Meet Ukraine’s Presidential Candidates
Ukraine’s presidential race is on, with a record-breaking 44 of at least 89 applicants green-lighted to run. The field features veteran politicians, a comedian, journalists, war veterans, career spies, accused criminals, and more.
VISUAL REPORTS
A Temple To Space In A Ukrainian Church
The "Space Museum" in the small Ukrainian town of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy is housed in a 19th-century Orthodox church, one of many buildings that were repurposed or destroyed as part of an antireligion campaign during the Soviet era.
Uproar As Kyrgyz TV Shows 'Hidden Love' In Bride Kidnapping
Kyrgyz state TV has been criticized for promoting domestic violence and bride kidnapping. A high-profile drama series shows a young woman forced to marry against her will but later falling in love with her kidnapper.
PHOTOGALLERY: Snow Collapse In St. Petersburg
Since the end of December, residents of St. Petersburg have complained about poor snow removal and ice in the city that have led to numerous accidents and injuries, and several deaths. (Russian service)
OTHER NEWS
In Slovakia, Pompeo Pledges U.S. Support To Curb Russia, China
On the second leg of his European tour that began in Hungary, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "I want to make sure that the Slovakian people understand that America is engaged, we're back."
Russia Mulls Disconnecting From Internet In Test Of Cyberdefenses
Russia is planning to temporarily disconnect from the global Internet in the coming weeks as it tests its defenses against cyberattacks. Russian media reports the test, which will cut off all data routes connecting Russia to the outside cyberworld, will occur before April 1, though a firm date has yet to be set.
Those Fishy-Looking Russian Economic Stats Look A Lot Like Those Fishy-Looking Soviet Economic Stats
When Russia's state statistics agency released its initial estimates of 2018 economic growth on February 4, it caught economists, investment bankers and financial analysts off-guard. Rosstat's figure of reported GDP growth of 2.3 percent bettered even the most optimistic forecasts, with experts having predicted something in the range of 1.8 to 2.1 percent.
'Banderite' Rebrand: Ukrainian Police Declare Admiration For Nazi Collaborators To Make A Point
From the top on down, Ukrainian police and law enforcement officials are lining up on social media to air their admiration for Stepan Bandera, a hero of far-right extremists whose Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and its military arm, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), fought both Soviet and Nazi forces during World War II but also carried out murderous campaigns against Poles and Jews.
Ukraine’s Enduring Corruption Leaves IMF Unimpressed
Permanent representative of the IMF in Ukraine Gosta Ljungman told an audience in Kyiv that while the country has created institutions to fight corruption, the IMF has not yet seen “radical changes.” Ukraine is ranked 120 among 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perception Index, improving its ranking by 10 places from 130 in 2017. (Ukrainian Service)
Ukrainian Official Suspected In Activist's Death Faces Detention Order
Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General’s office has issued a detention order for Vladyslav Manher, head of the regional council in the southern region of Kherson, on suspicion that Manher organized an acid attack that killed anticorruption activist Kateryna Handzyuk last year.
Rights Activists Concerned After Belarus News-Site Editor Goes On Trial
Maryna Zolatava, editor of Belarus's largest independent news site Tut.by, is on trial following accusations that her publication and two others have illegally obtained information from a state-run news agency.
Estonian Army Officer, Father Jailed For Spying For Russia
An Estonian court has found a former army officer and his father guilty of committing treason by selling classified information over the course of a decade to Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU.
Hungary To Sell Aging MiG-29 Aircraft
Hungary’s Ministry of Defense is selling the country’s remaining MiG-29 inventory, including 19 aircraft, 20 engines and 293 spare parts and armaments. Hungary began replacing the jets, which it received from Russia in the 1990s as payment for Soviet debt, after joining NATO. (Russian Service)
U.S. Cancels National Guard Commander’s Kosovo Visit Over Serbia Tariff
The National Guard commander of the U.S. state of Iowa has cancelled a visit to Kosovo over Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj’s refusal to cancel 100 percent tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Uzbek Security Chief Reportedly 'Under Criminal Investigation'
Former head of Uzbekistan's powerful security service Ikhtiyor Abdullaev is under criminal investigation, one day after President Shavkat Mirziyoev announced that Abdullaev had resigned his post for health reasons.
Nazarbaev Replaces Longtime Interior Minister, Keeps Him Close
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has dismissed long-serving Interior Minister Qalmukhanbet Qasymov, but handed him two potentially influential positions in his administration.
Kazakh Judge Fired After Court Acquits Opposition Activist
The chief judge of a court in western Kazakhstan has been fired in a case he says is politically motivated after his court acquitted an opposition activist in a high-profile case.
Tajik Authorities Issue Arrest Warrant For Prominent Journalist
Tajik authorities have issued an arrest warrant in absentia for prominent journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov, whose 12-year prison sentence was changed to a fine and community service in August 2018 in a case widely seen as politically motivated.
PHOTOGALLERY: On Anniversary, Iran Marks ‘40 Years Of U.S. Defeats’