Latest Updates

President Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party wins a landslide victory in Ukraine’s snap general election

The Servant of the People party took 44.2% of the vote on July 21, according to the National Exit poll results.

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TEHRAN BLOG: Mealy-mouthed UK had it coming

Britain seized an Iranian tanker as part of a policy of keeping Donald Trump sweet. London has done next to nothing to uphold the nuclear deal and protect Iran from biting US sanctions. Why act so surprised that Tehran grabbed the Stena Impero?

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ANALYSIS: Iran drags UK further into showdown with US as it captures oil tanker

Latest move from Tehran against Trump’s “economic war” sparks calls for international coalition to escort all commercial vessels through the Persian Gulf.

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TURKEY INSIGHT: Are these markets for real?

For now, Erdogan, the master of distraction, appears to have enough economic and political control. But, if behind the scenes he is digging as frantically as some observers believe, he’ll struggle to get out of his deep hole.

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COMMENT: Ukraine’s slow but steady westward trade path

Five years after the Maidan revolution, the DCFTA between the EU and Ukraine is turning out to be an important vehicle in the East European country’s gradual economic decoupling from Russia. It is also buttressing the its slow but steady reform path.

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FRONTIER MARKETS: Oltin fund to be first internationally listed Uzbek security

Specialist LSE listing to provide investors with chance to get in early on Uzbekistan’s move from Soviet-type economy to market economy.

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VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland’s PiS pays for domestic antics with marginalisation in Europe

Ex-PM Beata Szydlo failed twice to be elected head of the European Parliament’s committee on employment and social affairs in what seems to be the result of the ruling PiS's anti-EU sentiment in domestic politics.

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COMMENT: Southeast Europe the growth star in CEE banking, but the profit pool is elsewhere

The core message for bankers and investors active in the CEE region should be: close to old records, potential for more but watch out for late cycle phenomena.

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Turkmenistan exposed: Investors warned nation is “teetering on edge of catastrophe”

Despite people going hungry amid economic crisis ruling autocrats continue to pile money into vanity projects, while failing to pay contractors. Eight-lane ‘Turkmen Autobahn’ latest investment to raise eyebrows.

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Kosovan PM resigns after being summoned by Hague-based war crimes court

Turkmen president reportedly rumoured dead as of July 20

Russia's Putin seeks to woo Shell back to LNG projects

Kosovan PM resigns after being summoned by Hague-based war crimes court

Snap elections expected after Ramush Haradinaj is summoned to the war crimes court for questioning as a suspect.

Turkmen president reportedly rumoured dead as of July 20

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, 62, is rumoured to have died this week, Russian news agency Govorit Moskva reported, citing the director of the Centre for Monitoring Eurasian Problems, Aslan Rubayev

Russia's Putin seeks to woo Shell back to LNG projects

Earlier this year Shell pulled out of the Baltic LNG project with Russian natural gas giant Gazprom.

News

Western Balkans' climate to resemble US Deep South’s by 2050

Cities in Southeast Europe are forecast to see some of the sharpest increases in average temperatures of any major urban areas worldwide over the next 31 years.

Turkish defence industry will bounce back stronger from F-35 exclusion asserts official

Doing so will prove a tall order—the Pentagon calculates loss of work will cost fighter jet component manufacturers in Turkey some $9bn.

Russia's president eases path to citizenship for all residents of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Kyiv views the move as illegal and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman will appeal to other states to declare invalid such "fake" documents as well.

Ankara hits out as US cuts Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme

Move in response to Erdogan administration buying Russian missile systems set to cost Nato member country $9bn in projected work share.

Macedonian PM dismisses 70 officials from state institutions in operation "Broom"

Cleanup operation launched after ruling coalition's disappointing performance in the first round of the recent presidential election.

Western Balkans' climate to resemble US Deep South’s by 2050

3 days ago

Turkish defence industry will bounce back stronger from F-35 exclusion asserts official

3 days ago

Russia's president eases path to citizenship for all residents of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions

3 days ago

Ankara hits out as US cuts Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme

4 days ago

Macedonian PM dismisses 70 officials from state institutions in operation "Broom"

4 days ago

More News

Tech

Lithuania passes e-residency legislation to boost investment

Follows the trail blazed by nearby Estonia which has operated an e-residency system since 2014.

Hungarian and Czech super laser facilities to form consortium

Super laser research facilities in the two CEE countries will form a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), which is expected to start operating in January 2020.

Russian Yandex.Taxi snaps up Vezet assets from rival Mail.ru

The deal, if completed, would be a major blow to Mail.ru, which has been trying to compete in Russia's fast-growing taxi and digital mobility solutions market.

Four bidders expected for Kosovo’s Ipko

The planned sale of Telekom Slovenije’s Kosovan subsidiary Ipko is the latest move towards consolidation in the Balkan telecoms sector, Fitch Solutions writes.

Russian internet giant Yandex launches a beta version of its food retail app Supercheck

Online retail is growing in leaps and bounds even if traditional retail is in the doldrums on the back of six years of real income wage increase stagnation.

Lithuania passes e-residency legislation to boost investment

4 days ago

Hungarian and Czech super laser facilities to form consortium

5 days ago

Russian Yandex.Taxi snaps up Vezet assets from rival Mail.ru

6 days ago

Four bidders expected for Kosovo’s Ipko

7 days ago

Russian internet giant Yandex launches a beta version of its food retail app Supercheck

10 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

OPINION: Kosovo must not condone “murder by media” of powerful women

In Europe’s youngest country, media freedom is flourishing — yet a controversial story published by a leading broadsheet has turned the spotlight on the serious risks to press freedom and gender equality that remain.

COMMENT: Ukraine poised for a new strong start after July’s elections

Ukraine heads to the polls again for parliamentary elections on July 21, and expectations are building of another pro-reform vote to follow Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s landslide victory in the run off of the presidential election in April.

COMMENT: Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

ING: Hungary’s budget is looking extremely good

The Hungarian year-to-date general government deficit came in at HUF 390bn - only 39.1% of the full-year target, but we can't really say if this good performance is here to stay

Timothy Ash on trying to figure out the Turkish sacking of the central bank governor story

On June 6 Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his new executive president to sacked the governor of the Turkish central bank and markets tanked. What happens next?

OPINION: Kosovo must not condone “murder by media” of powerful women

9 days ago

COMMENT: Ukraine poised for a new strong start after July’s elections

9 days ago

COMMENT: Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

12 days ago

ING: Hungary’s budget is looking extremely good

12 days ago

Timothy Ash on trying to figure out the Turkish sacking of the central bank governor story

13 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Growth of Polish retail sales slows down in June

The reading marks a slowdown of 1.9pp in retail turnover growth in comparison to y/y expansion recorded in May, seen by Erste analysts as a result of the calendar effect.

Watcom shopping index picks up in June for first time in four years

Foot traffic at Russia’s leading malls was up over the first six months of this year, suggesting the continuous contraction that has marred retail for the last five years has bottomed out, according to the latest Watcom Shopping index.

Hackers target Bulgaria’s revenue agency, accessing millions of financial records

The hackers accessed the system of Bulgaria’s tax agency, revealing tax declarations, personal identification numbers, names, addresses, income and other information, which were leaked to the media from a Russian email address.

Polish inflation accelerates to 2.6% y/y in June

Inflation is expected to moderate in the second half of the year with the Polish Monetary Policy Council to remain dovish.

Average gross wage in Slovenia up by real 2.5% y/y in May

Tightening labour markets are putting upward pressure on wages in Central and Southeast Europe.

Growth of Polish retail sales slows down in June

14 hours ago

Watcom shopping index picks up in June for first time in four years

2 days ago

Hackers target Bulgaria’s revenue agency, accessing millions of financial records

5 days ago

Polish inflation accelerates to 2.6% y/y in June

5 days ago

Average gross wage in Slovenia up by real 2.5% y/y in May

6 days ago

More Data

Features

Armenians remain optimistic about the future and pleased with their government, poll shows

Results of a poll by the International Republican Institute indicate a strong popular mandate for the new government to press on with reforms.

Ukraine’s balance of payments to support the hryvnia, despite growing trade deficit

A positive balance of payments will support the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, largely thanks to $5bn worth of remittances sent home by Ukrainians working abroad, despite the swelling trade deficit.

Russian companies scramble to improve their ESG scores or face losing investors

"Environmental, social and governance" performance is becoming a hot topic amongst leading Russian companies and a way to reduce their "Russia risk" discount.

Central, Eastern and Southeast European sovereigns to return to debt markets on large scale in 2020, Raiffeisen says

Governments of Central and Southeast Europe have already secured most of the funding they need for this year, but with more obligations maturing in 2020 they are expected to return to the markets on a large scale next year

Rainbow flag flies over CEE, but attitudes to LGBT vary vastly

North Macedonia held its first ever gay pride march on June 29 with up to 1,000 people attending the event. There were pride marches in nearly all the CEE countries but the experience in each country is vastly different.

Armenians remain optimistic about the future and pleased with their government, poll shows

11 days ago

Ukraine’s balance of payments to support the hryvnia, despite growing trade deficit

12 days ago

Russian companies scramble to improve their ESG scores or face losing investors

1 month ago

Central, Eastern and Southeast European sovereigns to return to debt markets on large scale in 2020, Raiffeisen says

12 days ago

Rainbow flag flies over CEE, but attitudes to LGBT vary vastly

20 days ago

More Features

Blogs

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Pursuit of ex-president Atambayev has wide-reaching consequences for Kyrgyzstan

Prosecution of the first Kyrgyz president to leave office peacefully will show that no one is above the law — but it could also discourage his successors from handing over power.

BALKAN BLOG: Balkan divisions on display at bad-tempered Sarajevo summit

The brawl at Sarajevo airport between Bosnian border guards and Turkish President Erdogan’s security was the only time things turned physical, but it came on top of a whole series of acrimonious verbal clashes between Southeast European politicians.

