VISUAL REPORTS
Russia Charges Captured Ukrainian Sailors
A court in Russian-controlled Crimea has charged all 24 captured Ukrainian sailors of illegally crossing Russia’s maritime border.
Zurabishvili Wins Georgia's Presidential Runoff
Ruling party candidate Salome Zurabishvili has won Georgia’s presidential runoff, final preliminary results show, in a vote international observers described as "competitive" while noting that one side "enjoyed an undue advantage."
Migrants Accuse Croatian Police Of Brutality At Border
Migrants trying to sneak into Croatia, many with hopes of claiming asylum in an EU country, say they've been severely beaten by police before retreating to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia denies the accusations.
Protesters In Skopje March Against Macedonia Name Change
Thousands of protesters marched through the Macedonian capital, Skopje, demanding that the government resign over its plan to change the country’s name. The protest was organized by the nationalist opposition VMRO DPMNE party, which accused Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of treason for agreeing with Greece to rename the country North Macedonia.
Tajik Brides Pay A Price For Proof Of Virginity
A Tajik woman has spoken of being beaten and thrown out of her home after her husband accused her of not being a virgin when they married. Such accusations can have disastrous consequences for women in Tajikistan.
OTHER NEWS
Poroshenko Asks NATO To Send Ships To Azov Sea
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on NATO to send ships to the Sea of Azov to help defend Ukraine following a maritime clash with Russia, declaring, "The only language he [Putin] understands is the solidarity of the Western world...We can't accept Russia's aggressive policies. First it was Crimea, then eastern Ukraine, now he wants the Sea of Azov."
Saakashvili Rejects Election Results And Calls For ‘Mass Disobedience’
Speaking to Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 on November 28, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili refused to recognize the results of the presidential elections, citing “conditions of violence” during the polls. He called on Georgians to protest en mass, for police to join them, and for the military to refuse to follow “illegal orders.” (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Twitter Suspends Account That 'Impersonated' Putin
Twitter has suspended an account that it said had been impersonating Russian President Vladimir Putin. The account, using the handle @putinRF_eng, tweeted in the English language and had attracted 1 million followers before it was shut down.
Navalny Announces ‘Smart Voting’ Project
Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has announced a new project “Smart Voting,” which aims to deprive the United Russia Party of votes in critical municipal and regional elections in fall 2018. The project would identify the opposition candidates in each district with the best chance of winning, and recommend them to voters. (Russian Service)
European Court Denies Yanukovych Aide's Bid To Suspend EU Sanctions
The president of the European Union's General Court has dismissed Andriy Klyuyev's attempt to have the bloc's sanctions against him, issued in 2014, suspended. Klyuyev was the head of the administration of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
EU Rebukes Kosovo For Serbia, Bosnia Tax
EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini has urged Kosovo to rescind a 100 percent tariff on imports from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, saying the measure "only complicates the situation further." On November 21, Pristina imposed the tax in retaliation for what it said were Belgrade's efforts to undermine the young republic -- which neither Serbia nor Bosnia recognize -- on the international stage.
Slovenia Appoints Woman As Chief Of Armed Forces
Slovenia has become the only NATO country to appoint a woman as chief of its military.
Dushanbe Wants Answers After Tajik Man Dies In Moscow Police Custody
Tajikistan has asked Russia for an explanation after a Tajik man died while in the custody of Moscow police. The father of Ilkhomuddin Shoev, who was reported dead on November 21, told RFE/RL that his son appeared to have been badly beaten.
Turkmenistan Boasts Of American Retailers’ Use Of Cotton, Despite U.S. Ban
Turkmenistan's main state-run newspaper has published a story about Turkmen textiles that boasts about the use of Turkmen cotton by American retail giants Walmart and Amazon. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service detention order issued in May prohibits the import of Turkmen cotton or products produced with it. The article notes that towels made with Turkmen cotton are in particular demand in the U.S. (in Russian, Turkmen Service)
INFOGRAPHIC: HIV On The Rise In Russia And Ukraine