Talk Eastern Europe

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special episode produced ahead of the NATO Summit, Adam and Maciek take a look at the context of the event scheduled for June 14th 2021 – the first Summit with the participation of Joe Biden as US President. Later, Adam sits down with Alice Stollmeyer, the Founder and Executive Director of Defend Democracy - an independent, nonpartisan, transatlantic initiative aimed at defending democracy from internal, external and technological threats. They discuss issues on the Transatlantic agenda as well as the current and future challenges that face the Alliance.Please check out and support Alice’s organization: www.defenddemocracy.eu Other articles to check out:“We need to talk about Russia, again,” by: Wojciech Michnik. New Eastern Europe 19 May 2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/05/19/we-need-to-talk-about-russia-again/ “Closing the window of opportunity for Russia?” By: Silvie Leštinská. New Eastern Europe 7 June 2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/06/07/closing-the-window-of-opportunity-for-russia/ Production of this podcast episode is part of a wider project called “All Quiet on the Eastern Flank?” which is conducted by New Eastern Europe and supported by a grant from NATO Public Diplomacy. Learn more at: www.neweasterneurope.eu Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope This episode brings us back to Estonia with an interview with Kristina Kallas, a political scientist and the leader of Eesti 200 liberal political party. Ahead of the autumn local elections, political divisions are sharp in this northern Baltic state. However Kallas hopes her vision for a renewed political agenda can help change this trend. She also discusses the important situation with the Russian minority in the country and how it has evolved over the past 30 years. Read Kallas’s latest essay from the April-May issue of New Eastern Europe. “Russians in Estonia. We are not ‘them’, we are ‘us’”: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/russians-in-estonia-we-are-not-them-we-are-us/Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Maciek sits down with Dmytro Khutkyy an expert on digital democracy and open governance. They discuss how different countries approach digital democracy, what are some advantages and also pitfalls of digitizing our public sector. The main context for the conversation was the release of a recent online study called the “Digital Democracy Database”. This project is designed to identify and analyse cases of digital democracy aspiring to consolidate global democracy by discovering and sharing good practices of open participatory governance worldwide. It is intended as a source of data for scholars, policy analysts, civic activists, politicians, and other interested parties.Learn more about the Digital Democracy Database: https://europeandigital.org/digital-democracy-database Lear more about our guest, Dmytro Khutkyy: https://www.khutkyy.com/ Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEuropeIn this episode, we invite Romain Lequiniou from the French think tank “Euro Créative” and Lidia Gibadło from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) to discuss the approaches of two of the most important players in Western Europe - Germany and France - towards the region of Eastern Europe. We discuss relations with Russia, Belarus, the Nagorno-Karabkh conflict, and possible upcoming political changes in both countries and what effect they may have on our region.Resources and previous episodes:“Ukraine in France” An interview with Christine Kohut, member of Portail de l’Ukraine. Interviewer: Clémence Lavialle. New Eastern Europe 12 May 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/05/12/ukraine-in-france/ “France-Russia, a love-hate history” By: Cyrille Bret. New Eastern Europe Issue 1-2 (Jan-March) 2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/01/28/france-russia-a-love-hate-history/ Talk Eastern Europe Episode 65: Relations with Russia. To engage or not engage?: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/ep-65 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEuropeTalk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this episode we welcome back Agnieszka Legucka, a Polish analyst and expert on Russia. During Maciek’s interview with Agnieszka, the podcast discusses the security situation in the region, the Kremlin’s motives for massing troops around Ukraine and some of the internal factors which may also be driving the Kremlin’s decision-making. Further reading:“Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine: intimidation, imminent escalation or both?” By: - Alisa Muzergues. New Eastern Europe 21 April 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/21/russias-military-build-up-on-the-border-with-ukraine-intimidation-imminent-escalation-or-both/“What’s behind Moscow’s possible escalation in Donbas” by Piotr Andrusieczko. New Eastern Europe 11 April 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/whats-behind-moscows-possible-escalation-in-donbas/“Russia’s police state showed its real face in latest protest crackdown” By: Giovanni Pigni. New Eastern Europe issue 3/2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/russias-police-state-showed-its-real-face-in-latest-protest-crackdown/ >>> Check out “Tales from the Baltics” - the newest issue of New Eastern Europe. Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/3fZWpkdJoin us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEuropeTalk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe heads back to the Southern Caucasus following the serious clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia last year. The fighting came to an end with a Russian-negotiated peace agreement, providing Azerbaijan with some territorial gains and putting Russian peacekeeping troops on the ground in the region. In Armenia the agreement was seen as a humiliating defeat for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was forced to accept the agreement and was heavily criticized in the country.This episode takes a look at the political developments that have taken place since the agreement was signed. Adam sits down with Armenian journalist Ani Avetisyan to get some insight on the current situation there as the country braces for pre-term elections on June 20th. Resources and context:“This conflict was always on the edge of Europe”, An interview with Thomas de Waal. New Eastern Europe issue 3/2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/this-conflict-was-always-on-the-edge-of-europe/“Pashinyan announces changes to electoral system before elections” by Ani Avetisyan, OC Media 25 March 2021: https://oc-media.org/pashinyan-announces-changes-to-electoral-system-before-elections/“Turkey, Russia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” By: Natalia Konarzewska. New Eastern Europe 1-2/2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/turkey-russia-and-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict/Talk Eastern Europe Episode 55: Episode 55: Nagorno-Karabkh on fire (again) https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-55>>> Check out “Tales from the Baltics” - the newest issue of New Eastern Europe. Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/3fZWpkd Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe takes a look at the role of history and memory of the Holocaust and the Second World War which still haunts so many in this region and beyond. The context for the episode is the book titled Memory Monster written by Israeli author Yishai Sarid, which was recently published in Polish. During the intervier Maciek sits down with Sarid and they discuss the difficulties of dealing with memory in societies and the challenges facing Israelis and Poles today.Read Maciek’s review of Yishai Sarid’s book here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/living-with-the-beast/Find the English version of the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Monster-Yishai-Sarid/dp/1632062712Published in Polish by the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe here: http://www.kew.org.pl/produkt/potwor-pamieci/>>> Check out “Tales from the Baltics” - the newest issue of New Eastern Europe. Get your copy here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/tales-from-the-baltics/Talk Eastern Europe featured in "The 50 best podcasts" by The New European. This is a huge honour, and we cannot thank our listeners and supporters enough!Read more here: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/50-greatest-podcasts-7807108 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeIn this special episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Maciek sit down with Linas Linkevičius, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. During the discussion, Linkevičius reflects on his time as foreign minister, Europe’s relations with Russia, the role of the Baltic states in the region, and what might be next for Belarus.This interview will also be available in the upcoming issue of New Eastern Europe which will have a special focus on the Baltic states - available early April. Learn more at: www.neweasterneurope.euTalk Eastern Europe featured in "The 50 best podcasts" by The New European. This is a huge honour, and we cannot thank our listeners and supporters enough!Read more here: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/50-greatest-podcasts-7807108 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope>> Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe we return back to Belarus and the society which continues to face severe repressions by the regime. In this episode, Maciek has a conversation with Alexandr Chavoski from the Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation, an NGO based in Estonia. They discuss a unique strategy by this NGO to raise awareness in Europe about the situation in Belarus, the current situation in the country and the terror faced by journalists who try to report the truth.ResourcesThe Story of Belarus – listen to a special 10-episode audio documentary: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-story-of-belarusLearn more about the Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation and how to support their efforts: https://byculture.org/Belarusian Culture Solidarity Foundation YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMSy0y7xMIdqJTtki8Ux_kQ “What’s ahead for Belarus” An online discussion with Victor Martinovich available for TEE Patrons here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45077562 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEurope>> Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe returns to the Southern Caucasus with a look at the political situation in Georgia. Immediately following the parliamentary elections last October, the united opposition failed to recognize the outcomes of the elections as free and fair and refused to take their seats in the parliament. Since then, social frustration with the political situation has grown and exploded after the brutal arrest of Nika Melia – the leader of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement. The current situation, which is exacerbated by the pandemic, leaves a lot of questions ahead for Georgia, including its Euro-Atlantic path. To help understand the situation there, Adam sits down with Anastasia Mgaloblishvili an analyst and recent election observer in Georgia for her take on the situation.>> Resources“When institutions fail, boycott and street protests remain the only instrument” By Anastasia Mgaloblishvili. New Eastern Europe issue 1-2/2021, https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/when-institutions-fail-boycott-and-street-protests-remain-the-only-instrument/“Make Georgia great again”, By Archil Sikharulidze . New Eastern Europe 04 January 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/04/make-georgia-great-again/“Georgian democracy on life support” By Shota Kincha. New Eatsern Europe 02 March 2021 https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/02/georgian-democracy-on-life-support/“Crisis spiral in Georgia and Moldova – commonalty, distinctions and ways out” By Denis Cenusa. New Eastern Europe 08 March 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/08/crisis-spiral-in-georgia-and-moldova-commonalty-distinctions-and-ways-out/ Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEuropeMissed our exclusive patron zoom meeting on Hungary? You can watch it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tee-patron-zoom-47909846 >>> Help New Eastern Europe – buy our latest issue debating the current state of democracy in the region here: https://bit.ly/3oMbKpdTalk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod