Drug trafficking as geopolitics: Afghan heroin and Russian Interests
Afghanistan continues to be the world leader in opium and heroin production and is “adapting” drug trafficking routes to new geopolitical conditions. One of these, the so-called “Northern Corridor” through Central Asia and Russia, is increasingly becoming the focus of European and international reports. This is not just a matter…
Exposed infrastructure for laundering Russian money from London to the Kremlin
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) conducted a large-scale operation called “Destabilisation”, which exposed money laundering schemes and transnational infrastructures linking street crime in the UK to global cryptocurrency networks working for Russian interests. How can organized crime become a link between sanctioned Russian elites and British street crime? At…
How Swarovski Optik continues to get into Russia despite sanctions
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many observers expected European companies, especially those with strong reputations, to immediately cease all cooperation with the aggressor. However, as it turns out, a significant number of European companies, including some with global reputations, have continued their business ties with Russia….
The Western Balkans: a focus of instability on the way to the European Union
For a long time, the states of the Western Balkans – Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are considered potential members of the European Union, provided that the criteria appropriate for accession are met. Especially since such Balkan states as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Croatia…
Russian diplomacy as a tool of hybrid influence on Poland
In the confrontation between Russia and the West, diplomacy is increasingly seen not simply as a mechanism for official dialogue, but as a form of hybrid instrument combining espionage, sabotage, and disinformation. Poland is one of the clearest examples of Russian diplomacy being used as a cover for actions that…