RFE/RL Headlines
10/12/2009
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty News
Regional Elections Go According To Kremlin Script Russia held local elections in more than 75 federation subjects on October 11, with 7,000 posts at various levels of government up for grabs. And the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, grabbed almost all of them. Unified Russia expects to take two-thirds of the seats in the newly elected Moscow City Council. Instead of counting votes, opposition activists were tallying up alleged election-law violations. More
From Our Bureaus
Czech Republic Deports Kazakh Asylum Seeker
Czech authorities deported a Kazakh asylum seeker on October 10, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. More
Czech Republic Deports Kazakh Asylum Seeker Czech authorities deported a Kazakh asylum seeker on October 10, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. More
Supporters Of Jailed Kazakh Rights Activist Get Warning Three Kyrgyz activists have been detained for supporting jailed Kazakh human rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. More
Azerbaijani Opposition Under Attack As Campaigning Begins
Two high-ranking officials from the Musavat opposition party have been attacked after force was used to disperse a party meeting in the central city of Barda, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports. More
Two high-ranking officials from the Musavat opposition party have been attacked after force was used to disperse a party meeting in the central city of Barda, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports. More
Persian Letters
'He Was Executed In Front Of My Eyes'
Blogger Mohammad Mostafaei is an Iranian lawyer who represents offenders on death row who committed crimes when they were younger than 18. Mostafaei writes about the October 11 hanging of his client, Behnoud Shojaie, who was executed for stabbing to death a teenager when he was 17. More
'He Was Executed In Front Of My Eyes' Blogger Mohammad Mostafaei is an Iranian lawyer who represents offenders on death row who committed crimes when they were younger than 18. Mostafaei writes about the October 11 hanging of his client, Behnoud Shojaie, who was executed for stabbing to death a teenager when he was 17. More
Features
Pakistani Offensive Appears Imminent After Militant Attack
In the wake of a daring and bloody attack against Pakistan's army headquarters and claims of a successful Taliban attack on a military convoy, Pakistani aircraft have been pounding suspected militant hideouts in the Bajaur and South Waziristan tribal regions along the Afghan border. The bombing campaign is expected to be followed by a major ground offensive against Taliban ensconced in South Wazirstan, but some analysts suggest that it will do little to stem the militant threat in the long term. More
Pakistani Offensive Appears Imminent After Militant Attack In the wake of a daring and bloody attack against Pakistan's army headquarters and claims of a successful Taliban attack on a military convoy, Pakistani aircraft have been pounding suspected militant hideouts in the Bajaur and South Waziristan tribal regions along the Afghan border. The bombing campaign is expected to be followed by a major ground offensive against Taliban ensconced in South Wazirstan, but some analysts suggest that it will do little to stem the militant threat in the long term. More
From Political Elite To Political Outsider In a new book, Mikhail Kasyanov, a member of Boris Yeltsin's inner circle and prime minister early in the Putin presidency, details his transition from insider to outsider. "Without Putin" offers a scathing critique of the current prime minister, including claims Putin turned on his mentor in the years before Yeltsin's death. More
Commentary
Both Sides Hijacked Georgia War Report
The European Union has released its report on last year's August war in the Caucasus. The aim was to establish what happened, however the "facts" have been appropriated by both sides and misconstrued by the press. More
Both Sides Hijacked Georgia War Report The European Union has released its report on last year's August war in the Caucasus. The aim was to establish what happened, however the "facts" have been appropriated by both sides and misconstrued by the press. More
Armenia
U.S. Envoy To Armenia Calls Turkey Deal 'Transformative'
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch has told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that the country's rapprochement with Turkey is a "significant step forward" and a "transformative" development for the region. More
U.S. Envoy To Armenia Calls Turkey Deal 'Transformative' U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch has told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that the country's rapprochement with Turkey is a "significant step forward" and a "transformative" development for the region. More
Iran
Clinton In Talks With Russians On Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held talks in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The meeting is part of her effort to win Russian support for increasing pressure on Iran over its nuclear program if it fails to live up to its international obligations. More
Clinton In Talks With Russians On Iran U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held talks in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The meeting is part of her effort to win Russian support for increasing pressure on Iran over its nuclear program if it fails to live up to its international obligations. More
