Turkey has world’s fastest rising number of COVID-19 cases. Turkmenistan sticks to its “infection-free” story

Erdogan won’t bow to call for Turkish lockdown. Berdimuhamedov ‘s cult of personality is founded on “health and happiness”. The pandemic is taboo.

Bulgaria eases coronavirus-related restrictions

MPs voted to ease the restrictions and sanctions imposed in March following the coronavirus outbreak.

Polish ruling party eventually pushes through mail-only presidential election in May

Government claims a postal vote is a safe way to carry out the election during the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, but opponents say the safety of millions of people could be endangered on voting day.

Anadolu Efes to produce traditional Russian kvass

AB InBev Efes has announced the launch of a kvass brand in Russia, called Silich, VTB Capital wrote on April 6, seeing the news as positive for the company in consolidating its share in the non-alcohol territory.

Prices for ginger and lemons soar as Russians turn to traditional home remedies to fight coronavirus

The price of ginger in Russia has reportedly soared five-fold and lemons are getting hard to come by as Russians reach out for the tried and tested home-made cures for the flu.

Hungary's media authority awards 5G licenses for €350mn

The auction, which took place amid extraordinary safety measures, allocated concessions that will run until 2035 and can be expanded by another five years with unchanged conditions.

Poland launches app to track people in coronavirus quarantine

Polish residents in home quarantine must take a selfie within 20 minutes of receiving an alert or face a visit from the police.

Russian e-retailer Ozon caps prices for the most sought-after goods to prevent gouging

One of Russia’s “big three” online retailers Ozon Holdings announced that it was capping the prices of essential goods that are currently in high demand to prevent manufacturers gouging customers.

Russian video streaming platforms gain speed

As the Russian video streaming service segment is booming. The major players are securing funding and launching original content production.

Cloud services take off in Russia

The cloud service segment is growing in Russia, but some companies haven't yet realized its potential value for their business, while others might be put off by security issues.

ING: COVID-19 could leave a legacy of EM debt distress

Challenges are coming for those countries which have overly relied on commodity exports and tourism, resulting in weaker fiscal revenues and current account balances.

ING: How a post-Covid world could look

Low interest rates for even longer or maybe even forever, and ballooning government balance sheets will shape the post Covid-19 era. But that's not all. The health crisis may have fundamentally altered the structure of our economy.

ING: Negative growth for Central and Eastern Europe with more easing ahead

All CEE countries should experience negative growth in 2020, with 2Q20 constituting the bottom.

TURKEY INSIGHT: Peering into the forex hole

Hard currency reserves back in focus. Net portfolio outflows since December 20 stacked up to $6bn.

THE MITTELEUROPEAN VIEW: Why it is exactly the right time to fully revive the Vienna Initiative 1.0

For the banking sectors in CEE, hypothetical stress scenarios are becoming reality. A forum like the Vienna Initiative could be an ideal place to find coherent solutions during the current crisis.

Coronavirus infection rates reined in across much of Central and Southeast Europe

Cautious discussion of lifting restrictions in some countries as strict lockdown measures keep the number of cases in the hundreds or low thousands.

Oil price crash takes 0.5pp off Turkey’s inflation rate

Central bank seen as set to opt for more easing but all eyes are on floundering lira. If it falls much further it could limit room for policy support.

Russia Services PMI index crashes to a new all-time low of 37.1 in March

The IHS Markit Russia Services Purchasing Index (PMI) index crashed to a new all-time low as the double whammy of an oil price collapse and the stop-shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic hit the services industry.

Poland’s PMI the first indicator pummelled by COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic drove the decline of the indicator, which is likely the first in a series of steeply deteriorated macroeconomic readings to come out this month.

Balkans have some of the world’s strictest anti-coronavirus measures

Oxford University researchers look at the steps taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus, oil prices push Kazakhstan toward recession

Economy forecast to shrink by 0.9%.

Just how painful would a sovereign debt default be for Ukraine?

Turkmenistan: Unjust deserts

Officials do not explain why they are imposing such stringent internal restrictions if Turkmenistan is, as they insist, genuinely coronavirus-free.

Russian pipemaker ChelPipe getting ready for IPO

With the predominance of oil and gas in Russia’s economy the pipe-making business is a big one. ChelPipe is the market leader and is now considering an IPO.

TURKEY INSIGHT: How bad a pandemic hit to GDP must country brace for?

Finance minister accused of just “dropping in from outer space” for sticking to his targets. Lira continues to crumble as analysts slash growth forecasts.

BUCHAREST BLOG: Romania’s response to COVID-19 economic effects is fuzzy and belated

The sole tangible aid extended by Romania’s government to firms is a promise to pay unemployment benefits to 75% of the employees whose labour contracts are suspended as a result of the crisis. But even this is tricky, managers say.

ISTANBUL BLOG: There may be no stopping the coronavirus from snowballing in Turkey

Science Council member says country has lost its chance to be a “Singapore” or a “Hong Kong” and needs to spend all its available energy on not becoming an “Italy”.

BALKAN BLOG: A poor solution to waste disposal

Scandals over illegal waste imports have erupted in the two poorest EU states, Bulgaria and Romania, as two years on from China’s ban on plastic waste imports, developed countries are still struggling to dispose of waste they cannot recycle at home.

ISTANBUL BLOG: If you believe in the Erdogan Republic’s coronavirus free status, honk your horn

A second honk, please, from those who disapprove of Putin making Turkey’s top guy wait two minutes in the Kremlin foyer to see him.

CONFERENCE CALL: Passion and pragmatism in the Western Balkans

Western Balkan prime ministers discussed the need for infrastructure investment and the removal of barriers to regional trade at the EBRD Western Balkans Investment Summit.