VISUAL REPORTS
Russia’s Night Wolves Mark Territory In Slovakia
The Slovak chapter of the Night Wolves, a Russian nationalist motorcycle club known for its allegiance to the Kremlin, has set up a compound near Bratislava housing old tanks and armored vehicles.
Tajikistan Blames Banned Party For Attack; IS Posts Video
The Tajik government has accused the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan of being behind an attack that killed four foreign cyclists on a highway in the country’s southern region. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the killings in a statement on July 30.
Pussy Riot Activists Freed After Rearrest, Still Face Prosecution
Russian authorities have released four members of the Pussy Riot protest group, but the women still face charges for a stunt they performed at the World Cup final in Moscow on July 15 and for which they served 15 days in jail.
OTHER NEWS
Three Russian Journalists Killed In Central African Republic
Russia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that three Russian journalists -- journalist Orkhan Dzhemal, cameraman Kirill Radchenko, and director Aleksandr Rastorguyev -- have been killed in the Central African Republic while filming a documentary about the Russian private military contractor company PWC Vagner.
Missing Russian Journalist Found Dead In Nizhny Novgorod
A journalist with the Moscow-based weekly newspaper Argumenty i Fakty, Sergei Grachyov, has been found dead 11 days after he disappeared during a reporting trip to the city of Nizhny Novgorod.
UK General Consulate Shuttered In St. Petersburg
Employees of Great Britain’s General Consulate in St. Petersburg removed the British flag from the building on July 30, marking its official closure. The British Embassy said the measure “was unfortunately applied against us by the Russian government” in response to the Skripal poisoning incident. (Russian Service)
EU Adds Six Russian Companies To Sanctions List Over Kerch Strait Bridge
The European Union has added six Russian companies involved in the recent construction of the Kerch Strait bridge linking Russia with the Crimean Peninsula to its sanctions list.
Ukraine Criticizes Moscow Efforts To Block Monitoring Missions To Crimea
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has criticized Russia for blocking visits to Crimea by the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE and other international organizations at Ukraine’s invitation, while declaring it is open to those visits that recognize the territory as Russian. (Ukrainian Service)
Russia Expands Media Presence In Crimea
Crimean human rights groups report that Moscow has accelerated its efforts to rid Crimea of Ukrainian radio and TV, citing Russian broadcasts on FM frequencies in at least 13 regions on the peninsula where Ukrainian channels were heard just six months ago. (Ukrainian Service/Crimea Realities)
Slovak President Calls Local Night Wolves Chapter Security Risk
Slovak President Andrej Kiska says a recently established local base for a Russian motorcycle club known for its allegiance to the Kremlin presents a security risk for the EU and NATO country.
Kremlin Claims Political Motives In Armenian Charges Against Ex-Leaders
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow is "concerned" that an anti-corruption campaign waged by Armenia's new leadership that has targeted former officials is politically motivated.
Moldovan Opposition Leader Says New Tax Measures ‘Legalize Fraud’
Moldovan opposition leader Andrei Nastase has added his voice to strong international criticism targeting recently approved legislation to cut taxes and introduce an amnesty on registering assets.
Lukashenka Appears After Reports Of Stroke
Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka appeared in public with Minsk mayor Anatoly Isachenko on July 31, following reports in Russian and Ukrainian media that he had had a stroke. Lukashenka’s press secretary called the reports “complete nonsense.” (Belarus Service)
Prominent Kazakh Rights Defender Granted Parole After Six Years In Prison
Prominent Kazakh human rights activist Vadim Kuramshin has been granted early release on parole after serving more than 6 1/2 years in prison on extortion charges that his supporters said were politically motivated.
POLL: Protest Mood At 20-Year High In Russia
A new Levada Center poll has found that 28 percent of respondents said they were prepared to participate in economic protests, a figure last surpassed in 1998, when 33 percent of respondents expressed a willingness to protest the country’s economic crisis. (Russian Service)
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