In Meeting with Tajik President, RFE/RL Presses For Media Freedom And Accreditation
Only days after authorities in Tajikistan responded piecemeal to the accreditation requests of 18 RFE/RL journalists and staff, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to press for the rights of Tajik audiences to receive objective reporting, and for RFE/RL journalists to work freely and without intimidation.
VISUAL REPORTS
Czech Foreign Minister Addresses EU Enlargement In Western Balkans
In an extensive interview with RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek commented on a broad range of issues relating to the Western Balkans, including prospects for EU membership and regional peace.
Punch-Ups In Kyiv: A Ukrainian Politician's Years Of Brawling
Fists flew at Kyiv airport when a close aide of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was confronted by a former member of parliament, who subsequently posted video of the incident. The assailant, Oleh Lyashko, has a history of brawls.
Pine Nut Fever Breaks Out In Russia's Altai Mountains
In Russia's remote Altai region, people are heading to the mountains in thick snow to gather riches that literally grow on trees: pine nuts. Thanks to Altai, Russia is the world's largest supplier of pine nuts. Altai is also known as the planned site of a pipeline that will deliver gas from western Siberia to western China. (nearly 1 million views on Current Time)
'Still Getting Goose Bumps' -- Activists Recall Berlin Wall Petrol Bombs
As some East Germans protested against the communist regime, and others fled to the West, Raik Adam and his brother Andreas launched an audacious campaign of petrol bomb attacks on the Berlin Wall.
PHOTOGALLERY: Military Buildup On Icy Russian-Norwegian Border Brings Unease
As military tensions simmer in the Arctic, locals work to improve cross-border relations.
OTHER NEWS
Ukraine Launches Probe Of Ex-Lawmaker Who Threatened, Released Data On RFE/RL Staff
Ukrainian police have launched a criminal probe against Andriy Portnov, the ex-deputy chairman of the presidential administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who is accused of obstructing the professional activities of RFE/RL journalists. Portnov has released the personal data of several members of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian investigative journalism unit Skhemy (Schemes), and threatened journalists with physical harm.
Lavrov Excoriates U.S. For Lacking Proof Of Russian INF Violation
Speaking at a nuclear nonproliferation conference in Moscow on November 8, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at U.S. claims that Moscow deployed a missile in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty."We’ve been asking the Americans for several years to present concrete facts that might confirm the alleged violations, but they have emphatically refused to do so," Lavrov said.
Russian Sberbank Announces World-Class Supercomputer
Russian state-owned Sberbank has announced the acquisition of a supercomputer called Christofari, which, with declared computing power of 6.7 petaflops, places it among the top 30 supercomputers of the world. According to Russian media, the computer was developed by the American company NVIDEA. (Russian Service)
Russian Railway To Begin Service To Crimea Across New Kerch Bridge
The Grand Service Express carrier, a privately-owned railway company, has announced that the first passenger trains from mainland Russia to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula across the newly constructed bridge over the Kerch Strait will start rolling next month. Tickets from St. Petersburg start at $55.
Kremlin Demurs On Call By Chechen Leader To Kill Online Commentators
The Kremlin says it will not investigate statements by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov that advocate killing, imprisoning, and intimidating persons who assault the "honor” of other users on the Internet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that law enforcement should look into Kadyrov's remarks, not the Kremlin.
Putin Proposes Replacing Wikipedia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed finding a replacement for the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which is alleged to include entries that reflect unfavorably upon Russia. Wikipedia administrator Victoria Doronina told Current Time that the platform has “tense relations with the Russian government,” which views it as a “hostile organization” paid for by the U.S. State Department. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Zelenskiy Says No Prior Knowledge Of U.S. Buyer’s Interest In Motor Sich
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he first learned of reported U.S. interest in buying Motor Sich, a top maker of engines for military cargo aircraft, by reading the news. His comments followed a report in The Wall Street Journal that Erik Prince, a private defense contractor and an informal adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, had been in talks to acquire the company.
Former Kyiv Mayor Klitschko Investigated For Embezzlement, Treason
Ukrainian media reports that the National Anticorruption Agency has opened a case against Kyiv mayor and former world boxing champion Vitaliy Klitschko on suspicion of treason and embezzlement in connection with a construction development in Kyiv. Klitschko is also facing possible embezzlement charges relating to the reconstruction of Kyiv’s Shulyavsky bridge. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
U.S. Increases Assistance Funding To Armenia
The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan says President Donald Trump’s administration has increased assistance funding to Armenia to more than $60 million in 2019, a 40% increase over last year’s level, to “bolster Armenian democratic development.”
Serbia To Receive Russian Antiaircraft Missiles
Russia will deliver a sophisticated short-range air-defense missile system to Serbia despite U.S. warnings of possible sanctions if the transaction goes through. The TASS news agency reported on November 6 that the Pantsir-S system will be delivered to Serbia “in the next few months.”
Final Vote Results Confirm Self-Determination's Victory In Kosovo
Kosovo's leftist-nationalist Self-Determination party has won 26.1% of the vote in last month's general elections, capturing 32 seats in the 120-seat legislature, according to final results. The center-right Democratic League of Kosovo won 24.4% of the vote and 29 seats.
Bulgarian President Spurns Choice For Top Prosecutor
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has rejected the Supreme Judicial Council's choice for a new chief prosecutor, stressing that the selection process was not competitive and was conducted in a manner that doesn't foster public trust. The nomination of current Deputy Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev for the post drew months of protests prior to the council's October 24 vote.
Its Media Muzzled, Tajikistan Prepares To Extend Ruling Family’s Power
Ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections next year, critics say the government of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon -- widely expected to either extend his limitless tenure or orchestrate a leadership transition to 31-year-old son Rustam -- has launched a clampdown against any remaining media outlets outside its control.
Gay Turkmen Doctor Who Disappeared Returns Home, Recants
A 24-year-old doctor from Turkmenistan who admitted he was gay and went missing on October 24 after obeying a police summons has reappeared at his home and has recanted his comments.
NATO Commemorates 30th Anniversary Of Berlin Wall's Fall
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has honored the events three decades ago that brought down the Berlin Wall, calling it a "scar on the face of Europe."
COMMENTARY: Reported Tajikistan Attack Could Have Broad Implications For Central Asia
PRESSROOM: REPORTING 1989: RFE/RL’s Role In The Revolutions Of Eastern Europe
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