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Memorial's Perm Chief Jailed For 15 Days For 'Hooliganism' In Russian Court
The Memorial human right group says the head of its branch in the Russian city of Perm, Aleksandr Chernyshov, has been ordered to serve 15 days in jail on a hooliganism charge stemming from his appearance in a Khimki court after his detention this week at a Moscow airport. Memorial quoted Chernyshov as saying he couldn't have acted out as he was in security custody the whole time. Memorial, a veteran group that has worked as a nonregistered entity since its official closure under pressure, has said Chernyshov's detention may be linked to a probe into Memorial's archive materials in Perm. To see the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here. To see the original story by Current Time, click here.
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31 Political Prisoners Convicted Under Belarus's 'Extremism' Law Pardoned
Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has pardoned 31 people convicted under the country’s "extremism" law.
Two women and 29 men were pardoned, Lukashenka's press service said on November 7. The press service said 17 of the people released have chronic illnesses, three are disabled, and 27 have children.
Though they will be released, their criminal records will not be expunged and the Internal Affairs Ministry will "ensure control over their law-abiding behavior," the press service said. Lukashenka has pardoned 115 political prisoners this year.
Despite the pardons, Belarus remains home to a significant number of political prisoners. Approximately 1,287 political prisoners recognized by the human rights community remain behind bars in Belarus, according to the human rights center Vyasna.
The political climate in Belarus remains tense, and human rights defenders have reported mass detentions across the country since the announcement of the next presidential elections to be held on January 26, 2025, with both administrative and criminal trials ongoing.
Since the crackdown on dissent that followed the disputed 2020 presidential election, the human rights community has recognized almost 3,600 people as political prisoners, and detentions, arrests, and trials on politically motivated charges continue in Belarus.
The pardons announced on November 7 mark the fifth wave of pardons in recent months. Previous pardons took place on September 4, August 16, and July 3, releasing individuals associated with "political" and "protest" crimes, including some with serious health issues, like opposition figure Ryhor Kastusyou, who was suffering from cancer.
Chinese Electronics Plant In Russia Closes As Western Sanctions Bite
A Chinese-owned electronics plant in Russia's Leningrad region has ceased operations, highlighting the growing impact of Western sanctions on Moscow over its war against Ukraine and the shifting dynamics of foreign business in Russia.
According to a report by the Kommersant newspaper on November 7, TPV Technology, a Hong Kong-based company known as the world's largest manufacturer of computer monitors, halted production at its Shushary facility, which had been assembling TV sets for major brands like Philips, Sony, and Sharp.
The plant in western Russia, operational since 2011, is now in the process of selling off components and equipment.
The closure comes amid increasing concerns over secondary sanctions from the United States and European Union, which have targeted companies -- in particular those from China -- doing business with Russia.
While TPV Technology's Russian branch called the move a "strategic" decision to scale down its operations in the country, Kommersant quoted sources as saying the threat of secondary sanctions was likely a key driver behind the decision.
Last month, Washington imposed its latest sanctions, targeting Chinese companies involved in producing complex weapons systems in collaboration with Russian firms.
That marked a new phase in the U.S.-China sanctions relationship, with ripple effects reaching beyond traditional sectors like energy and technology.
Further complicating the situation, Kommersant reported that Chinese banks have increasingly refused to engage in financial transactions with Russia, fearing secondary sanctions.
Around 80 percent of payments from Russia to China in yuan are being returned, signaling the growing reluctance of Chinese financial institutions to take on the risk of U.S. and EU sanctions.
- By Current Time
U.S.-Based Russian Journalist Says Moscow Placed Him On Wanted List
Sergei Markelov, a Russian journalist living in the United States, said he is wanted in Russia, where a criminal case has been opened against him. Markelov shared the news on his Facebook page but did not provide further details. According to the Mediazona website, his name has not yet appeared on the Interior Ministry's official wanted list, though there are often delays between when a person is notified and they actually appear on the list. Markelov, who has worked with RFE/RL's North.Realities, the 7x7 website, and the Novaya gazeta newspaper, is accused of failing to comply with the duties of a "foreign agent" under Russian law. He was added to the "foreign agents" list in December 2020, alongside other journalists and activists. In November 2021, Markelov's appeal against his inclusion in the register was rejected by the Moscow City Court. In November 2023, Markelov and other "foreign agents" filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee, saying they were being persecuted. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Britain Slaps Massive Sanctions Package On Russia
Britain on November 7 announced its largest package of Russia sanctions in one year and a half, slapping punitive measures on 56 people and entities linked to Moscow's war machine, including mercenary groups active in Africa and an individual accused of involvement in a 2018 Novichok attack.
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to discuss moves to counter Russian malign activities in Europe with other European leaders at a summit in Budapest on November 7 and reaffirm London's ironclad support for Ukraine, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
"Today's action disrupts the supply of vital equipment for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war machine and bears down on Russian malign activity globally, exposing the corrupt activities of Russian proxy military groups in Africa," the statement said.
Three mercenary groups with links to the Kremlin -- Africa Corps, Bears Brigade, and PMC Espanola -- have been placed under sanctions.
Africa Corps is the successor to the notorious mercenary group Wagner, which under late Putin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin took part in the invasion of Ukraine.
After Prigozhin's death following the group's short-lived mutiny last year, the newly renamed Africa Corps expanded Wagner's operations in Africa, in countries such as Libya, Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where its fighters helped prop up military dictatorships.
