Talk Eastern Europe

Albania is often presented as a success story in the Western Balkans, especially on its path to the EU. But what’s really happening beneath the surface?In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, we dive into Albania’s evolving political landscape with researcher Gresa Hasa from the University of Graz.Following a landslide victory by Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, Albania is entering a new phase, one marked by growing concerns over power concentration, weakened opposition, and shrinking civic space.In the conversation we discuss:Why Albania increasingly resembles a dominant one-party system The collapse and fragmentation of the opposition, including Sali Berisha’s roleWhat’s really behind the so-called “anti-corruption protests” The paradox of anti-corruption efforts led by Albania’s special prosecutor (SPAK) Why these protests are less grassroots—and more about elite power struggles The gap between Albania’s EU progress on paper and its democratic reality How international media may be misreading the situation We also explore the concept of “stabilitocracy”—where leaders promise stability to the EU whileundermining democratic institutions at home—and what this means for Albania’sEU future.Learn even more: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2026/03/26/building-a-collective-desire-the-rise-of-kamza-tells-the-story-of-post-communist-albania/Support us - join our patron community! https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Talk Eastern Europe is a patron-supported podcast – please support us by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeIn this week’s Talk Eastern Europe news round-up, hosts Adam Reichardt and Alexandra Karppi unpack major political developments across Central and Eastern Europe – from the high-stakes election dynamics in Hungary to massive anti-government protests in Prague and constitutional changes in Kazakhstan.The episode explores how shifting political alliances, right-wing transnational networks, and allegations of foreign influence are shaping the region’s political landscape. The hosts also discuss Slovenia’s razor-thin election outcome and reflect on their latest deep-dive interview investigating alleged Slovak connections to the Epstein files.In this episode:Polish-Hungarian political tensions and ViktorOrbán’s election strategy CPAC Hungary and the rise of conservativetransnational alliances Allegations of intelligence leaks betweenHungarian officials and Moscow Huge anti-government demonstrations in Prague Slovenia’s unexpectedly tight election results Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum andpotential power consolidation  Subscribe on YouTube and follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform to stay updated on the latest developments shaping Eastern Europe.

What do the Jeffrey Epstein files reveal about Slovakia? Inthis episode of Talk Eastern Europe, investigative journalist Karin Kőváry Sólymos joins us to unpack the surprising links between Epstein and former Slovak foreign minister Miroslav Lajčák. We discuss what the documents show, why the story matters, and how the revelations shook Slovak politics. Read Karin’s investigation in VSquare: https://vsquare.org/and-most-importantly-friend-mapping-miroslav-lajcaks-encounters-with-jeffrey-epstein/Support this channel – become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeBonus interview:In the bonus section we discuss the investigation into the Ukrainian corruption scandal which broke recently, called Operation Midas. The scandal is considered to be one of the most high-profile anti-corruption investigations in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, and there appears to be a significant Slovak connection as well. Watch and the bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-content-to-153813167

In this week’s episode of our new Talk Eastern Europe Weekly News Roundup, Adam Reichardt and Alexandra Karppi break down the biggest developments from across Central and Eastern Europe.This week’s topics include:Hungary’s high-stakes parliamentary electionPoland’s defence bill veto and rising political tensionsSerbia’s controversial judicial changesGeorgia’s embattled oppositionWe also introduce our new podcast format: one DeepDive interview earlier in the week, followed by a separate news roundup later in the week.Watch, listen, and subscribe for weekly analysis on Eastern Europe, EU politics, Russia’s war against Ukraine, cultural developments, and regional security.Support us on Patreon for early access and bonus content - https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

How does the war in Iran affect Europe’s security and Russia’s war against Ukraine? In this inaugural video episode of TalkEastern Europe, Adam Reichardt speaks with Marek Menkiszak, Head of the Russia Department at the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw.They discuss how the Middle East conflict is reshaping global attention, influencing energy markets and sanctions policy, and potentially creating new opportunities and risks for Moscow. The conversation explores Russia’s strategic calculations, the impact of rising oil and gas prices on the Kremlin’s war effort, the future of Western support for Ukraine, and the broader geopolitical implications involving the United States and China.Read more analysis by Marek Menkiszak: https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/eksperci/marek-menkiszakCheck out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe now available online here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2026/02/23/issue-1-2-2026-europe-in-the-new-disorder/Don’t forget to sign up for the weekly newsletter Brief Eastern Europe: www.briefeasterneurope.euJoin our Patron community, get early access and additional content ➤ www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeFollow NEE on Instagram ➤  www.instagram.com/neweasterneuropemagWebsite ➤ https://www.talkeasterneurope.eu

In episode 257 of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Alexandrareact to the breakout of war in the Middle East and what it might mean from the regional aspect. They look specifically at relations with Russia, the war in Ukraine and also the South Caucasus, which borders the conflict zone. They also catch on the situation in Albania and discuss Hungary’s latest tactics ahead of the elections in April.For the main interview Alexandra is joined by Toma Istomina,deputy chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tome reflects on how the newsroom transformed overnight from a small startup into a major international outlet covering the war, and how journalists balance urgent battlefield reporting with deeper coverage of Ukrainian culture, history, and everyday life. The conversation explores the challenges of reporting during prolonged conflict, the importance of global understanding of Ukraine, and the role international audiences can play in supporting independent journalism covering the war.Check out the Kyiv Independent online: https://kyivindependent.com/Watch the special YouTube series “Dare to Ukraine” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cjMmGeLq0I&list=PLmOj0Ur_xinRpYyt31pbGt48Z6YGwX6ZtSupport the podcast and become a patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In episode 256 of Talk Eastern Europe, hosts Adam, Alexandra and Nina mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a heavy week of reflections – as well as some other news from the region. They discuss ongoing protest movements across the Balkans (includingfresh demonstrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina following a deadly tram derailment), tensions in Serbia, and what these cycles of civic anger say about corruption and accountability.The episode then features an interview with Nedim Useinow - a Crimean Tatar originally from Crimea and now a program manager with the German Marshall Fund. Adam and Nedim discuss where the war stands after four years, why current “peace talks” feel hollow, what occupation has meant for Crimea and Crimean Tatars, and how Ukrainians’ resilience has shifted from shock to long-term adaptation. The conversation also touches on Poland’s evolving public mood, disinformation, and why continued support for Ukraine still matters for European security.Read online: “Tortured into confession. The plight of Ukrainian prisoners of war” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2026/02/24/tortured-into-confession-the-plight-of-ukrainian-prisoners-of-war/Listen to Part 1 of this series here - https://talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/ukraine-four-years-of-resistance-part-1-mobilizing-empathy-for-stolen-children

In episode 255 of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra, Adam and Nina discuss the week’s key developments across the region, from Olympic results to the latest from the Munich Security Conference, including EU calls related to Russia–Ukraine regotiations and a high-level US visit to the countries of theregion.The second half features the first instalment of our special series commemorating the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. For this episode, Nina sat down with Ukrainian-Canadian singer, folklorist and activist Marichka. She reflects on her journey from musician to activist, medic and war journalist and speaks about her musical project Daughters of Donbas, where she collaborates with international artists and amplifies survivor voices, including Lisa, a young woman who survived filtration camps in Mariupol.In the bonus episode, Marichka stays on to speak about Ukrainian folk music traditions and briefly sings in the “open voice” polyphonic singing technique. She also speaks about her digital archive, Folk Songs of Ukraine. Our patrons can listen to that here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-255-folk-151154003Check out Daughters of Donbas Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Daughters-of-Donbas-61572669756771/Check out Daughters of Donbas Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/daughtersofdonbas/

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Nina and Alexandra run through the week’s key stories, from renewed diplomatic manoeuvring around Russia’s war in Ukraine (and fresh EU support for Kyiv) to political turbulence in Bosnia and Hungary and concerns over media independence in Europe. The second half features an interview with political scientist and NEE contributing editor Tatevik Hovhannisyan on Armenia’s upcoming June elections, the post–Nagorno-Karabakh political landscape, and Yerevan’s tricky balancing act between Russia, the EU and the US. The hosts also share details on an upcoming Patreon-onlyfilm screening and discussion connected to Srebrenica. Want to learn more – join us on patreon: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeFurther reading:“For Armenia, peace dividends are finally starting to show up. In 2026, they need to keep coming” by Nicholas Castillo. New Eastern Europe 10 Feb 2026: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2026/02/10/for-armenia-peace-dividends-are-finally-starting-to-show-up-in-2026-they-need-to-keep-coming/

In this episode, the co-hosts break down the latestdevelopments across Ukraine, Czechia, and Croatia, while Nina explores the regional implications of the Epstein files’ release.For the main conversation, Adam and Alexandra speak with Megi Benia in Tbilisi about Georgia’s accelerating democratic backsliding: from new laws targeting NGOs, media, and political activity to growing pressure on universities and civil society. They also discuss the OSCE’s decision to activate the Moscow Mechanism, and why many Georgians feel the EU and wider international community have responded too timidly as the country drifts away from Euro-Atlantic integration.In the bonus section, which is exclusively available to our patrons, Megi shares her personal story of dissent inside Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after diplomats took the unprecedented step of publicly opposing the government’s foreign policy shift.Listen to the bonus conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/253-bonus-150030402Join our patreon page here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope