Features
Belarus economy increasing well managed, but remains vulnerable to external shocks
Belarus is having a few bad years. GDP grew only by 1.2% in 2019 and will contract by about 5% this year, but its finances are increasingly well run
TURKEY INSIGHT: With the lira through the looking glass, global finance questions whether Erdogan can sell eurobonds
Robustness of country’s banks also scrutinised with observers fearing a perfect storm scenario ahead of ‘Currency Crisis II’.
Tajikistan: Coronavirus brings bonanza of aid, but zero accountability
$300mn has been given and another $70mn may be on the way.
After reopening, Armenian economy continues to struggle
“It was the pandemic that hit the economy hard, not the lockdown itself.”
Misery vs death
The painful choice faced by poorer emerging European countries as they are forced to balance the risk to life of a new coronavirus spike with the economic and human cost of a second lockdown.
INTERVIEW: The long and painful path to a new normal
Romanian tech entrepreneur Radu Negulescu believes the early reopening of economies post-lockdown is self-defeating and forecasts years of hardship before the global economy finally rebounds.
Armenia gets vote of confidence from RAEX Europe ratings agency despite economic bludgeoning of COVID-19
Most of small nation’s extra debt is related to donor support at concessional terms, says report, while fiscal and monetary policies are adequate. Continued high dependence on imports a drag on economic progress.
As first Friday prayer is held at Hagia Sophia since 1930s observers ask: “Is secularism dead in Turkey?”
Erdogan wants Islamised one-party state says academic.
Risk analysis identifies Turkey, Iran and Russia among 37 nations likely to face mass ‘post-Covid’ protests
“It’s a tinderbox” says analyst who determined projections of civil unrest and ability of countries to bounce back from pandemic.
“Putin must be happy with events in Minsk” says Belarusian analyst
Pre-election clampdown on the opposition has worsened Minsk’s relations with the West, making President Lukashenko more amenable in future talks with Moscow — including on the unification of Russia and Belarus.
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Uzbekistan returns to its roots with cannabis cultivation
Hemp uses less water than cotton, a fact that should excite farmers in the rapidly desiccating region.
Who hacked the website of North Macedonia’s state election commission on election day?
Even though voting took place in a free and democratic manner the DDoS attack left a big stain on the election — the first since the country changed its name to North Macedonia and become a Nato member.
Corona vote gambles pay off for incumbents
Timing is everything as politicians seek to take advantage of poll boosts from steering their countries through the pandemic and launching stimulus packages, before populations really feel the impact of the crippling economic recessions.
LONG READ: Serbia’s hijacked protests
Protests against the Serbian government’s handling of the coronacrisis and the announcement of a new lockdown descended into violent attacks on police and state buildings after they were taken over by far-right groups, some linked to Russia.