VISUAL REPORTS
Why are Georgians Protesting in Tbilisi?
Georgians talk about what drove them to the streets in protests that started on May 31.
‘Cossacks’ To Bolster Police For World Cup Crowd Control
Russia's self-proclaimed "Cossacks" have been called in to help police control the crowds at soccer's 2018 World Cup. They have taken up the mantle of the traditional tsarist-era troops, but their recent strong-arm tactics have drawn considerable criticism.
Kyrgyz 'Bride Kidnapping' Turns Deadly
The relatives of a young Kyrgyz woman say she was murdered by a man who twice abducted her and tried to force her marry him.
OTHER NEWS
NATO Launches Massive Saber Strike Maneuvers In Poland, Baltics
NATO Saber Strike 18 exercises involving some 18,000 troops from 19 nations have kicked off in Poland and the Baltic states, as the Western alliance looks to boost readiness on its eastern flank.
Kremlin Invites Kim Jong Un To Russia
The Kremlin has announced that, during his recent visit to Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presented an invitation to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un from President Vladimir Putin to visit Russia, possibly to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, planned for September in Vladivostok. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Ukraine Claims To Have Russian Hit List
Ukrainian authorities claim they have uncovered a hit-list of 47 people -- mostly journalists -- who are potential Russian assassination targets. They claim the discovery is the result of their sting operation last week, in which they staged the faked murder of Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko.
Ukraine Says Polygraph Confirms Savchenko Planned Terror Attack
Ukraine’s Security Service has announced that, during a psychiatric evaluation, member of parliament and former political prisoner Nadia Savchenko confirmed that she was discussing plans for an attack to challenge Ukraine’s constitutional system. Authorities added that Savchenko was uncooperative during questioning. (Ukrainian Service)
Apple No Longer Complying With Russian Telegram Ban
Apple is no longer complying with a Russian ban on Telegram, and is reportedly providing an updated version of the popular messaging service through its App store for iPhone users.
Russian Monitors Find Massive Voter Turnout Fraud During Presidential Poll
The independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta has reported that Russian election monitoring groups, including Golos and St. Petersburg Observers, have analyzed video footage from the March 18 presidential elections and found evidence of massive fraud, particularly in ChChechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, and echnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, and Kabardino-Balkaria. Official voter turnout figures in these regions, they claim, were inflated by a factor of two, three, and even five. (Russian Service)
Ukrainian PM Threatens Resignation Over Anticorruption Court
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman announced during a June 4 briefing with Speaker of Parliament Andriy Parubiy that he will resign from his post if lawmakers fail to create an anticorruption court during the parliamentary session that begins June 7. (Ukrainian Service)
Residence Of Russian Journalist Held In Ukraine 'Ransacked'
A lawyer for RIA Novosti-Ukraine Director Kirill Vyshinsky, who is being held on suspicion of treason in Ukraine, says the man’s residence was searched and "ransacked" by Ukrainian police.
Azerbaijani Court Rejects Appeal By RFE/RL On Blockage Of Website
A court in Baku has rejected an appeal by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service against the blockage of its website, access to which has been disabled since March 2017 on instructions of the Prosecutor-General's office for posing a "threat" to Azerbaijan's national security.
Georgian Protest Leader Says 'System Must Be Destroyed'
Hundreds of people gathered in the Georgian capital on June 3 for a fourth night of antigovernment rallies. The demonstrations began on May 31 in response to the verdict in the trial of two young men suspected of killing protest leader Zaza Saralidze’s teenage son.
Serbian Kusturica Stumps For Putin Ahead Of World Cup
Soccer's World Cup kicks off in Russia in less than two weeks, and among the warm-up acts was last week’s Art-Football festival, an event, now in its eight year, that featured award-winning director Emir Kusturica, in his roles as humanitarian and unapologetic supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moldova’s Pro-European Parties Called On To Unite After Chisinau Election Win
Following his second-round victory in Chisinau’s June 3 snap mayoral election, Andrei Nastase called on "pro-European, anti-oligarchic" voters and forces to remain united for parliamentary elections later this year.
MAJLIS PODCAST: Will There Be Forced Labor In Uzbekistan's Cotton Fields This Year?