Eurotopics.net

So far Russia has been reticent with respect to the protests in Belarus, but observers now see signs of growing support for Lukashenka in Moscow. Commentators question whether this is the right strategy given the broad-based mobilisation against the Belarusian leader and speculate on future relations in the region.

The poisoning of Alexei Navalny and Minsk's brutal treatment of members of the opposition have upped pressure for a joint reaction in Brussels. Commentators seize the occasion to reflect on how the EU positions itself in relation to autocratic rulers. Which standards apply to which countries, and might the EU not itself be promoting some unjust regimes?

In the run-up to the eighth round of negotiations on future EU-UK relations which began this week on Tuesday, the British prime minister threatened to break off talks if an agreement is not reached by October 15. London is also apparently planning laws that run counter to the 2019 agreement with Brussels. Europe's press looks for the motives behind this U-turn.

Protest against Boyko Borisov's government and its links to oligarchs have been taking place in Sofia for eight weeks now. One of themes of the demonstrations is how the latter benefit from EU funds. The response from Brussels and the German EU presidency has been restrained so far but this could now change, some commentators believe.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been in court in London since Monday, trying to fend off extradition to the US, where he faces up to 175 years imprisonment for publishing military secrets. Journalist NGOs see this as a dangerous precedent for the safety of whistleblowers and press freedom in general. Commentators hope the tide will turn.