The King Of Wedding Cakes
VISUAL REPORTS
Grigory Yavlinsky Seeks Presidential Run
Declaring the need to build a country where people are respected and live “without fear,” and where the state “finally deals with problems of its own country,” Grigory Yavlinsky, co-founder of the Yabloko party, handed over 105,000 signatures to the Central Election Commission for registration as a candidate in Russia’s March 2018 presidential elections. (Russian Service)
Lavrov Heckled At Syria Peace Talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was heckled by delegates as he addressed Syria peace talks in Sochi on January 30.
Latest Attack In Afghanistan Targets Army Compound
Militants attacked an army compound near the country's main military academy in Kabul on January 29, two days after a bombing in the capital killed more than 100 people. (Afghan Service)
OTHER NEWS
U.S. 'Kremlin Report' Names Senior Political Figures And Tycoons
The U.S. Treasury Department has released a hotly anticipated list of 210 Russian officials and billionaires believed to have close links to President Vladimir Putin, exposing them to scrutiny and potential future sanctions.
Kremlin Says Navalny No Threat
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, speaking one day after thousands of people demonstrated in cities across the country in support of a call to boycott the March 18 election, said opposition leader Aleksei Navalny is not a threat.
Volker Observes 'More Openness' From Russia, But No Peacekeeper Deal
Russia has shown more "openness" to U.S. suggestions on a possible UN peacekeeping mission in war-torn eastern Ukraine, but Washington and Moscow remain far from striking a deal, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker says.
Who Is Testifying For The FSB In Crimea?
A review by RFE/RL of the transcripts of several criminal cases brought by Russian courts against Crimean activists and journalists on charges of “separatism” and “extremism” shows that the same witnesses are called again and again to testify against the accused in numerous cases. (Crimea Realities)
Russia's Birthrate Drops More Than 10 Percent In 2017
Russia's state statistics service (Rosstat) reports the country's birthrate dropped 10.7 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year. The country’s mortality rate also dropped in 2017 by 3.9 percent, but the population trend remains negative.
Russian Fighter Flies Within 1.5 Meters Of U.S. Navy Plane
Washington says a Russian military jet engaged in an "unsafe interaction" with a U.S. Navy surveillance plane over the Black Sea on January 29, coming within 1.5 meters and crossing directly in front of the U.S. plane.
Senior U.S. Diplomat Headed To Uzbekistan For Talks
U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian affairs Alice Wells is scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan this week for talks with senior Uzbek officials "to review progress" under President Shavkat Mirziyoev's "reform agenda."
Gulnara Karimova’s Son Asks For Asylum In Britain
The son of Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the late longtime Uzbek President Islam Karimov, has reportedly asked for political asylum in Britain.
Uzbek Officials Say Former Interior Minister Detained
Former Uzbek Interior Minister Adham Ahmadboev has been detained, according to two law enforcement officials in the Central Asian state, though it remains unclear on what charges.
PRESSROOM: U.S. Congressional Press Freedom Caucus Protests Closure Of RFE/RL Islamabad Bureau
“Radio Mashaal’s...closure is an unwelcome setback in the fight against extremism and strikes another blow against press freedom in a region consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the world for journalists. If Pakistan is serious about countering extremism, it must recognize that Radio Mashaal [RFE/RL’s Pashto-language service to Pakistan - ed.]is an ally and that its ban sends the wrong message.”