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(RFE/RL Russian Service)

VISUAL REPORTS

Rallies Against Serbian Leader Vucic Continue In Belgrade

Thousands of people rallied on April 8 in Belgrade, continuing days of protests against the election of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as the country's new president.

Tens Of Thousands March To Support Soros-Founded CEU

Tens of thousands of people marched in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on April 9 in support of the Central European University, which is threatened with closure by a bill passed by the Hungarian parliament on April 4.

Kyrgyzstan Remembers Victims Of 2010 Revolution Protests

Kyrgyzstan held ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the 2010 revolution that ousted the country's authoritarian President, Kurmanbek Bakiev.

VOX-POP: Should Russia Refuse To Support The Assad Regime?

Respondents to an informal street poll in Moscow presented a variety of views. Some said the use of chemical weapons should be condemned and Russia’s support of Syria stopped, while others questioned whether allegations that Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian citizens were true. One respondent proposed dialogue to stop the use of chemical weapons while allowing Russia’s relationship with Syria to continue, rather than a “black and white” approach. (Russian Service)

OTHER NEWS

Kremlin Says No Putin-Tillerson Meeting Planned

The Kremlin says there are no plans for U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to meet with President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow this week.

Navalny Released After 15 Days In Jail

A key aide to Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny says he has been released from jail after serving a 15-day jail term.

Spain Detains Russian Programmer Suspected of Hacking U.S. Election

Authorities in Barcelona have detained Denis Levashov, a St. Petersburg computer programmer suspecting by the United States of being involved in efforts to hack the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. (in Russian, Current Time TV)

Russian Draft Law Would Ban Social Networks To Children Under 14

Legislation has been introduced to the Russian Duma that would require persons registering to use Russian social networks to provide passport data, and prohibit children under 14 years of age from registering at all, regardless of citizenship. (in Russian, Current Time TV)

Ukraine's Reformist Central Bank Chief Resigns Amid Pressure

Ukrainian central bank chief Valeria Hontareva has resigned amid political pressure.

In Ukraine, Both Sides To Appeal Verdicts In Tornado Battalion Case

Ukrainian prosecutors and defense lawyers have both vowed to appeal the verdicts and prison sentences handed down to former members of the disbanded Tornado battalion.

Russia To Issue $1 Billion Loan To Belarus

Belarus’s deputy prime minister announced on April 9 that Russia will issue the country a loan amounting to nearly $1 billion, pursuant to a meeting between the two countries’ leaders in Moscow on April 3. He added that Russia will advocate that $600 million be allocated for Belarus from The Eurasian Fund for Stabilization. (Ukrainian Service)

Bibilov Wins Separatist South Ossetia Vote

Officials in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region say the speaker of the de facto parliament, Anatoly Bibilov, has won a presidential election condemned by Tbilisi and the West as illegitimate.

Moldova Says 17 Arrested In Plot to Assassinate Leading Politician

Prosecutors say that 17 people have been detained in Moldova and Ukraine in a suspected plot to assassinate Vladimir Plahotniuc, one of Moldova’s most powerful politicians.

Russian Detained In Norway After Oslo Bomb Scare

Norwegian authorities say they have detained a young Russian citizen after a "bomb-like" device was found in central Oslo.

Proposed Article To Kazakh Criminal Code Raises Concern

Article 174 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code outlaws actions that foment social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious hatred, or that insult national honor or dignity, or the religious feelings of citizens.

Astronaut, Two Cosmonauts Wind Up 173-Day Space Station Assignment

A U.S. astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to return to Earth on April 10 after 173 days aboard the International Space Station.

ANALYSIS: Terms Of Union With Russia Dominate South Ossetian Vote

MOST READ/RUSSIA: Putin At Odds

Political analyst and Arab studies expert Grigory Kosach told RFE/RL that the U.S. missile strike on Syria has put Moscow in a very difficult position: further pressure on Russia could force Moscow to make concessions, including a full withdrawal of troops from Syria. Should Assad “win” his war and seek to restore relations with the West, this would also lead Russia to leave Syria. Zeev Khanin, a professor at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said that while Israel supports the American strike, “it will not affect relations between Israel and Russia as long as Israel does not intervene in the Syrian conflict.” (more than 200k views on Russian Service website)

FURTHER AFIELD: PODCAST: Spring Brings Violence, Confusion To Northern Afghanistan

INFOGRAPHIC: Who Do Russians Blame For Corruption?

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