REPCO

In this episode, Adam and Nina discuss the deterioration of relations between Czechia and Slovakia, the celebration of 25 years of NATO membership in Czechia, Hungary and Poland and the ongoing media crackdown in Azerbaijan. They continue to analyse the split in the Visegrád Group as Hungary's Viktor Orbán's met with Donald Trump while Poland's president and prime visited US President Joe Biden. For the main interview, Alexandra and Nina sat down with Eugene Chausovsky, the Senior Director for Analytical Development and Training at the New Lines Institute to get his insights on the upcoming Russian presidential elections. Eugene dives into Russian domestic politics but also looks at the election from a broader geopolitical perspective.  This is the first of several collaborations that we will be conducting with analysts from the New Lines Institute. The New Lines Institute is based in Washington, DC and focuses on the intersection of US foreign policy and global geopolitics.  Check out the New Lines Institute website and listen to their podcast: Contours.    >>>Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina discuss the funeral of Alexei Navalny, Putin's state-of-the-nation address and the latest attack on Odesa in Ukraine. They walk you through relatively positive developments related to recent Serbian elections and reflect on meetings between Hungarian, Slovak and Russian foreign ministers. Later, Alexandra interviews Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă, a Bucharest-based writer and researcher specializing in EU foreign and security policy. They discuss the "accelerated" EU accession process for Ukraine and Moldova, its effects on integration prospects for the long-waiting Western Balkan countries, and how Romania does - and can further - play a constructive role in supporting Western Balkan EU membership. In our patron-only bonus content, Alexandra speaks more with Miruna on domestic politics in Romania, predictions for and implications of the "super election" year in the country, and the unique features of the Romanian far-right. Listen to the exclusive bonus questions here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-170-on-99920668 Read Miruna’s piece from the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/what-role-can-romania-play-in-facilitating-western-balkan-integration/ Support us! Become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Adam and Nina start by reflecting on recent Belarusian parliamentary elections and tragic death of Alexei Navalny. They also discuss last week's farmer's protests and dynamics among the Visegrád Group countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). Later, Alexandra interviews Andrea Mazelliu, a lecturer of law at the University of New York Tirana, to get his insights on domestic politics in Albania, which have heated up in recent months. Alexandra and Andrea also deep dive into Albanian foreign policy and its path to the EU. Support the TEE podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

This special episode marking the second anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine features four short-form interviews with Ukrainians in the country and outside it. First, Nina and Alexandra discuss the news of the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was murdered while imprisoned in one of Russia's northernmost prisons. Later, Nina and Alexandra share four stories from Ukraine with the following guests. Each guest shared their personal stories, reflections from the last two years, what they have been doing to support Ukraine, and the hopes they have for Ukraine's future. Mariya Chukhnova is a trilingual (Ukrainian, Russian, English) expert in international security and regional knowledge, specializing in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine and Russia. With a diverse background in the rule of law, anti-corruption, and international security, she is originally from Ukraine and is now based in the US. Maksym Kyiak is the chief scientist at the Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a chief expert at the Ukrainian NGO ANTS – National Interests Advocacy Network. He is based in Kyiv. Nazar Boykov is a political scientist and expert on elections based in Lviv. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at West Virginia University and a founder and chief executive at the Ukrainian NGO CIFRA Group. Oleksandr Shchur is the writer and producer of the new film Bucha, which tells the story of a refugee from Kazakhstan who saved hundreds of Ukrainians in occupied territories in the spring of 2022. Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/issue-1-2-2024-elections-without-choice/ Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope Follow Mariya on Linkedin to support her advocacy work and fundraising: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariya-chukhnova-903554130?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BIJPL9ERXTcmi16Ov7g4s5A%3D%3D. Check out Mariya's other work: The Quiet of the Russian Diaspora in the US (VoxUkraine) Deliberate Destruction of Ukrainian Scientific Infrastructure by Russia: The Urgency of Its Protection and Restoration (The Critical Mass) Learn more about Oleksandar's film Bucha: https://bucha.film/.

