Russia’s Secret Corners


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Russia’s Secret Corners

Passions are running high in Ukraine and the breakaway states of the Caucasus. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine took the West by surprise. But John thinks in some ways it followed a pattern that goes back to the time of Catherine the Great. Since the Soviet Union’s break-up, Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have become Russia’s ‘forgotten’ satellite states – unrecognised and unheard of by most outsiders. Now Donetsk and Luhansk have joined the list, and Russia has full control of Crimea.

Between May and October 2015 John met people on both sides of these disputed borders, and promises some surprising insights.

“The way you combined some serious geopolitics with cultural commentary was wonderful.”
(Royal Geographical Society, with the Institute of British Geographers)

Follow John’s journey as it happened through his monthly updates:

31st May 201525th June 201522nd July 201520th August 201514th September 20158th October 2015

First updateLast update

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View details of talk  Russia and Europe: What Next?   (Right-click to download)


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