News
Polish Authorities Arrest Russian Activist's Wife
Polish authorities have arrested Irina Rogova, the wife of the former coordinator of the now defunct Open Russia project, on charges of espionage.
Rogova (aka Moseikina) will remain in custody for three months, according to a report by the Vot Tak online channel citing the Polish Prosecutor-General's Office. The primary charge is espionage linked to aiding an attempt to commit a crime, Polish officials said but gave no further details.
The case appears to be part of a broader investigation. Poland’s Internal Security Agency on November 27 conducted a search of the residence of Danila Buzanov, a Russian acquaintance of Rogova and her husband, Igor Rogov.
According to Buzanov, agents inquired about possible ties between Igor Rogov and Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
"They asked questions like, 'Do you know this man?' and 'Did Irina ever mention Igor’s connections to the FSB?'" Buzanov told journalists.
Igor Rogov was arrested in late July in the Polish city of Katowice. He faces charges of making a direct threat to the lives and health of numerous individuals as well as significant property damage through sabotage.
Despite these allegations, no charges of espionage have been brought against him.
Open Russia was a Russian pro-democracy organization established by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a self-exiled former oil magnate and outspoken critic of the Kremlin.
The group aimed to promote civil society, democracy, and human rights in Russia. Over the years, it became a platform for opposition figures, activists, and independent journalists.
The Russian government labeled Open Russia as an "undesirable organization" in 2017, effectively banning its activities in the country. Members and affiliates faced harassment, legal persecution, and accusations of extremism or foreign collaboration.
The group's coordination efforts extended across Europe, engaging with Russian diaspora communities and advocating against the Kremlin’s authoritarian policies.
Igor Rogov’s role as a coordinator for Open Russia suggests his work may have included organizing opposition activities or disseminating critical information about Russian governance, potentially putting him under the scrutiny of Russian intelligence agencies.
Polish authorities have not confirmed whether Rogov’s involvement with Open Russia is directly linked to the charges of espionage against his wife.
Azerbaijani Court Fines Opposition Leader In Defamation Case
BAKU -- A district court in the Azerbaijani capital on December 2 fined the chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (AXCP), Ali Karimli, over accusations that he defamed a bitter rival in connection with his expulsion from the party five years ago.
Tempers flared outside the Nasimi District courthouse before Judge Babek Panahov handed down the fine of 1,500 manats ($882) against Karimli, who announced his intention to appeal the decision.
AXCP representatives said police detained multiple people after ordering Karimli supporters gathered outside to disperse and to move their vehicles before the court session began.
Karimli tweeted that "Using force, the police detained six activists of the [AXCP]."
RFE/RL efforts to learn details of the detentions from the Interior Ministry were unsuccessful.
The case has drawn criticism from domestic observers and international human rights organizations, further highlighting concerns about judicial independence in Azerbaijan.
The accusation stems from a complaint filed as a special indictment against Karimli.
Aydin Aliyev, a former AXCP member expelled five years ago but subsequently reinstated by court order, accused Karimli of slandering him in television appearances by alleging that Aliyev was collaborating with government authorities.
He has sought Karimli's prosecution under a defamation article of the Criminal Code.
Karimli denies the accusation, arguing that Aliyev’s actions were inconsistent with AXCP’s political agenda, thus justifying his expulsion.
He and his lawyer said the ruling -- after a monthslong delay -- appeared to lack legal reasoning.
"The Azerbaijani authorities dragged this case on for four months, despite knowing that neither the Azerbaijani public nor the international community took it seriously," Karimli said.
"Arresting a political opponent on such an absurd charge would have been indefensible, so they chose this measure instead."
President Aliyev has ruled the oil-rich South Caucasus state with an iron fist since 2003 after taking over from his father, Heydar, who was president for a decade.
Belarusian Authorities Raid Home of Grandmother Of Former Belsat Journalist
Belarus law enforcement officers have raided the home of the 85-year-old grandmother of Syarhey Skulavets, a former journalist for the opposition media outlet Belsat, in another sign of the government's continued crackdown against independent media.
Skulavets, who fled Belarus in the summer of 2023 due to growing fears of being arrested for his journalism, said in a post on Facebook on December 1 that officers, who identified themselves as investigators and KGB agents, searched his grandmother's home and asked questions about his activities.
Belsat is a Belarusian-language television channel that operates from Poland, broadcasting critical news and analysis about the government of the authoritarian ruler of Belarus Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Since its launch in 2007, Belsat has become one of the most prominent independent media outlets for Belarusian audiences.
The channel's outspoken coverage of political events, including the disputed 2020 presidential election and the violent crackdown on protests that followed, has made it a target for the authoritarian government.
Journalists working for Belsat have faced harassment, intimidation, and arrests both within Belarus and abroad.
Skulavets's account of the raid underscores the regime's strategy of targeting family members of dissidents.
Although the search's precise motivations remain unclear, the authorities appeared to be focused on finding information about Skulavets and his work.
The officers reportedly examined mobile phones, posed questions, and took notes, with Skulavets's father informing him that the officers showed no interest in his personal belongings, only in his association with the journalist.
Skulavets also shared that his family had recently received phone calls from individuals claiming to be from the Department of Financial Security.
The callers expressed concern about not being able to reach Skulavets, hinting the government may be using additional methods to intimidate and pressure him and his loved ones.
This incident also underscores the broader context of Belarusian media censorship since a disputed 2020 election sparked massive protests amid claims the vote was rigged to hand Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term in power.
Belsat, along with other independent outlets, has been a particular focus of these efforts, with its journalists being branded as enemies of the state.
The international community, including human rights groups, has repeatedly condemned the actions, calling for an end to the harassment of journalists and their families.
- By AFP
Germany's Baerbock Warns China's Russia Support Will 'Impact' Ties
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on December 2 warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing's support for Russia would "impact" ties, according to her office. Germany's top diplomat met in Beijing with her counterpart Wang Yi for a "strategic dialogue," as Berlin seeks to build better ties with China while engaging on key differences. Baerbock told Wang that "increasing Chinese support for Russia's war against Ukraine has an impact on our relations," according to a readout by the German Foreign Ministry. "Core German and European security interests are affected," she said. China presents itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations. But it remains a close political and economic ally of Russia and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war, which it has never condemned.