In this episode Adam, Nina and Alexandra start out by offering some of the latest news developments in Hungary, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Ukraine and Russia. Later Nina and Adam are joined by Maciej Makulski – a contributing editor with New Eastern Europe – to discuss Maciej’s recent research report titled: “Social media monitoring during the 2023 Polish Election. Immigration as a threat to national security and identity” and the consequences for upcoming elections. Download the report here: https://www.kew.org.pl/en/2024/02/08/report-social-media-monitoring-during-the-2023-polish-election-immigration-as-a-threat-to-national-security-and-identity/ Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/02/07/issue-1-2-2024-elections-without-choice/ Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope

In this episode, Adam and Nina start by discussing the latest news, including developments in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Russian spies in the West. Later, Adam is joined by Jovan Gjorgovski, a journalist based in North Macedonia and an editor with the Channel 5 television station. They discuss the current political situation in the country ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections later this spring. They also take a look North Macedonia’s EU accession and the serious roadblocks which still remain. Make sure to check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe: bit.ly/4boNgfc Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope

In this episode, our three co-hosts open this episode with a brief rundown of the latest news in the region, including developments related to Azerbaijan, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia and North Macedonia. Adam and Nina are later joined by Asel Doolotkeldieva a non-resident fellow of the George Washington University and expert on Kyrgyzstan. Asel describes the current political situation in the country which has developed as a result of the last protests in October 2020 which includes a new crackdown on independent media and civil society. For more context: “Kyrgyzstan faces a new era in regional politics” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2023/04/12/kyrgyzstan-faces-a-new-era-in-regional-politics/ "An illegitimate transfer of authority in Kyrgyzstan" - New Eastern Europe’s 2020 interview with Aida Alymbaeva, a Kyrgyz lecturer and opposition politician: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/12/03/an-illegitimate-transfer-of-authority-in-kyrgyzstan/ >>> Please complete our listener survey: https://forms.gle/w1qr9apHWsQhJAjg8 Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina start with a brief rundown of the latest news in the region, including the meeting between Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Hungary’s Victor Orban. They also cover developments in Poland, Serbia and Russia. Later, Alexandra and Nina interview Leila Bičakčić, one of the founders and current director of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina - the first investigative center established in the Balkans. They discuss recent crackdowns against media and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the worrisome direction of Bosnian politics in the last year, and the shortcomings of Western policy in this region. Please complete our listener survey: https://forms.gle/w1qr9apHWsQhJAjg8 Join us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/Talkeasterneurope

Talk Eastern Europe is back with a new episode! All three co-hosts welcome you with a short discussion on the latest news since the new year, including in Serbia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Ukraine. Later, Adam and Alexandra are joined by Mark Temnycky a freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. Mark discusses some context for 2024 and what are the prospects for the West’s support for Ukraine in 2024. Check out Mark’s latest commentaries:, “Congress must send aid to Ukraine now” https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4403311-congress-must-send-aid-to-ukraine-now/, As Europeans prepare for 2024 elections, Ukraine watches on https://www.euronews.com/2023/12/27/as-europeans-prepare-for-2024-elections-ukraine-watches-on, We want to hear from you! Please complete our listener survey: https://forms.gle/w1qr9apHWsQhJAjg8

In this episode listeners are introduced to the newest co-host – Nina Panikova, welcome Nina! Adam, Alexandra and Nina do a rundown of the most important developments of 2023 and what to expect in 2024. Later, Adam and Nina are joined by Arzu Geybulla, an Azerbaijani columnist and writer, with special focus on digital authoritarianism and its implications on human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan. They discuss the ongoing crackdowns against media and civil society which are taking in Azerbaijan ahead of the recently announced snap elections next February. Read Arzu’s latest article titled “Azerbaijan’s crackdown: same old tactics, just different names” https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Azerbaijan/Azerbaijan-s-crackdown-same-old-tactics-just-different-names-228976 >> We want to hear from you! Take the Talk Eastern Europe Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/SmKFfGja9ypA6jm48 Support this podcast. Become a Talk Eastern Europe patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope