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- By RFE/RL
HRW: Kyrgyz Government Partly Responsible For June Violence
In a new report titled "Where Is The Justice? Interethnic Violence In Southern Kyrgyzstan And Its Aftermath," the group also says the government's own investigation into the violence -- which left many hundreds dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uzbeks displaced -- has been marred by abuses.
The report is based on weeks of research and more than 200 interviews with Kyrgyz and Uzbek victims and witnesses, lawyers, human rights defenders, government officials, and law enforcement personnel. Satellite imagery and photographic, video, documentary, and forensic evidence was also analyzed.
Ole Solvang, HRW's emergencies researcher and one of the authors of the report, says that although "the massive ethnic violence posed colossal challenges for Kyrgyz security forces," the group's own investigation found "that some of the security forces became part of the problem rather than the solution."
And he tells RFERL's Kyrgyz Service that the group hopes the Kyrgyz government will take the report's findings into consideration as it conducts its own investigation.
"But more than that," he says, "I think we hope that both the international investigation and the national commission will conduct an objective investigation on their own. And if they do, then I think they will come to many of the same conclusions that we do."
The violence began on June 10 in the southern city of Osh, when a large crowd of ethnic Uzbeks gathered in response to a fight between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. That night, several attacks targeting ethnic Kyrgyz inflamed the region and prompted thousands of Krygyz from surrounding villages to pour into Osh.
From June 11 to June 14, Uzbek neighborhoods were attacked and Uzbek homes and businesses were set alight. Several neighborhoods were burned to the ground.
"Witnesses in various parts of [Osh] told us more or less the same story," HRW researcher Anna Neistat told reporters in Moscow on August 16. "During the violent riots, armored personnel carriers and other armored vehicles moved into the neighborhoods first. They removed makeshift barricades erected by ethnic Uzbeks to protect themselves.
"The APCs were followed by armed men in camouflage who were shooting the residents still on the streets, and then crowds of ethnic Kyrgyz civilians followed, torching and looting homes."
Not Shown The 'Will'
The report says evidence was found that in at least some neighborhoods, government forces were in control of the vehicles and that in some instances government forces who went into the neighborhoods to disarm residents living there either intentionally or unintentionally gave cover to violent mobs carrying out attacks.
At least 371 people -- and that estimate is thought to be low -- were killed and property damaged throughout several neighborhoods. A massive refugee crisis ensued as ethnic Uzbeks fled across the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border.
The report also deals with the aftermath of the June violence and contains claims that ethnic Uzbeks have been arbitrarily detained and ill-treated in custody. That's despite personal assurances from President Roza Otunbaeva, who told the group she has personally instructed local prosecutors, police, and investigators to comply fully with the law.
"At the moment, I have no doubt that the investigation is being carried out with huge violations," Neistat says. "First of all, I'm talking about large-scale illegal arrests. When we were [in southern Kyrgyzstan], we were overwhelmed by telephone calls, coming in literally every minute, about detentions in Uzbek districts."
'Incredible Tension'
The report contains information that Human Right Watch workers say they received about the torture and ill-treatment of more than 60 detainees, at least one of whom died as a result of injuries suffered in custody.
HRW reports that the Prosecutor-General's Office recently released statistics showing that out of 243 people who have been imprisoned since the violence, only 29 are Kyrgyz, while 213 are Uzbek.
Neistat said that the way the Kyrgyz government handles the investigations will have a powerful effect on the communities.
"Incredible tension and distrust still remain between the two ethnic groups," she says, "and it is clear that the methods currently used by the investigators only add to this tension."
Alik Orozov, the secretary of the Kyrgyz government's Security Council, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that the government could have done more to keep the calm.
"We agree with some critics that the government forces did not make enough effort to keep the situation under control," Orozov said. "The government forces were not able to take full control over the situation. I can say that during the first days -- June 10 through 12 -- security forces did not act appropriately."
'Must Be Checked'
But he doesn't accept some of the accusations in the report -- including that Kyrgyz forces took part in the violence against ethnic Uzbeks -- and said the information that Human Rights Watch gathered "must be checked."
"The information that Kyrgyz military forces opened fire [on ethnic Uzbeks], that armored personnel carriers came [into Uzbek communities], has to be checked," he said. "So many people who started the clash -- bandits -- dressed in camouflage. So, everything should be accurately clarified.
"[It should be checked] whether Kyrgyz forces were involved or there were others dressed as military personnel. There were several such cases. Perhaps people saw guys in camouflage and thought they were Kyrgyz Army soldiers."
Human Rights Watch has called on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to speed up the deployment of the small advisory police group its members have agreed to send to southern Kyrgyzstan to assist the Kyrgyz authorities in reducing ethnic tensions.
In Osh and elsewhere, people have voiced concerns that an outside force might only complicate matters and further escalate tensions.
Orozov said Bishkek is talking to the OSCE about letting its police group train Kyrgyz police forces from the south in civil rights protection.
written by Heather Maher, with contributions from Ashley Cleek and Janyl Chytyrbaeva of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
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U.S. To Announce New Sanctions To Curb Russia's War Machine
The United States is set to announce new sanctions as early as next week aimed at curbing Russia's Ukraine war efforts, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on October 22.
The sanctions will target secondary entities in countries that are supplying Russia with critical items used by its military, Yellen told world financial leaders gathered in Washington for annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
"We will unveil strong new sanctions targeting those facilitating the Kremlin's war machine, including intermediaries in third countries that are supplying Russia with critical inputs for its military," she said in opening remarks to a press conference.
The IMF and World Bank meetings mark the last major international finance gathering to be held during President Joe Biden's administration and come as the state of the economy and inflation are top concerns for American voters.
The presidential election between the Republican party nominee, former President Donald Trump, and Democratic party nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to be decided on November 5, with the outcome expected to have an enormous impact on global finance and the world's economy.
Yellen touched on the use of the proceeds from frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide loans for Ukraine. As she spoke the European Parliament approved a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($38 billion) for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction that will be repaid using future revenues from Russian central bank assets frozen abroad.
Yellen referred to the overall $50 billion loan package being negotiated by the Group of Seven and EU allies, saying the United States expects to be able to contribute $20 billion.
The U.S. Treasury Department is "working tirelessly to unlock the economic value of frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine," Yellen said.
