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In this episode Adam and Alexandra start with the latest news in the region, including the new government in Poland, the trucker blockade on the Polish-Ukrainian border, Putin's 'election' bid and Slovakia moves in the legal sphere. Later, Alexandra chats with Nikola Burazer, a Serbian political scientist, journalist, program director at the Center for Contemporary Politics and executive editor of European Western Balkans. They discuss the upcoming Serbian snap elections and wider political developments in the country, including the vicious campaign by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and possible openings for the opposition to incite democratic change. For more context read: "Serbia continues to walk the tightrope" By Marta Szpala, Issue 5/2023 New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/11/serbia-continues-to-walk-the-tightrope/ Join us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Listen to the Fulbright Poland podcast titled “Fulbright Talks” to learn more about Fulbright Poland alumni and their fascinating endeavors: https://fulbright.edu.pl/fulbright-talks/

In this episode, Adam and Alexandra discuss the latest news from Georgia, the Balkans, and Russia. They also discuss the controversial legacy of American diplomat Henry Kissinger, who died last week at the age of 100. Later, Alexandra speaks with Kenneth Morrison, who is a Professor of History and Research Theme Director at De Montfort University and a Research Associate at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Alexandra and Kenneth deep dive into the political history of Montenegro, the role of pro-Serbian forces in the country, and its prospects for future political stability and democratic development. Read Kenneth's latest pieces for New Eastern magazine: https://neweasterneurope.eu/post-author/kenneth-morrison/ Support us, become a member of our community and gain access to exclusive content: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Adam and Alexandra catch up on the latest news from Poland, Hungary and Serbia. Later, they are joined by Paulina Milewska, a media expert, who currently works on the issue of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) as a PhD researcher at the European University Institute and a Senior Advisor for European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.They discuss the challenges faced by journalist and media in the region, including local media. Read the report mentioned in the interview: “From the regional press to Orlen Press.” A report by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights: https://hfhr.pl/en/news/from-the-regional-press-to-orlen-press Check out the VoiCEE podcast: https://notesfrompoland.com/category/the-voicee-podcast/ Support us, become a member of our community and gain access to exclusive content: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode Adam and Alexandra review some of the latest news in Hungary, Bulgaria and Latvia. They are later joined by the guest Pavel Slunkin – a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, based in ECFR’s Warsaw office. Pavel works on Belarus-related issues: its domestic and foreign policy, relations with Russia, the European Union, and the United States. In the interview Pavel discusses the latest developments related to Belarus, Belarusians abroad and the role of the pro-democratic forces outside of the country. In the bonus questions, Pavel discusses the horrible conditions of political prisoners and next year’s parliamentary “elections” and what Lukashenka might be planning next. The bonus questions can be found here: https://bit.ly/3utZOB7 This episode is in partnership with the Intrigue Outloud podcast. Check them out!

In this episode Adam and Alexandra are together in a Warsaw studio to discuss the latest news in the region, including the European Commission’s latest enlargement report and recommendations. After the news rundown, they are joined in the studio with Oktawian Milewski, a political scientist specialising in Central and East European studies. He is a Poland resident correspondent for Radio France Internationale’s Romanian office and a regular guest with Talk Eastern Europe. Oktawian discusses the results of Moldova’s local elections and its impact on that country’s EU integration. He also focuses on the role of oligarchs (outside the country) and the pro-Russian influence that is trying to make a comeback. Read the OSCE Report on the elections: “Moldova, Local Elections, 5 November 2023: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions” https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/557406 Support us and become a member of our community: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode Alexandra and Adam run down the latest news from Moldova, Ukraine and the South Caucasus. Alexandra then interviews Roman Hlatky an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas public opinion, electoral behaviuor, and race and ethnic politics, focusing on Central Europe. Roman walks our listeners through the election campaign and results of the Slovak elections. In the bonus section available for our patrons: Roman and Alexandra discuss the ramifications of the election for the future of the country and what it means for the wider region. Listen to the bonus questions here: https://bit.ly/465mip4 Read more: “Could Slovakia go rogue after the elections?” by Jozef Hrabina, New Eastern Europe 13 October 2023. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/10/13/could-slovakia-go-rogue-after-the-elections/ >>> Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYj >>>

