Open-source images show that one of the Russians accused in a 2018 'Novichok' attack in Britain was in attendance as the secretive head of a Russian military unit gave his daughter away in marriage.

Anatoly Chepiga's presence at the wedding adds to the evidence linking him to Russian military intelligence and further undermines his claim that he is just a nutritional-supplements salesman who visited Salisbury to admire its architecture.

https://www.rferl.org/a/member-of-the-wedding-russian-nuptials-highlight-novichok-suspect-s-intelligence-ties/30216231.html

2.7 million votes were cast in Afghanistan's recent presidential election, a record-low turnout. Now, 700,000 of them might be thrown out.

https://www.rferl.org/a/record-low-afghan-vote-turnout-could-plummet-biometric/30220012.html

This is why a Bosnia version of House of Cards would be quite intriguing... and quite tough to follow!

A tense standoff at a TB clinic exposes policies that activists say worsen the crisis of Russia's health care system, provokes mass resignations among doctors, and speeds up the demise of village life.
Matthew Luxmoore investigates:
http://ow.ly/7Q5n50wOLPP

A song making fun of an arson attack on the home of Ukraine's former National Bank chief has sparked a scandal. It was performed by the television studio co-founded by Ukrainian President and former comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

https://www.rferl.org/a/song-mocking-ex-central-bank-chief-sparks-outrage-in-ukraine/30228398.html

After Putin's partial purge of his human rights council, the outspoken ousted members say the reshuffle was more than just a simple initiative to bring in fresh faces.

"The country’s leadership is less and less tolerant of irritants. It wants comfort, a soft seat, and pleasant words. It doesn’t want to hear unpleasant ones."

https://www.rferl.org/a/critics-warn-of-a-backslide-after-putin-reshuffles-human-rights-council/30230912.html

🎥 As a setting for a reality show, a Russian monastery may seem ... unorthodox.

This one promises more hardships than hookups.

https://www.rferl.org/a/big-brother-with-a-twist-russian-orthodox-tv-plans-reality-show-at-monastery/30232667.html

NATO ministers will meet to discuss Turkey's actions in Syria after the member country agreed a deal with Moscow under which Syrian and Russian troops will oversee the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from within 30 kilometers of the Syrian-Turkish border.

https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-ministers-to-meet-amid-disagreements-over-turkish-syria-operation/30233926.html

For the first time, Bellingcat researcher Timmi Allen has given a media interview revealing details about his past life in the East German secret police.

What exactly did he do and how does he view it now?

https://www.rferl.org/a/from-stasi-to-bellingcat-former-east-german-agent-turns-investigative-reporter/30240232.html

Western satirists have had a good laugh about Turkmenistan. (And so have we.) But what is daily life there actually like? There are glistening golden statues -- but no bread, eggs, jobs, or civil liberties.

Ugly or beautiful? Somewhere in between? It’s in the eye of the beholder, but it sure is unique – and people are taking notice.

https://www.rferl.org/a/unusual-yugoslav-architecuture-gets-new-fans/30248286.html

Welcome to Game Of Georgian Orthodox Thrones: scandal, intrigue, murder plots—and worst of all for the conservative church, accusations of homosexuality.

https://www.rferl.org/a/georgian-orthodox-church-scandal-sodomy-poison/30254591.html

Not long before the Great Terror, which peaked in 1937, Stalin ordered Soviet agriculture planners to begin cultivating champagne grapes for the mass production of sparkling wine.

https://www.rferl.org/a/was-a-bad-year-for-stalin-s-great-terror-can-it-be-a-good-year-for-soviet-champagne-/30256139.html

The revolution that swept the Bolsheviks to power was 102 years ago today. Some parts of Moscow and St. Petersburg have barely changed since then.

https://www.rferl.org/a/footsteps-of-1917-revolution/28311776.html

How far would you have gone to escape through the Iron Curtain?

They went far. Five amazing but true stories of escape over, under, or directly through the Iron Curtain:

https://www.rferl.org/a/great-escapes-iron-curtain-berlin-wall-communism-1989/30260367.html

In his backpack, investigators say they found two severed arms and a gun.

https://bit.ly/2CzcIPX

For nearly two years, it was Russia that loomed over Trump’s presidency. Now, with impeachment moving to a new phase, it is Ukraine. Regardless of whether Trump is ultimately removed from office, the reverberations will affect relations with
Moscow and Kyiv for years to come.

https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-impeachment-probe-ukraine-center-stage-moscow-shock-wave/30269628.html

Dutch investigators probing the downing of flight MH17 have released audio intercepts of telephone conversations that they say indicate a direct chain of command between high-ranking Russian officials and separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.

https://www.rferl.org/a/dutch-led-investigators-probing-mh17-crash-release-new-phone-intercepts-with-links-to-russia/30271369.html

One Russian who did not get special treatment behind bars was Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blower who died in jail 10 years ago following months of incarceration in conditions his supporters said amounted to torture.

https://www.rferl.org/a/the-week-in-russia-impunity-from-magnitsky-to-the-moika-gutterman/30274253.html

Amid the impeachment inquiry, another congressional drama with Russia and Ukraine in prominent roles.

https://www.rferl.org/a/clock-ticking-in-congress-as-russia-presses-ahead-with-nord-stream-2-gas-pipeline/30278828.html