Here is an update from the Crimean Desk of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Desk:
KYIV -- Russian officials have blocked Crimean Tatar leaders from leaving Crimea on the eve of a major world congress scheduled in Ankara this weekend.
The chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Crimean Tatar Assembly (Qurultay), Zair Smedlyaev, told RFE/RL that he and Nariman Celal, the first deputy of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body, the Mejlis, were handed subpoenas by the Russian investigative committee's directorate in Crimea on July 28.
According to the subpoenas, Smedlyaev and Celal must report to the investigative committee on August 1 for questioning about clashes in February 2014 that pitted Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists against pro-Russian activists near the regional parliament.
The World Congress of Crimean Tatars is scheduled for August 1-2. Some 200 Crimean Tatar groups from several countries are expected to attend the gathering.
Smedlyaev says the subpoenas were handed to prevent his and other Crimean Tatar leaders' participation at the international event in Turkey.
Here's an MH17 update from our news desk:
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on July 29 made an "urgent" appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin not to veto a UN Security Council resolution to create a tribunal for a trial of those suspected of shooting down Malaysia Airline's flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
Rutte's office said he telephoned Putin, ahead of the vote in New York later on July 29 to seek his backing for setting up the international tribunal and trial over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet that killed 298.
Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine, and Belgium have called for such a tribunal.
Malaysia has circulated a draft resolution on the issue with a vote set for July 29 around 3 p.m. local time at UN premises in New York
The resolution would require all countries to cooperate with the special tribunal or face sanctions.
The Kremlin says Putin told Rutte he remains firmly opposed to such a tribunal.
(Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, TASS, Interfax)
Ukrainian Security Service: about 2,000 Russian officers advising separatists