In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start with updates from Ukraine and efforts to bring about a ceasefire. Meanwhile, a Polish investigation has found that a fire last year which burned down a huge shopping center in Warsaw was ordered by Russian intelligence while the country gets ready to vote in the presidential election on May 18th. Finally, Alexandra discusses the results of the recent Albania parliamentary election.

Later in the episode, Nina speaks with Assem Zhapisheva, a journalist and activist from Kazakhstan. Assem co-founded the Oyan, Qazaqstan – Wake Up, Kazakhstan movement for political reform and launched independent media projects like masa.media. She discusses her role in the film Streets Loud with Echoes and shares insights into Kazakhstan’s recent political turbulence, shedding light on civil society and activism under an authoritarian regime, as well as the country’s complex love–hate relationship with Russia.

>>> In the bonus content for our patrons, Assem stays on to talk about her recent arrest related to the campaign Satire is not a crime and shares her perspective on the alarming decline of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan today.

See more on the film “Streets Loud with Echoes”:https://www.oneworld.cz/films/56256-streets-loud-with-echoes