The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe had slowly integrated a democratic government. This however does not mean it was perfect, most of them are corrupted but even Russia had declared itself a Republic after the end of the Communist Regime.
