The Union State of Russia and Belarus: time to separate?

              Russia has established a border area with its partner of the Union – Belarus. Allegedly it has to do with the “necessary security of the boarder control of the Russian Federation”.  However, it is not the first time when Russia makes steps that show that not everything is smooth and harmonized in this Union. Last year Russian government have forbidden a transit of foreign passengers to Russia via Belarus. Also Belarusian citizens’ passports are being checked in the Russian airports that was not a case before. Belarus pays these costs for being not obedient to Russia. If you want be a master, you have to take care of you dependant, if you do not have resources, be ready that a dependant will look for another master.

Belarus opens doors for tourists - visa free regime

    Yesterday Belarusians welcomed a new decree on the visa free entrance for the foreign visitors to Belarus. New decree was anticipated already in September 2016 when the five-days visit to Augustow Canal was introduced. Before visa free regime was established only on the Belarusian site of Bialowieza Forest to where foreign visitors could come crossing the Polish-Belarusian boarder in the forest. From now on the citizens of 80 countries (incl. EU, USA, Japan, Australia and Canada) are able to visit Belarus for five days without a visa with the condition of arriving to the Minsk International Airport. Such possibility does not spread on transit visitors travelling to or from Russia. Finally foreign visitors are able to discover and enjoy the natural beauty of Belarus without additional obstacles.

Bialowieza Forest

Books that should be always accessible

             We all like different genres of literature and different authors. We read in different languages. Recently I found a very wise quote on the cover of the book written by E. M. Remarque "All Quiet on the Western Front": this book should be printed out in millions of exemplars in different languages, be read in schools and be sent to all fighting groups. Remarque was one of the few being able describe all the tragedies of war: there is no place for glory, there is only hopelessness. To my big surprise I found only one book by Remarque in the biggest book shop in Bonn. And I felt it was not right. Books of Remarque should be always present on the book shelves in Germany as all books of S. Alexievich should be accessible in all book shops in Eastern Europe and Russia. There are things in history that we cannot afford to forget.

Castro's death: flowers and tears in Russia

               Why do some Russians and  other post-social countries’ citizens sadden about the death of Fidel Castro? President Putin stated that “the whole era went away along with the death of Castro”. But what was that era? Maybe the era of imprisonment of 5% of Cuba’s population, economical stagnation, significant poverty in the entire state which had a developing economy before the revolution? We are used to praise the people who stands for progress both in human rights and in improvement of human being conditions. What is going to happen with societies which starts to praise persons who were cruel to its people in the name of ideas that do not implicate to any kind of progress? 

Russia and the International Criminal Court

             Russia withdraws from the International Criminal Court (ICC), though it had never ratified the agreement at the first place. It might seem like Putin is bothered by the accusations of Crimea’s occupation or other investigations against Russia. However, it is just another way of making it clear to the world that Russia does not care much about what is going on. Kremlin does not respect the international organizations which serves them as a platforms to show their power and bias. Up until now Russia has not ratified the Paris agreement on Climate Change. It is also another tool to make the rest of the countries to consider Russia as an important partner for negotiations in the international arena.

Magnitsky: tragedy of whistleblower in Russia

    Seven years ago a Russian citizen, Sergei Magnitsky, died being imprisoned in Moscow jail without a trial. Magnitsky was an auditor specialized on civil law investigating the case of Hermitage Capital Management that has been indicted of tax evasion. During the investigation he detected the involvement of police, tax officials and Russian mafia in the big corrupt scheme. Magnitsky was accused of covering a fraud committed by Hermitage. The tragedy reveals the dramatic level of corruption spreaded in the entire Russian system starting from police and judiciary and ending in organized crime. Today citizens of Russia state that corruption is the third biggest problem in Russia besides economy and health care. Nevertheless, the corruption is the problem number one that causes all other problems.

US elections: when the whole world is watching

     One of the biggest political tension of the year will be resolved this week. Tomorrow the US citizens will choose their next president. The outcome of this elections will change dramatically not only the domestic affairs but it will impact the US foreign policy. Everyone is aware of it. Putin will fight for presidency of Trump till the very end and after it. He understands that no matter how unpopular US president Hillary Clinton will become, but her position towards Russian’s aggression will be tough. And he cannot let happen. Tomorrow the people of USA will vote not only for the future of their country, they will vote for the future of the world. There is no a bipolar world anymore, but the feeling is very similar.

Four-way talks in Berlin: the weight of promisses

            The one and half years ago four-way talks were focused on armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine only. Yesterday the Syrian issue was added to a meeting of the heads of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia. Apparently, the meeting was more a formal way of showing that West is interested in regulate the conflict though dialog in a peaceful way. Putin agrees on certain things, however the question is would these agreements be respected? Putin used to agree and sign documents on e.g. ceasefire anf the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine but keep destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and bombing Syrian city Allepo targeting kindergartens and hospitals. What is the cost of the word when Kremlin talks?

Eastern Ukraine: "Motorola" was killed

               One of the leaders of self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic Arsen Pavlov, nickname „Motorola”, was killed by an explosion in the elevator. He was an ex-Russian soldier who came to Eastern Ukraine to support its occupation by Russians. “Motorola” was known by his cruelty: he was torturing and killing captives. Was his death a demonstrative one? The colleagues of “Motorola” will state with foam at the mouth that it was a deed of the President of Ukraine, special agency etc. If it is so, it means the Ukrainian forces are much more skilled perfuming such mission. However, Russian forces are the part of the system where there should be only one leader and there is no place for any other. “What nourishes me destroys me”.

Russia Today in UK: violation of freedom of speech or stopping propaganda?