Earlier on October 22, Britain announced its readiness to provide Ukraine with a loan of 2.26 billion pounds sterling ($2.93 billion), which also would be repaid from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.
On the question of the U.S. dollar remaining the main currency used in international trading, Yellen said she sees no other currency as a candidate to replace it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly criticized the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international transactions and had discussed seeking a replacement for it.
Russia is currently hosting a BRICS summit bringing together top leaders of the original five members -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa -- and several others, including new members the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran.
Putin said ahead of the summit that one of his aims was to discuss an alternative to the SWIFT network, used to route international payments. Many Russian banks were banned from using SWIFT after the country's invasion of Ukraine.
In comments about the U.S. economy, Yellen appeared to take aim at Trump's economic approach, including broad tariffs and isolationism. Without mentioning Trump by name, she said the Biden administration had ended a period of international isolationism that "made America and the world worse off."
Yellen stressed that under the current administration's policies Washington has "pursued global economic leadership that supports economies around the world and brings significant benefits to the American people and the U.S. economy."
She noted that U.S. economic growth has been "almost twice as fast as most other advanced economies this year and last, even as inflation came down sooner."
The IMF released its international outlook on the global economy on October 22, upgrading its economic outlook for the United States this year while lowering its expectations for growth in Europe and China.
The IMF expects the U.S. economy to expand 2.8 percent this year, down slightly from 2.9 percent in 2023. Growth in the United States has been led by strong consumer spending, fueled by healthy gains in inflation-adjusted wages.
With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Uzbek Authorities Probe Suspicious Death Of Russian Journalist
Uzbek authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the death of 47-year-old Russian journalist Inessa Papernaya and two others at a hotel in Tashkent. According to Hayot Shamsutdinov, spokesman for the Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office, forensic examinations have been ordered to determine the cause of death. Papernaya, who worked for Lenta.ru and Profil magazine, was found dead on October 20 alongside her companion at the Karaman Palace hotel. Preliminary reports suggest the cause was gas poisoning from the hotel's ventilation system, possibly linked to pool maintenance. The body of an Uzbek citizen was discovered in a nearby room. The hotel has been sealed as authorities continue their investigation. Papernaya's body is expected to be repatriated to Moscow within two days. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, click here.
Ukrainian Detained In Poland Planned Sabotage, Foreign Ministry Says
A Ukrainian citizen arrested in Poland on suspicion of preparing sabotage planned to set fire to a factory in the city of Wroclaw, the Polish Foreign Ministry has announced. The suspect was identified by Polish publication Gazeta Wyborcza as 51-year-old Serhiy S., who moved to Germany from Odesa in January. Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Polish television on October 21 that the suspect admitted he had acted on the instructions of Russian intelligence services and that his statements indicate the Kremlin has been planning similar actions in other European countries. Polish security service ABW said the man, arrested in February, was the 17th person found to have been recruited by Russian services through the Telegram messaging app in order to carry out espionage and sabotage operations abroad. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.
Jailed Chechen Political Prisoner Zarema Musayeva Hospitalized
Zarema Musayeva, a political prisoner in Russia's Chechnya region and the mother of three outspoken opposition activists, has been hospitalized after her health declined seriously, according to her lawyer, Aleksandr Savin.
Musayeva, who suffers from Type 2 diabetes and other complications, was admitted to the Chechen endocrinology dispensary after Savin spent over a month requesting his client receive medical treatment due to her worsening condition.
Musayeva's hospitalization has delayed an appeal hearing for her parole denial, which was scheduled for October 21, but has now been postponed to November 12.
Musayeva is serving a five-year sentence in a colony settlement, a less restrictive form of imprisonment near an industrial facility, where she works alongside other convicts and regular employees.
Musayeva is the mother of Ibragim, Abubakar, and Baisangur Yangulbayev, all of whom fled Russia due to harassment from Chechen authorities over their vocal criticism of Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
The Yangulbayev family has been targeted for years, with the brothers using social media and online platforms to expose human rights abuses in Chechnya, including allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and persecution by Kadyrov's regime.
Abubakar Yangulbayev, a former lawyer with the Committee Against Torture, has openly accused Chechen law enforcement of daily violations of human rights, calling the case against his mother an act of retaliation by Kadyrov for his activism.
Ibragim and Abubakar have detailed the intense pressure they and their family have faced, including threats to their lives, leading them to seek asylum abroad.
Kadyrov and other Chechen officials have publicly vowed to kill all members of the Yangulbayev family, labeling them terrorists.
Musayeva was forcibly taken from her apartment in Nizhny Novgorod, more than 1,800 kilometers from Grozny, by Chechen police in January 2022. She was returned to Chechnya and later sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison on charges of fraud and attacking a police officer -- charges she and her family deny as politically motivated.
In September that year, the Chechen Supreme Court reduced her sentence by six months and transferred her to a colony settlement instead of a correctional colony.
The threats against the Yangulbayev family extend beyond Musayeva and her sons. Their father, retired federal judge Saidi Yangulbayev, and sister fled Russia in January 2022 after receiving death threats from Kadyrov's allies.
The family has faced ongoing harassment, with many of their relatives in Chechnya subjected to intimidation, forced eviction from their homes, and physical threats.
Musayeva's deteriorating health has raised concerns among human rights groups, who argue she requires specialized medical care due to her acute diabetes, cataracts, and severe knee pain.
Her initial hospitalization in March came after a rapid decline in her vision and the appearance of lumps on her body.
Despite her medical issues, a state medical commission in Chechnya downgraded her diagnosis in April, claiming she had diabetes without complications, a move rights groups have condemned as part of the systemic abuse she faces in detention.
Human rights organizations, including Russia's Team Against Torture, have repeatedly called for Musayeva's release and proper medical treatment, citing her detention as part of a broader pattern of repression in Chechnya.
International organizations and Kremlin critics have long accused Kadyrov of ruling Chechnya through fear and brutal suppression, while President Vladimir Putin has turned a blind eye to the abuses, relying on Kadyrov to maintain control over the region.
Despite the ongoing threats and persecution, Musayeva's sons continue their efforts to draw attention to the human rights crisis in Chechnya, though they remain in exile for their safety.
