Politics

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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 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 protest, initiated by students, has been spreading like wildfire throughout Serbia thanks to the energy and intelligence of young people, triggering changes. Fear has changed sides and this is the greatest achievement of the student movement so far. A comment

An analysis of the ongoing protests in Serbia, the skill of students in organizing the demonstrations, the differences with the protests of the 1990s and 2000s, and the possible risks of the absence of a long-term plan and strategy

Armenia has entered the pre-election year with all to play for. Yet, despite constantly declining ratings, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could benefit from a new inadvertent supporter – the European Union

The absence of EU flags at anti-government demonstrations shows that accession has become a divisive issue in the candidate country. Interview with Srđan Majstorović, president of the board of the European Policy Centre (CEP)

Armenia has announced its intention to become a member of the European Union, however close relations with Moscow, particularly in the economic and energy spheres, complicate the possibility of Yerevan taking the European path

In Tbilisi, street protests launched at the end of November calling for new elections continue. A large part of the population refuses to accept the outcome of a controversial vote to elect a new parliament on October 26. Photos and texts by Onnik James Krikorian

Ahead of the discussions on the future EU budget, we interviewed Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, on the principles that should guide the way cohesion funds are delivered

Physical attacks, insults, obstacles at work, damage to equipment, arrests. In Georgia journalists have become a target of police violence during the street protests, while state broadcasters are accused of disinformation

Initially in favour of Israel, Yugoslavia's stance shifted towards supporting the Palestinian liberation struggle. Post-Yugoslav states have largely abandoned the Non-Aligned Movement principles, taking divergent positions on the Palestinian question

Protests in Georgia, which erupted after the October elections and the decision to suspend negotiations with the EU, are not abating. Georgia is deeply divided on two fronts. Another critical moment is expected on Saturday: the election of the new president

A complex geopolitical web has entangled Georgia in another wave of protests. Following controversial elections held in October, thousands have taken to the streets in response to what many see as the government turning away from the European Union and moving closer to Russia

The Macedonian Constitutional Court has abolished the "Balancer", a tool designed to guarantee access to public administration based on ethnic identity, now considered outdated, discriminatory and susceptible to abuse

Armenia’s absence from this year’s Climate Conference in Azerbaijan underscores the ongoing tensions between Yerevan and Baku. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg surprised many by visiting Tbilisi and Yerevan to support protesters

Trump's victory in the US presidential elections was welcomed by most Macedonian politicians to reaffirm the absolute centrality of relations with Washington for the country's foreign policy

Amid a systematic erosion of editorial independence by the government, stronger international support is needed to uphold media freedom in the country. An interview with Igor Božić, news director of the independent N1 TV

The United Nations Climate Conference COP29 begins today in Baku, Azerbaijan. The following is a message to the international public: take a moment to remember Azerbaijan's political prisoners and the many human rights violations