Photo by Eskinder Dembebe, copyright UN In October 2024, Kazan will host the 16th BRICS summit, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to attend, according to Kremlin sources. This visit raises concerns among political analysts, as his participation could provide legitimacy to Russia’s aggressive policies on the international stage. The BRICS bloc,…
Photo by Micha Brändli on Unsplash The invasion of Ukraine has taken a new turn with Russia increasingly drawing its ally, North Korea, into the conflict. Under President Putin, Russia is forming a comprehensive strategic partnership with Pyongyang, pledging mutual military assistance in the event of attacks on either nation. This alliance bears an…
In just mere weeks, the moment of truth for Georgia will set things straight, as the country suits up to make its existential choice for the civilised future. The people will cast their vote in the historical election that is set to define the country’s fate for decades to come, writes Viktor Sparov. On October 26,…
Photo by Kuzzat Altay on Unsplash MEPs in Strasbourg have adopted three resolutions on alleged human rights violations in three countries: Türkiye, China and Iraq. They voiced “deep concern” about the ongoing “deterioration of democratic standards” in Türkiye, and the targeting of independent journalists, activists and opposition members. The sentence against Bülent Mumay…
The EU has voiced fresh concern about what it says is Russia’s intensifying campaign of hybrid activities against the EU, its Member States and partners. The warning comes on the same day that the head of MI5 in the UK warned the UK faces the most complex and interconnected threat it has ever seen. Its…
On 7 October Russia once again demonstrated complete disregard for international norms by striking civilian vessels transporting food. This time, Russian forces attacked port infrastructure in Odessa using ballistic missiles, damaging a Palauan-flagged ship, “OPTIMA,” which was waiting to load agricultural products. As a result of the attack, a 60-year-old Ukrainian was killed, and five…
The new UK government’s goals are modest. But economic reality may force it to follow changing public opinion, writes Richard Corbett. In its campaign for the general election in the United Kingdom in July, Labour generally kept a low profile on the UK’s departure in 2020 from the European Union. In government, the party said,…
On the night of 7 October Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in occupied Feodosia, the largest oil transfer facility in Crimea. This attack, which caused a massive fire and forced the occupying authorities to declare a state of emergency, underscores that Ukraine is not only successfully holding its ground but also actively targeting critical…
Russian interference in the affairs of sovereign nations poses a serious threat to the stability of global democracy. One of the latest examples involves Moldova, where Russian forces attempted to disrupt a referendum on joining the European Union. The Kremlin employed bribery, disinformation, and provocations, demonstrating its intent to undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries…
Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash Disturbing footage of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Army surfaced online on 1 October. In the vicinity of Pokrovsk, 16 Ukrainian POWs were coldly executed, marking one of the largest acts of killing of prisoners of war since the onset of Russia’s…
