Maria Kutnyakova
Articles
“2020 Was an Explosion of Pent-Up Anger”: Journalist Glafira Zhuk on Protests, Repression, and the Future of Belarus
In August 2020, Belarus was swept by the largest protests in the country’s history. Millions took to the streets to voice their anger over the rigged elections and decades of authoritarian rule by Alexander Lukashenko. Belarusian journalist Glafira Zhuk explains why 2020 became a turning point, how people protested, and what lies ahead for Belarus.
Dehydration as a Weapon of War: Russia’s Environmental Crime
An environmental catastrophe is unfolding across the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia, waging a war of aggression, has turned water scarcity into a weapon – a tool to pressure and destabilize entire regions. Its actions not only violate international humanitarian law but also inflict irreversible damage on the environment, human health, and ecosystems.
Reviving the Spirit, Confronting the Crisis: Austausch at Helsinki+50
At the Helsinki+50 high-level conference on 31 July 2025, hosted by the OSCE Chairpersonship of Finland, Austausch e. V. helped put these values back at the centre of international debate — not as nostalgic reference, but as a call to action.
URC2025 Highlights: Recovery must be green, safe, transparent, and just
The Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome brought together over 6,000
It’s Ability! Fostering the Integration of Caregivers for Persons with Disabilities among Ukrainian Refugees in Germany, Poland, and Lithuania
We are launching a new project, developed through the joint efforts of three organizations: Austausch e.V. and the INKuLtur programme (Berlin), the Lithuanian Disability Forum (Vilnius), and our partners in Poland. Since 2022, we have been supporting Ukrainian families with disabilities — and now we are starting a shared initiative to make this support more accessible and effective.
Call for Educators: Join the ‘Remembrance in Dialogue’ Project on Holocaust Memory in Wartime Ukraine
We are inviting teachers and educators from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to participate in the international project “Remembrance in Dialogue,” focused on Holocaust remembrance in times of the war in Ukraine.
Austaush at the “Mutual Learning Event for Beneficiaries: Driving Innovation to Address the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine in the EU Countries” in Warsaw
On May 13–14, we joined a crucial European gathering that brought together organizations from across the EU to explore how to effectively respond to the social challenges caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Eco-Camp in the Carpathians
From May 2–4, in the village of Cheretiv (Ukraine), the Civil Society Center Drukarnia held the eco-camp “United for Change” at the eco-settlement “Tepla Hora”. The event brought together eco-activists from across Ukraine for learning, experience-sharing, and community building. Over 100 applications were submitted — yet another sign of the growing interest in environmental issues.
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May 8 – A Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. The past as a responsibility for the present
On this day, we commemorate the end of the Second World War — a turning point that reshaped Europe and the world. The victory over Nazi Germany, remembered in Germany as a day of liberation, should have marked the beginning of a new era grounded in peace, cooperation, and shared values across Europe and beyond. And yet, today we are witnessing how the very principles that laid the foundation of post-war Europe are once again under attack — and continue to be challenged every day.
