The online anonymous instant messaging app Telegram is now the main playing field for extremists, conspiracy theorists and information warfare. German language channels play an important role as an extreme opinion hub influencing the rest of Central and Eastern Europe. These are some of the findings of investigative journalists from 13 European countries mapping how radicalization is growing across Europe.
The last few hundred years of Russian history have been characterized by well-documented cycles: consolidation, expansion, collapse. Strengthening, expansion, collapse. The 1990s were a period of collapse, the 2000s of consolidation. Now is a time of expansion – writes Anton Bendarjevskiy.
Russia’s weaponization of its energy supplies in the lead-up to its invasion of Ukraine have resulted in inflated gas prices, increased heating costs, and a general cost of living spike for many Europeans. These effects have been felt tremendously across the border from Ukraine, in Eastern Slovakia – especially hard by the region’s Roma population.
