VISUAL REPORTS
Cypriot Firm That Ferried 'Little Green Men' To Crimea Evades Sanctions
A Current Time investigation has revealed that a Cyprus-based company, AnRussTrans, played a role in transporting the “little green men” and military equipment that enabled Russia to take control of the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. To date, none of the companies that make up the AnRussTrans group appear to be included in EU, U.S., or Ukrainian sanctions lists.
Drone Footage Shows Abandoned Bosnian Migrant Camp
Authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina have moved migrants from a controversial camp on its northwestern border to a temporary facility near the capital, Sarajevo, after the Council of Europe warned conditions at the Vucjak camp could lead to deaths.
Cosmic Clash: The Nightmare Scenario For An Arms Race In Space
Kamikaze satellites, orbital lasers, and anti-satellite missiles -- these are just some of the weapons being developed in an arms race to militarize space.
Muscovites Bid Farewell To Former Mayor Yury Luzhkov
Russian President Vladimir Putin, high-level politicians, celebrities, and thousands of Muscovites bid farewell at a memorial service to former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who died at age 83.
OTHER NEWS
U.S. Prosecutors Say Giuliani Associate Parnas Underreported $1 Million From Russia
U.S. federal prosecutors have asked a judge to put Lev Parnas, an associate of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, back in jail to await trial, saying Parnas understated his income and assets by failing to disclose the receipt of $1 million from an account in Russia in September.
EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia For Role In Ukraine Conflict
European Union leaders on December 12 decided to prolong economic sanctions against Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by another six months. The decision comes days after the first face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Paris.
Russia Expels Two Germans From Embassy In Diplomatic Tit-For-Tat
Russia has announced the expulsion of two German diplomats, citing the principle of reciprocity and Article 9 of the Vienna Convention. Germany last week expelled two Russian diplomats after the Federal Prosecutor's Office ruled there was evidence that either Russian government agencies or Chechen regional agencies may have ordered the killing in Berlin of a 40-year-old Georgian of Chechen origin.
Death Toll Rises To Two After Fire On Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier
The death toll in a fire on Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has risen to two, after a body was found on the vessel by search-and-rescue crews. The blaze broke out on the vessel while it was docked at an Arctic shipyard.
Russian Sports Minister Awarded State Honor On Heels Of WADA Ban
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobov has been awarded an Order of Alexander Nevsky, a state prize that recognizes contributions to state-building. The award comes days after the World Anti-Doping Agency imposed a four-year ban on Russian athletes and officials from participation in world championships, including the Olympics, because of systematic doping. (Russian Service)
What’s Wrong With Stalin? Russian City Slammed For Planning Birthday Bash
A local branch of the Communist Party in Russia’s western city of Voronezh is planning to celebrate the 140th birthday of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. The local theatrical community, whose center, the House of the Actor, is the planned venue for the event, has issued on online open letter to pressure the venue to cancel.
Russian TV Pulls Plug On Ukrainian President's Comedy Series
Russia's state-connected TNT TV channel has pulled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Servant Of The People sitcom off the air just a day after its premiere in the country.
Ukrainian Police Detain 'Suspects' In Journalist's 2016 Killing
Ukrainian police have detained five suspects in connection with the killing of the prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet three years ago. The government has faced persistent criticism over the perceived lack of progress in solving the case, and accusations that journalists in Ukraine can be killed with impunity.
Purges Start At Ukrainian Customs Agency
The head of Ukraine’s State Customs Service, Maksym Nefyodov, told a large meeting of stakeholders on December 11 that his agency will undergo a huge makeover next year to address rampant corruption. Nefyodov has had free rein to revamp the service. He said that 80% of his Kyiv staff and 40% of officials at border posts have been purged to date. He has previously estimated that state coffers lose between $4 billion and $8 billion due to corruption.
U.S Senate Recognizes Armenian Killings As Genocide
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a century ago as genocide, a move Armenia’s prime minister hailed as a "victory of justice and truth."
Police In Tbilisi Detain 12 Protesters, Including Opposition Leader
Police in Tbilisi have detained 12 protesters, including the leader of opposition New Georgia party, Giorgi Vashadze, after they tried to block the entrance to the parliament building. They were among dozens of activists who tried to block the legislature’s entrance to protest the election of 19 candidates to the Supreme Court.
Court Unfreezes Accounts Of RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service, Other Media That Reported Smuggling Ring
A Bishkek court has accepted a motion to unfreeze the bank accounts of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, locally known as Azattyk, one if its correspondents, and the news site Kloop, which were blocked when the influential Matraimov family at the center of an alleged corruption ring exposed by the media outlets filed a libel suit against them.
Former Kyrgyz President Atambaev Charged With Killing Security Officer
Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has been charged with killing a security officer during a two-day standoff between security forces and supporters of the former leader at his compound in the village of Koi-Tash near Bishkek on August 7.
Lengthy Prison Terms Handed To Inmates In Deadly Tajik Prison Riot
Twenty-eight inmates in Tajikistan have been handed lengthy prison terms for their roles in a deadly prison riot in May. In a trial held behind closed doors, the Supreme Court found the men guilty of murder, terrorism, extremism, and other serious crimes and sentenced them to prison terms between 19 years and 29 years.
IRAN: In Iran, Six Years For One Word
READ AND SUBSCRIBE to our Journalists In Trouble Newsletter