On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Chekhov’s birth, his English biographer Rosamund Bartlett celebrates the writer’s last days in Yalta, and leads the campaign to restore his house
In the light of Ukraine’s election result, Ethan S. Burger offers a proposal for the creation of a new Ukrainian state. Partition would do more than better reflect the country’s national/ethnic composition, he suggests. It could also make the country economically viable, while enhancing European s
The complex realities of international politics make a wise and patient foreign-policy approach the only sensible one - especially for Russia’s smaller neighbours, says Rein Müllerson.
The promise of an international order based on principle rather than the exercise of power is exposed as an occidentalist illusion by Russian actions towards Georgia, says Alexander Rondeli.
Our conscript Tolya had such high hopes of his new posting in the elite regiment of the Russian airborne division, but the bullying goes on – if anything it’s got worse
Olesia Oleshko, who monitored Ukraine’s 2004 election, compares that election with the one which has just brought Victor Yanukovich to power. Then, the popular will changed the outcome, resulting in the Orange Revolution. That won’t happen this time
Viktor Yanukovych was elected president not so much for his pro-Russian platform as because he was the only viable anti-Orange candidate. His narrow victory leaves him with a limited mandate and forces him to seek compromise, says Olena Tregub.
Much of Russian history is characterized by pendulum swings between orthodoxy and reform to overcome backwardness. Russia is again debating reform and the West has a vital stake.
Tanya Lokshina, Russia researcher for Human Rights Watch, attended a recent demonstration in her professional capacity and was detained by the police three times in thirty minutes. She gives a graphic description of the evening’s events.
Ukraine is a diverse nation with a strong civil society. This could restrain a potentially authoritarian political leadership. The “Orange” leaders may have lost the election, but a limited mandate means the new president will have to make concessions and Ukraine has a chance of remaining democrat
Conscript Tolya has been moved again, this time to a show regiment. Life suddenly looks rather better, but is it for real?
The economic crisis has hit Russian regions hard. Natalya Zubarevich deems government solutions to the resulting unemployment to be mainly a smoke and mirrors job, which conceals a real unemployment figure of 8%.
