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Tajik Activist Reportedly Taken Into Custody Upon Arrival After German Deportation
Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev was reportedly taken into custody by authorities as he disembarked a plane in Dushanbe after being deported by Germany hours earlier.
Sharofiddin Gadoev, leader of the opposition Movement for Reform and Development of Tajikistan, told RFE/RL that Ergashev was met by Tajik security officials, who declined to comment on the situation.
His case has raised concerns among human rights advocates and international observers, given the serious allegations of potential torture and the lack of transparency regarding Ergashev’s condition following his deportation.
Ergashev reportedly attempted to harm himself by slitting his wrists and legs as German police were preparing to escort him to the airport on November 6.
The Insider investigative group reported that Ergashev was hospitalized after the incident, but that the deportation proceeded regardless.
Gadoev said Ergashev’s health condition during the deportation was poor, and that since his arrival in Tajikistan, no further information has been available about his whereabouts or well-being.
RFE/RL's efforts to obtain an official statement from Tajik authorities have been unsuccessful with representatives of the Prosecutor-General's Office and the Interior Ministry failing to respond to inquiries.
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek, head of the Vienna-based organization Freedom for Eurasia, informed RFE/RL on November 7 that her organization has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, seeking intervention in Ergashev’s case and advocating for his safe return from Tajikistan.
Seiitbek noted that her organization had called on German authorities to halt the deportation, arguing that Ergashev faces a high risk of torture in Tajikistan.
The deportation order was issued by the Administrative Court of the German town of Kleve on October 28, immediately following Ergashev’s detention.
His associates argued that the court disregarded Ergashev’s pending asylum application in another German court, which is still under consideration.
Ergashev is a prominent member of the Group 24 movement.
Group 24 was founded by businessman Umarali Quvatov, who was assassinated in Turkey in 2015. The group has been a vocal critic of the Tajik government and advocates for democratic reforms. Tajik authorities have labeled it "extremist."
In 2024, Ergashev joined the Movement for Reform and Development of Tajikistan movement.
Ergashev had been living in Germany for the past 13 years as his cases wound through German courts.
EU Leaders Talk Security In Budapest Amid Doubts Over Trump's Stance On Ukraine War
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Donald Trump's reelection as U.S. president has created a "new situation" for Europe as he wrapped up an informal summit in Budapest on November 8, telling his EU counterparts that the continent cannot finance the war in Ukraine alone.
European Union leaders wrapped up the two-day summit, which was held to discuss the continent's security and Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine after Trump's reelection cast doubts on Washington's continued support for the embattled country and his commitment to NATO's collective defense.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
The summit kicked off as Russia launched a third day of unusually intense attacks on Ukraine's cities that left more deaths and damage at the onset of a third winter for weary Ukrainian civilians and for outmanned and outgunned troops struggling to stave off a grinding Russian offensive in the east.
The United States is Ukraine's main military and economic backer, with the EU also among the largest donors. Most EU leaders have expressed continued strong backing for Ukraine.
Ahead of the summit, Orban, who has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, told Hungarian state radio that the EU must rethink its position on helping Ukraine, calling the conflict a "lost war."
"The Americans will quit this war, first of all they will not encourage the war," said Orban, who has obstructed the bloc's sanctions regime against Moscow.
"Europe cannot finance this war alone.... Some still want to continue sending enormous amounts of money into this lost war but the number of those who remain silent...and those who cautiously argue that we should adjust to the new situation, is growing," he added.
But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country is the main European backer of Ukraine, was quick to reaffirm the bloc's unchanged position. "Russia has invaded Ukraine and is continuing this war with unchanged brutality," he said.
"One question is quite clear: Together as the European Union, as Europeans, we must do what is necessary for our security. This will be particularly successful if everyone makes their contribution."
Upon arriving for the summit in Budapest, European Council President Charles Michel also reaffirmed the bloc's strong support for Ukraine.
“We have to strengthen Ukraine, to support Ukraine, because if we do not support Ukraine, this is the wrong signal that we send to Putin, but also to some other authoritarian regimes across the world,” Michel said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was in Budapest on November 7 for a gathering of European leaders that preceded the EU summit, urged Ukraine's allies to provide more arms to help Kyiv defend its land and skies.
"There has been much talk about the need to yield to Putin, to back down, to make some concessions. It's unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for all Europe," Zelenskiy said in his speech.
He also said talk of introducing a cease-fire without first agreeing security guarantees for Ukraine was "very dangerous."
"A cease-fire when there are no security guarantees...is a preparation for the continuation of the occupation," he said.
As the summit closed on November 8, NATO issued a statement in response to Russia's deployment of North Korean troops, condemning it as a "dangerous expansion" of the war.
The statement said North Korea is already providing "substantive support to Russia’s war effort" by supplying ammunition and ballistic missiles.
"The deepening military cooperation between Russia and the [North Korea] deeply impacts Euro-Atlantic security, with implications also for the Indo-Pacific," the statement said, adding that the military cooperation violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
"We urge all countries not to provide any kind of assistance to Russia’s aggression, and condemn all those who are facilitating and thereby prolonging Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine," the NATO allies said.
Russia on November 8 kept up the pressure on Ukraine's cities, striking the southern region of Odesa and Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city.
At least one person was killed, and at least 38 people, including a baby, were wounded, according to regional officials.
A massive drone attack overnight on Odesa left one person dead and nine others wounded, Ukraine's Emergency Situations Service reported, adding that residential buildings, businesses, warehouses, and a school were also damaged.
Kharkiv was struck for the second day in a row on November 8, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported.
A Russian missile hit a high-rise apartment building in the city's Saltiv district, wounding at least 25 people, including a 3-month-old baby, Terekhov said. Residential and historic buildings in the center of the city were also damaged, he added.
In the Kyiv region, falling debris from a Russian rocket injured four people, two of them seriously, regional Governor Ruslan Kravchenko said.
Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force said its air defenses shot down 62 out of the 92 drones launched by Russia at 12 of its regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskiy, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Israel Sends Planes To Evacuate Soccer Fans After 'Willful Attack' In Amsterdam
Israel sent several chartered planes to Amsterdam to bring back Israeli soccer fans after they were attacked following a match on November 7 by what Mayor Femke Halsema described as "anti-Semitic hit-and-run squads."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incidents "anti-Semitic attacks" as his office announced that the Israeli airlines El Al and Israir have set up special flights for free on November 8 and 9 to do the job.
El Al said it was sending six planes to bring the fans home, and Israeli airport authorities said later on November 8 that the first plane had landed.
Amsterdam police said that 62 people were detained following the violence, with 10 in custody on November 8 in connection with the clashes -- which left five people hospitalized -- in the center of Amsterdam between young locals and Israeli supporters who had come to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv's game against Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League competition.
"This is a very dark moment for the city, for which I am deeply ashamed," Halsema told a news conference. "Anti-Semitic criminals attacked and assaulted visitors to our city, in hit-and-run actions," she said.
Dutch authorities said there was no concrete threat to Israeli soccer fans before the game and that it was not clear how or precisely when the violence began.
Peter Holla, the city's acting police chief, told a news conference that the Israeli fans were "willfully attacked."
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned "anti-Semitic" violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, calling the attacks "despicable" throwbacks to dark moments in history.
"The anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam are despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted," Biden said on X.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and other world leader joined Biden in condemning the violence.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks as "vile" and said she discussed them with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
"Outraged by last night's vile attacks targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam," von der Leyen said in a post on X. "I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar flew to Amsterdam for impromptu meetings with the Dutch government and far-right leader Geert Wilders, and Amsterdam banned demonstrations for three days.
Police said fans had left the stadium on November 7 without incident after the game was won 5-0 by Ajax, but various clashes in the city center were reported during the night.
Video posted online also purported to show Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans in the streets ahead of the game.
Maccabi fans are known to have used similar chants in Israel at recent matches there.
Earlier, a pro-Palestinian protest against Maccabi's visit scheduled to take place near the stadium was banned by Dutch authorities for security reasons amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Anti-Israeli protests have been held in various parts of the world, including in Western Europe amid Israel's war in the Gaza Strip against Iran-backed Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and the EU, following the group's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people.
The conflict has spilled outside of Gaza and into southern Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah -- designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollah’s political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament.
Schoof said he was "horrified" by the incidents. which he called "completely unacceptable." He said he told Netanyahu that those who are guilty would be "identified and prosecuted."
Netanyahu told Schoof that he "views the premeditated anti-Semitic attack against Israeli citizens with the utmost seriousness and requested increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands," the Israeli prime minister's office said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he had talked to Dutch King Willem-Alexander on the phone, who had voiced "deep horror and shock over the criminal acts committed."
The Israeli Embassy in the United States said on X that "hundreds" of Maccabi fans were "ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam tonight as they left the stadium following a game against Ajax."
"The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media," the embassy said in its message accompanied by a video of violent clashes in the city.
Israel also said it had banned members of its military from traveling to the Netherlands.
Azerbaijani Commentator Sentenced To 13 Years For 'Espionage'
A Baku court has sentenced Azerbaijani political commentator Nazakat Mammadova to 13 years in prison on charges of spying for Russia, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports. Mammadova, who appeared in the media as a commentator and hosted Alfa TV on YouTube was arrested in October last year and sentenced on November 5. She was accused by Azerbaijan's State Security Service of using her journalist credentials to collaborate with Russian intelligence services. Azerbaijani authorities alleged that her YouTube channel was broadcasting "openly pro-Russian materials" and interviews for which she received money during regular trips to Moscow, where she allegedly held secret meetings with Russian intelligence officers. Mammadova has rejected all the charges, saying she traveled to Russia for conferences and the money she received was for travel expenses. Azerbaijani authorities have imprisoned several journalists in recent years. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called charges against journalists "fabricated" and "politicized." To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.
4 Killed, 40 Wounded In Russian Attack On Ukrainian City Of Zaporizhzhya
Russian attacks on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya on November 7 have killed four and wounded 40, Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko said.
The State Service for Emergency Situations said Russian troops carried out five air strikes on the city, hitting a residential building and a hospital.
Klymenko said rescuers pulled two injured children and an injured woman from under the rubble of the residential building. The woman lived on the third floor but ended up on the second floor after the attack caused the building to partially collapse. Rescuers were still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble, he said on Telegram.
Officials said earlier a hospital had been damaged by an air strike.
Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said on social media that the wounded include four children -- boys aged 1, 5, and 15, and a 4-month-old girl. Two people were in severe condition, he added.
According to Fedorov, all of the Russian strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including houses and an apartment building.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is attending a summit of European leaders in Budapest, urged Ukraine's allies to provide more arms to help Kyiv defend the skies.
"They take pleasure in killing people," Zelenskiy said on X, referring to Russian forces.