MOSCOW BLOG: Putin at work at the illiberal G20 summit

The common wisdom is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is all about tactics and doesn't have a strategy. But things have changed. The collapse of the west has made it easy for Putin, who is capitalising on an improving hand.

BRICKS & MORTAR: Romania, Poland top destinations for new retail parks in CEE

The retail park market is still in its infancy in CEE compared to Western Europe, says a report from Cushman & Wakefield, leaving plenty of room for catch-up growth, especially in smaller cities.

BRICKS AND MORTAR: Tehran emigrants price locals out of the market in satellite cities

Residents of cities and towns around Tehran are reporting sharp increases in rents due to the influx of people from the big city.

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Pursuit of ex-president Atambayev has wide-reaching consequences for Kyrgyzstan

9 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Balkan divisions on display at bad-tempered Sarajevo summit

11 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Putin at work at the illiberal G20 summit

17 days ago

BRICKS & MORTAR: Romania, Poland top destinations for new retail parks in CEE

17 days ago

BRICKS AND MORTAR: Tehran emigrants price locals out of the market in satellite cities

19 days ago

More Blogs

Latest Updates

News

Cities in Southeast Europe are forecast to see some of the sharpest increases in average temperatures of any major urban areas worldwide over the next 31 years.

Doing so will prove a tall order—the Pentagon calculates loss of work will cost fighter jet component manufacturers in Turkey some $9bn.

Kyiv views the move as illegal and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman will appeal to other states to declare invalid such "fake" documents as well.

Move in response to Erdogan administration buying Russian missile systems set to cost Nato member country $9bn in projected work share.

Cleanup operation launched after ruling coalition's disappointing performance in the first round of the recent presidential election.

Tech

Follows the trail blazed by nearby Estonia which has operated an e-residency system since 2014.

Super laser research facilities in the two CEE countries will form a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), which is expected to start operating in January 2020.

The deal, if completed, would be a major blow to Mail.ru, which has been trying to compete in Russia's fast-growing taxi and digital mobility solutions market.

The planned sale of Telekom Slovenije’s Kosovan subsidiary Ipko is the latest move towards consolidation in the Balkan telecoms sector, Fitch Solutions writes.

Online retail is growing in leaps and bounds even if traditional retail is in the doldrums on the back of six years of real income wage increase stagnation.

Opinion

In Europe’s youngest country, media freedom is flourishing — yet a controversial story published by a leading broadsheet has turned the spotlight on the serious risks to press freedom and gender equality that remain.

Ukraine heads to the polls again for parliamentary elections on July 21, and expectations are building of another pro-reform vote to follow Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s landslide victory in the run off of the presidential election in April.

Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

The Hungarian year-to-date general government deficit came in at HUF 390bn - only 39.1% of the full-year target, but we can't really say if this good performance is here to stay

On June 6 Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his new executive president to sacked the governor of the Turkish central bank and markets tanked. What happens next?

Data

The reading marks a slowdown of 1.9pp in retail turnover growth in comparison to y/y expansion recorded in May, seen by Erste analysts as a result of the calendar effect.

Foot traffic at Russia’s leading malls was up over the first six months of this year, suggesting the continuous contraction that has marred retail for the last five years has bottomed out, according to the latest Watcom Shopping index.

The hackers accessed the system of Bulgaria’s tax agency, revealing tax declarations, personal identification numbers, names, addresses, income and other information, which were leaked to the media from a Russian email address.

Inflation is expected to moderate in the second half of the year with the Polish Monetary Policy Council to remain dovish.

Tightening labour markets are putting upward pressure on wages in Central and Southeast Europe.

Features

Results of a poll by the International Republican Institute indicate a strong popular mandate for the new government to press on with reforms.

A positive balance of payments will support the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, largely thanks to $5bn worth of remittances sent home by Ukrainians working abroad, despite the swelling trade deficit.

"Environmental, social and governance" performance is becoming a hot topic amongst leading Russian companies and a way to reduce their "Russia risk" discount.

Governments of Central and Southeast Europe have already secured most of the funding they need for this year, but with more obligations maturing in 2020 they are expected to return to the markets on a large scale next year

North Macedonia held its first ever gay pride march on June 29 with up to 1,000 people attending the event. There were pride marches in nearly all the CEE countries but the experience in each country is vastly different.

Blogs

Prosecution of the first Kyrgyz president to leave office peacefully will show that no one is above the law — but it could also discourage his successors from handing over power.

The brawl at Sarajevo airport between Bosnian border guards and Turkish President Erdogan’s security was the only time things turned physical, but it came on top of a whole series of acrimonious verbal clashes between Southeast European politicians.

The common wisdom is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is all about tactics and doesn't have a strategy. But things have changed. The collapse of the west has made it easy for Putin, who is capitalising on an improving hand.

The retail park market is still in its infancy in CEE compared to Western Europe, says a report from Cushman & Wakefield, leaving plenty of room for catch-up growth, especially in smaller cities.

Residents of cities and towns around Tehran are reporting sharp increases in rents due to the influx of people from the big city.

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