Journalist Detained in Belarus Amid Political Crackdown
Belarusian journalist and political commentator Ihar Ilyash has been detained, according to the Vyasna human rights group. Ilyash's arrest was publicized through pro-government Telegram channels, which shared a photo of him in handcuffs on October 22, although no further details about his detention were provided. Known for his commentary on Belarusian-Russian relations, Ilyash recently spoke to Dozhd television about the growing pressure on Belarus to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He suggested that Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka is resisting direct involvement in the war in Ukraine but is facing mounting Kremlin demands. Ilyash’s wife, journalist Katsyaryna Andreyeva, has been imprisoned since 2020 for covering protests in Belarus. Initially sentenced to two years, she was later given an additional eight-year sentence on treason charges. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Russian Engineer Identified Among Victims Of Downed Cargo Plane In Sudan
The death of Anton Selivanets, a Russian aircraft engineer, has been confirmed following the downing of a cargo plane in war-torn Sudan.
Selivanets was on board the Il-76 transport plane, which was shot down by participants in the civil conflict, his family confirmed on October 22.
The cargo plane owned by a Kyrgyzstan-registered company, New Way Cargo Airlines, was shot down in Sudan a day earlier.
Bishkek's Manas Airport stated on October 22 that the aircraft, tail number EX 76 011, had been sold to the airline earlier in 2024.
Kyrgyzstan's Civil Aviation Agency stated that the plane had been removed from the registry of Kyrgyzstan on January 12 of this year and registered in Sudan.
Russian media reports indicate that the plane was downed in the west of Sudan, where conflict between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated.
Selivanets’ family confirmed that he had sent a video from the plane before the crash.
The RSF militia claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, although the exact circumstances remain unclear.
Another Russian, Viktor Granov, is believed to have been on board. His documents were found at the crash site. According to the discovered ID card, Granov was the chief engineer of the United Arab Emirates-registered Airline Transport Incorporation FZC.
Manas Airport confirmed on October 22 that Granov worked for Airline Transport Incorporation FZC, stressing that the man was not the airport's employee.
Mash Telegram channel claims that the Russians were flying to Sudan from the United Arab Emirates to repair the plane.
Numerous sources indicate that the RSF group is supported by the United Arab Emirates, which the kingdom denies.
Sudan has been gripped by a civil war for more than a year, displacing millions of people and causing widespread hunger.
The conflict’s chaos complicates efforts to verify the number of casualties or the flight’s purpose, though reports suggest the plane may have been carrying cargo for the very militia that shot it down.
With reporting RT, Kaktus Media, Mash, and TASS
European Court Says Russia's 'Foreign Agent' Law Violates Human Rights
In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said Russia’s “foreign agent” law violates the European Convention on Human Rights, saying it is "arbitrary" and used in an "overly broad and unpredictable way."
The case was brought to the court by 107 plaintiffs, including major media outlets and human rights organizations such as RFE/RL’s Russian Service (Radio Svoboda) and the Memorial human rights group.
The court ruled on October 22 that the foreign agent law imposed "severe restrictions" on the plaintiffs’ activities and found that their designation as “foreign agents” amounted to "intimidation."
"The Court found that the currently applicable legislation was stigmatizing, misleading and used in an overly broad and unpredictable way. This led the Court to conclude that the legislation’s purpose was to punish and intimidate rather than to address any alleged need for transparency or legitimate concerns over national security," the ruling said.
The Russian law, introduced in 2012 and expanded in 2022, requires organizations receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents,” subjecting them to burdensome reporting, auditing, and labeling requirements.
The plaintiffs argued that the legislation formed part of a systematic campaign to stifle criticism of the government and curtail the work of rights defenders and independent media.
The ECHR noted that public opinion in Russia associated the term “foreign agent” with “traitors” and “spies,” stigmatizing those labeled as such. The court also found that publishing plaintiffs’ personal data and requiring detailed financial disclosures violated their right to privacy.
Among the penalties, RFE/RL’s Russian Service had been fined over 16 million euros ($17.3 million) for failing to comply with the labelling requirements, the most out of any of the plaintiffs.
The Russian authorities escalated enforcement, eventually seizing the outlet’s bank accounts and blocking its websites following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The ECHR ordered Russia to pay RFE/RL’s Russian Service 60,000 euros ($65,000) in compensation for costs and 950,000 euros ($1.03 million) in damages.
The court also criticized the dissolution of prominent organizations like Memorial and the Movement for Human Rights under the pretext of violating “foreign agent” regulations. The laws restricted not only their public activities but also their participation in the electoral process and access to state support.
Despite being excluded from the Council of Europe in 2022 following the start of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Russia is still bound by the ECHR’s rulings for cases predating its removal.
However, Moscow has passed legislation preventing the enforcement of ECHR decisions issued since its expulsion, further complicating the impact of the ruling.
RFE/RL has vowed to continue its work despite Russian repression. Its Moscow bureau was forced to close in 2022, and many of its journalists have been designated as “foreign agents.”
In 2023, a Moscow court declared RFE/RL’s Russian Service bankrupt, yet the organization continues to provide news to millions of Russian citizens from outside the country, maintaining its editorial independence under U.S. congressional funding.
Russian Envoy: Moscow Will Help Lukashenka Quash 'Disorder' In 2025 Presidential Poll
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said Moscow will provide assistance to Minsk -- which could include Russian boots on the ground -- if it is asked to help counter attempts to “destabilize” 2025 presidential elections. Speaking in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Gryzlov said there was "no reason to believe that Belarusian law enforcement officers and special services will need additional help... 'on the ground.' But, if necessary, within the framework of its obligations, Russia will certainly provide assistance and support, if our closest ally and strategic partner asks for it." Gryzlov added that Russia and Belarus were already sharing intelligence on what they call "potential threats" leading up to this year's vote. The last Belarusian presidential election five years ago triggered mass protests when authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka was declared the victor despite opposition claims the balloting was rigged. Lukashenka quashed the protests and subsequently launched a harsh crackdown on dissent, democratic institutions, journalists, and opposition activists in Belarus. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
2 Transgender People Killed In Northwest Pakistan
Two transgender people were killed in northwest Pakistan overnight in an attack highlighting an increase in violence against trans people in the country, with culprits rarely receiving punishment. Muhammad Faheem, a police spokesman in the city of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, said on October 21 that police were searching for the attackers. A third member of the transgender community was present at the attack, but hid and was unharmed. This person has been providing police with information about the attack. Mahi Gula, the deputy head of a nongovernmental organization working for the rights of transsexuals in the conservative region, said his group's data shows that 122 transsexuals have been killed in the province since 2009, but none of the attacks have resulted in convictions. Transgender people say they are regularly subjected to harassment and abuse in Muslim-majority Pakistan, while some are the victims of so-called honor killings carried out by relatives to punish perceived sexual transgressions. To read the original story by Radio Mashaal, click here.
