Talk Eastern Europe

Please support the podcast – become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Episode 52 features a discussion on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline - a very controversial project in Europe. The pipeline, which aims to become a second gas pipeline to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany, was set to be completed by the end of 2019. Yet, delays have pushed back the pipeline’s final construction and looming questions about the legality and political purposes behind the project still linger.In this episode, Adam and Maciek interview Wojciech Jakóbik, a Polish energy analyst and editor-in-chief of the Biznes Alert portal to discuss Nord Stream 2, seeking to answer such questions as: What is the current status of the project? What are the economic and political aspects of the pipeline? What are the perspectives on the project, include: German, Central and Eastern Europe, and American? And what might come next? ** Note: this was recorded before the poisoning of Alexey Navalny, which may or may not have an effect on Germany’s decision to finalize the pipeline.Resources- “How to lose friends and alienate people or Germany on Nord Stream 2” By Wojciech Jakóbik. New Eastern Europe 4 April 2019: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/04/04/how-to-lose-friends-and-alienate-people-or-germany-on-nord-stream-2/- “Gone with the virus. How the pandemic makes Russian strategy evanescent” By Andrey Makarychev. New Eastern Europe, Issue 3-4/2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/07/gone-with-the-virus-how-the-pandemic-makes-russian-strategy-evanescent/Music featured in the podcast: Galaxy 1 Short Version by Frank Schröter. https://filmmusic.io/song/6540-galaxy-1-short-version. 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/europodTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

Following the falsified August 9th presidential election in Belarus, which declared incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka winner with 80% of the vote, Belarusians have taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers. Nearly three weeks later, the protests continue and are joined by striking workers from state-owned enterprises. The regime, however, has fought back with an initial brutal crackdown and continuous arrests of activists, protesters and journalists. In this episode, Adam catches up with Yahor Azarkevich to get some reactions on the current mood from the ground in Belarus. They discuss the state of the protests, their organization, the Russian factor as well as what possible scenarios may come next.Support the podcast – become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropePrevious episodes on Belarus - Episode 29: Belarus under the Kremlin’s pressure: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-29- Episode 46: Belarus on the edge: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-46Follow New Eastern Europe’s ongoing coverage of the situation in Belarus here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/tag/belarus-2020-presidential-election/Who to follow on Twitter:- Hanna Liubakova: https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova- NEXTA media: https://twitter.com/nexta_tv- Franak Viačorka https://twitter.com/franakviacorkaMusic featured in the episodeMury (walls) - Polish protest song in Belarusian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNnxQSmqAITalk Eastern Europe is member of the EuroPod Network: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europodTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

One of the least covered political stories in Central and Eastern Europe has been the mass protests against the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Bulgaria. The latest string of corruption scandals facing Borissov and his government, which have been in power for over 10 years, seems to have become the last straw. Crowds flooded the streets to protest the scandals – at one point reaching 100,000 protesters in Sofia – demanding an immediate resignation of the government and snap elections. In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Maciek discuss the situation in the country with Radosveta Vassileva a Bulgarian legal scholar and author with New Eastern Europe. They talk about the current context, the strength of the protests, what the European Commission is (not really) doing, Russian influence in the country, COVID-19 in Bulgaria, and what might come next.At the end of the episode, Adam and Maciek reflect on the podcast and its developments on the occasion of the 50th episode. And of course, the shout out to all of the patrons!Talk Eastern Europe is member of the EuroPod Network: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europodPLEASE SUPPORT US! Become a Patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Resources- “Bulgaria: Will Borissov’s government survive this summer?” New Eastern Europe . 13 July 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/13/bulgaria-will-borissovs-government-survive-this-summer/- Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy in Bulgaria and Beyond – A personal blog of Dr. Radosveta Vassileva: https://radosvetavassileva.blog/- “Russia’s Political Influence in Bulgaria” by Andrey Grashkin. Foreign Policy Research Institute: https://www.fpri.org/article/2020/01/russias-political-influence-in-bulgaria/Music featured in the podcast:Mining by Moonlight by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4055-mining-by-moonlight 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-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

War and conflict in Eastern Europe is often discussed and analysed in the context of big politics and national interests. However, what is often forgotten are the everyday victims of the conflict – those who live in the conflict zone or are refugees affected by war. In this episode Maciek and Adam sit down with Helena Krajewska from the Polish Humanitarian Action (Polska Akcja Humanitarna). Helena gives an overview of the activities her organisation is doing in providing humanitarian assistance to eastern Ukraine. She describes the challenges and successes that have taken place there since 2014 and how they are now addressing locals’ needs in the midst of war and the COVID-19 pandemic.Polish Humanitarian Action conducts its work in eastern Ukraine (and around the world) in part thanks to support from individual donations. Learn how you can support the organisation’s mission and activities. Click here: https://www.pah.org.pl/en/donate/Music featured in the podcast:Flight Pack 1 - 4/6 (Segeln) by Sascha EndeLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/179-flight-pack-1---4-6-segeln-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/europodSupport the podcast! Become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

