VISUAL REPORTS
Protests Held In Georgian Capital For Fourth Night
Thousands of demonstrators gathered for a fourth day on June 23 in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, calling for the resignations of top officials and early elections, and denouncing Russia.
Czechs Hold Mass Protest Against Prime Minister Babis
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have rallied in Prague demanding that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis resign in the country’s largest protest since the fall of communism in 1989.
Tens Of Thousands Take To Streets In Albania
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Albanian government building in Tirana on June 21 to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom they accuse of corruption and vote-stealing in the country’s 2017 elections.
Massive Blast Hits Military Warehouse In Southern Kazakhstan
Dozens of people have been injured in a massive blast at a military warehouse in Kazakhstan’s southern town of Arys. The defense ministry has said that the reason for the blast on June 24 remains unclear.
OTHER NEWS
Russia Calls Snap Drills To Test Military Leadership
Snap military exercises have been called in 29 regions in Russia, and airborne units, including military transport aircraft, have been alerted to the highest degree of combat readiness, Russian media reports. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said the drills were ordered directly by President Vladimir Putin to determine military readiness in the event of “threats and crisis situations.” (Russian Service)
PACE To Vote On Reinstating Russia In Human Rights Body
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe may allow Russia to return to the continent’s main human rights body in its opening summer session on June 24, reversing a decision to strip Russia of voting rights in response to its military aggression in Ukraine in 2014.
Rally In Moscow Denounces 'Fabricated' Cases Against Activists, Journalists
Hundreds of people attended a sanctioned rally in the Russian capital on June 23 to denounce what they called fabricated cases against activists and journalists. The rally was initially called in support of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, who had been briefly arrested this month on a drug charge that was later dismissed.
Russian Consumer Protection Agency Strengthens Regulation Of Georgian Wine
Russia has announced it will tighten controls over the quality and safety of alcohol products from Georgia, claiming the volume of non-compliant alcohol brought into the country over the past five years has almost tripled. The move comes amidst rising tensions between Russia and Georgia following mass protests in Tbilisi this week. (Russian Service)
Ukrainian President Takes Cues From TV Role
In season one of Servant Of The People, the TV show that helped catapult Zelenskiy to the Ukrainian presidency, fictional head of state Vasyl Holoborodko ditches his motorcade for a bicycle and relocates his offices to Kyiv’s outskirts. Since his inauguration in May, Zelenskiy has shrunk his motorcade from eight cars to two, and says he will move the presidential administration from its longtime location on Bankova Street to the more aptly named Ukrainian House.
Lukashenka Declares European Games Open In Belarusian Capital
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka declared the second European Games open in his country’s capital as a "flame of peace" was lit and fireworks were fired from the top of Dinamo Stadium.
Georgia 2020 Parliament Vote To Be Held Under Proportional System
Georgia’s 2020 parliamentary elections should be held under a proportional system, with no party threshold, said Bidzina Ivanishvili, head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on June 24. The change is in response to one of the demands of thousands of people who have demonstrated in the Georgian capital since June 20.
The Women Who Came Home: Kazakhstan Tries To Rehabilitate Islamic State Returnees
Zarina, 24, is the widowed mother of two sons born in Syria, where she spent five years married to an Islamic State fighter. She was among hundreds of Kazakh citizens repatriated from Syria this year in a special operation called Zhusan.
Uzbek Senate Confirms First Chairwoman
Tanzila Norboeva, a deputy prime minister and chairwoman of the government's Committee on Women, has become Uzbekistan’s first woman to lead the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate.
Jailed Gulnara Karimova Asks Mirziyoev For Clemency
Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the late president of Uzbekistan, who is serving a prison term on corruption charges, has asked President Shavkat Mirzioyev for clemency.
PHOTOGALLERY: Thousands Take To Kyiv's Streets For Pride Parade