"These sanctions will bear down on Russian malign activity in Libya, Mali, and C.A.R., exposing and combatting Russia's illicit activity in Africa, as it attempts to exploit the fragile security environments and natural resources in these countries for its gain and expand the Kremlin’s sphere of influence," the statement said.
Russian military intelligence officer Denis Sergeyev, one of the three Russian operatives British police have charged over the attempted murder of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, using the nerve agent Novichok, was also placed on the sanctions list.
Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in a park in the southern English city in March 2018.
British authorities have established that the Skripals had been the targets of an attack by Russia's military intelligence in which Novichok had been applied to the door handle of their home.
The Skripals both survived, but a woman died after coming accidentally into contact with the poisonous agent.
"Sergeyev provided support in the preparation and use of the chemical weapon Novichok in Salisbury...and provided a coordinating role in London on the weekend of the attack," the statement said.
The list also includes 28 entities based in China, Turkey, and Central Asia accused of supplying machinery, microelectronics for drones, and components for the Russian military's war in Ukraine.
"Today’s measures will continue to push back on the Kremlin's corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia's attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin's war machine," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
"Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom," Lammy concluded.
Uzbekistan Jails 11 Men On Terrorism Charges
Uzbekistan's State Security Service (DXX) announced on November 7 that a court in the city of Qoqon sentenced 11 individuals to prison terms ranging from six to 12 years for terrorism-related offenses. They were convicted on charges including financing terrorism, plotting to change the constitutional system, and possessing materials threatening public safety. The individuals were accused of promoting extremist ideologies between 2021 and 2023 at regular gatherings disguised as social events, called "Saturday dinners," at local teahouses. The discussions reportedly focused on jihad and the creation of an Islamic state. The case is part of government efforts to combat religious extremism, particularly in Qoqon, located in the ethnically diverse and historically volatile Ferghana Valley. The region has been a hot spot of both domestic and transnational Islamist groups, raising concerns about local instability and the spread of extremist ideologies. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Peskov Hints At Possible Putin-Trump Communication Before U.S. Inauguration
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said he could not rule out the possibility of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump before the his inauguration in January. When asked by journalists whether such communication was off the table, Peskov responded: "Why? It is not ruled out. [Trump] said that he would call Putin before the inauguration. Those are his words." He was referring to previous statements made by Trump about reaching out to Putin ahead of taking office. Peskov also addressed questions regarding any official contact between the Russian authorities and Trump's campaign following the U.S. election. "No. Why should we contact them?" he replied, further clarifying that the Russian administration had not made any direct outreach. The remarks come amid heightened international attention on U.S.-Russia relations following the November 5 presidential election, which Trump won.
Western Leaders Urge Georgia To 'Change Course' After Disputed Vote
The leaders of three European Union member states -- France, Germany, and Poland -- on November 7 urged Georgia to investigate allegations of widespread voting irregularities during last month's parliamentary elections and called on Tbilisi to reverse Russian-inspired legislation.
Georgia's pro-European opposition, which has refused to recognize the result of the elections, has been holding large daily protests in Tbilisi after the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, which has been in power for the past 12 years, claimed victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Georgia's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili, also refused to recognize the validity of the results, alleging massive fraud and Russian interference.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a joint statement that they were "deeply concerned by the numerous irregularities and voter intimidation" reported during the vote.
Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but moves by Georgian Dream to adopt legislation to curb foreign funding of NGOs mirroring Moscow's "foreign agents" law and anti-LGBT measures have sparked criticism from Brussels and Washington that the Caucasus country was backsliding on democracy.
Macron, Scholz, and Tusk, in a statement under the so-called Weimar Triangle format, warned that the steps taken recently by the Georgian government were threatening Tbilisi's progress toward eventual membership in the bloc.
"Unless Georgia reverses its current course of action and demonstrates tangible reform efforts, in particular by repealing recent legislation that runs counter to European values and principles, we will not be in a position to support the opening of accession negotiations with Georgia," the three leaders said as they gathered in Budapest for a meeting of the European Political Community, as well as an informal EU summit.
The statement came as Georgia's Appeals Court continued deliberations through the night on complaints filed by two observer groups -- the Young Lawyers' Association and My Voice -- against irregularities in district election commissions during the October 26 vote.
My Voice has said its observers from 1,131 precincts reported more than 900 cases of violations of election procedures.
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, has said demonstrations will continue for new elections.
"In the coming days and weeks, our task is to fill Tbilisi with people. All major squares, streets, avenues should be full of people," Melia told RFE/RL.
Zelenskiy Warns EU Leaders That Capitulation To Putin Is 'Suicidal'
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned European leaders that capitulation to Russia after it invaded Ukraine would be "suicidal" for Europe, just hours after Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa were rocked by an unusually intense wave of air strikes.
Speaking at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest on November 7, Zelenskiy renewed his appeals for more support for his war-torn country ahead of an informal EU summit the next day to be hosted by Hungary, which currently holds the 27-member bloc's rotating presidency.
He also said he has already spoken with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about how both the United States and Europe need to be strong for each other's benefit amid the "many challenges" facing the world.
"There has been much talk about the need to yield to Putin, to back down, to make some concessions. It's unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for all Europe," Zelenskiy said in his speech, which came two days after Trump won a presidential election.
Trepidation has swept across Europe since the victory given Trump's oft-stated skepticism over U.S. military support for Ukraine.
"The concept of 'peace through strength' has proven itself and is needed now. Showing weakness or selling out Europe's positions won't buy a just peace. Peace is the reward only for the strong," Zelenskiy added.
