Talk Eastern Europe

Talk Eastern Europe is back! After a short break for our own August recess, Adam and Maciek are back with a new episode of the podcast. This episode focuses on Kazakhstan – the largest Central Asian state – which has recently undergone a transition of power: from the 30 year rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev to elections in June, which saw Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, a candidate anointed by Nazarbayev himself, elected to the highest office.After a brief introduction, Maciek sits down with Othmara Glas – a German journalist based in Kazakhstan. Links to check out:A new authoritarian succession model being tested in Kazakhstan by Mariya Y. Omelicheva Much needed context to the mystery of Kazakhstan - A review of Joanna Lillis’s Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of KazakhstanSupport the podcast – become a Patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeAnd don’t forget to check out the new issue of New Eastern Europe Drop us a line: editors@neweasterneurope.euOr follow us on Twitter:Maciek MakulskI - @MakulskiMaciejAdam Reichardt - @areichardt Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0:Intro (and outro): Indie Rock by Scott Holmes - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327Blind Love Dub by Jerishttp://dig.ccmixter.org/files/VJ_Memes/55416

This episode of Talk Eastern Europe looks at some of the recent developments in our region focusing on Ukraine and Georgia.The podcast opens with commentary from Andreas Umland on the parliamentary election victory of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine and what may come next.  Later, Maciek interviews Givi Gigitashvili to discuss the recent protests in Georgia which have broken out recently. They tackle issues like Georgian social situation, Georgian-Russian relations and the current political situation.Support our podcast. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeResourcesCheck out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe here:  http://neweasterneurope.eu/product/3-4-2019-eastern-partnership-turns-10/“The new Ukrainian parliament at first glance” by Valerii Pekar. New Eastern Europe 24 July 2019http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/07/24/the-new-ukrainian-parliament-at-first-glance/“Notes from Eastern Partnership” https://www.facebook.com/NotesEaP/“Georgia’s June crisis” by Archil Sikharulidze, New Eastern Europe 18 July 2019 http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/07/18/georgias-june-crisis/

In the latest episode of Talk Eastern Europe, co-hosts Adam and Maciek delve into security-related issues in Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on Poland’s view and its desire to increase American presence in the country.The episode features Adam’s interview with Ivo Daalder, President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and former US ambassador to NATO. They discuss issues like American support for NATO, the situation on the NATO’s eastern flank and the current deterrence strategy, hybrid defence, US-Russia relations and the 2020 presidential elections.Support this podcast. Become a patron. Click here https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Resources:The Chicago Council on Global Affairs: https://www.thechicagocouncil.org/White House Statement: “Joint Declaration on Defense Cooperation Regarding United States Force Posture in the Republic of Poland” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/joint-declaration-defense-cooperation-regarding-united-states-force-posture-republic-poland/“NATO at 70 – cheating death, one threat at a time?” New Eastern Europe, 24 April 2019, http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/04/24/nato-at-70-cheating-death-one-threat-at-a-time/ This podcast was produced thanks to cooperation with Heinrich Böll Foundation Warsaw Office as part of the 2019 Transatlantic Media Fellowship for journalists. The views contained in the podcast do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This episode starts with a brief introduction by the co-hosts Adam Reichardt and Maciek Makulski who are currently on two different continents, and some background on a new project Adam is working on. The main interview is with Rusif Husenyov and Murad Muradov, co-founders of the Topchubashov Center in Baku. The guests discuss current issues in Azerbaijan’s relations with Europe, Armenia, Russia and the world. They also discuss any possible developments with the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PODCAST. DONATE HERE.Topchubashov Center- http://top-center.org/ Listen also to the podcast interview with Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, Armenia.Music featured in this podcast:Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_Fears“Lunette Interlude” by Blue Dot Sessions  Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Architect/Lunette_Interlude

In this episode, co-hosts Maciek Makulski and Adam Reichardt catch up with Anna Korbut, a Robert Bosch Fellow at Chatham House. Anna discusses what issues are the most important for Ukrainians, the latest developments regarding the new president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and what is next for Ukrainian politics. Please support the podcast by via our Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=19190530& Resources:Anna Korbut’s profile at Chatham House: https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/anna-korbut#A new face on the Dnieper: A conversation with Milan Lelich, a Ukrainian political commentator http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/06/03/a-new-face-on-the-dnieper/Paul Shields: Ukraine’s stagnant democracy: Reflections after a TV star’s presidential win: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/06/11/ukraines-stagnant-democracy-reflections-after-a-tv-stars-presidential-win%EF%BB%BF/ Music featured in the podcast:Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_Fears Light by onlymeith (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/onlymeith/58693 Ft: airtone

In this second part of the two-part special podcast, Talk Eastern Europe dissects the results of the European Parliamentary elections in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.On Lithuania: Maciek interviews Mariusz Antonowicz from Vilnius University's Institute of International Relations and Political Science;On Poland: Adam discusses the results with Daniel Tilles, editor in chief of Notes from Poland;On Bulgaria: Adam has a conversation with Radosveta Vassileva from University College London;Thank you to all of our listeners for your support and feedback. And please support the podcast by pledging via our Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=19190530& Resources:Part I of this special series via “In Between Europe”Five Key Takeaways from the European Elections in Poland – Daniel Tilles, Notes from Poland   Support the Notes from Poland crowdfunding campaign – click hereBulgaria’s dangerous flirtation with the far-right – by Radosveta Vassileva