EU Approves $38 Billion Loan For Ukraine, Funded By Frozen Russian Assets
The European Parliament has approved a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($38 billion) for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction that will be repaid using future revenues from Russian central bank assets frozen abroad.
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 loan accounts for the EU's share of a larger plan devised by the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries to lend Ukraine $50 billion.
It comes as Kyiv's forces face a fierce Russian offensive in the east and frequent deadly strikes on cities and energy infrastructure, which claimed seven lives, including three children, on October 22.
The plan, officially known as the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine, was announced by the Group of Seven in June.
EU lawmakers on October 22 voted 518-56 with 61 abstentions in favor after the bloc's governments approved the measure earlier this month. Most of the blocked Russian assets are located in the EU.
The loan is to be serviced by revenues generated by Russian sovereign assets frozen in the West after the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Since the first day of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war, it has been clear: One day, Russia must pay for the destruction of Ukrainian society and the rebuilding of a future Ukraine," said Karin Karlsbro, the European Parliament's rapporteur on EU financial assistance to Ukraine.
"But already today, the European Parliament can make it happen. By using the windfall profits of the frozen Russian assets, we can send 45 billion euros to Ukraine and let Russia pay."
Russia has protested the use of its frozen assets, estimated at some $300 billion, calling it illegal and threatening retaliation.
"The loan is not expected to rest on the one who was attacked, but it is paid back by the aggressor," said EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders.
As part of the same plan, Britain announced earlier on October 22 that it will provide Ukraine with a £2.26 billion ($2.4 billion) loan to acquire more weapons systems.
U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced the loan while visiting Ukrainian troops training in Britain, the London government said in a statement.
The loan is "earmarked as budgetary support for Ukraine’s military spending, enabling the Ukrainians to invest in key equipment to support their efforts against Russia, such as air defense, artillery, and wider equipment support," the statement said.
"Our support for Ukraine and her men and women in their fight for freedom from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s aggression is unwavering and will remain so for as long as it takes," it said.
The loan is in addition to Britain's existing $3.9 billion annual military-aid program for Ukraine and comes on top of the $16 billion already committed by London in military, economic, and humanitarian support for Kyiv.
Meanwhile, three people, including a young girl, were killed in the northeastern Sumy region, which borders Russia, the region's administration said, while in the eastern Donetsk region two children and a 64-year-old woman died in Russian strikes over the past 24 hours, according to local officials.
A 13-year-old girl died in Odesa during a school evacuation prompted by an air-raid alarm, police said.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 42 of the 60 drones launched by Russia at eight regions -- Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kyiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv.
In Russia, authorities in two regions reported that Ukrainian drones targeted three alcohol distilleries.
In the Tambov region, southeast of Moscow, a drone strike sparked a fire at the Biokhim ethanol distillery, regional Governor Maksim Yegorov said on Telegram. Biokhim is one of Russia's oldest manufacturers of "products of strategic importance for the state," mainly ethanol, the company says on its website.
In the Tula region, south of Moscow, Ukrainian drones struck alcohol distilleries, one in Efremov, and one in Luzhkovsky, regional Governor Dmitry Milyaev said, adding that there were no casualties.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down 18 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukraine, whose civilian and energy infrastructure has been pummeled relentlessly by Russian attacks, has in recent months been increasingly targeting Russian oil and fuel depots and other facilities working for the military.
- By RFE/RL
Lawmakers Question Why U.S. Oil Company Still Working In Russia
More than 50 members of Congress have signed a letter calling on the U.S. government to toughen sanctions on Russian oil and questioning an exception granted to U.S.-based oil-services company Schlumberger (SLB) that has allowed it to continue operating in the country.
Representatives Lloyd Doggett (Democrat-Texas) and Jake Auchincloss (Democrat-Massachusetts) said they and 50 other members of Congress sent the letter on October 21, saying the exemption permits Schlumberger "to serve as an accomplice to Vladimir Putin," a news release issued by Doggett's office said.
The letter, signed by 52 lawmakers and addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, says that since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, SLB has signed new contracts, recruited hundreds of staff, and imported nearly $18 million in equipment into Russia.
"This U.S.-based company is keeping...Putin's war machine well-oiled with financing for the barbaric invasion of Ukraine. We urge you to continue supporting our Ukrainian allies by pursuing more rigorous oil sanctions to effectively restrict Putin’s profits," the letter said.
Auchincloss said oil is the lifeblood of the Russian war economy, which is why the West must tighten oil sanctions.
"That begins by holding SLB and its collaborators accountable for evading allied sanctions, profiteering from pain, and fueling Putin's ability to wage war," Auchincloss said in the news release.
Since the start of the war, the United States and Europe have used sanctions to cut Moscow's energy revenue, prompting several oil-field-service companies to leave Russia, but SLB has remained operating.
The lawmakers said they were aware that Russian oil provides a critical segment of the global oil supply, but allowing Russia to benefit from Western technology and expertise "only increases the resiliency of their oil and gas sector against Western sanctions and prolongs its ability to finance its illegal offensive."
The U.S. Treasury Department responded to the letter by saying it was "committed to using all our tools to reduce the Kremlin’s revenues and make it harder for Russia’s war machine to operate."
A department spokesperson quoted by Reuters said "U.S firms are prevented from making any new investments in Russia and we plan to enforce all our sanctions against companies within our jurisdiction."
SLB did not immediately respond to RFE/RL's request for comment.
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Putin To Meet UN Chief On Final Day Of BRICS Summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced on October 21.
The October 22-24 summit, which brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several other countries, is seen by Moscow as an opportunity to demonstrate that efforts by the West to isolate Russia over its military offensive in Ukraine have failed.
Despite the Putin-Guterres meeting, scheduled to take place on October 24, there is no indication that either Kyiv or Moscow is ready for broader peace talks to end the conflict.
Guterres has consistently criticized Russia's actions, stating that Moscow’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine sets a “dangerous precedent” for the world. The UN chief has repeatedly called for a "just peace" that respects international law and Ukraine’s "territorial integrity."
During a meeting with Putin in April 2022, just two months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Guterres reiterated the UN’s stance and discussed proposals for humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones.
Putin has maintained that Ukraine must cede more territory in its south and east as a precondition for any cease-fire, a demand that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has categorically rejected.
Zelenskiy, addressing the UN Security Council last month, argued that Moscow could only be forced into peace through international pressure.
Alongside the meeting with Guterres, Ushakov confirmed that Putin plans to hold bilateral discussions with several key leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
These meetings underscore Russia’s efforts to maintain and strengthen ties with influential countries and leaders outside the Western sphere, using the BRICS summit as a strategic platform to push back against diplomatic isolation.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax
Russian Film Producer Rodnyanskiy Sentenced To 8 1/2 Years In Absentia
Moscow's Basmanny district court on October 21 sentenced Oscar-nominated film producer Oleksandr Rodnyanskiy to 8 1/2 years jail in absentia for spreading "fake" information about the Russian military. Rodnyanskiy, 63, was accused of publishing reports about the shelling of a maternity hospital in Mariupol by Russian troops in 2022, attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and other events during the war. Rodnyanskiy said the case was related to his "anti-war posts on Instagram" and that he strongly disagreed with the verdict. "No Basmanny court can stop me from speaking loudly and doing what I have been doing all my life, making films," he said on Telegram. Rodnyanskiy was born in Kyiv but spent most of his career in Russia, producing dozens of TV series and films, including the Oscar-nominated crime drama Leviathan. He left the country shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To read the full story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
- By Current Time
Armenia Detains Russian Activist Wanted By Moscow On 'Terrorism' Charge
Roman Shklover, a 34-year-old activist from the Russian Diaspora of Armenia (RDA), was detained in Yerevan on the central Republic Square on October 21, the RDA said in a statement. Armenian authorities arrested him based on an international warrant from Russia, where he is wanted for "public justification of terrorism using the Internet." Shklover, whose name has been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists," has been detained for three days and may be extradited to Russia, the group said. The arrest is part of a trend of apprehensions in Armenia of Russian nationals wanted by Moscow. In December 2023, Russian security forces detained Dmitry Setrakov in Armenia, and in April this year, Anatoly Shchetinin was detained in the city of Gyumri. Both were transferred to Russia. Activists and human rights organizations have raised concerns over these arrests and the involvement of Russian security forces in Armenia. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
- By RFE/RL
UN Palestinian Agency Chief Accuses Israel Of Hindering Aid
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency giving aid to Palestinians, accused Israel on October 21 of denying aid to northern parts of the Gaza Strip and called for a cease-fire as a step "to putting an end to this endless nightmare." "The Israeli Authorities continue to deny humanitarian missions to reach the north with critical supplies including medicine and food for people under siege," he wrote in a post on X. Lazzarini called for aid organizations to be allowed access to the northern Gaza Strip, including the group he heads, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Gaza has been ravaged by a war triggered by the Iran-backed Hamas's October 7, 2023 incursion into Israel, which saw the militant group that has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union kill some 1,200 people and take around 240 hostages. Israel has since launched a withering war against Hamas, vowing to cripple it.
Albanian Ex-President Meta Detained Over Corruption Allegations
Albanian police detained former President Ilir Meta on October 21 on corruption charges lodged by the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption (SPAK).
Meta, who served as president of from 2017 to 2022, was arrested in Tirana on suspicion of corruption, money laundering, and nondisclosure and concealment of property.
Meta's former spouse, Monika Kryemadhi, a lawmaker and former leader of the Freedom Party, was also accused of the same crimes and ordered to report to police. Prosecutors have not yet filed formal criminal charges against them or two other people also accused of money laundering and corruption.
Meta's lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying the case against the former president was politically motivated. Meta spokesman Tedi Blushi told a press conference the arrest was an "irresponsible act" and that SPAK was trying to "eliminate the opposition" with its actions.
"Putting two opposition leaders under political arrest" is "nothing but a declaration of war," Blushi said.
Kryemadhi in a statement dismissed the accusations against her and her ex-husband as "political."
Meta, 55, has accused the current government of running a "kleptocratic regime" and concentrating all legislative, administrative, and judiciary powers in Prime Minister Edi Rama's hands.
Meta, a veteran of Albanian politics who has held high positions since the fall of communism in 1991, was detained by masked, plainclothes police officers who took him from his vehicle after he returned from Kosovo ahead of a news conference.
Police said that the "use of force" was applied after Meta refused to follow an order to leave his car and used offensive words against officers and justice officials.
Albanian State Police said the arrest was done at the request of SPAK and was carried out according to regulations. The SPAK said in a statement that Meta’s arrest followed a five-year investigation.
Meta failed to account for some $460,000 he used for lobbying in the United States, prosecutors said. Both Meta and Kryemadhi also are accused of buying property with money they received illegally.
Albanian institutions created with the support of the European Union and the United States have launched several investigations into former senior government officials allegedly involved in corruption.
Former EU Ambassador to Albania Romana Vlahutin welcomed the arrest as a sign that nobody in Albania is above the law.
With reporting by AP and AFP
Transgender Activist Attacked Amid Rising LGBT Hostility In Georgia
Nata Talikishvili, a transgender activist in Georgia, was attacked in Tbilisi on October 20, just a month after the killing of another transgender woman, Kesaria Abramidze, reflecting the worsening climate for LGBT rights in the South Caucasus country.
The Interior Ministry told RFE/RL a suspect was arrested for allegedly insulting Talikishvili and hitting her with a brick, leaving her with a concussion.
The attacks of Abramidze and Talikishvili, a recipient of the Kato Mikeladze Prize in 2018 for her work defending women's rights, came after Georgian lawmakers approved legislation restricting LGBT rights.
The new laws allow for the prohibition of cultural events, including Pride marches, effectively limiting public expression for the LGBT community.
Human rights advocates have criticized the measures as fostering an environment of intolerance and emboldening violent attacks.
A 26-year-old suspect has since been detained in the Abramidze killing, with investigators blaming gender-based violence.
Abramidze represented Georgia at the Miss Trans Star International beauty pageant in Barcelona in 2018 and regularly appeared in media and television.