He again called for more air defenses for Ukraine and permission to use Western-supplied weapons to carry out long-range strikes against Russian military targets.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Major General Of Russian Army Dies In Ukraine
A major general of the Russian Army died in Ukraine on November 7. Pavel Klimenko's death was confirmed by his sisters to the publication Important Stories on Telegram. Pro-war publics and bloggers were the first to report the death of the 47-year-old. The circumstances of his death are still unknown. Klimenko was accused of organizing a torture camp and taking money from his subordinates in exchange for moving them off the front lines. An investigation by the online publication Astra in August said the torture camp organized by Klimenko was for Russian soldiers on the territory of an abandoned mine in Donetsk. The Russian soldiers sent there were forced to agree to participate in assault groups and had money extorted from them by the officers in charge of the camp, including Klimenko, Astra reported. Klimenko is the eighth Russian general killed in the war in Ukraine whose death has been confirmed by independent researchers or journalists.
31 Political Prisoners Convicted Under Belarus's 'Extremism' Law Pardoned
Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has pardoned 31 people convicted under the country’s "extremism" law.
Two women and 29 men were pardoned, Lukashenka's press service said on November 7. The press service said 17 of the people released have chronic illnesses, three are disabled, and 27 have children.
Though they will be released, their criminal records will not be expunged and the Internal Affairs Ministry will "ensure control over their law-abiding behavior," the press service said. Lukashenka has pardoned 115 political prisoners this year.
Despite the pardons, Belarus remains home to a significant number of political prisoners. Approximately 1,287 political prisoners recognized by the human rights community remain behind bars in Belarus, according to the human rights center Vyasna.
The political climate in Belarus remains tense, and human rights defenders have reported mass detentions across the country since the announcement of the next presidential elections to be held on January 26, 2025, with both administrative and criminal trials ongoing.
Since the crackdown on dissent that followed the disputed 2020 presidential election, the human rights community has recognized almost 3,600 people as political prisoners, and detentions, arrests, and trials on politically motivated charges continue in Belarus.
The pardons announced on November 7 mark the fifth wave of pardons in recent months. Previous pardons took place on September 4, August 16, and July 3, releasing individuals associated with "political" and "protest" crimes, including some with serious health issues, like opposition figure Ryhor Kastusyou, who was suffering from cancer.
Chinese Electronics Plant In Russia Closes As Western Sanctions Bite
A Chinese-owned electronics plant in Russia's Leningrad region has ceased operations, highlighting the growing impact of Western sanctions on Moscow over its war against Ukraine and the shifting dynamics of foreign business in Russia.
According to a report by the Kommersant newspaper on November 7, TPV Technology, a Hong Kong-based company known as the world's largest manufacturer of computer monitors, halted production at its Shushary facility, which had been assembling TV sets for major brands like Philips, Sony, and Sharp.
The plant in western Russia, operational since 2011, is now in the process of selling off components and equipment.
The closure comes amid increasing concerns over secondary sanctions from the United States and European Union, which have targeted companies -- in particular those from China -- doing business with Russia.
While TPV Technology's Russian branch called the move a "strategic" decision to scale down its operations in the country, Kommersant quoted sources as saying the threat of secondary sanctions was likely a key driver behind the decision.
Last month, Washington imposed its latest sanctions, targeting Chinese companies involved in producing complex weapons systems in collaboration with Russian firms.
That marked a new phase in the U.S.-China sanctions relationship, with ripple effects reaching beyond traditional sectors like energy and technology.
Further complicating the situation, Kommersant reported that Chinese banks have increasingly refused to engage in financial transactions with Russia, fearing secondary sanctions.
Around 80 percent of payments from Russia to China in yuan are being returned, signaling the growing reluctance of Chinese financial institutions to take on the risk of U.S. and EU sanctions.
- By Current Time
U.S.-Based Russian Journalist Says Moscow Placed Him On Wanted List
Sergei Markelov, a Russian journalist living in the United States, said he is wanted in Russia, where a criminal case has been opened against him. Markelov shared the news on his Facebook page but did not provide further details. According to the Mediazona website, his name has not yet appeared on the Interior Ministry's official wanted list, though there are often delays between when a person is notified and they actually appear on the list. Markelov, who has worked with RFE/RL's North.Realities, the 7x7 website, and the Novaya gazeta newspaper, is accused of failing to comply with the duties of a "foreign agent" under Russian law. He was added to the "foreign agents" list in December 2020, alongside other journalists and activists. In November 2021, Markelov's appeal against his inclusion in the register was rejected by the Moscow City Court. In November 2023, Markelov and other "foreign agents" filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee, saying they were being persecuted. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Britain Slaps Massive Sanctions Package On Russia
Britain on November 7 announced its largest package of Russia sanctions in one year and a half, slapping punitive measures on 56 people and entities linked to Moscow's war machine, including mercenary groups active in Africa and an individual accused of involvement in a 2018 Novichok attack.
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to discuss moves to counter Russian malign activities in Europe with other European leaders at a summit in Budapest on November 7 and reaffirm London's ironclad support for Ukraine, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
"Today's action disrupts the supply of vital equipment for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war machine and bears down on Russian malign activity globally, exposing the corrupt activities of Russian proxy military groups in Africa," the statement said.
Three mercenary groups with links to the Kremlin -- Africa Corps, Bears Brigade, and PMC Espanola -- have been placed under sanctions.
Africa Corps is the successor to the notorious mercenary group Wagner, which under late Putin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin took part in the invasion of Ukraine.
After Prigozhin's death following the group's short-lived mutiny last year, the newly renamed Africa Corps expanded Wagner's operations in Africa, in countries such as Libya, Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where its fighters helped prop up military dictatorships.