Zelenskiy was welcomed to the meeting by right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained close ties with Putin and has spoken against EU sanctions on Moscow. Orban also has close relations with Trump.
NATO chief Mark Rutte, in a pitch to secure Trump's support for Ukraine, told journalists upon arrival in Budapest that the sending troops by North Korea to aid Russia in Ukraine posed a direct threat to the United States.
"What we see more and more is that North Korea, Iran, China, and of course Russia are working together, working together against Ukraine," Rutte said.
"At the same time, Russia has to pay for this, and one of the things they are doing is delivering technology to North Korea, which is now threatening in future the mainland of the U.S., continental Europe," he warned.
"I look forward to sit down with Donald Trump to discuss how we can face these threats collectively," Rutte said.
The gathering in Budapest came as Ukraine shot down 74 of the 106 drones that Russia launched early on November 7 at targets in 9 Ukrainian regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy and Chernihiv -- while 22 others were lost after being jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Russian strikes early on November 7 sparked fires and caused damage in five districts of Kyiv, which was under Russian attack for eight hours, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram.
Drone debris fell in the the districts of Pechersk, Holosiyivskiy, Solomyansk, Obolonsk, and Podilsk, Klitschko said, adding that two people were injured by falling drone debris.
Klitschko reported that the upper floors of a multistory building in Pechersk were burning, and residents were being evacuated.
In Odesa, a high-rise apartment building was damaged and one man was injured by falling debris after Ukrainian air defenses shot down Russian drones over the Black Sea port, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.
Telegram channels published a video of a fire on the first floor of a nine-story building in Odesa.
- By RFE/RL
Zelenskiy Congratulates Trump On Victory In U.S. Presidential Election
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has a long and complicated history with Donald Trump, said he spoke by phone with the U.S. president-elect and congratulated him on his election victory.
Zelenskiy said on X on November 6 that he told Trump that his "tremendous campaign" made the result possible and also "praised his family and team for their great work."
He said he and Trump agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance cooperation between Kyiv and Washington.
"Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," Zelenskiy said.
Trump has said he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict. He has said that Kyiv might have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something Ukraine has rejected.
Trump was impeached during his presidency by the then-Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December 2019 over a phone call in which he was accused of pressuring Zelenskiy to dig up dirt on President Joe Biden's son's activities in Ukraine. He was acquitted by the Senate, then controlled by the Republicans, in February 2020.
Trump has taken aim at Zelenskiy several times. At a campaign stop on September 25, he repeated his description of the Ukrainian president as "the greatest salesman in the world" -- a reference to the tens of billions of dollars in aid lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have approved since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
In a post on X on November 6, Zelenskiy said it was always crucial for the people of Ukraine and all populations across Europe to hear the words "peace through strength" during Trump's first term when he was the 45th president of the United States.
"When this principle becomes the policy of the 47th president, both America and the entire world will undoubtedly benefit," Zelenskiy said, referring to Trump's return to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
He noted that President Ronald Reagan used the words frequently in his dealings with the then-Soviet Union.
"People want confidence, they want freedom, they want a normal life," Zelenskiy said. "For us, that means a life free from Russian aggression, with a strong America, a strong Ukraine, and strong allies."
Trump said during the campaign he would work quickly with both Ukraine and Russia to end the conflict but didn't provide many specifics on how.
Zelenskiy in recent weeks has outlined a set of measures that he says would turn the tide of the war in Kyiv's favor and possibly end the conflict.
His five-point "victory plan" rules out ceding Ukrainian territory and calls for an unconditional invitation for Kyiv to join the NATO military alliance and the deployment of a strategic nonnuclear deterrent package in Ukraine.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
9 Arrested After Violent Protest In Serbian City Of Novi Sad
Serbian authorities have arrested 14 people after rioting at a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy at the main train station in Novi Sad last week that killed 14 people.
The Interior Ministry announced on November 6 that the 14 people were detained during and after the protest. One of them was handed over to a juvenile judge for alleged violent behavior at a public meeting, three people were charged with a misdemeanor, and one was released after making a statement.
Authorities in Novi Sad previously announced that a total of nine people had been arrested after the riots and that one person was being sought.
The violence broke out during a protest on November 5 in the Serbian city where the canopy collapsed on November 1. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said earlier that the charges include destruction of property, attacking an official, and causing general danger, the prosecutor's office said in a press release.
Ten police officers and two citizens suffered mild injuries in the riots, Assistant Director of Police Dragan Vasiljevic said in a statement to the Radio Television of Serbia.
Protesters hurled red paint and stones at City Hall, where Novi Sad city government offices are located, on November 5 as they demanded accountability for the collapse of the canopy.
Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric visited City Hall on November 6, demanding those responsible for the damage be punished according to the law.
Authorities will assess the property that was damaged and destroyed and will "continue to take appropriate legal proceedings against those who caused the damage," Djuric said at a news conference.
Djuric said the protests were "a direct attack on the president of the country, Aleksandar Vucic," and that the demands that Vucic and other Serbian government officials resign were irrelevant.
Asked why the police did not react earlier and prevent the destruction of the building, Djuric said that was not a question for him to answer.
Both national and local authorities blamed the incidents on the opposition, which had called for the protest.
Ana Brnabic, president of the Serbian parliament, condemned the violence, saying the images from the events on November 5 “do not serve the honor of Serbia."
She told a news conference in Belgrade on November 6 that the authorities will insist on full responsibility for "everything, both criminal morally and politically" and will not stop until this is fulfilled.
U.S. Imposes More Sanctions On Bosnian Serb Leader's 'Patronage Network'
The U.S. Treasury Department on November 6 added an individual and a company to the sanctions list for their alleged roles in helping Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and his son evade U.S. sanctions.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the individual and the company added to the sanctions list belong to Dodik's "patronage network."
"This corruption has undermined public confidence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) state institutions and the rule of law," Miller said. "The Dodik network has pursued an aggressive strategy to circumvent U.S sanctions, namely by restructuring and reestablishing corporate entities to obfuscate control and transfer company assets from designated entities."
The announcement came shortly after Dodik congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election.
Dodik is already under U.S. and U.K. sanctions for actions that Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February and reaffirmed that Republika Srpska would not join Western sanctions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Treasury Department said that the individual designated for sanctions, Vladimir Perisic, is general director of the company Prointer ITSS, which was sanctioned in June. The company has continued to execute business decisions based on guidance by Milorad Dodik's son, Igor Dodik.
The company added to the sanction list is called Elpring, which the department said is effectively controlled by Igor Dodik. The company changed its name in June from Kaldera, a company previously designated by the United States for sanctions.
"Today's action further exposes Igor Dodik's blatant attempts to evade U.S. sanctions," Millier said.
The United States says Milorad Dodik has undermined the 1995 Dayton agreement that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
Milorad Dodik has denied that Republika Srpska has ever pursued a policy of secession or disputed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia under the Dayton agreement.
Tajik Activist Reportedly Attempts Suicide In Germany To Protest Deportation
Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev attempted to commit suicide before being deported from Germany to Tajikistan, The Insider investigative group reported on November 6, citing self-exiled Tajik opposition activist Sharofiddin Gadoev.
According to the report, German police officers found Ergashev lying in a pool of blood in a cell in a deportation center.
Ergashev reportedly cut himself in the stomach, body, and arms, and had damaged his veins. He received hospital treatment and in spite of his condition, Ergashev was still scheduled to be deported to Tajikistan on November 6.
"Realizing that returning to Tajikistan means inevitable reprisals and brutal repression by the [Tajik President] Emomali Rahmon's regime, Ergashev attempted to commit suicide," Gadoev told The Insider.
"Ergashev would prefer death than falling into the hands of the 'butchers' of a regime known for its ruthless reprisals against political opponents," Gadoev added.
The 40-year-old is a prominent member of Group 24, an opposition movement that is banned in Tajikistan and part of the Reforms and Development of Tajikistan movement established by exiled dissidents.
His activism has included participating in demonstrations in Berlin, notably during a protest against Rahmon's visit to Germany in September 2023.
An administrative court in the German town of Kleve ruled to deport Ergashev on October 28.
Three days later, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the court decision saying that returning Ergashev to Tajikistan would violate international law prohibiting "refoulement" -- the practice of returning individuals to countries where they face the risk of torture or cruel, inhumane treatment.
This principle is enshrined in various international treaties to which Germany is a signatory, it said.
Germany has faced criticism for similar actions in the past. In 2023, two Tajik dissidents, Abdullohi Shamsiddin and Bilol Qurbonaliev, were deported to Tajikistan, where they were immediately detained and later sentenced to lengthy prison terms on dubious charges related to attempts to overthrow the constitutional order.
Reports indicate that Shamsiddin has faced mistreatment while incarcerated.
Ergashev has been in Germany since February 2011 and applied for asylum on political grounds that same year.
Despite several applications, his asylum requests have been consistently rejected.
According to his lawyer, German immigration authorities have expressed doubts about the sincerity of Ergashev's commitment to opposition causes.
The Tajik government is known for its systematic persecution of opposition members, especially those affiliated with banned groups like Group 24.
A recent report by HRW highlighted Tajikistan as a country of major concern regarding transnational repression, noting that the government actively targets critics abroad on charges of extremism and terrorism, leading to severe penalties and mistreatment upon forced return.
Given Ergashev's documented activism and participation in protests, he is seen by activists as a clear target for persecution by the Tajik authorities.
HRW urged the German authorities to immediately suspend Ergashev's deportation and conduct a thorough review of his protection needs, emphasizing that he should not be sent back to a country where he faces a serious risk of torture.
- By RFE/RL
Russia Summons Moldovan Envoy Over 'Hostile' Treatment Of Election Observers
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on November 6 that it had summoned Moldova's ambassador to protest what the Kremlin described as the "hostile and discriminatory" treatment of Russian election observers by Moldovan authorities. Moldova's pro-Western incumbent President Maia Sandu defeated Russia-friendly challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo in a November 3 runoff vote in balloting marred by accusations of Russian interference and voter fraud. Moscow, without providing evidence, has claimed the vote was unfair and refuses to recognize Sandu as the legitimate president of the country. International election observers said the election was administered "efficiently and professionally."
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Russia's Daghestan For First Time
A Ukrainian drone made an incursion into Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan in an attempt to strike the city of Kaspiysk near the Caspian Sea. Russian air defense intercepted the drone, the first time such an attack has been reported, but not before falling debris injured a 16-year-old girl. The attack prompted the temporary suspension of operations at Makhachkala Airport, Daghestan's main air hub. Kaspiysk, home to Russia's Caspian Flotilla, is strategically important due to its proximity to Russian military assets. Ukrainian sources claim the strike damaged two Russian missile ships that have been active in missile strikes against Ukraine. The attack highlights Ukraine's growing ability to target critical Russian military infrastructure far beyond the front lines. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Armenian Arrested In Moscow For Fighting For Ukraine
Armenian citizen Armen Balian, who fought alongside Ukrainian troops against invading Russian forces, has been detained in Moscow and charged with mercenary activity, the Russian Investigative Committee said on November 6. Balian, 36, was arrested at Domodedovo Airport last month upon his arrival to the Russian capital and charged with recruiting and participating as a mercenary in an armed conflict. According to the Investigative Committee, Balian traveled to Ukraine in November 2022 via Moldova and enlisted, participating in military operations as part of territorial-defense units. He served in various conflict zones, including the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. Balian reportedly admitted to his involvement in the fighting and acknowledged his role as a mercenary in Ukraine. The case against him is still under investigation and further details are yet to be disclosed. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russian Nationalist Girkin Loses Appeal Over Anti-Putin Remarks
Russian nationalist and former separatist commander Igor Girkin, also known by his alias Strelkov, has lost his appeal against a four-year prison sentence he was handed for calling for "extremist activity."
Russia's Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold the ruling in a closed-door hearing on November 6, confirming that Girkin’s imprisonment would be carried out. He is currently serving time in a prison in the Kirov region.
Girkin, a former colonel in Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and a key figure in Russia's 2014 occupation of Ukraine's Crimea and Donbas regions, was sentenced in January 2024 for criticizing President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders.
The court found that his public remarks, made in two Telegram posts, amounted to calls for extremist activity. Girkin has denied any wrongdoing and rejects the accusations.
Girkin was arrested in July 2023 after posting criticisms of Putin’s handling of the war in Ukraine, which he described as poorly executed and mishandled.
He accused the Russian president of "cowardly mediocrity" and even called for his resignation, stating that Russia needed "someone truly capable and responsible" to lead the country.
While in custody, Girkin, 53, expressed interest in participating in the 2024 Russian presidential election. He made efforts to organize a campaign and collect signatures in support of his candidacy, but ultimately failed.
Despite his incarceration, Girkin continued to push for his involvement in the war in Ukraine, requesting multiple times to be sent to the front lines. However, the requests were denied, a move Girkin and his supporters believe was the result of an unofficial ban on him by Russian authorities.
His wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, confirmed in September that her husband's requests to join the ongoing invasion of Ukraine had been rejected twice even though Russia is recruiting prisoners to fight in the war.
Girkin, who rose to prominence as a commander of Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, was instrumental in the military operations that led to the occupation of Crimea.
In addition to his prison sentence in Russia, Girkin faces international legal challenges.
In November 2022, a Dutch court convicted him and two other defendants in absentia for their role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all 298 people onboard.
The plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over territory controlled by the separatists in eastern Ukraine. Investigators have suggested there are "strong indications" that Putin was personally involved in the incident, although Russia has denied any responsibility for the attack.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax
Russia Massing Thousands Of Troops In Kursk, Ukraine Says
Russia has massed some 45,000 troops in Kursk likely in preparation of a counteroffensive to expel Ukrainian forces from the region, Ukrainian Commander In Chief General Oleksandr Syrskiy said on November 6, adding Moscow was also seeking to beef up its effectiveness with North Korean soldiers.
Syrskiy's comments on social media came the same day that Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, ratified a treaty with Pyongyang envisioning mutual military assistance, a move that comes as Washington has confirmed the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia.
"The enemy concentrated about 45,ooo troops there. And it is trying to increase their number. Russia's own troops are not enough in this direction, so they are trying to attract military personnel from North Korea there," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Ukraine claims to control more than 1,000 square kilometers of territory in Kursk following a surprise incursion inside the Russian region bordering Ukraine that began August 6.
Kyiv's move came as a surprise as its depleted forces were struggling in Ukraine's east against a grinding offensive by more numerous, better-equipped, and better-armed Russian forces.
Syrskiy said the incursion was needed as a preemptive strike against an expected Russian attack from Kursk into Ukraine's Sumy region.
"That is why it was decided to conduct a preemptive offensive operation with the transfer of hostilities to the territory of the enemy in the Kursk region," Syrskiy wrote.
He also claimed that since the start of Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, 7,905 Russian soldiers were killed, 12,220 were wounded, and 717 were captured.
The figures advanced by Syrskiy could not be independently confirmed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on November 6 that he would visit Budapest on November 7 to take part in the fifth summit of the European Political Community at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council President Charles Michel.
Zelenskiy said the meeting will discuss security challenges in Europe, as well as "new opportunities for all partners."
Earlier on November 6, the foreign ministers of some of Ukraine's most important Western partners issued a statement expressing concern about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
North Korea's "direct support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia's desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security," the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Britain, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union said.
They added that deployment of the troops in battle would be a further breach of international law, including the UN Charter. The foreign ministers condemned the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang "in the strongest possible terms."
Earlier on November 6, Ukraine's air defenses shot down 38 out of the 63 drones launched by Russia at nine regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhya -- the air force reported on Telegram.
Twenty-two other drones were lost after their navigation systems were jammed by Ukrainian electronic-warfare units, the air force added.
Separately, the governor of the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya said that the number of casualties following a Russian missile strike on his region had grown to seven dead and 25 wounded.
Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure as a third winter of war draws near. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses downed three Ukrainian drones over the Kursk and Oryol regions.
Georgian Opposition Protests Election Results For Fourth Day
TBILISI -- An opposition rally is under way in Tbilisi outside Georgia's Appeals Court, the fourth protest in as many days against the results of parliamentary elections claimed by the ruling Georgian Dream party amid allegations of widespread fraud.
The opposition, which has refused to recognize the result, has been holding large protests in Tbilisi after the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, which has been in power for the past 12 years, claimed victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Georgia's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili also refused to recognize the validity of the results, alleging massive fraud and Russian interference.
The protest in Tbilisi came after a court in the central city of Gori on November 6 rejected a petition by election monitors calling for the annulment of results in several election precincts in the city, where violations of the vote's confidentiality were observed during the October 26 parliamentary election.
A coalition of monitoring organizations known as My Voice filed a petition in the Gori court against the Central Election Commission (TsSK) calling for the annulment of results in 14 of the city's precincts where violations had been documented.
My Voice has said its observers from 1,131 precincts said there were more than 900 cases of violations of election procedures.
But presiding judge Nino Gogatishvili refused to accept the petition after five hours of hearings, prompting representatives of My Voice to say they will appeal the decision in the Appeals Court.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the Appeals Court where complaints are being filed against decisions by lower courts that rejected requests to annul votes because of fraud. Opposition leaders were banned from attending the Appeals Court proceedings, prompting them to protest outside the building.
"I am a citizen of Georgia, the court proceedings are under way, they are public, so you must let me in. You are breaking the law now, you know it better than me.... You are not in Russia, are you?" Anna Dolidze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia party, told police blocking the entrance.
Another opposition leader, Giorgi Vashadze of the Unity -- National Movement bloc, demanded that dubious votes be annulled.
"We demand that the court recognize the right to secrecy of the vote, guaranteed by the constitution of Georgia, which was utterly violated, and annul the election results. The first precedent was created in the Tetritskaro court. It was confirmed that the election results were falsified. We won, and someone is trying to steal this victory," Vashadze told RFE/RL.
"The protest will continue without interruption, it will not stop until we celebrate the final victory that the people gave us."
In Tetritskaro, Judge Vladimir Kuchua ruled in favor of the complaint filed by a civic group called the Young Lawyers' Association, deciding to annul the result at 30 polling stations based on evidence presented by the group.
The TsSK challenged his decision, declaring them unfounded, prompting the opposition in turn to challenge the commission's ruling at the Appeals Court.
Kuchua has been hailed by the opposition as a rare, courageous magistrate to go against Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012.
Zurabishvili also protested on X.
"The Tbilisi Appeals Court has denied political parties their right to enter the chamber where the election frauds are judged !!!! That is justice as the « Georgian dream » sees and practices it…" Zurabishvili said.
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, has said demonstrations will continue for new elections.
"In the coming days and weeks, our task is to fill Tbilisi with people. All major squares, streets, avenues should be full of people," Melia said.
Another opposition group, the Girchi Party, has also joined the call for fresh elections, arguing that the confidentiality of the vote had been violated on October 26.
The party, which did not pass the 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament, has scheduled a rally outside the parliament building for November 9 and urged the TsSK to call new elections within one week. It has also appealed to Georgia's Western partners not to recognize the results of the vote.
Belarus Issues First-Ever Prison Sentence For 'Genocide Denial'
The Minsk City Court has issued the first-ever sentence in Belarus under a law passed more than two years ago for "denying the genocide of the Belarusian people."
According to a statement on November 5 from the Vyasna Human Rights Center, a 55-year-old plasterer from the Minsk district, Andrey Savitski, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony on the denying genocide charge and a separate charge accusing him of “insulting" Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The charges stemmed from Savitski’s social media posts about Lukashenka and about the Belarusian village of Khatyn, where 149 people died in March 1943 after being rounded up by occupying Nazi troops and taken to a barn that was then set on fire.
Savitski was reportedly detained in February and held in custody since then. The arrest was carried out by officers from the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBAZIK) and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SAHR).
According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, Savitski denied in his posts the “genocide of the Belarusian people by German occupiers during the Great Patriotic War, rehabilitated fascists, and attributed crimes committed by the occupiers to Soviet citizens."
The case was the first to be prosecuted since the law on the Genocide of the Belarusian People was enacted in January 2022. Vyasna said Savitski was sentenced on October 30.
Lukashenka's regime frequently uses accusations of denying the genocide to target Belarusian opposition activists. Independent historians in exile have criticized Belarusian authorities for substituting the term "genocide of the Belarusian people" for "Holocaust of the Jewish people," which echoes the Soviet narrative.
Disputes continue in Belarusian society and among Belarusian historians regarding some events during World War II on the territory of Belarus.
Protest Turns Violent In Serbian City Where Canopy Collapse Killed 14
NOVI SAD, Serbia -- Protesters hurled red paint and stones at city hall in Novi Sad on November 5 as they demanded accountability for the deaths of 14 people in the collapse of a concrete canopy at the city’s train station.
The glass doors of city hall were shattered when a group of masked men threw incendiary devices inside the building, prompting riot police to respond with tear gas. The protesters also dumped manure in front of city hall.
Misa Baculov, a representative of the civic group Be a Hero and a former mayoral candidate, said the manure "symbolizes what they've been doing to us for years."
The protesters demanded the resignations of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric, as well as the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for the collapse of the canopy.
They also called for public access to the contract with the Chinese consortium that recently renovated the station and the disclosure of other secret contracts with private companies involved in major national infrastructure projects.
The station reopened in July after a three-year renovation led by the Chinese consortium CRIC & CCCC. Serbian railway authorities said that the canopy outside the main entrance of the station was not part of the renovation.
