Eastern Europe

A comedian-turned-president, a rockstar-turned-party leader, and a sea of new faces in the parliament: Meet the new political reality in Ukraine.

The illiberal leaders of Hungary and Poland falsely claim Frans Timmermans would divide Europe. What they really fear is his commitment to the rule of law.

A transcript of the pontiff’s remarks in Romania.

Romania under Ceausescu created a dystopian horror of overcrowded, filthy orphanages, and thousands died from back-alley abortions.

In his fight against corruption, Zelensky will face real challenges—not least from his own constituents.

Seven years on, the 16+1 project has largely flopped.

A political newcomer is poised to become president by standing up for liberal democratic values—and seeking to halt the spread of right-wing populism across Central and Eastern Europe.

Eastern Europe has long resisted same-sex marriage. Prague might be about to change that.

Demonstrations against Aleksandar Vucic’s authoritarian government won’t achieve anything until the opposition can present a coherent alternative.

Moscow’s missile capabilities in the Baltic Sea region are not nearly as dangerous as they seem.

Politicians in this corner of Eastern Europe insist their country is a stage for geopolitical rivalry between the West and Russia—the better to profit from the attention.

Despite attacks from abroad and corruption at home, Ukrainian democracy isn't failing—it's thriving.

The country’s youngest party has united the left and right against Viktor Orban.

Seeing Baku as a strategic partner, the United States and Europe overlook rights violations.

Ireland voted to liberalize abortion laws. The far-right government in Warsaw is moving in the opposite direction.

When politicians own the press, trolls have the last laugh.

More journalists are assassinated than die in war zones.

In a country where even the anti-corruption prosecutors abuse their power, it's hard to say who the good guys are.

As the European Union takes long overdue measures to punish the Hungarian regime, the prime minister appears to be moving from rhetorical to real repression.

A journalist’s murder shocked the country in February, but it hasn’t led to a more independent media.