 RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova Report 8/7/2009 2:49:20 PM A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. For more stories on Eastern Europe, please visit and bookmark our Eastern Europe page . |
| Belarus  Polish-Language Magazine Editor Summoned In Belarus The chief editor of Belarus's Polish-language monthly "Polski na uchodzstwie" has been summoned to appear at the Hrodna city prosecutor's office, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports. More EU Envoy Urges Moldovan Parties To Move Quickly Malman Mizsei told RFE/RL it is important for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, to address quickly challenges resulting from the global economic crisis. More The pro-Western opposition parties and the ruling Communist Party have held a flurry of meetings with ambassadors -- including from the United States and Russia -- as well as an EU representative, since the results of the July 29 elections suggested the Communists had lost their long-held majority. More  Where Is Moldova? Apparently it's "The Brilliant New Board Game For The 21st Century." Yes, it's "Where Is Moldova?" More  The Triumph Of The 'Not Indifferent' The system has begun to change -- whether for better or worse, we'll find out soon enough. But it's begun to change, and that's the main thing. More  China Diversifies With $1 Bln Moldova Loan A London-based analyst has said that a $1 billion Chinese loan for Moldova could signal an intensification of Beijing diversifying its foreign reserves, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports. More  Putting Paid To Voronin? A post at Fistful of Euros places the outgoing Moldovan president well outside the pantheon of postcommunist strongmen. More  A Chance For Progress In Moldova The most important goal of the parliamentary parties should be agreement on a legislative program that would promote fairness in future elections, develop a national identity, integrate rural Moldovans into national and international life, insulate the legal system from political interference, and end the pernicious corruption that has frustrated economic development. More  Analyst Says Moldova's Communists Still Formidable An analyst at the Carnegie Center in Moscow says the Communists in Moldova remain a formidable political force despite losing their majority in the elections, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports. More  Voronin: 'I Don't Want To Usurp Anything' Speaking at a press conference on July 30, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin talked about his Communist Party's serious setback in the country’s parliamentary elections. Although Voronin’s Communist Party won a plurality in the next parliament, the four opposition parties together could control the new legislature. More  The Clock Is Ticking Here's a reminder of the political timeline that Moldova's political leaders are facing from today, when the Central Election Commission was announcing the final results of the July 29 vote. More With 99.9 percent of the votes counted, the Communists look like they'll control 48 seats in the new parliament, while their political rivals will hold a combined 53 seats. More RFE/RL's Moldovan Service says Lupu stressed five major points at his press conference this morning, and said he was seeking to form "a large coalition for democratic governance." More The details aren't in yet, but Marian Lupu is pushing hard to don the statesman's mantle. More  Quo Vadis Moldova? With 53 seats in the parliament, the anticommunist front of four parties can form a government, but it falls eight votes short of being able to elect the president. In an overwhelmingly presidential political system, this could prove a fatal shortfall. More  Basescu Sends A Message To Voronin RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports that Romanian President Traian Basescu has tried to drive a nail into President Voronin's political coffin. Or at least limit his options. More  Moldovan Opposition Jockeys To Form Coalition Pro-Western opposition parties in Moldova are scrambling to form a broad governing coalition after unseating the last ruling Communist Party in the former Soviet Union. International election observers cited a number of electoral violations in the July 29 vote but praised it overall as "positive." More  Deja Vu All Over Again In Moldova Today's vote is part of a continuing contest for the broad strokes of Moldova's future: accelerated reform and EU integration or a place in Russia's coveted "privileged sphere of influence." Clean elections and political reconciliation are needed to put Moldovan society back together after April's trauma. More  EU Watches As Moldova Prepares For 'Crucial' Poll EU officials describe Moldova's election as a "crucial test," but the bloc is struggling for leverage. The EU faces a number of challenges as it tries to come to grips with developments in its tiniest "Eastern Partner." More  Moldovans Abroad Complain Of Exclusion Moldova is bracing for potentially decisive elections that could lift it out of political deadlock or plunge it into fresh chaos. But the country's large -- and deep-pocketed -- diaspora complains it's being excluded. More  Gallup's Index Of Fear Gallup today released results of a poll conducted in 12 of the 15 former Soviet countries (they left out Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) asking people how they think about their leaders. And the results raised some eyebrows in the newsroom. More  Russian Patriarch Kirill In Ukraine As some Orthodox believers flocked to see Russian Patriarch Kirill during his visit to Ukraine, others came to protest what they see as an attempt to exert Russian authority in their country. More  Russian Patriarch's Visit Creates Storm In Ukraine Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's powerful Orthodox Church, is making a highly controversial visit to Ukraine. While some Ukrainians welcome his stated goal of uniting fractious Orthodox Christians, critics accuse Kirill of advancing the Kremlin's agenda on Ukrainian soil. More  The Patriarch And The 30,000 Euro Watch We wrote yesterday about Patriarch Kirill's trip to Ukraine and some of the problems he's encountered. More Defending Kirill With A Cossack Whip Things haven't been all plain sailing for the Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, during his 10-day trip to Ukraine. More  Ukrainian Elite Urges West To Cooperate With Kyiv A group of Ukrainian intellectuals has sent an open letter to leaders of the European Union and the United States urging them to develop greater cooperation with Ukraine, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service |
