Dimitar Keranov, PhD
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dimker.bsky.social
Dimitar Keranov, PhD
@dimker.bsky.social
170 followers 160 following 28 posts
Political analyst with a PhD in Politology, decoding 🇧🇬 & Balkan dynamics and connecting the dots in 14 languages.

Reposts and likes aren't endorsements.

@gmfus.bsky.social

@engagingce.bsky.social

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
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dimker.bsky.social
Dimitar Keranov, PhD @dimker.bsky.social · 23d
Honored to speak at GMF’s event “China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria".

We’ll discuss how China's economic footprint intersects with Bulgaria’s political & strategic choices within the EU & transatlantic context.

Join us: www.gmfus.org/event/chinas...

@gmfus.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints
Bulgaria is a potential entry point for Chinese influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Some Bulgarian stakeholders are keen on attracting Chinese investment, but they frequently disregard the associ...
www.gmfus.org
dimker.bsky.social
🎥 It was an honor to join Dr. Mareike Ohlberg (@mareikeohlberg.bsky.social) and Dr. Asya Metodieva for a @gmfus.bsky.social discussion on 🇨🇳 China’s growing presence in 🇧🇬 Bulgaria.

Watch the full webinar here 👉 youtu.be/ELmX48YgS9M?...

#China #Bulgaria
China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints
YouTube video by The German Marshall Fund of the United States
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
📣 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints
🗓️ October 30, 2025
4:00 – 5:30 PM CET

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻: buff.ly/Cq4Z8dZ
October 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
dimker.bsky.social
Honored to speak at GMF’s event “China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria".

We’ll discuss how China's economic footprint intersects with Bulgaria’s political & strategic choices within the EU & transatlantic context.

Join us: www.gmfus.org/event/chinas...

@gmfus.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints
Bulgaria is a potential entry point for Chinese influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Some Bulgarian stakeholders are keen on attracting Chinese investment, but they frequently disregard the associ...
www.gmfus.org
October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
📣 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: Habits of Democracy: Civic Culture and Civic Education in the Western Balkans
October 28, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 PM CET

Join the virtual event to learn how democratic participation is taught, experienced, and practiced in the Western Balkans.

🔗 Register: buff.ly/ErSEaVq
email.gmfus.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
dimker.bsky.social
If you’re interested in how the rise of a far-right party, institutional paralysis, and state capture are threatening Bulgaria’s democratic path, you can read my latest analysis for @authlibeu.bsky.social:

www.authlib.eu/bulgaria-rev...

@gmfus.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
The Links Between Bulgaria’s Revival Party and United Russia Merit Scrutiny
Dimitar Keranov (GMF) explains how the rise of the far-right party, institutional paralysis, and state capture threaten Bulgaria’s democratic path.
www.authlib.eu
October 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
dimker.bsky.social
"PAS secured a national majority to keep EU-accession reforms moving, but Taraclia—home to 🇲🇩 Moldova’s Bulgarian minority—again voted heavily for the pro-Russia Patriotic Bloc."

More in my commentary here:

biip-varna.github.io/articles/tar...
Minority Politics in Moldova: Taraclia’s Vote
How Taraclia’s Russian-language info space and Bulgaria’s cultural links shape minority politics in Moldova after the September 28, 2025 election.
biip-varna.github.io
October 10, 2025 at 11:48 AM
dimker.bsky.social
"As an #EU and #NATO member, #Bulgaria 🇧🇬 must balance economic opportunities with #China 🇨🇳 against risks to national security, Western alliances, the rule of law, and democracy."

Read more in my & A. Metodieva's analysis:

www.gmfus.org/news/chinas-...

@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints
www.gmfus.org
October 10, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
danielhegedus.bsky.social
How do anti-NGO laws impact human rights & democracy in Central Europe?
Check out my written testimony to the
@tlhumanrights.bsky.social on the topic, now published by
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social @authlibeu.bsky.social
👉 gmfus.org/news/anti-fo...
Anti-Foreign NGO Laws: A Tool to Repress Civil Society
Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe Regional Director Daniel Hegedüs appeared before the US House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission to give testimony for a hearing on laws outside...
gmfus.org
September 25, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
danielhegedus.bsky.social
We had an extremely informative and in-depth election readout with Andrea Michalcová, @petraguasti.bsky.social & Vít Dostál about the domestic and EU & foreign policy implications of the 🇨🇿 elections.
Key takeaway & video in THREAD
@gmfus.bsky.social
@authlibeu.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
engagingce.bsky.social
📢 Figyelem, magyarországi civil szervezetek és informális csoportok!
Jelentkezzetek most a #FOREST programra, hogy fejlesszétek jogi, digitális, pénzügyi és mentális ellenállóképességeteket.
Mentorálás, képzések és kapcsolatépítési lehetőségek várnak rátok!
ℹ️Jelentkezési határidő: 2025. október 20.
Civil szervezetek megerősítése Magyarországon és Szlovákiában
Pályázati felhívás Pályázati felhívás
tinyurl.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
engagingce.bsky.social
📢Výzva pre všetky mimovládne organizácie a občianske iniciatívy na #Slovensku!
Prihláste sa do programu #FOREST a posilnite svoju právnu, digitálnu, finančnú a psychickú odolnosť.
Čakajú na vás mentoring, školenia a príležitosti na networking!
➡️Info: tinyurl.com/2d5txbx3
Program na posilnenie kapacít občianskej spoločnosti v Maďarsku a na Slovensku
Výzva na podávanie prihlášok Výzva na podávanie prihlášok
tinyurl.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
engagingce.bsky.social
📢Calling all CSOs & civic groups in #Hungary & #Slovakia!
❗️Apply until Oct 20, 2025 for #FOREST to boost your legal, digital, financial & psychological resilience.
Mentoring, trainings & networking opportunities await!
⬇️Info⬇️

@gmfus.bsky.social
FOREST
Fostering CSOs’ Resilience to Shrinking Spaces and Strengthening their Capacities through Individual Mentoring and Value Mainstreaming in Hungary and Slovakia Fostering CSOs’ Resilience to Shrinking S...
www.gmfus.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇲🇩 "Moldova is confronted with a growing web of internal and external threats as well as risks to electoral integrity."

