Several independent sources report torture in concentration camps, known as the concentration camps in the rebel-held parts of the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine. These are depictions from prisons or prison camps in the so-called breakaway republics. There have been numerous reports of torture in these areas, most recently described by Oleh Suherey of the…
In August 2008, Russian-backed separatists demanded independence in the areas of Georgia known as South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Soon afterwards, Russian tanks rolled into the area and ejected Georgian forces. Since then, the territories have been a frozen conflict, with Russian forces standing inside Georgia to secure the areas. The territories then proclaimed independence…
In the spring of 2014, something happened that has not happened in Europe after World War II. One country annexes part of another country. In this case, it was Crimea that was annexed by Russia. A carefully planned annexation as a direct result of Putin’s desire to control his Slavic neighbors as he has…
You may remember when Ukraine won the Melodi Grand Prix in 2016? The Crimean Tatar singer Jamala sang the song in 1944. The song was about Joseph Stalin’s ethnic cleansing of the Crimean Tatars. The population that had always lived on the Crimean peninsula. What happened and why? May 18, 1944 a black day…
The Eurovision Song Contest is full of political events. A military coup was started, protest songs and international markings in rather large numbers. Politics has no place in the Eurovision Song Contest, some say. Why don’t I say, what is different about lyrics with a political content than lyrics about love? I will take…
Some are too young to remember Apartheid in South Africa. Others may not know exactly what it was. When I was young and politically active, the fight against Apartheid was something that engaged me. I was a member of the Joint Council for Southern Africa (now the Joint Council for Africa). Forms of action…