By Benoit Lannoo* Yerevan (Armenia) – 14 August 2025 (IDN) – Today at 5:30 PM local time, an Armenian anti-corruption Court in Yerevan will decide on a petition of the General Prosecutor of the country to prolong the detention of Mr. Samvel Karapetyan. Last Monday, the Armenian Court of Criminal Appeals already decided that Mr. […]
Russia, the New Frontier for African Tourism
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 29 July 2025 (IDN) — The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to implement a ‘visa-free regime’ with all African countries, but its policy towards Africa has been marred by excessive symbolism. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the ‘visa-free regime’ for Africa aimed to strengthen cultural relations […]
The West’s Hypocrisy in Ukraine
Will major Western countries tell Ukraine that if the war is to stop, all it must do is to declare that it will not seek NATO membership? By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 22 July 2025 (IDN) — When it comes to Ukraine, the US and the EU are adopting a holier-than-thou attitude which, unfortunately, […]
Russia’s Real Power Is Not Weapons, It’s Culture
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 16 July 2025 (IDN) — Observers say that what drives President Vladimir Putin is to make Russia respected. However, perhaps Putin overestimates the extent of Russia’s existing power. He has overlooked which trumpets to blow — it is not his “hang tough” militaristic policies in international affairs, especially vis-à-vis […]
Russia-Africa Youth Engagement: Fostering Significant Diplomatic Collaboration
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 20 June 2025 (IDN) — Russia and Africa seek multipolarity and economic sovereignty through technology transfer, vocational training, and cultural exchange. The Russia-Africa Youth Committee at the Diplomatic Academy supports academic diplomacy, youth diplomacy, and strategic networking by connecting students with practitioners to develop policies and solutions. The first […]
Russia’s Economic Influence in Africa Lags Behind Its Geopolitical Rhetoric
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 10 June 2025 (IDN) — With its Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan (2023-2026), approved as a working document by the Kremlin, Russia faces a long and winding road, especially in implementing several bilateral agreements signed with African countries. While manoeuvring around challenges and obstacles within Africa, Russia has still […]
Russia Seeks to Rebuild Relations with Africa After Years of Disengagement
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 26 May 2025 (IDN) — Tatiana Dovgalenko, Director of the African Partnership Department at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, praised policy achievements and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to supporting Africa’s economic transformation in her mid-May interview report for Africa Day on 25 May. She also emphasized Russia’s dedication to increasing investment guarantees […]
Low Birth Rates and Rising Deaths: What Else Could Reverse Russia’s Declining Population
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 12 May 2025 (IDN) — How vital is Thomas Malthus’ population theory today? Malthus, an English cleric and scholar, published this theory in his 1798 writings, An Essay on the Principle of Population. He believed that exponential population growth could lead to unprecedented pressure on the land and create […]
Burkina Faso Forging Stronger Partnership with Russia
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW, 11 May 2025 (IDN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Burkina Faso counterpart, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, have agreed to step up efforts to combat growing extremism and terrorism, which is widespread across the Sahel region, an elongated landlocked territory located between North Africa (Maghreb) and West Africa. The cooperation […]
Russia’s Victory Day A Profound Symbol of National Resilience
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK | 7 May 2025 (IDN) — Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and holds its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9. Praising Russia as a nation of winners, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that “the victory was a profound […]