Michael Scollon is a senior correspondent in RFE/RL's Central Newsroom in Prague.
Tighter restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Russia have led to a new scourge -- a sharp rise in the number of fraudulently obtained vaccination certificates needed to work, get regular medical treatment, and travel.
From his cage in a Minsk courtroom, Belarusian activist Stsyapan Latypau said that he had been ordered to confess to charges he organized anti-government protests or face time in a prison "pressure chamber."
After the Belarusian security services allegedly "hijacked" a passenger plane that journalist Raman Pratasevich was traveling in and forced it to land in Minsk on May 23, he reportedly told fellow passengers: "They will execute me here."
The attack on School No. 175 in the Tatar capital adds to a growing list of youths-on-school attacks in Russia in recent years, leading to scrutiny of the numerous steps federal authorities have taken to stop them.
A trio of 14-year-old boys in Russia face up to 10 years in prison after being charged with "training for terrorist activities" in a case that began with accusations they were trying to blow up a virtual Federal Security Service headquarters they built in the computer game Minecraft.
In his speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin focused mainly on domestic matters, painting a picture of unity months ahead of important elections. He dropped no foreign-policy bombshells but delivered warnings to the West.
Analysts are loath to predict what will happen next as Russia continues a military buildup near Ukraine’s borders and in Crimea. Analysts say the risks are high and there are real dangers that fighting in the Donbas could spill over into a broader conflict.
Russian journalist Roman Anin says his recent interrogation was intended to accuse him of illegally obtaining photos published on Instagram, and raids on his home and office appeared to be done to "find something else," including documents related to recent critical coverage of high-profile figures.
An Austrian-designed, Russian-commissioned cultural complex under construction in Sevastopol promises to rise as the boldest symbol yet of Kremlin defiance in the face of Western sanctions introduced following the seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
When St. Petersburg resident Margarita Yudina stepped in front of an OMON riot police officer to ask why he was detaining a young protester, she was kicked hard in the stomach.
As Russian athletes prepare to compete in the Olympics without the backing of a national flag or anthem, they have suggested that a popular WWII song be played during ceremonies. Katyusha, a song that gained popularity after the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, is being floated as a replacement.
After a long battle trying to mute the messaging site Telegram, Russia threw in the towel and Belarus conceded it was powerless to stop it. But as the company looks to Iran and China as closed media areas in need of a free-speech platform, concerns remain about the app harboring extremist content.
Whether in the stands, or the beach, or even at schools and houses of worship -- for many, China's announcement of the COVID-19 outbreak on New Year's Eve turned out to herald a year that just wasn't there.
The Arctic is melting at a record pace, exposing a host of threats to the indigenous peoples of Russia's Far North: thinning reindeer herds and fish stocks, environmental disasters, and the arrival of the coronavirus on the heels of a construction boom.
Most Russian moviegoers will have to wait to see Outlaw, after the nationwide launch of the homegrown film was hit by last-minute disruptions that will limit its screening to just a handful of theaters.
Belarusians got a glimpse of how to bring about immediate change when they saw Kyrgyz protesters' rapid success in getting disputed election results overturned. But while some may envy them, others see stark differences in the two situations and urge continued nonviolent resistance.
As Armenian and Azerbaijani forces fight in and around the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, the two sides are lobbing accusations over Turkey reportedly deploying Syrian rebels to help its Muslim-majority ally, Baku.
As soon as weekend protests against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka wrapped up, demonstrators begin planning their next move. As the Belarusian authorities try to keep the movement under their thumb, protesters are employing online avenues to spread the word on the street.
As rights groups call on the Belarusian authorities to be held accountable for the violence used against protesters and bystanders amid daily demonstrations over a disputed election, chilling personal accounts of underhanded tactics allegedly used by police continue to emerge.
Despite efforts by the authorities to stop people from flying the red-and-white flag adopted by the opposition, Belarusians are finding unique ways to show their solidarity.
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