Bougainville: Difficult Road Ahead Establishing an independent state is undoubtedly one of the most grueling and unpredictable political endeavors of our time. Setbacks can even occur when the finish line is in plain sight. Few know this better than the people … #Blog Posts 03.11.2022
Artsakh’s Defiance in the Face of Strategic Uncertainty Since November 2020, the events in and around Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are spearheading with such speed that neither of the parties can pause, comprehend the complexity of situation, estimate scenarios and come up with some mid-term … #Blog Posts 23.10.2022
Parent State’s Support for Left-behind Minorities: Some Documented Evidence from Moldova, Georgia and Serbia When de facto states emerge, rarely do their respective authorities find themselves governing over ethnically homogenous populations in the territories they control. Some exceptions, like Northern Cyprus, exist; however, even in such cases a few hundred left-behind … #Blog Posts 16.10.2022
A Friend with a Demand: The Issue of Pitsunda Dacha in Abkhazia-Russia Relations The Abkhazian Parliament faces a difficult decision just after 6 months of its election (March 26, 2022) regarding an agreement signed secretly between Abkhazia and Russia. It is unclear how many people were initially aware of the plan … #Blog Posts 13.09.2022
Tension’s Rise in Gagauzia as Russia’s War Drags On A political crisis is quietly brewing in Moldova’s Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. Over the past few months, the rhetoric emanating from the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia (Gagauziyanin Halk Topluşu) towards Chisinau has become increasingly hostile. Moreover, the … #Blog Posts 02.06.2022
Taiwan and Palau – Recognition’s Many Facets The tiny Pacific nation of Palau caught headlines when it co-hosted the seventh “Our Ocean Conference” in mid-April this year. For Palau’s president, Surangel Whipps Jr, the hybrid gathering certainly was a moment of pride. In many … #Blog Posts 21.05.2022
Kosovo’s Ambition for a Policy Shift in the Dialogue with Serbia On February 14th 2021, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje (LVV – Self-Determination Movement), led by the now Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, won the Parliamentary elections in Kosovo. The 50.02% triumph (a record in Kosovo’s proportional system) signalled a … #Blog Posts 02.05.2022
Transnistria’s Ambiguous Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Transnistria’s response to the war in Ukraine has likely surprised many commentators. When Russia’s invasion began, many speculated that Transnistria may be Putin’s next target. The publication of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenka’s infamous map only fueled such … #Blog Posts 21.04.2022
April 2022 Presidential Elections in South Ossetia: Rejected Candidates and the Referendum on Unification with Russia Presidential elections in South Ossetia are scheduled for Sunday 10 April. Voters in this Georgia’s breakaway region will go to the polls to try to choose a president for the sixth time since the collapse of the … #Blog Posts 07.04.2022
Shifts in Territorial Discourse over Southern Armenia On November 16, 2021, clashes erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces near the town of Sisian in southern Armenia, in the province of Siunik. This episode of fighting was notable as the worst altercation since the … #Blog Posts 17.03.2022
