Category Archives: Russia

The Political Aesthetics of Euromaidan

Posted on February 1, 2014 by olivercraner

Of all the post-Soviet politicians in Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko exploited symbols better than any other. She still does, of course, but her tools are more brutal and necessarily restricted now: the hunger strike, the communiqué and the street banner. During the national … Continue reading →

Posted in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine | Leave a comment

The Haunting of Yulia

Posted on December 11, 2013 by olivercraner

A spectre is haunting Ukraine – the spectre of Yulia Tymoshenko. Her presence has been largely erased from the anti-government protests that have convulsed Kiev since the 21st November, the day President Viktor Yanukovych formally (finally?) abandoned Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Carnival of Death

Posted on August 8, 2013 by olivercraner

There are two kinds of wars in the desert: war of religion and political war. In political war, we make compromises, but in wars of religion, we exterminate everybody. Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah al-Saud [1] It’s been a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Bahrain, Egypt, France, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Terror Network, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA | Leave a comment

5 Days of War (Renny Harlin, 2011)

Posted on May 17, 2013 by olivercraner

Ever since the glory days of Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2, Renny Harlin has been a reliable Hollywood hack: an artiste of the brash, the brutal, and the High Concept. Like Tony Scott but without the subtleties, or a budget Bruckheimer brat, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Georgia, Russia | Leave a comment

Requiem for a Regime

Posted on January 25, 2013 by olivercraner

Remember when Syria was just a rogue state? Those were the days. Things were simpler then. Now, in January 2013, Syria is no longer capable of acting rogue outside of its own borders and barely remains sovereign. Bashar al-Assad has … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Terror Network, UAE | Leave a comment

2012: Progress Report

Posted on December 31, 2012 by olivercraner

We have raised a lot of money, we’ve made a lot of money, we’ve hired a lot of good people – but for me most importantly – we have spent our time well – and time is the ONLY thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, France, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Terror Network, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan | Leave a comment

Lukashenka Lives!

Posted on September 20, 2012 by olivercraner

Belarus Free Theatre, Minsk, 2011 – a Reply to Kathy Acker If you had told me in the spring of 2006 – after Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s latest election fix, in the face of vigorous street protest and EU and U.S. obloquy – … Continue reading →

Posted in Belarus, Russia | Leave a comment

Caspian Kitsch

Posted on May 23, 2012 by olivercraner

The European song contest is a big and beautiful holiday for some people but for others an occasion to organise political provocation. One must be prepared. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan. The Aliyeva Complex So, they built the Baku Crystal … Continue reading →

Posted in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, UK | Leave a comment

The Passion of Yulia Tymoshenko

Posted on September 22, 2011 by olivercraner

Judges, in general, are fuckers. Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine 1994 – January 2005. The trial of Yulia Tymoshenko reached a plateau with her arrest for contempt of court in early August. This had been a long time coming, although it … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia, Ukraine | 1 Comment

GooGoosha’s Golden Globe, Part II

Posted on September 1, 2011 by olivercraner

GONGO Queens & Gangster Capitalists  The pace of events accelerated in 2005. It was the year of the Cedar and the Tulip, a time tinged Orange and Rose. A wave of defiance swept from Ukraine and the Levant into Central Asia … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia, USA, Uzbekistan | Leave a comment