Talk Eastern Europe

In this episode of the podcast, Adam, Nina and Alexandra start by a discussion of some of the latest developments in the region including the Georgia’s pursuit of a new version of the “foreign agent law”; a similar development in Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ukraine’s targeting of Russian oil refineries and Romanian and Bulgaria entering the Schengen Zone (at least partially).For the main interview, Adam sits down with Wicke van den Broek a PhD candidate at Maastricht University carrying out research on EU democracy promotion in Belarus; and Aliaksei Piatrenka, a Belarusian civic activist and junior researcher at the Center for New Ideas. They discuss the latest parliamentary elections in Belarus, the ongoing repressions in the country and how those outside Belarus are still fighting for a democratic country.Both Wicke and Aliaksei are alumni of the New Eastern Europe Think Tank School. This year’s edition will take place June 1-7 2024 in Lithuania and Poland. Learn more here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/think-tank-school/Learn more about Belarus in the recent edition of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/issue-1-2-2024-elections-without-choice/Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Adam, Alexandra and Nina begin by discussing last weeks' horrific terrorist attack in Moscow, Russian attacks against energy infrastructure in Ukraine and the Russian missile in Polish airspace. They continue with some potentially hopeful developments such as results of first round of Slovak presidential elections and the European Council decision to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the main interview, Nina talks to Dmitry Berezhkov, head of the Indigenous Information Centre of Russia. Dmitry speaks about the immediate impact of the terrorist attack in Moscow on indigenous peoples and more generally about racism, corruption and lack of environmental protection that influence livelihoods of these communities. He concludes explaining what 'decolonization' of Russia means from the indigenous rights perspective. In our patron-only bonus content, Dmitry gives insight on how mobilisation for Russia's war in Ukraine impacts on small indigenous communities and their survival.  The bonus content can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-173-101223748  Check out Dmitry's co-authored piece about what decolonisation means for indigenous peoples of Russia here.  Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Adam and Alexandra start the episode by discussing worrying news for Kyrgyz civil society, Armenia's potential return to Europe, and upcoming elections in Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia.During the main interview - to mark International Women’s Day - Nina sat down with a photographer and videographer Zula Rabikowska who explores gender identities in Central and Eastern Europe. They talked about her project Nothing but a Curtain that brings voices of women, non-binary, and transgender people from our region.  You can read more about the project in her piece in New Eastern Europe and check out moving portraits of women she talked to and photographed during her 7325 km long journey across the region. All Zula’s work is on her website and you can also join her mailing list to receive updates about her work.Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zula.ra/ For those listeners in London, you can join Zula's event "Rethinking Eastern Europe" which takes place on Tuesday 21 May 6.30-9pm in PhotoBook Cafe, EC2A 4DQ, London.Her latest piece “From Poznań to Boston: Marianna Matyja shares insights into her experience contributing to a Grammy-nominated album” was just published on New Eastern Europe.  Join us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Discussion on deteriorating Czechia-Slovakia relations, 25 years of NATO in Czechia, media crackdown in Azerbaijan. Analysis of Visegrád split, Orbán's meeting with Trump, Polish president's visit to Biden. Insightful interview on upcoming Russian elections with Eugene Chausovsky. Topics include Russian domestic politics, geopolitical perspective, and collaboration with New Lines Institute.

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina discuss the funeral of Alexei Navalny, Putin's state-of-the-nation address and the latest attack on Odesa in Ukraine. They walk you through relatively positive developments related to recent Serbian elections and reflect on meetings between Hungarian, Slovak and Russian foreign ministers.Later, Alexandra interviews Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă, a Bucharest-based writer and researcher specializing in EU foreign and security policy. They discuss the "accelerated" EU accession process for Ukraine and Moldova, its effects on integration prospects for the long-waiting Western Balkan countries, and how Romania does - and can further - play a constructive role in supporting Western Balkan EU membership.In our patron-only bonus content, Alexandra speaks more with Miruna on domestic politics in Romania, predictions for and implications of the "super election" year in the country, and the unique features of the Romanian far-right.Listen to the exclusive bonus questions here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-170-on-99920668Read Miruna’s piece from the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/what-role-can-romania-play-in-facilitating-western-balkan-integration/Support us! Become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Adam and Nina start by reflecting on recent Belarusian parliamentary elections and tragic death of Alexei Navalny. They also discuss last week's farmer's protests and dynamics among the Visegrád Group countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia).Later, Alexandra interviews Andrea Mazelliu, a lecturer of law at the University of New York Tirana, to get his insights on domestic politics in Albania, which have heated up in recent months. Alexandra and Andrea also deep dive into Albanian foreign policy and its path to the EU.Support the TEE podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