- By RFE/RL
Baltic States To Punish Georgians Suppressing 'Legitimate Protests'
Estonia says that it has jointly agreed along with Latvia and Lithuania to introduce national sanctions against "those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia" amid the ongoing turmoil in that Black Sea post-Soviet republic. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the move via social media on December 2, adding, "Opponents of democracy & violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries." Georgian authorities have acknowledged detaining at least 224 people in the four days since Georgian Dream party Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Tbilisi was suspending its EU membership talks through 2028. The decision sparked protests and a harsh crackdown in an already tense post-election atmosphere with constitutional challenges mounting between outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili and the government.
- By AFP
Iran Says To Keep 'Military Advisers' In Syria
Iran said on December 2 that it plans to keep military advisers in Syria after its ally's second city, Aleppo, was overrun by rebels in a surprise offensive. The Islamic republic, which has backed President Bashar al-Assad since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, says it only deploys military advisers in the country at the invitation of Damascus. "We entered Syria many years ago at the official invitation of the Syrian government, when the Syrian people faced the threat of terrorism," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaeil. "Our military advisers were present in Syria, and they are still present" and would remain in the country "in accordance with the wishes" of its government, he told a news conference in Tehran. Baqaeil did not specify whether or not Iran would be increasing its forces in Syria in the wake of the lightning rebel offensive. His remarks come a day after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Assad in Damascus to show support for the Syrian president.
Germany's Scholz Visits Kyiv Pledging New Weapons
KYIV -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on December 2 vowing to deliver hundreds of millions of euros in additional weapons for Ukraine's defense this month, with questions mounting among Kyiv's allies and signs of a possible diplomatic shift around the 3-year-old full-scale Russian invasion.
Scholz's visit follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's suggestion that an invitation of NATO membership even limited to territory under Kyiv's control could put an end to "the hot stage of the war."
It also comes ahead of a U.S. presidential transition in January and a German election expected in February.
After arriving by train on December 2, Scholz met in Kyiv with Zelenskiy for the first time since the Ukrainian president publicly accused Scholz of opening a "Pandora's box" and easing Moscow's isolation by speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Scholz has also been among the more cautious NATO leaders concerning possible alliance membership for Ukraine.
It is also Scholz's first Ukraine visit since the months following Russia's nearly full-scale invasion, which started in February 2022.
In a post on X, he pledged that "Germany will remain Ukraine's strongest supporter in Europe."
"At the meeting with President Zelenskiy, I will announce additional weapons worth 650 million euros, which are to be delivered in December," he added.
Scholz and Zelenskiy jointly visited wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Dpa quoted Scholz as lauding the Ukrainian people's defense of their country "in a heroic manner against Russia's merciless war of aggression" for more than 1,000 days. "Ukraine can rely on Germany. We say what we do. And we do what we say."
A German Defense Ministry spokesperson said the aid bound for Ukraine this month includes IRIS-T air-defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks, and weaponized drones. It will also include winter equipment and handheld weapons, the spokesperson said.
Scholz's main conservative rival in the upcoming German elections, Friedrich Merz, has accused him and his Greens partners of being slow and overly cautious in their government's supply of aid to Ukraine.
Western supporters led by Washington last month gave permission for Ukraine to use their weapons for long-range strikes even deeper inside Russia, adding a new wrinkle to the conflict that Kyiv had long desired.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of Scholz's visit that it had no "expectations" and it was part of Berlin's "continuing...line of unconditional support to Ukraine."
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take swift and dramatic action to end the Ukraine war but provided no details.
Sources told RFE/RL's Hungarian Service last week that Trump had held multiple conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since winning the U.S. presidential election in early November and the two had discussed possible routes toward ending the conflict.
Orban has consistently criticized EU and U.S. policies since Russia's unprovoked invasion began in February 2024, and launched his own uncoordinated "peace mission" with visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing in July -- a move that infuriated Brussels.
With reporting by Reuters
NATO Rejects Pristina's Request For Kosovar Deployment To North
NATO's mission in Kosovo says it has withheld authorization for a request by Pristina to deploy the ethnically fractured country's national security body, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), to the Serb-majority northern region where an explosion last week damaged a water canal and ratcheted up tensions.
Kosovar officials have accused neighboring Serbia of involvement, without providing evidence -- a charge Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected before vowing to conduct an investigation and hinting cryptically, "We have information about who might be the perpetrator."
NATO's KFOR mission confirmed to RFE/RL's Kosovo Service on December 1 that Kosovar authorities had asked to deploy the KSF to the northern area of Zubin Potok, a region where the transatlantic alliance and European civilian mission EULEX have helped keep the peace for years.
“The KFOR Commander has not given such authorization, based on his security assessment and the actions already undertaken by KFOR," the NATO force said in a written response.
Serbia rejects independence for its former province, and decade-old talks facilitated by the European Union to normalize relations between Pristina and Belgrade have largely stalled.
Belgrade has long maintained parallel institutions in northern Kosovo that serve the tens of thousands of Serbs there who mostly reject Kosovar central authority.
Pristina has essentially pledged since a 2013 agreement not to deploy its mostly ethnically Albanian forces to the northern region without KFOR's prior consent.
Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the November 29 blast that damaged the canal supplying water to his country's two main coal power plants a "criminal and terrorist attack" by northern neighbor and bitter rival Serbia.
The attack did not cause any casualties but threatened power disruption as the region hunkers down for the onset of winter.
Drinking water supplies to Pristina were also said to be at risk.
"KFOR has deployed units to secure the Zobin Potok area of the damaged water canal," KFOR told RFE/RL. "KFOR has also offered additional assistance to the Institutions in Kosovo, including logistical and explosive ordnance disposal support."
It said it was in contact with all key partners and was monitoring events.
