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Obama Urges Partnership With Russia, But Also Issues Challenges
But Obama also issued challenges to Russia, saying states should respect international borders, citizens’ rights, and the rule of law.
Obama, in a speech to graduating students from Moscow’s New Economic School, said it was necessary to jettison old ways of thinking that the two powers were destined to be adversaries.
Instead, he offered them a vision of a future made safer because of closer ties between Russia and the United States.
"This will not be easy. It is difficult to forge a lasting partnership between former adversaries, it's hard to change habits that have been ingrained in our governments, in our bureaucracies, for decades," Obama said. "But I believe that on the fundamental issues that will shape this century, Americans and Russians share common interests that form a basis for cooperation."
Coinciding Interests
Obama said there were several such areas where interests generally coincided, such as halting the spread of nuclear weapons, fighting extremism, and ensuring economic prosperity.
He said Moscow and Washington could deal jointly with Iran's and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
The U.S. president, who had made statements critical of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the days before the summit, did not directly criticize the Kremlin in his speech.
But parts of his address were a challenge to Russia’s leaders and likely to resonate with the country's opposition.
He took aim at corruption, a corrosive part of everyday life, and said states should respect international borders, citizens' rights, and the rule of law.
The United States is not perfect, he said, but its political systems have allowed women and other groups to agitate for equal rights, its independent media exposes corruption, and competitive elections hold leaders accountable.
Governments that serve their own people survive and thrive, he said. Governments that serve only their own power do not.
State Sovereignty
And he touched on Georgia, whose invasion by Russia last year put an icy chill into relations between Moscow and Washington.
"State sovereignty must be a cornerstone of international order. Just as all states should have the right to choose their leaders, states must have the right to borders that are secure, and to their own foreign policies. That is true for Russia, just as it is true for the United States," Obama said.
"Any system that cedes those rights will lead to anarchy. That is why we must apply this principle to all nations -- and that includes nations like Georgia and Ukraine," he said.
Obama's speech was delayed because a morning meeting with Putin lasted longer than planned.
He also had what the White House called a "good meeting" with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Obama is due to see President Dmitry Medvedev again on July 7, before meeting civil society and opposition leaders.
On July 6, the two presidents met and agreed to seek a cut in their nuclear stockpiles by up to one-third.
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Burning Oil Depot In Russia's Rostov Region Struck Again, Reports Say
An oil depot in Russia's Rostov region, which has been on fire for several days following a Ukrainian drone strike, was hit again on August 23, Russian telegram channels report. There was no immediate confirmation from Russian or Ukrainian authorities about the alleged second strike on Proletarsk. A Ukrainian drone attack on August 18 set fire to some 20 diesel fuel tanks with an estimated volume of 5,000 cubic meters of fuel each. The reported targets of the August 23 strike were kerosene tanks, which had escaped the first strike undamaged. It was not immediately clear if the strike was successful. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.
Memorial To Founders Of Wagner Mercenary Group Appears In Siberia On Anniversary Of Their Deaths
Large portraits of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, the deceased founders of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, appeared in Narym park in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk on August 23, the first anniversary of their deaths in a suspicious plane crash. A makeshift memorial erected near the portraits includes two flags with Wagner symbols. Prigozhin's forces launched a rebellion in June 2023 and briefly took control of the city of Rostov-on-Don. Many believe the plane crash two months later was orchestrated by the Kremlin in retaliation. The Kremlin has denied the assertion and no evidence to back up the claim has been found. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Navalny LIVE YouTube Channel Producer
A Moscow court on August 23 issued an arrest warrant for Nina Volokhonskaya, a producer at the Navalny LIVE YouTube channel who is currently outside of Russia. In mid-August, Volokhonskaya was added to Russia's wanted list for allegedly taking part in the activities of an extremist group. Late Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's organizations and projects were labeled as extremist and banned in Russia in June 2021. If arrested and convicted, Volokhonskaya faces up to six years in prison. Outspoken Kremlin critic Navalny died in February in an Arctic prison. His associates and supporters blame President Vladimir Putin for his death. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Iran Claims To Have Arrested 14 Members of Islamic State-Khorasan
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said in a statement on August 23 that its agents had arrested 14 members of Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), which is a branch of the IS militant group based in Afghanistan, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported. It did not specify when the arrests occurred but said all 14 had entered Iran illegally and “planned to carry out terrorist operations.” Seven suspects were arrested in the southern Fars Province while the rest were apprehended in the northern provinces of Tehran and Alborz, and Khuzestan Province in the southwest. In January, IS-K claimed a deadly twin bombing in southern Iran that killed 95 people.
4 Children Among 6 Dead In Fire In Serbia's Novi Sad
Six people, including four children aged 2 and 7, died in a fire overnight in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on August 23. The fire, which broke out in the Salajka neighborhood of Novi Sad, appears to have been caused by a scooter, which had been left connected to the electricity grid, Dacic said. "We assume the victims are members of the family that lived at that address," said Dacic. Police and prosecutors opened an investigation after the fire was put out by the city's fire brigade.
India's Modi In Ukraine On Historic Visit For Talks With Zelenskiy
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kyiv on a historic visit for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on ways to find a peaceful resolution to the war triggered by Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine two and a half years ago.
"Reached Kyiv earlier this morning. The Indian community accorded a very warm welcome," Modi wrote in a message on X accompanied by several pictures of him meeting with members of the Indian community in Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukraine's state railway company, Ukrzaliznycja, posted a video of Modi's arrival by train from Poland on Telegram. "For the first time in the history of bilateral relations between our countries, the prime minister of India is personally visiting Ukraine," the message accompanying the video said.
Speaking in Poland during a trip on August 22 ahead of his arrival in Ukraine, Modi urged Moscow and Kyiv to find a path to peace "as soon as possible."
"I look forward to the opportunity to...share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict," Modi said in Warsaw. "As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region."
Modi's trip is the first by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago. He has said he plans to also discuss "deepening the India-Ukraine friendship."
"It is India's strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield," Modi said, adding that his country supported "dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible."
India came under fire from some Western countries after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.
The United States was particularly concerned with Modi’s two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascendant China.
Zelenskiy at the time had harsh words for Modi's trip, too, saying it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day."
In comments to Reuters, Zelenskiy's presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said Modi's visit to Kyiv was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow.
"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is -- and that it is also in their interests," Podolyak said.
- By RFE/RL
Ukraine Repels Fresh Wave Of Russian Drone Strikes, Air Force Says
Ukrainian air defense systems shot down 14 out of 16 attack drones that Russia launched overnight at four of its regions, Ukraine's air force said early on August 23. "Antiaircraft systems operated in the Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Sumy regions," it said on Telegram, adding that two Russian drones were "lost on location" and it was not clear whether they were destroyed. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses downed four Ukrainian drones over the Kursk region and three over the Belgorod region. It did not mention any casualties or damage.
- By Pamir Sahill
Gang Kills 11 Police Officers In Restive Pakistani Region
As many as 11 policemen have been killed and 10 others injured in an August 22 ambush by robbers in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab Province, one of the deadliest attacks against law enforcement in the restive region in recent times.
The robbers, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and guns, attacked the officers while the two vehicles they were traveling in stopped along the road after one experienced mechanical problems, the police said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and ordered "immediate and effective action" against the bandits. Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab Chief Minister, said in a statement that the attack “will not go unavenged.”
The ambush comes three weeks after six police officers from Punjab and Sindh provinces were killed by robbers in two separate attacks in the region on July 31.
The riverine region along the border of Punjab and southeastern Sindh Province is considered a no-go zone for citizens, and law enforcement agencies do not have much control of it.
The area, a combination of forests and uncultivated land owned by the state, is spread out over hundreds of square kilometers on both sides of the Indus river.
Armed bandits have been present there for many years, engaging in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and murder. Police and other law enforcement agencies began operations to combat their activities in 2021.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a non-governmental, independent body, said in its fact-finding report last year that at least "300 cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered" in 2022. The robbers make an estimated 1 billion Pakistani rupees ($3,580,400) a year from their illegal activities.
Experts believe that local influential politicians and landlords are behind the gangs as they seek to profit from the land.
- By Todd Prince
Harris Accepts Democratic Presidential Nomination Vowing To 'Stand By Ukraine'
WASHINGTON – In a historic speech at the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris promised to continue military support for Ukraine and strengthen NATO as she accepted the party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential race.
The 59-year-old Harris, the first woman of color to top the presidential ticket of a major U.S. party, sharply criticized her Republican challenger Donald Trump for cozying up to authoritarian leaders.
Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters on the fourth and last day of the convention inside the United Center in Chicago, Harris, just a month after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him atop the Democratic ticket, accused Trump of disowning Ukraine and allies and of denigrating the United States.
“As President, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies,” Harris, said on August 22 during the 40-minute speech.
