Belarus

Berlin wall: version Vilnius 2009

Nostalgic? Nearly two decades after ‘die Wende’, as the Germans call it, the Lithuanian capital has become the EU capital of culture. In 2009 though, it is still fighting its old demons. Russian symbols have been erased without mercy. A cold soviet wind blows through the Baltic republic with regards to energy. Belarusian students find exile in a special university four hours from Minsk. The domestic brain drain is ongoing. Three journalists plus one photographer and one videomaker (see below) hunt the clash of cultures in our monthly cities stop: 'EU Debate on the ground'

• Energy in Lithuania: tick A, B or C for 'nuclear', 'renewable' or 'both'
• Visit to the EHU: Belarusian elite university exiled in Vilnius
• Soviet nostalgia: Russian drink, bunker parties and film in Vilnius
• 15.5% unemployment, diaspora: Lithuanians try luck elsewhere

Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova: ‘Russian murders shocking, but hardly a surprise’

As we mourn our lost Russian colleagues, Belarusians do not forget our own Baburovas, Politkovskayas and Klebnikovs. We remember why they perished. Expresso

by Iryna V @ // 27/01/09 - 6 Comment

belarus, newspaper, freedom of opinion, journalist, presse, assassination, society

Choose a language - Belarusian or Russian

In Belarus opinions do not only differ on the domineering president Lukaschenko, who has announced a general election for 28 September

by n- ost @ // 26/09/08 - 2 Comment

belarus, lenguas, languages, russian federation, elections, politics, alexander lukashenko

Iryna Vidanava: ‘Belarusians abroad can protest via the internet’

The thirty-year-old journalist from Minsk saw her magazine closed down by the regime. We talk press freedom, the political engagement of young Belarusians and elections on 28 September

by Giovanni Angioni @ // 26/09/08

belarus, iryna vidanava, regime, brunch, best of cafebabel.com, elections, alexander lukashenko

Enlargement: the grit beneath the nail

'EU standards' are one thing, but the reality of the issues lurking behind EU enlargement are another. We launch a series of Europe's young journalists of 2008 with regards on, amongst others, the sex trade in Romania, black border market in Poland and food made in Serbia

• Smuggling cigarettes in Schengen Poland
• Turkey and the Dervish’s Islam
• Romania: EU dreams, but prostitution and poverty reality
• Ireland: doors wide open for foreign labour
• Serbia farmers markets in the new Brussels system
• Ukraine 'don't want to be Europe's neighbours'

Minsk: the tidy road to regime perfection

Neat, elegant, so clean that you want to go barefoot – that is how the Lukashenko regime likes to present the capital of Belarus - the one visible to tourists, that is

by giovanni angioni // 07/02/08

belarus, feature, non-eu countries, world affairs, post-soviet states, alexander lukashenko, minsk

Poland's 10, 000 border guards

Since 21 December 2007 there have been no border controls between Poland and Portugal. In Germany there have been fears that the Polish authorities aren’t ready to take on the security of the entire EU

by agnieszka hreczuk // 09/01/08

belarus, schengen, freedom of movement, european union, eu frontiers, interview, ukraine

Free Theatre of Minsk: onstage resistance

The Belarusian independent theatre company uses black humour and underground performances to protest against 'Europe's last dictatorship'

by Prune Antoine @ // 22/05/07

belarus, paris, festivals, theatre, dance, post-soviet states, culture

'Being Belarusian is fashionable these days'

Visionary film director Yuri Khashchevatsky, 60, is a principal figure of Belarusian dissent. He criticises ineffective opposition, and talks up the new role the Internet plays in the resistance

by Prune Antoine @ // 18/05/07

belarus, yury khashchavatski, brunch, central and eastern europe, post-soviet states, minsk

'Gas-Opec': alarm bells for Europe

EU President Barroso calls for a common European energy policy, as Russian president Putin amongst others propose a gas cartel

by nicholas newman // 13/03/07 - 1 Comment

belarus, energy, nigeria, qatar, norway, algeria, economy

Olga Karatch: 'Lukashenko takes EU leaders for great lumps'

The German presidency of the EU judged the local elections on January 14 in Belarus ‘undemocratic’. The country’s opposition has already announced its intention of contesting Lukashenko

by Natalia Sosin @ // 07/02/07

belarus, warsaw, vitebsk, alexander milinkievich, human rights, media, interview