VISUAL REPORTS
Oleh Sentsov: Five Years Behind Bars
It’s been five years since Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov was arrested by Russia on terror charges that are widely seen as politically motivated. He remains in a remote prison, but has recovered his health following a hunger strike last year, and is not forgotten.
Russians Dig Deep For Their War Dead
Each spring, volunteers head to a hilly area named Sinyavino near St. Petersburg to unearth the remains of Soviet soldiers killed during fighting on the World War II front line. Thousands of bodies have been excavated in recent years, amid renewed interested in Russia's wartime campaign.
Fake News Forensics: Montenegrin Team Dissects Disinformation
A team of online sleuths in Montenegro is electronically combing the Internet in search of fake news.
Not Welcome In Kazakhstan: American Charity Worker Expelled
Victoria Charbonneau, an American charity worker who's worked for nearly 20 years helping orphans and single mothers in Kazakhstan, has been deported from the country.
IRAN: U.S. Says It’s ‘Not Spoiling For A Fight’
Amid growing concerns of a conflict between the United States and Iran, Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, underscored the U.S. message that its military buildup in the Persian Gulf region is a "defensive" move, and told RFE/RL that Washington was "just trying to restore deterrence."
OTHER NEWS
In Sochi, Putin Tells Pompeo He Hopes To 'Fully Restore' Ties
During their May 14 meeting in the Black Sea city of Sochi, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia against interfering in next year's U.S. presidential election, as Russia's foreign minister likened Washington's push for a new government in Venezuela to the U.S. war in Iraq, and accused the United States of funding Russian nongovernmental organizations, with the aim of influencing Russia's elections.
Senior Russia Space Official Said To Have Fled Russia
A senior official from Russia's Roskosmos space agency, Yury Yaskin, has apparently fled Russia in the midst of audits and inspections of the satellite and ballistic-missile research center that he headed.
Witness In Russian Soccer Players’ Assault Case Falls From Balcony Of Czech Hotel
A key witness in a case that resulted in prison terms for two Russian soccer players who assaulted a government official in Moscow has sustained "serious injuries" after falling from a fourth-story balcony at a Czech resort.
Russian Activist Udaltsov Detained For Parole Violation
Russian opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov says he was detained by police in Moscow on May 14 for a parole violation that he is accused of committing during public demonstrations that took place in the city on May 1.
Ukraine Appoints New Head Judge Of Constitutional Court
Judges with Ukraine’s Constitutional Court meeting on May 14 issued a decision to unseat Stanislav Shevchuk, the body’s head judge, citing disciplinary offenses and “systematic neglect” of duties. They named Natalia Shaptala as the Court’s new head to serve a single three-year term. Shevchuk called the move a “constitutional coup,” and accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of orchestrating it. (Ukrainian Service)
Poland Proposes Closer Ties For EU Eastern Partnership Nations
The Polish foreign minister has called for an upgraded Eastern Partnership -- a European Union program for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine -- including closer ties with EU and the creation of a free-trade zone among the six member nations.
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey Most Restrictive On Gay Rights In Europe
Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia have the most restrictive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) laws and policies in Europe, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) reports.
Kocharian Trial Draws Rival Protests
Rival protests were staged on May 14 outside of a court building in Yerevan by supporters and opponents of Armenian ex-President Robert Kocharian, as his trial on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order entered its second day.
Bosnian Serb Leader’s Call For Wartime Uniforms Tugs At Country’s Nationalist Threads
Amid its deep ethnic divisions, Bosnia-Herzegovina's armed forces have stood out as an anomaly where Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs stand side by side. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik's proposal to have one infantry regiment wear wartime uniforms for ceremonies threatens to undo that.
European Commission Adopts New Strategy On Central Asia
The new strategy, which updates a similar strategy from 2007, aims to create "a stronger, modern, and nonexclusive partnership" with those former Soviet republics in Central Asia that are "willing and able" to improve relations. Cooperation agreements signed with Kazakhstan at the end of 2015 will remain "a cornerstone" of Brussels' engagement in the region, the document says.
Kazakhstan Shows Managed Transition Not The Smoothest Path In Central Asia
After Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev announced his retirement on March 19, it quickly became apparent that Kazakhstan's elites had a roadmap for the succession. But not everything has gone as planned.
Kyrgyz Security Chief Resigns Under Pressure Amid Corruption Allegations
The chairman of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, Idris Kadyrkulov, resigned on May 15 under pressure amid widespread allegations of corruption.
Ex-Kyrgyz Health Minister Detained Over Prison Release Of Crime Boss
Kyrgyzstan's former health minister, Dinara Sagynbaeva, has been detained for questioning about the early release from prison in 2013 of Aziz Batukaev, one of Kyrgyzstan's most notorious crime bosses. Sagynbaeva served as health minister when Batukaev was released following a diagnosis of leukemia that was later found to have been falsified.