Claire Bigg covers Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet world, with a focus on human rights, civil society, and social issues.
A prominent Russian public figure has blasted the culture minister for overseeing a mounting campaign against independent artists critical of authorities, and has quit the ministry.
The detention of a controversial French satirist for seemingly sympathizing with the terrorist who killed four people at a kosher store in Paris has raised difficult questions about freedom of speech in France. Dieudonne, an openly anti-Semitic comedian, could face jail for "condoning terrorism."
Nadia Savchenko, the Ukrainian military pilot held in Russia, has been on hunger strike for four weeks. She has vowed to die in pretrial detention if Russia refuses to release her.
The attack on the Paris-based satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has deprived France of its best-known cartoonists.
Ukrainian journalist Roman Cheremskyy was held for almost five months by separatists in the country's east. He says the rebels are deeply committed to the insurgency and are training for a potential offensive to capture more Ukrainian territory.
Russia's decision to bar Americans from adopting Russian children has prevented more than 250 orphans from being united with their prospective families in the United States. Two years on, RFE/RL was able to track down some of these children.
Acclaimed actress Lia Akhedzhakova and several other Russian public figures say they were duped into appearing in a video calling for the jailing of opposition activist Aleksei Navalny.
From shock resignations to military offensives to crackdowns, bad news often strikes in late December while much of the world is busy ringing in the holidays. So far, Russia leads the trend.
Opera star Anna Netrebko is under fire for backing separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Critics of Francois Hollande are mocking the French president after he posed in a traditional Kazakh furry costume, causing anger in Paris and dealing another blow to the French president's deteriorating public image.
Ukraine has taken the unusual decision to hand key government posts to three foreigners. The new ministers, who hail from the United States, Georgia, and Lithuania, received Ukrainian citizenship hours before the government was approved.
Afghanistan's new first lady has taken a bold public stance on women's rights, signaling her intention to play an active role as presidential spouse. Born and raised in a Christian family in Lebanon, Rula Ghani made her remarks in an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Malali Bashir.
Crimean Tatars are denouncing a sweeping crackdown on their community following the detention of a fourth man over clashes with police earlier this year. Crimean Tatar leaders have opposed the annexation of their peninsula by Russia.
France's far-right National Front party, led by Marine Le Pen, says it has borrowed 9 million euros from a Russian lender
Initiatives are cropping up across Russia to replace Western food products banned by Moscow. But consumers are already feeling the sting of sanctions.
As Ukraine prepares to mark one year since the Euromaidan revolt broke out in Kyiv, the anniversary is stirring up painful memories for families of those killed during the protests.
Ukraine has held its national dictation contest, with millions of people across the country testing their knowledge of the Ukrainian language. This year, the event turned into a show of support for Ukrainian unity.
Three Russian activists are facing lengthy jail terms after promoting broader autonomy for their region. One is in detention pending trial for extremism, the others have fled to Ukraine.
Health professionals in Russia have launched a protest campaign against a new reform they say will mean the destruction of the country's health-care system. In Moscow, cuts, redundancies, and hospital closures are already in full swing.
Eighteen-year-old Yevgeny Pushkaryov was buried last week near St. Petersburg after being killed in eastern Ukraine. His mother says Russian television reports prompted the teenager to secretly join the separatist movement.
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