Foreign Policy Names Estonia Best Investment Destination in Europe
Estonia has become increasingly influential in European circles for its tight fiscal management and an economy that has shown surprising resilience in the face of the ongoing slow meltdown of Europe.
Lithuania’s Move to Nuclear a Blow to Gazprom
In a little-noticed news item last week, Lithuania announced that it will re-open talks with its fellow Baltic states and Hitachi to open a nuclear plant outside of Visaginas.
Georgia’s Wine, a Soviet Survivor
Georgian wines survived by luring the Soviets into loving them, and that in turn allowed ancient traditions to survive an empire determined to eradicate everything precious and old.
Iran Threatens to Annex Azerbaijan, World Yawns
An invasion of Azerbaijan is unlikely in the near future. Each day that Iranian rhetoric passes without a Western response, the likelihood grows.
Lukashenko: I’m No Dictator, Just President for Life
It is also important to remember that in almost every state of the former Soviet Union, there are large portions of the population who would gladly return to the USSR — this video is aimed at them.
Latvia’s Ties of History Run to Russia and Fascism
In Riga, former Waffen SS members drawn from Latvia — and, in a worrying development, younger generations — march in the streets in remembrance of the people who killed Jews and Slavs as equally bereft of humanity.
Occupation Denies Liberalization
Military occupation of one’s territory is an enormous impediment to liberalization, breeding its own special obstacles and changes in government and civil society that make free markets and free people less likely.
Cyprus Account Seizure Reaches Beyond Russian Oligarchs
Cyprus can only serve as both a warning shot to and a bad example for former Soviet states desperate to enter the European Union, a statement that the law can be disregarded if the victim is small and unliked.
Latvia’s Euro Entreaty Reveals Euro Shortcomings
Latvia’s likely success in joining the eurozone flies in the face of almost every possible indicator — and it again comes back to Berlin, who wants a symbol of austerity’s success to use against Southern Europe.
Moldova’s Past … and Future?
In light of our recent coverage of Moldova’s political chaos, we believe it would be helpful to show how far Moldova has come in a mere nine years … and how far it could fall again.