Latest Updates

Germany deal to buy Sputnik V dead, but India to receive 360mn doses

A deal to sell Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to Germany is dead, but Russia will send 360mn doses to India, where the pandemic is running out of control.

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Central Europe joins the EV revolution

Could electric cars and batteries generate the new high-tech sector the region so badly needs?

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Amnesty International restores Navalny’s Prisoner of Conscience status

Human Rights watchdog Amnesty International restored jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s Prisoner of Conscience status on May 7.

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CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Kazakhs’ loathing of encroaching China rises as Lake Balkhash falls

Beijing’s hopes of persuading the people of Kazakhstan it’s a force for good won’t be helped if China’s upstream water consumption causes a “second Aral Sea” disaster.

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US Secretary of State Blinken in Kyiv with promises of support and veiled rebukes for slow reform progress

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s top politicians in a show of solidarity in the face of Russian aggression.

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Jailed Belarus presidential candidate Tikhanovsky charged with plotting mass riots

The Belarusian Prosecutor-General’s Office has indicted jailed presidential candidate Sergei Tikhanovsky and his associates with plotting mass riots ahead of presidential elections last August.

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Baltic states want to ensure the golden goose keeps producing unicorns

Lithuania is starting to catch up with Estonia in terms of startups but the small size of the local talent pools is acting as a constraint.

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COMMENT: “Patronagists” scandal brings back memories of the communist era in Albania

Ahead of the April general election Albania’s ruling Socialists were revealed to be keeping the population under surveillance.

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DATACRUNCH: Ukraine starts to close the gap with Russia

Russia and Ukraine are both emerging from the coronacrisis and have had very similar experiences, but as the recovery gets under way Ukraine is beginning to close the gap with Russia.

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Kyrgyzstan hits Canadian gold mine operator with $3.1bn fine and unveils law on state takeovers of companies

ECHR deals big blow to Polish government-dominated top court

Lukashenko signs decree on the transfer of power in the event of his death

Kyrgyzstan hits Canadian gold mine operator with $3.1bn fine and unveils law on state takeovers of companies

Moves will exacerbate fears foreign investors could face rough time under country’s new populist president.

ECHR deals big blow to Polish government-dominated top court

European Human Rights Court says company could not get a fair trial because of illegal government appointments to Constitutional Tribunal.

Lukashenko signs decree on the transfer of power in the event of his death

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree that calls for martial law and lays out the transfer of power to the Security Council dominated by his son in the event of his death on May 9.

News

Bulgaria’s prosecution to probe racketeering and fraud claims against PM Boyko Borissov

Investigation to be launched after businessman Stanislav Ilchovski alleged the prime minister Boyko Borissov was involved in extortion of money from businessmen.

EU officials send mixed messages on Albania's and North Macedonia's accession progress

EU politicians appear divided about whether progress of the two countries should be decoupled after Bulgaria dashed Skopje's hopes of launching accession talks.

Poland’s system of disciplining judges violates EU law, says CJEU advisor

Advocates General says disciplinary measures could damage judges’ independence by allowing the government to punish them for their rulings.

Russia launches Sputnik-Lite one-shot vaccine with 80% efficacy

Russia has launched the one-shot Sputnik-Lite anti-coronavirus vaccine, on May 6, that it claims has a 79.4% efficacy, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a press release.

Bulgarian businessman claims sexual assault video screened at PM's hunting lodge to intimidate him

Boyko Borissov denied accusations of links to extortion and torture made by businessman Svetoslav Ilchovski in damning testimony to parliament committee.

Bulgaria’s prosecution to probe racketeering and fraud claims against PM Boyko Borissov

1 day ago

EU officials send mixed messages on Albania's and North Macedonia's accession progress

1 day ago

Poland’s system of disciplining judges violates EU law, says CJEU advisor

3 days ago

Russia launches Sputnik-Lite one-shot vaccine with 80% efficacy

3 days ago

Bulgarian businessman claims sexual assault video screened at PM's hunting lodge to intimidate him

4 days ago

More News

Tech

Payten acquires North Macedonia e-commerce company Grouper

Launched in 2011, Grouper serves more than 200,000 customers in cooperation with over 3,000 companies that sell their products and services online.

Huawei pushes for amendments to Romania’s draft 5G law

The bill sets guidelines for the licensing of 5G equipment and technology suppliers, and must be promulgated before the auction of frequency bands allocated for 5G services.

Swiss ICT group ALSO acquires Serbia's PIN Computers

Acquisition of Novi Sad-based PIN Computers to help ALSO's expansion in Eastern Europe.

EWDN: After a new acquisition, Sber wants to become a central player in the Russian digital music market

Sber, the state-controlled financial and digital giant, has announced a binding agreement to fully acquire Muzlab, a leader in the Russian B2B audio streaming market.

EWDN: After successes in Russia and Israel, Yandex prepares to launch express delivery service in Western Europe

Yandex, the NASDAQ-listed Russian tech major, is preparing to launch its express e-grocery delivery service in Western Europe – after successful deployment in Russia and Israel, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Payten acquires North Macedonia e-commerce company Grouper

1 hour ago

Huawei pushes for amendments to Romania’s draft 5G law

16 hours ago

Swiss ICT group ALSO acquires Serbia's PIN Computers

7 days ago

EWDN: After a new acquisition, Sber wants to become a central player in the Russian digital music market

10 days ago

EWDN: After successes in Russia and Israel, Yandex prepares to launch express delivery service in Western Europe

10 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

ING: Hungary’s wages vs consumption puzzle continues

The stronger-than-expected wage growth remains puzzling, as based on the labour market data, the retail sector should not be in a downward spiral.

ING: Czech economy falls by less than previously feared in 1Q

The preliminary GDP figure for the first quarter surprised on the upside. The economy fell just 0.3% quarter on quarter, with pandemic restrictions being in place throughout the quarter.

Taking the Tashkent Stock Exchange to the next level

Akmal Djalilov, founder of Uzbekistan’s BeTrader platform, looks at a new decree allowing Uzbek companies to list abroad.

COMMENT: Philanthropy in Russia – not for the faint-hearted

Wealth in Russia comes with no small number of headaches. But one of the more surprising ones, linked to money, is that sometimes you can’t even give it away.

COMMENT: Was Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? A look inside Moscow’s strategy

The recent build-up and withdrawal of Russian forces at Ukraine's eastern border forms part of President Putin's coherent strategy to recover control of Ukraine and reverse the 1991 territorial losses stemming from the 1991 collapse of the USSR.

ING: Hungary’s wages vs consumption puzzle continues

16 hours ago

ING: Czech economy falls by less than previously feared in 1Q

5 days ago

Taking the Tashkent Stock Exchange to the next level

9 days ago

COMMENT: Philanthropy in Russia – not for the faint-hearted

10 days ago

COMMENT: Was Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? A look inside Moscow’s strategy

10 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Ukraine's international reserves increased to $28bn as of the start of May

Ukraine's international reserves increased to $28bn as of the start of May, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

Ukraine’s consumer price inflation slowed to 8.4% in April

Ukraine’s consumer price inflation slowed from 8.5% year on year in March to 8.4% at the end of April.

Romania’s retail sales up 4.1% y/y in Q1

After the initial lockdown, sales of non-food goods defied the crisis and advanced steadily, posting a 10.8% y/y annual advance in Q1.

ING: Inflation pressure continues to build in Poland

Headline CPI jumped to 4.3% year on year in April. The idea that the National Bank of Poland can mimic the accommodative stance of the Fed or ECB is increasingly debatable. In terms of inflation, Poland is closer to the emerging markets.

Russians Services PMI remains a strong 55.2 in April but slowed a little from March, optimism for the rest of the year high

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity PMI index slowed a little in April to 55.2, down slightly from 55.8 in March, but remains robustly above the 50 no-change level as services bounce back.

Ukraine's international reserves increased to $28bn as of the start of May

19 minutes ago

Ukraine’s consumer price inflation slowed to 8.4% in April

28 minutes ago

Romania’s retail sales up 4.1% y/y in Q1

3 days ago

ING: Inflation pressure continues to build in Poland

3 days ago

Russians Services PMI remains a strong 55.2 in April but slowed a little from March, optimism for the rest of the year high

4 days ago

More Data

Features

BRICKS & MORTAR: What happens if Russia’s mortgage subsidy programme ends?

Almost as soon as the double whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and a concurrent collapse in oil prices hit Russia’s economy last March, the government reacted by introducing a mortgage subsidy programme; that may end this summer.

Turkey's "crazy" canal would impact Eurasian trade, geopolitics

The project threatens the delicate regional military balance.

Russian ice cream consumption to hit new record of 3.1kg per person

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in Moscow in winter to meet Stalin during WWII. Passing a group of Russians he asked his driver: "What are they doing?" "Eating ice cream, sir." He paused and said: “These people will never be defeated."

DATACRUNCH: Russian economy makes a stronger than expected recovery

Russia’s economy contracted less than feared in 2020 and now it is bouncing back from the coronacrisis faster than analysts were expecting.

Chinese researchers calculate Central Asia’s water waste, agriculture potential

If Central Asian farmers don’t radically change how they use water, the region will not feed China.

BRICKS & MORTAR: What happens if Russia’s mortgage subsidy programme ends?

2 days ago

Turkey's "crazy" canal would impact Eurasian trade, geopolitics

3 days ago

Russian ice cream consumption to hit new record of 3.1kg per person

4 days ago

DATACRUNCH: Russian economy makes a stronger than expected recovery

6 days ago

Chinese researchers calculate Central Asia’s water waste, agriculture potential

12 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Criminal probe launched into inflation eggheads

Professors’ numbers show data from official statistical institute may be rather unreliable. AKP official, meanwhile, says polls putting party at under 30% popularity do not reflect the truth.

