Pavel Sheremet: life that won't be replaced

            Recently, Belarusians were remembering the disappearance of the journalist Dmitry Zavadky in 2000. Sixteen years later there is still no evidence, no track of finding out what had happened to him. Today shocking news about death of  the Belarusian journalist, Pavel Sheremet, strengthen the acknowledgement of dangerous position of independent media and journalists in particular. Pavel Sheremet was killed by explosion of his car this morning in Kyiv. Ukrainian General Prosecutor states that it was a murder. Will this time justice find its way by exposing a perpetrator? There is always hope for good, nevertheless today Belarus and the region lost its prominent journalist. 

Source: charter97.org

One in one out?

            It seemed like what could be worse than one of the EU member states would leave the European Union? It would mean that EU lost its appeal for the countries willing to join the Union. It also seemed like EU would stop its enlargement for many years. In reality no one got scared that people of the United Kingdom have decided - the EU is no good for them. Western Balkans  and Ukraine are still looking in the direction of the EU membership. At the same time, EU does not close the doors in front of them after the outcome of British referendum. 

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.

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement signed

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) has been signed in Kyiv, where Minister of Canada,  Justin Trudeau, is with his two days visit. Before its implementation the agreement have to be ratified by parliaments of two countries.  CUFTA allows not only preferential access for goods to the territories of Ukraine and Canada but also impacts such areas like cooperation in trade, public procurement, regulation in the trade disagreements and intellectual property rights.  President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, states that Canadian businessmen are invited to take part in the Ukrainian privatization that will be proceeded in transparent and efficient way.

Afanasyev and Soloshenko released

 Illegaly imprisoned in Russia, Ukrainian citizens Hennadiy Afanasyev and Yuriy Soloshenko, have been returned to Ukrainian soil yesterday.  Afanasyev was accused of participation in a “terrorist group”, kidnapped in 2014, beaten up, tortured and forced to testify against  Oleksandr Kolchenko and Oleg Sentsov (currently imprisoned in Russia). Ukrainian pensioner, Soloshenko captured in Moscow in 2015, being accused of “espionage”.  According the President Poroshenko, the release of prisoners has happened due to efficient work of Minsk agreements. He reminded that the goal of Ukrainian state was to return all Ukrainian hostages held in Russia.

Georgia: EU visa free movement dispute

Georgian state has fulfilled all requirements to obtain a visa-free movement for its citizens in the European Union. Delay in EU visa liberation for Georgia is a result of foreseeing approach to the process by Germany and France. Politicians of these countries would prefer to have a back up plan: fast return of visa regime if there is a rise of illegal actions caused by Georgians (or other nations granted visa-free movement) in EU. In media Georgian situation is presented along with Turkish, however, these cases are very different. Georgians just need a little bit of patience, meanwhile there is a long process of negotiations regarding requirements fulfilment with Turkey.

Boris Nemtsov Foundation Prize 2016

On Sunday, June 12 2016, the Boris Nemtsov Foundation Prize will be awarded in Bonn, Germany to Lev Schlosberg, Russian journalist and human rights activist. Lev Schlosberg was the first who published the material about death of two Russian paratroopers from Pskov on Ukrainian soil in 2014. The prize for “outstanding courage in fighting for democratic values, human rights and freedom in Russia” will be awarded for the first time. Top 5 candidates for the award was Ildar Dadin, Lev Schlossberg, Victor Shenderovich, Aleksiej Nawalny and Nadiya Savchenko. Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom was established by Zhanna Namtsova, a daughter of murdered in 2015 Russian politician, Boris Nemtsov.