Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

YouTube Police Videos Highlight Internet's Mounting Civic Role In Russia

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:10:43 +0000

More than 1 million Internet users have now viewed the videos posted by a former Russian police officer denouncing corruption in his old place of work. Two other former policemen and a former prosecutor have since posted videos on YouTube complaining about rampant police abuse. The clips highlight a growing trend among Russians of taking their grievances to the Internet.

Berlin Wall's Fall Ended Life In 'Prison' For Family In Restricted Zone

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:29:06 +0000

Nowhere was the fall of the Berlin Wall celebrated more enthusiastically than in East Germany's "restricted zone," a high-security area that ran the length of the East-West border. For more than 40 years, people caught in the zone faced harsher limitations than ordinary East Germans, including nightly curfews and travel bans that prohibited them from visiting even neighboring villages.

In Once-Divided City, East Berliners Still See 'Us' And 'Them'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:14:15 +0000

Physically, little today is left of the Berlin Wall, the potent symbol of Germany's Cold War division. But the psychological barrier between East and West -- the "Wall in the head" -- still runs deep two decades after the wall's destruction.

At Democracy Forum, Central, Eastern Europe Slam U.S. Engagement With Russia

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:42:15 +0000

Central and Eastern European dignitaries used a prominent democracy conference this week to voice concerns over Russia's increasingly assertive stance and poor human rights record -- two ills that some say are being aggravated by U.S. President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" relations with Moscow.

Astronauts, Cosmonauts Land In Prague For Planetary Congress

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:01:59 +0000

Prague this week plays host to a global meeting of astronauts and cosmonauts. Some big names are in attendance, including Soviet space hero Aleksei Leonov and China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei.

U.S. Loosens Control Over Internet

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:23:25 +0000

The United States government has loosened its control over how the Internet is run.

Pope Benedict Pays First Visit To Secular Czech Republic

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:14:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI is in the Czech Republic on his first visit to the country as head of the Roman Catholic Church. He hopes to bolster the dwindling Catholic community in one of Europe's most secular nations.

Obama Missile-Defense U-Turn Rocks Central Europe

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:36:58 +0000

Poland and the Czech Republic are reeling from Washington's decision last week to scrap plans for a missile shield with components in both countries. U.S. President Barack Obama says his replacement system will be more effective, but many in Central Europe are accusing Washington of walking out on its allies

Belarusian Activist's Spy 'Confession' Yields More Questions Than Answers

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:42:26 +0000

The Belarusian opposition is reeling from the publication of an online diary in which an activist admits infiltrating the opposition for the KGB secret service. The confession, which contains damaging accusations against opposition leaders, has raised questions both about its authenticity and its author's motives.

In Volatile Crimea, Tatars Bang The Drum For Land Return

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:58:38 +0000

A group of protesters has been camped outside Ukrainian government headquarters since mid-April to demand land in the Crimean peninsula. This is the most sustained protest to date by Crimean Tatars, who have relentlessly campaigned for the restitution of land confiscated during the mass deportation of their nation 65 years ago.

New Politkovskaya Trial Opens In Russia

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:15:11 +0000

A Moscow court has begun hearing a new trial into the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. The retrial comes after the Supreme Court overturned acquittal verdicts in what critics say was a botched first process. Politkovskaya's family is now calling for a completely new investigation.

Russian Patriarch's Visit Creates Storm In Ukraine

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:10:54 +0000

Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's powerful Orthodox Church, is making a highly controversial visit to Ukraine. While some Ukrainians welcome his stated goal of uniting fractious Orthodox Christians, critics accuse Kirill of advancing the Kremlin's agenda on Ukrainian soil.

Moldovans Abroad Feel Left Out As Country Decides Fate

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:57:41 +0000

Moldova is bracing for potentially decisive legislative elections that could lift it out of political deadlock or plunge it into fresh chaos. Much will depend on the participation of Moldova's large diaspora, which accuses the embattled Communist government of obstructing its vote.

Memorial's Closure Leaves Chechens With Nowhere To Turn

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:02:13 +0000

Slain activist Natalya Estemirova had helped hundreds of ordinary Chechens document claims of abuse during her years in rights group Memorial's Grozny office. Chechens and international rights groups alike are therefore reacting with dismay to the removal of a last line of defense for many of Chechnya's vulnerable residents.

A String Of Silenced Voices On Chechnya

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:53:20 +0000

Natalya Estemirova's killing is not an isolated act of violence -- it is the latest in a string of assaults and murders of human rights campaigners and others who have denounced abuses in Chechnya and the surrounding republics. Many say the trail of blood leads to Chechnya's leader, iron-fisted Ramzan Kadyrov.

