Opinion
TURKEY INSIGHT: Physical FX and gold head for gaping jaws of the black market
Lira market beyond real control. Erdogan playing it cool. Finance minister nowhere to be seen. Is there any choice but a shock hike? Would even that fail? But options remain for president before his endgame.
Alaco Dispatches: Western Balkans’ Labour Pains
Foreign investment in the more productive sectors of the west Balkan's economy may be put at risk by skills shortages driven by high levels of migration.
FPRI BMB Ukraine: Russia’s “passportization” of the Donbas
Since the spring of 2014, Russia has handed out nearly 200,000 Russian passports to Ukrainians living in the Donbas and Luhansk “People’s Republics.”
COMMENT: Belarusian establishment remains monolithic. or does it?
At his address to the nomenklatura, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said a remarkable phrase: “I’ll accept any of your decisions. But don’t you dare betray me! Betrayal won't be forgiven even in heaven."
ViennEast Compass: CESEE outlook, planning for new normal
There is no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, but the new normal that will emerge could benefit the countries of Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE), due to the new opportunities that will arise.
Kyrgyzstan: Will fury around Askarov death end up signifying nothing?
The activist’s death in prison reflects poorly on the substantial investments that the international community has made into overhauling Kyrgyzstan’s notoriously selective and corrupt justice system.
COMMENT: The military flare-up along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is a modern-day James Bond film plot
The outbreak of a fresh military conflict on the Armenian and Azerbaijani border is straight out of a James Bond film and threatens both the region’s and Europe’s energy security among other things
TURKEY INSIGHT: The lira awakens with a start to face the perennial question. Is it the endgame?
Officials scramble to build new wall to defend currency after it escapes narrow range versus dollar that held sway for two months. Amid jitters, Grand Bazaar free market rates make a return.
MACRO ADVISER: August in Russia: what could possibly go wrong?
August is the month when more memorable events occur in Russia than in any other month of the year; whether accidents, natural catastrophes or political events.
TURKEY INSIGHT: How the central bank is actively using six different funding rates
National lender's approach makes a nonsense of relying on its headline policy rate.
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White House “paying little attention” to Armenia Azerbaijan fighting says Carnegie analyst
Assessment concludes Washington does not see Caucasus as priority. Meanwhile, Iran, Russia and Turkey are filling “vacuum”.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: How the Emir of Qatar’s mum won the Istanbul land lottery and other tales of wonder
Lo and behold! Sheikha Moza bint Nasser struck lucky with a zoning plan. Finance minister and his dad looking to make mint in same locality. Erdogan, meanwhile, seizes FX deposit of Istanbul administration but pays creditor in lira.
COMMENT: After ERM2 entry is before the very fiddly euro entry path
Euphoria greeted the long-awaited accession of Bulgaria and Croatia to ERM2 and the ECB-led Banking Union last week, but an intense period of further reforms lies ahead for the two countries.
COMMENT: The “Soft Coup” and the Euromaidan Reformers — what went wrong?
Given their strong commitment to Ukraine’s identity, the rule of law and the support of free enterprise, why were the Euromaidan Reformers essentially absent during the “Soft Coup” that began in March?