assessment of President Sandu’s foreign policy successes as well as the ongoing turbulent political situation in the country.Resources“Challenging the status quo in Moldova. What now after Maia Sandu’s victory?” By: Oktawian Milewski. 1 December 2020. New Eastern Europe https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/12/01/challenging-the-status-quo-in-moldova-what-now-after-maia-sandus-victory/“Integrity and identity – the dilemmas of Maia Sandu” By: Piotr Oleksy. 9 February 2021 New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/09/integrity-and-identity-the-dilemmas-of-maia-sandu/“2020’s electoral lessons: Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine” By: Denis Cenusa. New Eastern Europe issue 1-2/2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/2020s-electoral-lessons-moldova-georgia-and-ukraine/ >>> Help New Eastern Europe – buy our latest issue debating the current state of democracy in the region here: https://bit.ly/3oMbKpd

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeOn October 27th, 2020, Ukraine’s Constitutional Court made a controversial decision undoing one of the most important reforms put into place since 2014. This decision reverse certain procedures aimed at reducing corruption among judges and created greater politicization of the judiciary. In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam interviews Iryna Shyba, the Executive Director of the DEJURE Foundation, an NGO-judicial watch dog in based in Kyiv. Iryna outlines the importance of the decision, the political implications, and what might come next.Resources:- “Who are judges of the Constitutional Court and why they do not protect the Constitution?” A report by the DeJuRe Foundation: https://en.dejure.foundation/library/who-become-judges-of-the-constitutional-court “The Constitutional Court can be a threat: How Zelenskyy can save the anti-corruption policy of Ukraine” By: Anton Naychuk. New Eastern Europe 11 January 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/11/the-constitutional-court-can-be-a-threat-how-zelenskyy-can-save-the-anti-corruption-policy-of-ukraine/“Ukraine between law and justice” By: Valentyna Korbachenko. New Eastern Europe 26 November 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/11/26/ukraine-between-law-and-justice/>>> Help New Eastern Europe – buy our latest issue debating the current state of democracy in the region here: https://bit.ly/3oMbKpd

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Last weekend, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny returned to Russia after recovering from being poisoned. He was immediately arrested upon arrival, sparking tens of thousands of Russians to take to the streets, with hundreds being arrested and detained. Talk Eastern Europe is back in 2021 with an all new episode! In this episode co-hosts Adam and Maciek interview Katerina Fomina – a Russian journalist based in Moscow. They discuss the protests, how young people see the situation in the their country, and the many underlying social and economic factors which also drove Russians to protests. Resources:- Navalny film: “Putin's palace. History of world's largest bribe” with English subtitles: https://youtu.be/ipAnwilMncI - “Navalny’s poisoning disrupts Russian “smart voting” process” by: Anastasiia Starchenko. New Eastern Europe September 7 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/09/07/navalnys-poisoning-disrupts-russian-smart-voting-process/- “Navalny’s investigative breakthrough fails to sway Russian public opinion” by: Kennedy Lee. New Eastern Europe 18 January 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/18/navalnys-investigative-breakthrough-fails-to-sway-russian-public-opinion/- “Navalny and the Solzhenitsyn dilemma” by: Cyrille Bret. New Eastern Europe 20 January 20201: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/20/navalny-and-the-solzhenitsyn-dilemma/*************************Check out istories media – investigative portal in Russian: https://istories.media/************************Don’t forget to check out our special audio documentary called “The Story of Belarus”. Find more info here: www.neweasterneurope.eu/Belarus **************************Join us on Facebook and share your feedback: www.facebook.com/groups/TalkEasternEurope

>>> Support the podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope On November 17 2020, Bulgaria officially vetoed the European Union’s accession talks with North Macedonia. Officially, the dispute is over unresolved historical and language issues. Despite some progress in its Euro-Atlantic aspirations – which includes joining NATO in June 2020 – there are now many questions as to what next for the small former-Yugoslav country.In this episode, Adam meets up with Bojan Stojkovski – a journalist based in Skopje, North Macedonia. They discuss the background of the Bulgarian veto and its effect on Macedonian politics and attitudes to EU integration.Resources: “A case of the tail wagging the dog? Bulgaria, the EU and North Macedonia” By: Tomasz Kamusella New Eastern Europe 10 December 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/12/10/a-case-of-the-tail-wagging-the-dog-bulgaria-the-eu-and-north-macedonia/“What lurks behind Bulgaria’s “veto” on North Macedonia’s accession talks?” By: Radosveta Vassileva. New Eastern Europe 30 November 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/11/30/what-lurks-behind-bulgarias-veto-on-north-macedonias-accession-talks-%ef%bb%bf/ Additional music: Morning Rhythm by Rafael Krux. Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5338-morning-rhythm- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod Network. Learn more here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