                 How fast will a tool of propaganda start demanding the “freedom of speech”? Today all UK accounts of the biggest broadcaster of pro-Kremlin propaganda Russia Today (RT) have been frozen. Was it an attempt of the UK banks to stop dealing with such ambiguous partner? Or has the UK government finally decided to bring the spread of misleading information to the end? Russian government invests more than half a billion USD only for the RT. It is broadcasting all over the world from Moscow and Washington studios in English, Arabic, Spanish, German, French and Russian. It is very important to not mix the propaganda with independent media or „journalistic second opinion”.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

               Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill, has decided that it is not enough to teach people by love but by punishment. After huge controversial law proposal of total abortion prohibition in Poland, where the abortion is banned for many decades (except three circumstances), Russia’s head of church has seen a niche for an improvement in Russia’s law. The situation with abortions in Russia is already so dramatic that such law will bring more harm to unborn children, mothers and society in general. The traditional methods of abortion, illegal “hospitals” with unqualified “specialists” in basements, left newborns in the streets will bloom and expand.

 

The cost of truth: flight MH17

             Today the Joint-Investigation Team (JIT) has revealed the outcome of the investigation regarding the catastrophe of flight MH17 in July 2014. The missile was fired by Russian-made Buk from the territory controlled by Russian separatists. For some people it did not come as a revelation, for others even most obvious facts won’t be enough. This investigation might be important being another evidence of Russian forces’ presence in eastern Ukraine. But how many people are still doubting? The most horrifying and sad moment is that the acknowledgement of Russian aggression in Ukraine costs 298 lives.

Belarus looks for new friends: USA

             Last week,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, visited USA. The goal of his visit was to establish peaceful relations with US. It goes as a big contrast to the events of 2008: belarusian government requested to significantly limit the number of employees in the US Embassy people and the US Ambassador, Karen Stewart, was recalled to Washington. There is a chance that US Embassy will start operating soon with an US Ambassador to Belarus. Belarusian government realises that Russia is not a reliable partner anymore. There is a necessity to find other sources of financial support in the face of deep economic crisis.

1984

           Archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vsevolod Chaplin, openly stated in an interview that a murder of enemy - “state foe”, “fifth column” is legitimate by God. Later on, Chaplin supported the idea of the female circumcision, proposed by a mufti (Islamic scholar) in Dagestan. According to this inhuman idea women should not receive sexual pleasure; their role is to deliver children. The mufti refused this idea very fast, stating that actually this is not according to the Islam.

           When Orwell was writing his book “1984” did he predict the Russian future or does Russian ruling power creates the future according to the book?

In front of the entire planet

                It is crucial for Russia who will become the next US President from every angle. It is also not an enigma for the world that Russia would try to impact the outcome. Recent email leak of Democratic National Committee (DNC) revealing a preference for Hillary Clinton's campaign was commented by Barack Obama as possible action of Russian. The US foreign policy will change no matter who will be the President: Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. However, Trump is more favourable for Russia as he likes Putin and his leadership and most probably would lift the sanctions. No doubt, Russia wants to see him as a leader of the first “enemy” country.

Games Russia plays

            The decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to not ban Russia from its participation in the Rio Games has been condemned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in particular. The IOC has chosen not to be linked to its decision but let it be solved at the level of the international federations. Despite the proof of four years state-sponsored doping program,  Russia will be represented at the Games.  Apparently, there is another power of decision making, not based on facts and justice. The IOC also denied the participation in Games of whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, discouraging whistleblowing in sport.

Russia: will The Olympic Mishka stay home?

               While International Olympic Committee (IOC) delays its decision on ban the participation of Russia in the Rio Games a tension is growing. However, there is no sign of guilt in Russia. Russian officials do not want to take collective responsibility, blaming athletes themselves despite the allegations of state-sponsored doping.  Whereas the sport community decides whether Russian sportsmen should be in Rio next month, is should consider the sportsmen from all over the world. Olympic Games is not only ground for community, international contacts but also arena of fairness and just. If one country has not played fair, should it be forgiven without any consequences? 

Weekend in Turkey

            This weekend could not be relaxing for Europe by all means: attempt of coup in Turkey, unclear tension in Yerevan, Armenia. Till Monday the leadership of getting less democratic states in the region has moved to President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is not yet clear how exactly the EU-Turkey, Turkey-Russia relationship will evolve in these circumstances. Recently tension between Turkey and Russia has decreased: Russian tourists happily recommenced spending summer vacations in so familiar Turkish resorts. Would Putin cooperate better with Erdogan seeing in him the same spirit, only further events will reveal it.

Imitation of normal life in Luhansk

Maria Varfolomeieva, Ukrainian photojournalist, was captured by separatists in Luhansk (East Ukraine). She was accused of belonging to the “Right Sector” and imprisoned for 14 months. There was neither proper investigation nor trial.
            Varfolomeieva describes life in Luhansk nowadays as a “imitation of life in Russia”. Hospitals are open but there are no medicine. Schools work without books because the ones used previously are not “updated” anymore. National university is empty because no one wants to get a diploma from “Luhansk People’s Republics”. Residents of Luhansk think that they belong to Russia, however Russia is not eager to recognize them. 

The victor and the victim

I would like to add a comment to my previous piece on the Russian way of celebrating the Victory Day. When people are caring the portraits of Stalin on the streets, sticking on the car stickers “1941-1945 we can repeat it”, it does not look like there is a common understanding of the tragedy of war. There is no memory of the Soviet invasion on Poland in 1939, or Katyn massacre in 1940. There are always two sites of one medal and somehow Russia chooses the bright one: the victor and the victim at the same time. But is it possible?