Foreign market players’ sentiment in Turkey still deteriorating

Trade balances are improving in most emerging markets but Turkey is a notable exception, warns the IIF.

IMF head urges Ukraine to preserve NBU independence

IMF issues warning as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepares to appoint a new central bank governor. Zelenskiy promised an “independent technocrat” but analysts are sceptical.

Azerbaijani authorities crack down on pro-war demonstration in Baku

Demonstrators in Baku pushed for a full-blown war with Armenia after several days of the heaviest fighting between the two South Caucasus foes for years.

Protests in Belarus after opposition candidates blocked from standing in presidential election

Clashes between protesters and police as hundreds demonstrate in Minsk and other cities.

Protesters try to storm Bulgarian parliament

Suspected provocateurs try to break into parliament building but pushed back by police. Crowd swells to at least 20,000 in Sofia, and thousands more in 17 other towns.

Young Croatians top EU for digital skills

Close to 100% of young Croatian adults have basic or above basic digital skills, more than in any other EU country, a compilation of data from Eurostat showed.

Spotify to enter Russia, other emerging Europe markets in new expansion drive

In Russia, the move by Spotify will put pressure on local internet majors Yandex and Mail.ru Group that also offer music streaming services.

Skype co-founder Toivo Annus dies suddenly at the age of 48

Prominent Estonian entrepreneur and engineer died suddenly of an unexpected illness.

$225mn funding values Romanian RPA unicorn UiPath at over $10bn

The funding was accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis, during which demand for software and automation robots exploded, said co-founder Daniel Dines.

AliExpress sets ambitious goals in Russia, IPO possible

AliExpress Russia is aiming to reach $10bn gross merchandise volume by 2022-2023, and has not ruled out a future IPO.

COMMENT: Borrower beware: Uzbekistan’s dollar debt binge could spell long-term trouble

Uzbekistan’s inaugural $1bn Eurobond in February of last year was hailed as a landmark event for Uzbekistan. Now its on the map for international creditors, the government need to avoid a borrowing binge that will end in a debt trap.

COMMENT: Smolii’s Resignation and the soft coup underway in Ukraine

The resignation of Yakiv Smolii as governor of the NBU could be taken as the end of serious reforms in Ukraine and a "soft coup" that puts the old guard back in charge of the country

COMMENT: Five reasons why Zelenskiy is failing in Ukraine: Zelenskiy faces a political future that is no laughing matter

Volodymyr Zelenskiy's presidency seems to have gone off the tracks but no one is quite sure what is going on. Is he a puppet or just out of his depth? Melinda Haring of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council offers five theories.

COMMENT: Finding a third Musketeer to run the National Bank of Ukraine

The governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Yakiv Smolii abruptly quit on July 1, sending a shock through the investment community. Now he has gone, who will replace him?

COMMENT: Yanukovych’s “Own Goal;” Zelenskiy’s “Lesson Learned”

In September 2013, at the Annual “YES” Conference in Yalta, former President Yanukovych said: ”We have to move toward European integration,” causing participants to dance on the beach. He didn't do it and sparked the Maidan revolution

Romania’s industrial output enters recovery mode in May

Industrial production rose by 15.1% m/m in May, partly recovering after the deep 27.9% dive in April.

Kazakhstan hikes cargo transit in H1 despite pandemic

The volume of cargo travelling via Kazakhstan was up by 54% y/y in H1, as the country becomes an important transit zone under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Romania’s trade gap narrows in May despite weak exports

The foreign trade gap in Romania contracted by 15.6% y/y to €1.25bn in May, but the latest foreign trade numbers don’t bring much optimism.

Lithuanian PPI deflation eases to -11.4% y/y in June

June was the fifth consecutive month of PPI deflation after factory gate prices decreased 16.4% y/y in May.

Czech industrial production down by 25% y/y in May, up 13.8% m/m

May production revived after being dragged down by shutdowns at the Czech Republic's main car factories in April, but the overall increase was softer than expected.

Divided Poland to choose more turmoil in presidential election on Sunday

Whether incumbent President Andrzej Duda or the centre-right mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski wins the run-off presidential vote, it will mark the start of several years of turmoil.

Protests pose unprecedented threat to Turkmenistan’s authoritarian government

Turkmenistan faces a new set of political and economic problems as protests become widespread and the government is unwilling to address the situation.

Profits of Ukraine’s banks still ahead of last year, but first signs of crisis impact visible

Suma Chakrabati leaves the EBRD a greener bank

Green financing reached close to 50% of the EBRD’s volume of investment in 2019, but as he leaves the bank Chakrabati warns of the need to put the green economy at the heart of the post-COVID recovery.

Udokan: Alisher Usmanov’s Siberian copper valley

With its launch scheduled for 2023, Siberia's Udokan copper deposit is among the largest in the world.

BUCHAREST BLOG: Romania becomes the latest battleground in Central Europe’s gender wars

A law approved by both houses of the Romanian parliament in June bans the teaching of gender studies in schools and universities. Opponents warn Romania is following in the footsteps of Central Europe's "illiberal democracies".

BALKAN BLOG: Anyone for COVID?

Adria Tour fiasco shows how not to relaunch sporting events during a pandemic — and gives the Croatian opposition ammunition against PM Andrej Plenkovic ahead of next week’s general election.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland’s illiberals facing their make or break moment this Sunday

President Andrzej Duda's reelection seemed like a formality but is now in doubt after missteps such as an attack on LGBT people. Polls suggest the liberal mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski has a real chance to win.

BALKAN BLOG: Gangster-style photos from Bulgarian PM’s bedroom ratchet up dirty war with anonymous enemy

Borissov’s latest term in office has been plagued by constant scandals, but photos of the PM sleeping next to a Glock 9mm handgun and a drawer full of €500 bills and gold bars indicate he has a bitter enemy close to home.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Returning migrants but no COVID baby boom for emerging Europe

What does the coronavirus pandemic mean for the region's dismal demographics?