UK in Minsk

August is a holiday month in much of Europe.  It’s a good time to take stock, read the books that have waited long on the shelf, and explore new places. The war that is still going on This August marked one hundred years of the start of the First World War, when the armies of […]

In my first few months here, I asked Belarusian interlocutors about Belarusian national identity.  I received a variety of replies, but the subject was of more interest to me than to them.  That’s changed recently as events in Ukraine have stirred a debate on the issue. I am intrigued by national identity.  I first came […]

Every so often Belarusians comment to me that London attracts Russians.  The British media regularly report on their activities.  The Guardian newspaper recently stated that there are 150,000 Russians living in “Moscow-on-Thames”.  And two of our newspapers – the Independent and the London Evening Standard are owned by a Russian. I spent a day in London last week at meetings on […]

I am an historian by training.  The disciplines I learnt from studying history at university have remained with me.  I dislike general assertions that are not backed by evidence, or based on facts.  I like to understand the context of any particular situation, and I’m interested in the causes and consequences of events. Every diplomat […]

Education, education, education.  Those were the priorities that a former British Prime Minister famously described his government would pursue, if they were re-elected. I enjoyed discussing education last week as a guest introductory speaker at an international forum on the quality of higher education. From my experiences of talking to officials from others countries, I’ve […]

When I wrote about the problems in Ukraine just over a month ago, I don’t think anyone expected what has since happened.  I’ve written separately (in Russian) on the referendum in Crimea – I fear there will be more fountains of tears in Crimea. Recent events have happened despite both Ukraine and Russia being members […]

My business is all about risk.  This may surprise readers – and I often get puzzled expressions when I say it.  My job is to understand, assess and communicate the political risks of other countries and try to manage them so that they don’t damage my country’s interests. Risk is about the uncertainty of outcomes […]

They could have gone better.  Despite taking exams for many years, I still managed to get irritated with myself.  I forgot a word that I had learnt only a week or so before.  I had let the stress of doing my Russian language exam get to me. I should have known better.  Just before my […]

What are your thoughts on the concept of intelligentsia?  – Alena Belausava Alena:  thank you for your question.  I liked it because it sparked my curiosity.  I wondered if we have a similar term.  So I had a brief splash around in the shallows of the internet to research the idea.  I’ve come up with […]

Why is there a huge passion for parks, gardens and lawns in Britain? – Eugene Petrashkevich Dear Eugene:  thank you for your question – I’ve simplified it from your original version. I understood your question as asking why we have gardens and parks for pleasure, rather than for necessity (to grow vegetables and fruit to eat). […]