Much has been said internationally of late about the far-right extremism and racism in Poland and Ukraine and the violence surrounding those limited numbers who hold such an ideology and allow it to manifest in physical assaults, affray and violent disorder. Of course such things cannot and should not be ignored, although they are, historically,… [Continue Reading]
New Customs Rules effective 1st June 2012
June 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Yes, yes, I know! Today is 4th June and I’m telling you about changes coming into force 4 days ago. Well six months ago I told you about the new law so I did tell you and you have simply forgotten in amongst the torrent of tedious ruminations you have had to sit and read… [Continue Reading]
Euro 2012 - Racial insults & Ukraine
May 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Elsewhere in cyberspace a heated debate amongst the Ukrainian Expat community and some English football fans is engaged, fueled by media coverage in the UK of Ukrainian and Polish supporters football violence and racist actions and chants. Now there is no denying that there is a racist element amongst certain fans and in particular those… [Continue Reading]
European Council (of Foreign Ministers) - Ukraine football boycott
May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
As many of you dear readers will know, the EU works on the principle of Dante’s many circles of hell, the workings of which I have outlined for you previously. Yesterday on 14th May, the European Council (which comprises of Ministers from the sovereign nations that make up the EU met under the chairmanship of… [Continue Reading]
Politics and sport - Ukraine UEFA 2012
May 2, 2012 By 1 Comment
Now as you know, generally I stay away from the “headlining MSM” media news about Ukraine. Occasionally I don’t use the news as a springboard at all, particularly when I feel like a meander through policy, effective, ineffective or counterproductive thereof, negotiations and diplomacy, positions, needs and interests, interests verses values and all that terribly… [Continue Reading]
Welcoming in 2012 - What to look forward to in Ukraine
January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Well, happy New Year to you all. Welcome to 2012 and I hope it will be a year that brings you all good health and happiness. What has 2012 got install for Ukraine in 2012? Well to quote Donald Rumsfeld, “We know there are known knowns: there are things we know we know. We also… [Continue Reading]
Fans Embassies - Euro 2012 Ukraine
December 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Now here is an interesting concept. It maybe not a new idea directly out of the box of new ideas, but it is certainly an interesting concept for Ukraine. “Embassies for fans” situated along side relevant national embassies - Blimey! Me thinks the UK Consulate building is more appropriate than a tent pitched in the… [Continue Reading]
Sticking with Euro 2012…….and nationalism
August 10, 2011 By
Following on rather neatly from yesterday’s post about police strategy for the Euro 2012 football tournament, whilst diligently passing a empirical eye over nationalism in Ukraine for those who pay (bless them), I came across a report on football and those to the far-right of the ideology spectrum. The report covers nationalism showing its face… [Continue Reading]
Euro 2012 - Policing and terrorism strategy
August 9, 2011 By
Well dear readers, amongst the myriad of websites I trawl through daily looking for things pertinent to Ukraine is Statewatch. Often there is very little to do with Ukraine, however a quick perusal has led me to the EU handbook “with recommendations for international police cooperation and measures to prevent and control violence and disturbances… [Continue Reading]
Looking to the parliamentary elections of 2012 - The enemy within
July 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Here is an rather interesting perspective from Vladmimir Granovski relating to the political situation for the next parliamentary election, despite there being 15 months to go. I am going to reproduce it in full and the italic comments are my own. There are skeptics and optimists in any team, and the ruling Party of… [Continue Reading]