This special episode marking the second anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine features four short-form interviews with Ukrainians in the country and outside it. First, Nina and Alexandra discuss the news of the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was murdered while imprisoned in one of Russia's northernmost prisons. Later, Nina and Alexandra share four stories from Ukraine with the following guests. Each guest shared their personal stories, reflections from the last two years, what they have been doing to support Ukraine, and the hopes they have for Ukraine's future. Mariya Chukhnova is a trilingual (Ukrainian, Russian, English) expert in international security and regional knowledge, specializing in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine and Russia. With a diverse background in the rule of law, anti-corruption, and international security, she is originally from Ukraine and is now based in the US. Maksym Kyiak is the chief scientist at the Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a chief expert at the Ukrainian NGO ANTS – National Interests Advocacy Network. He is based in Kyiv. Nazar Boykov is a political scientist and expert on elections based in Lviv. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at West Virginia University and a founder and chief executive at the Ukrainian NGO CIFRA Group.Oleksandr Shchur is the writer and producer of the new film Bucha, which tells the story of a refugee from Kazakhstan who saved hundreds of Ukrainians in occupied territories in the spring of 2022. Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/issue-1-2-2024-elections-without-choice/Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEuropeFollow Mariya on Linkedin to support her advocacy work and fundraising: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariya-chukhnova-903554130?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BIJPL9ERXTcmi16Ov7g4s5A%3D%3D. Check out Mariya's other work: The Quiet of the Russian Diaspora in the US (VoxUkraine) Deliberate Destruction of Ukrainian Scientific Infrastructure by Russia: The Urgency of Its Protection and Restoration (The Critical Mass) Learn more about Oleksandar's film Bucha: https://bucha.film/.

In this episode Adam, Nina and Alexandra start out by offering some of the latest news developments in Hungary, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Ukraine and Russia.Later Nina and Adam are joined by Maciej Makulski – a contributing editor with New Eastern Europe – to discuss Maciej’s recent research report titled: “Social media monitoring during the 2023 Polish Election. Immigration as a threat to national security and identity” and the consequences for upcoming elections.Download the report here: https://www.kew.org.pl/en/2024/02/08/report-social-media-monitoring-during-the-2023-polish-election-immigration-as-a-threat-to-national-security-and-identity/Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/issue-1-2-2024-elections-without-choice/Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope

In this episode, Adam and Nina start by discussing the latest news, including developments in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Russian spies in the West.Later, Adam is joined by Jovan Gjorgovski, a journalist based in North Macedonia and an editor with the Channel 5 television station. They discuss the current political situation in the country ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections later this spring. They also take a look North Macedonia’s EU accession and the serious roadblocks which still remain. Make sure to check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: bit.ly/4boNgfcSupport us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope

In this episode, our three co-hosts open this episode with a brief rundown of the latest news in the region, including developments related to Azerbaijan, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia and North Macedonia.Adam and Nina are later joined by Asel Doolotkeldieva a non-resident fellow of the George Washington University and expert on Kyrgyzstan. Asel describes the current political situation in the country which has developed as a result of the last protests in October 2020 which includes a new crackdown on independent media and civil society.For more context: “Kyrgyzstan faces a new era in regional politics” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/04/12/kyrgyzstan-faces-a-new-era-in-regional-politics/"An illegitimate transfer of authority in Kyrgyzstan" - New Eastern Europe’s 2020 interview with Aida Alymbaeva, a Kyrgyz lecturer and opposition politician: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/12/03/an-illegitimate-transfer-of-authority-in-kyrgyzstan/>>> Please complete our listener survey: https://forms.gle/w1qr9apHWsQhJAjg8Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope