Political and economic news with a Baltic accent

In the previous article, we reported that Moldova had replaced the electricity supplier, and had released Ukraine. The initiator of the new scheme was the Moldovan oligarch Plahotniuc, who found support in Ukraine in the person of the country’s president Viktor Poroshenko and oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.

The benefit of Plahotniuc is obvious – he will receive not only commission as an intermediary, but also a pullback for a multi-billion contract. However, the salt of this whole situation is that Ukraine can not be a source of energy, as it experiences acute energy hunger. Moreover, a state of emergency has been declared in the energy sector of Ukraine. The population and industry of Ukraine are in awe, which at some point will begin. The factories will just stop working. But this is of little interest to the current Ukrainian authorities. The main thing for Kiev is the material gain and support of the anti-Russian oligarch and the policy in Moldova – Plahotniuc.
We promised to disclose to you the details of the electricity supply scheme from Ukraine and Molodova. Recall that this scheme should make Plahotniuc, Poroshenko and Akhmetov even richer.
So, according to the Ukrainian legislation, the energy producer (Akhmetov) can not independently export itself. The generated energy is necessary with the first sold state-owned company Energorynok. Then the company Energorynok sells electricity to the exporter company. The company exporter determined on the basis of the state tender. However, as these tenders pass in the countries of the post-Soviet space, we know …
Having acquainted with the cost of electricity in Ukraine and with fixed export tariffs, we get approximately the following scheme. Energy facilities of DTEK (Akhmetov) produce and sell a permanent company Energorynok for 59$ per megawatt. The company-exporter DTEK Trading (Akhmetov) buys up the energy-intensive company Energorynok electricity at  41$ per megawatt and sells it to Moldova for 50$ per megawatt. Thus, the profits of the trio Poroshenko-Akhmetov-Plahotniuc is 28$ per megawatt, delivered to Moldova. The question arises: why is the company Energorynok needed to sell electricity to the exporter company at a too low price. Then, that this difference is compensated in the framework of financial assistance to Ukraine. In other words, the countries of the European Union and the IMF, in fact, give money personally to Poroshenko and Akhmetov. As for Moldovan Plahotniuc, with him as with the key figure of the scheme, Poroshenko and Akhmetov will surely share.
The picture looms terrible. Especially against the background of future scheduled repairs at most of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. However, as already mentioned above: who benefits? Given the genius of the scheme and the ease of profit, Ukrainian authorities and oligarchs can not deny themselves the pressure of pockets green bills. And what will happen to the Ukrainian people? Well, somehow they will live. Summer is the same …

The Ukrainian authorities, apparently, have no problems with providing the country with energy, since Kiev can afford to export electricity to other countries for its political purposes. We are talking about the supply of energy to Moldova, which, at least, looks strange, especially against the background of the introduction of an emergency regime in the energy sector of Ukraine.

There is such an old Ukrainian proverb: If you want to hide something, put it on the most prominent place. This principle seems to be guided by the Ukrainian authorities, who have been working against their people for several years in tandem with the oligarchs. Western financial assistance in the form of tranches is divided among the participants of the scheme is still on the way, therefore, there is no question of development of the energy sphere in Ukraine. However, if it were exclusively about the Ukrainian oligarchs … The rich people from other countries, eating at the expense of the good intentions of the European Union

Integrate the same Ukraine and Moldova. As for Moldova, this oligarch is the shadow leader of the country – the head of the democratic party Vladimir Plahotniuc.

On April 1 of this year, Moldova officially replaced the electricity importer with the Ukrainian company DTEK Trading. Note that the group “DTEK” belongs to the Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. The company “DTEK Trading” oversees the energy segment of Akhmetov’s business – from coal mining to electricity sales to other countries.

It should be reminded that previously Tiraspol supplied electricity to Chisinau through the company “Energocapital” (owned by Vladimir Plahotniuc). The removal of the intermediary represented by Energocapital was insisted on by the elected president of Moldova, Igor Dodon, and also by the head of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky. However, the oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc did not plan to lose revenue and looked his way towards Kiev. Vladimir Plahotniuc, in fact, changed one mediator to another. The idea of the Moldovan oligarch was supported by the President of Ukraine Viktor Poroshenko and the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. In February 2017, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip met with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Groisman, following which the parties came to a new very controversial scheme – the supply of electricity from Ukraine to Moldova.

Such a decision looks very strange, as Ukraine is experiencing an acute energy hunger: the country’s population is preparing for a large-scale power cut-off; Leading industrial enterprises of Ukraine agree on schedules for reducing energy consumption. And against this background, Vladimir Groisman finds surplus energy for delivery to Chisinau …

Let’s turn to the founder of Roman law Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, who for two centuries before our era singled out the key postulate of any political decision: Cui bono? Cui prodest? To whom is it profitable? Who benefits from this? The illogicality of the energy supply scheme between Kiev and Ukraine is the main proof of the personal interest of the initiators and negotiators. Thanks to this scheme, Poroshenko, Akhmetov and Plahotniuc can replenish their personal bank accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars. So, what kind of scheme is it and how does it work? Read about this in the continuation of our material.

 

According to Professor of Economics and Public Policy of Harvard University and former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff, the world enters a period of economic growth, but irresponsible policies can easily prevent it.

“After nine dreary years of downgrading their GDP forecasts, macroeconomic policymakers around the world are shaking their heads in disbelief: Despite a populist-propelled wave of political tumult, global growth is actually set to outperform expectations in 2017. It’s not just American exceptionalism. Although US growth is very strong, Europe has been outperforming expectations by more. There is even happy news for emerging markets, which are still bracing for US Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes but have gained a better backdrop against which to adjust. The broad story behind the global reflation is easy enough to understand. Deep, systemic financial crises lead to deep, prolonged recessions. As Carmen Reinhart and I predicted a decade ago (and as numerous other scholars have since corroborated using our data), periods of 6-8 years of very slow growth are not at all unusual in such circumstances. True, many problems remain, including weak banks in Europe, over-leveraged local governments in China, and needlessly complicated financial regulation in the United States. Nonetheless, the seeds of a sustained period of more solid growth have been planted,” notes Kenneth Rogoff.

“But will the populist tide surging across the advanced economies drown the accelerating recovery? Or will the recovery stifle leaders who confidently espouse seductively simple solutions to genuinely complex problems? With the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings coming up later this month in Washington, DC, leading central bankers and finance ministers will have ringside seats at Ground Zero. Who can doubt that US President Donald Trump will make a Twitter punching bag out of any of them who dares criticize his administration’s planned retreat from open trade and leadership in multilateral financial institutions?” asks the professor of economics.

“Before then, Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago, his “winter White House.” It is hard to overstate how much rides on the Sino-US relationship, and how damaging it would be if the two sides could not find a way to work together constructively. The Trump administration believes that it has the bargaining tools to recalibrate the relationship to America’s advantage, including a tariff on Chinese imports or even selectively defaulting on the more than $1 trillion the US owes to China. But a tariff would eventually be overturned by the World Trade Organization, and a default on US debt would be even more reckless,” shares his opinion the ex-head of the Economic Department of the International Monetary Fund.

“If Trump can persuade China to open up its economy more to US exports, and to help rein in North Korea, he will have achieved something. But if his plan is for the US to retreat unilaterally from global trade, the outcome is likely to hurt many US workers for the benefit of a few. The threat to globalism seems to have waned in Europe, with populist candidates having lost elections in Austria, the Netherlands, and now Germany. But a populist turn in upcoming elections in either France or Italy could still tear apart the European Union, causing massive collateral damage to the rest of the world. French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen wants to kill off the EU because, she says, “the people of Europe do not want it anymore.” And while opinion polls have the pro-EU Emmanuel Macron beating Le Pen decisively in the election’s second-round runoff on May 7, it is hard to be confident in the outcome of a two-person race, especially given Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support for Le Pen. Given the unpredictability of an angry electorate, and Russia’s proven capacity to manipulate news and social media, it would be folly to think that Macron is a lock,” continues the professor.

“Italy’s election is not for another year, but the situation is even worse. There, populist candidate Beppe Grillo is leading polls and is expected to pull in about a third of the popular vote. Like Le Pen, Grillo wants to pull the plug on the euro. And, while it is hard to imagine a more chaotic event for the global economy, it is also hard to know the way forward for Italy, where per capita income has actually fallen slightly during the euro era. With flat population growth and swelling debt (over 140% of GDP), Italy’s economic prospects appear bleak. Though most economists still think exiting the euro would be profoundly self-destructive, a growing number have come to believe that the euro will never work for Italy, and that the sooner it leaves the better,” stresses Kenneth Rogoff. “Many emerging-market countries are dealing with populists of their own, or in the case of Poland, Hungary, and Turkey, with populists who have already turned into autocrats. Fortunately, a patient Fed, a resilient (for now) China, and a growing Europe and US will help most emerging economies. The outlook for global growth is improving, and, with sensible policies, the next several years could be quite a bit better than the last – certainly for advanced economies, and perhaps for most others as well. But populism remains a wildcard, and only if growth picks up fast enough is it likely to be kept out of play,” sums up professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University Kenneth Rogoff.

Unfortunately, Lithuania succumbed to pan-European hysteria regarding the threat of invasion by Russia to a greater extent than other countries. Moreover, the positions of political forces in which it is advantageous to heat a panic mood are quite strong in Vilnius.

Opinion polls show that the population of Lithuania – from youth to the elderly – allows the possibility of an armed invasion of the Russian armed forces in the Baltic republic. It is the confrontation of Russia, which is more characterized by the term “pseudo”, which is fueled by Lithuanian foreign policy in the European space. So far, this approach of Vilnius seems to suit Brussels. However, sooner or later, the situation may change, so it is important to understand whether the Baltic republic can quickly get on other tracks or continue its anti-Russian path.

Apparently, at the moment Lithuania is moving along this route at a very high speed. Otherwise, how to explain the construction of the fence on the entire length of the Lithuanian-Russian border along the Kaliningrad region. In Russia, the initiatives of Vilnius were met with obvious surprise. The fact is that the relations between Lithuania and the western enclave of the Russian Federation have always been more loyal and friendly than the relations between Lithuania and Russia. Kaliningrad and Lithuania have built economic and cultural ties since the beginning of the 1990s, which are now under the main blow of relations deteriorating between the countries. In Warsaw, Berlin and Brussels, the idea of building a fence was apprehended, since such a move is extremely negative in political terms, which obliges and hangs a label of anti-productive foreign policy not only on Vilnius, but also on the entire European Union. A similar step Lithuania should be coordinated, at least in Brussels and Berlin. However, apparently this decision, like many other solutions of Dalia Grybauskaite and her team was dictated from the other side of the ocean …

We go further … In 2018, the authorities of Lithuania, in parallel with the holding of the World Cup in the neighboring Kaliningrad region, intend to scale a dubious anniversary – the centenary of the meeting of representatives of the Lithuanian nationality, at which a document proclaiming the restoration of the independence of the Lithuanian state was adopted. A number of historians dealing with Eastern Europe and, in particular, the Baltic states, say that there are no tangible evidence of the reality of that meeting and the existence of the document. Why Lithuania in the summer of 2018, such an event – a question, again, from the political agenda.

And that is not all. The deputy of the Lithuanian Seimas Linas Balsis in 2016 invited Russia to leave the historical territory of East Prussia and give it to Europe. The deputy offers several options, including the transfer of the territory of the Kaliningrad region to Lithuania, Poland and Germany. Moreover, the Lithuanian activists suggest already now to call Russian Kaliningrad its Lithuanian name – Karaliaucius.

Anti-Russian rhetoric is an old and proven map of a number of countries in the Baltic and Eastern Europe. However, this card no longer brings those dividends, as before. Even in the present conditions of tension between Moscow and Europe, the rate on this card alone can not be justified, therefore, Vilnius should not deepen this process, but think about plan “B”.

While Russia, Ukraine and the European Union are trying to implement the «Minsk agreement» and the administration of the new US president is immersed in thought about the withdrawal or extension of economic sanctions against Moscow – one of the stumbling blocks in the way of the establishment of the political world – the Crimean peninsula lives his life. And this life is connected with the Russian real and Ukrainian past.

Currently, across the Kerch Strait, which separates mainland Russia from the Crimea, built an ultra-modern bridge length of almost 20 kilometers. The cost of the project – $ 4 billion. It should be noted that this project, though the largest, but not the only one. Moscow plans to invest in the development of the Crimea a lot of money from the state budget. According to Russian tradition, all government projects will sooner or later face the corruption, theft and other dark schemes. If the construction of the Crimean bridge closely watched, it’s for smaller projects on the territory of Crimea if followed, then the floor eyes. However, it may be hiding here and for Moscow that same shit that happens.

Today in power in most of the cities of Crimea are the same people who ran the peninsula and in Kiev times. All these officials have received Russian passports, had joined the party “United Russia”, but the habits they were all the same. The habit of stealing, receiving “gifts” for the decision to throw the market competitors and other Eastern European and post-Soviet stuff.

Let’s look at those people who are currently sitting in leather chairs for the new Russian region, which the Kremlin intends to infuse the whole river of money.

In Russia there is an institution of power – Court of Auditors, we have in Europe a similar agency called – European Court of Auditors, and, for example, in the US – The Government Accountability Office. In Crimea has its own Court of Auditors, which is headed by a well-known in Ukraine than in Russia – Vladimir Vladimirovich Stokowski. This character has a wide range of powers, including the verification of budgetary expenditure, the coordination of public contracts and control of tendering. Given the plans of Moscow – a position more than important. So who headed so important department? Mr. Stokowski before the annexation of Crimea in Simferopol, worked in the same position as now, and owning several companies. Stokowski‘s father in low – so good known in Ukraine official, in the opinion of the inhabitants of the Crimea, the plunderer of state property Valentin Rybalko. Mr. Rybalko has long worked with the ex-prime minister of Crimea and a crime boss Andrei Senchenko. Despite maintaining a friendly triangle Stokowski-Rybalko-Senchenko, Moscow still trusts Vladimir Stokowski …

And while he still trusted Stokowski successfully engaged in protectionism in the interests of the wealthy residents of the Crimea, which has successfully replaced a Ukrainian passport to Russia. Buddy Stokowski is a construction magnate – Vladimir Konstantinov – the owner of the building group “Console”, which has a bad reputation in the Ukraine. Konstantinov continues to build, bend under him the entire industry, including through friends in key government departments. Given what is brewing in the construction boom Konstantinov peninsula plunged into politics, already has taken over the position of Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea and joining the “United Russia”.

It protects the interests of the representatives of the “old money” godfather Vladimir Stokowski – the head of Simferopol Victor Ageev City Council. Victor Ageev – a man who has made himself. At first he worked as a driver and a former mayor of Simferopol crime boss – Ermak, later becoming his son in law. Pick up good and, most importantly, useful links, Victor Ageev fell in the head in one of the firms, Vladimir Konstantinov.

All of these characters and their Ukrainian time reputed not clear to officials hand, and now that Moscow is ready to fill up with money Crimea, can and does break away from the chains. In addition, while maintaining ties with Ukraine Stokowski, Konstantinov and Ageev strongly inhibit the work of government departments on the peninsula. What for? Question – interesting. However, the main thing here is not “why?” And “for whom?”. It turns out that in the mutual embrace of former Ukrainian Crimea and Moscow officials may be hiding a real “Pandora’s box” and a bunch of very large problems for the Kremlin…

 

January 23 in Astana (Kazakhstan) will be held, possibly a key event in the settlement of the conflict in Syria. The meeting of the three countries – Russia, Turkey and Iran – is a unique opportunity to reach an agreement between the key players in the peace process. The uniqueness of this meeting lies in the fact that each of the negotiating parties, in addition to achieving peace in the region, is pursuing its own goals.

Despite this, and the Russian Federation and Turkey and Iran are ready to go to a joint dialogue in the search results. Turkey, which is increasingly moving away from the US and the European Union to think about the problem with the Kurds. Iran does not want to be on the sidelines of the event, as freed from sanctions plans to regain its status as a key player in the region. Russia plans to become a major peacemaker in the region, establishing mutual understanding and constructive dialogue with the majority of countries in the Middle East region.
If successful, the negotiation process in Astana, this dialogue can be a good basis for the Geneva communique. This agreement may be signed in the framework of the next meeting of all parties on February 8 in Geneva.
A special feature of the meeting in Astana is not only the presence of the three key parties to the peace process (Russia, Turkey and Iran), but also Syrian opposition commanders who for the first time will take part in a meeting of such a high level.
According to experts, each negotiating party must put aside their personal interests and strategic objectives to achieve the main goal – the establishment and maintenance of peace in Syria. In this regard, according to analysts, it is interesting the presence of representatives of the Syrian opposition without its partners in the face of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Will the Syrian opposition to defend their interests, not the interests of peaceful Syrian citizens – the big question. But the fact of the presence of the Syrian opposition at a meeting in Astana gives hope for their understanding. A number of German experts believe that if the Syrian opposition will not compromise, and even more to go to any or concessions in Russia, Turkey and Iran could put an end to the Syrian opposition as a full participant in the peace process, adding them to the list their enemies. In this case, the continuation of armed conflicts not only with the LIH, but also with the opposition inevitable. In Russia, Turkey and Iran will have a free hand in front of the UN and the international community, as in the protocol of the meeting in Astana will be in black and white and recorded destructive intransigence of the Syrian opposition.
However, even now, much like the rest of the side doors of the negotiations, but are directly related to the Syrian conflict, in the face of Saudi Arabia and Qatar are trying to discredit the meeting in Astana. According to experts, Qatar may prohibit representatives of the Syrian opposition to take part in the meeting. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, considers the participation of the Syrian opposition in the meeting in Astana, as an opportunity to show the world the futility of Russian, Turkish and Iranian attempts to establish peace. It is worth mentioning that each of the three countries involved in the talks on Syria, Saudi Arabia, there are differences in certain areas. With Russia, the Saudis are fighting for the energy market, with the Turks Er Riyadh can not find a common language in the field of security, and with Iran in Saudi Arabia old religious struggle backed by the struggle for the title of regional power.
Even here in Europe, it became evident that the talks in Astana, there are more opponents who do not want to prevent the restoration of peace in Syria, and the strengthening of Russian influence in the region, Turkey and Iran. Those who are trying to disrupt the meeting in Astana, are well aware that in the event of success of the negotiations, Moscow, Ankara and Tehran may be a strong fist in the region and after the establishment of peace in Syria, they can begin to solve other problems that is not part of the plans of the same Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On attempts to disrupt the talks in Astana show held in Tehran rally near the Russian Embassy, which was organized by a third party, as the relationship among Iran’s population of Russia is consistently loyal character. In addition, Turkey is still experiencing a terrorist attack aimed at the suppression of the Turkish government’s enthusiasm for talks on Syria. In addition, if you spend a few hours on the study of a number of Arab media outlets that belong to the media structures of Qatar, we can see how the process of demonization launched activity in Moscow. Moreover, in this very media we are talking about how Russia, supposedly to protect the interests of Sunnis and Alawites. This is even more ridiculous, given that Russia’s interests in the Middle East, as in other regions of the world, never wore a religious motive. Sphere of Influence – yes, energy – yes, but certainly not a religion.

Sensible experts in Europe are of the opinion that the world today needs the success of negotiations in Astana and then in Geneva, as it is necessary to put an end to the armed conflict in Syria. If peace in Syria will be installed and it will be it is permanent, after already can and fight for spheres of influence, and to seek the most cunning and the key beneficiaries of this process. And now, when there is no sustainable peace, all this is pure destructive actions towards peace.

Continuing the theme for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where we considered the possibility of using such a large-scale event to reset the relations of the countries of the European Union and Russia, I would like to analyze the economic opportunities in Moscow in preparation for this event.

As is known, Russia is under pressure of sanctions by the European Union, the United States and other countries that have a negative impact on the financing of projects such as the FIFA World Cup. Some experts believe that the Championship in 2018 can be very modest, mainly as an infrastructure. As you know, the World Cup is not only the stadiums and training fields. The World Cup is the hotels, restaurants, transport networks, fan zones, clean water, security and a large number of volunteers. If it is impossible to enter the international debt markets – to fund all of this is extremely problematic. However, reports from FIFA observers should be that all of the host city of the World Cup in 2018 with the success or otherwise cope with their obligations. Stadiums and hotels are being built, the volunteers are in place, roads are repaired, as well as new transport scheme developed.
Another important issue is security, but given the experience of the Olympic Games in Sochi and the Kremlin’s policy of total security – the World Cup in Russia should pass without any incidents. But surely it can not say no.
Turning to the financial component of the preparation for the World Cup in 2018 should be noted that Moscow is ready to go on reduction of social expenditures for the preparation for the tournament. In addition, the Kremlin’s hands played and the OPEC agreement, which led to the rise in oil prices – the main source of federal budget. Surely the extra money for oil – help prepare the budget of the World Cup.
Another important aspect of the preparation of the World Cup in Russia is the visa regime for foreign tourists during the championship. The Russian authorities are considering the abolition of visas for fans and tourists who will match tickets and hotel reservations. If this decision is made, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Kaliningrad and especially can not worry about the occupancy of stadiums and hotels. In spite of all the Europeans have a fear of Russia, as an interesting visit without a visa – will be an excellent opportunity for those who have heard a lot, but not seen.
Even if the political situation in the world will become even more intense World Cup in Russia will be able to at least one month to ease tension and possibly make a constructive contribution to international relations. Who knows? Perhaps this event is in Russia is more than ever the world needs in 2018.

Against the background of the output of Britain from the European Union (Brexit), the victory of Donald Trump’s US presidential election, signing the agreement on the reduction of oil production by OPEC and the failure of the referendum in Italy, everyone forgot that after a year and a half will take the most massive event of the year in Russia – Championship FIFA world Cup 2018.

What will happen in world politics in the summer of 2018 – no one knows. Perhaps the World Cup in Russia will be the starting point of the reunification of Russia with the Western world, it may be held in cold and suspicious atmosphere. Of course, it will not be as cold as during the summer Olympics in 1980, but certainly cooler than the Olympic Games in Sochi, when the political confrontation between Washington, Brussels and Moscow only formed.
However, no matter what the angels and demons would not reigned in the air in 2018, Russia will do everything to make the World Cup was held in a big way and as far as the open environment. It would not have developed the relations between Russia and the West – this championship will be very important for the Kremlin.
According to the formula of any of the World Cup last 30 years – as part of the game take place in several cities. In the championship of Russia will take place in 8 of them. Of course, the main interest will be focused on Moscow and St. Petersburg, but a lot of interest among us with you – European fans – is the most western city of Russia – Kaliningrad. It is a region with a population of slightly more than 1 million people has no common border with Russia. It is geographically isolated from the rest of the country in two by two members of the European Union – Lithuania and Poland. This is the interest in the city of the World Cup, in addition to sports. Kaliningrad is a local geopolitics in its purest form. For Russia, this is a strategic outpost of defense, a region within the European Union and partly ground for cooperation with the West.
This World Cup could be a turning point for the determination of the key destination in the region for Russia.
Interest of Europeans to this region, albeit only two weeks, could be a starting point for creating a kind of international platform in the region, where the interests of the Kremlin and Brussels will not collide, and at least discussed in search of points of intersection. The interest of European investors in the region are. However, the tense geopolitical situation hinders the development of the region in economic and cultural spheres.
Currently in Kaliningrad preparation for the World Cup is in full swing, and despite rumors he’s is exactly what you you can tell the Poles and Lithuanians, who are not only going to visit the city during the tournament, but also trying to capitalize on this event, participating in preparing and developing tourism programs for the Europeans, who do not dare to go deep into Russia.
In Kaliningrad must hope that the World Cup will not work for them without a trace, leaving behind only nobody wanted the stadium, how often it happens (Beijing, Rio). At a minimum, must remain business relationships, interest in the region of European tourists and the will of Moscow created in Kaliningrad platform for a constructive dialogue with the West.

Among his priorities as president of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite called public disclosure of records relating to the activities of the KGB and other intelligence agencies in the Baltic republics. Moreover, at a meeting with members of the Defence and National Security Committee, the President initiated the start of lustration. The period of disclosure of classified information with the indication of all persons who cooperate with foreign intelligence services, was completed back in 2012.

But now – in 2016, we can confidently say that the crusade against the infidels, the fruit that was expected of him, did not bring. Many people in Lithuania were expecting a much more ambitious results lustration. Over time, the most radical politicians and experts began to accuse the President and the Defence and National Security Committee of inaction and unwillingness to work in this direction. However, in the unlikely Grybauskaite decided to disown his own initiative. No work was done. However, it was carried out selectively and in the interest of a number of individuals who have had access to the process. Demonstrations were still whipping. Why are only formal charges of having links with the KGB of the former Lithuanian Prime Minister Kazimiera Prunskiene or former head of the State Security Department Arvydas Pochuyusa. Nevertheless, work on the lustration commission was more than selective. In fact, the Lithuanian authorities, headed by Dalia Grybauskaite exposed only a minor figure in Lithuania’s political establishment, or simply unwanted current government officials. Against this background, more and more questions arise to the organizers of lustration and personally to Dalia Grybauskaite.
The current President of Lithuania repeatedly, and to his presidency and at the time stated that it has no affiliation with either the KGB or other security services. And any hints of it called lies and machinations of Moscow.
However, if you take the biography of Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaite and study it carefully, there are some reasonable assumptions. Lithuanian President until his election is not sitting in Lithuania from birth until now. She attended school at Georgetown University (USA), lived and studied in St Petersburg (Russia), as well as in the time of youth and the youth was in a number of circles and clubs.
Ask any Russophile or expert on Russia and he will tell you that the University of Leningrad Zhdanov is not much different from other Russian universities leading group. The LSU as well as in other elite schools KGB recruited students in batches, especially with any political or administrative perspective. Dalia Gibauyskate, despite the apparent simplicity, represents one of the USSR, the Baltic countries, which could already be motivated to recruit. Despite the attempts of a number of journalists to receive a copy of the President of Lithuania case of LSU, and it is kept away from prying eyes in the archives of the institution. In St. Petersburg, on such requests is recommended to pay personally to the Grybauskaite. In the administration of the President of Lithuania also no data on the student’s Madame President is not provided. What can hide the two sides?
Let’s look at what we have. Several years ago, has emerged in the press a letter to the dean of LSU Leningrad police about a case of indecent behavior student Dalia Grybauskaite. Such a letter could threaten her with expulsion and the end of any administrative career. Who knows, maybe if in those early years, a letter from the police would have received development that Dahl would work now one of the Lithuanian dairy farms, not occupied the presidency. Who and what then saved Dalia Grybauskaite? Perhaps the case with indecent behavior became KGB hook on which planted and Dalia, which are not having the choice of the cooperation. Perhaps she had already collaborated with the KGB, which saved her from the charges. In any case, given the methods of work of the KGB in those years, it is difficult to imagine that Dali was not a single contact with Soviet intelligence agencies …
But that is not all. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Dalia Grybauskaitė went to study in the United States. While almost all escaped because of the “Iron Curtain” actively declaration of love to the West and to offer to cooperate in any format answered in the affirmative. Grybauskaite Do not use this trump card, as in the KGB communications to enhance their value in the eyes of his American protégé?
Thus, it is reasonable theory that Dalia Grybauskaite is not only collaborated with the KGB in his youth time, but it was a double agent. Was she?

