After the Revolution

It seems Vladimir Putin was right. Then again, as illustrated by Russia’s recent presidential election, he’s not averse to stacking the cards to prove his point.
Yesterday the parliament of Abkhazia, one of Georgia’s two breakaway republics, declared its independence to the international community.
The day before, Russia had announced it would lift trade restrictions to the province.
Wouldn’t you know it, […]

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Finally, I found an article that mentions what the governments of breakaway provinces in former Soviet republics think of Kosovan independence.
In this article from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are quoted as saying that they will make appeals for independence to the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
They […]

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All that waving of American flags, and the best George Bush can give Kosovo is an adjective.
Today Bush called Kosovo’s people “independent” but stopped short of officially recognizing Kosovo as an independent state.
This doesn’t mean that Bush refuses to recognize Kosovo officially, but it might have something to do with the European Union’s failure to take an official position on […]

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While in a Russian-language bookstore on Chicago’s famously international Devon Avenue on Sunday, I met two Ukrainian immigrants, Michael Arov and his mother, Anna Arova.
Michael took a moment to speak with me about his cultural background, Russia and Kosovan independence.
Here is the interview:
http://kathryngrim.com/audio/InterviewArov.mp3
Below is the transcript:

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For a tour of Kosovo during its declaration of independence – including some interesting anti-Serbian fashion statements, click here.

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Have you ever seen a country being born?
The Prime Minister of Kosovo declared Kosovo “independent, sovereign and free“ in a session of Parliament today.
To watch the BBC’s video of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci reading the declaration of independence from Serbia to the Parliament, click here.
But to watch the party outside, click here.
Mark Mardell described it in his blog:
“The streets of […]

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Russia is not alone in its aversion to the idea of Kosovan independence.
According to an article published today on the BBC’s Web site, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Greece and Spain have their complaints as well.
Many in those countries fear that recognition of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo will encourage separatist movements elsewhere.
Turks who control northern Cyprus, ethnic Hungarians looking for greater autonomy in Romania and Slovakia, and […]

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