In mid-July fierce clashes between Azerbaijani forces and Armenian forces broke out. Both sides reported casualties and injuries as a result of the exchange of fire. As each side blamed the other for the escalation of violence – one thing is certain, the conflict between the two countries is still very hot and the situation is volatile. In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Maciek sits down with Mateusz Kubiak – an analyst with Mateusz Kubiak an analyst with Esperis Consulting and author of the blog “Kaukaz”. Kubiak gives an overview of the situation and context for the clashes.Support the podcast! Become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Resources- Film: Parts of a Circle: History of the Karabakh Conflict: https://vimeo.com/407942633- “Several reasons why Baku should not be interested in provocation along the border with Armenia.” By Rusif Huseynov, Murad Muradov, Polad Muradli and Ayaz Rzayev. New Eastern Europe 15 July 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/15/several-reasons-why-baku-should-not-be-interested-in-provocation-along-the-border-with-armenia/-“What is happening on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border?” By Stepan Grigoryan. New Eastern Europe 16 July 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/16/what-is-happening-on-the-armenia-azerbaijan-border/Music featured in the podcast:Eternity by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4802-eternity License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Interest in learning more about hybrid war in Georgia? Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/08/issue-4-2020-the-kremlins-hybrid-war-the-case-of-georgia/Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Learn more here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

SUPPORT US! Become a Patreon patron: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope There has been a lot of talk in the last few months about pending progress in Serbia-Kosovo relations and the normalization process between the two countries. Donald Trump’s appointment of Richard Grenell as Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations on the surface appears to be a move heading in the right direction. Yet, since being in this new role, Grenell (and others close to the Administration) has signaled a possible shift in US foreign policy in the region, hoping for a quick foreign policy win. With a change of government in Kosovo and a more assertive Serbia in the talks, can the US really facilitate this process?In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam catches up with Sidita Kushi – an American scholar and author with New Eastern Europe. They discuss the role of Richard Grenell, how US policy is evolving to the detriment of Kosovo and what, if anything, the European Union can do in this process.Resources - “The dangers of enflaming false revisionist history in the Balkans” by Sidita Kushi. New Eastern Europe 27 May 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/05/27/the-dangers-of-enflaming-false-revisionist-history-in-the-balkans/- “Richard Grenell: Dictating the pulse of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue” by Visar Xhambazi. New Eastern Europe 15 April 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/04/15/richard-grenell-dictating-the-pulse-of-the-kosovo-serbia-dialogue/- What ‘Twiplomacy’ reveals about the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue by Leon Hartwell. New Eastern Europe July 9 2020 https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/09/what-twiplomacy-reveals-about-the-serbia-kosovo-dialogue/Music featured in the podcast: Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod. Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool 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/europodTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

The situation in Belarus is heating up ahead of the August 9th presidential elections. The most popular opposition candidates - who want to challenge the 26-year authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka - have been arrested and detained. Meanwhile the society remains mobilised after the state’s poor coronavirus response and brutal crackdowns on independent journalists and bloggers. In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Maciek catch up Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist based in Minsk, to get her perspective on the current challenges and what the situation looks like from the ground. Resources “Presidential election in Belarus: Who is participating in the race?” By Maxim Rust, Yahor Azarkevich. New Eastern Europe 15 July 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/15/presidential-election-in-belarus-who-is-participating-in-the-race/“Belarusian spring? Politicisation of the wider society” By Olga Dryndova. New Eastern Europe. 8 July 2020 https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/08/belarusian-spring-politicisation-of-the-wider-society/“Why Belarusians do not love Lukashenko anymore”. By Hanna Liubakova Outriders 14 July 2020 https://outride.rs/en/why-belarusians-do-not-love-lukashenko-anymore/Music featured in the podcast: Floating Cities by Kevin MacLeod/ Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3765-floating-citiesLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/SUPPORT US! Become a Patreon patron: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEuropeTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

Originally live streamed on July 16 2020 - In the newest edition of New Eastern Europe we conduct a special debate on what impact COVID-19 may have on the shifting geopolitics in the region of Eastern Europe. We asked a group of experts for their input and analysis on how relations between Europe, the Eastern Partnership and Russia could develop as a result of the pandemic and what might come next. Will this virus and the crisis fundamentally change relations and geopolitics – and if so in what way? This discussion features four authors from that special section. Speakers include:– Richard Giragosian is the founding director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent think tank in Yerevan, Armenia.– Alena Kudzko is the director of the GLOBSEC policy institute.– Andrey Makarychev is a visiting professor at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu in Estonia.– Karina Shyrokykh is a researcher at Stockholm University and Swedish Institute of International Affairs.– The discussion is moderated by Adam Reichardt, Editor in Chief of New Eastern EuropeLearn more about New Eastern Europe - www.neweasterneurope.eu

In this episode, Maciek reconnects with political scientist Oktawian Milewski to continue the discussion on Romanian relations in the region. This time, they take a deeper look at the rocky evolution of relations between Ukraine and Romania – two countries which play a critical role in both Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Black Sea region. Maciek and Oktawian discuss Romania’s strategy towards Ukraine, people-to-people contacts between the two societies and the two countries’ economic ties. The discussion also fits into the broader debate on both countries’ role in the region – especially considering proximity to Moldova and its breakaway region of Transdniestria, as well as to Russia and the war in eastern Ukraine. Resources:Episode 36: “Complicated neighbours. Romania-Moldova relations in the spotlight” https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-36“Foreign interference in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine: The 2019 elections and beyond” by: Harry Nedelcu, Dmytro Panchuk, Myroslava Lendel New Eastern Europe 6 May 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/05/06/foreign-interference-in-the-zakarpattia-region-of-ukraine-the-2019-elections-and-beyond/Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod NetworkMusic featured in this episode:resonance by airtone (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/61321 Support the podcast – Become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeTalk Eastern Europe is produced by Maciej Makulski and Adam Reichardt. The podcast is affiliated with New Eastern Europe, published by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław. Additional funding for this episode came from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs s in the framework of the “Public Diplomacy 2020 – New dimension” grant programme.

We are taking the podcast to the next level. Listen to the special announcement from the co-hosts of Talk Eastern Europe! Thank you to all of our patrons for their support!Want to support us? Visit: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope