VISUAL REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: The Kremlin’s Twisted Playbook
Suddenly, the Kremlin is really worried about hackers.
Russian Filmmaker Detained After Raid On Home
Russian cultural figures have appealed to authorities on behalf of prominent filmmaker and art director Kirill Serebrennikov who, a frequent participant in antigovernment protests, was briefly detained on May 23 after a raid on his Moscow home by the Federal Security Service.
Serb Protesters March To Support Regional TV Staff
Hundreds of people marched in support of media freedom in solidarity with the staff working for a regional television station in Serbia.
Kyrgyzstan's Village Of Mosques
The village of Sary-Mogol boasts has gone through a boom in mosque building, but basic amenities like water and electricity remain in short supply.
OTHER NEWS
Editor Of Siberian Newspaper Shot Dead
Russian authorities say the chief editor of a newspaper in the Siberian city of Minusinsk has been shot dead in a killing they believe may be connected to his work.
Ukraine Arrests More Than 20 In 'Biggest-Ever' Corruption Crackdown
Ukrainian law enforcement agents have arrested 23 former high-ranking tax-administration officials suspected of helping the government of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych defraud the state of nearly 97 billion hryvnyas ($4 billion).
U.S. Envoy Urges Balkan States To Guard Against Russian Influence
A top U.S. diplomat on May 24 urged Balkan nations to guard against efforts by Russia to increase its influence in the region and undermine ties with the West.
Tycoon Usmanov Launches New Attack On Navalny
Uzbek-born tycoon Alisher Usmanov issued his second YouTube attack on Aleksei Navalny in a week on May 24.
Russian Lawmakers Target Transparency International
Senior lawmakers are calling for the global anticorruption watchdog’s local affiliate to be investigated, or even banned altogether, for allegedly threatening a member of parliament.
Russian Duma Backs Legislation Targeting Suspected Online Suicide Groups
Russian lawmakers have given preliminary approval to a bill that would enable courts to imprison people convicted of using the Internet to encourage minors to commit suicide.
Russian University Plan To Honor Philippines' Duterte Stirs Criticism
An elite Russian university that serves as a training ground for diplomats has come under fire over its plan to grant an honorary doctorate to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whom rights groups accuse of a campaign of extrajudicial killings targeting drug suspects.
Navalny Supporter Fined For Extremism After Posting John Oliver Video
A Moscow court on May 25 imposed a $26.6 fine on Semyon Kochkin, a regional coordinator for opposition campaign candidate Alexei Navalny, for disseminating “ISIS propaganda” after he posted a video from a 2015 episode of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight show on “how Chechen girls fooled ISIS Fighters.” (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Stalin's Grandson Aleksandr Burdonsky Dead At 75
A grandson of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, theater director Aleksandr Burdonsky, has died at age 75.
CPJ Urges Azerbaijan To Release Jailed Journalist Amiraslanov
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging Azerbaijan to "immediately release" journalist Nicat Amiraslanov, who was sentenced this week to 30 days in prison on charges of resisting police.
Russia Sends Iskander Missiles To Tajikistan For Drills
Russia says it has sent Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems to Tajikistan for military drills, the first time Moscow has moved this type of missile to the Central Asian country.
Controversial Election, Citizenship Bills Advance In Kazakh Parliament
Kazakh lawmakers have given preliminary approval to controversial bills that would ban independent candidates from running in presidential elections, and enable authorities to strip "terrorists" of their citizenship.
Bad Language Lands Uzbek Official In Hot Water
Bahrom Quziev, a neighborhood committee head in the eastern city of Samarkand, has been ordered to pay a fine after he peppered an argument with a constituent with insults like "bastard" and "faggot."
BLOGGING CENTRAL ASIA: Is This The Start Of Regional Cooperation?
MOST READ/UKRAINE: Can Russia Afford Full-Fledged War With Ukraine?
Prominent Ukrainian economist Borys Kushnirok told RFE/RL that despite a rise in oil prices to $60 per barrel, Russia’s budget is still in deficit, and Moscow is dipping into reserves to finance current expenses. He recalled that the Russian Empire waged war in conditions of economic crisis, and that subjects positively viewed the occupation of foreign territories even if it led to deteriorating living standards. (Ukrainian Service)
POLYGRAPH.Info: Is Slovakia Closer To Exiting NATO?