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 vast team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
Belarus Ramps Up 'Military-Patriotic' Camps For Orphans And Other Vulnerable Children
Since the dismantling of Belarusian civil society after the crackdown on pro-democracy protests that broke out in 2020, orphans and other disadvantaged children have been increasingly subjected to a highly ideologized “military-patriotic” education run in part by the Defense and Interior ministries. By Current Time
Overworked Pilots With 'Nothing To Fly': How War In Ukraine Is Crippling Russia's Aeroflot
Thirty months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine decimated revenues and restricted access to the parts and service needed to keep its mostly foreign-produced fleet in operation, Aeroflot, Russia’s flagship carrier, is struggling to retain pilots and crews and maintain flight-ready planes. By RFE/RL's Russian Service
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'We Are A Free People': Ukrainian Soldiers Mark Independence Day
'We Are A Free People': Ukrainian Soldiers Mark Independence Day
Ukraine marks its Independence Day on August 24 amid Russia's continuing full-scale invasion of the country. RFE/RL asked Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the front lines what the day means to them personally. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Roman Pahulych
Defying Controversial 'Foreign-Agent' Law, Georgian NGOs Are Ready To Fight
Georgia's government says a new "foreign agent" law is designed to ensure transparency among NGOs. But critics say the rollout of the law shows that it is more about harassment. By Joshua Kucera
Relatives Fear Discussing Ethnic Kazakh Intelligentsia Behind Bars In China's Xinjiang
Many prominent ethnic Kazakh intellectuals found themselves caught in China's multiyear suppression of Muslim and Turkic communities in Xinjiang. After initially speaking out, their relatives in Kazakhstan are now too scared to discuss their plight. By Asemgul Mukhitqyzy and Chris Rickleton
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After Beslan: A Mother's Path To 'Salvation' After The Torment Of A Lost Child
After Beslan: A Mother's Path To 'Salvation' After The Torment Of A Lost Child
This is an untold story about what happened after the 2004 massacre in Beslan, in North Ossetia, which made global headlines as one of the bloodiest moments in Russia’s battle with Chechen militants. Music teacher Dina Kargiyeva lost her 11-year-old daughter in the chaos that saw some 330 deaths amid a bungled attempt by special forces to free hundreds of children taken hostage in a school. At first, Kargiyeva did not want to live. Later, she tried in vitro fertilization and a surrogate mother but both failed. Finally, aged 44, she adopted a girl who, she says, was her salvation. To mark this weekend's 20th anniversary of the siege, documentary maker Dmitri Beliakov recalls meeting Kargiyeva and tells her story. By Dmitri Beliakov and Raymond Furlong
3 Years Later, Afghans Still Reeling From Impact Of Devastating Kabul Airport Attack
In August 2021, a suicide bombing outside Kabul airport killed 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. soldiers, in one of the deadliest attacks of the entire 19-year U.S.-led war. The attack became a grisly symbol of the United States’ chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan. By Abubakar Siddique and Satar Furogh
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Ukrainians Travel From Embattled Home To Fight On 'Athletic Front' At Paralympics
Ukrainians Travel From Embattled Home To Fight On 'Athletic Front' At Paralympics
When the Paralympic Games open in Paris on August 28, Ukrainian athletes will be ready to compete for gold. But with limited flights leaving Ukraine, the men's sitting volleyball team had to spend several days crossing Europe by train. The players include veterans who were wounded in combat, current active-duty soldiers, and others for whom the war at home adds extra motivation to win medals for their country. By Anastasia Sereda
Rising Number Of Iranian Women Sentenced To Death Amid Surge In Executions
Four women have been charged with armed rebellion against the state in Iran in recent months. Three of the women have been accused of having ties with opposition Kurdish groups based outside Iran. By Kian Sharifi and Diako Alavi
NATO's 75 Years In Photos
Archival photos capture NATO's inner workings and public shows of force since the military alliance's founding treaty came into effect on August 24, 1949. By Amos Chapple
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With Help Across Partisan Lines, Bosnian Veteran Searches For The Missing
With Help Across Partisan Lines, Bosnian Veteran Searches For The Missing
Dzebrail Bajramovic, a veteran of Bosnia-Herzegovina's war of the early 1990s, is dedicated to helping locate some of the thousands of victims who remain missing. Cooperating with local prosecutors and the government institute for missing persons, Bajramovic works to gather information on victims' possible whereabouts from people who fought on opposing sides of the war. He was motivated partly by his own experience in the conflict, when he was wounded and nearly died alone. By Dzenana Halimovic, Miran Jelenek, and RFE/RL's Balkan Service