Baculov urged protesters to remain peaceful and called on the police to open the doors of city hall so the protesters' demands could be delivered.
Thousands initially gathered at the train station, where the canopy collapsed on November 1, and then marched through central Novi Sad holding banners reading: "You are guilty, you will answer."
Photos of the victims, including children, were carried at the front of the march, and the crowd chanted "Resignations," "Prison," and "Arrest the gang."
A strong police force was deployed in Novi Sad ahead of the gathering, which was organized by opposition parties and civic groups. It began with a moment of silence for the victims near the site of the accident.
Some demonstrators threw stones and other objects at the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) office, breaking windows.
The flag of the SNS party was removed from the office before the protest began, and the building was plastered with photos of government officials that the protesters say should be held responsible.
President Aleksandar Vucic responded by saying the flag had been “destroyed and removed by those who claim to love Serbia more than we, the decent citizens of this country."
So far, only one government minister, Goran Vesic, has resigned. He announced he would step down effective November 5 from the job of minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure but denied responsibility for the collapse of the canopy.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear.
Vucic noted that it will be "difficult" for prosecutors and courts to establish criminal liability, but he acknowledged that the canopy, though not part of the renovation, had glass added to it.
"However, it held up for two years, and it’s questionable whether that caused the collapse or if it was due to 60 years of corrosion. Experts will have to determine that," Vucic told Happy TV on November 4, adding that "the steel cables were worn out."
The Novi Sad High Public Prosecutor's Office has so far questioned 48 individuals, including Vesic, the director of the Novi Sad Institute for Monument Protection, and officials from Serbian Railways and Infrastructure.
The prosecutor's office has also seized documents from multiple institutions and companies and ordered expert analyses to determine the cause of the collapse and those responsible.
- By RFE/RL
Parcels That Exploded In Europe Reportedly Part Of Russian Plot
Russia is responsible for an operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Western security officials.
The newspaper reported on November 5 that the devices that ignited in July in depots of global courier DHL in the British city of Birmingham and the German city of Leipzig were part of a test run in the Russian plot.
Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while being sent by courier in Europe and bound for the United States and Canada.
"The group's activities consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in an October 25 statement.
"The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame, though it did not directly accuse Russia of involvement.
Reuters quoted Kestutis Budrys, a national security adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, as saying on November 5 that the parcels were "part of unconventional kinetic operations against NATO countries that are being undertaken by the Russian military intelligence."
Russia has not commented on the report.
The report came on the day U.S. voters are heading to the polls in a presidential election. However, the Wall Street Journal did not tie the parcels directly to the balloting.
Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are targeted at destabilizing allies of Ukraine, where Russia is fighting a war after launching the full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
Uzbekistan Jails Migrant Worker For Fighting For Russia In Ukraine
A court in Uzbekistan's Ferghana Province has sentenced 51-year-old Alisher Xoliqov to five years in prison for mercenary activities with the Russian armed forces in a landmark case highlighting the growing issue of foreigners enlisting to fight in Ukraine.
The November 4 court ruling shows the risks faced by Central Asian migrants and the harsh legal consequences of their involvement in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Xoliqov, an Uzbek citizen, initially moved to Russia in search of work.
His troubles began in November 2023, when, after an altercation with a Russian employer over unpaid wages, he was detained by the police.
Facing the threat of criminal prosecution, Xoliqov was coerced into signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. Media reports say he was allegedly pressured to enlist because of his vulnerability as a migrant worker.
Despite only serving a few months in the Russian military, Xoliqov was deployed to the front line in Ukraine in early 2024.
In February, after crossing the Ukrainian border, his unit was attacked by a drone and he sustained serious injuries.
He was hospitalized in Moscow for treatment and after his discharge, Xoliqov was offered Russian citizenship, which he declined, opting instead to return to Uzbekistan.
He received 800,000 rubles (around $8,000) in compensation for his brief service, but back in Uzbekistan he was subsequently charged with mercenary activities.
The case has sparked concern over the growing trend of Central Asian nationals being recruited into Russia’s military, often under dubious circumstances.
Central Asian governments, including Uzbekistan, have repeatedly warned their citizens about the risks and legal consequences of participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
However, economic hardship and a lack of opportunities at home continue to drive many migrants to seek work in Russia, where they end up joining the army or mercenary groups fighting in Ukraine.
In recent months, other Uzbek nationals have been sentenced for similar offenses.
In October, a court in Uzbekistan's Samarkand Province sentenced a 56-year-old man to three years in prison for mercenary activities. A month earlier, a Tashkent court handed down a parole-like sentence to an alleged member of the Wagner group, a Russian paramilitary organization, who had not participated in combat but was involved in the group's failed mutiny and march toward Moscow last year.
The judicial response to mercenary activities is part of a broader effort by Central Asian authorities to curb the participation of their citizens in foreign conflicts, especially in Ukraine.
These developments also underscore the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding migrant labor and military recruitment in the context of an ongoing war that has drawn in individuals from many countries, particularly former Soviet republics.
With reporting by Uznews.uz
Iranian Scholar Calls Psych Ward Admission Of Woman Who Disrobed In Protest 'Illegal'
Iranian religious scholar and civil activist Sedigheh Vasmaghi said there is no legal basis for admitting a young woman into psychiatric care because she took her clothes off in apparent protest against harassment outside her Tehran university.
