Paving Over History For The Big Race
VIDEO REPORTS
Kyiv Demands Savchenko’s Release
Thousands of people rallied in Kyiv's Independence Square on March 6 to demand Russia release imprisoned Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko, as an angry crowd demonstrated in front of the Russian embassy, pelting the building with rocks and eggs.
The Daily Vertical: Putin’s Liberal Enablers
Speculation is rife that Kremlin human rights ombudsman Elena Panfilova will replace Vladimir Churov as the head of Russia’s central election commission.
Ukraine’s Military Women Say Why They Serve
More than 100 Ukrainian women, including recent graduates, soldiers’ spouses, and even lawyers, are undergoing military training near Lviv. They explain, “if not us, who,” but despite their common mission, they experience discrimination from men. (Ukrainian Service)
Tajikistan Takes Fight With Extremism To Classrooms
With hundreds of its citizens having joined Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, Tajikistan is taking its battle with Islamic extremism to schools, requiring classes in religious education for teenagers.
McDonald’s Opens For Business In Kazakhstan
Twenty-six years after opening its first branch in Moscow, the U.S. fast-food chain has flipped its first burger in Central Asia.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Political Leaders Urge Savchenko's Release
More than 200 political leaders and public figures have signed an open letter to European leaders urging them to take “emergency measures" to demand that Russia release Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko.
Rumors Suggest Jaresko To Replace Yatsenyuk
Amidst reports that Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk may resign, there is speculation that Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko may take his place. (In Ukrainian)
Propagandize This: Russian TV Is Watching People
Meduza media director Galina Timchenko was recently stalked by employees of a Russian state TV channel in Riga, Latvia, accosted, and accused of being Russia’s main media enemy, suggesting that the Kremlin is targeting and intimidating independent journalists and government critics outside their homes and across borders. (In Russian)
Georgians Rally Against Russian Gas
Thousands of people gathered in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on March 6 to protest negotiations between their government and Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom, claiming that a gas deal would lead to dependence on Russia.
Georgian Prime Minister Cautions Feuding Coalition Partners
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has intervened to reduce tensions between two of the five parties in Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition, staving off speculation that the coalition could collapse ahead of the parliamentary elections in October 2016.
Possibility Of Early Elections Raised In Moldova
In an exclusive interview with Current Time TV, Moldova Prime Minister Pavel Filip acknowledged a lack of public confidence in his government, but denied allegations that it is corrupt and under the control of oligarchs. (Current Time TV)
The First 40 Days: Central Asia Up Close
Regional expert Bruce Pannier looks at domestic developments in the five Central Asian states to gauge where each of them is heading as 2016, expected to be an exceptionally tough year, begins.
Most Read/Russia: “How Empire Is Killing Us”
Ahyad Idigov, speaker of Chechnya’s parliament from 1993 - 1997, now exiled in France, told RFE/RL that developments in Crimea and eastern Ukraine recall Chechnya’s experience, which he describes as a fight for independence that was then taken away. (Over 55K On Russian Service website)