In this episode Adam and Alexandra open up with a discussion on the latest news in the region including Georgia’s president surviving an impeachment proceeding; Viktor Orban’s meeting in China; latest on Nagorno-Karabakh and developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main interview features Anna Wójcik, co-founder and editor of “Rule of Law in Poland” and The Wiktor Osiatyński Archive, a rule of law monitoring project. She is also a Humboldt Foundation Fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg. Anna shares her perspective on the results of the recent elections in Poland, how fair were they, what are the next steps in the power transition and all the challenges the new government will face in restoring the rule of law in Poland. For context read: “Wind of change” by Daniel Gleichgewicht, New Eastern Europe 17 October 2023: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/10/17/wind-of-change/ Our Guest’s Resources: “Rule of Law in Poland” https://ruleoflaw.pl/ The Wiktor Osiatyński Archive https://archiwumosiatynskiego.pl/en/ >>> Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYj >>>

This episode opens up with a brief rundown of the results of Poland’s parliamentary elections held on Sunday October 15th, Adam and Alexandra provide their brief analysis and what the results mean – especially considering the fact that the ruling Law and Justice party will not likely be able to form another government – a significant victory to the opposition. After that Alexandra is joined by Julie George is a political scientist and professor with faculty appointments at Columbia University, Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNY. She specializes in comparative and international politics, specifically in the South Caucasus. Alexandra and Julie discuss the fallout from Azerbaijan’s recent forceful takeover of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. They also look at the wider consequences in the South Caucasus region and the roles of Russia and Turkey. Read two commentaries recently published on New Eastern Europe: “A modern-day ethnic cleansing: Karabakh Armenians flee as Azerbaijan takes over” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/29/a-modern-day-ethnic-cleansing-karabakh-armenians-flee-as-azerbaijan-takes-over/ “Military operation in Karabakh: the final battle?” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/29/military-operation-in-karabakh-the-final-battle/ Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYj

Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYj In this episode we welcome the newest co-host of Talk Eastern Europe Alexandra Karppi! Alexandra is a research analyst at Freedom House covering the Western Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe for Nations in Transit. She has also held research and editorial positions at the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Central European University’s Center for European Neighborhood Studies, and the Post-Conflict Research Center. Welcome Alexandra! In the round of news, Adam and Alexandra discuss the recent Slovak elections, the Azerbaijani offensive to retake the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the upcoming Polish parliamentary elections. Later they are joined by Grigol Julukhidze, the director of the Foreign Policy Council, a think tank in Tbilisi who specialises in security studies and propaganda research. They discuss the growing role of Russian influence in Georgia and what it means for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic agenda. They also look at how the recent moves in Nagorno-Karabakh and how it reflects a decreasing role of Russia in that part of the region. For further reading: “In the shadow of impeachment”, by: Giorgi Beroshvili, New Eastern Europe 5 October 2023: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/10/05/in-the-shadow-of-impeachment/ “Putin’s hidden war. How the Kremlin is bombing us on the internet” by: Grigol Julukhidze, New Eastern Europe Issue 1 2023, https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/02/15/putins-hidden-kremlin-internet/ Follow Alexandra on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/AlexandraKarppi/

Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYj Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo appear to be once again on the rise with the most recent outbreak of violence in Northern Kosovo on September 24th. Meanwhile there seems to be no end in sight for resolving the dispute between the two countries despite attempts to moderate the conflict by the EU and the US. In this episode, following a brief update of the news, Adam discusses the issues of Serbia and Kosovo with Leon Hartwell, a Senior Associate at LSE IDEAS, London School of Economics, and a non-resident senior fellow at CEPA. Leon takes listeners through the challenges faced in the process and discusses why the process is unlikely able to find an outcome. In our bonus section which is available exclusively for our Podcast Patrons, Adam and Leon discuss the role of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the Western Balkans and Serbia’s ambiguous approach to the war. Listen to the whole episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-152-as-89970457 Read more on New Eastern Europe: “Cake doughnuts and western diplomacy” by Leon Hartwell. New Eastern Europe issue 5/2023: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/11/cake-doughnuts-and-western-diplomacy/ “Twenty years later: exposing the hidden cause for the delayed EU integration of the Western Balkans” By Antonios Nestoras. New Eastern Europe issue 5/2023: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/11/twenty-years-later-exposing-the-hidden-cause-for-the-delayed-eu-integration-of-the-western-balkans/ “Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: a perpetual state of stagnation” By: Visar Xhambazi. New Eastern Europe issue 5/2023: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/09/11/kosovo-serbia-dialogue-a-perpetual-state-of-stagnation/ Check TEE out online at: www.talkeasterneurope.eu