Ahead of this weekend's elections in Moldova, explore a risk assessment of electoral integrity there:
Risk Assessment: Electoral Integrity in Moldova
Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine since February 2022 has not only destabilized European security but has also intensified hybrid threats across Eastern Europe. In the Republic of Moldova…
www.gmfus.org
September 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
handle.invalid
Time to re-up our recent @gmfus.bsky.social paper by @laurentiuplesca.bsky.social setting out three election and post-election scenarios in Moldova. The final score for Alternativa and Our Party will be determinant in two of them.
September 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇲🇩 The results of Moldova’s parliamentary elections demonstrate a decisive political shift and confirm the nation's democratic resilience.

🗳️ Read Will Kingston-Cox and GMF's Laurențiu Pleșca's analysis on the Moldovan elections here:
Russia Has Lost Moldova
The results of Moldova’s parliamentary elections demonstrate a decisive political shift. Pro-Russian narratives, propaganda networks, and entrenched corruption can no longer dominate the national…
www.gmfus.org
September 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
"From the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, it has been clear that the consequences of the war would not be limited to physical destruction. What Ukraine faced was a systemic breakdown of infrastructure...," writes GMF's Valeriia Ivanova.

➡️ buff.ly/RUkaNoY
September 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
danielhegedus.bsky.social
The #DroneWall might be necessary to maintain societal resilience but is not a strategic answer to 🇷🇺's hybrid warfare.
Instead of responding to tactical moves, Europe should address the Kremlin's strategy.
Check out my latest policy brief 🖊️ for @gmfus.bsky.social 👉 www.gmfus.org/news/drone-w...
The Drone Wall
www.gmfus.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇲🇩 🇷🇺 “The goal of the Russian interference is to amplify societal distrust, to diminish the confidence that the Moldovan public has not just in its government and president, but also in its European future,” GMF's Clara Volintiru told the Guardian
The pro-European party won Moldova’s election but obstacles to join the EU remain
Russia’s campaign to amplify societal distrust continues as membership talks have stalled
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
Today, national security executive Dr. Daniel Kliman joins GMF as senior vice president for global power shifts. He will oversee a new GMF pillar on adapting the transatlantic partnership to a shifting global landscape and serve as a member of the GMF executive team. Learn more: buff.ly/KG6czAd
October 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
📈 In the latest roundup of the competitiveness check, GMF experts highlight new tariffs announced and the top five transatlantic trade-related developments.

➡️ Read the full roundup here: www.gmfus.org/news/competi...
Competitiveness Check—September 30 Edition
The Quick Take
www.gmfus.org
October 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇨🇿 "...should ANO lead the next government, there will most likely be more continuity than change in foreign policy, even if there is a different tone and a greater focus on NATO than on the EU."

Ahead today and tomorrow's Czech elections, read an analysis by fellow Pavel Havlicek:
The World According to Andrej Babiš
According to all polls and expectations, Andrej Babiš and his ANO party will come out of Czechia’s October 3–4 parliamentary elections as the most important political force for the next four years,…
www.gmfus.org
October 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇺🇦 "[Measures like the drone wall] although necessary, divert financial and military resources away from Ukraine, which remains the most efficient use of resources for containing and deterring Russia," writes @danielhegedus.bsky.social. www.gmfus.org/news/drone-w...
The Drone Wall
September has witnessed a profound rise in the intensity of Kremlin hybrid warfare against EU and NATO member states, setting off alarm bells with European leaders and among their publics. Moscow is…
www.gmfus.org
October 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
"Mr. Babis’s return to power would reflect an increasing polarization of voters who seesaw between illiberal populists and pro-Western democratic values, especially in Eastern Europe."

GMF Expert @danielhegedus.bsky.social featured in the New York Times:
Andrej Babis Likely to Return as Czech Prime Minister After Parliamentary Win
The party of Andrej Babis, a billionaire and a skeptic of military support to Ukraine, prevailed in parliamentary elections by focusing on the economy.
www.nytimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
Czechia ≠ Hungary. Babiš’s win doesn’t mean Orbán-style illiberalism is coming. Checks, coalitions, and EU ties keep things balanced.

➡️ Read Zsuzsanna Végh’s take via GMF: buff.ly/6Sxv5UA
Czechia Is No Hungary
The Czech parliamentary election brought a stronger than anticipated comeback for Andrej Babiš’ populist ANO.  Having secured a clear plurality in the October 3–4 election—34.5 % of the vote, and…
www.gmfus.org
October 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Dimitar Keranov, PhD
gmfus.bsky.social
🇲🇩 🇪🇺 The coming decade will determine whether Moldova completes its progress along EU accession or slips into indefinite geopolitical limbo. The stakes are existential—not only for Moldova, but for the resilience of democracy in a region under siege.

🔗@dimker.bsky.social's analysis:
Bulgaria’s Ties to Moldova’s Ethnic Minorities: A Channel for Pro-EU Engagement
Russia exploits its linguistic and cultural ties to Moldova’s ethnic minorities as part of its malign influence campaign. This policy brief highlights how Bulgaria’s little-noticed diaspora…
www.gmfus.org
September 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM