Eastern Europe / Features
The Kremlin is hiking taxes for the first time in twenty years
the Kremlin has approved a new budget that will greatly increase spending but has also used the cover of the coronacrisis to hike a variety of taxes, many for the first time.
International bond investors are selling off local EM debt in all but the best markets
Emerging markets capital markets have been through a revolution in the last decade, but the coronavirus pandemic and rising political and economic risks in some markets have seen these investors turn tail and flee.
An “Italian strike” is hobbling production at Belarus’ biggest companies
The opposition leaders called for a general strike in Belarus on August 11, two days after the disputed presidential election. It flopped. But as details of brutal police beatings came out two days later one company after another walked out on strike
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Disasters in the making
Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan among countries ranked most vulnerable by inaugural edition of Ecological Threat Register.
Turkey takes assertive role in Caucasus conflict
The shift is motivated in part by energy considerations and in part by nationalist politics.
Ukraine’s partners worried about deteriorating commitment of Zelenskiy administration to judicial reform
Lack of commitment to the rule of law and judicial reform are causing consternation, while the increasingly politically motivated actions of recently appointed General Prosecutor Iryna Venedyktova are raising tensions.
Russia to vote in 83 regional elections
Russia goes to the polls this weekend for important regional elections in 83 regions where the Kremlin will face a challenge due to the sinking popularity of the ruling United Russia Party.
Questions raised over veracity of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine test data
A group of international doctors have written to the British medical magazine The Lancet raising questions about the veracity of data presented in a recent paper that showed Russia's Sputnik V vaccine was “100% effective” in Phase II trials.
Ruble slides to RUB76 to dollar on Navalny poisoning, new sanctions fears and falling oil prices
The ruble fell for a third day in a row to reach RUB76 as of September 8. Analyst now say that it could fall to RUB80 by the end of this year before recovering to RUB72 next year.
Belarus’ battle of the journalists
The war between the population of Belarus and entrenched President Alexander Lukashenko took a new turn on September 8 as the journalists' big guns were brought up to the front in the disinformation war that is gathering momentum.
A general strike in Belarus could bring the Lukashenko regime down, but so far it has failed to reach critical mass
A general strike by Belarus blue collar workers could bring the Lukashenko regime down, but it has failed to reach critical mass, leading to an uncomfortable standoff
Climate change and the Russian economy
Russia has signed off on the Paris Accord this year and has joined the global fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But it has only set itself modest targets and made modest progress.
With Turkish backing, Azerbaijan ups rhetoric against Russia
It remains to be seen if this is yet another tactical balancing act on Baku’s part, or the sign of a more substantial shift.
Capital Economics and IIF report capital flows have reversed and returning to EMs
Capital Economics and the Institute of International Finance report capital flows have reversed and are returning to EMs in July for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis began.
Belarus’s economy in danger of a crisis in the face of sustained popular protests, says IIF
Gripped by mass protests and a general strike, Belarus will struggle to meet its debt obligations this year and faces a serious economic crisis, reports the Institute of International Finance (IIF) in a paper released on September 2.
Russia’s permafrost is melting
The frozen wastes of Russia’s interior are melting. That’s a big problem for Russia, and could be an even bigger problem for the planet. A large share of Russia’s oil, gas, diamonds and metals are produced in cities that sit on the permafrost.
Happy birthday RTS, 25 years old on September 1
The dollar-denominated Russia Trading System (RTS) celebrates its 25th birthday. The predominant Russian stock exchange was launched on September 1, 1995 with the leading RTS index set at an arbitrary 100.
SCOOP: Leaked emails of Trump-linked ‘Russian spy’ Kilimnik reveal full story of Ukraine back channels to the EU
bne IntelliNews has obtained hundreds of Konstantin Kilimnik's emails that show how he and Paul Manafort tried to influence Europe on behalf of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych by building back channels that eventually lead to Manafort's jailing
The robot will help you now
Robot grocery deliveries, checkout-free stores and facial recognition payments are some of the technologies coming out of CEE as retail goes contactless.