VISUAL REPORTS
DISINFORMATION: How Russian TV Covered The May 5 Protests
Current Time TV juxtaposes its coverage of the May 5 “He is not our Tsar” protests during which approximately 700 people were detained in Moscow and more than 1600 nationwide, with state TV programming, which ignored the protests and instead focused almost exclusively on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 7 inauguration and plans for Victory Day celebrations on May 9. (Current Time TV)
Navalny Hearing Postponed Until May 15
A Moscow court has postponed the hearing of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who has been held in custody since protest rallies on May 5. Navalny told RFE/RL he has no doubt the court has already made up its mind and is simply following standard procedures. (Russian Service)
Ukrainian Activists Storm TV Owner's Home
Ukrainian nationalists broke through a police cordon to enter the house of opposition lawmaker Serhiy Lyovochkin, a co-owner of Inter TV, after the channel broadcast a statement criticizing the renaming of streets for World War II-era Ukrainian nationalists.
PHOTOGALLERY: The Armenian Diaspora That Joined The Protests
Members of Armenia’s large diaspora population came home to join the wave of mass protests that brought down the government. Armenia’s population is around 3 million, but twice as many Armenians live abroad.
OTHER NEWS
Armenian Government Conducts First Shake-Up Under Pashinian
The Armenian government has conducted its first major shake-up since former protest leader Nikol Pashinian became prime minister on May 8, firing the country's top police chief and its national security adviser, while the acting finance minister announced his resignation.
Putin Rejects Calls To Allow Serebrennikov To Attend Cannes Premiere
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected calls for the release of detained filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov to allow him to travel to the Cannes Film Festival to attend the screening of his film Leto (Summer) about 1980s Russian rock legend Viktor Tsoi.
Moscow Court Rejects House Arrest For Ailing Theater Director
A court in Moscow has rejected a request by investigators to grant house arrest to Aleksei Malobrodsky, a former director of Moscow's embattled Gogol Center theater, who is charged with embezzlement and fraud in a case that has sent a chill through Russian culture.
Leader Of Moscow Cossacks Linked to FSB, Defense
A Current Time investigation has found that Ivan Mironov, the leader of the Moscow Cossacks who have been filmed beating protesters during a May 5 rally, is a Lieutenant-General of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reserve, and an associate of Sergei Chemezov, the head of the state-run defense and civil conglomerate Rostec. Under Mironov’s leadership, the Cossacks have received grants from the Moscow municipality and the federal Ministry of Culture. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russian Finance Ministry Giveth And Taketh Away
Russia’s finance ministry has proposed reducing spending on pensions by approximately $827 million as part of a $859 million package of cuts on social benefits. At the same time, the ministry is proposing increases of $324 million and $37 million on law enforcement and the army, respectively. (Russian Service)
Hague Court Rules To Compensate Ukrainian Firms For Crimea Annexation
The International Arbitration Court in the Hague has issued its first rulings on compensation to Ukrainian companies that suffered financial losses following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, finding them entitled to the recovery of $159 million from Russia. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Montenegrin Journalist's Shooting Sparks Déjà Vu For Another Recent Target
Montenegrin Journalist Sead Sadikovic, known for his hard-hitting reporting on corruption and organized crime, told RFE/RL, “... the story with Olivera Lakic is the story that all journalists [in Montenegro] are the targets, and that they wanted to kill her.”
Uzbekistan Takes Step To Eradicate Forced Labor
The Uzbek government has issued a decree aimed at ending the practice of forced labor. The directive, issued May 10, says that state employees, including teachers and doctors, as well as students at state-run schools, cannot be ordered to perform tasks such as cleaning streets or picking cotton, a common practice in Uzbekistan.
BLOGGING CENTRAL ASIA: Turkmenistan's New Seaport Faces Stiff Competition For Eurasian Trade
IRAN: Iran Reformists Try To Pivot After U.S. Spurns Nuclear Deal
ICYMI: Meet Columbus Nova