Kremlin's 'Gray Cardinal' Steps Out Of Shadows To Tout Reform

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:25:10 +0000

Vladislav Surkov, the man seen as the Kremlin's chief ideologist, is known for his media shyness. But he has been unusually visible in recent months, making calls for liberal reform that suggest a change of course is under way in the Kremlin.

Widow Of Slain Balloonist Still Seeking Answers From Belarus

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:02:38 +0000

British-born U.S. balloonist John Stuart-Jervis had made a career of airborne adventure, serving as a Royal Navy fighter pilot before moving on to commercial air shipping, parachuting, and work as a flight instructor. In 1995, at the age of 68, he entered the Gordon Bennett Cup, the world's most prestigious balloon race. But the event ended in tragedy when the Belarusian army shot down his balloon, killing him and his partner, and sparking a major diplomatic dispute with Washington. Fourteen ...

Five Years After Nazran, Ingushetia Still Plagued By Militant Violence

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:54:55 +0000

On the night of June 21, 2004, hundreds of armed Chechen rebels stormed the southern Russian city of Nazran, leaving a trail of destruction and death in their wake. The raid alarmed the Kremlin, which had boasted of bringing stability to the North Caucasus after a decade of war with Chechen separatists. Five years later, Moscow has done little to contain militancy from spreading through the region.

Lavish Concert Marks 70th Birthday Of Karel Gott, 'Sinatra Of The East'

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:19:40 +0000

Karel Gott, the Czech pop-music icon whose legions of fans continue to adore him in much of Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Germany, marks his 70 birthday today, with a very Gott-like gala event billed as the "concert of the century."

In Belarus Spat, Russian Public Health Chief Shows Political Clout -- Again

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:23:50 +0000

Russia has banned hundreds of dairy products from Belarus, citing health concerns. But the move is widely seen as retaliation for Minsk's defiant tone and recent coziness with Europe. Not for the first time, Russia has allowed its public health chief to flex his muscles amid high-profile diplomatic spats with its neighbors.

Xenophobia: Postcommunist Societies Remain Acutely Susceptible To Racism

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:54:28 +0000

As Eastern Europe prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism, many countries of the former communist bloc find themselves grappling with spiraling racist violence. Why is it that ultranationalist groups across the region have been gaining momentum and claiming a rising number of victims?

As Europe Shivers, Kyiv And Moscow Stay Warm, For Now

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:42:45 +0000

From Turkey to France, European customers have seen their Russian gas deliveries come to a halt, and governments are taking emergency measures to deal with the crisis amid a severe cold snap. But as the gas feud continues, rivals Russia and Ukraine aren't feeling the cold.

Financial Crisis In Russia Holds Threat Of Social Unrest

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:10:45 +0000

The once-booming ruble has been hit hard by the global financial crisis -- after years of economic prosperity, Russians are suddenly having to tighten their belts. Could mounting public discontent become a genuine threat to the Kremlin?

Russia Reduces Quotas On Foreign Workers

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:17:40 +0000

Russia's prime minister has signed a decree aimed at reducing quotas on the number of foreigners working in the country, a move he says will ease the worsening financial crisis. Moscow's powerful mayor has backed the initiative.

UN Rights Milestone Marks 60th Anniversary

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:59:11 +0000

Sixty years ago, the UN adopted a milestone document affirming the dignity and fundamental rights of all people worldwide. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provided impetus to the human rights movement and inspired standard-bearers of peace, equality, and justice. How is it holding up?

EU Enhances 'Eastern Partnership' -- But Is There Less Than Meets The Eye?

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:35:37 +0000

The European Commission has reached out to six former Soviet nations, proposing generous financial assistance programs and free trade deals. But is there less than meets the eye?

Ukraine Marks 75th Anniversary Of Great Famine

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:25:27 +0000

Ukrainians are marking the 75th anniversary of a tragedy that killed millions of their countrymen in the early 1930s.

Identifying Chechnya's Dead

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:12:32 +0000

The Kremlin and its handpicked Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, have taken credit for what they say is a return to peacetime life in Chechnya after two devastating wars. But despite a reconstruction boom in Grozny, Russia has yet to come to terms with the legacy of those conflicts. There has been no systematic identification of the dead, and Moscow this month again refused to grant Chechnya its own forensic laboratory.

