In the spring of 2026, Latvian authorities uncovered a scheme that became a textbook example of the golden visa industry. An investigation conducted by Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit established that more than 20 companies, around 200 foreign investors, and over €10 million in investments existed only on paper. In reality,...
AfD uses broadcasting tax to destabilize democracy in Germany
To ensure the financial and political independence of media in Germany, there exists a mandatory contribution to support public broadcasting (Rundfunkbeitrag), whose roots stretch back to the 1920s. In its current form, it has existed since 2013 and requires every household or apartment to pay a fixed contribution of €18.36...
The green illusion: how the British waste recycling market became a factory for fake certificates
In February 2026, the UK Environment Agency (EA) announced a series of high-profile arrests in a packaging waste fraud case. Investigators suspect recycling market participants of manipulating Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN) — certificates confirming that packaging has been recycled. Yet the regulators themselves acknowledge that this is not an isolated...
How Italy’s visa liberalism undermines the security of all of Europe
Italy has become the leader among Schengen zone countries in the number of visas issued to Russian citizens. According to data from VFS Global — the world's largest visa operator, serving embassies of more than 20 countries — the Italian visa operator VMS, which operates in many Russian cities, issued...
Billions for EU Defence attract criminals and fraudsters
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of hybrid threats against Europe have forced Brussels and many European capitals to rethink their defence plans and doctrines. To build up and modernise the defence sector, the EU has launched a number of large-scale programmes: the Act in Support of Ammunition...
How Cyprus became an arena of hybrid confrontation with Russia
Until recently, Cyprus was perceived as a “safe haven” for Russian capital—a jurisdiction with light regulation, a favorable tax system, and strong ties to Russian business elites. However, by 2026 the situation has changed dramatically. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the tightening of European Union sanctions policy,...
The birth of a new German power: yow the war in Ukraine made Germany Europe’s military leader
February 2022 and the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine marked a new turning point for Germany — a fundamental reassessment of the country's position in the European security system, its military doctrine, and the restructuring of its economy. But does this represent mere adaptation to new threats, or is...
Slovakia’s “Eastern turn” and its consequences for Pan-European policy
The return to power of Prime Minister Robert Fico in October 2023 marked a turning point in Slovakia's foreign policy. A country long regarded as part of Central Europe's pro-European consensus began showing signs of a strategic shift toward an "eastern," pragmatically pro-Russian line. This process is unfolding against the...
Political turbulence in Romania and the Kremlin’s shadow hand
Romania has entered another phase of political crisis after the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest force in the ruling coalition, withdrew its support for liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and began demanding his resignation. The loss of a parliamentary majority immediately created conditions for protracted inter-party negotiations and the...
Armenia builds a shield against Russian information operations with France’s help
In the spring of 2026, Armenia reached a point where information security became a matter of national resilience. Against the backdrop of parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, and an ongoing geopolitical pivot away from Moscow toward Brussels and Paris, Yerevan officially turned to France for the first time,...