Author

Nikita Buchko

Nikita Buchko is a U3 student pursuing a degree in Political Science, Economics, and Management. He specializes in states of the former Soviet Union, especially with regards to foreign policy and political economy. Aside from writing for MIR, Nikita loves to go shopping for home decor at Winners.

The Dumbest Ideas of the 2019 Election

Nikita Buchko Oct 16, 2019

Policy ideas and platforms are a central arena of competition for parties vying to form government next year. But hidden deep in the wonkery of our political contestants lie some truly terrible ideas.
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Ukraine’s Presidential Election, Explained

Nikita Buchko Mar 21, 2019

This year, Ukraine’s tumultuous polity will be shaken once again as the country heads to the polls: March 31st will mark Ukraine’s first post-revolutionary election.
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Moscow’s Urbanist Authoritarianism

Nikita Buchko Feb 4, 2019

Moscow's recent urban mega-projects and municipal works have transformed it into a welcoming and bright metropolis. But the city’s changes carry a darker undertone, highlighting the corruption and authoritarianism that define Russian…
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Easy as ABC? Not in Kazakhstan

Nikita Buchko Jan 1, 2019

Montrealers and out-of-province students alike may marvel at the complex linguistic politics of Quebec – but the daily difficulties of “Bonjour-Hi” are insignificant to many Kazakhs, who will have to learn an entirely new alphabet in the…
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Germans, Gazprom, and Gas: How a Minor Pipeline Became a Major Pain

Nikita Buchko Nov 13, 2018

The Nord Stream pipeline snakes across the depths of the Baltic sea, stretching from St. Petersburg to Northern Germany. Since 2011, the pipeline has sent millions of cubic meters of Russian natural gas to Germany and other European states…
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