It’s back – though it never really went away. COVID-19 cases and deaths from the disease have increased sharply in Russia, in particular Moscow, with the “Delta” variant taking its toll and millions of citizens ignoring calls from the authorities to get vaccinated. Now it's mandatory for many.
Expectations are low ahead of a high-profile summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders, who are to meet this week for the first time since President Joe Biden took office in January. RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the June 16 summit in Geneva.
A Moscow court may label three organizations linked to imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny extremist groups this week, part of what Kremlin critics say is an ongoing effort to silence dissent. Is the crackdown only connected to the upcoming State Duma elections?
More than 50 employees of the Russian Embassy in Prague reportedly flew back to Moscow over the weekend after the Czech Republic ordered their expulsion last month. How will the exodus affect Russia's espionage efforts in the heart of Europe?
What would Russia look like today if some of the late Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov’s ideas had been realized? Also, legislation barring people with ties to Aleksei Navalny and his organizations from running in elections is set to advance in the State Duma this week. RFE/RL senior correspondent Rob
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for tighter gun regulations after a deadly school shooting in Kazan, but will it happen -- and will the Kremlin use the attack to expand control over the Internet?Irina Lagunina from RFE/RL's Russian Service joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
On this week's show, host Muhammad Tahir moderates a discussion on what has changed in Tajik-Uzbek ties since Shavkat Mirziyoev became Uzbekistan’s president and where this new spirit of cooperation might lead both countries.
On this week's Majlis podcast, Muhammad Tahir moderates a discussion on the obstacles faced by independent NGOs in Uzbekistan.
On this week's Majlis Podcast, Muhammad Tahir and guests look at how the departure of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan will affect Central Asia.
On this week's podcast, a discussion on the recent investigations and court decisions that seem to go against the people who displease the Uzbek authorities.
On this week's podcast, a discussion on what led to the fighting, what happened during those three days, and how the fighting has changed the situation along the border and in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Turkmenistan has the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world but has now become a country where people stand in long lines for rations of bread, dig through garbage for scraps and things they might possibly be able to sell.
