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Articles by Anton Orech
Might is right: the end of international law?
France's President Emmanuel Macron has accused the US of "breaking away from international rules." Finally, someone is fighting back, La Stampa rejoices: “With the words he spoke before the French ambassadors yesterday, the master of the Élysée Palace took the risk of directly challenging American power and, after months of humiliation and subservience, breaking with the European Union's policy of appeasement. ...
Putin on inaugural visit to Beijing
Neatkarīgā is concerned that the consolidation of an axis of authoritarian states is progressing: “Gone are the days when the West was viewed with admiration and awe. ... There is not a single word about democracy, human rights and other values of the modern world in the final communique of Putin's visit. It does, however, emphasise the common understanding of Russia and China with regard to their desired vision of the global future.
Die Botschaft hat sich geändert
Bislang richteten sich westliche Sanktionen gegen Oligarchen und staatliche Institutionen. Nun sind Güter des täglichen Gebrauchs betroffen. Das Resultat ist unklar. Ein Kommentar. Die USA und Europa haben unlängst weitere Sanktionspakete verhängt. Ich verfolge das alles schon seit einiger Zeit aufmerksam, doch dieses Mal hat die Sache eine neue Dimension. Banken und andere Unternehmen sind nicht betroffen. Jetzt sind es die Konsumgüter, die eingeschränkt werden.
Are the sanctions against Russia effective?
On Facebook, economist Vladislav Inozemtsev cites evidence that many previous sanctions haven't made a real impact: “For example, it turned out that the average price of Russian oil exports in December 2022, assumed to be 49-50 dollars per barrel, may have actually been as high as almost 74 dollars, so well above the 'price cap'.
Ukraine war: peace only after total capitulation?
The Russian president is showing no signs of relenting in the war against Ukraine. After a telephone conversation with Putin, French President Macron said that the worst was yet to come. Kyiv evoked "nuclear terror" in the wake of the shelling of the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and urgently called for more weapons. European commentators ask whether peace is at all possible.
US offer on Ukraine: how will Moscow respond?
The US has submitted its written response to Russia in the negotiations on the Ukraine conflict: Although Nato's open-door policy is not up for discussion, it is open to talks on arms control in Europe. If Moscow does attack, harsh sanctions will be imposed. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed dissatisfaction wit the response but stressed that his country does not want war. Europe's press predicts a prolonged struggle.
How will Moscow react to the Kazakhstan crisis?
After violent mass protests against rising gas and fuel prices, the government in Kazakhstan has resigned. The country's long-time former president Nursultan Nazarbayev also lost his post as national security chief. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had asked the Russian-led military alliance CSTO for help to bring the situation under control. Europe's press also examines the situation in the light of the troops now being mobilised by Moscow.
Kazakhstan: what's at stake for Moscow
In response to the violent protests in Kazakhstan, the first units of a Russian-led so-called peacekeeping force of the CSTO military alliance have now arrived in the country. Not all commentators see this initiative as a sign of strength.
Russia: anti-torture bill in the Duma
The Russian government supports a bill introduced to the Duma that explicitly makes torture by police officers, investigators or in the penal system a serious criminal offence. The bill is the Kremlin's response to repeated allegations of torture, for example when videos of cruelty in a prison in Saratov recently became public. Can the law really put an end to these practices?
What does the Sakharov Prize mean for Navalny?
Alexei Navalny's daughter Daria accepted the Sakharov Prize on her imprisoned father's behalf at the EU Parliament, but criticised the political pragmatism in the bloc's dealings with Putin and Lukashenka. Parliament President David Sassoli praised Navalny's courage and called for his immediate release before handing her the prize, which has been awarded since 1988 to defenders of human rights.
Covid: mandatory vaccination as the last resort?
A growing number of European countries are seeing a surge in Covid infection rates and reintroducing restrictions. Because the vaccination quotas achieved so far have failed to prevent a new wave of infections, calls for mandatory vaccination are gaining momentum. Many governments had ruled such a measure out due to concerns about fundamental rights. Commentators discuss whether the time for this has come now.
Why are food prices going up and up?
Food prices have been rising across the globe since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. This is causing increasing hardship for poorer countries, but also for the poorer sections of society in wealthier countries, because - as in Russia and Ukraine, for example - even low-cost staple foods are affected by massive price hikes. Commentators examine the causes. Coming to the crunch now In Russia, major sausage producers have announced price increases for the third time this year.
What does Navalny's jail sentence mean?
A Moscow court has sentenced Alexei Navalny to two years and eight months in a prison colony for violating parole from a 2014 sentence. The European Court of Human Rights had already ruled that Navalny's 2014 conviction was "arbitrary" in 2017. Europe's press sees Russia increasingly isolating itself with this verdict that was clearly politically motivated - and examines what can be done to help Navalny now.
Is the EU's vaccination campaign taking too long?
Criticism of the sluggish progress of the EU-wide coronavirus vaccination campaign is growing in Europe. Biontech boss Uğur Şahin has said the EU was too slow in ordering vaccines. On a per capita basis, the EU states are currently lagging far behind countries like Israel, the US and Britain. But according to commentators, the dog is chasing its own tail over the question of whether the EU or the member states are to blame.
Is the damage to US democracy irreparable?
Over the last four years, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called into question and attacked the country's democratic institutions. Now his supporters have invaded the very core of US democracy and forced Congress to suspend its session. While some commentators warn of further damage to democracy, others point to the strengths of the US system.
Orthodox Church facing schism
The Russian Orthodox Church is being punished for its hubris, Lietuvos žinios gloats: “After the meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis in 2016 the Kremlin's propaganda machine celebrated the coming together of the most powerful leaders of the two Churches. As if the Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople were less important and Moscow were the epicentre of the Orthodox Church. But this behaviour had consequences.
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