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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| From Soviet Union to New East: welcome to our new network | From Soviet Union to New East: welcome to our new network |
| (6 months later) | |
| On Christmas day 1991, the world watched as the USSR, one of the most powerful and feared empires of the 20th century, disintegrated. | On Christmas day 1991, the world watched as the USSR, one of the most powerful and feared empires of the 20th century, disintegrated. |
| As Mikhail Gorbachev stepped down as last leader of the Soviet Union, seven decades of totalitarian Communist rule came to an end. “We’re now living in a new world,” he said. | As Mikhail Gorbachev stepped down as last leader of the Soviet Union, seven decades of totalitarian Communist rule came to an end. “We’re now living in a new world,” he said. |
| Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had already declared independence. Now they could truly come into their own. | Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had already declared independence. Now they could truly come into their own. |
| The political, economic and social challenges (and opportunities) that faced these countries and their 290 million people were monumental. | The political, economic and social challenges (and opportunities) that faced these countries and their 290 million people were monumental. |
| Since then, some have embraced capitalism while others remain collectivised. Some enshrined free elections, others live under dictatorship. Some have grown wealthy, others are mired in poverty. Some live in peace, others are at war. | Since then, some have embraced capitalism while others remain collectivised. Some enshrined free elections, others live under dictatorship. Some have grown wealthy, others are mired in poverty. Some live in peace, others are at war. |
| What all of the post-Soviet states share is an element of their past, that – whether celebrated or lamented – still informs events that take place today. | What all of the post-Soviet states share is an element of their past, that – whether celebrated or lamented – still informs events that take place today. |
| In Ukraine, tensions between those wanting closer ties with Europe and those whose loyalties lay with Moscow erupted into violence recently, culminating in Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014. As the stand-off continues, the old east vs west debate has been reignited, and the fallout can be felt throughout the region. | In Ukraine, tensions between those wanting closer ties with Europe and those whose loyalties lay with Moscow erupted into violence recently, culminating in Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014. As the stand-off continues, the old east vs west debate has been reignited, and the fallout can be felt throughout the region. |
| At this crucial time in its evolution the Guardian has teamed up with a wide range of regional experts to establish the New East, a network dedicated to covering the latest news and analysis from the post-Soviet world. | At this crucial time in its evolution the Guardian has teamed up with a wide range of regional experts to establish the New East, a network dedicated to covering the latest news and analysis from the post-Soviet world. |
| Meet our partners | Meet our partners |
| Our partners offer unique reporting, analysis and insights about the region that we call the New East, opening up coverage on the often under-reported issues facing these nations. | Our partners offer unique reporting, analysis and insights about the region that we call the New East, opening up coverage on the often under-reported issues facing these nations. |
| We are collaborating with Eurasianet, whose specialist reporters offer news and analysis from Russia, central Asia, the Caucasus and more; the Carnegie Moscow Center, which publishes expert research and non-partisan analysis on Russia and the region; Window on Eurasia, a blog from American analyst and former policy adviser Paul Goble; Caucasian Knot, focussing on news and analysis from the Caucasus and Transitions Online, a non-profit organisation established to strengthen independent news media in the post-communist countries of Europe and the former Soviet Union. | |
| Then there are country specialists. MediaZona, an alternative Russian media agency, founded by Pussy Riot, covering the penal system and prisoners rights. The Interpreter, supported by the Institute of Modern Russia, translates Russian news and analysis into English as well as offering its own take on current affairs. The Calvert Journal shines a light on Russia’s creative side, Russia! magazine takes a novel approach to people and trends, and the Baltic News Network features the latest on Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. | |
| Charter 97 is a pro-opposition news website focussing on Belarus, where the press is heavily censored. Its editor-in-chief, Natalya Radina, was threatened with imprisonment by the country’s KGB security services, and fled to Lithuania, where she continues to publish. Belarusian Association of Journalists is also among our partners, as is Belarus Digest, which offers non-partisan analysis written by Belarusians, and Belarus in Focus, a non-profit which works with Belarusian journalists and promotes democratic values. | Charter 97 is a pro-opposition news website focussing on Belarus, where the press is heavily censored. Its editor-in-chief, Natalya Radina, was threatened with imprisonment by the country’s KGB security services, and fled to Lithuania, where she continues to publish. Belarusian Association of Journalists is also among our partners, as is Belarus Digest, which offers non-partisan analysis written by Belarusians, and Belarus in Focus, a non-profit which works with Belarusian journalists and promotes democratic values. |
| We’ll also feature articles from the Guardian’s own correspondents, commission exclusive pieces from regional experts and translate articles from Russian media into English – as well as translating some of our work into Russian. We’ll also provide plenty of opportunities for readers to get involved to help us expand coverage of the remarkable and diverse range of countries that make up the post-Soviet world. | We’ll also feature articles from the Guardian’s own correspondents, commission exclusive pieces from regional experts and translate articles from Russian media into English – as well as translating some of our work into Russian. We’ll also provide plenty of opportunities for readers to get involved to help us expand coverage of the remarkable and diverse range of countries that make up the post-Soviet world. |
| Get involved | Get involved |
| Follow us on Twitter @GuardianNewEast for the latest news, comment and debate from the region. Catch up with our partners through this Twitter list and see our suggestions on who to follow for breaking news from the region. | Follow us on Twitter @GuardianNewEast for the latest news, comment and debate from the region. Catch up with our partners through this Twitter list and see our suggestions on who to follow for breaking news from the region. |
| On GuardianWitness – our user generated photo and video platform – we are looking for stories from the children of the revolution . Were you born in or around 1991? Or do you remember the fall of the Soviet union? Tell us what happened and how your country has changed in the past 23 years. | On GuardianWitness – our user generated photo and video platform – we are looking for stories from the children of the revolution . Were you born in or around 1991? Or do you remember the fall of the Soviet union? Tell us what happened and how your country has changed in the past 23 years. |
| Also on GuardianWitness, we’re asking readers to share photos of their Soviet-inspired memorabilia. Objects influenced by art and design from the region, or crucial press cuttings or photos you kept from the time. | |
| And if you have suggestions of an issue you’d like us to cover or an expert you’d like to hear from please get in touch with maeve.shearlaw@theguardian.com | And if you have suggestions of an issue you’d like us to cover or an expert you’d like to hear from please get in touch with maeve.shearlaw@theguardian.com |
| The map above was amended on 12 June 2014 | The map above was amended on 12 June 2014 |