My friends here in Seattle are often surprised to learn that December 25th is not recognized as Christmas for most Ukrainians. That holiday is observed on January 7, since Orthodox Christianity follows the Julian calendar. But that doesn’t mean there was no celebration on December 25th this year. The date marked the second day of

Just before fall quarter began, a group of UW students visited three countries on the Black Sea as part of the “Conflicting Currents in a Turbulent Black Sea” Exploration Seminar. The group explored regional culture and history on two ends of the sea: Romania and Bulgaria in the west and Georgia in the east. These countries provide

It’s not a hobby for the faint of heart. From the skyscrapers of Shanghai to condo rooftops in Toronto, images of young men and women dangling hundreds or even thousands of feet above the world’s major cities have become a social media sensation in recent years. Those paying attention may notice that a great deal of

The Pacific Northwest continues to be a destination for immigrants and visitors from the former Soviet Union, especially Ukraine. Seattle is home to a long-established Ukrainian religious community as well as a sizable diaspora that has become more visible over the past few years through cultural events and fundraisers for those affected by the war in

“Ever since the Cold War, museums have helped to bridge the gap between Russia and the US. They have been big players in cultural diplomacy and maybe don’t receive the credit they deserve.” Teofila Cruz-Uribe is a second-year master’s student in both International Studies at the Jackson School’s Ellison Center for Russian, East European, and

It has been more than 70 years since the end of World War II, but researchers are still uncovering new insights into the tragedy of the Holocaust—especially in Eastern Europe. The Holocaust remains a contentious topic in the former Soviet Union, where political considerations have influenced historical interpretations. Dr. Daniel Newman, the Program Manager of

The Official Website of the Federal Archive Agency Официальный сайт Федерального архивного агентства (Росархива) The Federal Archive Agency organizes information on territorial and educational bodies, offices abroad, and state authorities. It contains more than 500 million items dating from the XI century to the present day.

On Tuesday, January 19, 2016 the Ellison Center hosted a panel discussion on Russia’s role in the Syrian conflict. Chaired by Ellison Center Director Dr. Scott Radnitz, the panel of expert political scientists also included Dr. Chris Jones (University of Washington), Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen (University of Washington, Rice University), and Dr. Bradley Murg (Seattle

by Matt Thompson Quirky and a bit mysterious, Belarus offers visitors a rich history, friendly people, and a complicated political situation. The first thing you notice are the sidewalks. They are spotless. No cigarette butts. No candy wrappers. No plastic bags floating in the wind. The same goes for the underground walkways, mopped and swept

Guntis Šmidchens, the head of the Baltic Studies program at UW, will launch his just-published book, The Power of Song, at the Nordic Heritage Museum Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. The Power of Song shows how the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania confronted a military superpower and achieved independence in the Baltic “singing revolution.”