This discussion was originally live streamed on December 3rd 2020. During this discussion, we caught up with some of the authors from the latest issue of New Eastern Europe and asked them for their take on European values in these difficult times.The discussion includes:Maxim Rust, PhD, New Eastern EuropeKinga Anna Gajda, PhD, Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University (Krakow)Volodymyr Yermolenko, PhD, chief editor of UkraineWorldRéka Kinga Papp, editor-in-chief EurozineThe discussion will be moderated by Adam Reichardt, editor-in-chief of New Eastern EuropeThis event is organised in co-operation with the Institute of European Studies at the Jagiellonian University, UkraineWorld and Eurozine.Learn more about the latest issue of New Eastern Europe at: https://bit.ly/32P2ngbAdditional music: Funky Party In The Marina Club by MusicLFilesLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6214-funky-party-in-the-marina-clubLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/***The project is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework "Public Diplomacy 2020 - new dimension".

>>> Support the podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEuropeOn November 15, Maia Sandu won the second round of the presidential elections with 57.75% of the vote and she became the first female president in the history of Moldova. In the second round she defeated the incumbent president, Igor Dodon, who in the last year seemed to have all the cards in hand to maintain his rule for the years to come. In this episode we catch up with Gina Lentine, a Senior Program Officer Freedom House, to get her reflections. We discuss what happened during the electoral campaign, what the prospects are for Moldova and what is the future of Dodon himself.ResourcesMoldovans elected an anti-corruption president, avoiding a “colour revolution”, by Denis Cenusa. New Eastern Europe, 18 November 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/11/18/moldovans-elected-an-anti-corruption-president-avoiding-a-colour-revolution/In Church we trust. The case of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, Anastasia Pociumban. New Eastern Europe issue 5/2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/09/07/in-church-we-trust-the-case-of-the-moldovan-orthodox-church/Talk Eastern Europe Episode 36: Complicated neighbours. Romania-Moldova relations in the spotlight - https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-36 (8 May 2020)Talk Eastern Europe Episode 19: Strange Bedfellows in Moldova: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-ep-19-final (17 September 2019)Additional music in the podcast:Epic Trap Dubstep Intro by Sascha EndeLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/502-epic-trap-dubstep-introLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*** Check out our new podcast documentary: The Story of Belarus, the nation, its history and a new hope: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-story-of-belarus----Talk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe. Published by the Jan Nowak-Jezioranski College of Eastern Europe in Wroclaw. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

Support the podcast! Become a Patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope In this episode, Talk Eastern Europe heads back to the Baltic states, taking a look at Lithuania, which just finished their parliamentary elections. In the episode Maciek and Adam catch up with Monika Bičkauskaitė from the Warsaw office of the German Marshall Fund. They discuss with her the outcomes of the election, reasoning behind the change in direction, and possible implications on Lithuanian foreign policy, including Lithuanian-Polish relations and policy towards Eastern Europe.Resources:- “Conservatives seal victory in Lithuania’s run-off elections”. New Eastern Europe 27 October 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/10/27/conservatives-seal-victory-in-lithuanias-run-off-elections/- “Lithuania’s general election – key takeaways”. By: Justinas Šuliokas. New Eastern Europe 20 Octoboer 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/10/20/lithuanias-general-election-key-takeaways/ - “Lithuania’s campaign to help Belarus’s protesters offers more than just words” By: Olga Irisova. New Eastern Europe 3 September 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/09/03/lithuanias-campaign-to-help-belaruss-protesters-offers-more-than-just-words/ Additional music featured in the podcast: “Adventure by Alexander Nakarada” https://filmmusic.io/song/6092-adventure. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Talk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe. Published by the Jan Nowak-Jezioranski College of Eastern Europe in Wroclaw. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.