Epstein Secrets

ndividual Rights 'Denotes indicators scored on a 12-point scale. All others are scored on a 16-point scale. illiberal governments in countries like Hungary for their rejection of international democratic standards in favor of perceived national inter- ests. Even when there is no direct collaboration,

lution as the latest form of American interventionism, and began a process of restricting Russian NGOs that was to reach a climax a decade later. Yanukovych eventually won the presidency in a 2010 comeback. but a second protest-driven revolution www.freedomhouse.org 23 EFTA00804747 BREAKING DOWN DEM

religious harmony, boast of government policies to ensure fair treatment for Russia's large Muslim population, and denounce those who brought down Yanukovych's government in Ukraine as fascists and pogromists. Yet when it comes to potential allies in Europe, it makes no difference to the Kremlin whether

y an attractive trading partner for Europe, with significant mineral resources, a large landmass bordering four EU member states (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania), an educated population of forty-five million, and a 2012 GDP of more than $175 billion. However, it EFTA00636723 has heavy financi

republic. Russia, for its part, reproached the EU for putting pressure on Ukraine. The EU is now under criticism for mishandling negotiations with Yanukovych, who had previously rejected European terms for closer association. So why Ukraine's last-minute reversal on the EU deal? In retrospect, Yanukovyc

how about 45 percent of Ukrainians supporting closer integration with the EU, and a third or less favoring closer ties with Russia. EFTA00636722 Yanukovych, a wily politician, is hoping to win reelection in 2015 and must balance several constituencies. He was elected in part based on his promise to imp

he Berlin Wall and the Central European revolutions of 1989. Although originally the panel - which consisted of prominent intellectuals from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic - intended to take stock of the lofty lessons of the democratic "velvet" revolutions, the agenda quickly devolved into an angs

s, who wanted their country to be oriented toward the European Union. Putin finally brought Yanukovych around, but this sparked the Maidan revolt, Yanukovych's rapid exit, and Putin's need to shift strategies. For both Khrushchev and Putin, a competition in risk-taking offered a beguiling EFTA00662757