Doping has long been a problem in sports. But no nation has used doping as actively as the GDR did from the mid-1960s, until the fall of the Berlin Wall. The country with approximately 19 million inhabitants was a communist dictatorship. People lived in fear and a dream of reunification with the rest of…
On 21 August 1940, Leon Trotsky was killed by a Spanish communist in Mexico. The murder was probably commissioned by the Soviet Union. Leon Trotsky was the Soviet Union’s deputy leader after Lenin until Lenin’s death. After Lenin’s death, a power struggle arose in the communist party. Stalin won that power struggle. Leon Trotsky…
Russia has declared Russia an unfriendly country. As a Norwegian, I take this as a great honor. It is a disaster to be considered a friendly country. Being declared an unfriendly country has little significance in a relationship that is already at a minimum level of contact between the countries. Symbolism Most people thought…
The idyllic little holiday paradise of the Maldives is playing a major role in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Together with China, the Maldives are the largest transit countries for chippers to Russia. These are crucial for Russia in the war against Ukraine. They are used in missiles, among other things. The country’s practice means…
Igor Girkin also known as Strelkov was recently arrested in Russia. He is wanted for the shooting down of passenger plane MH17 over Ukraine in July 2014. He has been sentenced in the Netherlands to life imprisonment for his role in the shooting that killed 298 people. Read my blog about this. The reason…
Today marks 500 days since Russia launched its massive assault on neighbouring Ukraine. A war started by Russia, which is in violation of international law. It is difficult to determine how many people have been killed and injured. The UN said that the number of civilians, previously estimated at 8,000, is too low. 30,000…