Millions for Uniforms
Military training in Orzysz, 2019, Poland (phot. Wojciech Grzędziński)For almost 10 years, the Polish ministry of defense has been trying to attract non-governmental organizations to help promote ‘patriotic and pro-defense attitudes’. With the PiS government, golden days have come for pro-defense organizations. Money, privileges and even exercises with American soldiers.
T-shirts made in Poland.
Not in the European Union
March of Independence, 2018 (phot. Wojciech Grzędziński)
The first stores selling patriotic clothing in Poland opened doors nearly 10 years ago. Today, everyone is wearing it: from the Polish president Andrzej Duda to school children, and to parents and their kids at patriotic marches. The aim is to show strong attachment to patriotism and flaunt it around: you simply either are a patriot, or you are not.
Uniform for a Patriot
School celebrations, patriotic marches and national holidays. All accompanied by ever-present weapons and green uniforms. In countries of the Central Europe patriotism increasingly means militarism, and civil values are being displaced by the cult of weapons and combat. Nobody controls this movement. VSquare special report shows, that states are supporting amateur militarists on an unprecedented […]
Pro-defense organizations want real guns
Lobbyists and paramilitary organizations in Poland are struggling for a wider access to arms and ammunition. Pro-defense organizations and shooting associations had tried to push through their own version of the law in Polish parliament.
Czech military marketing starts in schools
A child during POKOS presentation, photo: Facebook POKOSThe ministry monitors two most significant militia groups in Czech Republic – Czechoslovak Armed Reserves for Peace and National Militia. But the situation in Czech Republic differs from what’s happening in the region.
Hungary: a smooth way to better patriotism
After 167 years Hungarians win again in the battle, January 2016High school military programs are spreading in Hungary where the government’s educational policy aims at making students more patriotic. Patriotic education is about to be extended into all schools.
Anita Komuves
Modern fascists are no longer skinheads
Shooting of documentary When the war comes (phot. Stanislav Krupař)Slovenskí Branci suddenly took off their uniforms and have gone into politics. Jan Gebert’s movie is a story of the birth of a leader, of what must happen to a person who is just doing trainings in the forest and becomes a military leader. Of a man with a smiling face, but such a face can be hiding an arising danger.
Slovenskí Branci: a military hobby or armed threat?
Slovenski Branci during winter parade, Slovakia, 2019 (phot. Wojciech Grzędziński)For at least seven years, an unofficial but yet uniformed paramilitary group has been recruiting young men in Slovakia. Minister of Defense filed a motion to inspect the legality of Slovenskí Branci’s activities because of military-like trainings with unclear goals, as well as possible abuse of military technology.
Martin Turček
Peter Sabo
How To Produce Little Patriot Soldiers: a manual
Amateur military training, northern Poland, 2019 (phot. Wojciech Grzędziński)A student of a uniformed class shoots more often than a soldier. In special camps and in military units, young people are expected to learn military tactics, to parade in a marching formation, patrol, throw dummy grenades, prepare action on the battlefield. Ministry of defense’s program for uniformed classes is very ambitious.
Silk route and realities
Photo by chuttersnap on UnsplashPolish politicians have a mouth full of clichés about the entry of big Chinese businesses into the country. The only person looking after their interests today is Marek Suski, the head of the Prime Minister’s political cabinet. He is doing it unofficially. And he has no idea about China or business.
The ghost train
Viktor Orban and Wang Yi, 2015; Photo: Károly Árvai / Prime Minister's OfficeAll Hungarian governments have adhered to policy towards China. However, China may not be willing to help as evidenced by planned infrastructure projects falling through and promised loans never materializing. What are the reasons behind China’s reluctance to invest in Hungary?
Anita Komuves
Facts and propaganda: China goes to Visegrad
A Chinese dragon statue in Kazincbarcikai; photo: István Jávori (wikipedia, CC)
From internet brigades to troll factories
© Colin/Wikimedia CommonsThe Russian online propaganda offensive has been launched after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The aftermath of this operation still echoes around the world today.
VSQUARE
NOTES FROM THE REGION
Orban spent €67 million on Reviving Hungarian Weapons Manufacturing
Viktor Orban has been working on strengthening the military of Hungary for years, and he has also been trying to make the military more popular among citizens. Now he’s going to be successful.
Anita Komuves
Pro-russian tendencies pose a risk to Slovak armed forces
Slovak army even as a part of NATO have significant number of soldiers sympathizing with Russia. When would Slovakia face problem growing inside their defence force?
Peter Sabo
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Reporters Foundation (Fundacja Reporterów) was established in 2010 by a group of leading Polish reporters. For many years its main mission was to train and support journalists from Eastern Europe, especially from Ukraine – through workshops, conferences and journalism awards. Support to strengthen cooperation between reporters and the skills of investigative journalists in Central Europe is an important part of Foundation’s philosophy.
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The Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism (České centrum pro investigativní žurnalistiku) was founded in 2013 by Czech journalists to promote cross-border investigative projects, train journalists and address the need of local journalism to follow new media trends. Center was part of global investigative journalism projects such as Pulitzer Prize winning Panama Papers, Swissleaks or Global Laundromat.
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atlatszo.hu
“Atlatszo” means transparent in Hungarian. Established in 2011, atlatszo.hu produces investigative reports, files freedom of information requests and commences freedom of information lawsuits in cases where its requests are refused. Atlatszo is Hungary’s first investigative non-profit journalistic organisation financed by nonpartisan and non-governmental sources.
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Wojciech Cieśla
Polish journalist, since 2012 working with Newsweek Polska magazine. Co-founder of Fundacja Reporterów (Reporters Foundation), member of the investigate-europe.eu, working with OCCRP. Based in Warsaw.
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Paweł Reszka
Polish journalist, co- founder of Fundacja Reporterów (Reporters Foundation). Worked as a foreign correspondent covering Russia; former head of investigative desk at Dziennik daily. Based in Warsaw.
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Czech journalist, founder of the Czech Center for Investigative Journalism. Closely working with OCCRP. A co-recipient of the Global Shining Light Award. Based in Prague.
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Konrad Szczygieł
Polish journalist, reporter at Superwizjer TVN, since 2016 working with Fundacja Reporterów (Reporters Foundation), in 2016 shortlisted for Grand Press award. Based in Warsaw.
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Anita Komuves
Hungarian journalist, works with the investigative outlet Atlatszo. She won the Junior Prima Prize in 2012. Former Fulbright/Humphrey Fellow. Based in Budapest.
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Hungarian journalist at direkt36.hu. Covers foreign policy, national security, Russian influence. Former Hubert H. Humphrey/Fulbright fellow at Arizona State University.
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Polish journalist, since 2012 in Wprost weekly. Covers politics, coordinator at Fundacja Reporterów (Reporters Foundation). Shortlisted for Grand Press and Mediatory awards. Based in Warsaw.
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Polish journalist, since 2016 working for onet.pl. Former journalist at Rzeczpospolita daily and editor-in-chief of Polska Zbrojna, war correspondent in Afghanistan. Based in Warsaw.
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Peter Sabo
Peter Sabo is investigative reporter of Aktuality.sk. He is uncovering corruption using mostly data-driven approach. He was wroking in IT sector as analyst before joining Aktuality.
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Martin Turcek
Reporter of Aktuality.sk focused on corruption and data-based analytical journalism. Worked as an investigative data analyst for the TI Slovakia and Stop Corruption Foundation.
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Eva is a journalist working for investigace.cz based in Prague. Investigace.cz is NGO covering organized crime topics and the only Czech partner of OCCRP. She works on projects connected to Slovakia.
