Organising in the Political Interim
This week's selection of news from the region.
Issue #4 of East European Context (EEC), a newsletter of the Eastern European Left Media Outlet (ELMO).
Many of us experience every day the systemic lack of news regarding the social realities of Eastern Europe, the absence of context in the information provided by mainstream media, and the internal fragmentation of news sourcing due to the prevalence and effects of social media. EEC aims to fill this void with a weekly newsletter, with the help of journalists and activists from the region. We welcome contributions.
In this issue, EEC brings news about the struggle of Montenegrin eco-activists, upcoming political events and the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, Jeremy Corbyn’s statements at the United Against Fascism conference in Hungary, while also commemorating the death of anarchist fighter Dmitry Petrov near Bakhmut.
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Leading Stories
“We Have a Year and a Half to Change the Minds of the Decision-Makers, and We Won't Give Up,” Say Montenegrin Activists Determined to Protect One of Europe’s Most Fascinating Canyons
masina.rs
Activists from seventeen countries gathered in a remote village in Montenegro on May Day this year. They were taking part in an event called the "Think Clearly!" educational protest camp, hosted by the Save Komarnica citizens' initiative. The organisers' aim: to spread the word about the beauty of the country's last wild canyon and the threat of its ecosystem being destroyed. Activists must find a way to protect the Komarnica River from being sacrificed to an outdated hydroelectric project agreed between Montenegro and Serbia.
For thirty million years, the Komarnica River has patiently carved its karst bed between the Durmitor and Vojnik mountains. The rugged terrain is breathtaking, monumentally epic. Think Helm's Deep - without the fortress. Komarica is recognised as a National Nature Monument and Nature Park, and has been nominated for inclusion in the Emerald and NATURA 2000 networks. Its most impressive part is the Nevidio (The Unseen) gorge, which resembles a tectonic crack and is one of the two last explored canyons in Europe: hence the name. Scientists explain that Nevidio has sheltered life during several ice ages. Thanks to its peculiar morphology and its numerous caves, Nevidio has acted as a place of regeneration of life, and today harbors an astonishing quarter of the natural habitats found on our continent. Several years ago, UNESCO and IUCN proposed that it be included in the Durmitor National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the action didn't move forward.
Montenegrin authorities are eager to build a 70 meter-high dam on Komarnica and turn 17km of its bed into a reservoir for a hydroelectric power plant (HPP). The idea is by far preceding the ongoing energy crisis: in fact, it was more than ten years ago that the authorities first decided to pull from an old shelf a project for the dam dated in 1972, and the accompanying agreement between the Electropower Company of Montenegro (EPCG) and the Electropower Company of Serbia (EPS) from 1992.
The project is now a part of the National Energy Development Strategy and belongs to the list of national capital investments. Strong steps towards its materialization were taken by the leaving government of Milo Đukanović’s DPS in the summer of 2020; since the fall of DPS’s three decades long rule, the next two governments followed in DPS’s footsteps when it comes to Komarnica, disappointing a part of their own electorate.
The Montenegrin authorities want to build a 70-meter high dam on the Komarnica River and turn 17 kilometers of its bed into a reservoir for a hydroelectric power plant (HPP). The idea long predates the current energy crisis: in fact, it was more than a decade ago that the authorities first decided to dredge up a 1972 project for the dam and the accompanying 1992 agreement between the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) and the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS). The project is now part of the National Energy Development Strategy and is included in the list of national investments. Strong steps towards its realization were taken by the outgoing government of Milo Đukanović's DPS in the summer of 2020; since the fall of DPS's three-decade rule, the next two governments followed in DPS's footsteps when it came to Komarnica, disappointing a part of their own electorate.