After a short break, the Talk Eastern Europe podcast is back with a discussion on the current issue of New Eastern Europe which is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership policy of the European Union which includes the countries of Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Over the past 10 years there have been many successes but also many setbacks in this region and the issue takes a look at what lessons can be learnt and how the EU, especially following the upcoming parliamentary elections.There is also a short discussion on Central Europe 30 years after 1989 – a year of revolution and change.We encourage all listeners to consider supporting the podcast by donating to us via our patreon account. Even a monthly donation of $2 a month can go a long way (our first goal is to get $100).Please click here to start your donation: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=19190530&Resources:New Eastern Europe issue 3-4/2019: Eastern Partnership turns 10 http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/05/02/issue-3-4-2019-eastern-partnership-turns-10/Persisting towards a Europe without dividing lines by Carl Bildt and Radosław Sikorski: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/05/02/persisting-towards-a-europe-without-dividing-lines/Resetting the Eastern Partnership by Mariusz Maszkiewicz: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/05/02/resetting-the-eastern-partnership/The Eastern Partnership at 10. What is there to celebrate? By James Nixey: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/05/02/the-eastern-partnership-at-10-what-is-there-to-celebrate/Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0:Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_Fears“CommonGround” by airtone http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/58703

In this episode hosts Adam Reichardt and Maciek Makulski sit down with Richard Giragosian, director of the regional studies center in Yerevan to talk about recent developments in Armenia. In April 2018 Armenians protested against the ruling regime which led to its resignation. As a result Nikol Pashinyan became the new prime minister and after elections in December 2018, he built a new ruling coalition which aims to change the course of Armenia.In the interview, Adam and Maciek discuss with Richard the context of the revolution, what is the outlook of Armenian politics as well as the geopolitical implications. Resources:“Protests force Armenian PM to resign, marking a new era for the country” New Eastern Europe 25 April 2018: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2018/04/25/protests-force-armenian-pm-resign-marking-new-era-country/“The ghosts of Armenia’s past” by Bartłomiej Krzysztan. New Eastern Europe issue 2/2019: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/03/04/the-ghosts-of-armenias-past/Regional Studies Center, a Yerevan-based think tank: https://regional-studies.org/Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_FearsIAF Trolley (Kielokaz ID 154) by KieLoKaz: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Walker_Traffic/IAF_Trolley_Kielokaz_ID_154 Support this podacst. Become a patron via Patreon: Become a Patron!

Our tenth episode of Talk Eastern Europe is dedicated to the results of the first round of the presidential election in Ukraine which took place on March 31st 2019 and saw comedian and showman Volodymyr Zelenskiy come in first place with over 30% of the vote; incumbent president Petro Poroshenko in second place with 15.95%; and Yulia Tymoshenko in third place with 13.4%.In this episode we first get input from Maksym Kyiak, Deputy Director of the Central European Institute based in Kyiv on how to understand the Zelenskiy phenomenon.Adam Reichardt then interviews Marcel Roethig – the director of the Kyiv office of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung where they discuss the wider social context in Ukraine and the events leading up to the first round, as well as what to expect in the second round.The second round of elections which will pit Petro Poroshenko against Volodymyr Zelenskiy will take place on April 21 2019.Resources:Ukraine presidential elections narrowed down from 39 to 2 contendersWho is Mr Ze?New Eastern Europe’s ongoing coverage of the election in Ukraine: http://neweasterneurope.eu/category/ukraine-elections-2019/Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_Fears“Nothing But Luck” by Lee Rosevere: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Blue_Dot_RMX/Nothing_But_Luck

This episode of Talk Eastern Europe takes a closer look at the current developments in the Western Balkans, including the North Macedonian name agreement, the Kosovo-Serbia border swap negotiations and recent protests in Serbia and Montenegro. All of these developments have the possibility of making headway against the current status quo in the Western Balkans and bring these countries closer to the European Union.The episode features an interview with Valerie Hopkins, a journalist with the Financial Times covering the Western Balkans. You can follow her on Twitter here: @VALERIEin140Resources:“What could a Serbia-Kosovo border swap achieve?” By Florian Bieber, New Eastern Europe issue 2/2019: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/03/05/what-could-a-serbia-kosovo-border-swap-achieve/“Macedonia is turning the page”. Exclusive interview with Zoran Zaev, the prime minister of the Republic of Macedonia. New Eastern Europe Issue 2/2108: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2018/02/26/macedonia-turning-page/Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0Opening theme: “Sum of My Fears” by Dazie Mae: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Last_Jazz_in_Paris/03-1518107-Dazie_Mae-Sum_of_My_Fears“Going In Circles” by Lee Rosevere, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_6/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_6_-_03_Going_In_Circles