KYIV BLOG: Blinken in Kyiv

So as expected, there were no real newsmakers from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Kyiv yesterday where he expressed “strong support” for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Now you see it, now you don’t

Finance ministry again drops 10-year domestic bond auction from borrowing programme. Once more, ‘Erdoganomics’ is causing trouble for the Turkish economy.

CONFERENCE CALL: Losing the Western Balkans

The EU’s slow and sometimes confusing response to the coronacrisis in the Western Balkans made room for China to increase its influence.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Regime fails to see funny side of TikTok video mocking quite useless Turkish passport

Police detain two young people for satirical use of passport as oven mitt, bookmark and drink mat.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Criminal probe launched into inflation eggheads

1 day ago

KYIV BLOG: Blinken in Kyiv

2 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Now you see it, now you don’t

4 days ago

CONFERENCE CALL: Losing the Western Balkans

5 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Regime fails to see funny side of TikTok video mocking quite useless Turkish passport

6 days ago

More Blogs

Latest Updates

News

Investigation to be launched after businessman Stanislav Ilchovski alleged the prime minister Boyko Borissov was involved in extortion of money from businessmen.

EU politicians appear divided about whether progress of the two countries should be decoupled after Bulgaria dashed Skopje's hopes of launching accession talks.

Advocates General says disciplinary measures could damage judges’ independence by allowing the government to punish them for their rulings.

Russia has launched the one-shot Sputnik-Lite anti-coronavirus vaccine, on May 6, that it claims has a 79.4% efficacy, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a press release.

Boyko Borissov denied accusations of links to extortion and torture made by businessman Svetoslav Ilchovski in damning testimony to parliament committee.

Tech

Launched in 2011, Grouper serves more than 200,000 customers in cooperation with over 3,000 companies that sell their products and services online.

The bill sets guidelines for the licensing of 5G equipment and technology suppliers, and must be promulgated before the auction of frequency bands allocated for 5G services.

Acquisition of Novi Sad-based PIN Computers to help ALSO's expansion in Eastern Europe.

Sber, the state-controlled financial and digital giant, has announced a binding agreement to fully acquire Muzlab, a leader in the Russian B2B audio streaming market.

Yandex, the NASDAQ-listed Russian tech major, is preparing to launch its express e-grocery delivery service in Western Europe – after successful deployment in Russia and Israel, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Opinion

The stronger-than-expected wage growth remains puzzling, as based on the labour market data, the retail sector should not be in a downward spiral.

The preliminary GDP figure for the first quarter surprised on the upside. The economy fell just 0.3% quarter on quarter, with pandemic restrictions being in place throughout the quarter.

Akmal Djalilov, founder of Uzbekistan’s BeTrader platform, looks at a new decree allowing Uzbek companies to list abroad.

Wealth in Russia comes with no small number of headaches. But one of the more surprising ones, linked to money, is that sometimes you can’t even give it away.

The recent build-up and withdrawal of Russian forces at Ukraine's eastern border forms part of President Putin's coherent strategy to recover control of Ukraine and reverse the 1991 territorial losses stemming from the 1991 collapse of the USSR.

Data

Ukraine's international reserves increased to $28bn as of the start of May, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

Ukraine’s consumer price inflation slowed from 8.5% year on year in March to 8.4% at the end of April.

After the initial lockdown, sales of non-food goods defied the crisis and advanced steadily, posting a 10.8% y/y annual advance in Q1.

Headline CPI jumped to 4.3% year on year in April. The idea that the National Bank of Poland can mimic the accommodative stance of the Fed or ECB is increasingly debatable. In terms of inflation, Poland is closer to the emerging markets.

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity PMI index slowed a little in April to 55.2, down slightly from 55.8 in March, but remains robustly above the 50 no-change level as services bounce back.

Features

Almost as soon as the double whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and a concurrent collapse in oil prices hit Russia’s economy last March, the government reacted by introducing a mortgage subsidy programme; that may end this summer.

The project threatens the delicate regional military balance.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in Moscow in winter to meet Stalin during WWII. Passing a group of Russians he asked his driver: "What are they doing?" "Eating ice cream, sir." He paused and said: “These people will never be defeated."

Russia’s economy contracted less than feared in 2020 and now it is bouncing back from the coronacrisis faster than analysts were expecting.

If Central Asian farmers don’t radically change how they use water, the region will not feed China.

Blogs

Professors’ numbers show data from official statistical institute may be rather unreliable. AKP official, meanwhile, says polls putting party at under 30% popularity do not reflect the truth.

So as expected, there were no real newsmakers from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Kyiv yesterday where he expressed “strong support” for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.

Finance ministry again drops 10-year domestic bond auction from borrowing programme. Once more, ‘Erdoganomics’ is causing trouble for the Turkish economy.

The EU’s slow and sometimes confusing response to the coronacrisis in the Western Balkans made room for China to increase its influence.

Police detain two young people for satirical use of passport as oven mitt, bookmark and drink mat.

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