The arguments put forward by the current authorities invoke the global energy crisis, but also the fact that Montenegro needs to find a replacement for the thermal power plant in the town of Pljevlja, which accounts for 45% of the country's electricity production, and soon. The Pljevlja TPP is a terrible polluter. "You can't oppose both the small hydroelectric plants and the big ones, something has to give", the authorities tell the activists. The activists reply that the state is looking for the wrong solutions by relying on hydropower anyway. They warn that both droughts and floods in the region will only become more severe, making hydroelectric power, which already accounts for 80% of Montenegro's renewable electricity, less reliable. Independent experts insist that Montenegro should look to solar and wind energy for solutions, pointing to the success of two recently built wind farms (Krnovo and Možura). The sunny, hilly Mediterranean country has plenty of resources for such a strategy: it could build twice as powerful a wind farm instead of the Komarnica HPP, and for half the money. And, last but not least, with its 155 MW, Komarnica HPP would (at best) produce only 3.5% of Montenegro's annual electricity needs: a poor replacement for Pljevlja, too much of an environmental sacrifice for a small gain in electricity.
The HPP would end the ancient continuity of life in the area, much of which has not even been explored, and dangerously alter the climate of the surrounding area, including Durmitor Mountain. Environmentalists warn of the seriousness of such a loss in the context of the accelerating global loss of biodiversity. Economic experts who oppose the project claim that its financial cost is increasing by the day (from 300 million euros announced for 2021 to 600 so far) and that its realization would push the state deeper into debt. They also insist that the return on investment would be much slower than for similarly sized investments in solar or wind power, not forgetting to mention that the changes in the microclimate would mean less snow, which would be detrimental to winter tourism in the neighboring tourism-dependent municipalities of Žabljak and Šavnik.
A disturbing fact must be added: the majority of the local population in the municipality of Šavnik, whose authorities were able to remove the Komarnica HPP from the municipality's spatial plan, are in a poor socio-economic position, and have proved to be duped by false promises of jobs and prosperity that the HPP would bring, and uninformed about the particular losses that they too could face. Activists and part of the opposition have been campaigning against HPP Komarnica since 2020, when the Save Komarnica citizens' initiative was formed. The project is currently stalled, thanks in part to the actions of the Bern Convention Committee, which responded to an appeal submitted in 2022. As the organizers of Camp Komarnica say: "We have a year and a half to change the minds of the decision-makers, and we won't give up.”
Protest Against Bureaucratic Barriers for Ukrainian Refugees in Moldova
Platzforma
On May 10, the Commission for Exceptional Situations of Moldova suspended most of the provisions that governed the stay of Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. The formal reason invoked was the low number of Ukrainian refugees who had applied for Temporary Protection (TP) - a mechanism put in place by the government starting from March 1, 2023. TP was instituted only one year after the beginning of the war, and so far, the number of people who have applied for it remains very low (3000 refugees out of a population of around 100,000).
Many difficulties were quoted by people when applying for TP, with the biggest barrier being the proof of residence. Most refugees are staying on their own, hosted by relatives and friends, occupying empty houses in villages and towns, or being hosted by Moldovans who themselves are currently not in the country.
Consequently, providing proof of residence proved to be a significant burden. The authorities refused to simplify the process of applying for TP and have now issued an order that forces Ukrainian refugees to face a tough choice: either apply for TP or remain in the country illegally, with the prospect of being deported back to Ukraine.
A number of organisations have issued a declaration of protest, asking the government to temporarily suspend Decision No. 68 from May 10, 2023. According to this declaration, starting from May 15, 2023, several derogations concerning the right of residence, the right of stay, and the right to work of refugees from Ukraine who have not applied for temporary protection will be abrogated:
The right to stay in the Republic of Moldova during the state of emergency and until 90 days after the expiry of the state of emergency.
The right to work without obtaining a temporary residence permit and without having to pay the average wage.
The right to obtain a temporary residence permit without presenting a criminal record certificate and without paying the official state tax.
The right of temporary residence for work purposes without a long-stay visa for foreigners who are family members of Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons recognized by the Ukrainian authorities.
The right of temporary residence for study purposes without the presentation of the document confirming means of subsistence.
The CES Decision neglects this objective reality and violates the principles of proportionality, fairness, and legal certainty.
Therefore, the organisations are demanding:
The suspension of action on the provisions of paragraph 5 of Decision No. 68 of the Emergency Commission.
