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Moldova’s fight against Kremlin interference faces Gagauzia election test
By Sasha Pleshco / Unsplash Moldova’s democratic resilience faces a revealing litmus test on November 15, when autonomous Gagauzia elects a new governor and People’s Assembly. In this southern region, measures intended to defend the Moldovan state against Russian interference risk being construed as evidence that Chișinău’s pursuit of EU integration entails the gradual erosion of Gagauz self-government. Moscow is ready to capitalize on such sentiments. Home to a predominantly
34 minutes ago
“Please study history thoroughly” Lithuanian woman tells hammer and sickle-waving Italian students
Neringa Budryte received wide praise in Italy for her open letter that has sparked a wider discussion about gaps in education. After weeks of seeing hammer and sickle flags being waved freely in the streets of Italy during protests, Lithuanian expat Neringa Budryte decided to write an open letter sharing the experience of those who have experienced those regimes. “This is not about denying the existence of social injustices, inequalities, or the right to fight for a better wo
1 day ago
Russia’s Ominous Migrant Weaponization
Recent events show the Russian-Belarusian playbook moving from migrant pressure towards coercion, presenting Europe with some tough dilemmas. Photo: STATE BORDER GUARD SERVICE at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania Russia’s shadow war against Europe is a multiple pronged attack on NATO and other countries. In the northeastern sector of this front line, shoving developing world migrants through border fences has long played a role. In October, this campai
6 days ago
“Please study history thoroughly” Lithuanian woman tells hammer and sickle-waving Italian students
Neringa Budryte received wide praise in Italy for her open letter that has sparked a wider discussion about gaps in education. After weeks of seeing hammer and sickle flags being waved freely in the streets of Italy during protests, Lithuanian expat Neringa Budryte decided to write an open letter sharing the experience of those who have experienced those regimes. “This is not about denying the existence of social injustices, inequalities, or the right to fight for a better wo
1 day ago
Russia’s Baltic escalation playbook: fear is part of the strategy
Russia is promoting a picture of the Baltic region in which NATO is preparing to attack Russia, Baltic governments are heavily militarising, and Russian speakers face imminent persecution. Taken together, these narratives create an atmosphere of permanent crisis in which military escalation appears increasingly plausible. This allows Moscow to exert pressure even without taking overt military action – the possibility of conflict itself becomes an instrument of coercion. In la
Oct 8
Moscow cries fraud abroad while fixing the vote at home
Moscow routinely portrays elections in democratic countries as fraudulent and controlled from abroad. Yet Russia’s own parliamentary election offers no genuine political choice: the Kremlin controls the field and has eliminated even the possibility of voting against the war in Ukraine. As the war’s effects reach deeper into everyday life, growing public dissatisfaction is being kept out of the ballot box. When post-Soviet states turn away from Russia, as Armenia or Moldova ha
Sep 21
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Moldova’s fight against Kremlin interference faces Gagauzia election test
By Sasha Pleshco / Unsplash Moldova’s democratic resilience faces a revealing litmus test on November 15, when autonomous Gagauzia elects a new governor and People’s Assembly. In this southern region, measures intended to defend the Moldovan state against Russian interference risk being construed as evidence that Chișinău’s pursuit of EU integration entails the gradual erosion of Gagauz self-government. Moscow is ready to capitalize on such sentiments. Home to a predominantly
34 minutes ago
“Please study history thoroughly” Lithuanian woman tells hammer and sickle-waving Italian students
Neringa Budryte received wide praise in Italy for her open letter that has sparked a wider discussion about gaps in education. After weeks of seeing hammer and sickle flags being waved freely in the streets of Italy during protests, Lithuanian expat Neringa Budryte decided to write an open letter sharing the experience of those who have experienced those regimes. “This is not about denying the existence of social injustices, inequalities, or the right to fight for a better wo
1 day ago
The deterrence gap: How can NATO protect its front line from Russia?
By Agnia Grigas Agnia Grigas These are tense times for NATO’s European frontline states. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is well into its fifth year. US President Donald Trump is reducing troop presence in Europe and questioning America’s commitment to NATO, while the European powers are yet to take on full responsibility for their continent’s security. And the war in the Middle East is consuming finite resources and diverting attention from other security topics. In this challe
Oct 23
Russia’s Ominous Migrant Weaponization
Recent events show the Russian-Belarusian playbook moving from migrant pressure towards coercion, presenting Europe with some tough dilemmas. Photo: STATE BORDER GUARD SERVICE at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania Russia’s shadow war against Europe is a multiple pronged attack on NATO and other countries. In the northeastern sector of this front line, shoving developing world migrants through border fences has long played a role. In October, this campai
6 days ago
Russia’s Starlink substitute poses a security threat far beyond Ukraine
Illustration: Wix The Russian invasion of Ukraine has underlined the role of space communications infrastructure in securing internet connectivity on the modern battlefield. Russia is currently developing a satellite network project meant to serve as a domestic alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink. This could give the Kremlin a dangerous edge in Ukraine, while transforming the security and space safety landscape on a global scale. Since it was established in 2015, SpaceX owned lo
Oct 28
Dodging Russian Drones on Europe’s Highway to Hell
The old talk of a peaceful European future comes to a shuddering halt in the lands of eastern Ukraine. Kramatorsk / Instagram: kryvokulskyi Europe’s longest road, the E-40, begins its 5,000-mile journey at the port of Calais, long the gateway to the British Isles, and ends in the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan. It’s part of the E-road system, which aims to help unite Europe in trade and to aid development and ties between neighbors; until 2014, it was doing just that. Now, whe
Oct 27
Moldova’s fight against Kremlin interference faces Gagauzia election test
By Sasha Pleshco / Unsplash Moldova’s democratic resilience faces a revealing litmus test on November 15, when autonomous Gagauzia elects a new governor and People’s Assembly. In this southern region, measures intended to defend the Moldovan state against Russian interference risk being construed as evidence that Chișinău’s pursuit of EU integration entails the gradual erosion of Gagauz self-government. Moscow is ready to capitalize on such sentiments. Home to a predominantly
34 minutes ago
“Please study history thoroughly” Lithuanian woman tells hammer and sickle-waving Italian students
Neringa Budryte received wide praise in Italy for her open letter that has sparked a wider discussion about gaps in education. After weeks of seeing hammer and sickle flags being waved freely in the streets of Italy during protests, Lithuanian expat Neringa Budryte decided to write an open letter sharing the experience of those who have experienced those regimes. “This is not about denying the existence of social injustices, inequalities, or the right to fight for a better wo
1 day ago
Russia’s Ominous Migrant Weaponization
Recent events show the Russian-Belarusian playbook moving from migrant pressure towards coercion, presenting Europe with some tough dilemmas. Photo: STATE BORDER GUARD SERVICE at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania Russia’s shadow war against Europe is a multiple pronged attack on NATO and other countries. In the northeastern sector of this front line, shoving developing world migrants through border fences has long played a role. In October, this campai
6 days ago
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