STRIKE THE TRUTH

Andreas and Heidrun Anschlag lived inconspicuously for 23 years, blending seamlessly into the community as an ordinary family. They appeared to lead a typical life, raising a daughter, giving no reason for anyone to suspect anything sinister. However, beneath this facade, they were trained Russian agents operating undercover as part of Russia's Illegals program. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into who the Anschlags really were and explore why they were spying in Germany for so long. Heidrun and Andreas Anschlag at their trial in Stuttgart EARLY YEARS The Anschlags were recruited by the KGB in the 1980s, when they were in their early twenties and full of vigor for their homeland. Little is known about the specifics of their recruitment, but it is suspected that the couple was already together at the time their work with the KGB began, although this has not been confirmed. The KGB provided them with falsified documents, enabling them to operate undercover in West Germany

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian forces have temporarily occupied various regions of the country. In some cases, these occupations were brief, with Ukraine successfully liberating the affected towns. In others, the occupation has persisted much longer—such as in Crimea, occupied since 2014, and Mariupol, under Russian control since March 2022. In these areas, Ukrainians endure dire conditions and brutal treatment at the hands of enemy forces, a stark contrast to how Ukrainians treat Russians in liberated areas in Russia, such as in the Kursk Oblast. In this blog post, we will explore what life is like for Ukrainians living under occupation, including a closer examination of the conditions in filtration camps.       THE OCCUPIED REGIONS In 2014, Russia occupied Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, areas that remain under Russian control today. Following the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Russian forces expanded th

Since 2010, Viktor Orbán has ruled Hungary with an iron fist, leaving a profound impact on both his country and Europe. A trained lawyer, Orbán has become known for his staunchly right-wing positions, particularly his hardline anti-immigration stance. His leadership style and policies have polarized public opinion, with people either passionately supporting or vehemently opposing him. In this blog post, we delve into who Viktor Orbán is, exploring his background, the factors that shaped his views, and the strategies he has used to maintain his grip on Hungary for over a decade. We'll also examine Hungary's current six-month chairmanship of the EU Council.  Viktor Orbán (Copyright: Alan Santos/PR) EARLY LIFE   Before delving into his political views and beliefs, let's take a moment to step back into his past. Viktor Mihály Orbán was born on May 31, 1963, about one hour out of Budapest. He grew up in a modest, rural environment, with the family home in Felcsút lacking running

At the start of this month, on August 1st, 2024, we were taken by surprise by the news that the United States, along with Germany and other Western partners, successfully negotiated a historic prisoner exchange. Among the prisoners released by Russia were prominent opposition figures Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, as well as the well-known Wall Street Journal journalist, Evan Gershkovich. In this blog post, I'd like to share my reflections on the exchange and its aftermath. I'll also delve into the ongoing debate about the extent to which "ordinary Russians" should be held responsible for the war. UNPRECENDENTED PRISONER SWAP   I listened to their interview shortly after their release, which took place in Bonn, Germany. In the conversation, which you can watch here , both Ilya Yashin and Kara-Murza expressed a strong desire to return to Russia someday. Yashin vehemently protested being deported to the West against his will, reading a statement he had wri

In recent months and weeks, the topic of peace in Ukraine has been a focal point of international discussions. Initiatives have emerged from both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's international partners. Notably, the substantial Ukraine Peace Summit took place in Switzerland in mid-June. Additionally, reports have surfaced of Vladimir Putin engaging in "peace" talks with Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister, who visited Russia covertly, bypassing EU protocols. In this blog post, we will examine the peace proposals from each country and assess the current situation. Given the present circumstances, is peace between Russia and Ukraine a feasible prospect? Let's explore the details! RUSSIA Vladimir Putin has articulated on numerous occasions the conditions under which Russia would be willing to cease hostilities in Ukraine. These stipulations include: Ukraine must withdraw from the territories that Russia claims to have annexed. This would enable