The Rundown -- March 18

RFE/RL in the Media

# NBC News cites RFE/RL coverage of Ukraine sanctions debate

# The National Interest cites RFE/RL piece on constitutional questions

# Potential closure of RFE/RL Balkans and Iraq services criticized in "Jerusalem Post" opinion piece

# Blockage of RFE/RL Tajik Service mentioned in World Politics Review

Ukraine

# The morning after

# Cyberwar already in full swing

# Ukraine's richest oligarch, Yanukovych ally, claims he pleaded with the former president to resign

# Rada backs mobilizing 40,000 reservists

# "Crimean Voters Excited To Exercise Democracy for the Last Time" - The Onion

Russia

# Russia to respond to sanctions with its own against U.S senators

# Russia admits economy is in crisis; already "paying a huge price"

# Moscow rejects report saying there's no widespread abuse of ethnic Russians

# Russian oligarch Fridman makes large investment in German oil and gas unit

# Foreign investors in Russia are "vital" to sanctions debate

Eastern Europe

# Belarus: "Belarus is a sovereign state"

# NATO and Moldova discuss strengthening cooperation

Afghanistan/Pakistan

# Gunmen kill Afghan judge and bodyguard

# Afghanistan UN envoy says pact with U.S. will be signed soon

# U.S. might give excess military supplies in Afghanistan to Pakistan

# Pakistan relationship with China suffers over failure to control Uighur militants

Iran

# Zarif cancels meeting with Ashton to protest her "uncoordinated" meeting with rights activists in Iran

# U.S.-Russia crisis could disrupt talks with Iran

# Could crisis strengthen Russia-China-Iran ties?

# "Gatekeeper Experts Key to Nuclear Deal With Iran" - Al Monitor

# Iran dismisses commanders over abduction

# Khamenei defends tours of Iran-Iraq war frontlines

# Why Kazakhstan leaders are not (yet) losing sleep over Crimea

# TeliaSonera faces U.S. probe on Uzbekistan corruption charges

# Tajikistan farmers say Dushanbe livestock ban breeds corruption

Caucasus

# Azerbaijan opposition leaders get seven and five year jail terms

# "Azerbaijan journalists should put national interests above all else"

# Armenia's Russian base holds training

Balkans

# Serbia's new prime minister plans "painful" deficit steps

# Profile of ultranationalist-turned-liberal Vucic

Of Interest

# The Deep Web: Everything You Need to Know in Two Minutes

# The state of journalism in Turkey

# The robot-journalist who (?) reported on LA's earthquake