VISUAL REPORTS
Tajik Opposition Activist: 'I Was Kidnapped In Moscow'
Tajik opposition activist Sharofiddin Gadoev said in a video statement that he was abducted in Moscow by Tajik government officials. Now back in the Netherlands, where he has refugee status, Gadoev said that he was tortured in Tajikistan, and pledged to give more details on the ordeal in the coming days.
'Stick It To The Man': Serbia's Anti-Vucic Sticker Protest
Armed with an arsenal of stickers, demonstrators in Belgrade have been plastering public places with antigovernment slogans as part of a three-month protest campaign against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
INFOGRAPHIC: Periodic Table, Then And Now
When Dmitry Mendeleyev published the periodic table in 1869, he included the 64 elements that were known at that time. Here are the elements that the table has gained in 150 years.
OTHER NEWS
Putin, Citing Spy Threat, Seeks Stronger Protection Of Military Secrets
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the country’s security service to strengthen the protection of information related to new weapons and other sensitive data, saying that foreign intelligence agencies were beefing up activities in the country. In a speech to top officials of the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 6, he said the agency had exposed 129 foreign intelligence officers and 465 of their agents last year.
Erdogan Defiant On S-400 Missile Deal With Russia
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is determined to go through with a deal to purchase S-400 missile-defense systems from Russia, despite opposition from Washington. He told local media on March 6, "...the deal is done...and perhaps after the S-400, we will move onto the S-500.”
Russian Duma Passes Bills Banning 'Fake News' And 'Insults'
The Russian Duma has approved legislation that would block websites that publish what the authorities deem to be "fake news" and penalizing websites that "insult" authorities, state symbols, and what the legislation vaguely describes as Russian "society." Critics of the bill, which awaits Federation Council and presidential approval, say it would empower authorities to shut down undesirable websites.
Telegram Calls For Protest Against Internet Bill
Telegram messenger has issued a call to users to join a March 10 protest in Moscow against proposed legislation creating a “sovereign internet” in Russia, which Telegram says aims to “introduce total censorship.” Telegram IP addresses have been blocked in Russia on a daily basis for over 10 months. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russian Duma Speaker Rebukes Economy Minister In Sign Of Tension
The speaker of the Russian State Duma halted an appearance by Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin and told him to come back another time, a rare rebuke that underscored tension and rivalries in President Vladimir Putin's ruling elite.
Two Mormons Detained In Russian Black Sea Port
Russian law enforcement officials have detained two members of the Mormon church in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on unspecified charges. The state-run news agency TASS reported March 6 that a district court in the city had found two unnamed Americans guilty of violating Russian immigration laws.
'Bring Your Corpse': Russia To Investigate Self-Service Morgues
In Russia's Far East, dead bodies travel by night in private cars. They bump along on backseats over potholed roads, transported by relatives who are greeted at the local morgue with a handwritten sign on a gray steel door. "Bring your corpse, turn on the refrigerator," it reads. "Press the top button behind the fridge to the left, and wait till it beeps."
U.S. Envoy Urges Firing Of Top Ukrainian Anticorruption Official
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine has called on authorities to fire the country’s special anticorruption prosecutor and tackle its corruption problem. Marie Yovanovitch made the calls in a speech in Kyiv on March 5, less than four weeks before Ukraine holds a crucial presidential election.
Ukrainian Candidates Silent On Numerous Societal Issues
RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service has looked into what presidential candidates are not talking about in their campaigns. References to LGBT issues, cannabis, prostitution, and guns are virtually nonexistent, even among top-ranking candidates. Ukrainian political scientists say the higher the candidate’s rating, the less likely he or she is to comment on those topics. (Ukrainian Service)
Tajikistan To Hike Prices For Internet
Effective March 27,Tajikistan’s mobile operators will raise prices for accessing the internet by 60%, to at least $5.5 per gigabyte compared to $3.7 currently. Internet penetration in Tajikistan is already among the lowest in Central Asia, at 33.1%, and critics warn the increases will reduce users while tightening government control over the media. (in Russian, Current Time TV)