The attacks underscore the LGBT community's long-standing struggle in Georgia, where conservative social attitudes and political rhetoric have often marginalized sexual and gender minorities. Despite the growing visibility of LGBT activists and events, backlash has been common.
Violent disruptions of Pride marches and homophobic rhetoric from conservative groups and some politicians have cultivated an increasingly hostile environment for LGBT Georgians.
Human rights organizations are calling for stronger protections and a crackdown on hate crimes. Amid the restrictive new laws, many fear a continuing escalation of violence against LGBT individuals in Georgia.
Despite Promises, Russia Has Not Returned Body Of Ukrainian Journalist Who Died In Custody
Russia has not returned the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna to her homeland, despite promising to do so, according to a rights group.
Roshchyna died while in Russian captivity.
Petro Yatsenko from Ukraine’s Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Roshchyna’s body was to be repatriated on October 18 as part of a broader exchange of bodies, according to a letter from the Russian Defense Ministry that was received by Roshchyna’s father.
It remains unclear why Roshchyna’s body was not included in the October 18 exchange.
Yatsenko noted that “everything, unfortunately, depends on the opposite side,” emphasizing that efforts to repatriate the journalist began immediately after her death on September 19 was confirmed earlier this month.
Ukrainian authorities and Roshchyna’s family say they are awaiting further developments.
Roshchyna, 27, was a former freelance correspondent for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. She had been covering Russia's full-scale invasion since its onset in February 2022.
In August 2023, she was detained by Russian troops in the occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region.
In early October, reports surfaced that Roshchyna had died while being transferred from a detention center in Taganrog, a Russian city near the Ukrainian border, to Moscow.
The journalist's death was officially confirmed on October 10.
Andriy Yusov of Ukraine's Military Intelligence confirmed at the time that Roshchyna had been slated for a prisoner exchange. Recent updates of the plan showed she was being transferred from Taganrog to Moscow's Lefortovo detention center in preparation for her release.
Human rights organizations have criticized Russia’s treatment of detainees, particularly during the process of transferring them from one penitentiary to another, which is known as “etap.” Prisoners are transported in caged train compartments with minimal access to food, hygiene, and ventilation. Reports from former detainees have highlighted widespread mistreatment and abuse during these transfers.
The Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine has launched a criminal investigation into Roshchyna’s death, examining it as a potential violation of war laws and intentional murder.
Human rights advocates reported that Roshchyna had been held in solitary confinement in the Taganrog Pretrial Detention Center from May to September 2024, where Ukrainian detainees were reportedly tortured.
Around 25 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity, including RFE/RL freelancer Vladyslav Yesypenko, who was sentenced to five years in prison on contested espionage charges in 2022.
With reporting by Suspilne
Kyiv Says Russian Pilot Involved In Deadly Kremenchuk Strike 'Eliminated'
Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) announced on October 21 the "elimination" of Russian military pilot Dmitry Golenkov, a chief of staff in Russia’s 52nd heavy bomber aviation regiment who was involved in a deadly missile attack on a shopping center in Ukraine's Kremenchuk in June 2022. The attack, carried out using Tu-22M3 bombers, resulted in 22 deaths and dozens of injuries among the nearly 1,000 civilians present at the Amstor shopping center at the time. HUR also linked Golenkov to the January 2023 missile attack on a residential building in the city of Dnipro, which killed 46 people, including six children. The intelligence agency reported that Golenkov’s body was found with head injuries, possibly inflicted with a hammer, emphasizing “fair retribution for every war crime.” Russia had claimed the June 2022 attack targeted military storage facilities near Kremenchuk, not the civilian center. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities, click here.
Results Show Moldovans Determined To Continue On Way To Europe, Sandu Says
President Maia Sandu said a knife-edge vote in favor of Moldova's European integration has proven that Moldovans have chosen the European Union even while being bombarded with disinformation and manipulation.
With more than 99.68 percent of the vote counted, 50.45 percent of Moldovans voted "yes" for the EU, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC), which said on October 21 that the referendum a day earlier had been validated since it fulfilled the minimum accepted threshold of 33 percent turnout.
"The commission will present a report on the results of the referendum to the Constitutional Court, which, in turn, within 10 days, will confirm or deny, through a decision, the results of the plebiscite," the CEC said.
The final outcome of the referendum, which for most of the night was tilted in favor of those who rejected closer integration with the 27-member bloc, appears to have been influenced by votes from Moldova's strong Western diaspora.
"Despite all the problems, the manipulation, and disinformation, the majority of Moldovans showed us they know what is good for Moldova," Sandu told a news conference in Chisinau.
"Citizens decided by a majority vote that Moldova will continue ahead on the path of European integration, Sandu said, adding that alleged attempts to buy votes were an "attack on Moldovan sovereignty."
White House national-security spokesman John Kirby said the results showed that the country's democracy remains strong despite an attempt by Russia to undermine it.
Kirby also hailed Moldova's vote on the referendum as a step forward in Moldova's European integration and said Russia did not succeed in undermining the country's presidential election.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Moldova chose "a European future" despite "Russia's hybrid tactics."
A monitoring mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation said that the elections were "well-managed" although they were marred by foreign interference and active disinformation efforts.
There was "intensive Kremlin-backed interference in the electoral process," Petra Bayr, from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's observer mission told a news conference.
In an earlier statement, Sandu said that the balloting came under an "unprecedented" assault from "criminal groups," which tried to buy off as many as 300,000 votes with tens of millions of euros in an attempt to "undermine a democratic process."
"Moldova faced today and in recent months an unprecedented assault on freedom and democracy," Sandu said.
Sandu -- in her reelection bid -- came out on top of 11 candidates vying for the presidency, solidifying her initially slim lead as more results came in early on October 21, but falling short of the 50 percent margin needed to avoid a runoff.
With virtually all votes counted, Sandu was ahead with 42.31 percent and would face second-placed pro-Russian Socialist Alexandr Stoianoglo, who garnered 26.09 percent, in a runoff vote on November 3.
In third place was businessman Renato Usatii, a former mayor of Moldova's second-largest city, Balti, with 13.72 percent of the votes.
Many observers billed Moldova's dual elections as crucial to helping decide the nation's future direction -- whether it will feature closer ties to Europe and the West or turn more toward Russia.
The European Union also pointed to Moscow as being behind attempts to derail the elections.
