VIDEO REPORTS
THE POWER VERTICAL: Putin's Next Target
Could cybermeddling in Germany’s federal elections next year succeed?
Protesters Demand Moscow Mayor’s Resignation
Approximately two thousand people, galvanized by outrage over the city’s paid parking zones, confronted Duma members in Moscow to demand the resignation of Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. (in Russian)
Ukrainians Demonstrate To Save Residents Of Aleppo
Activists in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv, holding signs saying “Save Aleppo,” rallied to support civilians in Syria. (in Ukrainian)
Macedonia Ruling Party Backers Protest Vote Challenge
Supporters of Macedonia's ruling party held a rally at the state electoral commission, claiming the opposition was trying to steal their victory in this week's election.
OTHER NEWS
Russia Dismisses Report Putin Was Involved In U.S. Election Meddling
Russian officials have dismissed an NBC News report that said U.S. intelligence officials believe that President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in Russian efforts to interfere in the U.S. Presidential election.
No Breakthrough On Russia-Japan Islands Dispute
Talks between Russia and Japan produced an agreement to discuss joint economic development of four islands claimed by both countries, but no breakthrough in the territorial dispute.
Italy Blocked EU ‘Mistake’ On Russian Sanctions
Italy blocked attempts to extend European Union sanctions on Russia by a year as well as broaden the sanctions to cover alleged crimes by Russia in Syria, EU members said.
Russia Detains Foreigners For Plotting Bomb Attacks In Moscow
Russia's security service says it has detained four people from Moldova and Tajikistan it alleges were plotting terrorist bomb attacks in Moscow.
Netherlands, EU Reach Deal On Ukraine Association Agreement
European Union leaders have reached an agreement about a demand from the Netherlands on a deal that would establish closer ties between the EU and Ukraine.
European Vote Brings Georgia, Ukraine Closer To Visa-Free Travel
A December 15 vote in the European Parliament has brought the goal of visa-free travel to EU Schengen Zone countries one big step closer for citizens of Ukraine and Georgia.
Politics Or Finance – Is Ukraine’s Biggest Bank Going To Be Nationalized?
Ihor Kolomoiskiy, majority stakeholder in Ukraine’s PrivatBank, has labeled the rumors about the potential nationalization of the bank “pseudo-nationalization” and an information attack. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Amnesty International Decries 'Systematic Persecution’ Of Crimean Tatars
Amnesty International has issued a report decrying the "systematic persecution" of the Crimean Tatars since Russia’s “occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea” in 2014.
Daghestan Pressures Laks To Cede Homes To Former Chechen Deportees
The legacy of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's World War II-era deportations continues to play out, as authorities in Daghestan’s Novolak district have ordered Lak residents to surrender their homes to Chechen families.
Lukashenka Supports Trump ‘From The Heart’
Belarus media reports that President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told an audience of foreign diplomats that nobody supports President-elect Donald Trump “more than we, openly and honestly, from the heart.” (in Belarusian)
Belarus Detains Russian Blogger Wanted In Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani authorities say a Russian blogger who is wanted in Baku on separatism charges has been detained in Belarus.
Exiled Kazakh Banker Declares Intent To Topple Nazarbayev Regime
Exiled Kazakh opposition figure Mukhtar Ablyazov, who has just been released from custody in France, says he aims to topple the current Kazakh government within the next three years.
Azimov Loses Finance Ministry In Uzbekistan
An influential official who had been seen as the late President Islam Karimov's possible successor has lost his job as finance minister as the Central Asian country's new government takes shape.
Tajikistan Considers President’s Portrait For New Banknote
Tajikistan's National Bank is considering the use of President Emomali Rahmon's portrait on a proposed new 1,000-somoni banknote, which would be worth about $127.
Gazprombank To Fund Foreign Stake In Rosneft
Russian media reports that Gazprombank may issue a €10.5 billion loan to a consortium of Swiss trading company Glencore and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund to fund the purchase of a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft. The consortium has agreed to commit only €2.8 billion of its own funds. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
MOST READ/RUSSIA: Palmyra Was Taken While Guards Slept
Russian And Israeli analysts Kirill Mikhailov and Tsvi Magen from Israeli told RFE/RL that the so-called Islamic State was able to retake Palmyra because Russia’s and Syria’s main forces were sent to conquer Aleppo and those left in Palmyra simply “slept through the IS offensive.” (40K view on Russian Service website)
MEDIA RELEASE: Polygraph.info To Speak Truth To Dinsinformation
INFOGRAPHIC: Russia And China Have Vetoed Numerous UN Security Resolutions On Syria