"These sanctions will bear down on Russian malign activity in Libya, Mali, and C.A.R., exposing and combatting Russia's illicit activity in Africa, as it attempts to exploit the fragile security environments and natural resources in these countries for its gain and expand the Kremlin’s sphere of influence," the statement said.
Russian military intelligence officer Denis Sergeyev, one of the three Russian operatives British police have charged over the attempted murder of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, using the nerve agent Novichok, was also placed on the sanctions list.
Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in a park in the southern English city in March 2018.
British authorities have established that the Skripals had been the targets of an attack by Russia's military intelligence in which Novichok had been applied to the door handle of their home.
The Skripals both survived, but a woman died after coming accidentally into contact with the poisonous agent.
"Sergeyev provided support in the preparation and use of the chemical weapon Novichok in Salisbury...and provided a coordinating role in London on the weekend of the attack," the statement said.
The list also includes 28 entities based in China, Turkey, and Central Asia accused of supplying machinery, microelectronics for drones, and components for the Russian military's war in Ukraine.
"Today’s measures will continue to push back on the Kremlin's corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia's attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin's war machine," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
"Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom," Lammy concluded.
Uzbekistan Jails 11 Men On Terrorism Charges
Uzbekistan's State Security Service (DXX) announced on November 7 that a court in the city of Qoqon sentenced 11 individuals to prison terms ranging from six to 12 years for terrorism-related offenses. They were convicted on charges including financing terrorism, plotting to change the constitutional system, and possessing materials threatening public safety. The individuals were accused of promoting extremist ideologies between 2021 and 2023 at regular gatherings disguised as social events, called "Saturday dinners," at local teahouses. The discussions reportedly focused on jihad and the creation of an Islamic state. The case is part of government efforts to combat religious extremism, particularly in Qoqon, located in the ethnically diverse and historically volatile Ferghana Valley. The region has been a hot spot of both domestic and transnational Islamist groups, raising concerns about local instability and the spread of extremist ideologies. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Putin Congratulates Trump On U.S. Election Victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on winning the U.S. presidential election and said Moscow is open to talks with the Republican president-elect.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America," Putin said after speaking to an international conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Trump said during the campaign that he could quickly end the war in Ukraine if he was elected but gave few details. Putin said those comments deserved attention, adding that if Trump wanted to resume contacts, Russia was ready for discussion.
Putin also said he was impressed with how Trump, who decisively defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, handled himself in the moments after an assassination attempt in July, describing Trump as a brave man.
Trump said he was also prepared for a conversation with Putin.
"I think we'll speak," he said in an interview with NBC News. He said that he had spoke to "probably" 70 world leaders since the morning of November 6 but that Putin was not among them.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on November 7 that he could not rule out the possibility of talks between Putin and Trump before the his inauguration in January.
When asked by journalists whether such communication was off the table, Peskov responded: "Why? It is not ruled out. [Trump] said that he would call Putin before the inauguration. Those are his words."
He was referring to previous statements made by Trump about reaching out to Putin ahead of taking office.
Peskov also addressed questions regarding any official contact between the Russian authorities and Trump's campaign following the U.S. election.
"No. Why should we contact them?" he replied, further clarifying that the Russian administration had not made any direct outreach.
With reporting by NBC News, Reuters, AP, and AFP
Western Leaders Urge Georgia To 'Change Course' After Disputed Vote
The leaders of three European Union member states -- France, Germany, and Poland -- on November 7 urged Georgia to investigate allegations of widespread voting irregularities during last month's parliamentary elections and called on Tbilisi to reverse Russian-inspired legislation.
Georgia's pro-European opposition, which has refused to recognize the result of the elections, has been holding large daily protests in Tbilisi after the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, which has been in power for the past 12 years, claimed victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Georgia's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili, also refused to recognize the validity of the results, alleging massive fraud and Russian interference.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a joint statement that they were "deeply concerned by the numerous irregularities and voter intimidation" reported during the vote.
Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but moves by Georgian Dream to adopt legislation to curb foreign funding of NGOs mirroring Moscow's "foreign agents" law and anti-LGBT measures have sparked criticism from Brussels and Washington that the Caucasus country was backsliding on democracy.
Macron, Scholz, and Tusk, in a statement under the so-called Weimar Triangle format, warned that the steps taken recently by the Georgian government were threatening Tbilisi's progress toward eventual membership in the bloc.
"Unless Georgia reverses its current course of action and demonstrates tangible reform efforts, in particular by repealing recent legislation that runs counter to European values and principles, we will not be in a position to support the opening of accession negotiations with Georgia," the three leaders said as they gathered in Budapest for a meeting of the European Political Community, as well as an informal EU summit.
The statement came as Georgia's Appeals Court continued deliberations through the night on complaints filed by two observer groups -- the Young Lawyers' Association and My Voice -- against irregularities in district election commissions during the October 26 vote.
My Voice has said its observers from 1,131 precincts reported more than 900 cases of violations of election procedures.
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, has said demonstrations will continue for new elections.
"In the coming days and weeks, our task is to fill Tbilisi with people. All major squares, streets, avenues should be full of people," Melia told RFE/RL.
Zelenskiy Warns EU Leaders That Capitulation To Putin Is 'Suicidal'
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned European leaders that capitulation to Russia after it invaded Ukraine would be "suicidal" for Europe, just hours after Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa were rocked by an unusually intense wave of air strikes.
Speaking at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest on November 7, Zelenskiy renewed his appeals for more support for his war-torn country ahead of an informal EU summit the next day to be hosted by Hungary, which currently holds the 27-member bloc's rotating presidency.
