VISUAL REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: On The Hybrid Front Lines
Estonia is hosting NATO military exercises this week - minus the tanks.
Romanians Protest Against Judiciary Overhaul Plan
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bucharest and other Romanian cities on November 26 to condemn a judiciary overhaul planned by the Romanian government that critics say would impose political control over the justice system.
Uzbek President’s Plan To Raise Chickens Fails To Hatch
A plan proposed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to address poverty by encouraging citizens to raise chickens and grow lemons has had disappointing results, leading banks to stop issuing loans to support the program. (over 660k view on Current Time TV Facebook)
OTHER NEWS
Google Says Won't Change Way Websites Ranked After Kremlin Complains
Google says that it will not change the way it ranks websites after Moscow expressed concerns earlier this month that the U.S. Internet giant could lower search results for articles from the Russian news websites Sputnik and RT.
Ulyukayev Rejects Extortion Charge, Accuses Rosneft Chief Of Lying
Former Russian Economy Minister Aleksei Ulyukayev, who is being tried on an extortion charge, has adamantly protested his innocence and accused state oil company chief Igor Sechin of lying to investigators.
Krasnoyarsk Schools Receive Recommendations For Wartime Footing
The education ministry of Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region has send recommendations to the heads of municipal and regional districts to prepare schools for “work during the mobilization period and in wartime when martial law is introduced.” (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russian Finance Ministry Unveils Military Budget Plans
Following a vote by the State Duma, Russia’s deputy finance minister has announced that the Federation’s planned three-year defense budget for 2018 - 2020 will amount to just over $37.7 billion per year. The Stockholm Peace Institute ranks Russia fourth in the world for military spending, after the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Possible Failure Reported After Russia Launches Rocket From New Cosmodrome
Russia says that it has lost contact with a weather satellite it launched from its new Vostochny Cosmodrome.
With Exit Talk, Kadyrov Seen Seeking Avowal Of His Power
Ramzan Kadyrov may have unexpectedly announced that the time has come for him to step down, but analysts say Chechnya's strongman leader has no intention of quitting and was primarily seeking public affirmation of his power from the Kremlin.
Kremlin Says Change Of Leadership In Luhansk Won't Affect Minsk Process
The Kremlin says a change of leadership for Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region will not affect the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements.
Ukraine 'Extremely Concerned' That Council Of Europe May Cave To Russian 'Blackmail'
Ukrainian officials and politicians have reacted with alarm to reports that the Council of Europe is considering lifting sanctions imposed against Russia over its military intervention in Crimea.
Olympics Panel Says Russian Whistle-Blower Was ‘Truthful’
The International Olympic Committee has dealt a blow to Russia's strategy of blaming the country's doping scandal primarily on a whistle-blower, saying that former Moscow anti-doping official Grigory Rodchenkov was "truthful" in revealing a Russian doping "conspiracy" to the world.
Armenian Court Sentences Former Karabakh Commander To Prison
An Armenian court has convicted Samvel Babayan, a former commander of separatist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, of weapons smuggling and money laundering and sentenced him to six years in prison.
New Kyrgyz President Names Russia Main 'Strategic Partner'
Kyrgyzstan's new president, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, has called Russia his country's "main strategic partner," but signaled that he will seek to balance ties with Moscow, China, and the West during his six-year term.
Tajikistan Targets 'Men Of Loose Morals' In Tackling Prostitution
Prostitution is illegal in Tajikistan, but under current legislation, only women are subject to prosecution. Now the Prosecutor-General's Office has called on parliament to amend the law to introduce punishments for men, which, if adopted, would be twice as harsh as those for women.
RFE/RL Turkmen Correspondent Threatened Again
RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent Soltan Achilova says she was threatened again when several men took her camera while she was photographing the demolition of an apartment block in Ashgabat on November 27. (in Russian, Turkmen Service)
COMMENTARY: Russia’s President Of Exhausted Genres
Political analyst Aleksandr Morozov told RFE/RL that he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to announce his intention to run for the presidency during his annual press conference, planned for December 14. Morozov believes that Putin wants to make his campaign as short as possible, and that he confronts a shortage of ideas to offer voters. (Russian Service)