Having made a fortune in Russia, Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan moved to the then disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh where he became de facto State Minister. Arrested by Azerbaijan in 2023, he is now on trial in Baku. After going on hunger strike last month, Vardanyan issued an audio statement last week, creating further headaches for the Pashinyan government in Armenia
Many low- and mid-altitude ski resorts, due to global warming, remain without snow, but not necessarily without tourists. There are ways to reinvent the mountain: an ongoing cross-border project, BeyondSnow, helps some Alpine resorts understand how to do it
The Vetëvendosje movement won the elections on February 9, but this time it does not have the numbers to govern on its own. The alternatives are the creation of a difficult majority or new early elections
The cityscape of Bulgaria's capital has changed dramatically since 1989. But the building boom has paid scant regard to either regulations or the city's distinctive architectural heritage. And upcoming projects might well disfigure the city forever, as is shown on a 3D map created by Boyan Yurukov, an open-data activist
In the European Union there is enormous potential for the production of renewable energy, still only partially exploited. It is concentrated above all in rural regions: with adequate investments, it could create a precious opportunity for development
Protests in Serbia continue. On March 1st, a new protest was held in Niš. With a bit of irony, students issued the “Students’ edict”. Vučić reacted harshly, attacking the students and the media outlets that cover the demonstrations
As Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations appeared to have stalled over points of disagreement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has implied that the matter of a controversial preamble to the country’s constitution could be resolved
With the climate crisis, the threat of forest fires is getting worse every year. And from the Mediterranean, a global hotspot, it is spreading to unexpected latitudes, forcing society to deeply rethink its relationship with the territory
Georgia has been gripped by uninterrupted protests for more than two months now: there has been no shortage of violent acts by the police, arrests and strong censorship of media critical of the government. The case of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli
The suspension of the US government's international aid programmes, one of the first decisions taken by Donald Trump after taking office, has triggered a wave of uncertainty around the world, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is no exception
Two different countries and two different realities were seen on the streets of Serbia last weekend. On one side, tens of thousands of students and citizens marching from city to city calling for the rule of law; on the other, the faithful of President Vučić, transported by bus and train at the expense of taxpayers
The new Bulgarian government has relaunched a rapid entry into the Eurozone as a strategic priority for the country: Sofia meets the formal criteria, but for experts and public opinion the adoption of the Euro remains a controversial issue
On January 29, municipal elections were held in Azerbaijan, with a turnout of 31.45%. According to the Central Election Commission, it was a success, while the opposition and independent observers said it was, as usual, fraud and irregularities
The sudden cut in US support for civil society organizations abroad is also putting many media outlets in crisis, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Their voice is important for democracy, but there are not many viable alternatives for their financial sustainability
Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen is the new EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. The appointment was welcomed in Pristina, but the outlook for the future of the negotiations remains murky
The parliamentary elections in Kosovo outline an uncertain scenario: Kurti won but without a large majority. A coalition government now appears inevitable, with repercussions on political stability and dialogue with Serbia
Europe’s rural areas could produce up to 30 times their energy needs with photovoltaics, but technical, environmental and social obstacles complicate their development. Networks, storage and community involvement will be crucial for a sustainable future
Europe aims to obtain 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but there is still a long way to go. While oil dominates the national energy mix, very different territorial realities are emerging, with rural areas ready for the ecological transition
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended last month’s World Economic Forum in Davos. So too did Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev but there have so far not been any reports that the two met. Instead, during his visit, Pashinyan made headlines in another area: the relations with Turkiye
The government has signed a loan of one billion Euros from Hungary, with the aim of paying off old debts and relaunching the economy. For the opposition, however, the money actually comes from China, and risks deepening Beijing's influence on the country
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