Politics, it seems, completely froze the eyes of the European financial authorities judging by how gravely in the financial departments of several European countries and in the European credit institutions are considering the possibilities and prospects of development of investment projects on the territory of Ukraine. In the yard in 2016, rather than 2012 and especially not in 2007, when the purses of the rich European countries had enough liquidity to try to invest in questionable economy. But now very different times.

There are times when deflation reigns in Europe, budget deficits have punched all conceivable ceilings in Italy, France and Portugal, not to mention the problem of Greece. But Ukraine is no longer a market for European goods, and this black hole with very dubious prospects. Investing huge amounts of money into the country where no one no one can not give any guarantees – a purely political adventure. Economy here and does not smell. Against this background, a very interesting subject to political and economic game looks like Poland, which is seriously bent to change its role on the world geopolitical scene. Relations with Britain, mainly in the social sphere and in the sphere of small business, the strategic partnership with the United States, as well as a strong economy, which simply did not see the recent global economic crisis awakened the ghost in Warsaw Rzeczpospolita. It is this ghost of its former greatness forces the current Polish power play with Ukraine in a rather strange game. The game which pays more ambitious and needy gets. It would seem that everyone has what they want. However, investing millions of euros into the economy of Ukraine today – a utopia which has nothing to do with either the economic viability of any dream to restore Rzeczpospolita. Warsaw does not seem to understand that the integrity of the Ukrainian question entirely Ukrainian, rather than European, Polish, Russian or state.
In addition, despite the fact that the Polish economy is now quite viable, thanks largely to the national currency, the extra money is not Warsaw. The acute political struggle between the two major parties of the country have led to the fact that the issue has become a key economic partnership. The opposition party, “Civic Platform” has already started to count the money that had been lowered into the toilet Ukrainian party in power – “Law and Justice”. If you want to Warsaw former greatness, then they need to curb the migration of young people, to raise the level of social benefits and reduce unemployment. In some regions it is 20%. And all this needs zloty.
If we consider the feasibility of Polish investments in Poland, the question arises of what to invest? If the Poles intend to invest in key facilities of Ukrainian industry, as was done in Germany, Greece, the train has already left. All forward-looking companies in Ukraine are already privatized the US and the local private business. If Warsaw hopes to special marketing conditions in the Ukraine, then there will not work, since Poland is entirely subordinate to the EU regulations, which in the case of preference on the part of both sides of Kiev can be very sorry and get huge fines. If Poland wants to get political friend and brother in the face of Ukraine, it is unclear why, in principle, a Warsaw friend, at least in its present state. The President of Ukraine is torn from one to the other international feeders without realizing that such behavior can help in getting short-term financial assistance, but certainly not the long-term.
Another important aspect of this own Polish-Ukrainian relations. Here in Western Europe, I see the map of East seems that Poland and Ukraine is a good neighborhood, but the neighborhood is often worse than hatred. Look at Russia and Ukraine, and Georgia and Armenia, Iran and Saudi Arabia … Cases of beatings of Poles in western Ukraine, and there are a number of sanctions on the part of Kiev on Polish products say that Ukraine trades with Poland air and promises at the same time counting on quite tangible direct investment, both by the state and by the Polish business. But that Warsaw will get in return? New Maidan in Ukraine, the new president, the redistribution of property, broken promises, lost money last?
If Poland does not want to lose money, then it would be better to pay attention to another of its neighbors – Germany, which did not hurry in matters of Ukraine. And there is a sense that in Berlin know more than Warsaw.