We know you're busy and probably don't have the time to read all of our coverage each and every day. That's why we've put together The Week's Best. Here are some of the highlights produced in English by RFE/RL's team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
Georgian Protesters Share Harrowing Accounts Of Police Brutality
Protesters in Georgia have provided harrowing accounts to RFE/RL's Georgian Service of being brutally beaten by police during demonstrations against the government's decision to halt EU membership negotiations. By Eka Kevanishvili, Nastasia Arabuli, and Tea Topuria
'Part Of The European Family': Georgians Share What Drives Them To Protest
Georgians have been in the streets for a week of mass protests over government plans to delay EU accession talks, along with election results many describe as rigged. In Tbilisi on December 3, young activists described their reasons for joining the demonstrations, emphasizing hopes for integration with Europe and fears of a repressive, illegitimate leadership. By RFE/RL's Georgian Service
How Russia Prepares Children In Occupied Ukraine For War Against Their Own Country
In the parts of Ukraine that it occupies, Russia is using a militaristic youth movement to foster the loyalty of minors and prepare them to fight in Moscow’s war against their native country. By Maksim Shavchuk and Schemes
California Connection: How A Chinese Factory's Electronics Are Fueling Russia's War
Western nations have struggled to stem the flow of restricted, dual-use electronics sent to Russia for use in its war on Ukraine. Customs data shows how hard that continues to be. By Mike Eckel and Mark Krutov
The Guardian 'Grandmothers' Who Helped Wounded Ukrainian Soldiers
Just months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two Ukrainian soldiers were gravely injured while attempting to liberate a village from Russian occupation. In desperate need of help, they were taken in by guardian "grandmothers" who protected and treated them best they could before they died. By Dmytro Horyevoy
The Bidens And Burisma: President’s Pardon Stretches Back To Son's Time As Ukraine Company Board Member
U.S. President Joe Biden has given a sweeping pardon to his son less than two months before he leaves office. It covers a period dating back to 2014, when Hunter Biden was on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. By Todd Prince
Ukrainian Pensioner Beats Blackouts With Pedal Power
A 77-year-old Ukrainian man overcomes power cuts resulting from Russian air strikes with his own energy, by pedaling a bicycle hooked up to an electricity generator that lights his home and charges his phone. Oleksandr Klimenko also has his own wind turbine and solar panels as Russia continues to pound Ukrainian power stations and other energy infrastructure. By Valeria Bovsha, RFE/RL's Ukranian Service, and Ray Furlong
Civilians In The Crosshairs As Russia Scrambles To Stop Militant Offensive In Syria
The civilian toll of Russia’s war against Ukraine has mounted steadily since the full-scale invasion of 2022. In Syria, meanwhile, civilians are in increased peril as Russia tries to help Bashar al-Assad’s government beat back a major offensive by opponents -- and to preserve Moscow’s position in the Middle East. By Steve Gutterman
Five Takeaways From Romania's Parliamentary Elections
The ruling center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) has won Romania's parliamentary elections, one week after a shock victory of a far-right candidate in the first round of the country's presidential election. So, what now? By RFE/RL's Romanian Service
When Russian Soldiers Toured U.S. Nuclear Missile Bases
Archival images capture the optimism of the 1990s as Washington and Moscow opened the doors to their most sensitive military bases for goodwill tours. By Amos Chapple
