Belarus presidential election to have no outside observers, opposition may united by a single candidate

There will be no independent observers for the August 9 Belarusian presidential elections, giving the authorities a free hand to fix the result. The opposition leaders plan to rally around one name if any of them qualify for the race

US intelligence memo admits there is “no evidence” of Russian payment of bounties to Afghans for killing US soldiers

The New York Times reported on June 3 that a CIA memo admits that intelligence agencies have “no evidence” that payments made by the Russian foreign military intelligence GRU to Afghan fighters were bounties for killing US soldiers.

Romania’s Blue Air goes from flying high to seeking debt restructuring

Romania's biggest airline by the number of passengers transported has initiated a preventive agreement as it aims to avoid insolvency by restructuring its overdue debt worth over €100mn.

Serbia opens field hospitals as coronavirus spreads

All hospitals in Belgrade have reached full capacity as the number of COVID-19 infections rose sharply in recent days.

HDZ’s Andrej Plenkovic ready to form new government in Croatia

Plenkovic promises speedy formation of new government after Croats opt for continuity in general election.

Kazakhstan launches mobile app to combat counterfeit and illegal alcohol sales

e-Sapa app based on tracker for fuel sales developed as industry association says around 40% of alcohol sold in Kazakhstan is counterfeit or illegal.

Microsoft sets up new development centre in Romania

The Movial office in Iasi will become the fourth technology development centre in the region for Microsoft.

Bank of Lithuania to become first eurozone bank to issue digital coin

The Lithuanian central bank was one of many to be looking at how they might issue their own digital currencies as the use of cash declines – a process speeded up by the COVID-19 pandemic.

InoBat Auto raises €10mn from CEZ for EV battery facility

Funding will be used for InoBat Auto’s €100mn EV battery R&D facility and production line as it prepares to become the first European supplier of customised EV batteries.

Austria’s S&T buys Slovenian telecoms equipment company Iskratel

S&T says Iskratel's work in the IIoT software and 5G areas will strengthen its product portfolio.

COMMENT: Smolii’s Resignation and the soft coup underway in Ukraine

The resignation of Yakiv Smolii as governor of the NBU could be taken as the end of serious reforms in Ukraine and a "soft coup" that puts the old guard back in charge of the country

COMMENT: Yanukovych’s “Own Goal;” Zelenskiy’s “Lesson Learned”

In September 2013, at the Annual “YES” Conference in Yalta, former President Yanukovych said: ”We have to move toward European integration,” causing participants to dance on the beach. He didn't do it and sparked the Maidan revolution

BEYOND THE BOSPHORUS: Tobin tax means it’s back to the good old money changing days at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Prying officials also driving business clients away from banks.

TURKEY INSIGHT: Morgan Stanley warns Turks MSCI Frontier Markets status may be around corner

At the same time, ING discordantly claims it senses possible turning point for foreigners’ interest in Turkish bonds.

COMMENT: Lukashenko’s penultimate elections

President Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus has long been a success story in the post-Soviet world, but now he is in trouble facing country-wide protests. He will probably win the August elections, but how long can he hang on to power?

COVID-19 lockdown sends Hungary's industrial output back to 2013 levels

Statistics office KSH said preliminary data suggests the drop in vehicle manufacturing was "extreme", despite Hungary's main carmakers partially reopening in May.

Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index regains three quarters of ground lost to coronacrisis

Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index has recovered three quarters of the ground lost during the coronacrisis, according to the latest data for week 26 of this year, after restrictions in Russia were eased in June.

Romania’s retail sales still 5.4% down y/y in May

Sales lag below 2019 level despite bouncing back in May from their plunge in April.

Estonia’s industrial production remains depressed by COVID-19 in May

May marked the twelfth consecutive month of falling industrial output in the Baltic state. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has clearly been the chief driver of the decline since March.

Net foreign direct investment leaving Ukraine in 1Q20

There was a net outflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Ukraine in the first quarter of this year of $1,451mn, reversing the trend of inflows of the last several years, according to data from Ukrstat.

Profits of Ukraine’s banks still ahead of last year, but first signs of crisis impact visible

Suma Chakrabati leaves the EBRD a greener bank

Green financing reached close to 50% of the EBRD’s volume of investment in 2019, but as he leaves the bank Chakrabati warns of the need to put the green economy at the heart of the post-COVID recovery.

Udokan: Alisher Usmanov’s Siberian copper valley

With its launch scheduled for 2023, Siberia's Udokan copper deposit is among the largest in the world.

Letter to Putin exposes campaign against US investor Calvey

Letters to President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s powerful Federal Security Service (FSB) reveal how shareholders in Russian lender Vostochny Bank sought to smear US investor Michael Calvey

Leading Czech aviation specialist turns to high-tech respirator production

It's a sort of coronacrisis-inspired version of the swords to ploughshares story. WPA, the Czech Republic’s leading aircraft component supplier, has turned its high-tech production skills to producing high-quality respirators

BUCHAREST BLOG: Romania becomes the latest battleground in Central Europe’s gender wars

A law approved by both houses of the Romanian parliament in June bans the teaching of gender studies in schools and universities. Opponents warn Romania is following in the footsteps of Central Europe's "illiberal democracies".

BALKAN BLOG: Anyone for COVID?

Adria Tour fiasco shows how not to relaunch sporting events during a pandemic — and gives the Croatian opposition ammunition against PM Andrej Plenkovic ahead of next week’s general election.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland’s illiberals facing their make or break moment this Sunday

President Andrzej Duda's reelection seemed like a formality but is now in doubt after missteps such as an attack on LGBT people. Polls suggest the liberal mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski has a real chance to win.

BALKAN BLOG: Gangster-style photos from Bulgarian PM’s bedroom ratchet up dirty war with anonymous enemy

Borissov’s latest term in office has been plagued by constant scandals, but photos of the PM sleeping next to a Glock 9mm handgun and a drawer full of €500 bills and gold bars indicate he has a bitter enemy close to home.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Returning migrants but no COVID baby boom for emerging Europe

What does the coronavirus pandemic mean for the region's dismal demographics?