This week on Talk Eastern Europe, we unpack major developments shaping the future of the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans.
Alexandra returns from Armenia after observing the country's consequential parliamentary elections and shares what international headlines got wrong about the vote. Was this really an "East versus West" contest? How much influence did Russia have? And why did many Armenians feel they were choosing between imperfect options?
We also examine Albania's largest protests in recent memory. What began as demonstrations against a controversial tourism project, linked to the Trump family and Jared Kushner, has evolved into a broader challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama, raising difficult questions about corruption, environmental protection, and Albania's EU aspirations.
Finally, we turn to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a dispute over the next High Representative highlights growing divisions between the United States and Europe over the region's future.
In the second half of the episode, we discuss our latest Deep Dive interview on Montenegro's troubled path toward EU membership and ask whether the country's 2028 accession ambitions remain realistic.
Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space.
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