John Mastrini is a multimedia editor for RFE/RL in Prague.
For centuries, artisans have been making fine Persian rugs by hand in Kashan. Afghan migrants have become the heart of the industry, but as many leave Iran, the future of the craft is in doubt.
A Russian businessman gives refuge to exotic wild animals which have been lost or abandoned by their owners.
From the Afghan boy working hard so his sisters can go to school, to the pensioner who loves the solitude of ice skating on a Siberian lake, here are some of the inspiring people RFE/RL journalists have met over the past year.
Women in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, have begun to use a new taxi service with only female drivers. Clients say it gives them peace of mind.
A traffic stop in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, was anything but routine when police heard screams coming from a woman inside the car. They decided to let it go without taking action.