He also said he has already spoken with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about how both the United States and Europe need to be strong for each other's benefit amid the "many challenges" facing the world.
"There has been much talk about the need to yield to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, to back down, to make some concessions. It's unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for all Europe," Zelenskiy said in his speech, which came two days after Trump won the U.S. presidential election.
Speaking later at a news conference, he said he was not aware of any details of Trump's plan to end the war quickly and that he had not discussed it with him. He said he believed Trump wanted to end the war quickly, but this did not necessarily mean it would happen.
He also said talk of introducing a cease-fire without first agreeing security guarantees for Ukraine was "very dangerous."
"A cease-fire when there are no security guarantees...is a preparation for the continuation of the occupation," he said.
Trepidation has swept across Europe since the victory given Trump's oft-stated skepticism over U.S. military support for Ukraine.
"The concept of 'peace through strength' has proven itself and is needed now. Showing weakness or selling out Europe's positions won't buy a just peace. Peace is the reward only for the strong," Zelenskiy added.
Zelenskiy was welcomed to the meeting by right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained close ties with Putin and has spoken against EU sanctions on Moscow. Orban also has close relations with Trump.
NATO chief Mark Rutte, in a pitch to secure Trump's support for Ukraine, told journalists upon arrival in Budapest that the sending troops by North Korea to aid Russia in Ukraine posed a direct threat to the United States.
"What we see more and more is that North Korea, Iran, China, and of course Russia are working together, working together against Ukraine," Rutte said.
"At the same time, Russia has to pay for this, and one of the things they are doing is delivering technology to North Korea, which is now threatening in future the mainland of the U.S., continental Europe," he warned.
"I look forward to sit down with Donald Trump to discuss how we can face these threats collectively," Rutte said.
North Korean troops are already fighting for Russia, according to Zelenskiy, who told reporters during the news conference that they already had sustained "losses" on the battlefield.
The gathering in Budapest came as Ukraine shot down 74 of the 106 drones that Russia launched early on November 7 at targets in nine Ukrainian regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy and Chernihiv -- while 22 others were lost after being jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Russian strikes early on November 7 sparked fires and caused damage in five districts of Kyiv, which was under Russian attack for eight hours, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram.
Drone debris fell in the the districts of Pechersk, Holosiyivskiy, Solomyansk, Obolonsk, and Podilsk, Klitschko said, adding that two people were injured by falling drone debris.
Klitschko reported that the upper floors of a multistory building in Pechersk were burning and residents were being evacuated.
In Odesa, a high-rise apartment building was damaged and one man was injured by falling debris after Ukrainian air defenses shot down Russian drones over the Black Sea port, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.
Telegram channels published a video of a fire on the first floor of a nine-story building in Odesa.
- By RFE/RL
Zelenskiy Congratulates Trump On Victory In U.S. Presidential Election
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has a long and complicated history with Donald Trump, said he spoke by phone with the U.S. president-elect and congratulated him on his election victory.
Zelenskiy said on X on November 6 that he told Trump that his "tremendous campaign" made the result possible and also "praised his family and team for their great work."
He said he and Trump agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance cooperation between Kyiv and Washington.
"Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," Zelenskiy said.
Trump has said he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict. He has said that Kyiv might have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something Ukraine has rejected.
Trump was impeached during his presidency by the then-Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December 2019 over a phone call in which he was accused of pressuring Zelenskiy to dig up dirt on President Joe Biden's son's activities in Ukraine. He was acquitted by the Senate, then controlled by the Republicans, in February 2020.
Trump has taken aim at Zelenskiy several times. At a campaign stop on September 25, he repeated his description of the Ukrainian president as "the greatest salesman in the world" -- a reference to the tens of billions of dollars in aid lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have approved since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
In a post on X on November 6, Zelenskiy said it was always crucial for the people of Ukraine and all populations across Europe to hear the words "peace through strength" during Trump's first term when he was the 45th president of the United States.
"When this principle becomes the policy of the 47th president, both America and the entire world will undoubtedly benefit," Zelenskiy said, referring to Trump's return to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
He noted that President Ronald Reagan used the words frequently in his dealings with the then-Soviet Union.
"People want confidence, they want freedom, they want a normal life," Zelenskiy said. "For us, that means a life free from Russian aggression, with a strong America, a strong Ukraine, and strong allies."
Trump said during the campaign he would work quickly with both Ukraine and Russia to end the conflict but didn't provide many specifics on how.
Zelenskiy in recent weeks has outlined a set of measures that he says would turn the tide of the war in Kyiv's favor and possibly end the conflict.
His five-point "victory plan" rules out ceding Ukrainian territory and calls for an unconditional invitation for Kyiv to join the NATO military alliance and the deployment of a strategic nonnuclear deterrent package in Ukraine.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
9 Arrested After Violent Protest In Serbian City Of Novi Sad
Serbian authorities have arrested 14 people after rioting at a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy at the main train station in Novi Sad last week that killed 14 people.
The Interior Ministry announced on November 6 that the 14 people were detained during and after the protest. One of them was handed over to a juvenile judge for alleged violent behavior at a public meeting, three people were charged with a misdemeanor, and one was released after making a statement.
Authorities in Novi Sad previously announced that a total of nine people had been arrested after the riots and that one person was being sought.
The violence broke out during a protest on November 5 in the Serbian city where the canopy collapsed on November 1. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said earlier that the charges include destruction of property, attacking an official, and causing general danger, the prosecutor's office said in a press release.
Ten police officers and two citizens suffered mild injuries in the riots, Assistant Director of Police Dragan Vasiljevic said in a statement to the Radio Television of Serbia.
Protesters hurled red paint and stones at City Hall, where Novi Sad city government offices are located, on November 5 as they demanded accountability for the collapse of the canopy.
Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric visited City Hall on November 6, demanding those responsible for the damage be punished according to the law.
Authorities will assess the property that was damaged and destroyed and will "continue to take appropriate legal proceedings against those who caused the damage," Djuric said at a news conference.
Djuric said the protests were "a direct attack on the president of the country, Aleksandar Vucic," and that the demands that Vucic and other Serbian government officials resign were irrelevant.
Asked why the police did not react earlier and prevent the destruction of the building, Djuric said that was not a question for him to answer.
Both national and local authorities blamed the incidents on the opposition, which had called for the protest.
Ana Brnabic, president of the Serbian parliament, condemned the violence, saying the images from the events on November 5 “do not serve the honor of Serbia."
She told a news conference in Belgrade on November 6 that the authorities will insist on full responsibility for "everything, both criminal morally and politically" and will not stop until this is fulfilled.
U.S. Imposes More Sanctions On Bosnian Serb Leader's 'Patronage Network'
The U.S. Treasury Department on November 6 added an individual and a company to the sanctions list for their alleged roles in helping Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and his son evade U.S. sanctions.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the individual and the company added to the sanctions list belong to Dodik's "patronage network."
"This corruption has undermined public confidence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) state institutions and the rule of law," Miller said. "The Dodik network has pursued an aggressive strategy to circumvent U.S sanctions, namely by restructuring and reestablishing corporate entities to obfuscate control and transfer company assets from designated entities."
The announcement came shortly after Dodik congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election.
Dodik is already under U.S. and U.K. sanctions for actions that Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February and reaffirmed that Republika Srpska would not join Western sanctions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Treasury Department said that the individual designated for sanctions, Vladimir Perisic, is general director of the company Prointer ITSS, which was sanctioned in June. The company has continued to execute business decisions based on guidance by Milorad Dodik's son, Igor Dodik.
The company added to the sanction list is called Elpring, which the department said is effectively controlled by Igor Dodik. The company changed its name in June from Kaldera, a company previously designated by the United States for sanctions.
"Today's action further exposes Igor Dodik's blatant attempts to evade U.S. sanctions," Millier said.
The United States says Milorad Dodik has undermined the 1995 Dayton agreement that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
Milorad Dodik has denied that Republika Srpska has ever pursued a policy of secession or disputed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia under the Dayton agreement.
Tajik Activist Reportedly Attempts Suicide In Germany To Protest Deportation
Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev attempted to commit suicide before being deported from Germany to Tajikistan, The Insider investigative group reported on November 6, citing self-exiled Tajik opposition activist Sharofiddin Gadoev.
According to the report, German police officers found Ergashev lying in a pool of blood in a cell in a deportation center.
Ergashev reportedly cut himself in the stomach, body, and arms, and had damaged his veins. He received hospital treatment and in spite of his condition, Ergashev was still scheduled to be deported to Tajikistan on November 6.
"Realizing that returning to Tajikistan means inevitable reprisals and brutal repression by the [Tajik President] Emomali Rahmon's regime, Ergashev attempted to commit suicide," Gadoev told The Insider.
"Ergashev would prefer death than falling into the hands of the 'butchers' of a regime known for its ruthless reprisals against political opponents," Gadoev added.
The 40-year-old is a prominent member of Group 24, an opposition movement that is banned in Tajikistan and part of the Reforms and Development of Tajikistan movement established by exiled dissidents.
His activism has included participating in demonstrations in Berlin, notably during a protest against Rahmon's visit to Germany in September 2023.
An administrative court in the German town of Kleve ruled to deport Ergashev on October 28.
Three days later, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the court decision saying that returning Ergashev to Tajikistan would violate international law prohibiting "refoulement" -- the practice of returning individuals to countries where they face the risk of torture or cruel, inhumane treatment.
This principle is enshrined in various international treaties to which Germany is a signatory, it said.
Germany has faced criticism for similar actions in the past. In 2023, two Tajik dissidents, Abdullohi Shamsiddin and Bilol Qurbonaliev, were deported to Tajikistan, where they were immediately detained and later sentenced to lengthy prison terms on dubious charges related to attempts to overthrow the constitutional order.
Reports indicate that Shamsiddin has faced mistreatment while incarcerated.
Ergashev has been in Germany since February 2011 and applied for asylum on political grounds that same year.
Despite several applications, his asylum requests have been consistently rejected.
According to his lawyer, German immigration authorities have expressed doubts about the sincerity of Ergashev's commitment to opposition causes.
The Tajik government is known for its systematic persecution of opposition members, especially those affiliated with banned groups like Group 24.
A recent report by HRW highlighted Tajikistan as a country of major concern regarding transnational repression, noting that the government actively targets critics abroad on charges of extremism and terrorism, leading to severe penalties and mistreatment upon forced return.
Given Ergashev's documented activism and participation in protests, he is seen by activists as a clear target for persecution by the Tajik authorities.
HRW urged the German authorities to immediately suspend Ergashev's deportation and conduct a thorough review of his protection needs, emphasizing that he should not be sent back to a country where he faces a serious risk of torture.
