News stories by Analysis by Pavol Stracansky

Belarus is set to remain Europe’s last dictatorship after Alexander Lukashenka was returned to the presidency last weekend in an election result which his critics say was never in doubt.

The plane crash which claimed the lives of 95 Polish officials and public figures, including President Lech Kaczynski, has dealt a blow to minority rights movements in the country, activists say.

Corruption, doubts over Afghan leadership, and faltering public support have emerged as the main stumbling blocks to a demand for more NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The 'poison' of populist politics in central and Eastern Europe is behind an escalating row between two new EU member states that could spill over into ethnic violence, political analysts warn.

A 'failure' by Eastern European leaders to lift political campaigns above domestic disputes and change apathy towards European institutions was behind low turnout and far right party gains in European Parliament elections this weekend, political analysts say.

In May 2004 eight East European states joined the EU, with their politicians and citizens harbouring high hopes of what accession would bring.

Human rights activists have warned of a 'proliferation' of far-right groups in central and eastern Europe amid an economic crisis fuelling support for extremist movements and political parties.