Media

In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya looks back at the Beslan siege, and compares two contrasting Russian views of the event – the public view and that of the Russian authorities....

In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya writes that Russia has specific motivations for providing Iraq with military resources, including geopolitical and gas-related interests....

Anna Borshchevskaya reviews Russian scholar Karen Dawisha’s new book, Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who owns Russia?...

In an article published on La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo exposes how Qatar is investing in Sicily. She explains that the Qatari government has been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood by financing projects such as the construction of mosques and Islamic centres, as is happening in Sicily. Those in the West who accept investments from Qatar should remember the emirate's ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, Valentina w...

In a bid to take a clear stance against the actions of the militant Islamist group IS, the Coordinating Council of Muslims in Germany (KRM) has announced plans for peace rallies in seven German cities on 19th September. However, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour states that prominent Islamic groups must do more than distance themselves from the violence. He states these groups must be willing to call into question some of the content which is...

In Germany's prominent Spiegel magazine, Ahmad Mansour calls for Muslims to make urgent reforms to Islam. He states that aspects of moderate Islam bear too much resemblance to the content which we are seeing utilised by radical groups such as ISIS....

In her article, Anna Borshchevskaya argues that, thanks to the distorted public support to Putin's intervention in Ukraine, this crisis may prolong his stay in power. Yet, she believes that in the end he will crash, just like the soviet Union before him. Nonetheless, she advocates for tougher actions from western leaders against him without delay, “because the longer they wait, the more damage Putin will do”....

In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses the declining state of Russia's economy -- a situation which is not set to change in the near future....

Anna Borshchevskaya addresses the issue of the Russia-EU relationship which continues to deteriorate. She raises the question of whether the EU will remain united in the face of Russia, as both sides are sanctioning each other due to the Ukraine crisis, and some member states are beginning to feel the effects of these sanctions....