From HK to Moscow, will wave of unrest continue?

ANGELA Merkel and other European leaders are preparing on Monday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the start of the fall of Soviet Communism. Three decades on from initial protests on the Hungarian-Austrian border, which became the first chink in the Iron Curtain, questions are being raised about the significance of current unrest from Moscow to Hong Kong.

Take the example of Hong Kong where the international airport has been paralysed in recent days because of anti-government protests. This comes amid the worst political unrest in the Chinese territory for decades, which started in criticism of a proposed law allowing for extradition of people to the mainland.

Meanwhile, Moscow is also witnessing the biggest protests in years with tens of thousands hitting the streets triggered by exclusion of opposition and independent candidates from the city's council ballot. So far at least, the crackdown by Russian authorities has been stronger than China, with mass arrests by police in Moscow.