The initiation of a broad and comprehensive public consultation process, with the participation of state authorities, international humanitarian organisations, local organisations, and initiatives engaged in activities on refugees from Ukraine and internally displaced persons, in order to identify the difficulties faced by refugees in the process of applying for Temporary Protection and other forms of asylum, as well as to develop a process to remove these barriers.
The full text of the Declaration can be read here.
Corbyn in Budapest: We Have to be Organised on an International Basis
Mérce
"I am very critical of Orbán for his policies towards independent media, his policies towards education, and his policies towards refugees and others," said Jeremy Corbyn to Mérce. The former UK Labour leader participated in the “United Against Fascism” conference organised by the European Forum of Left, Green and Progressive forces on 7 May in Budapest.
Corbyn had this to state about the Russian-Ukrainian war:
"Russia is wrong to invade Ukraine. There is no question about that, it's wrong. The war is getting worse and worse, with tens of thousands dead on both sides. Probably more Ukrainians than Russians, but the issue is how many more are going to die? My support is for Lula, the Pope, the Chinese president, and the general secretary of the UN, who are trying to get a peace process going, because there has to be a ceasefire followed by serious negotiations about what the relationship is going to be like between Russia and Ukraine. If the war continues, it's going to get worse, and nuclear weapons are available for both sides. And to me, this prospect is terrifying; therefore, there has to be a peace process."
On how to show solidarity with those suffering from the war, he added:
"I absolutely welcome them [Ukrainian refugees], work with them, and they've been very well treated and welcomed by the local community. Also, it's about supporting the Russian peace campaigners who've been imprisoned by the Putin government because they've spoken up against the war. And questioning the pressures for this war from the arms manufacturers, both in Europe and the United States, but also the arms manufacturers in Russia and China, and those that are supplying them as well."
He also said that in the current crisis, demands need to be formulated for decent living standards and wages, and that different struggles need to be connected.
"What we have is global capital organised on energy supplies, global capital organised on food production and distribution, global capital organised on services, and global capital organised on how we communicate with each other through phones, for example. So why aren't we organised on an international basis? Why aren't we equally globally organised?"
He added:
"It's about education, about inspiring people. As I said earlier today in my speech at the conference organised by left and progressive forces in Budapest, let’s bring those workers into the trade unions who are so grievously exploited by global capital through Ubereats, Deliveroo, and other courier services, for example. The strength of working-class organisations will challenge global capital. That has to be the basis of how we go forward."
The former Labour leader believes that there are some signs of progress in this direction, such as the election of Lula and Petro in Brazil and Colombia.
"I listened to both of them after they got elected. I was present for both the elections. They said that the first thing is to eliminate poverty in their own society, then to develop an environmentally sustainable society and an economy that's based on need, not greed. These are simple concepts that we have to put forward because free-market capitalism, any kind of capitalism, is based on making somebody richer at the expense of somebody else," Corbyn told Mérce.
English transcription of the interview can be read here.
Moldova Prepares to be the Capital of Europe… for a Day
Platzforma
On June 1, Moldova will host the European Political Community (EPC) summit. More than 50 heads of state and government of European countries are expected to attend the event which will be held in a private winery outside Chișinău.
The Moldovan leadership has invested a lot of hopes in the event. The EPC summit in Chișinău "provides an unparalleled forum, giving small and large countries, both inside and outside the EU, an equal voice in discussions," said Maia Sandu, president of the country. She added that, for a day, on June 1, the Republic of Moldova will become ”the center of Europe”.
The entire state apparatus is currently working to ensure the success of the event. The government has launched a website, and has started work at repairing the roads connecting the capital to the winery. The city of Chișinău and all the places on the way to Bulboaca winery are subjected to unprecedented security measures.
According to the police, the inhabitants of villages are required to stay at home on the day of the summit. The people who have emergencies will have to get approval from the police to move around the village.
On May 14th, the police conducted a repetition of the summit with policemen blocking all the major roads and imposing extra security measures. The repetition paralyzed the capital for half of a day.
