Author: Marina Mattili

State-owned Corvinus International Investment acquired an indirect minority stake in operator Yettel Hungary, with the country’s government vowing to push development of the communications sector more forcefully and efficiently with its increased influence. In a statement published on the Hungarian government website, it claimed the increase in its role in the country’s telecommunications sector would provide benefits for customers, aid economic performance and up international competitiveness. The acquisition takes the form of a so-called share exchange with Antenna Hungaria, a subsidiary of 4iG Group, which bought Vodafone Group’s operations in Hungary earlier this year together with Corvinus. Under this latest agreement, Corvinus…

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held an online meeting with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson. The politicians discussed the situation at the front and European integration, Report informs referring to RBC-Ukraine. The leaders discussed the situation on the front line and the risks of its escalation, as well as the key needs of Ukraine to strengthen the army. Zelenskyy also discussed with Kristersson Ukraine’s accession to the EU and Sweden’s priorities during the presidency of the EU Council. “We expect that under your chairmanship we will be able to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. This is a…

Brussels, Berlin (21/3 – 42.86) Tajikistan, a small fragile country in Central Asia, has been facing a multitude of issues in recent years. With a population of just over 9 million, the country has been plagued by corruption, crimes against humanity, violation of human rights, and impoverishment of the people. The neighboring Taliban regime in Kabul is threatening Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan over water resources with constructing a 258-kilometer Kosh Tepa canal. The hydraulic dam structure will deplete the central Asian states water resources. War preparations are continuously reported in local central Asian news outlet after defense ministers from the region…

Blackouts in Europe could happen before April if the weather is cold enough, but next winter is the bigger challenge, Report informs via The Financial Times. In 2022, Russian gas flows were largely intact until June; in 2023 they will be close to zero, FT says. “Liquefied natural gas will struggle to cover the shortfall. Offsetting the risk is Europe’s backwards shift from gas to coal. France’s nuclear plants should have fewer maintenance issues. But the energy system has been straining for 18 months. The risk of something breaking is increasing,” FT experts say.

Frankfurt, Brussels (11/3 – 120 Tajikistan’s reliance on a limited range of export products, including aluminium and cotton, makes its economy vulnerable to external shocks, such as changes in global demand or prices. Diversifying the export base by promoting new industries and products could help to reduce this vulnerability and create new opportunities for growth. The problem is the kleptocratic approach of a Stalin like economic regime of the Rahmonov clan. Improving trade relationships with existing partners, such as China, Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, and exploring new markets could also help to expand the country’s export base. However, to…

These threats were made by Alisher Mirzanabatov (лишер Мирзонаботов), the former deputy head of the dreaded Tajik secret police, the GKNB, which is modelled after the Soviet KGB. Currently, Mirzanabatov is the governor of the restive Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous province (GBAO), home of one of Tajikistan’s oldest indigenous citizens, the Pamiris. Mirzanabatov made no empty threats. He installed a regime of terror on the Pamir residents and created an unprecedented assault on the Pamiri society, culture and economy. For his efforts he received what civil society actors call, the “order of the blood banner” for his efforts to kill and exterminate many of the…

Mukhtar Ablyazov, a notorious Kazakhstan fraudster, was convicted of organizing the 2004 murder of Erzhan Tatishev, He was involved in investigations in four jurisdictions, namely Russia, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, and the United States and was found guilty by courts of his peers. His political asylum claims were dismissed by the French court and so Ablyazov and his gang are now facing judgement. At the end of day, Mukhtar Ablyazov is merely a power-hungry criminal. Not more, not less. His case showed that the legal system does work, it puts the bad guys behind bars. Ablyazov was found guilty of embezzlement…

After a year since it invaded Ukraine, now Russia is in the brink of massive loss. On February 7, 2023, Kyiv claimed that Russian forces have suffered their deadliest day so far. Ukrainian military increased running tally of Russian military deaths from 1,030 overnight to 133,190. On the other side of the war, Russia claimed they had inflicted 6,500 Ukrainian casualties in January. Although this figure cannot be independently verified, it gives widespread skepticism of significant Russian success. The fatalities proved that NATO and the western countries’ assistance to Ukraine worked. Not only were they sending heavy weaponry and ammunition in…

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has arrived in Minsk, BelTA has learned. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry is scheduled to hold talks between Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik and his Hungarian counterpart.  The signing of bilateral documents will also take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country. In addition, the program of the visit includes talks with Economy Minister Alexander Chervyakov. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and Hungary were established on February 12, 1992. The Embassy of Belarus in Hungary was opened in January 2000, the Hungarian Embassy in Minsk – in December 2007.-0- Source : Belta

London, Paris, Brussels (17January 2023 – 29). Kazakh banker, Mukhtar Ablyazov and his frauds were exposed in the British magazine, The Spectator published article titled – How oligarchs use Brussels to launder their reputations. The article also links Ablyazov to the scandal with the European Parliament, in which the vice-president of the organization, Eva Kaili, and five other people were detained in Brussels on suspicion of corruption. Journalist Mark Hollingsworth emphasizes that the scandal is a devastating blow to the credibility of the EU and pointed out how the oligarchs are using Europe to launder their reputation and divert attention from accusations of…