PHOTO GALLERY
For Love And Money
A day in the life of one miner in the coal basin of eastern Ukraine.
VISUAL REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: The Kremlin Does Kafka
The Kremlin is in the business of denying reality altogether.
Kazakhs Sentenced For 'Black Flag' Photo
A Kazakh judge showed journalists a photo of eight men posing with the black flag of the Islamic State extremist group, during a case that ended with jail sentences of 5-15 years for the defendants.
The Lawmaker And The Case Of The Disappearing Husband
Natalya Poklonskaya, a high-profile Russian lawmaker and former prosecutor-general of Crimea, is accused of failing to declare property she owns, and has admitted inventing a fictional husband. (Ukrainian Service and Current Time TV)
Soviet-Era Minibus Retraces Dad's Epic Road Trip
Vladimir Voitsekhovsky follows in his father's tracks on an 11,000-kilometer journey across Latvia and Russia in a Soviet-made minibus.
OTHER NEWS
Russia Says New U.S. Sanctions Threaten Bilateral Relations
Russia's Foreign Мinistry slammed new U.S. sanctions that target mainly Russian people and companies linked to the Ukraine conflict, saying the move puts at "serious risk" the entire bilateral relationship.
EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia
European Union leaders have agreed to extend the bloc's economic sanctions against Russia by six months until January 31.
Roskomnadzor Threatens Telegram With Shut Down
Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor published an open instruction to directors of the messaging service Telegram that it register as a “disseminator of information” under Russian law, a status that would require it to store users’ correspondence and enable authorities to decrypt messages. (in Russian, Current Time)
Navalny Election Campaign Chief Jailed For 'Unsanctioned Rallies'
A court in Moscow has sentenced Leonid Volkov, the chief of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's election campaign, to five days in jail.
Embattled Russian Director Appeals To Audience To Prove Play Was Performed
The head of an embattled Moscow theater has appealed to theatergoers to prove that a production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream was not, after all, just a dream.
Russia Urges Hepatitis Shots For All Travel To 'Gay-ropa'
The Russian government is urging everyone traveling to Europe to first get a vaccination against hepatitis-A.
RFE/RL Crimean Journalists Accused Of Treason
RFE/RL has expressed concern over the security of its journalists after a website closely associated with Moscow published an article on June 21 accusing Crimean journalists who work for RFE/RL of treason and “subversive activities” that threaten Russia’s national security. (Ukrainian Service, Crimea Realities)
Court Prolongs Detention Of Crimean Tatar Activist
A court in Russia-controlled Crimea has prolonged the detention of Crimean Tatar activist Ahtem Chiygoz, who is on trial in connection with resistance to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The Elite Real Estate Of Ukraine’s Senior Secret Service Officials
RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service’s investigative program “Schemes” reports that Serhiy Konohov, the new head of the Security Service’s economic counterintelligence unit, owns several elite properties, the value of which is not commensurate with his official income. Konohov has declined to comment. (Ukrainian Service)
EU Calls For Restraint Following Cease-Fire Violations In Nagorno-Karabakh
An EU spokeswoman says recent violations of the cease-fire on the front lines of Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region are “a stark reminder that the status quo is unsustainable.”
Russian-Israeli Blogger's Trial Starts In Baku
An Azerbaijani court has started preliminary hearings in the high-profile trial of Russian-Israeli citizen Aleksandr Lapshin, a blogger charged with violating the country's territorial integrity.
Kazakhstan Denies Talks On Sending Troops To Syria
Kazakhstan has refuted reports of talks with Russia about the possibility that its troops would participate in monitoring the so-called "de-escalation" agreement in Syria.
Kazakh Senators Approve Controversial Citizenship Bill
Kazakhstan's Senate has approved a controversial bill that would enable authorities to strip "terrorists" of their citizenship.
Tajik Lawyer Accused Of Faking Documents To Free Inmates
Tajik authorities allege that defense lawyer Tura Sunnatov didn’t actually take any of the legal steps he had pledged to clients, and instead simply forged letters, signatures, and the seals of judges and courts, including the Tajik Supreme Court.
MOST READ/RUSSIA: Russian Is Playing With Fire
Russian security expert Yuri Fyodorov, commenting on the Kremlin’s repositioning in response to the Trump presidency and Macron victory in France, says “Moscow is switching to a more rigorous strategy” – an attempt to scare the West and present it with a choice between tension and escalation, or greater recognition of Kremlin positions on Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and Assad. (over 30K views on Russian Service website)