
Genius or Idiot?
Even 100 years after his first appearance in print, Jaroslav Hasek’s Good Soldier Svejk remains an enigmatic hero. From Respekt.
Around the Bloc

Slovakia’s Coalition at Odds Over Russian Vaccines
Plus, Lithuania sides with Taiwan, an Austrian firm designs an impressive opera house for Crimea, and more.

U.S. Sanctions Russians Over Navalny Poisoning
Plus, the daughter of a former Romanian president gets prison time, Belarus’ Lukashenka stands his ground, and more.

LGBTQ Activists Acquitted in Poland
Plus, the U.S. sends military aid to Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan readies a constitutional revamp, and more.

Romania Sends Coronavirus Vaccines to Moldova
Plus, Hungary’s Orban sends an ultimatum, North Macedonian wire-tappers get prison time, and more.

Navalny’s Whereabouts Unknown After Move from Moscow Prison
Plus, Russian diplomats push themselves out of North Korea, Uzbekistan’s corruption-fighting president lives large, and more.

Regional headlines and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday.
Commentary

The Legacy of Jan Kuciak
Three years after a journalist who knew too much paid with his life, the wheels of justice are starting to turn in Slovakia.

Dr. Abdullah’s Bulgarian Adventure
How a small town fell in love with a doctor from Iran.

Visegrad: A Half-Empty Glass
Leaders of the Central European grouping could learn a thing or two from their medieval precursors.

An Elementary Truth
Analysts of the media scene in Central and Eastern Europe trot out their favorite culprits for the sector’s repression, but overall responsibility lies somewhere else.
Latest News

A Shop Where Romanian Children Learn Through Play
A bookstore/coffee house in Bucharest is a space for German culture, creative activities, and local gourmet products. From DoR.

Prague Dawdles Over EU Windfall
Brussels says Czech renewal fund plan lacks a clear focus and fails to set key priorities. From Respekt.

Gas Pipeline Nord Stream 2 Links Germany to Russia, but Splits Europe
News last week that the U.S. might not sanction German companies that take part in the project doesn’t mean the battle over the pipeline has cooled down. From Clean Energy Wire.

Among the Deceivers
We did a deep dive into disinformation during two election cycles in Bosnia. This is what we found.

A Debacle for Beijing?
China’s efforts to woo Central and Eastern Europe seem to have taken a blow with the lack of fanfare around the 17+1 online summit.

Integration Starts in the Village
A network of education centers run by young people for young people is helping demolish barriers facing ethnic Azeris in Georgian society.