At a press conference late on December 1, Kurti avoided saying whether he had sought KFOR permission for a deployment but acknowledged Pristina was "constrained" by the 2013 deal.
The next day, Kurti invited foreign envoys for a meeting to discuss the situation.
Afterward, U.S. Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier said Washington doesn't know who was behind the attack. But, he added, "Once it is...determined who is responsible, we will work with the proper authorities to ensure that they are held accountable."
Kurti, whose ruling Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) is facing national elections next year, has spent much of the past year squeezing out dinar payments, Serbian postal and banking ties, and other Serbian-dominated aspects of everyday life in northern Kosovo.
EU and U.S. officials have repeatedly warned his government to refrain from unilateral and potentially provocative steps.
The explosion in the village of Varrage, in the Zubin Potok municipality, created a large crack in the Iber-Lepenc canal.
The waterway, which originates at Ujman (Gazivoda) Lake, supplies water to the entire northern region of Kosovo, the Mitrovica regions, and Pristina and its surroundings, including the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its power plants.
Georgian President Says Country In Revolt After Hundreds Arrested In Fourth Night Of Protests
TBILISI -- Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said the entire country is in "revolt" after police beat and forcibly dispersed protesters in Tbilisi for a fourth night amid angry demonstrations over government plans to suspend EU accession talks through 2028.
Police in ski masks waged running battles in the streets of the capital and in a central subway station after using water cannons to prevent a protest near parliament and made more arrests and used tear gas and chemical spray in another crackdown launched around 2 a.m. on December 2.
RFE/RL journalists said police arrested and beat several demonstrators after they were dispersed from a rally and forced through the Rustaveli station after a protest in the area was broken up
At least 200 people have been detained so far, but the number of detainees from the latest night of tumult in the Caucasus state of around 4 million was still unclear.
"This is the revolt of an entire country," Zurabishvili told French news group France Inter in an interview.
"The elections were violated and stolen. They are not recognized by anyone; we are facing a regime that is outside the constitutional law.... My mandate continues until the day a president is legitimately elected," she added.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said Zurabishvili, who has allied herself with the pro-European opposition, must leave office at the end of her term later this month. His announcement comes despite her pledge to stay in office as a constitutional dispute continues following national elections last month claimed by Georgian Dream, which has ruled the country for over a decade.
Zurabishvili and the opposition have alleged fraud and other improprieties and refuse to recognize the new parliament, which last week scheduled an indirect election for a new president for December 14 despite ongoing legal challenges.
Zurabishvili asserted parliament does not have the right to choose her successor following the end of her term in December and she vowed to remain in office.
"There is no legitimate parliament, and therefore, an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president," she said on November 30.
A majority of Georgians support EU membership, and efforts to join the bloc are mandated in the Georgian Constitution.
But the ruling Georgian Dream's enactment this year of what Zurabishvili and critics call a "Russian law" clamping down on NGOs and media financed from abroad, as well as a controversial bill on LGBT rights and public attacks on the West by Kobakhidze and other officials, have raised fears the current government is leading the country back into Russia's orbit.
Western governments have questioned the October parliamentary elections -- in which Georgian Dream claimed 54 percent of the vote -- arguing the elections were marred by violations and Russian influence.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of the controversial "foreign agent" law, which critics say threatens to publicly discredit thousands of media outlets and civil society groups as "serving" outside powers.
Germany said on December 2 that it still supported Georgia's bid for EU membership, while the Baltic states threatened to impose sanctions on Georgian leaders who oppose the country's move toward joining the group.
"The door to Europe remains open for Georgia. But what is important is that Georgia decides to take this path, and the people we see protesting want to take this path," said German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced on December 2 that Tallinn had jointly agreed with Latvia and Lithuania to introduce sanctions against "those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia."
"Opponents of democracy & violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries," Tsahkna said on social media.
The United States in July announced it would pause more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, warning that it was backsliding on democracy.
Ruling Social Democrats Win Romanian Parliamentary Vote, Tough Coalition Talks Expected
BUCHAREST -- Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) won pivotal parliamentary elections, preliminary results show, setting the stage for talks to form a pro-West coalition that could prove to be difficult.
The December 1 vote came a week after the country’s disputed presidential election in which a pro-Russian, far-right candidate pulled off a surprise first-round victory.
Citizens of the EU and NATO member nation on December 2 were awaiting final, official results after preliminary figures gave the PSD the lead over the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR).
With all polling stations reporting, PSD had 22.3 percent of the vote to AUR’s 18.3 percent.
The center-right Liberal Party (PNL) -- a junior coalition partner to the PSD – had 14.3 percent, while another center-right party, the Save Romania Union (USR), followed with 12.3 percent.
With no party -- as expected -- reaching a parliamentary majority, hard negotiations are expected to follow on forming a government and could depend on the outcome of next week's presidential runoff. As the party that gained the most votes, the PSD will likely be asked to nominate a prime minister.
Analysts have suggested a tenuous coalition could develop with the left-leaning PSD and the center-right PNL and USR combining forces. Such a development would help ensure Romania's pro-Western policies against the emerging far-right -- and often Russian-friendly -- parties.
Far-right candidates, who performed surprisingly well in the presidential election first round, were also expected to make gains in the parliamentary voting.
Turnout was reported at 52.36 percent, or about 9.43 million voters, the highest in parliamentary elections in 12 years, according to officials.
Voter turnout in the 2020 parliamentary election was about 32 percent.
No major irregularities were reported during the balloting.
More than three dozen parties and coalitions, along with independent candidates, were competing for seats in the bicameral legislature: 329 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 136 in the Senate.
Senate results were similar to the results of the vote for the Chamber of Deputies.
Along with the divide between the East and West, Romanians have expressed concerns about the country's ailing economy and rampant corruption.
The election – which featured some 10,000 registered candidates – came ahead of the December 8 second round of the presidential contest, in which pro-West Elena Lasconi, will face Russian-friendly, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate who scored a surprising first-round victory in the disputed first round last week.
Lasconi, a small-town mayor who is a vocal supporter of Romania's NATO and EU alliances, finished second in that vote, barely beating leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The Central Election Bureau has begun a court-ordered recount of all ballots cast in the first round of the presidential election, as accusations swirled that Georgescu illegally used TikTok to boost his campaign, among other alleged irregularities.
The Constitutional Court is expected to validate the first-round results on December 2 after the parliamentary vote is completed, people familiar with the court’s plans told RFE/RL's Romanian Service.
Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service
Iranian Rapper Previously Sentenced To Death Released From Prison
Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper who was acquitted in court after being sentenced to death over his protest songs against the Islamic republic, was released from custody on December 1, a news agency linked to the judiciary reported. Mizan quoted the Isfahan judiciary as saying that “Salehi, sentenced to one year in prison for the crime of propaganda against the state, was released from prison after serving his sentence.” Salehi was sentenced to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court in May on a "corruption on Earth” charge, but the Supreme Court overturned the punishment. Salehi was arrested in October 2022 after making statements in support of protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died in police custody for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.
Serbia's Vucic Says Probe Launched Into Explosion Kosovo Blames On Belgrade
BELGRADE -- Serbia is conducting a "serious investigation" into the explosion on the Ibar-Lepenac Canal in Kosovo, President Aleksandar Vucic said as he again rejected accusations by Pristina that his government was involved in the attack.
"Belgrade and Serbia had no knowledge [of the incident], nor would it ever occur to us to do that, and we will prove it,” Vucic said in a public address on December 1, without providing details.
“We have some suspicions, but we will not talk about them. We have information about who might be the perpetrator," he added.
Vucic emphasized that he "does not want to say that [Kosovo Prime Minister Albin] Kurti organized everything" but said the investigation "will show everything."
He also accused Kurti of using the incident to bolster his grip on the north of Kosovo, where a local Serbian majority refuses to recognize the government in Pristina and looks to Belgrade as their capital.
Vucic said Serbia is ready to work with the European Union, NATO-led KFOR, and even Pristina in the investigation.
The explosion on November 29 struck a canal that sends water to Kosovo's two coal-fired power plants -- which account for most of the country's power output -- and provides much of Kosovo's water supply.
Kurti called the blast a "criminal and terrorist attack" by northern neighbor and bitter rival Serbia, without providing evidence, and said the attack aimed to "damage perhaps the most important infrastructure" in the country.
On November 30, Kosovo said it had arrested eight people on charges related to the blast. Police alleged that most of those detained belonged the ethnic-Serbian group Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection), which Kosovo has declared a terrorist organization.
The EU, without placing blame, on November 30 denounced the explosion at the Kosovo canal as a "terrorist act."
"It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo's critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water for considerable part of Kosovo's population and is a vital component of Kosovo's energy system," the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement.
Washington also condemned the attack, with spokesman Matthew Miller saying, “We will support efforts to find and punish those responsible and appreciate all offers of support to that effort.”
Tensions are habitually high between the two Balkan neighbors. Serbia has not recognized Kosovo's independence, which it declared in 2008.
Kosovo has an ethnic Serbian majority in several districts, while ethnic Albanians overwhelmingly populate the rest of the Balkan country.
With reporting by Reuters
RFE/RL Journalist Arrested, Beaten During Protests In Georgian Capital, Lawyer Says
TBILISI -- An RFE/RL journalist says he was beaten and arrested by security forces as he walked near Georgia's parliament in Tbilisi.
Jano Chkadua, a lawyer for Beka Beradze, told RFE/RL that his client said he was walking in the vicinity of an anti-government rally early on December 1 when he was seized by security personnel.
Details remain scarce, but Beradze told his lawyer he was not working at the time and was walking with friends near his home in the area of the protests sparked by a government decision this week to halt the country's European Union membership drive until 2028.
After being seen by a doctor, Beradze was transferred to a temporary detention center, Chkadua said.
Chkadua told RFE/RL that Beradze had noticeable injuries on the right side of his forehead.
"When they discovered he was a journalist at RFE/RL, they became more aggressive and began beating him. He was then thrown into a minivan with other detainees and beaten for about an hour," Chkadua alleged.
The allegations could not immediately be confirmed.
The Ministry of Health said 44 people had been injured overnight on November 30-December 1.
More than 100 people have been arrested in the past three days, according to authorities, as Georgia has been thrown into turmoil since the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream party claimed victory in disputed parliamentary elections in October.
Pro-Europe Georgians have also been angered by an announcement from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that his government was suspending EU accession talks and would reject budgetary grants from Brussels "until the end of 2028."
Georgia's Interior Ministry has claimed that protesters have “verbally and physically” assaulted police officers and had thrown various objects at security forces.
However, various videos from the rally showed police beating protesters.
Reacting to the crackdown, Kobakhidze suggested on November 30 that there were "isolated" incidents of police brutality but "systemic violence" against security forces by protesters.
The United States, meanwhile, on November 30 condemned Georgian authorities for what it called "the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and expression."
Serbian Protesters' 'Red Messages' Mark Month Since Deadly Rail Station Accident
Thousands of Serbs marched to mark one month since the collapse of a concrete train station canopy that killed 15 people in the city of Novi Sad, with youth groups joining a procession from the station to central Freedom Square on December 1. During the walk, marchers stopped 15 times and silently paid respects to each of the 15 fatalities. Red paint representing blood was spread as "red messages" to the authorities. The November 1 incident has turned into a political headache for President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling party, with protesters demanding those responsible be held accountable. The accident occurred after the railway station, built in 1964, had been renovated twice in recent years by a Chinese-led consortium. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, click here.
Fresh Protests Erupt In Georgia As Demonstrators Block Public Broadcaster Building
TBILISI -- Georgia's prime minister has said President Salome Zurabishvili must leave office at the end of her term later this month, despite her pledge not to, while anti-government protesters -- who are supported by Zurabishvili -- took to the streets again, scuffling with security forces at key sites in the capital.
Demonstrators gathered on December 1 in the courtyard of the Channel 1 public broadcaster, blocking the entrance and vowing to stay until leaders of the organization resign.
Protesters also demanded the broadcaster report on the demonstrations of the pro-European groups as they stand opposed to the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream-led government.
Channel 1 said in a statement that "viewers are watching the unprecedented pressure” on its journalists.
"Channel 1 was and will remain free and will defend editorial independence despite any pressure," it said.
There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries at that site or near the parliament building, but video by Current Time showed large crowds of protesters and security personnel facing off, with water cannons and tear gas being fired.
The Interior Ministry warned “the aggressive participants of the rally to stop illegal activities, otherwise the ministry will take appropriate measures granted by law."
It also warned parents to keep their children away from the “violent environment.”
Shortly thereafter, police began moving protesters away from the parliament building and erected barricades.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's comments earlier in the day set up a showdown with Zurabishvili, a day after she called the newly elected parliament illegitimate and vowed to remain as president. Demonstrations in the capital, Tbilisi, have turned increasingly chaotic and violent.
Georgia has plunged deeper into a political crisis that started in late October, when the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in parliamentary elections. The opposition said the vote was marred by fraud. Western countries have called for an investigation.
Thousands of demonstrators had returned to the streets of Tbilisi on November 30 for a third night to protest against the government's decision to suspend accession talks with the European Union.
In central Tbilisi, police fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators, some of whom chanted "traitors" and held photographs of journalists who they say were beaten by police. Demonstrators have erected barricades on Tbilisi's main avenue.
More than 200 people have been arrested in the past three days, officials said.
Zurabishvili, who has allied herself with pro-European opposition, asserted that parliament does not have the right to choose her successor following the end of her term in December and she vowed to remain in office.
"There is no legitimate parliament, and therefore, an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president," she said on November 30.
"Thus, no inauguration can take place, and my mandate continues until a legitimately elected parliament is formed," she said
On December 1, Kobakhidze dismissed her pledge, saying she would have to leave the office.
Kobakhidze also dismissed the United States' announcement that it would suspend its strategic partnership with Georgia. Calling it a "temporary event," he said his government would talk to the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump when it takes office in January.
Kobakhidze also accused opponents of the halt to EU talks of plotting a revolt, along the lines of Ukraine's 2014 Euromaidan protests.
Sparked by the president's decision to spurn closer ties with the EU, months of protests in Kyiv culminated that February in violent street clashes. The president, Viktor Yanukovych, later fled the country.
"Some people want a repeat of that scenario in Georgia," he said. "But there will be no Maidan in Georgia."
A State Department spokesman criticized the decision to suspend EU talks, saying it "made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin."
"The United States condemns the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and expression, including their freedom to peacefully protest," Matthew Miller said in a statement.
U.S. authorities have sought to pressure Georgian officials, imposing sanctions on dozens of government officials whom Washington said had "undermined" democracy and human rights in the country.
The European Union's new foreign policy chief warned Georgian authorities over violence against demonstrators.
"It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and the Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people," Kaja Kallas told journalists during a trip to Ukraine.
Putin Approves New Budget With Record Defense Spending
President Vladimir Putin has approved a new, multiyear budget that sets defense spending for next year at record-high levels, signaling no let-up in Russia's determination to defeat Ukraine.
The approved budget, which was published on the government’s main website on December 1, calls for 35.5 percent of all spending to be allocated for national defense in 2025. That’s up from a reported 28.3 precent this year.
The spending plan had been approved by both houses of Russia’s parliament over the previous 10 days. At 13.5 trillion rubles ($145 billion), defense-related spending is at a level not seen since the Cold War.
While the budget showcases the government’s intention to pump money into the armed forces and security agencies, it also shields up to a third of expenditures from public scrutiny – a break from past budgets.
The government has presented the draft budget as "balanced", with the deficit falling to 0.5 percent compared to this year's projected deficit of 1.7 percent.
The flood of government spending has caused the economy to wobble in recent months. Officials have steadily ratcheted up already high wages and benefits for volunteer soldiers to fight in Ukraine, a sign that recruiting efforts are growing more difficult as the war stretches on more than 32 months.
But that has resulted in labor shortages in many industries, driving up wages and prices. Prices for basic staples like potatoes or butter have skyrocketed in recent month. The unemployment rate has dropped to 2.4 percent
The central bank, meanwhile, has hiked interest rates to levels not seen in years, in a bid to cool down the economy. But that in turn has dampened real estate transactions -- as mortgages become unaffordable -- and prompted business leaders to grouse about the potential for bankruptcies.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which started in Feb. 2022, has become Europe’s biggest land war since World War II.
- By RFE/RL
Russian Drones Target Kyiv Overnight; 3 Killed In Southern City
Russia launched dozens of attack drones at the Ukrainian capital, officials said, in the latest of a series of air strikes that have battered Kyiv and its power grid.
No injuries were immediately reported in the December 1 attack. Ukrainian air defenses shot down about a dozen of the drones, military administrator Serhiy Popko said in a post to Telegram.
In the southern city of Kherson, however, Russian drones killed at least three people were killed and seven others were wounded, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Ukraine’s air force said 78 drones in total were launched at targets across the country overnight, and it claimed 32 of them were intercepted or downed. Another 45 drones were "locationally lost," the force said, as a result of electronic jamming.
For months now, Russia has pummeled Ukraine with both drones and missiles, targeting not only military sites but also energy infrastructure in what appears to be an effort to demoralize and exhaust the civilian population.
Experts have warned that large parts of Ukraine could face heating or power outages or blackouts during the winter.
Ukraine has used its own drones to target Russian infrastructure and other sites across the border. In the Bryansk region, a child was reportedly killed by a Ukrainian drone early December 1, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said in post to 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.
In Kyiv, meanwhile, the European Union's newest top officials arrived in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian leadership. The trip by European Council President Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, came on their first day in their new roles.
"From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine," Costa said in post to X. "From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people."
Both Kallas and Costa have been strong supporters of Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and their visit comes as Kyiv struggles to hold off a relentless Russian offensive across large parts of the 1,100-kilometer front line.
The European Union says its institutions and member countries have provided around $133 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the all-out invasion.
"In my first visit since taking up office, my message is clear: the European Union wants Ukraine to win this war," Kallas wrote on X. "We will do whatever it takes for that."
Speaking to reporters after talks with the visiting EU officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy argued that an invitation to join NATO was necessary for his country’s survival. And he said there was still time for the United States to convince "skeptics" in Europe about membership in the alliance.
NATO has stated that Ukraine should eventually become a member of the alliance, but resistance from some European allies has resulted in little progress toward that goal. For its part, Moscow has cited Ukraine's potential membership as one of several justifications for launching its all-out invasion.
Zelenskiy also told reporters that an invitation to join must apply to all of Ukraine's territory. However, he conceded that the alliance’s defensive arrangement could not apply to the occupied parts of Ukraine.
With reporting by Current Time and Reuters
Ruling Social Democrats Take Early Lead, But Romanian Election Outcome Unsure
BUCHAREST -- Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) appears to have taken an early lead in pivotal parliamentary elections, which could determine the fate of the country’s pro-Western policies, including its future assistance to Ukraine.
The December 1 vote comes a week after the country’s disputed presidential election in which a pro-Russian, far-right candidate pulled off a surprise first-round victory.
With 27 percent of polling stations reporting, the left-leaning PSD led with 24.3 percent of the vote, with the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) next at 17.9 percent.
Experts caution that such early official results can be misleading as votes from the larger cities often come last and could move results sharply in either direction.
The official results reflect an exit poll conducted by CURS and released by Digi24 as voting ended at 9 p.m. in Bucharest, giving the PSD 26 percent, with the AUR next at 19 percent.
The Liberal Party (PNL) -- a junior coalition partner to the PSD – and the center-right Save Romania Union (USR) followed with about 15 percent each in the exit polls.
The party gaining the most votes will likely nominate the prime minister.
If no party -- as expected -- reaches a parliamentary majority, hard negotiations will follow on forming a government and could depend on the outcome of next week's presidential runoff.
Analysts have suggested a tenuous coalition could develop with the left-leaning PSD and the center-right PNL and USR combining forces. Such a development would help ensure Romania's pro-Western policies against the emerging far-right -- and often Russian-friendly -- parties.
Experts have cautioned that exit polls could be misleading following surprising results from the presidential first round a week earlier and the fact that crucial diaspora voting is not included in the polls.
Full results in the December 1 parliamentary elections -- which featured some 10,000 registered candidates -- are not likely to be known until at least midday on December 2, or even later.
Far-right candidates, who also performed surprisingly well in the presidential election first round, were expected to make gains in the parliamentary voting.
Turnout was reported at 52.36 percent, or about 9.43 million voters, the highest in parliamentary elections in 12 years, according to officials.
Turnout in the 2020 parliamentary vote was reported at 32 percent.
No major irregularities were reported by the early evening.
Diaspora results – with some 643,000 eligible voters – could play a key role, although it is unclear which parties foreign-based Romanians favor.
More than three dozen parties and coalitions, along with independent candidates, were competing for seats in the bicameral legislature: 329 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 136 in the Senate. Exit polls indicated similar voting patterns for both legislative bodies.
A preelection poll had showed the far-right AUR leading the pack with 22.4 percent backing, just ahead of the ruling Social Democrats at 21.4 percent.
The AUR has staked out anti-Western positions, questioning Romania's membership in the European Union and NATO, alongside xenophobic and other conspiratorial rhetoric.
Under outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, Romania has been a strong supporter of NATO, as well as neighboring Ukraine in its fight against the 2 1/2-year-old Russian invasion.
A shift toward more Russian-friendly leaders could endanger support for Ukraine, analysts say.
The center-right USR, meanwhile, was polling at 17.5 percent, according to the survey. Its candidate for president, Elena Lasconi, will face pro-Russian, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the December 8 runoff vote.
The Liberal Party was listed at 13.4 percent.
Along with the divide between the East and West, Romanians have expressed concerns about the country's ailing economy and rampant corruption.
The diaspora vote is also expected to be heavy. By 7 p.m. Romania time, officials said more than 115,000 Romanians had voted in Italy, 110,000 in Britain, and 108,000 in Germany.
Moldova is a key voting space for Romanian elections. Most of Moldova was part of Romania until the end of World War II and many Moldovans also hold Romanian citizenship.
By 7:30 p.m., officials reported that more than 73,000 Romanian citizens had voted in Moldova. In last week’s presidential election, more than 80,000 cast ballots in the country.
Experts have voiced caution about preelection polling figures, pointing to Georgescu's unexpected victory in the first round of the presidential vote on November 24.
Lasconi, a small-town mayor who is a vocal supporter of Romania's NATO and EU alliances, finished second in that vote, barely beating leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The Central Election Bureau has begun a court-ordered recount of all ballots cast in the first round, as accusations swirled that Georgescu illegally used TikTok to boost his campaign, among other alleged irregularities.
The Constitutional Court is expected to validate the first-round results on December 2 after the parliamentary vote is completed, people familiar with the court’s plans told RFE/RL's Romanian Service.
Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service
Moscow Bars, Nightclubs Raided Amid Crackdown On LGBT Community
Moscow police on November 30 raided several bars and nightclubs in the Russian capital as part of the government’s crackdown on “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” state media reported. The Russian state-run TASS news agency said phones, laptops, and cameras were seized and club visitors had documents inspected. One year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled to ban the “LGBTQ+ movement” as an “extremist organization." Russian authorities for years have engaged in a crackdown on LGBT rights throughout the country. Since December 2022, the dissemination of positive information about homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism has been banned, subject to fines. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
Georgian President Calls Parliament 'Illegitimate' As U.S. Suspends 'Strategic Partnership'
TBILISI -- Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, an ardent critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, called the nation’s parliament illegitimate and vowed to remain in office when her term ends next month, while Washington said it was suspending its "strategic partnership" with the country.
