VISUAL REPORTS
Ukrainians Protest As FIFA World Cup In Russia Kicks Off
A small group of demonstrators in Kyiv called for a boycott of what one protester called the "blood-soaked" FIFA World Cup in Russia, and protested Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine and the detention of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov.
Russia Detains British LGBT Rights Campaigner As Cup Begins
Russian police briefly detained a British LGBT rights campaigner in central Moscow for what they said was an illegal protest on the first day of the FIFA World Cup.
Macedonians On Name Change: From 'Disastrous' To 'No Impact'
Some say "it's a disaster," while others are "not interested." We tested people's views in Skopje on the deal with Greece to change their country's name from Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Caught Up In A Revolution
RFE/RL photographer Amos Chapple recalls how a lucky break landed him in the middle of the street protests that toppled Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.
OTHER NEWS
State Funds Liked To Ukrainian Militia Behind Brutal Romany Attacks
Human rights activists have questioned how Ukrainian police could stand by and watch the wave of violence and destruction that has recently targeted minority groups. But reporting shows some of the groups involved receive financial support from the Ukrainian government.
Kaspersky To Halt Cooperation With Europe To Fight Cybercrime
Russia’s Kaspersky Lab says it will no longer cooperate on several European cybercrime-fighting initiatives after the European Parliament moved to ban its antivirus software.
EU Urges Russia To Reverse Recognition Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia Independence
The European Parliament has passed a resolution demanding that Russia reverse its "decision to recognize the so-called independence of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
Russia, Saudi Arabia Agree To Expand Cooperation On Oil, Gas
Russia and Saudi Arabia say they have agreed to expand their cooperation on oil and gas matters after having teamed up to help bolster oil prices in the past two years.
Navalny Released After Serving Time For Anti-Putin Protests
Russian opposition politician and anticorruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny has been released from jail after serving 30 days for organizing protests against President Vladimir Putin.
Russian Court Overturns Acquittal Of Gulag Historian
A regional court has overturned a verdict that cleared Russian historian and Memorial member Yury Dmitriyev of child pornography charges, setting up a retrial in a case his supporters say is politically motivated.
Ukrainian Ombudsman Denied Sentsov Visit
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova claims she has been denied a visit to imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is on a hunger strike in Russia’s remote Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Russian ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova accused Denisova of violating agreements on prisoner visits. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Belarus Assembly Passes 'Fake News' Media Legislation
Belarusian lawmakers have passed controversial amendments to the country’s media laws despite claims by domestic and international groups that the move risks further censorship of the press.
Putin Introduces Pashinian To Aliyev
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian wrote on Facebook that Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced him to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a reception following the June 14 soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Russia in Moscow, but said that no “meaningful conversation” took place. (Russian Service)
Georgia's Acting Finance Minister Nominated As Next Prime Minister
Georgia's ruling party named acting Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze as a candidate to become the next prime minister, a day after the resignation of the cabinet following a series of antigovernment protests in the capital, Tbilisi.
Uzbek Diaspora Leaders Urge Kyrgyzstan To Revisit Violence Of 2010
Seven prominent ethnic Uzbeks who fled Kyrgyzstan in the wake of violent clashes have called on new Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to revisit the investigations and consequences of the fighting that erupted in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010.
Failing Economy Sends Shockwaves Through Turkmen Government
Sources in Turkmenistan say that, as a result of the country’s currency crisis, numerous officials previously considered “untouchable” have been fired from their positions, including, most recently, Minister of National Security Dovrangeldi Bayramov. (in Russian, Turkmen Service)
Spinning Its Wheels: With Turkmenistan In Inflation Skid, Berdymukhammedov Pedals On
Turkmenistan's president put the country’s 357 percent inflation rate behind him and proudly led 3,246 bicyclists to a Guinness world record on June 1, a few days before World Bicycle Day, which was established by the UN General Assembly on Ashgabat's initiative.
POSTER GALLERY: Ukrainian Artist's Viral Posters Are 'Red Card' For Russia
ELSEWHERE: Why Iran Is Targeting Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh