Opinion and Analysis

92 A referendum in the shadow of war

Hanna Vasilevich The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shifted international attention away from yet another referendum in Belarus. Like all the previous ones, these reforms significantly change the Belarusian political landscape, while giving Alyaksandr Lukashenka even more influence and power.

98 The geopolitics of hospitality

Natalia Barszcz and Luiza Bialasiewicz

105 The political psychology of war

Raze Baziani, Rasan Baziani

112 From emperors to refugees

Svenja Petersen Moscow’s war in Ukraine has not only forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their home country but has also led hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens to seek exile abroad. Among the most popular destinations for Russians are the South Caucasian republics: Armenia and Georgia.

Interviews

119 The mission of journalists is to reveal the truth An interview with Mykola Semena

127 What Russia needs most is cash for bombs An interview with Piotr Woźniak “Unfortunately, statements from some EU officials that ‘by the end of 2022 the purchase of Russian gas will be reduced by twothirds’, are only declarations. It is difficult to say when this will actually happen.”

Stories and Ideas

133 The ghosts of past wars live on in Russia’s Victory Day Oleg Smirnov

146 Russia’s war has turned Hasidic pilgrimage site into safe haven Aleksander Palikot and Maria Tymoshchuk

152 A lot at stake for Estonia as it shifts away from oil shale Isabelle de Pommereau Amidst rising concerns over climate change, the Estonian government has pledged to stop burning oil shale for power generation by 2035. Tallinn will also give up the fossil fuel altogether by 2040. Oil shale, however, has a long history in Estonia and is the country’s main source of electricity. Abandoning its use is not only a climaterelated issue, but a geopolitical one as well.

Art, Culture and Society

160 The Way of the Land

Miriam Țepeș- Handaric Romania is not the first country people usually think of when it comes to slavery. Despite this, the country possesses an almost unknown history of Roma slavery that occurred over five centuries ago. The Way of the Land is a podcast that shows how this hidden history bleeds into the present discriminations against the Roma community.

History and Memory

166 The Russo-Japanese War.

A forgotten lesson? Andrzej Zaręba

177 In search of Baron Kurtz in Bucharest Lilian Pizzichini In the summer of 1990, I found myself sitting on the platform of Wien Sudbahnhof waiting for a train to Bucharest and dreaming of waltzing down the River Danube. In the dream, my partner and I spiralled through rooms that had hosted the secessionist salons of Mitteleuropa.