"Even if someone suffers from mental health disorders, diagnosing that is not up to judicial authorities or the police, not to mention that admitting someone into a psychiatric facility should not be a punishment," Vasmaghi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda on November 5.
"Punishments need to be legal…. Whoever [admitted her] has committed an illegal act," said Vasmaghi, who lives in Iran.
Videos emerged on social media on November 2 showing a young woman stripped to her underwear and walking around outside a university in Tehran.
The circumstances that led to her taking off her clothes remain unclear, but witnesses say she was harassed by the university's security officers over what she had been wearing. One video showed officers violently forcing the unidentified woman into a car.
Reports in Iranian media later alleged she was suffering from mental illness and that she was taken to a psychiatric hospital.
Rights groups have condemned her treatment and demanded her immediate release.
Amnesty International on November 3 said, "Pending her release, authorities must protect her from torture & other ill-treatment & ensure access to family & lawyer."
The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights on November 4 decried what it described as the Islamic republic's use of "psychiatric hospitals as tools of repression to delegitimize acts of protest and silence dissenting voices."
Echoing the same sentiment, Vasmaghi said Iranian authorities had a track record of sending protesters to psychiatric wards to "belittle and punish" them.
"Women have made their decision and they will not retreat" from demanding the freedom to choose how to dress, the activist said.
"The authorities must accept that and stop doing things that increase tensions in society," she added.
Written by Kian Sharifi based on an interview by Hooman Askary of RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Iran Sentences 3 To Death Over Assassination Of Nuclear Scientist
Iran's judiciary says three people have been sentenced to death by a lower court over the killing in 2020 of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in what Tehran says was an Israeli-orchestrated operation.
"The sentencing of these three people was carried out in the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, and they were sentenced to death in the initial stage, and the case is currently in the appeal stage," Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for Iran's judiciary, said at a news conference in Tehran.
Urmia is a town In Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan close to the border with Turkey.
The sentencing of the three, who have not been named, comes at a time of rising tensions between Iran and Israel amid the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israel has been blamed for the assassination of at least four other Iranian nuclear scientists suspected of working on Tehran's military nuclear program.
Fakhrizadeh, known as the father of the Islamic republic's nuclear program, had been under U.S. sanctions for his role in Iran's nuclear research and Israel accused him in 2018 of being the architect of Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
"After some investigations, three out of eight people arrested in West Azerbaijan province were accused of spying for the occupying regime of Israel," Jahangir said, adding that the case is now in the "appeal stage."
The three were also accused of bringing unspecified equipment from abroad into Iran for the attack "under the guise of smuggling alcoholic drinks."
Jahangir said the case against the other defendants is still ongoing.
Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in a brazen ambush of his vehicle in the town of Absard, near Tehran on November 27, 2020, which Iran at the time blamed on Israel while suggesting the United States also had an indirect or direct role.
The circumstances of the attack remain unclear. Initial reports immediately after the killing suggested Fakhrizadeh was targeted by a truckful of explosives, several gunmen, and a suicide attacker.
Just days later, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) offered a different account, saying a machine gun equipped with a "satellite-controlled smart system" that employed "artificial intelligence" was used in the pinpointed killing of the scientist that left his wife, who was traveling with him, unharmed.
Israel has not commented on Fakhrizadeh's killing.
Engineer At Russian Military Plant Gets Lengthy Prison Term Amid Rising Treason Cases
Danil Mukhametov, a former engineer at the Uralvagonzavod military facility in the Urals city of Nizhny Tagil, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on November 5 on charges of high treason.
Mukhametov, who worked at the plant responsible for producing military equipment, including tanks, was convicted for allegedly providing Ukrainian intelligence with classified materials. The court also imposed a fine of 300,000 rubles ($3,035).
Mukhametov's wife, Viktoria Mukhametova, was previously convicted in a separate case for the same offense, receiving a sentence of 12 1/2 years in prison. During her trial, she admitted to handing over the sensitive information for a payment of 100,000 rubles.
Mukhametova struck a deal with investigators, which led to her case being considered separately. Because the proceedings were held behind closed doors, details of the deal are not known, and it is not known whether Mukhametova was under duress when she agreed to separating the cases.
The couple were detained in March 2023, initially arrested for alleged public misconduct. They claimed they had not been involved in obscene behavior but were nonetheless placed under administrative arrest for 12 days.
Upon release, the couple were rearrested and charged with high treason after further investigation.
More than a dozen scientists and engineers have been arrested in Russia on treason charges since 2018, mostly for activities considered a normal part of their work, such as possessing papers, publishing papers internationally, collaborating with colleagues from other countries, and attending international conferences.
The trial of Mukhametov took place behind closed doors, with details of his defense and plea not made public. The case was overseen by Judge Andrei Mineyev, who also presided over the high-profile espionage trial of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison in July on charges of espionage, which he and his employer strongly denied. Mukhametov's case, however, has not been directly linked to Gershkovich's situation.
In August, Gershkovich, RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released from Russian custody and returned to the United States as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and the West.
Judge Mineyev, known for handling high-profile cases, also sentenced U.S.-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina in August to 12 years in prison on a treason charge. Karelina was accused of transferring $50 to a Ukrainian foundation, allegedly to support Ukraine's armed forces.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed this act financed Ukraine's military operations against invading Russian troops.
Mukhametov's conviction follows a broader trend in Russia, where high treason charges have led to numerous lengthy prison sentences in 2024. In the first half of this year alone, 52 individuals were sentenced for treason, a significant rise compared to 39 in all of 2023.
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