VISUAL REPORTS
Russia, Saudi Arabia Pledge Cooperation During King's Landmark Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Saudi King Salman for talks at the Kremlin, in the first official visit to Russia by a reigning Saudi monarch.
NATO Chief Says Alliance Assessing Whether All Russian Troops Left Belarus
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the Western alliance is assessing whether Russia has pulled out all the troops it sent to Belarus to participate in the joint Zapad 2017 military drills.
Homes Of Open Russia Movement's Employees Searched
The Moscow homes of several employees of a civic movement established by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky have been searched by Russian police.
Floods Force Evacuations In Southern Azerbaijan
Severe flooding has spread to more towns and villages throughout southern Azerbaijan, after heavy rains inundated parts of the capital, Baku, earlier this week.
OTHER NEWS
Russian Hackers Allegedly Stole U.S. NSA Secrets
Media reports say hackers backed by the Russian government stole highly sensitive U.S. espionage tools in 2015 after a U.S. National Security Agency contractor placed the classified materials on his home computer.
IS Video Raises Questions About Russia’s Military Campaign In Syria
A video posted by the militant Islamic State group of two purportedly captive Russian soldiers in Syria threatens to refocus attention on reports that the Kremlin is secretly waging war there through mercenaries working for a company called Vagner.
Navalny Campaign Chief Gets 20 Days In Jail
Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's election campaign chief, Leonid Volkov, has been sentenced to 20 days in jail, one day ahead of mass protests planned to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday.
New Roskomnadzor Unit Reportedly Created To Block VPN Services
The head of Russia’s Roskomnadzor has reportedly told Russian press that the media regulator has created a new unit to conduct research and experiments on limiting access to internet anonymizers. (Russian Service)
Russia Announces Crimea Draft For Russian Army
Russia’s defense ministry has announced that more than 2,000 Crimeans will be conscripted into military service this fall. More than 4,000 Crimeans have been drafted over the last two years. Citing Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has protested the draft as a violation of international conventions and human rights. (Crimea Realities, Ukrainian Service)
Ukraine And U.S. Have Begun Joint Production Of Small Arms
The Ukrainian state consortium Ukroboronprom and the American company Aeroscraft have begun the joint production of small arms. The first batch of M-4 rifles, assembled in Ukraine with parts produced in the U.S., has been sent to the army and national guard for testing. (Ukrainian Service)
Ukraine’s Anticorruption Court 'Victory' Threatened By New Judicial-Reform Bill
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko approved the creation of an anticorruption court on October 4, but new legislation awaiting his signature threatens to hinder corruption investigations.
European Parliament Condemns Russia's Prosecution Of Crimeans
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning Russian verdicts against dozens of Crimeans who opposed Moscow's seizure of the peninsula and demanding the release of those who are behind bars.
'Heavenly Hundred' Memorial Destroyed In Kyiv
A memorial to the protesters killed by security forces in February 2014 in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, was destroyed on October 5.
ANALYSIS: Opposites In Demeanor, Putin And Kadyrov Are Ideological Twins
Addressing the question of who has influence over whom, Russian political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky told RFE/RL that "Putin and Kadyrov are twin brothers. They exist within a single ruling model.” But Belkovsky says that Kadyrov is positioning himself to become an international figure, particularly with regard to Islamic circles in Russia, foremost through relations with the Saudi dynasty and Gulf countries. (Kavkaz Realities)
PRESSROOM: RFE/RL’s Kent Testifies At Launch Of Press Freedom Caucus
INFOGRAPHIC: Nobel Peace Prize By The Numbers