Accompanying the summit, a large meeting is being organized in the central square of Chișinău, Piața Marii Adunări Naționale, under the banner of “The European Moldova National Assembly”. In Moldova, National Assemblies are associated with the 1990s and the pro-independence movement in the late soviet era. The meeting was announced in early April by the president Maia Sandu and characterized as an ”apolitical” event, even though it is organized by the government. Starting from April the president has met with various groups, asking them to take part in the event: journalists, artists, civil society organizations, and business associations. Most of the organizations that are loyal to the president and her party, Action and Solidarity Party, have declared their intention to participate at the event.
Several other organizations and initiatives have declared their intention to organize separate events in the same place. According to the law, in such cases all the parties involved are invited to negotiate and to reach a compromise.
However, the government has chosen to use another instrument: the Commission of Exceptional Situations issued a statement that in such cases the national authorities have priorities over all the other actors. This decision limits other groups from using their right of free speech and free assembly, and has raised criticism from observers who pointed out that the government has acted in an authoritarian way and that it has no rights to ”privatize” the central square only for itself.
Anarchist Fallen in Bakhmut
CrimethInc.
On April 19, 2023 the anarchist Dmitry Petrov was killed near Bakhmut, Ukraine.
Dmitry was an active participant in anarchist actions and initiatives in Russia from the 2000’s. He was involved in organizing the protection of the Khimki forest and he participated in the street actions after the Bolotnaya demonstrations broke out. Later Dmitry traveled to Rojava to learn first-hand from the experience of Kurdish comrades. Several years ago, he left Russia because of the threat of criminal prosecution and moved to Kiev. He continued his activities there, while even illegally crossing the border to Belarus to help comrades in their struggle against an increasingly oppressive regime. When Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Dmitry gathered together with other Russian, Belorussian and Ukrainian anarchists, forming an anarchist military unit. Initially he fought in the Territorial Defence Forces, however after facing bureaucratic difficulties from the Ukrainian state he was forced to join the military in order to be able to go to the front. However, he has never parted with the idea of forming an explicitly anarchist military unit.
Below is a letter from Dmitry that he wrote when he left for the front:
“My name is Dmitry Petrov, and if you read these lines, then most likely I died fighting against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
I am a member of the Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists (BOAK), and I will still remain this after my death. The BOAK is our brainchild, born from our faith in an organized struggle. We managed to carry it on different sides of state borders.
I tried my best to contribute to the victory over dictatorship and to bring the social revolution closer. And I am proud of my comrades who have fought and are fighting in Russia and beyond.
As an anarchist, revolutionary and Russian, I found it necessary to take part in the armed resistance of the Ukrainian people against Putin's occupiers. I did this for justice, for the defense of the Ukrainian society and for the liberation of my country, Russia, from oppression. For the sake of all the people who are deprived of their dignity and the opportunity to breathe freely from the vile totalitarian system created in Russia and Belarus.
Another important reason to participate in this war is to affirm internationalism by example. The deadly imperialism has awakened, as a response, a wave of nationalism and contempt for Russians. Against it, I sustain by word and deed that there are no "bad peoples". All peoples suffer from the same pain: greedy and power-hungry rulers.
It was not just my individual decision and step. It was a continuation of our collective strategy aimed at creating sustainable structures and guerrilla combat confrontation with the tyrannical regimes of our region.
My dear friends, comrades and relatives, I apologize to all those that I hurt with my leaving. I appreciate your warmth very much. However, I firmly believe that the struggle for justice, against oppression and injustice is one of the most worthy meanings that humans can fill their life with. And this struggle requires sacrifices, up to the complete self-sacrifice.
The best way to keep my memory is to continue actively the struggle, overcoming personal ambitions and any unnecessary and harmful strife. To continue to fight actively to achieve a free society based on equality and solidarity. For you and for me and for all our comrades. Risk, deprivation and sacrifice on this path are our constant companions. But be sure – they are not in vain.
I hug you all.
Your Ilya Leshy, "Seva", "Lev", Fil Kuznetsov,
Dmitry Petrov”