Claire Bigg covers Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet world, with a focus on human rights, civil society, and social issues.
Observers and members of the opposition say Russia's local polls on October 14 were marred by fraud, particularly in the closely-watched race in Khimki, just outside Moscow -- one of just two constituencies where prominent opposition leaders challenged the pro-Putin candidate.
Despite reports of aggressive lobbying, Azerbaijan has still lost its bid to block a key resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) which broadens the body's authority to probe rights abuses in the South Caucasus country.
Rights groups are calling on the Belarusian authorities to end what they describe as the ill-treatment and intimidation of jailed opposition leaders. Human Rights Watch has voiced concerns about the well-being of Zmitser Dashkevich and Ales Byalyatski following reports of severe mistreatment in prison, including threats of rape and murder.
The donation by a U.S. businessman of 350 silent films shot in Russia before the 1917 Bolshevik revolution to a St. Petersburg-based film studio is being hailed as historic, and the collection could contain some long-lost cinematic gems.
Relatives of Chingiz Aitmatov say they are facing eviction from the Moscow cottage where the celebrated Kyrgyz writer lived and worked for two decades. Aitmatov's wooden cottage is located in Peredelkino, a historical writers' retreat in the outskirts of Moscow that locals say is being threatened by real-estate developers.
Prison officials have confiscated two Geiger counters from jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who claims authorities are responsible for high radiation levels in her quarters. The confiscation follows damaging accusations from two of her former cellmates.
Tolibjon Kurbankhanov, a singer from Tajikistan, has been churning out video clips praising Vladimir Putin. His latest composition, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," is fuelling speculation that the songs are nothing more than a Kremlin PR stunt.
An independent television station in Ukraine is fighting a hefty tax-evasion fine widely seen as an attempt to muzzle criticism of President Viktor Yanukovych ahead of key parliamentary elections. TVi may face bankruptcy if the fine is not overturned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's well-publicized stunts involving wild animals have often gone awry. Now reports say his latest -- involving a flight with endangered cranes -- can be added to the list of wildlife mishaps.
The Russian Orthodox Church says it is under siege following a spate of attacks on crosses. The Moscow Patriarchate blames the incidents on an alleged anticlerical campaign launched by the opposition. But some Russians have a very different explanation.
Crusading Russian ecologist Yevgenia Chirikova is preparing to run for mayor of Khimki, the small town outside Moscow where she made her name battling the construction of a highway through a nearby forest.
Members of Pussy Riot aren't the only Russians facing prosecution after offending the Orthodox Church. A blogger who criticized the church online has fled the country and is seeking asylum in Estonia to avoid criminal charges.
As their country officially joins the World Trade Organization, Russians remain deeply divided over accession to the global trade body.
When Iran was hit by devastating twin earthquakes on August 11, neighbor Armenia was quick to offer its help and extend condolences for the more than 300 victims.
Patriarch Kirill heads to Poland this week for a historic fence-mending visit, the first by a head of the Russian Orthodox Church since the country regained independence after World War I.
Russia's republic of Tatarstan has adopted new restrictions on religious groups and foreign-educated clerics.
VKontakte, Russia's largest social network, has angered the country's gays and lesbians by barring them from indicating they are homosexual in their relationship status. In a curt message, a representative of VKontakte allegedly advised a gay network member to "change sex" if he wasn't happy with the relationship options available on the web site. The homosexual community is calling for a boycott of the social network.
Changing passports to compete for another country has long been common practice among athletes. But as the Olympic Games prepare to kick off, the incidences are growing.
The Georgian village of Gonio has recently become a favorite destination for sex tourists from neighboring Turkey and elsewhere. Residents say hundreds of foreign women, most of them from Central Asia and the North Caucasus, are brought -- some against their will -- to the Black Sea coast village in the summer to work as prostitutes.
A new bill is in the works to have foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations in Russia registered as "foreign agents." The bill, drafted by deputies from Russia's ruling party, formally aims at making NGOs more accountable and transparent. Critics, however, fear the proposal will be used to justify further crackdowns on civil and rights groups.
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