Eastern Europe / News
Belarusian authorities to hold concerts in Minsk park to prevent more opposition rallies
The authorities in Belarus have booked the Friendship Park in Minsk and say they will hold concerts there every day until August 8, the day before presidential elections, in a transparent move to prevent a second mass rally, the Minsk city government
“Favourite films” poll gives Svetlana Tikhanovskaya 61% support, Lukashenko 3%
With only a week to go before Belarus’ presidential election, polls are banned and exactly how popular each of the candidates is has remained a mystery. But one news outlet asked Belarusians to name their "favourite film" from six titles.
Former Belarus’ presidential hopeful Valery Tsepkalo exhorts 32 world leaders to act
Belarusian opposition leader Valery Tsepkalo called on world leaders to pressure Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko into allowing free and fair elections this coming weekend
FPRI BMB Ukraine: A shaky ceasefire is holding in Donbas for the moment
A “comprehensive ceasefire” in Eastern Ukraine that was agreed to last week in Minsk officially started on August 2. There were immediately violations but the number of attacks by separatists has fallen significantly
Lukashenko cancels state of the nation speech as health fails
Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko cancelled his annual state of the nation speech that he was due to deliver on August 3 a week after he admitted to having the coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Ukraine’s banking sector starts to lose money in July
The Ukrainian banking sector lost UAH5,174mn ($186mn) in June as the full impact of the economic slowdown hit home.
Ukraine’s IMF deal drifting off track
After making Herculean efforts to pass the so-called anti-Kolomoisky banking law on May 18, clearing the way to restart a new $5bn International Monetary Fund standby agreement this summer, the renewed deal already seems to have gone off track.
Huge crowd turns out in Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s support rally-concert in Minsk
A rally-concert to support Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the only remaining candidate of the opposition in the Belarusian presidential race, attracted an enormous crowd of 63,000 people to the Friendship of Peoples park on the outskirts of Minsk.
Belarus’ Security taskforce links arrested Russian mercenaries to jailed opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky
Belarusian security services are linking the arrest of 33 Russian mercenaries to jailed opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky and have increased the severity of the charges against him as well as introducing more restrictions on opposition rallies.
Who are the 33 Russian mercenaries arrested in Minsk?
More details of the 33 Russian mercenaries arrested in Minsk emerged on July 30. Belarus has accused a Kremlin-linked military contractor of sending 200 fighters to destabilise the country ahead of August 9 presidential elections.
FPRI BMB UKRAINE: Ukraine is successfully implementing the Association Agreement with the EU
According to a monitoring report from the Ukrainian Center for European Policy, Ukraine has fulfilled 41.6% of the requirements outlined in its Association Agreement with the EU.
Lukashenko holds urgent meeting of Belarus Security Council following arrest of Russian mercenaries
Belarus' president called an urgent meeting of the Security Council following the arrest of 33 Russian mercenaries in Minsk that may be a ruse to cancel opposition rallies or even postpone the presidential election.
Lukashenko says he had coronavirus, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya gives second TV speech
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that he had already had the coronavirus (COVID-19) but showed no symptoms during a televised meeting.
Lukashenko intimidating protestors with visits to military bases, mass strikes planned for post-elections
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has visited his third military base in the last few weeks in a move that is clearly intended to intimidate the growing number of protestors who are attempting to oust him in the August 9 elections.
Turkey’s Armenia, Azerbaijan conflict role should be to “keep itself as far away as possible” says Armenian diplomat as military exercises are announced
Ankara attempting to export “very destabilising” presence it has shown in eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East to South Caucasus says Yerevan’s envoy to Netherlands.
Russia denies interfering in North Macedonia’s July 15 general election
Election marred by hacker attacks and leaked recordings of conversations among top politicians. Foreign ministry spokesperson says speculation about Russian influence are “absurd” and accuses West of hypocrisy.
Anti-Kremlin protests grow in Russian Far East
Tens of thousands have demanded the release of Khabarovsk governor Sergei Furgal, arrested this month on murder charges. The appointment of an interim governor has failed to prevent protests from entering their third week.
Ukraine's parliament approves investment nanny bill
Ukraine’s parliament has approved the “investment nanny” bill, which offers state assistance and oversight to large investment projects, including a 15-year state guarantee on foreign investments.
Ukraine places 2033 eurobonds for $2bn at 7.253%
Ukraine returns to the international market after pulling a Eurobond issue at the beginning of this month following the resignation of central bank governor Yakiv Smolii.
Belarus presidential candidate barred from ballot leaves country with his children
Valery Tsepkalo and his children have left Belarus after "trusted sources" warned of his imminent arrest by Belarusian authorities. His wife Veronika has stayed to support Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main rival to incumbent President Lukashenko