VISUAL REPORTS
Fighting Continues On The Outskirts Of Donetsk
Despite a declared ceasefire, fighting continues daily in Adiivka, Pisky and Marinka in eastern Ukraine, where some Ukrainian positions are located within 50 to 500 meters from Russia-backed separatists. (Ukrainian Service)
Belarusians Fighting On Both Sides In Eastern Ukraine
Belarusian volunteers have been fighting on both sides of the Ukrainian government's war with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. But when they return to Belarus, their treatment may depend on which side they backed.
Kyrgyz Students March Against Extremism
Kyrgyz students held a march to raise awareness about Islamist extremism and radicalization in the country.
RFE/RL Says Goodbye To Russian State Duma
RFE/RL journalists visited Russia’s State Duma possibly for the last time, on December 6, after being banned from the legislature as ‘foreign agents.’ (Russian Service)
OTHER NEWS
7.40am -- Good Morning!
[Excerpt: Current Time TV’s daily, first-read for Russian-speaking audiences.]
Reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement in Nizhny Novgorod yesterday of his candidacy in the 2018 presidential elections, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Putin's decision instilled "hope and confidence," Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said that it couldn’t have been any other way, presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak asked if anyone doubted whether it would be otherwise, and the Fair Russia party asked that the United Russia party not “privatise” Putin because they support him, too. Opposition candidate Aleksei Navalny noted that his campaign chief Leonid Volkov was also in Nizhny Novgorod at the time, having been recently taken into custody for working on the election campaign.
Launch Of Putin's Reelection Bid Hints At Campaign Strategy
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his candidacy in Russia’s 2018 presidential elections on December 6 in two grand, highly choreographed TV appearances that offered the first indications of the optics and tactics the Kremlin will use to promote his victory.
Russia Olympic Ban Stirs Anger, Conspiracy Theories, Support For Athletes
Few geopolitical developments in recent years have stirred passions in Russia like the decision by the International Olympic Committee to ban the Russian national team from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, over state-sponsored doping.
Closing Arguments Resume In Ulyukayev Corruption Trial
Closing arguments in the high-profile bribery trial of former Russian Economy Minister Aleksei Ulyukayev have resumed in Moscow, with the prosecution asserting it has proof that Ulyukayev accepted $2 million in cash from Rosneft chief Igor Sechin.
D.C. Council Considers Dedicating Plaza By Russian Embassy To Nemtsov
The U.S. capital’s city council took up legislation to rename a public square located in front of Russia’s Embassy in memory of the slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.
Ukraine Tops Agenda Of Tillerson, Lavrov Talks At OSCE Meeting
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plan to meet for face-to-face talks about Ukraine's conflict on December 7 during the annual Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Ukrainian Reformers Derail Effort To 'Destroy' Anticorruption Body
Ukrainian activists and reformist lawmakers worked tirelessly overnight to remove a bill from parliamentary consideration that they say would "destroy" the nation’s only independent investigative body by dismissing its chief.
IMF, World Bank Say Ukraine's Anticorruption Efforts Threatened
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a December 7 statement they are concerned about attacks on Ukrainian anticorruption institutions.
Stoltenberg Expresses NATO Support For Georgia, Urges Russian Troop Pullout
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed the alliance’s “strong commitment” to Georgia’s security and called on Russia to withdraw its forces from separatist regions in the Caucasus country.
Asian Bank Loans To Support Azerbaijan's Railways
The Asian Development Bank says it has approved loans totaling $400 million to develop Azerbaijan’s railway sector and modernize a line connecting the country with Russia and Iran.
Nazarbaev Calls For Wealth To Be Brought Back From Abroad
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has angrily called on companies and business leaders to bring billions of dollars stowed in bank accounts abroad back to Kazakhstan.
Uzbek President Mirziyoev Pardons 2,700 Convicts
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has signed a decree ordering what state media outlets called the first mass pardoning of convicts in the Central Asian country's history.