VISUAL REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: More Than One Way To Undermine Your Neighbor's Sovereignty
The Russian Duma has ratified an agreement that effectively merges Russia’s military with that of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region.
At Least 350 Detained At Election Boycott Rallies In Russia
At least 350 people, including opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, were detained across Russia as they rallied in support of an election boycott on January 28.
After Prisoner Swap, Ukrainian Soldiers Fear For Those Left Behind
In late December, the Ukrainian government and Russia-backed separatists exchanged prisoners captured during the conflict in the country's east. Some of those who were released say soldiers still being held face an uncertain fate. (Current Time TV)
Unrest In Kyiv Court As Curfew Ordered For Saakashvili
Shouts of "Shame!" disrupted a judge's ruling in Kyiv as he ordered opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili, who is facing charges of abetting an alleged “criminal group,” to be placed under nightly house arrest. (Ukrainian Service)
Czech Republic Reelects Zeman As President
Incumbent Milos Zeman was reelected president of the Czech Republic for a second five-year term on January 27 with 51.36 percent of the popular vote.
OTHER NEWS
7.40am -- Good Morning!
[Excerpt from Current Time TV’s daily, first-read for Russian-speaking audiences.]
More than 4,000 people took to the streets over the weekend in Moscow in support of Aleksei Navalny and his call to boycott the presidential election. Major rallies also took place in St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Ufa, and Murmansk. Presidential hopeful Ksenia Sobchak did not participate in the rally, but visited the detention center where Navalny was being held by police.
Putin Spokesman Alleges ‘Kremlin Report’ Aimed At Influencing Election
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that Moscow believes a hotly anticipated U.S. list of rich Russians seen as close to President Vladimir Putin is an attempt to meddle in the country's March 18 election.
Finnish President’s Landslide Win Affirms Russia Balancing Act
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto has scored a landslide first-round reelection victory, an apparent vote of confidence for his delicate balancing of relations with Russia and the West.
Putin To Host Netanyahu In Moscow For Talks On Syria, Iran
The Syrian conflict and Iran’s presence in the country will be high on the agenda when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 29.
Despite Russian Police Efforts, Navalny's YouTube Protest Rolls On
On January 28, as thousands of protesters countrywide heeded opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's call to rally for an election boycott, Russian authorities tried, but failed to shut down his most potent tool: his YouTube channel.
Sobchak Campaign Chief's Car Torched In 'Arson' Attack
A car belonging to Russian presidential hopeful Ksenia Sobchak's campaign chief in the northwestern city of Pskov has been torched in an alleged arson attack.
Russian Authorities Confiscate 870 Bear Paws At Chinese Border
Authorities in Russia's Far East say they have detained several people on suspicion of smuggling parts of endangered Siberian tigers, brown bears, and other animals in a raid that has helped uncover a major smuggling route between Russian and China.
Turkmenistan Purges Government, Moves To Open Journalism Institute
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has fired three deputy Prime Ministers and tasked one new appointee with creating a new Institute of Journalism and Mass Communications. (in Russian, Turkmen Service)
POLL: One Third Of Russians Want ‘Sovereign’ Internet
A recent poll published by the Russian state Public Opinion Research Center finds that 36 percent of respondents support a proposal of the Russian Security Council to create an internet exclusively for BRICS countries that is independent of the U.S. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
ICYMI: Who's On The List? Russia's Elite Nervous About New U.S. Sanctions
New financial and travel sanctions against Russians are expected to target an expanded list of secondary companies as well as Kremlin-connected insiders and business leaders.
MAJLIS PODCAST: What Is Kyrgyzstan's New President Doing?