VISUAL REPORTS
Graffiti Artists Take Church Icons To The Streets
In Moscow, large-scale Orthodox icons rendered in spray paint decorate bridges and underpasses. They're the work of artist Aleksandr Tsypkov and fellow creators who believe that everyone, not just church-goers, should be able to see religious art.
Journey Into Hell: A Reporter Remembers Moscow's Assault On Grozny
On the last day of 1994, Russian forces launched their first major assault on Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Instead of ringing in the New Year, Grozny's residents covered under shelling and bombing. RFE/RL Russian Service contributor Vladimir Voronov remembers covering the battle.
Croatian Opposition Candidate Milanovic Wins Presidential Vote
Leftist challenger Zoran Milanovic has won Croatia's presidential election, defeating the conservative incumbent, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.
The Best Of Current Time -- 2019 In Review
Explore the highlights of Current Time's 2019 coverage, from the rise of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Russia's war on rappers and Kazakhstan's debate over the legacy of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev.
OTHER NEWS
A Beneficiary Of The U.S.- Iran Crisis Could Well Be Russia
Senior Russian officials have publicly condemned the U.S. killing of Iran’s most powerful military commander. However, the Kremlin may be able to capitalize on the attack against its ally Tehran if it drives a deeper wedge in Washington’s strategic relationship with European allies.
Russian Anti-Doping Agency Head Sees Little Chance In Appeal Of Ban
The head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency says his country has little chance to win its appeal against a four-year ban on participation in major sporting events, adding that Russian athletes might even be excluded from competition under a neutral flag.
Ukraine Says Nearly 100 Ukrainians Remain In Russian Prisons
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has stated that nearly 100 Ukrainians remain illegally detained by Russia, and appealed to the international community to press the Kremlin to release all political prisoners held on Russian and Ukrainian territories. (Ukrainian Service)
Two Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In Eastern Conflict Zone
Ukraine's Defense Ministry has said that two soldiers were killed during the previous 24 hours while on a combat mission in the country's eastern Donbas region. It said that Russia-backed separatists violated a cease-fire deal four times since January 5.
About 600 Moscow-Aligned Parishes Convert To New Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Some 600 parishes in Ukraine belonging to the Orthodox church aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate have in one year switched over to the newly formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the church's leader says.
Police Search Home Of Tatarstan Activist Who Mocked Russian Officials On Internet
Police in Russia's Tatarstan have searched the home of civil rights activist Karim Yamadayev after his Internet show mocked President Vladimir Putin, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, and Igor Sechin, the powerful chief of Russian oil giant Rosneft.
Belarus, Russia Reach Deal To Reopen Oil Deliveries
Oil executives say they have reached agreement to restart Russian crude-oil supplies to Belarus following a cutoff over transit fees on January 1. Belarus agreed to abandon a supplier's premium on the oil that it imports from its much larger neighbor, Belarus's Belneftekhim said in a statement on January 4.
Tycoon At Center Of Kygyz Corruption Scandal Poured Millions Into EU, U.S. Real Estate
Khabibula Abdukadyr, a powerful Uyghur businessman with a Kazakh passport, is at the center of a corruption scandal in Kyrgyzstan over massive sums spirited out of the country. He and his family invested tens of millions of dollars in European and U.S. real estate, a new investigation by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, OCCRP, and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop has found.
Uzbekistan Confirms New Case Against Gulnara Karimova
The prosecutor-general's office of Uzbekistan has confirmed that a new criminal case against Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the country’s previous president, will proceed to court. Karimova is accused of committing crimes involving extortion, embezzlement, and money laundering. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
COMMENTARY: How Much Is Russia’s Military Helping Turkmenistan?
IRAN: Short-Term Support? Soleimani’s Killing Gives Iran A Chance To Show Some Unity
IRAN: RFE/RL Radio Farda Director Parpanchi Comments On Soleimani Strike