commentary

'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More

Twenty Years Later, And The Communists Are Still With Us

In November 1989, we were given a chance, and we are doing relatively well. We are part of the broader world. Our children are growing up in a sort of democracy. They can travel and study abroad. They speak many languages and so hold the keys to open other worlds. Nonetheless, all is not right. More

Russia Is Dying To Learn Its Census Data

The news that the next Russian census will be held in 2010 is welcome news indeed. There had been considerable speculation that the census had been delayed largely for political reasons, and it is encouraging to think that the opinions of experts who say the census information is crucially needed were heeded in this case. More

Looking For A Monster, Finding Only A Man

Gordana Knezevic, director of RFE/RL's Balkan Service, was a journalist in Sarajevo during the bloody 43-month siege of the city. She remembers life during the war and her struggle to understand the motivations fueling Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. More

Nenad Pejic: A Land Where War Criminals Are Heroes

A government plane was waiting to carry the released convict from prison to a hero’s welcome in Belgrade. Journalists clustered around her, eager for any statement. Not bad for a convicted war criminal returning home. More

Abbas Djavadi: 'Turkey's Kissinger' Leads Foreign-Policy Balancing Act

Even before being named foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu was regarded as the eminence grise behind Turkish foreign policy. He's considered the architect of the new active foreign policy that the AK party has been pursuing since coming to power in 2002: "zero problems" with the neighbors while continuing to maintain traditionally good relations with the West. More

Vladimir Nadein: Putin's 'Polish Syndrome'

Ten years of absolute power and 10 years of unlimited sycophancy have not failed to leave their mark on Russia's Vladimir Putin. He has completely lost the ability to listen to others or to hear himself. More

Igor Pomerantsev: Revolutionary Shouting And Dead Silence

I understand that to the outside world, my personal actions are of little or no account. To them, I am a representative of the Russian state and a “typical” Russian, even though I have carried a British passport for more than 20 years. But how could they know that? More

More Commentary

The Briefing

Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute

RFE/RL energy correspondent Bruce Pannier discusses the ongoing gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which has also affected energy supplies to many countries in Western and Southeastern Europe.

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RFE/RL

Tuesday, November 10, 2009