News
Czechs to cut number of Russian diplomats in Prague to same as they have in Moscow
Prague expels 63 staff from Russian Embassy as tit-for-tat expulsions escalate.
Russia withdraws troops from Ukraine’s border
Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says the military exercises along Ukraine’s border have been completed and has ordered all the troops back to barracks, starting on April 23 and being completed by May.
Navalny rally disappoints on a low turnout
As Russian President Vladimir Putin was at the lectern giving his annual State of the Nation speech on April 21 crowds began to gather on the central square in Vladivostok to answer the Team Navalny call for nation-wide demonstrations.
Czechs give ultimatum to Russia to let expelled diplomats return to Moscow
Prague threatens to cut Russian Embassy to just five diplomats in escalation of the country's worst row with Moscow since the Velvet Revolution.
Outrage in Armenia as Azerbaijan’s Aliyev threatens force to secure land corridor
Analyst says comments meant for domestic audience as well and that there are no credible military threats to “back up rhetoric” reminiscent of “Saddam Hussein”.
Socialist Party worker shot dead ahead of Albanian general election
One person was killed and four others injured in a shooting in the city of Elbasan, four days before Albanians vote in the April 25 general election.
Montenegro spent €25mn to help politicians and magistrates buy property
Officials say previous governments gave out apartments and loans to magistrates and political figures at a total cost of around €25mn.
Russian forestry firm Segezha announces IPO price range, strong results
Russia’s leading timber and paper group Segezha Group set the price range for its upcoming IPO on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) and announced strong results for the first quarter of this year on April 21.
Moody’s says Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania have chance to be the main winners from EU’s post-crisis funding
However, rating agency says the potential for the three Southeast European states to make “full and timely use” of the EU funding is “relatively low”.
Hungary’s media freedom continues downward slide
Since 2013 Hungary has slid 36 places, and it now lags behind countries like Albania and Moldavia, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Bosnia’s Republika Srpska prepares to issue €350mn of debt in London
Issue to help Bosnia’s smaller entity to cover its budget deficit after Bosnia failed to secure a new IMF agreement, but concerns raised over hike in indebtedness.
EU downgrades its estimate of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border to 100,000 but tensions remain high
The European Union has downgraded its estimate of the number of Russian troops from 150,000 to 100,000, after European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell admitted he had made a mistake at a press conference on April 19.
PM scandalises Bulgarians by wearing skimpy shorts to present new government
With little chance of getting cabinet headed by Gerb’s Daniel Mitov approved, attention focussed on Borissov’s leg injury and scanty attire.
Strong hopes Georgia's political crisis is over after EU brokered agreement
Way paved for release of opposition leader and electoral and judicial reforms.
Bulgaria’s outgoing government under scrutiny over sudden hike in budget deficit
Bulgaria reported a consolidated budget deficit of €335.7mn in the first quarter of 2021 and will have to borrow to patch the gap later this year.
Team Navalny pulls the trigger on the next big demonstration scheduled for April 21
Supporters of jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny called for the next big anti-government demonstration on April 21, the same day as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a State of the Nation Speech.
Samolet see EBITDA up by half despite the coronacrisis
Since Russian residential developer Samolet Group listed on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) in October last year with a valuation of $721mn a lot has happened. Surprisingly most of it has been good.
Will Belarus merge with Russia this week?
Social media was buzzing with speculation after Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko said that he was going to announce a “principled” decision of the last quarter century this week on April 17.
Navalny close to death as Kremlin attempts to ban his group as extremist
Jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny is close to death as he goes into his 19th day of a hunger strike in prison and the Russian authorities try to ban his organisation as "extremist."
Azerbaijan fires info war salvo against Russia
After previously denying it, Azerbaijan now says that Armenia fired Russian-made rockets during last year’s war. And now they’re trying to make things difficult for Moscow.
