Europe
Insight with Julian Borger: How the Search for Balkan War Criminals Became the World’s Most Successful Manhunt
The Balkan Wars of the nineties resulted in the worst war crimes seen in Europe since the Nazi era. When the fighting ended, a fourteen-year manhunt began in order to bring those responsible to justice. For his new book The Butcher’s Trail, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor Julian Borger spoke to those involved – and will be joining us to reveal what he discovered and how this process could set a precedent for bringing future war criminals to justice.
GRANTA: The Legacy of Communism – From the Donbass to Old Bucharest
Last year we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, but the legacy of war and communism lives on in eastern Europe. To mark the launch of the new issue of Granta – No Man’s Land – contributors Peter Pomerantsev and Philip Ó Ceallaigh will be taking us from the front line of the propaganda war in Ukraine’s Donbass region to the devastating story of the Communist destruction of Old Bucharest.
Cross-Border Journalism: Europe and Beyond
When money, politics, abuse of power and corruption reach across borders, transnational networks of journalists become key to an open, accountable and democratic society. Cross-border investigations such as Swiss Leaks and Tobacco Underground have caused public outcry, and in many instances have led to legislative changes and the prosecution of those under investigation.
In an event in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Centre (RCC) and Frontline Club Bucharest, a panel of experts will be discussing what it takes to expose stories that spill across borders.
In the Picture with Diana Markosian: 1915 – My Armenia
A century ago, on the eve of World War I, there were two million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended, one and a half million of them were dead, with many more forcibly removed from the country. In a new project, Armenian-American photographer Diana Markosian travelled to Armenia to meet survivors and to ask them about their last memories of their early home. She will be joining us in conversation with Fiona Rogers, global business development manager at Magnum Photos International & founder of Firecracker, to show her work and share the stories of the survivors she met who, 100 years on, still remember their home.
Insight with Åsne Seierstad: One of Us
On 22 July 2011, Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 of his fellow Norwegians in an atrocity that shocked the world. As Breivik was put on trial, Norway attempted to understand what drove him to his heinous actions. Based on extensive testimonies and interviews, award-winning foreign correspondent Åsne Seierstad’s new book, One of Us, offers a definitive account of this tragic episode in Norway’s history. She will be joining us in conversation with John Lloyd, contributing editor to the Financial Times and director of Journalism at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, to share her research and talk about what she discovered about Breivik, his ideology and the world he grew up in.
Ukraine: One Year On
It is a year since protests erupted in Ukraine. The events that followed saw the fall of Viktor Yanukovych, the annexation of Crimea and violent clashes breaking out across the east of the country. As the stand off with Russia continues, we will be taking a view of the situation in Ukraine one year on. Will 2015 see an end to the most dangerous conflict to grip Europe since the wars in the former Yugoslavia?
Terror in France
France is in mourning after three days of violence that saw 17 of its citizens killed. Violent events began on Wednesday 7 January with the brutal attack on the offices of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo and ended two days later with sieges on two hostage sites.
As the country begins to come to terms with what has happened, we will be joined by a panel to take a view of events and to discuss the repercussions for society and security in France. We will also be tackling the arguments around the use of freedom of expression.
Insight with Michael Žantovský: Havel and the Velvet Revolution
This event is organised by the Czech Centre London.
Twenty-five years ago in December 1989, Václav Havel was elected as President of Czechoslovakia, marking the end of the Velvet Revolution and with it, the culmination of 41 years of communist rule. By his side throughout was Michael Žantovský, Havel’s press secretary, speech-writer, translator and close friend. The pair met as dissidents under communist rule and remained close until Havel’s death in 2011. Žantovský will be joining us in conversation with Edward Lucas, senior editor at The Economist, to bear witness to Havel’s extraordinary life as documented in his new book Havel: A Life, and to share his own experiences of living through the Velvet Revolution and the formation of the Czech Republic.
In Hock to the Oligarchs?
Standpoint magazine brings together a distinguished panel to debate Britain’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Cruel Britannia: A Secret History of Torture
Discussing Britain’s record on involvement in the use of torture and asking whether it is to time to challenge the official line that the UK does not ‘participate in, solicit, encourage or condone’ torture.
FULLY BOOKED 20th anniversary of the Bosnian war
What has happened to the people of Bosnia in the aftermath of the Bosnian war which broke out 20 years ago?
Ed Vulliamy writer for the Guardian and Observer will be joining Frontline Club founder Vaughan Smith in conversation to look back at the impact of the war both then and on people’s lives today.
Italy after Berlusconi: What now for media freedom?
On 12 November the longest-serving post-war Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi resigned after losing his majority and public support.
While no longer Prime Minister, he continues to control one half of the countries terrestrial TV market and his company Media Set is a big player in the print and advertising sectors. Will Berlusconi continue to wield influence and manipulate the government through his party and media ownership?
Reactive: Karadzic to the Hague
After more than a decade on the run Radovan Karadzic has finally been caught and is expected to be sent to the Hague where he will face charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, extermination, murder, willful killing, persecutions, deportation, inhumane acts, terror against civilians and hostage-taking.
Media Talk: Independent Kosova – FULLY BOOKED
Following its declaration of independence in February, Kosovo is now facing a long uphill struggle to take its place among the estabished European nations.
Frontline Confidential with Paul Radu – Organised Crime from Eastern Europe Moves West
Paul Radu of the Romanian Centre of Investigative Journalists talks about human trafficking from the Balkans and Russian organised crime infiltrating the football business in Eastern Europe.