VISUAL REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: Sakharov’s Other Russia
Remembering Andrei Sakharov, who died on December 14, 1989.
Saakashvili: Corruption -- And Russia -- Are Ukraine's Enemy
Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian leader who is now an ardent opponent of Ukraine's president, says corruption has inflicted far greater damage on Ukraine than Russia has.
The Soaring Costs Of St. Petersburg's Stadium
At an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, St. Petersburg's Zenit Arena, one of the venues for soccer's 2018 World Cup in Russia, is one of the most expensive stadiums ever built.
U.S. Ambassador Says Report On Watergate Role Mostly False
In an interview with Current Time TV, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Stephen B. King rejected a Newsweek report alleging that he "beat and kidnapped” a woman in connection with the 1972 Watergate scandal.
OTHER NEWS
LIVE BLOG: Putin Holds Final Annual Press Conference Before Russian Presidential Election
RFE/RL is live-blogging Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference with Russian and foreign journalists, one of his last major public appearances before a March presidential election that appears certain to hand him six more years in power.
Ukrainian Journalist Gears Up (Again) For Putin's Big Press Conference
In an annual ritual that he has undertaken since 2014, Roman Tsymbalyuk will try to catch Vladimir Putin's eye during the Russian president's marathon annual press conference to ask a question about the war in Ukraine.
EU Withholds Funds From Ukraine In Response To Unmet Requirements
The EU has said Ukraine will not receive the third tranche of a European Union financial assistance package as Kyiv has failed to meet some of the requirements.
Roskomnadzor Reportedly Threatens YouTube With Restrictions
Open Russia, an NGO founded by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has published a note on its website stating that Russian media monitor Roskomnadzor has told YouTube to close the NGO’s account within 24 hours, or risk restrictions on access to the platform inside the country. (Russian Service)
U.S. For First Time Defends Prevezon Money-Laundering Settlement
U.S. prosecutors have for the first time publicly defended a much-criticized decision to settle an alleged money-laundering case that stems from a massive Russian tax-fraud scheme and has rippled through U.S.-Russian relations.
New Russian Law Increases Penalties For Terrorist Recruiting
Russia’s State Duma adopted a law on December 14 that would strengthen criminal punishment for terrorist recruiting, increasing the current maximum penalty from 10 years in prison to 20 years, or even a life sentence. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russian Plant Admits To Emitting Nuclear Isotope Detected Over Urals
A senior executive at the Russian nuclear-processing plant suspected of being behind a spike of radioactivity over Europe this fall has admitted that the facility emits the isotope that was recorded above the Ural Mountains.
Russian Court Rejects Siemens Claim Over Turbine Transfer To Crimea
A Russian court has rejected a claim by German conglomerate Siemens that the sale of power turbines that were delivered to Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea region, contravening European Union sanctions, was invalid.
Russian Hockey League Favors Players’ Participation As Olympic ‘Neutrals’
Russia's national hockey league said it backed allowing its players to participate in next year’s Olympics as “neutrals” after the International Olympic Committee banned Russian teams from participating under the country’s flag.
Lawyer's Book On Azerbaijani Rights Activist Sparks Allegations Of Betrayal
The launch of Azerbaijani lawyer Elcin Qambarov’s tell-all book about former client and human rights activist Leyla Yunus has sparked accusations of betrayal and impropriety.
Kazakh Mine Owner Sues Workers Striking Underground
The company ArcelorMittal Temirtau has filed a lawsuit against hundreds of striking workers who have remained underground in coal mines in central Kazakhstan since December 11 to demand wage increases.
CPJ Urges Tajikistan To Release Journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Tajik authorities to immediately release prominent journalist Hairullo Mirsaidov and drop all charges against him.
CPJ Says Number Of Jailed Journalists Hits Historic High
The Committee to Protect Journalists says the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide has hit another new record, reflecting a "dismal failure by the international community to address a global crisis in freedom of the press."
INFOGRAPHIC: Measuring Putin’s Marathon Press Conferences