PHOTOGALLERY: Hungary Under Communism
VISUAL REPORTS
Dutch Authorities To Name First Suspects In MH17 Downing
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olena Zerkal says Dutch authorities plan to name four suspects in the downing of flight MH17 five years ago, in which all 298 people aboard the passenger jet were killed.
A Russian Bentley Gets A Tank Makeover
A Russian car enthusiast has stripped the wheels off a Bentley and added tanklike treads. YouTube star Konstantin Zarutsky is seeking permission to drive it on the streets of his hometown of St. Petersburg. He claims it's so easy to drive, anyone could take the wheel.
PHOTOGALLERY: Salt Of The Earth: Inside Ukraine's Artyomsol Mine
In eastern Ukraine, a massive salt-mining operation is hoping to crack Western markets after Russia blocked its imports.
OTHER NEWS
Bellingcat Names New Suspects In Downing Of Flight MH17
The open-source investigative collective Bellingcat has named new suspects in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. The suspects are identified with three groups subordinate to the self-described Ministry of Defense of Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Will Russia Return To PACE Next Week?
On June 24, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will begin its summer session in Strasbourg and it is expected to vote on a report that could welcome Russia back to the chamber after a three-year hiatus.
Merkel Backs Extending Russia Sanctions During Zelenskiy Visit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her country's backing for extending sanctions against Russia as she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin. "As long as there is no progress… the sanctions cannot be lifted, and the sanctions related to Crimea can only be lifted if Crimea returns to Ukraine," she said.
Pentagon Gives More Support To Kyiv As Volker Says Kremlin Not Ready To End War
The U.S. Department of Defense will provide $250 million to enhance Ukraine's military capabilities as the nation continues to battle Russia-backed separatists in its eastern regions. In statements to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a June 18 hearing, Kurt Volker, the special U.S. envoy to Ukraine, said he had not seen "any indication" from Moscow that it wants to end the conflict.
Russian Court Orders Detention Of 27 Suspects Following Deadly Ethnic Brawl
A court in Russia has ordered that 27 suspects be held in pretrial detention following a deadly brawl between representatives of the Roma ethnic group and other residents, mainly Russians, in the Penza region southeast of Moscow.
Journalist In Russia's Daghestan Detained On 'Financing Terrorism' Charge
A court in Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan has sent Abdulmumin Gadzhiyev, a reporter working for an independent newspaper, to pretrial detention for two months after he was accused of financing terrorism, a charge his editors call absurd.
Chechen Blogger Says Poland Planning To Return Him To Russia
Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov, who left Chechnya and fled to Poland in 2015 after receiving threats after publicly criticizing Akhmat Kadyrov, has told Current Time TV that Polish authorities will deport him back to Russia. Abdurakhmanov was not given specific reasons for the ruling, and plans to appeal. Akhmat Kadyrov was Chechnya’s first president of Chechnya and the father of current leader Ramzan Kadyrov. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russia-Backed Authorities In Crimea Search More Crimean Tatars' Homes
Police in Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea region have searched the homes of Crimean Tatar activist Akseit Dzhandzhakov and his mother -- the latest in an ongoing crackdown by Russian authorities against members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar community.
#Imnotatouristbrand --Women In Ukraine Protest Zelenskiy Comments
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has come under harsh criticism after stating at a public event in Paris on June 17 that people in Ukraine “are very pretty, especially women,” adding that “this is and will continue to be our brand.” An online flash mob under the hashtag #imnotatouristbrand has been launched, and online users have called his statements sexist. (Ukrainian Service)
U.S., Rights Group Urge Georgian Authorities To Ensure Pride Participants’ Safety
Amid what Amnesty International has called "unprecedented threats of violence," the rights group and the U.S. State Department have called on Georgian authorities to guarantee the safety of participants in LGBT-related “Pride” activities scheduled this week in Tbilisi.
Moldovan Foreign Minister Says Coalition United On Economy, But Future Uncertain
Moldova's new coalition government is more united by its desire to improve economic growth and battle corruption than it is divided by its foreign policy views, the country's top diplomat says.
Former British Ambassador Named Kyrgyzstan's Business Ombudsman
The former British ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Robin Ord-Smith, has been appointed by a special commission to serve as the Central Asian state's business ombudsman. The post was established by the Kyrgyz government in January.
INFOGRAPHIC: Russia's Friends And Foes