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Azerbaijan’s September 26 Constitutional Referendum (RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service)
Azerbaijan’s September 26 Constitutional Referendum (RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service)

VIDEO REPORTS

VOX POP: Which Elections Are You More Interested In? Russia’s Or The U.S.?

In an informal street poll in Moscow, more respondents expressed interest in Russia’s elections, because they live there, but not a single respondent was able to name a candidate from his district. (In Russian)

Putin's Party Seen Topping Parliamentary Elections

Russians go to the polls this weekend to elect the 450 members of the federal parliament, the State Duma. Leaders of the Communist Party are campaigning, promising voters a return to the glory days.

Protests At German, French Embassies In Kyiv

Protesters picketed the German and French embassies in Kyiv as the two countries' foreign ministers arrived in Ukraine to revive peace talks with Russia-backed separatists.

Sixty-Year-Old Ukrainian Volleyball Player Returns To Paralympics

Ukraine has sent its largest-ever contingent of athletes to the Paralympic Games. Petro Ostrynskiy, 60, is determined to bring home a medal.

OTHER NEWS

Duma Elections Force Russian Opposition To Compromise On Crimea

Russian opposition political parties Yabloko and Parnas publically declare Crimea part of Ukraine, but Russia’s electoral law requires them to run candidates from Crimea and Sevastopol in order to participate in Sunday’s Duma elections. (In Russian)

Crimeans Face Intimidation Ahead Of Russian Vote

Rights groups say Russian-backed authorities in Crimea are using threats and intimidation to get out the vote in parliamentary elections that Ukraine has denounced as illegitimate because they are being held on territory seized by Moscow.

WADA Says Russian Hackers Leaked Data Of 25 More Athletes

The World Anti-Doping Agency said on September 14 that another batch of athletes' data has been leaked by the same Russian cyber-espionage group that published confidential data earlier this week.

Ukraine Death Toll Tops 9,600

The United Nations says the death toll from the conflict in eastern Ukraine has reached more than 9,600 as the situation in the region deteriorates.

IMF Approves Long-Delayed $1 Billion Loan To Ukraine

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said that Ukraine is showing "welcome signs of recovery," following a September 14 decision by the Fund to approve a loan disbursement for Ukraine of $1 billion.

Prosecutor Cites 'Criminal Probe' Into Ukraine's Top Cop

Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko has announced a criminal probe of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, raising the specter of another public blow to a fractious ruling coalition.

Quotable Markin: Russian Investigative Committee's Colorful Commentator

Russian media is speculating that Vladimir Markin, chief spokesman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, may be stepping down.


Grozny Fatwa Triggers Major Controversy

A fatwa issued by Islamic scholars in Grozny seems to give Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov license to punish those whose religious views don't chime with his own.

Kadyrov Mosque Inspires Adoration In Israel

In Abu Gosh, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the massive Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque stands as a high-profile gesture by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to a town with possible historical ties to the North Caucasus.

Turkmenistan’s President Paves Way For Lifelong Rule

New constitutional amendments will allow President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov to run in future presidential elections, regardless of his age.

COMMENTARY: Putin’s New Reserve

Tatiana Stanova, an expert with Moscow’s Center for Political Technologies, told RFE/RL that the Kremlin is using this Sunday’s elections to test the effectiveness of its governing system in light of declining incomes, low oil prices and other strains; and to identify a new pro-Putin elite. (In Russian)

COMMENTARY: Is Colonel Zakharchenko A Criminal Or Victim?

Russian political commentators say the case against Russia’s acting anti-corruption chief Dmitriy Zakharchenko, who was charged with bribery on September 10 after police found 8.5 billion rubles (approximately $130 million) in his apartment, is the result of infighting among political clans and not part of an effort to combat corruption. (In Russian)

COMMENTARY: Dodik: Dayton’s Pillar Now Weakest Link

The Longest-Serving Leaders In The Former Soviet Union

RFE/RL compiled a list of top 5 longest-serving rulers in the former Soviet Union.

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