"I will never waver in defense of America's security and ideals, because in the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand," she added, contrasting her position with Trump and running mate JD Vance, who have repeatedly questioned U.S. backing for Ukraine.
Harris, the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to accept a major party's presidential nomination, delivered an upbeat view of the United States and its standing in the world, a sharp contrast to the doom-and-gloom picture Trump painted at the Republican convention last month.
“I see a nation that is ready to move forward, ready for the next step in the incredible journey that is America,” she said.
Craig Allen, a communications professor and political commentator at Arizona State University, told RFE/RL after the speech that while Harris was “inspiring,” especially when she spoke about family and her personal journey, her comments on Ukraine weren’t anything “that Biden hadn't already said.”
“She did not elaborate on what she was going to do for Ukraine,” he added.
Turning to the war between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, Harris vowed to work toward ending the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip.
The vice president said that as president she would "always stand up for Israel" and would "never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists."
The address, watched by millions of Americans around the country, is the first time many voters have gotten to see the new Democratic candidate up close.
Harris emerged as the party’s frontrunner on July 21 when Biden took the unprecedented step of bowing out of the race after winning the primaries.
The 81-year-old president faced intense pressure from senior party officials to withdraw after he appeared frail and confused during a June 27 debate against Trump, deepening widespread concern he was too old to serve another four years.
While Harris oversaw key issues such as illegal immigration and abortion rights, like most vice presidents, she had been largely out of the public eye during her more than three years in office.
In a recent poll, more than a third of Americans said they don't know Harris or her positions well.
Wearing a blue suit, Harris talked about growing up in a middle class family of immigrants and going on to become a prosecutor to protect people.
She laid out some of her priorities as president, including increasing the supply of affordable housing and protecting abortion rights.
“They are out of their mind,” Harris said about the Trump's campaign stance on abortion.
The former president took to social media and then called into Fox News to comment further, to criticize the speech for not talking about China, oil fracking, or crime, issues that Trump has pushed consistently.
“It was a lot of complaining," he said.
“Why didn’t she do the things that she’s complaining about?”
Independent polls taken days before the August 19-22 Democratic National Convention showed Harris, who if elected would become the first female president in the history of the United States, slightly edging out Trump in a hypothetical national vote.
Analysts say even 100,000 votes across a few swing states could determine the outcome of the November 5 election.
Harris' campaign has enjoyed a momentum not seen by a Democratic candidate since former President Barack Obama’s first bid in 2008, party members say.
Even though Trump and Biden easily won their respective primaries earlier this year, a significant number of American voters said they wanted new candidates on the ballot. The two men faced off in 2020.
Harris's entry into the race has energized some voters – especially younger women – who had shown little enthusiasm for either Biden or Trump, experts said.
Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Journalists From CNN, Ukraine Over Reporting From Kursk Region
Russia's secret service agency, the FSB, said it has opened a criminal case against CNN journalist Nick Paton Walsh and two Ukrainian correspondents saying they illegally crossed into the country to film reports on Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory.
The journalists -- which include Paton Walsh, a British national, and Ukrainian journalists Diana Butsko and Olesya Borovik -- reported from the Sudzha area of the Kursk region, where Ukraine has surprisingly taken a foothold inside of Russia in recent weeks.
The incursion is the biggest into Russia by a foreign power since World War II.
"In the near future, they will be put on the international wanted list," the FSB said in a statement on August 22, adding all three face up to five years in prison.
The journalists entered Russia embedded with a Ukrainian military convoy and travelled to the town of Sudzha in a reporting mission CNN said was a legitimate reporting trip.
"Our team was invited by the Ukrainian government, along with other international journalists, and escorted by the Ukrainian military to view territory it had recently occupied," CNN said in a statement.
"This is protected activity in accordance with the rights afforded to journalists under the Geneva Convention and international law," it added.
The FSB move comes on the heels of a similar case launched last weekend against two Italian journalists who reported on Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region.
Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini were also accused of illegally crossing the border.
Moscow subsequently summoned Italy's ambassador to Moscow, Cecilia Piccioni, who informed Russia's Foreign Ministry that Italian state broadcaster RAI, "and in particular the editorial teams, plan their activities in a totally free and independent way."
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier this week also summoned the U.S. Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie Holmes to protest what it called "provocative" reports by U.S. journalists from the Kyiv-controlled part of Russia's Kursk region who "illegally" crossed the Russian border.
