Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kristof Bender

@kristofbender.bsky.social

520 followers 430 following 270 posts

For a strong & democratic Europe. Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine. Asylum policy, HR Deputy chairperson European Stability Initiative (ESI), Europe’s Futures @iwm.at www.kristofbender.eu, www.esiweb.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 19d

G.E.R. Gedye lived in Vienna as Central Europe correspondent from 1925-1938. I had the privilege to write about his extraordinary yet forgotten book "Fallen Bastions", describing Austria's descent into dictatorship, for @datum.at. It's now also available in English:
www.esiweb.org/cafe-europe/...

It can happen very quickly

A long out-of-print book offers insights into the collapse of democracy in Austria’s First Republic. Today it is more relevant than ever.

www.esiweb.org

2 2 12

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 7h

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

900 6.3K 21K

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed, the EU should open first EU accession negotiation chapters with Moldova asap. Waiting for Ukraine to be unblocked by Hungary does not help anybody, not even Ukraine. The more countries that deserve to proceed are held back, the worse for the - already tainted - credibility of the process.

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

A group of 55 members of the European Parliament has called on the European Council to open accession talks with #Moldova, pointing to the country’s recent pro-EU election results as a clear mandate for integration.
tvpworld.com/89315476/eu-...

EU lawmakers urge council to open accession talks with Moldova after pro-EU election win

EU lawmakers urge council to open accession talks with Moldova after pro-EU election win.

tvpworld.com

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Henry Foy @henryjfoy.ft.com · 1d

Brussels to curb the travel of Russian diplomats within the EU, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are led by spies operating under diplomatic cover.

Czech-led initiative backed after Hungary drops its veto. With @andybounds.bsky.social

on.ft.com/46Umr0T

EU to curb Russian diplomats’ travel as suspected spy attacks mount

[FREE TO READ] Intelligence agencies say sabotage operations are often led by spies posing as diplomats

on.ft.com

9 47 160

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Libération @liberation.fr · 4d

📷 Antoni Lallican, l’Ukraine au coeur

⚫ Le photographe français et collaborateur de Libération, tué par un drone dans le Donbass ce vendredi 3 octobre, documentait avec ardeur le quotidien des habitants du pays en guerre, civils comme militaires.

Voir : bit.ly/4nzpDWW

46 82

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 7d

#Austria second from the bottom: only 60% believe that Austria has benefitted from #EU membership.
I remember well how Austria
looked like in the early 1990s, in particular close to its Eastern borders, and know how it looks now. How can we fail so dramatically at telling this huge success story?!

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Melissa Nadia Viviana @resistrebelrevolt.net · 7d

I've been saying this for two weeks!

AOC: Trump is weaker than he looks. They double down in public to overcompensate for it. They rely on the 'perception' of strength. They rely on the 'perception' of inevitability.

They want you to give up!

We can't give up. We have to be their consequence."

13 120 500

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 7d

In my substack EU-Analytics, I now do monthly reviews of EU voting in the EP and the Council. September 2025 edition is here, with a closer look at voting on Ukraine, overall EP changes - with another centre-right to far-right majority - and a surprise German vote in the Council:

EU Analytics - September 2025 review

With the far-right still split on Ukraine, the centre-right working with the far-right on Colombia, and a first Return of the “German Vote” under Merz

substack.com

4 14 42

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 7d

The economic component of establishing an authoritarian regime.

Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 7d

#BBCNews - Pfizer to offer cheaper drugs via Trump's website
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Pfizer to offer cheaper US drugs via Trump's website in new deal

Pfizer says prices for some drugs will be cut by up to 85% on the direct-to-consumer TrumpRx site.

www.bbc.com

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 8d

Only 38% of Serbs trust the EU. This is what happens if you lecture about values & principles while you ignore serious backsliding on the rule of law and media freedom and publicly support an autocrat for the sake of some weapons deals and the (unlikely) possibility of access to some rare earths.

Dejan Pantic @serbianism.com · 8d

An international parliamentary conference titled BRICS - Serbia Among Friends was held in the Serbian parliament on Monday.

Special Eurobarometer survey September 2025:
Serbia - trust towards the EU, countries, and international institutions
◾ Russian Federation 59%
◾ China 57%
◾ European Union 38%

Belgrade hosts parliamentary conference on BRICS

www.tanjug.rs

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Kristian Kiehling @kristiankiehling.bsky.social · 8d

With former Reform UK leader Nathan Gill admitting to accepting bribes from Oleg Voloshyn in exchange for making pro-Russian statements while serving as an MEP, @jmuellertoewe.bsky.social reports that the connections of German right-wing extremist Maximilian Krah to Russia have become obvious.

Politiker gesteht: Für Konferenz mit Krah floss Geld aus Russland

Der AfD-Politiker Maximilian Krah lobbyierte mit Oleg Voloshin für Russland. Nun gesteht der britische Politiker Nathan Gill: Voloshin bezahlte ihn selbst für genau solche Dienste.

www.t-online.de

1 24 34

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Adi Ćerimagić @adicerimagic.bsky.social · 9d

“I was not born to be a lifelong president,” said Milorad #Dodik while addressing members of the main board of the ruling #SNSD, which decided that the party will take part in early elections for president of Republika Srpska.

1 2 2

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 9d

Fabulous result for Maia Sandu’s pro-EU PAS in #Moldova elections. With more than 99% of ballots counted, PAS leads with 49.9% and thereby will defend its parliamentary majority.

Great day for 🇲🇩!
Great day for 🇪🇺!
Bad day for Putin‘s 🇷🇺!

www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...

Parlamentswahl in Moldau: Proeuropäische Partei von Maia Sandu holt parlamentarische Mehrheit

Die Wahl galt als Gradmesser, ob sich Moldau künftig der EU oder Russland zuwendet. Nach Auszählung fast aller Stimmen bleibt die europafreundliche PAS an der Macht.

www.zeit.de

1 3

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Center for European Policy Analysis @cepa.org · 10d

"If Russia can bend Moldova to its will, it will embolden similar campaigns elsewhere. Conversely, if Moldova resists, it will show that even small, vulnerable states can withstand Moscow’s playbook with the right support." Kateryna Odarchenko

Moldova’s Voters and the Russian Bear Paw

Moldovans are preparing for an election that will determine their future in Europe amid “unprecedented” Russian interference. Can they resist?

cepa.org

3 45 130

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Voxeurop – Independent European journalism @voxeurop.bsky.social · 10d

🗳️ 🇲🇩 As Moldovans head to the polls today, it's worth checking this exclusive conversation with the country's president Maia Sandu on what is at stake in this election #PulseEurope. voxeurop.eu/en/maia-sand...

Maia Sandu: ‘We will do everything to make sure that Russia does not get to control Moldova’

In this conversation with two reporters from the PULSE network Moldova’s President reaffirms her country’s EU path by 2030, warns of Russian election interference, and highlights cooperation with Ukra...

voxeurop.eu

2 1

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 10d

An immensely important day for Moldova & for Europe. Will the small state on the EU’s eastern flank hold its pro-European course, or will massive Russian disinformation and vote-buying schemes manage to bring it on a trajectory of transformation into a Russian client, wedged between 🇷🇴and🇺🇦?

🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲

3 4

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 11d

In the age of AI, I wonder if the Nobel Foundation should not consider adding a Nobel Prize for courageous machines fighting for universal values.

I already have a candidate:

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 12d

With the 🇵🇱 presidency still in PiS hands, it is very difficult to resolve the mess in Poland's judiciary system, with hundreds of judges appointed by an unconstitutionally formed body, a constitutional court that was captured by PiS through illegitimate means ... The CJEU better speed up ...

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 12d

Not merely illegitimate “judges” but illegally appointed individuals aka not lawful judges who can adjudicate with whole court captured = not a court = no rulings to publish. CJEU judgment on 🇵🇱 🦘 body expected in next few months

Notes from Poland @notesfrompoland.bsky.social · 14d

Poland’s constitutional court has ruled that its own rulings should be regarded as being in force even though the government refuses to publish them – a policy the court says is “legally unfounded”

The judgment is certain to be ignored by the government due to the TK containing illegitimate judges.

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 12d

The harassment of @panayote.bsky.social of the Greek Helsinki Monitor must stop. For years he has been the target 🎯 of the authorities. He is punished for defending European values. @ec.europa.eu @europarl.europa.eu @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu should speak out

Panayote Dimitras @panayote.bsky.social · 12d

4 5

Reposted by Kristof Bender

James Comey @jamescomey.bsky.social · 12d

19 9K 29K

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 13d

Great! Friedrich Merz has called on the EU to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort, arguing the move could unlock a €140bn loan for Kyiv for military equipment and show “staying power” against Russian aggression.

Huge blow for Putin!

www.ft.com/content/3ac0...

Germany’s Merz backs using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Chancellor calls on Europe to unlock €140bn loan and ‘massively raise the costs’ of Kremlin aggression

www.ft.com

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Marion Dautry @mdautry.bsky.social · 13d

In Serbia, women have been involved in all aspects of the student-led anti-corruption movement. But in a deeply patriarchal society, being visible and speaking up means risking gender-based violence ranging from media smear campaigns to revenge porn. My story for @en.afp.com : u.afp.com/SWgD

A middle-aged woman with short hair and sunglasses stands in the crowd of protesters and holds a placard reading "Women will judge you!" as he gathers in support of student Nikolina Sindjelic demanding the dismissal of Marko Kricak, commander of the Special Unit for the Protection of Certain Facilities and Persons, as well as his urgent prosecution and sanctioning for the abuse and torture of detainees, in front of a special police unit station in Belgrade on August 19, 2025.

3 2

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Oana Lungescu @oanalungescu.bsky.social · 14d

How is NATO balancing deterrence and defense in responding to Russia’s repeated airspace violations? Read this @politico.eu article by @laukaya.bsky.social with my take ✈️

@rusi.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/nato...

Finger on the trigger: How NATO is responding to Russia’s airspace violations

NATO is a defensive alliance, which makes it very cautious about responding with force to Russia’s provocations.

www.politico.eu

5 5

Reposted by Kristof Bender

Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · 16d

Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...

An Unlikely Road to Peace in the South Caucasus

How common cause against Russia enabled an American deal.

www.foreignaffairs.com

1 6 11

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 15d

What is needed:

Agree on a clear course. Without delay.
Communicate plainly what will follow if it happens again.
And if it does, act.

Words are not enough.

Kristof Bender @kristofbender.bsky.social · 15d

Maybe worth recalling

"Neither Rabin nor Arafat can stop Hamas.
Only the people can.
But they must have something precious to defend."

(Haidar Abdel-Shafi, head of the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Conference, in 1994)

🇮🇱🇵🇸