Georgia has been thrown into turmoil since parliamentary elections in October -- in which Georgian Dream secured 54 percent of the vote -- with the opposition and Western governments arguing that the poll was marred by violations and Russian influence.
Zurabishvili on November 30 said the “illegitimate” chamber does not have the right to choose her successor following the end of her term in December and vowed to remain in office.
"There is no legitimate parliament, and therefore, an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president,” Zurabishvili said.
“Thus, no inauguration can take place, and my mandate continues until a legitimately elected parliament is formed," she added, setting up a likely showdown over the office with Georgian Dream.
Separately, Washington blasted the security measures used against Georgians who have taken to the streets following the disputed elections and after a November 28 announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that his government was suspending EU accession talks and would reject budgetary grants from Brussels "until the end of 2028."
"The United States condemns the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and expression, including their freedom to peacefully protest," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
"By suspending Georgia’s EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin," he said.
"Georgian Dream’s various anti-democratic actions have violated the core tenets of our U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership, which was based on shared values and commitments to democracy, rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts. As a result, the United States has suspended this mechanism."
“We reiterate our call to the Georgian government to return to its Euro-Atlantic path, transparently investigate all parliamentary election irregularities, and repeal anti-democratic laws that limit freedoms of assembly and expression,” Miller added.
More than 100 people were detained in a massive pro-EU rally in Tbilisi on November 29 as Georgian police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters.
Georgia's Interior Ministry said protesters had “verbally and physically” assaulted police officers and had thrown various objects at security forces.
Various videos from the rally showed police officers beating protesters.
Reacting to the crackdown, Kobakhidze suggested on November 30 that there were "isolated" incidents of police brutality but "systemic violence" against security forces by protesters.
"On one side, there was violence, on the other side there were incidents," he said in a press conference.
The opposition called for renewed protests on November 30, with several thousand demonstrators gathering near the parliament waving EU and Georgian flags. Officials said protesters damaged walls of the legislative building using stones and other objects.
Police in riot gear used water cannons and tear gas to subdue the crowd shortly after midnight on December 1. Fires were also reported at the parliament grounds.
On the first night of protests, some 43 demonstrators were detained "as a result of illegal and violent actions,” according to the Interior Ministry.
Kobakhidze on November 30 said that a "difficult" few months lay ahead of Georgia but added that he expects relations with the West to "reset."
Zurabishvili, who has long sided with the protesters, condemned the "brutal and disproportionate attacks on the Georgian people and media," likening the crackdown on November 29 to "Russian-style repression."
The next day, she urged the Georgian diaspora to “wake up” and help protesters by speaking to the media and appealing to the authorities where they live.
“[You] can no longer be silent and pretend nothing is happening in the homeland,” she wrote on Facebook.
On November 28, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for new legislative elections in Georgia and sanctions on senior members of the Georgian Dream party.
In its resolution, the European Parliament said the election result election did "not serve as a reliable representation of the will of the Georgian people."
It also called on the European Union, which froze Georgia's EU membership application last month, to place sanctions on key officials within the ruling party, including Kobakhidze, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Gharibashvili, billionaire power broker and party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.
Romanians Vote For Parliament Amid Ongoing Presidential Election Disputes
BUCHAREST -- Even as disputes remain over the first round of last week’s presidential election, Romanians return to the polls on December 1 to choose their parliamentary representatives as the battle between East and West rages in the Black Sea nation.
The country’s far-right and often pro-Russia elements -- which performed surprisingly well in the presidential election -- are expected to make gains in the parliamentary vote as well.
More than 10,000 candidates have registered to compete for seats in the bicameral parliament --329 seats in the lower house Chamber of Deputies and 136 in the Senate.
A poll conducted by AtlasIntel indicated the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) leading the pack with 22.4 percent backing, just ahead of the ruling the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at 21.4 percent.
The AUR has staked out strongly anti-Western positions, questioning Romania's membership in the European Union and NATO, alongside xenophobia and conspiratorial rabble-rousing.
Under incumbent Klaus Iohannis, Romania has been one of Kyiv's staunchest allies, but a shift toward more Russia-friendly leaders could endanger support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, analysts say.
The center-right Save Romania Union (USR) was at 17.5 percent. Elena Lasconi, a pro-West former small-town mayor for the USR, will compete on December 8 in a runoff presidential vote against pro-Russia, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.
The Liberal Party (PNL) -- a junior coalition partner to the PSD – was listed at 13.4 percent.
If no party wins a majority of seats, coalition negotiations will follow. The party gaining the most votes would likely nominate the prime minister.
Along with the divide between the East and West, Romanians have expressed concerns about the ailing economy and rampant corruption.
Voting began late on November 30 among the Romanian diaspora, which may be pivotal in the parliamentary election -- although it is not initially clear which parties it will favor.
Moldova is a key voting space for Romanian elections. Most of Moldova was part of Romania until the end of World War II and many Moldovans also hold Romanian citizenship.
Political parties must capture at least 5 percent of the votes at a national level to qualify for parliament. Political alliances of two parties must attain 8 percent, alliances of three parties must get 9 percent, and alliances of four parties or more must achieve 10 percent.
Pre-vote polls may not be indicative of the final results, however.
In the November 24 presidential first round, independent candidate Georgescu shocked the field by coming from nowhere to lead the voting, gaining nearly 23 percent.
Lasconi, a staunch Euro-Atlanticist, finished second in that vote, barely beating favored leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the PSD and leading to the runoff against Georgescu.
Ciolacu resigned as PSD party leader following his disappointing showing in the presidential election.
Romania's Central Election Bureau has begun a court-ordered recount of all ballots cast in the first round of the presidential election, as accusations swirled that Georgescu illegally used TikTok to boost his campaign, among other alleged irregularities.
The Constitutional Court ordered the recount on November 28 after officials from the Supreme Council of National Defense demanded that the authorities take "urgent" steps, saying Georgescu was granted "preferential treatment" by the social media platform. TikTok has denied any wrongdoing.
