Prime Minister Robert Fico has purged prosecutors, cultural officials, journalists and others he believes fueled “hatred and aggression” against him.
Author: ANDREW HIGGINS
A Tug Between Russia and Europe Divides Montenegro
A falling-out between former political allies in Montenegro has complicated the country’s efforts to join the European Union and curb pro-Russian influence.
‘Bad Blood’ Stalks a Lithium Mine in Serbia
A Rio Tinto mine that Europe sees as a critical source for electric vehicle batteries has been the target of enormous protests. “I don’t need green cars. I need green apples and green grass,” said one opponent.
How Two Russian Spies Went Deep Undercover With Their Children
A couple planted as sleeper spies in Slovenia posed as an Argentine art dealer and an entrepreneur. They were caught in December 2022 and sent to Moscow in a sweeping prisoner exchange last week.
Trying to Save a Concrete ‘Monument to Corruption’
An icon of socialist modernist architecture in the capital of the former Soviet republic that is now Moldova has been at the center of a tussle between corrupt developers and preservationists.
Russian Orthodox Church Wages a ‘Holy War’ Against Satanism, and the West
A battle has erupted in Moldova over its links to the Russian Orthodox Church, seen by many as a tool of Moscow’s influence abroad.
French Elections Show Battle for Europe’s Political Soul
A coarsening of public discourse and contempt for mainstream parties have politicians on both sides denouncing what they say are extreme positions by their opponents, analysts say.
In North Macedonia, Disputes Over History Extend to Statues
North Macedonia has claimed historical figures as part of a drive to build a national identity. That has ruffled the feathers of the Balkan nation’s neighbors.
Turning Against Orban, Peter Magyar Soars in Hungary
Peter Magyar, a conservative who was once a well-connected figure in the Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has become an unexpected leader of the country’s opposition.
A Hungarian Rapper’s Bandwagon Gets an Unlikely New Rider
Azahriah, who has rapped about the joy of cannabis, has shot to fame in Hungary. That may explain why he has been applauded by the country’s conservative leader, Viktor Orban.