Andrew Tate Under House Arrest As Romanian Prosecutors Launch Probe Into New Charges
A court in Romania has placed divisive Internet influencer Andrew Tate under house arrest and his brother Tristan under judicial control for 30 days after they were interrogated by Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors as part of an investigation into new allegations against them. The court's decision came after Romania's anti-organized crime agency DIICOT asked that Tate and his brother Tristan be remanded in custody for 30 days. The brothers' spokeswoman said the judge cited the brothers' “exemplary behavior" while under previous court orders in deciding not to keep them in custody. "The Tate brothers welcome the decision and strongly deny all the allegations brought against them," Mateea Petrescu said in a statement. The new allegations include forming an organized criminal group and child trafficking. To read the original story on RFE/RL's Romanian Service, click here.
Film By Exiled Iranian Director Chosen As Germany's Hope For International Oscar
The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, a film by exiled Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, has been chosen to represent Germany in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards, German Films announced on August 22. German Films, which represents German cinema interests abroad, said that an independent jury of experts chose Rasoulof's film from among 13 submissions. The Seed Of The Sacred Fig is "a psychological portrait of Iran's theocracy which is built on violence and paranoia," according to the jury statement. Rasoulof told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda from Berlin where he now lives that “the movie offers a picture close to the reality about the women's protests in Iran." To read the original story on RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.
Ferry Carrying Fuel Tanks Sinks In Russian Port After Ukraine Missile Strike
Ukrainian forces sank a Russian ferry carrying fuel tanks in a missile strike on a port in Russia's southern Krasnodar region on August 22, Russian officials said.
"As a result of the damage, the ferry sank in the waters of the Kavkaz port," the Krasnodar region's operational headquarters said on Telegram.
The headquarters reported earlier that "a railroad ferry with fuel tanks in the Kavkaz port was attacked" and that emergency services had been dispatched. Images circulating on social media showed a plume of dark smoke rising in the area of the ferry crossing.
The port sits in the Kerch Strait separating Russia from Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. Ukraine has issued no official comment on the incident, but Darya Zarivna, a communications adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, posted a photo on Telegram showing a large fire at the port and the word "Beautiful."
Fyodor Babenkov, the district head of the Russian town of Temryuk, was quoted by Reuters as saying the ferry was carrying 30 fuel tanks. The vessel sustained significant damage as a result of the attack, which caused a fire, Babenkov said.
The Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti said five people were on the vessel at the time of the attack and were unaccounted for. The Russian online news channel Baza reported that the number of people on board was 15 and all were missing.
All port employees were evacuated, TASS reported citing the Transport Ministry.
Ukraine in recent weeks has taken bold steps, including a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region and attacks on fuel storage facilities and airfields inside Russia used to conduct attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, in an effort to turn the tide of the war.
A drone strike earlier on August 22 on an airfield hundreds of kilometers inside Russia was the work of Ukraine's military intelligence, security sources told RFE/RL.
Zelenskiy, meanwhile, traveled to Ukraine's Sumy region that borders Kursk for the first time since the start of Ukraine's invasion there on August 6.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the Special Operations Forces early on August 22 struck the Marinovka airfield in Russia's Volgograd region, located 275 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border, SBU sources told RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity.
After the impact, "plumes of black smoke and a powerful detonation" occurred on the airfield surface, the SBU source said.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine
RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
The strike targeted a storage site for fuel, antitank missiles, and glide bombs, the security source said.
Earlier, Russian Telegram channels, citing eyewitnesses, reported a series of explosions at Marinovka, and the Astra channel on Telegram posted a video showing what appeared to be a large explosion and plumes of black smoke rising above the airfield.
Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov said drone strikes ignited a fire at a military facility in the region but claimed the attack had been repelled.
"As a result of the UAV crash, a fire broke out on the territory of a ministry facility. Fire and rescue services quickly began extinguishing the fire," Bocharov said on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties.
Meanwhile, the airport of regional capital Volgograd, a city of some 1 million people 55 kilometers east of Marinovka, restricted the arrivals and departures of commercial aircraft.
Volgograd is the current name of Tsaritsyn, which from 1925 to 1961 bore the name Stalingrad, after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. Stalingrad became famous for its repelling a monthslong Nazi siege in 1942-1943 during World War II.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said late on August 22 that 135 combat clashes had taken place at the front during the day, and that Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts in the Pokrovsk area, where it attacked Ukrainian positions 53 times.
A Russian military strike killed a 56-year-old man and injured eight others in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said .The injured included a 15-year-old boy, while residential buildings were also damaged.
After Zelenskiy met with Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskiy, in Sumy, a Russian drone attack killed two civilians and wounded a third.
During his visit to Sumy, Zelenskiy was briefed by Syrskiy on the operational situation in the area controlled by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk, Ukraine's presidential administration said in a statement.
Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artyukh told Zelenskiy that following the start of Ukraine's operation in Kursk, the number of cross-border shellings and the casualties among civilians had dropped drastically, also allowing the start of infrastructure repairs badly needed after months of incessant Russian bombardments, the statement said.
Ukraine's leadership has repeatedly stated that its bold move into Kursk aims to establish a buffer zone inside Russia meant to protect Ukrainian civilians from cross-border Russian shelling.
Ukraine has also said it is not pursuing territorial gains from Russia.
Kazakh Prosecutors Seek Additional Prison Term For Ex-Wife Of Nazarbaev's Nephew
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Prosecutors on August 22 asked the Specialized Inter-District Court in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, to sentence the imprisoned former wife of a convicted nephew of the Central Asian nation's former authoritarian president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, to 12 years in prison on charges that include the illegal deprivation of liberty and extortion.
Investigators say Gulmira Satybaldy, with the assistance of her driver, forcibly held her former business partner and relative Abai Zhunusov in isolation against his will for 165 days in 2019 to force him to give up his stakes in several businesses.
Satybaldy is concurrently serving two sentences -- eight years for embezzlement and the illegal appropriation of shares and assets of several enterprises, and seven years for abduction and actions aiding the commission of a crime.
The sentences were handed down by a court in May and June last year.
Prosecutors are now asking the court to rule that the new 12-year sentence they are seeking for the defendant be served partially concurrently, meaning that the total time to be spent in prison by Satybaldy would be 13 years.
Gulmira Satybaldy was arrested along with her ex-husband Qairat Satybaldy in March 2022. He was tried separately in September 2023 and sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of fraud and embezzlement.
Last week, a court in Kazakhstan's eastern city of Oskemen replaced Qairat Satybaldy's six-year prison sentence with a suspended sentence.
Court No. 2 in the capital of the East Kazakhstan region ruled on August 16 that Qairat Satybaldy must be released with a suspended 40-month sentence, stressing that the once extremely powerful businessman and politician had returned all the money he was accused of embezzling to the State Treasury.
The probes launched against the couple were part of a series of investigations targeting relatives and allies of Nazarbaev following unprecedented anti-government protests that turned into deadly mass disorders in early January 2022.
After the deadly events, the Kazakh regime began to quietly target Nazarbaev, his family, and other allies -- many of whom held powerful or influential posts in government, security agencies, and profitable energy companies.
Russia Annuls Contract Between Danish National And Defense Ministry On Deployment In Ukraine
A court in Russia on August 22 annulled a contract between the Defense Ministry and a Danish citizen, who claims he was duped into joining Russian troops invading Ukraine. The man, whose lawyer asked RFE/RL not to disclose his identity, moved to Russia in the summer of 2023 and joined the Russian armed forces on condition that he would serve in a non-combatant unit, hoping it would help expedite his efforts to obtain Russian citizenship. However, the Dane says, because he could not speak Russian, he was tricked and sent to Ukraine against his will. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, click here.
CIA Chief Makes Stop In Kosovo As Part Of Unannounced Visit To Balkan Region
CIA director William Burns has arrived in Kosovo after stops earlier this week in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia on an unannounced trip amid concerns about U.S. relations with Kosovo and Russian influence in the Balkans.
Burns was seen on August 22 entering the building of Kosovo’s presidency.
A U.S. government official confirmed to RFE/RL earlier this week that Burns arrived in Sarajevo and met with his Bosnian counterparts, members of the presidency, and the foreign minister.
Burns is believed to have traveled from Sarajevo to Belgrade, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia before arriving in Kosovo. According to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, a U.S. military plane believed to be used to fly the CIA chief made stops in those countries. On August 22, it was seen parked at the VIP gate at Pristina's international airport, according to an RFE/RL photographer.
But there has been no confirmation of Burns’ visit to Kosovo from the U.S. Embassy in Pristina, the Kosovar presidency, or the Interior Ministry.
The U.S. government official who confirmed Burns’ visit to Sarajevo said the CIA chief was in the Bosnian capital to discuss the “worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions” of the pro-Russian president and government of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Serb entity.
Burns' visit to Kosovo follows concerns about the partnership between the United States and Kosovo, especially regarding the government's handling of issues related to the country's Serb minority.
In an interview last week with RFE/RL's Kosovo Service, U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier said the U.S. administration had been "challenged" by Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his government and the “quality of our partnership is not what we would hope it would be on some of these issues."
The U.S. State Department has urged Kurti to return to "constructive and close engagement" with Washington, the European Union, and NATO, while the United States is also urging Kosovo not to reopen a bridge in Mitrovica because of security concerns.
Burns did not meet with Kurti because the prime minister is in Chicago attending the Democratic National Convention at the invitation of the National Democratic Institute.
Former Kosovar security forces commander Kadri Kastrati said Burns’ visit may be linked to Russia’s activities in the western Balkans, where he said Moscow is waging a “hybrid war."
Kastrati said the greatest risk of conflict is in Bosnia through Republika Srpska and in northern Kosovo.
Burns’ visit shows that the CIA has “enough information about Russian efforts -- through its satellite, Serbia --- that this part of Europe is at risk of a potential conflict,” Kastrati said. "They came here to give their recommendations."
- By Kian Sharifi
Iranians Decry The Demise Of Republicanism After Cabinet Controversy
When Iran’s reformist President Masud Pezeshkian submitted nominees for his 19-member Cabinet, many expected the hard-line parliament to reject at least some of his picks.
But in a rare move, lawmakers accepted the entire slate of ministers without a change, the first time a president has managed the feat in over two decades.
Pezeshkian hailed the move as a win for consensus in the divided country. But critics said the unanimous approval of his cabinet showed the limits of the president’s powers in Iran’s clerically dominated political system.
That is because Pezeshkian, addressing parliament before they voted on his nominees, said that the names were selected in “coordination” with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and preapproved by him.
Some Iranians saw Pezeshkian’s comments as an admission that the government is controlled by the supreme leader, who has the final say on all important matters of the state.
Hamid Aboutalebi, a former Iranian ambassador to Australia, said Pezeshkian may have “won the battle in parliament” but had “lost [Iran’s] century-long war for constitutionalism and republicanism.”
Some Iranian social media users said the presidency had lost all legitimacy and Pezeshkian was effectively a prime minister reporting to Khamenei.
“Get rid of this meaningless position of president and appoint a prime minister,” said political activist Hossein Razzaq.
Razzaq added that Khamenei should pick the head of government so that public funds are not spent on holding “ridiculous elections for show" in Iran, where votes are tightly controlled.
In many countries, including Iran, a president is elected by the people. A prime minister, a role that does not exist in Iran, is typically chosen by parliament or the head of state.
Some Iranians argued that Khamenei had finally realized what they said was his yearslong goal of abolishing the presidency and installing a prime minister, arguing that in Pezeshkian, he had accomplished it without the need to change the constitution.
In 2011, Khamenei said there would be “nothing wrong in changing” the system of government if “one day in the distant future it is felt that a parliamentary system is better than a presidential system for appointing officials.”
Getting rid of the presidency would further widen Khamenei’s powers.
Iran abolished the position of prime minister in 1989, a decade after the Islamic Revolution. The prime minister’s duties were divided between the president and the newly established position of first vice-president.
Under the Islamic republic, the prime minister was nominated by the president and approved by parliament. He served as the head of the government.
- By RFE/RL
In Warsaw Ahead Of Kyiv Visit, Indian PM Modi Urges Path For Russia-Ukraine Peace
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Russia and Ukraine to find a path to peace "as soon as possible" ahead of his historic visit to Kyiv.
Modi was in Warsaw on August 22 to meet with Polish officials before heading to Ukraine, the first trip by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago. His visit also marks the first trip by an Indian prime minister to Warsaw in 45 years.
"It is India's strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield," Modi said while in the Polish capital, adding that his country supported "dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible."
India came under fire from some Western countries after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.
The United States was particularly concerned with Modi’s two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascending China.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said as he welcomed Modi that "history has taught our nations the importance of respecting the rules, respecting borders, [and] territorial integrity."
Modi said in a statement published before he left for Poland that "as a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region."
The statement added that Modi will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and "share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict."
Kazakh Court Rejects Appeal Of Former Minister Against Prison Sentence
A court of appeals in Astana on August 21 rejected an appeal by former Kazakh Culture and Sports Minister Arystanbek Mukhamediuly against his imprisonment after being convicted of corruption. Mukhamediuly was initially sentenced last year to eight years in prison on embezzlement charges. In February, he was handed an additional three years on bribery charges, while his wife was handed six months in prison for mediating an attempted bribe, and his lawyer was sentenced to six years and eight months for his alleged role in mediating the bribe. Mukhamediuly’s arrest in 2022 came amid President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's campaign to remove his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev and his associates, from the political scene. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakhstan Summons Belarusian Ambassador After Lukashenka Interview
ASTANA -- Kazakhstan summoned Paval Utsyupin, Belarus's ambassador in Astana, to "objectively assess" the Central Asian nation's stance on key international issues in an unbiased manner amid rising tensions between the two countries.
The ministry did not say specifically why it summoned Utsyupin, but it comes after Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, made several controversial statements in an interview with Russian state television.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtileu said at the August 21 meeting with Utsyupin that Astana is "confident that all differences between any nations must be solved solely via political and diplomatic means."
In the televised interview on August 20, Lukashenka accused some post-Soviet states of what he called "unfair relations with Russia," specifically mentioning antigovernment protests in Kazakhstan in January 2022 that turned deadly after Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev invited troops of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to help him restore order.
"We have to be together. The time will come soon to ask Russia for help. Nobody else is there to ask for help.... When the situation occurred in Kazakhstan, whom did it refer to for help? China, India, Pakistan? No. It turned to Putin for help. And we sent [CSTO] troops there. In just half of one day our planes landed there, and order was restored," Lukashenka said in the interview.
The interview caused a sharp reaction in Kazakhstan and other countries such as Armenia, where protesters pelted the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan with eggs and other produce and demanded diplomatic ties with Minsk be cut over Lukashenka's interview, in which he also criticized Armenia's shift westward.
"Who needs Armenians? Nobody. Let them develop their economy and rely on their own resources. What is France? Who is [French President Emmanuel] Macron? Tomorrow, when Macron is gone, everybody will forget about the Armenians," Lukashenka said in the interview.
The rally in front of the Belarusian Embassy was organized by the pro-Western For the Republic Party. The party's leader, Arman Babajanian, was among the protesters.
Lukashenka's interview came amid Ukrainian armed forces' incursion into Russia's Kursk region, which led to speculations in many post-Soviet countries that Russia could now call on the CSTO member states -- Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan -- to help it repel Ukrainian troops. Armenia suspended its membership in the CSTO in February.
At Least 10 Dead After Boat Carrying Migrants Capsizes In River Between Serbia And Bosnia
At least 10 people drowned after a boat full of migrants capsized overnight on the Drina River as it was attempting to cross over from Serbia to Bosnia-Herzegovina, authorities in the two countries said on August 22.
Rescuers found 18 people alive, including three children, who had managed to reach the riverbank, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said.
Ten bodies, including the body of a 9-month-old baby and his mother, have been recovered, Dacic said.
Serbian rescuers pulled the bodies of six men from the river, he said. The bodies of two other men were located by members of the Republika Srpska police, Dacic said, adding that as of about 6 p.m. local time the search was still ongoing.
Boris Trninic, the director of Republika Srpska's Civil Protection Service, confirmed to RFE/RL that a boat capsized near the town of Tegara in the municipality of Bratunac during an illegal crossing from Serbia to Bosnia.
Trninic also said the search was continuing.
It was not immediately possible to establish the exact number of people on the boat, but survivors told rescuers there were about 25 people on board.
Members of the border police of Bosnia-Herzegovina, firefighters from the Bosnian town of Bratunac and from Serbia, divers from Republika Srpska's Civil Protection Service as well as Serbian police divers are taking part in the search on the river and its banks, authorities told RFE/RL.
Migrants fleeing wars and poverty in Africa and the Middle East often fall prey to people smugglers who promise to illegally take them across borders in their quest to reach Western Europe.
Bosnian police said efforts are under way to identify and apprehend the smugglers who are responsible for the tragedy.
"The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia-Herzegovina has been informed about all of the above, and at this moment everything is being done to establish the facts and take all measures and actions to shed light on this event," Bosnia's border police said in a statement for RFE/RL.
Serbia lies on the so-called Balkan migration route to Western Europe. At least 40 people have died over the past decade trying to cross the Drina, according to an RFE/RL Balkan Service count.
Dozens Of Ukrainian Refugees Forced Onto Hungarian Streets After Legal Change
Dozens of Ukrainian refugees, many of whom are children, spent the night sleeping on the street in Hungary after a government-approved legal change revoked their access to state-subsidized accommodation.