Sources have told RFE/RL's Romanian Service that the Constitutional Court, which was originally set to validate the results of the first round of the election on November 29, will do so on December 2 after the parliamentary vote is completed.
Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy.
Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.
- By RFE/RL
Polish PM Says Fortifications On Russian, Belarusian Borders Are 'Investment In Peace'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a visit to his country's border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, called the development of military fortifications there and along the frontier with Kremlin ally Belarus "an investment in peace." "Everything we are doing here is meant to deter and discourage any potential aggressor, which is why this is truly an investment in peace," Tusk told a news conference on November 30. "We will spend billions of zlotys on this -- but right now all of Europe is watching with great satisfaction and will support these investments and our actions if necessary." The project -- called East Shield -- is designed to eventually protect 800 kilometers along the NATO nation’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
Russian Warplanes Bomb Aleppo Rebels; Iran Says Consulate Attacked
Russian warplanes have joined Syrian air forces to bomb Islamist-led rebels who had taken much of the northwestern city of Aleppo in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s rule in the battle-torn Middle East nation in several years.
Iran, meanwhile, said on November 30 that the rebels had attacked its consulate in Aleppo, calling it "aggression by terrorist elements," although it said there were no injuries and provided few details about the incident.
The Russian and Iranian foreign ministers expressed support for longtime ally Syria, according to Iranian state media, which quoted Iran's Abbas Araqchi as telling Russia's Sergei Lavrov in a call that the attacks were part of an Israeli-U.S. plan to destabilize the region.
The air strikes came a day after Islamists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria's Aleppo in a surprise offensive against forces of the Assad government. Reports on the ground said the rebels had captured much of the city, although details remained sketchy.
The Syrian military confirmed that rebels had entered Aleppo. It did not confirm the air attacks, but Russia's Defense Ministry said its air force carried out strikes on the rebels.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 29 that Russia regarded the rebels’ actions as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.
Reuters quoted two Syrian military sources as saying that Russian and Syrian warplanes had targeted rebel sites in an Aleppo suburb on November 30. The sources said the Kremlin has promised Syria extra military aid, expected to arrive within two to three days.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the fighters, led by the Islamist extremist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement, took control of "half of the city of Aleppo," forcing government forces to pull back.
HTS in the past has had links to the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) extremist groups, although many leaders reportedly split off from those organizations. It was formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusrah and the Al-Nusrah Front, which was Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and has been deemed a terrorist organization by the UN and the United States.
In May 2018, the U.S. State Department added HTS to the Al-Nusrah Front's existing December 2012 designation as a foreign terrorist organization.
The rebels’ offensive began on November 27, prompting the Syrian military to close all main roads in and out of the city.
Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the armed rebels had been preparing for the operation since September, but Turkey had so far prevented it from taking place.
The Aleppo violence breaks a pause in the Syrian civil war, which has been mainly quiet over the past four years.
The conflict involved the Assad government backed by Moscow and Tehran against Syrian-Kurdish rebels supported by the United States, while Turkey aided separate rebel groups. The U.S. military still has a number of troops deployed in Kurdish-held areas of Syria.
Terror organizations, including Islamic State, also were involved in fighting.
Russia, Turkey, and Iran signed an agreement in 2019 to freeze the conflict at then current positions.
The Syrian Observatory said at least 16 civilians were killed on November 30 when an air strike, likely carried out by Russian warplanes, hit Aleppo. It said the attack "targeted civilian vehicles" at an intersection, leaving an additional 20 people wounded.
This incident brings the total number of fatalities in the city over the past four days to 327.
The British-based observatory compiles its information from battlefield sources and has been influential throughout the Syrian civil war.
Syria’s army command acknowledged that rebels had entered Aleppo. Rebels had previously controlled the city before being driven out by Russia-backed forces eight years ago.
"The large numbers of terrorists and the multiplicity of battlefronts prompted our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defense lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers, and prepare for a counterattack," the Syrian Army said.
The fighting comes amid fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
Israeli forces in Gaza are battling extremists from Hamas – deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU – and a cease-fire hangs in the balance in Lebanon, where Israel has struck the leadership of Hezbollah, also designated a terrorist group by Washington. The EU blacklists Hezbollah’s military arm but not its political wing.
Israeli attacks have also taken place against Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Trump Has Sought Orban's Take On Ukraine War, Sources Tell RFE/RL
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has held multiple phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since winning the November 5 presidential election, according to sources who spoke to RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service.
Hungarian government sources said Trump has sought Orban’s opinion on ending the Ukraine war, which has continued to drag on since Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
On the campaign trail, Trump criticized the billions of dollars that the United States has poured into Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion.
He has also said he could end the war within 24 hours of retaking the White House, a statement that has been interpreted as meaning that Ukraine would have to surrender territory that Russia now occupies.
Orban, who has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has been critical of EU aid for Ukraine and has obstructed the bloc’s sanctions regime against Moscow.
Preparations are reportedly under way for Orban to take a second crack at a peace mission in December to bookend Hungary’s rotating EU presidency after his first attempt in July when Budapest’s tenure started.
In a move criticized by several EU leaders, Orban traveled to Moscow to meet Putin in July after a trip to Kyiv with a mystery cease-fire proposal for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He then traveled to China and finally the United States to meet Trump, who was then on the presidential campaign trail.
Details of a potential peace mission in December are not clear, but sources suggested to RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service that it may involve delivering Trump’s messages to Zelenskiy, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Serbia Denies It Was Behind Water Canal Blast In Kosovo
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied as "baseless accusations" by Kosovo that it was behind an explosion that damaged the Iber-Lepenc water canal supplying Kosovo’s two main coal power plants. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the November 29 blast a "criminal and terrorist attack" by northern neighbor and bitter rival Serbia. He said the attack aimed to "damage perhaps the most important infrastructure" in the country. The attack did not cause any casualties. Authorities say some regions may have no electricity on November 30, while the capital, Pristina, may be short on drinking water while the damage is fixed. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Kosovo Service, click here.
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