Hey, you're busy! We know rferl.org isn't the only website you read. And that it's just possible you may have missed some of our most compelling journalism this week. To make sure you're up-to-date, here are some of the highlights produced by RFE/RL's team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
The Man Walking Alone Across Russia
Andrei Sharashkin has faced wolves, bears, thieves, and countless friendly locals while walking (and sometimes hitchhiking) alone across almost 30,000 kilometers of Russian territory. By North.Realities
'They Would Hang Me By The Arms': Hundreds Of Letters From Kazakh Prisons Describe Alleged Torture
Mistreatment of prisoners remains widespread in Kazakhstan as law-enforcement officers act with impunity, inmates and rights groups say. Despite many reports and complaints, authorities have failed to carry out effective and impartial investigations. By Ayan Kalmurat and Aya Renaud
Muslims From Europe To Asia Celebrate Eid Al-Adha, The Feast Of Sacrifice
Muslims have marked one of the major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha. During the holiday period, Muslims slaughter animals in symbolic homage to the story of the prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his first son as an act of supplication to God. Amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases, people must deal with coronavirus restrictions for the second year in a row. By RFE/RL
Journalists Say Sakhalin Newspaper Shut Down Over Reporting On Russian Coal Producer
The editor of the municipal newspaper in the Sakhalin Island town of Uglegorsk has been fired, publication suspended, and the paper's website taken offline. Journalists say the shutdown was retribution for the paper's critical reporting on the coal producer that dominates the remote region. By Lyubov Barabashova and Robert Coalson
'Unloved Children Of The Kuzbass': Life And Death In A Siberian Village
A Russian photographer has spent seven years documenting the daily lives of people in remote Siberian villages. The results are stunning -- and sometimes heartbreaking. By Siberian.Realities
Mosquito 'Tornadoes' Storm Russia's Far East
Blood-curdling images show pillars of swarming mosquitos above Russia's Kamchatka region as they hunt for a mate. By Amos Chapple
No Jab, No Job: Moscow Employers Struggle To Meet Vaccination Requirements
Amid a wave of COVID-19 infections in Russia, Moscow and other local governments have made vaccinations mandatory for workers in sectors such as retail, health care, and transportation. In Moscow, some managers say their employees have quit rather than get vaccinated, and some workplaces are struggling to fill open spots. By Current Time
Iran's Angry Water Protests Turn Deadly Amid Severe Drought
Iran is facing widespread protests in the oil-rich Khuzestan Province over water shortages caused by a severe drought. By Golnaz Esfandiari
A Cosmonaut Is Demoted And Russia’s Star-Crossed Space Agency Lurches. Again.
Russia’s venerable but creaky space program has seen plenty of ups and downs. The latest scandal involves the demotion of a cosmonaut who spoke out against a plan to shoot a Russian feature film on the International Space Station. By Mike Eckel
The Russian Village Of 'Muddy Continent' Sinks In A Quagmire Of Problems
In Russia's Komi region, the village of Mutny Materik -- or Muddy Continent -- stands in the swamps along the Pechora River, without paved roads or a sewer system. The town's name was recently recognized as the funniest in Russia, but locals find the conditions of life here are no laughing matter. By Harutyun Mansuryan, Current Time’s Unknown Russia, and Current Time
