RFE/RL in the Media
# Read Tom Balmforth and Claire Bigg in "The Atlantic" on the struggles of Russia's disabled population
Middle East
# "Spiegel's" hard-hitting interview with Bashar al-Assad
# Kerry "pleased" with Syria so far
# Turkey building wall on Syria border
Iran
# Debate in Iran about ending "death to America" chants
# Why Israel should help the U.S. strike a deal with Iran
# "Iran Missed the Real Revolution" - Afshin Molavi, Weekly Wonk
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# "Portrait of an Afghan Assassin" - Matthieu Aikins, "Mother Jones"
# "The most important year" of the war in Afghanistan
# Video: In interview with BBC, Karzai says women "should not fear" return of Taliban; U.S and Afghanistan may go separate ways; and NATO actions have brought "no gains"
# "Who bombed Pakistan's Christians" - Jean MacKenzie, Global Post
# Pakistani Taliban issues fresh threat against Malala Yousafzai
# "The Guardian" interviews Yousafzai
Russia
# On the rig targeted by Greenpeace activists
# Moscow bans Lithuanian milk imports
# Igor Sechin concerned by question to Putin
# Obama's withdrawal from APEC summit a "gift" to Putin and Xi
Eastern Europe
# Klitschko-Povetkin boxing match turns into a "settling of geopolitical scores"
Azerbaijan Elections
# "What Lies Ahead for Azerbaijan" - Thomas de Waal, Carnegie
# In Azerbaijan, Aliyev set to win amid claims of corruption
# Can social media level the playing field? (No)
# "Female Believers See Opportunity in Election Protests" - Shahla Sultanova, Eurasianet
Caucasus
# "Contras in the Caucasus" - Alexandros Petersen, "The National Interest"
# Georgian mom keeps dead son mummified
Central Asia
# Pastor to be transferred to house arrest
# "Has China Shanghaied Central Asia?" - Temuri Yakobashvili & Christina Lin, RCW
Of Interest