Drug Testing In Tatarstan Universities Draws Mixed Response

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:35:25 +0000

All university students and older schoolchildren in the Russian republic of Tatarstan this year have been asked to take a drug test.

Russia, Georgia Take War To Rights Court

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:47:12 +0000

South Ossetians have been suing Georgia en masse at the European Court of Human Rights following the war between Moscow and Tbilisi. Georgia, in turn, has filed an interstate complaint against Russia. The proceedings mark the first time two Council of Europe members have taken their grievances from the battlefield to the courtroom, and put the court in a tight spot.

Chechen Rights Lawyer Seen Among Favorites For Nobel Peace Prize

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:20:16 +0000

Lydia Yusupova tirelessly collected information about torture, kidnappings, and executions in war-battered Chechnya and helped victims report crimes to law-enforcement agencies and take their cases to court.

Two Months After Outbreak Of Hostilities, Georgian Humanitarian Situation Still Dire

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:21:41 +0000

Most locals have made their way home since the worst fighting ended between Russian and Georgian forces. But with their villages still inside a Russian-declared buffer zone and winter fast approaching, thousands of Georgians are stranded in makeshift shelters with little or no heat.

Red Flags Hint At Brewing Civil War In Ingushetia

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:52:23 +0000

Moscow has struggled for years to contain an insurgency by Islamist militants in the southern republic of Ingushetia. Public frustration and ethnic tensions have reached new heights amid mounting bloodshed and armed conflict next door in Georgia, prompting fears of full-blown civil war.

Russia Wards Off Financial Crisis, But For How Long?

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:48:19 +0000

Russia last week avoided a massive financial crisis by pumping tens of billions of dollars into its economy. A repeat of the 1998 meltdown now appears unlikely, but Russia will need much longer to repair its investment reputation.

Turkey Revives 'Caucasus Initiative,' But Faces Obstacles

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:49:49 +0000

Turkey's president is breaking down a historic barrier by accepting Armenia's invitation to attend a football match in Yerevan. It's part of a bold strategy to create to overcome long-standing conflicts that have hobbled the South Caucasus.

Does Russia Care What The West Thinks?

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:04:00 +0000

The Kremlin has spent years grooming its image in the West and pursuing the role of an equal partner in the world's major global organizations. But its latest actions -- going to war with Georgia, and formally recognizing its two breakaway regions -- have drawn unprecedented criticism from outside and put its current ties with the West in peril. Has a resurgent Russia become indifferent to world opinion?

Georgia Woes Could Send Ripple Through Other Frozen Conflicts

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:56:35 +0000

Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could have severe repercussions on peace efforts in other "frozen conflicts" areas where Moscow has strategic interests.

As Smoke Clears In Georgia, Humanitarian Concerns Come Into Focus

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:57:10 +0000

Military hostilities between Russian and Georgian forces are slowly grinding to a halt as Western diplomats seek to help implement a cease-fire deal. But the conflict zone remains largely inaccessible, preventing humanitarian groups from bringing relief to where it is most needed.

Georgia Fighting Sparks Major Humanitarian Crisis

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:37:28 +0000

Georgian officials are accusing Russia of violating the truce agreed less than 24 hours ago to end the fighting over the breakaway South Ossetia region. The development may complicate efforts to rush much-needed aided to areas affected by fighting.

The War At Home -- Spinning The Conflict In Russia

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:03:08 +0000

While Georgia presents the current armed conflict over South Ossetia and Abkhazia as a Russian invasion, Russian officials and state media are seeking to portray the events as a humanitarian catastrophe orchestrated by Tbilisi.

Solzhenitsyn Leaves Troubled Legacy Across Former Soviet Union

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:07:42 +0000

While the world widely admired his courage in exposing the atrocities of the Soviet prison camps, many, too, frowned on the ardent nationalism he espoused in his later years. Russia's ethnic and religious minorities, too, took a dim view of Solzhenitsyn's calls for a Slavic revival based on Russian Orthodoxy.

Berlin Address Offers Glimpse Into Continent's 'Obamamania'

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:23:34 +0000

Polls suggest that if Europeans could vote, U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama could bank on a November landslide. What kind of a reception did he get in Berlin, and what does it say about the continent's 'Obamamania'?

Russia Mulls Legislation To 'Save' Its Youth

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:52:26 +0000

Russian lawmakers say they have a plan to save the country's youth, starting with curfews, a Halloween ban, and a lot fewer nose rings. But who does the legislation really aim to save -- the nation's vulnerable youngsters, or a critical Kremlin fan base?