INFOGRAPHIC: How Russians View The Belarus Protests
VISUAL REPORTS
Belarus Protesters Urge Lukashenka To Resign
Belarusian demonstrators cheered as police blocking a major intersection in downtown Minsk withdrew and let them march past on August 30. Still dozens were detained during the 22nd consecutive day of protests following the disputed August 9 presidential election.
Thousands Of Women March In Minsk Against Lukashenka
Thousands of people, mainly women, marched through the center of Minsk on August 29, calling for President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to step down and demanding that those behind a violent post-election crackdown be brought to justice.
Khabarovsk Holds 50th Protest For Ex-Governor, Rally Also Supports Navalny
Residents in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk have held their 50th protest against the July arrest of the region's popular former governor, Sergei Furgal, and demanded he be returned to the region for "a fair trial" by jury.
PHOTOGALLERY: Celebrations In Kazan Mark 100 Years Of Tatar Autonomy
TOP NEWS
Tsikhanouskaya Plans To Address UN Security Council As Lukashenka Clings To Power In Minsk
Belarusian presidential challenger Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya will address the UN Security Council on September 4 by video link at the invitation of Estonia, which is currently a nonpermanent member of the body.
Belarus Revokes Accreditation Of At Least 17 Journalists Covering Postelection Turmoil
Belarusian authorities stripped the accreditations of at least 17 journalists from major foreign news organizations -- including five from RFE/RL -- in a major escalation by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s government as it continues to face popular protest and international condemnation over the August 9 election.
EU Ministers Agree On Belarus Sanctions
European Union foreign ministers on August 28 agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarusian officials suspected of involvement in election fraud and a brutal crackdown against protesters since the country's disputed August 9 presidential election. The ministers did not rule out that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be among those named on the sanctions list if the country doesn’t cease human rights violations.
Germany Mulls Russia Response As Navalny's Condition Remains 'Serious'
The Berlin hospital treating Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny after a suspected poisoning says the Kremlin critic is still in an induced coma but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving.
Prominent Russian Blogger In Hospital After Brutal Beating
Yegor Zhukov, a prominent Russia blogger and activist known for his open criticism of the government, has been hospitalized after two unknown attackers beat him near his Moscow home. Zhukov was reportedly attacked late on August 30 after participating in a talk show with Maksim Kats on YouTube about Belarus. Zhukov called the protests "a textbook example" that "should be thoroughly studied by those who want to achieve democratic change by peaceful means."
French Military Officer Detained Over Reported Russia Ties
A senior French military officer is under investigation for “security breaches” on suspicion that he transmitted “ultra-sensitive” documents to the Russian secret services.
Russian Teens’ Online Chat About School Massacre Leads To Forced Psychiatric Treatment
On August 24, 14-year-old Alyona Prokudina was detained and taken involuntarily to a psychiatric clinic. The reason, according to her sister, is that Prokudina was part of a social-media chatroom dedicated to the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in the United States. Authorities said a plot to attack a local school was discussed.
Russia Fires Outspoken Chief Of Anti-Doping Agency
Yury Ganus, the outspoken chief of Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency, has been fired, reportedly by unanimous vote, a move that the World Anti-Doping Agency said only reinforced its ongoing concerns about the Russian regulatory body.
Ukraine Closes Border To Foreigners Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
The Ukrainian government has tightened lockdown measures, including closing its borders to foreigners, in an effort to contain the country's coronavirus outbreak.
Russia Responds To Slovakia In Diplomatic Tit For Tat
Slovakia on August 10 expelled three Russian diplomats in connection with the murder of Chechnya native and Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, who was residing at the time in Germany. In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry on August 31 summoned the Slovak ambassador in Moscow to protest the “groundless expulsion” of its diplomats, and expelled three Slovak diplomats. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
A coalition led by the pro-Serb Democratic Front and two other opposition coalitions have claimed victory over the ruling pro-Western party in parliamentary elections on August 30.
Kazakh Activists Punished For Attending Memorial Ceremony For Rights Defender Who Died In Custody
Dozens of Kazakh activists were given short jail sentences or fines -- some on grounds of “attending an unsanctioned rally” -- after they attended a commemoration of prominent civil rights campaigner Dulat Aghadil, who died in custody in February.
Lawyers Prevented From Visiting Detained Crimean Tatar Activists
At least five Crimean Tatar activists in Russia-annexed Crimea were detained on August 31 after Russian security services carried out searches of their homes. Their lawyers have told RFE/RL that they are being prevented from seeing their clients. (Ukrainian Service, Crimea Realities)