- By RFE/RL
Russia Summons Moldovan Envoy Over 'Hostile' Treatment Of Election Observers
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on November 6 that it had summoned Moldova's ambassador to protest what the Kremlin described as the "hostile and discriminatory" treatment of Russian election observers by Moldovan authorities. Moldova's pro-Western incumbent President Maia Sandu defeated Russia-friendly challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo in a November 3 runoff vote in balloting marred by accusations of Russian interference and voter fraud. Moscow, without providing evidence, has claimed the vote was unfair and refuses to recognize Sandu as the legitimate president of the country. International election observers said the election was administered "efficiently and professionally."
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Russia's Daghestan For First Time
A Ukrainian drone made an incursion into Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan in an attempt to strike the city of Kaspiysk near the Caspian Sea. Russian air defense intercepted the drone, the first time such an attack has been reported, but not before falling debris injured a 16-year-old girl. The attack prompted the temporary suspension of operations at Makhachkala Airport, Daghestan's main air hub. Kaspiysk, home to Russia's Caspian Flotilla, is strategically important due to its proximity to Russian military assets. Ukrainian sources claim the strike damaged two Russian missile ships that have been active in missile strikes against Ukraine. The attack highlights Ukraine's growing ability to target critical Russian military infrastructure far beyond the front lines. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Armenian Arrested In Moscow For Fighting For Ukraine
Armenian citizen Armen Balian, who fought alongside Ukrainian troops against invading Russian forces, has been detained in Moscow and charged with mercenary activity, the Russian Investigative Committee said on November 6. Balian, 36, was arrested at Domodedovo Airport last month upon his arrival to the Russian capital and charged with recruiting and participating as a mercenary in an armed conflict. According to the Investigative Committee, Balian traveled to Ukraine in November 2022 via Moldova and enlisted, participating in military operations as part of territorial-defense units. He served in various conflict zones, including the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. Balian reportedly admitted to his involvement in the fighting and acknowledged his role as a mercenary in Ukraine. The case against him is still under investigation and further details are yet to be disclosed. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russian Nationalist Girkin Loses Appeal Over Anti-Putin Remarks
Russian nationalist and former separatist commander Igor Girkin, also known by his alias Strelkov, has lost his appeal against a four-year prison sentence he was handed for calling for "extremist activity."
Russia's Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold the ruling in a closed-door hearing on November 6, confirming that Girkin’s imprisonment would be carried out. He is currently serving time in a prison in the Kirov region.
Girkin, a former colonel in Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and a key figure in Russia's 2014 occupation of Ukraine's Crimea and Donbas regions, was sentenced in January 2024 for criticizing President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders.
The court found that his public remarks, made in two Telegram posts, amounted to calls for extremist activity. Girkin has denied any wrongdoing and rejects the accusations.
Girkin was arrested in July 2023 after posting criticisms of Putin’s handling of the war in Ukraine, which he described as poorly executed and mishandled.
He accused the Russian president of "cowardly mediocrity" and even called for his resignation, stating that Russia needed "someone truly capable and responsible" to lead the country.
While in custody, Girkin, 53, expressed interest in participating in the 2024 Russian presidential election. He made efforts to organize a campaign and collect signatures in support of his candidacy, but ultimately failed.
Despite his incarceration, Girkin continued to push for his involvement in the war in Ukraine, requesting multiple times to be sent to the front lines. However, the requests were denied, a move Girkin and his supporters believe was the result of an unofficial ban on him by Russian authorities.
His wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, confirmed in September that her husband's requests to join the ongoing invasion of Ukraine had been rejected twice even though Russia is recruiting prisoners to fight in the war.
Girkin, who rose to prominence as a commander of Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, was instrumental in the military operations that led to the occupation of Crimea.
In addition to his prison sentence in Russia, Girkin faces international legal challenges.
In November 2022, a Dutch court convicted him and two other defendants in absentia for their role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all 298 people onboard.
The plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over territory controlled by the separatists in eastern Ukraine. Investigators have suggested there are "strong indications" that Putin was personally involved in the incident, although Russia has denied any responsibility for the attack.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax
Russia Massing Thousands Of Troops In Kursk, Ukraine Says
Russia has massed some 45,000 troops in Kursk likely in preparation of a counteroffensive to expel Ukrainian forces from the region, Ukrainian Commander In Chief General Oleksandr Syrskiy said on November 6, adding Moscow was also seeking to beef up its effectiveness with North Korean soldiers.
Syrskiy's comments on social media came the same day that Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, ratified a treaty with Pyongyang envisioning mutual military assistance, a move that comes as Washington has confirmed the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia.
"The enemy concentrated about 45,ooo troops there. And it is trying to increase their number. Russia's own troops are not enough in this direction, so they are trying to attract military personnel from North Korea there," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Ukraine claims to control more than 1,000 square kilometers of territory in Kursk following a surprise incursion inside the Russian region bordering Ukraine that began August 6.
Kyiv's move came as a surprise as its depleted forces were struggling in Ukraine's east against a grinding offensive by more numerous, better-equipped, and better-armed Russian forces.
Syrskiy said the incursion was needed as a preemptive strike against an expected Russian attack from Kursk into Ukraine's Sumy region.
"That is why it was decided to conduct a preemptive offensive operation with the transfer of hostilities to the territory of the enemy in the Kursk region," Syrskiy wrote.
He also claimed that since the start of Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, 7,905 Russian soldiers were killed, 12,220 were wounded, and 717 were captured.
The figures advanced by Syrskiy could not be independently confirmed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on November 6 that he would visit Budapest on November 7 to take part in the fifth summit of the European Political Community at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council President Charles Michel.
Zelenskiy said the meeting will discuss security challenges in Europe, as well as "new opportunities for all partners."
Earlier on November 6, the foreign ministers of some of Ukraine's most important Western partners issued a statement expressing concern about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
North Korea's "direct support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia's desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security," the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Britain, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union said.
They added that deployment of the troops in battle would be a further breach of international law, including the UN Charter. The foreign ministers condemned the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang "in the strongest possible terms."
Earlier on November 6, Ukraine's air defenses shot down 38 out of the 63 drones launched by Russia at nine regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhya -- the air force reported on Telegram.
Twenty-two other drones were lost after their navigation systems were jammed by Ukrainian electronic-warfare units, the air force added.
Separately, the governor of the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya said that the number of casualties following a Russian missile strike on his region had grown to seven dead and 25 wounded.
Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure as a third winter of war draws near. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses downed three Ukrainian drones over the Kursk and Oryol regions.
Georgian Opposition Protests Election Results For Fourth Day
TBILISI -- An opposition rally is under way in Tbilisi outside Georgia's Appeals Court, the fourth protest in as many days against the results of parliamentary elections claimed by the ruling Georgian Dream party amid allegations of widespread fraud.
The opposition, which has refused to recognize the result, has been holding large protests in Tbilisi after the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, which has been in power for the past 12 years, claimed victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Georgia's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili also refused to recognize the validity of the results, alleging massive fraud and Russian interference.
The protest in Tbilisi came after a court in the central city of Gori on November 6 rejected a petition by election monitors calling for the annulment of results in several election precincts in the city, where violations of the vote's confidentiality were observed during the October 26 parliamentary election.
A coalition of monitoring organizations known as My Voice filed a petition in the Gori court against the Central Election Commission (TsSK) calling for the annulment of results in 14 of the city's precincts where violations had been documented.
My Voice has said its observers from 1,131 precincts said there were more than 900 cases of violations of election procedures.
But presiding judge Nino Gogatishvili refused to accept the petition after five hours of hearings, prompting representatives of My Voice to say they will appeal the decision in the Appeals Court.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the Appeals Court where complaints are being filed against decisions by lower courts that rejected requests to annul votes because of fraud. Opposition leaders were banned from attending the Appeals Court proceedings, prompting them to protest outside the building.
"I am a citizen of Georgia, the court proceedings are under way, they are public, so you must let me in. You are breaking the law now, you know it better than me.... You are not in Russia, are you?" Anna Dolidze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia party, told police blocking the entrance.
Another opposition leader, Giorgi Vashadze of the Unity -- National Movement bloc, demanded that dubious votes be annulled.
"We demand that the court recognize the right to secrecy of the vote, guaranteed by the constitution of Georgia, which was utterly violated, and annul the election results. The first precedent was created in the Tetritskaro court. It was confirmed that the election results were falsified. We won, and someone is trying to steal this victory," Vashadze told RFE/RL.
"The protest will continue without interruption, it will not stop until we celebrate the final victory that the people gave us."
In Tetritskaro, Judge Vladimir Kuchua ruled in favor of the complaint filed by a civic group called the Young Lawyers' Association, deciding to annul the result at 30 polling stations based on evidence presented by the group.
The TsSK challenged his decision, declaring them unfounded, prompting the opposition in turn to challenge the commission's ruling at the Appeals Court.
Kuchua has been hailed by the opposition as a rare, courageous magistrate to go against Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012.
Zurabishvili also protested on X.
"The Tbilisi Appeals Court has denied political parties their right to enter the chamber where the election frauds are judged !!!! That is justice as the « Georgian dream » sees and practices it…" Zurabishvili said.
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, has said demonstrations will continue for new elections.
"In the coming days and weeks, our task is to fill Tbilisi with people. All major squares, streets, avenues should be full of people," Melia said.
Another opposition group, the Girchi Party, has also joined the call for fresh elections, arguing that the confidentiality of the vote had been violated on October 26.
The party, which did not pass the 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament, has scheduled a rally outside the parliament building for November 9 and urged the TsSK to call new elections within one week. It has also appealed to Georgia's Western partners not to recognize the results of the vote.
Belarus Issues First-Ever Prison Sentence For 'Genocide Denial'
The Minsk City Court has issued the first-ever sentence in Belarus under a law passed more than two years ago for "denying the genocide of the Belarusian people."
According to a statement on November 5 from the Vyasna Human Rights Center, a 55-year-old plasterer from the Minsk district, Andrey Savitski, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony on the denying genocide charge and a separate charge accusing him of “insulting" Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The charges stemmed from Savitski’s social media posts about Lukashenka and about the Belarusian village of Khatyn, where 149 people died in March 1943 after being rounded up by occupying Nazi troops and taken to a barn that was then set on fire.
Savitski was reportedly detained in February and held in custody since then. The arrest was carried out by officers from the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBAZIK) and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SAHR).
According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, Savitski denied in his posts the “genocide of the Belarusian people by German occupiers during the Great Patriotic War, rehabilitated fascists, and attributed crimes committed by the occupiers to Soviet citizens."
The case was the first to be prosecuted since the law on the Genocide of the Belarusian People was enacted in January 2022. Vyasna said Savitski was sentenced on October 30.
Lukashenka's regime frequently uses accusations of denying the genocide to target Belarusian opposition activists. Independent historians in exile have criticized Belarusian authorities for substituting the term "genocide of the Belarusian people" for "Holocaust of the Jewish people," which echoes the Soviet narrative.
Disputes continue in Belarusian society and among Belarusian historians regarding some events during World War II on the territory of Belarus.
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