"This vote took place under unprecedented interference and intimidation by Russia and its proxies, aiming to destabilize the democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova," EU spokesman Peter Stano told journalists.
U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel noted reports of "malicious cyber-activity, disinformation, and other things that are consistent with what we’ve seen the Kremlin do elsewhere and what the Kremlin has supported in its intent to undermine Moldova’s sovereignty."
He said the State Department otherwise commended the Moldovan people for their participation in the election and referendum and will continue to support Moldova's "commitment to ensuring a credible and democratic process." The U.S. view continues to be that "Moldova's future is in Europe," he added.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council, hailed Moldova as a "brave nation" and Sandu as a "great leader."
"Infuriate Moscow, impress Europe, save her country once again -- that's who Maia Sandu is," Tusk said on X.
Russia, which maintains some 1,500 troops in Moldova's heavily Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transdniester, has denied the allegations of meddling, with the Kremlin claiming the vote was "unfree" and calling on Sandu to provide proof that votes had been bought.
"If she is saying that she did not receive votes because of certain criminal groups, she must present evidence," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Chisinau's Western backers have repeatedly expressed concerns about Russian influence in Moldova more than three decades after it gained independence from the Soviet Union.
Peskov also said the results showed a "hard-to-explain" increase in Sandu's and the EU's favor.
"What we see is a mechanically hard-to-explain rate of increase in votes in favor of Sandu and in favor of those referendum participants who favored an EU orientation," Peskov said.
The amendments at issue in the constitutional referendum include confirmation in the preamble of Moldovans' "European identity," the "irreversibility of the European course" of the country, and integration as a national "strategic objective."
A "no" vote in the referendum would not have precluded future EU membership, but it would have dealt a serious blow to Sandu and her pro-European allies and hampered accession efforts for years to come.
Turnout in the presidential vote was over 51.6 percent, or more than 1.56 million votes, as long lines were reported at some polling stations in Moldova and at sites outside the country, including France, Romania, Russia, and Greece.
The twin votes provide valuable lessons for Sandu's allies and the opposition ahead of parliamentary elections next summer that will be a referendum on four years of rule by the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which she founded eight years ago.
Moldova’s presidency holds limited direct power, but Sandu has parlayed her pro-Western message and leverage with the liberal PAS into limited reforms and formal EU candidacy for her fractured former Soviet republic.
Aside from stark warnings by local officials, including Moldova's foreign minister, U.S. and other Western officials have pointed fingers at Russia, citing "very clear action by the Russians to undermine this upcoming election and referendum."
Since his party was banned by the government and then the Moldovan Constitutional Court last year for allegedly fomenting a coup, convicted oligarch Ilan Shor has been accused of a multimillion-dollar scheme to pay anti-EU voters and influencers and has been linked to other schemes from his Russian exile to promote Russia among Moldovans and foment dissatisfaction with their government.
Days before the voting, authorities said they arrested four people and warned that dozens more had been trained in Russia and the Balkans to “destabilize” the country after the vote.
- By RFE/RL
Fethullah Gulen, Rival Of Turkey's Erdogan, Dies In Exile
U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, once an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but later accused of masterminding a failed coup attempt in 2016, has died at the age of 83.
Multiple sources including the Herkul website that publishes Gulen's sermons, the Turkish government, CNN Turk, and the Foundation for Dialogue and Education, an organization affiliated with the Gulen movement in Germany, confirmed on October 21 that Gulen had died a day earlier.
"Our teacher passed away on October 20, 2024 at 21:20 in the hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a while," the website said in a post on X on October 21, adding that his doctors will make a statement about the situation "in the coming hours."
It did not say what ailment Gulen was being treated for. He had lived in exile in the United States since 1999 and was stripped of his Turkish citizenship in 2017.
CNN Turk quoted a nephew of Gulen's as confirming the Herkul announcement, while Ercan Karakoyun, the chairman of the the Foundation for Dialogue and Education, also said Gulen died a day earlier.
The 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan and the government was a turning point in the country. Some 250 people were killed when rogue soldiers hijacked warplanes, tanks, and other heavy military equipment as they tried to push the president out of power.
That event led Turkey’s government to declare an all-out war on Gulen's network -- known as Hizmet, which means "service" in Turkish -- saying he was responsible for the coup, charges that Gulen fiercely denied.
Turkey considers Hizmet to be a terrorist organization. It is an opaque but influential group mainly involved in educational activities and promoting civil society.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in confirming Turkish intelligence reports saying Gulen had died, described Gulen as the leader of a "dark organization."
Tens of thousands of dismissals and jailings followed the coup attempt in Turkey, as well as increasingly tense relations between Ankara and any country where Gulen had connections -- mostly through the network of his private schools.
The campaign against Gulen spread into regional allies of Turkey. Some Central Asian governments intensified a crackdown on institutions linked to the cleric that had started before the coup attempt.
In recent years, there have been reports of Turkish citizens accused of having links to Gulen being arrested and forcibly taken to Turkey.
In one such incident, Turkish-Kyrgyz educator Orhan Inandi was abducted by Turkish agents in 2021 in Kyrgyzstan and brought to Turkey against his will. In June of this year, Inandi, who is a dual Kyrgyz-Turkish citizen, was handed 21 years in prison on a charge of "establishing an armed terrorist group."
U.S. Defense Chief In Kyiv In Show Of Support For Ukraine
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Ukrainian officials that the United States will send Kyiv "what it needs" for its fight against Russian forces after he arrived in Kyiv on October 21 as Moscow launched a fresh round of attacks on Ukraine's battered cities and infrastructure, injuring more civilians and destroying critical infrastructure.
Austin outlined a $400 million aid package that he said would provide Ukrainian forces with additional munitions, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons drawn from stocks of U.S. military reserves. It is part of support previously announced by the White House.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States is committed to supporting Ukraine with the equipment it needs to strengthen its position on the battlefield, defend against the Kremlin’s brutal aggression, and secure a just and lasting peace.
WATCH: "Providing Ukraine with the support that it needs to prevail is a top priority for the United States," U.S. Undersecretary of State Uzra Zeya told RFE/RL.
"The United States is providing another significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia’s ongoing attacks," Blinken said in a statement.
Speaking later at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, Austin noted that the United States had delivered more than $58 billion in security assistance for Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion, making it Kyiv's main backer.