The refugees were evicted due to a decree signed by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban that took effect on August 21. The decree limits state support for refugees who came to Hungary from parts of Ukraine that Budapest says were not affected by Russia's full-scale invasion and the war it has sparked.
"Since the publication of the government decree, we have continuously warned the parties involved and civil organizations about the problem hoping that there will be some solution. This shouldn't happen in a state based on the rule of law," Magdolna Szecsi, an equal-opportunities expert at the Civil College Foundation in Hungary, told RFE/RL on August 22.
Ukrainian Refugees Homeless After Hungary Limits Support
Szecsi said many of those forced onto the street are Transcarpathian Roma who do not want to return to Ukraine, where their living conditions were "inhumane." Transcarpathia, located in the western part of Ukraine, is home to a large ethnic Hungarian community.
Since moving to Hungary, she added, they have begun to integrate by sending their children to school and getting jobs. However, without the subsidies for housing, they cannot afford a place to live.
"I don't know what kind of solution can be found, but it is certain that these people do not want to leave here," Szecsi said.
According to the Hungarian government, 13 regions in Ukraine are currently accepted as directly affected by the war. While all parts of Ukraine have been subjected to attacks by Russia, the front line of the war runs mainly through the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Norbert Pal, the government commissioner responsible for those who have fled Ukraine, said the decree was "reasonable and proportionate" and that those who "wanted to get back on their feet in Hungary have been able to do so."
Last week the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed "concern" over the law saying up to 3,000 Ukrainians could lose access to subsidized accommodation.
"UNHCR consistently calls on EU Member States to interpret and implement the Temporary Protection Directive in a uniform and inclusive manner. The directive also requires Hungary to provide those with asylum status with suitable accommodation and housing," it said in a statement.
"Accordingly, the UNHCR urges the Hungarian Government to review the current amendment. All changes related to collective accommodation must be gradual and adequate measures must be taken to prevent anyone from becoming homeless or forced to destitution as a result of the changes," it added.
Azerbaijani Political Analyst Samadov Detained In Baku
Azerbaijani political analyst Bahruz Samadov, who is known for his criticism of the country's authorities, was arrested in Baku on August 21. Samadov's grandmother, Zibeyda Osmanova, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that after her grandson's arrest police searched their apartment and informed her Samadov was suspected of illegal drugs-related activities. Later, a lawyer called and told her her grandson "is being accused of treason." Samadov, a doctoral student at the Charles University in Prague, has been critical of Baku's military offensives in 2020 and 2024 that ended with Azerbaijan regaining control over the then mostly ethnic Armenian-populated breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.
UN Nuclear Agency Confirms Grossi To Visit Russia's Kursk Plant Next Week
UN nuclear agency head Rafael Grossi will visit Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant next week, a spokesperson confirmed on August 22, weeks after Ukraine launched a surprise counteroffensive in the region.
"We can confirm (it's planned for) next week," a spokesperson for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine
RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
The IAEA said later that Russia informed the agency that the wreckage of a drone was found on the territory of the Kursk nuclear power plant.
The IAEA said in a news release that Russia informed the agency that fragments of the drone were “reported to have been located roughly 100 meters from the plant's spent fuel nuclear storage facility.”
The IAEA said it was informed that the drone was “suppressed” in the early morning of August 22.
Grossi confirmed his intention to independently assess the situation when he visits the site next week.
“Military activity in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant is a serious risk to nuclear safety and security,” Grossi added in the news release.
During his visit Grossi will also discuss the terms of further measures that may be needed to evaluate the nuclear safety and security conditions of the plant, the IAEA said.
Last week, Russia accused Ukraine of preparing an attack on the nuclear power plant, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the UN and the IAEA to condemn the "provocation."
Ukraine denied the accusations.
"Ukraine has neither the intention nor the ability to take any such actions. Russia should stop spreading dangerous lies," said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokes, Heorhiy Tykhy.
The IAEA urged Russia and Ukraine on August 9 to exercise "maximum restraint" to "avoid a nuclear accident with the potential for serious radiological consequences."
U.S. Embassy In Kyiv Warns Of Heightened Risk Of Russian Attacks Ahead Of Independence Day
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has warned of an "increased risk" of Russian air attacks in the coming days as Ukraine prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on August 24. The embassy "assesses that during the next several days and through the weekend there is an increased risk of both nighttime and daytime Russian drone and missile attacks throughout Ukraine in connection with Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24," it said in a statement on its website. Ukraine will mark its 33rd year of independence from the Soviet Union on August 24. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.
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