Hijabs Democracy
The President of Tatarstan signed amendments to the law on the freedom of conscience earlier grandiosely adopted by the State Council of this entity of the Russian Federation. In particular, foreigners are forbidden to found religious organizations in the republic. However, all the decisions made by the power were late. It’s senseless to issue a ban on the way of penetration of “foes” to Tatarstan, when in the environment of local population already occurred people, calling themselves “Mujahideens”, able to take the responsibility for the terrorist attack against the leaders of Spiritual Department of the Muslims of the Republic. READ MORE
Competitive Caucasus Elections
A curious election took place recently in the Caucasus. It attracted very little notice but deserved more. In the tiny, unrecognized territory of Nagorny Karabakh—entirely Armenian but still regarded by the world as de jure part of Azerbaijan—an opposition candidate for president did extremely well. READ MORE
Stronger together
Russia's minister of trade and industry makes the case for Russia as a good place for European companies to do business. READ MORE
Is This Why Romney Thinks Russia Is Geopolitical Foe Number One?
Mitt Romney’s talk may be tough when it comes to the Kremlin, but on his foreign tour, he stepped carefully into two of the places where Moscow’s foreign relations are most important: Poland and Israel. READ MORE
France dismantles camps, deports Gypsies
Unlike former President Sarkozy's virulent anti-immigrant media campaigns, the new Socialist government says it is motivated by health, sanitation, and security. READ MORE
Never Again to Genocide Trials
Rarely does one read such hopeful news: in late June, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) acquitted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić of genocide. That might sound like a bad thing: Karadžić, who once warned Bosnia’s Muslims that war would lead them down the road to hell, surely deserves to be sentenced for the acts of which he was just acquitted – murder, siege, and slaughter almost beyond naming. But for genocide? Better not. READ MORE
Tight Grip of Democracy
Democracy as natural state of existence for a western person in new, developing countries, can be perceived in the context of collapse of civilizations. This is a challenge, which can’t be ignored. READ MORE
Belarus expels Swedish ambassador, EU weighs response
Belarus has expelled Sweden’s ambassador over his actions to support democracy, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Friday, as the European Union’s foreign policy chief said the bloc would consider responding with “appropriate” measures. READ MORE
Baltic States and Finland urge EU to note increasing flows of immigrants from Russia
The Baltic states and Finland have approached the European Commission (EC) with a call for a proper response to the growing flows of immigrants from Eastern neighbors, mainly Russia, whose citizens may be granted visa-free travels in the future. READ MORE
Opinion: Romania needs a fresh start
Romanian President Basescu remains in office. The referendum failed to get the required 50 percent turnout. But despite that victory, DW's Robert Schwartz argues Basescu should step aside and make way for new talent. READ MORE
