VISUAL REPORTS
Moscow Protesters Shout Down Russian State TV Journalist
In a video shot at a protest rally in Moscow on August 31, protesters surrounded a correspondent for the state-owned Rossiya 1 television channel, chanting "Propaganda" and "Stop lying."
Zelenskiy Thanks Poland For Support Against Russian Aggression
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Poland on August 31 for a two-day state visit and talks expected to include the policies of his newly appointed government, the country’s ties with the European Union, and Russia.
Serbian Protesters Pelt Presidential Palace With Toilet Paper
Serbian protesters marching in Belgrade for the 39th Saturday in a row on August 31 expressed opposition to President Aleksandar Vucic by throwing rolls of toilet paper at his office, and held bar charts suggesting that Vucic's party took advantage of disproportionate coverage by state media in the 2016 parliamentary elections.
Nikoa Jokic: Serbia’s Big Man From A Small Town
At this month’s Basketball World Cup in China, 24-year-old Serbian standout Nikola Jokic -- already of the NBA’s highest-paid players -- is being billed as one of the tournament’s stars.
Kazakh Youth Activists March For Reform
Members of the Kazakh youth movement Oyan Qazaqstan (Wake Up, Kazakhstan) marched in Almaty on August 30, the country's Constitution Day. They demanded democratic reforms and the protection of freedom of speech, and held banners reading "Down with the Authoritarian System!"
OTHER NEWS
U.S. Senators Blacklisted In Russia Say They’ll Visit Ukraine, The Balkans
Senator Chris Murphy tweeted that “Russia wouldn’t let us in, but [Senator] Ron Johnson and I will be visiting Ukraine, Serbia, and Kosovo this week to demonstrate bipartisan support for the new Ukrainian government and continued dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.”
American Held In Russia On Espionage Charge Appeals Extension Of Pretrial Detention
Lawyers for Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen charged in Russia with espionage, have appealed a court's decision to prolong his pretrial detention until October 29 and demanded he be transferred to house arrest.
Police Detain Opposition Activists After August 31 Moscow Protest
Law enforcement authorities detained three opposition activists in Moscow on September 2 for their participation in an unauthorized rally three days earlier to demand free elections to the local legislation on September 8. No arrests or detentions were reported during the demonstration, in contrast to other recent protests in which hundreds were detained, sometimes violently.
Suspect In Berlin Killing Of Ethnic Chechen Visited By Russian Diplomats
Russian diplomats in Berlin met on September 2 with the suspected killer of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, an ethnic Chechen Georgian national. German authorities have only said the suspect in the Berlin killing is a Russian citizen and that a political motive is not being ruled out for the murder.
New Ukrainian Prime Minister’s 5-Year Plan
Newly appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharyk has outlined his government’s priorities for the next five years, to include 40% growth of the economy, the repair of 24,000 highways, national high-speed internet, a positive birth rate, e-government, and lower utility bills. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Ukrainian Parliament Cancels Immunity For Lawmakers
Ukraine's parliament has voted in favor of cancelling immunity from prosecution for lawmakers, a step toward President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's pledge to stamp out corruption.
Ukraine Implements Tool To Prevent Company ‘Raiding’
Ukraine’s newly installed government has tweaked the state-run registry of legal entities to publish information on a daily basis in an effort to prevent the theft of businesses, known as “raiding.” Due to weak property rights and crooked judges, corporate raiding in Ukraine is seen as a huge impediment to foreign investment.
First Female Class Starts At Prestigious Kyiv Military School
Lina Nazipova is one of 20 young women who started classes on September 2 at Kyiv's prestigious Ivan Bohun Military High School, the first female freshmen in the school's history.
Georgian Dream Nominates Interior Minister Gakharia For PM
Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, chaired by billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, has nominated Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia as its candidate for prime minister.
Kazakh President Pledges Pluralism In First State-Of-The-Nation Address
Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, in his first state-of-the-nation address following his election in June, has promised to support political competition and pluralism in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation.
Protesters In Kazakhstan Demand President Scrap China Visit
Amid rising anti-Chinese sentiment in Kazakhstan following reports about the plight of indigenous ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, in China's Xinjiang province, demonstrators in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen challenged a plan to build 55 industrial facilities in the country with China's financial assistance, and demanded President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev cancel his upcoming trip to Beijing.
POLL: 45% Of Russians Disapprove Of Police Response To Moscow Protests
A recent Levada Center poll finds that 45% of respondents believe that law enforcement officials used excessive force against protesters during recent Moscow rallies, while 32% judged the police's actions adequate. The poll also found that almost half of respondents felt indifferent to the protests, which have called for fair registration of candidates for the September 8 Moscow city polls. Twenty-six percent of respondents believe that foreign agents were behind the protests. (Russian Service)