"We face a hinge in history," Austin said. "We can continue to stand firm against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's aggression. Or we can let Putin have his way, and we can condemn our children and grandchildren to live in a far bloodier and more dangerous world."
But he did not address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's call for an invitation to join NATO or provide any hit that the United States might endorse other key planks of Zelenskiy's so-called victory plan.
Zelenskiy said in his evening address that the United States was planning a separate aid package for the production of drones in Ukraine.
Commenting on the $400 million defense package, he said the other package would be $800 million and would provide "financing for the production of Ukrainian drones."
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 has been grappling with an increasingly strong Russian advance in the east, where its outmanned, exhausted, and outgunned troops have been forced to gradually cede more ground to Moscow's forces, while its cities have been subjected to virtually daily waves of Russian drone and missile strikes.
On October 21, Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said 14 people, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded in an overnight missile attack on the city of Kryviy Rih.
In Kyiv, a man was wounded by falling debris following a Russian drone strike early on October 21, Serhiy Popko, the head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration, said on Telegram.
In the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, six people were wounded -- two of them seriously -- by Russian shelling, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
In a video published in Telegram, Fedorov added that several public facilities were damaged, including kindergartens, school dormitories, and residential apartment blocks.
Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force said that its air defenses shot down 59 out of the 116 drones launched by Russia at 12 of its regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Vinnytsya, Khmelnytskiy, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Poltava.
During a visit to Turkey, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on October 21 for more Western support to curb Russian strikes on Ukrainian Black Sea port infrastructure, which have recently grown in intensity, causing substantial damage to port infrastructure and Ukrainian transport vessels.
3 Die In Clash Between Taliban, Islamic State-Khorasan In Afghanistan
Three people were killed in Afghanistan's central Ghor Province in clashes between Taliban fighters and extremists affiliated with the Khorasan branch of the Islamic State (IS-K), a Taliban source told RFE/RL. The source said the clashes occurred when the Taliban conducted an operation to arrest an IS-K commander near the provincial capital, Firozkoh. During the operation, the commander, a civilian, and a Taliban member were killed, added the source, who said the operation was in response to IS-K fighters killing three Taliban fighters two weeks ago. Since the hard-line Taliban’s seized power in August 2021, deadly rival IS-K has carried out attacks throughout Afghanistan. The Taliban rulers have themselves been accused by watchdog groups of multiple human rights violations in Afghanistan. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, click here.
Massive Pro-Europe Rally Held In Georgia Ahead Of Key Parliamentary Vote
TBILISI -- Tens of thousands of pro-Europe Georgians took to the streets on October 20 to rally against the ruling Georgian Dream party ahead of the parliamentary elections that will likely decide the direction of the South Caucasus nation’s future.
Opposition groups have warned that a victory in the October 26 vote for Georgian Dream, which has been accused of being Russia-friendly, could derail democracy and hopes for eventual European Union membership in the country, concerns echoed in many Western capitals.
Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili, who has split with the Georgian Dream-led government and has backed the opposition, told a news conference early on October 20 that the rallies would help to "demonstrate the people's will for freedom, independence, and a European future."
Later, at the rally, she told the crowd that "today is one of those evenings in the history of Georgia that will be memorable for our children and grandchildren."
Zurabishvili stressed that both the younger generations and the older ones were gathered to press for a European future, with all ages to benefit from Georgia's development in the Western world.
The opposition marches began at 5 p.m. local time from five sites in the capital, including the Heroes and Republic squares. Participants then assembled on Freedom Square in the evening for a concert, with the event later concluding without apparent incident.
Some ruling party members attempted to dissuade people from attending the rally, claiming it was not a pro-Europe event but rather one organized by LGBT activists.
In a recent interview with RFE/RL, the imprisoned former Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, warned of dire consequences if the Georgian Dream party wins the parliamentary elections.
"I do expect provocations in the coming days, including during the elections and the days after it," Saakashvili said from prison in written answers to questions sent by RFE/RL's Georgian Service.
Georgian Dream has passed laws restricting the activity of NGOs and media that receive foreign funding and against what it calls "LGBT propaganda." It has promised to ban all the major opposition parties if it wins.
Georgian Dream has cast the upcoming elections as an existential choice: between war and peace. Part of its campaign includes posters, juxtaposing black-and-white images of war-torn Ukraine with color images of prospering, peaceful Georgia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised Georgia's government for precisely the moves that have troubled Tbilisi's Western partners, such as adopting laws on "foreign agents" and combating "LGBT propaganda."
Those moves and others have prompted Brussels and Washington to take punitive measures.
The EU has frozen Georgia's accession to the bloc, while Washington has placed sanctions on some of the country's top officials and prepared a separate package of financial sanctions against the founder and still de facto leader of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Ivanishvili has also suggested Georgia should apologize for the 2008 war with Russia.
White House officials refused to meet the Georgian delegation to the most recent UN General Assembly and rescinded an invitation to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to a September 25 reception hosted by President Joe Biden.
The actions represented a new low point in relations between the United States and what until recently was probably its most loyal and favored ally in the post-Soviet space.
- By RFE/RL
U.S. Probing Reported Leak Of Israel's Plans For Iran Attack
The United States will soon begin a probe of the leak of highly classified intelligence documents describing Israel's preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives said on October 20.
The documents, dated October 15 and 16, were initially posted on the Telegram messaging app on October 19.
They carry "top secret" labels and have markings indicating they were to be seen only by the United States and other members of the so-called Five Eyes allied nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Britain, according to CNN.
The documents describe apparent Israeli military preparations for a strike against Iran.
One of the documents state the material was produced by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) confirmed in an interview with CNN that an investigation is "under way and I'll get a briefing on that in a couple of hours."
The Pentagon said it was looking into the reports. The NGA did not immediately comment.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that U.S. officials "are trying to determine the source of the leak, which describes military drills and weapons placement, and how damaging it might be."
"The documents, which offer interpretations of satellite imagery, provide insight into a potential strike by Israel on Iran in the coming days," the NYT report said.
Many government officials and observers around the globe have said they expect Israel to strike Iran in retaliation for an Iranian rocket attack earlier this month -- which Tehran said was in itself retaliation for an earlier attack by Israel.
Officials told the NYT that the documents are not a comprehensive assessment of what Washington knows about Israeli plans and that they only represent what analysts looking at satellite imagery could determine.
With reporting by CNN, Reuters, and The New York Times
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