VISUAL REPORTS
Western Balkan Leaders Meet As Regional Tensions Grow
The prime ministers of six Western Balkan nations arrived in Bosnia-Herzegovina amid growing concern in the European Union that Russia is trying to destabilize the region.
Accusations Of Treason Levelled At Macedonia Protests
Treason accusations were leveled at Social Democrat legislators who proposed a deal with ethnic Albanian parties, as protests against the agreement continued in Macedonia.
The Iceman Cometh: Repairing Ships in Siberia
In sub-zero temperatures, they climb beneath cargo ships to hack away ice -- meet the icemen of Siberia's ship yards.
OTHER NEWS
U.S. Denounces Crimea Annexation On Referendum Anniversary
The United States on March 16 issued a sharp condemnation of Russia’s seizure of Crimea and the referendum that Moscow staged there and later held up as justification for its annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.
'We Should Never Trust Russia,' Warns U.S. Ambassador To UN
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says Washington should "never trust Russia," the latest in a series of hawkish statements that have made her a leading Russia critic in President Donald Trump's administration.
Lithuania Wants NATO Command To Move Closer To Eastern Borders
Lithuania’s president says NATO should move its command centers closer to the alliance’s eastern borders to deter the "growing threat from Russia."
Putin Says Merkel Expected To Visit Russia On May 2
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the premier of the German state of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, announced the visit in comments in Moscow on March 16.
Russia Paid Former White House Adviser Flynn $67,000, Documents Show
Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn was paid more than $67,000 by Russian companies before the U.S. presidential election, according to documents released on March 16 by a Democratic congressman.
Russia Authorities Move To Ban Jehovah's Witnesses As Extremists
Russian authorities have moved to shut down the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, asking the country’s Supreme Court to declare the denomination an extremist organization.
Russian Law Exempts Persons Under Sanctions From Taxes
The new law, passed by the Duma on March 17, concerns Russians who own property in Europe and elsewhere, but must live in Russia because of sanctions and report their income to the Federation’s tax service. It would allow them to pay taxes where their property is registered, despite their permanent residence in Russia. (Russian Service)
OSCE Prolongs Mission In Ukraine By One Year
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on March 16 prolonged its monitoring mission in Ukraine by one year, until March 2018.
European Parliament Calls On Russia To Free Ukrainians
The European Parliament is calling on Moscow to free more than 30 Ukrainian citizens who are in prison or other conditions of restricted freedom in Russia, Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists.
EU Releases 600 Million Euros In Aid To Shore Up Ukraine Economy
The European Commission has agreed to send Ukraine 600 million euros to shore up its deteriorating economy, ending months of delays over conditions linked to the loan.
Ukraine Tax Chief Released On $3.7 Million Bail
Ukraine's suspended tax and customs service chief, Roman Nasirov, has been released on bail from his two-month pretrial detention on embezzlement charges.
Belarus Demands Journalist's Extradition From Russia
Belarus Prosecutor-General Alyaksandr Kanyuk says Minsk is ready to provide Russia with the materials needed for the extradition of a senior editor of the Russian news agency Regnum.
Belarus Court Orders AP Reporter To Disavow Story
A Belarus court has ordered an Associated Press reporter to disavow a report he wrote showing high levels of radioactivity in milk produced near areas that were irradiated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Azerbaijani Authorities Take Control Of Internet
A new law that critics say violates the country’s constitution has given authority to officials from Azerbaijan’s ministries of transportation and communications to remove, without a judicial order, any information posted to websites registered with the national internet domain name, “az.” (in Russian, Azerbaijani Service)
Georgia Says Russia Deploying Anti-Aircraft Systems In Abkhazia
Georgia’s foreign ministry claimed on March 17 that Russia is deploying S-300 surface-to-air missile systems in separatist-controlled Abkhazia. A spokesperson said the missiles may not be aimed at Georgia, which lacks a modern air force, but at NATO's activity in the Black Sea. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Faux 'Treason' Warrants Further Poison Political Air In Skopje
As Macedonia finds itself mired in political crisis, the appearance of mock warrants accusing lawmakers of treason has added fuel to the fire.
Family Of Former Turkmen FM Shikhmuradov Questions Reports About His Death
In an interview with RFE/RL, Bairam Shikhmuradov, the son of former Turkmen Foreign Affairs Minister Boris Shikhmuradov, whom human rights groups widely believe was executed while in prison between 2003 and 2005, questioned the reliability of such information and whether his father is, indeed, dead. (in Russian, Turkmen Service)
ANALYSIS: Vucic's Popularity Could Pack A Hidden Punch In Serbia