Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

RFE/RL Headlines 4/28/2011 7:45:26 PM A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty RFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org.

 

Features Debate About Joining Customs Union Heats Up In Kyrgyzstan The government of Kyrgyzstan decided earlier this month to seek entry into the CIS Customs Union. The authorities are advertising the move as a way to avoid further economic hardship. But there are some who question whether joining the union with Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus is the solution to Kyrgyzstan's problems. More   Governments Move To Thwart 'Arab Spring' In Central Asia Like the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia also suffers from poverty, corruption, heavy-handed governments, widespread unemployment, and scant opportunities for the young. All too aware of the similarities, governments there are already taking measures to prevent public upheaval of the kind that has shaken the Arab world. More   News Russia: RFE/RL Violated Election Law Russia's mass media regulator has accused RFE/RL's Russian Service of violating the country's election law and of overstepping limits set by its license. More   From Our Bureaus Homeless Tajik Family Gets Suspended Sentences For 'Hooliganism' Four Tajiks charged with smashing the window of a bulldozer used by authorities to demolish their home were given suspended sentences today. More   Pakistan To Host International Peace Conference The Pakistani city of Peshawar, the target of frequent terrorist attacks in recent years, will hold an International Peace Conference starting on April 29. More   Moldovan Muslim Leader 'Disappointed' By Anti-Islamic Remarks A Moldovan Muslim leader today expressed "disappointment" at recent anti-Islamic remarks by the country's Orthodox Church head and politicians. More   New Appeals For Sick Iranian Labor Activist In Jail Family and supporters of jailed Iranian union leader Mansour Osanlu have renewed appeals for authorities to let him out for medical treatment, saying his health condition has worsened. More   China To Close Border With Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan China says it will close its borders with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from April 30 to May 2 because of the Chinese Labor Day holiday. More   Two Former Top Kazakh Judges Detained For Suspected Corruption Two former Kazakh Supreme Court judges have been taken into detention in Astana on suspicion of corruption. More   U.S. Kazakh Envoy Demands Probe The Kazakh Embassy in the United States has demanded a thorough investigation into the killing by police in Virginia last week of Kazakh citizen Kirill Denyakin. More   Grenade Blast At Kyrgyz Politician's House The Kyrgyz authorities are investigating an explosion near the house of Kyrgyz parliament deputy Marat Sultanov. More   Jailed Kyrgyz Opposition Politician's Supporters Demand His Release Supporters of a Kyrgyz opposition leader jailed for trying to overthrow the government are demanding his release. More   Belarusian Newspaper Defies Closure The deputy editor of an independent Belarusian newspaper has vowed to keep it going, despite moves by the authorities to shut it down. More   Iranian Political Prisoners Transferred To Dangerous Prison At least 11 Iranian political prisoners have been transferred to a prison outside of Tehran known for its harsh conditions. More   Opposition Overtures In Armenia Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has praised the Armenian National Congress and indicated he may make overtures to the opposition alliance led by his main rival, Levon Ter-Petrossian. More   Belarus: Activist Charged For Approved Protest An opposition activist in eastern Belarus is being prosecuted over a protest that was approved by local authorities. More   Tajik Militant Group Warns Of New Attacks A Tajik-language website purportedly run by Islamic militants has vowed to carry out new attacks on government forces and called on the Tajik people to rebel against President Emomali Rahmon. More   Russia: Suicide Bids Don't Halt Trial The high-profile trial of a couple charged with killing lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova has continued despite suicide attempts by the defendants. More   Transmission They Won't -- Royal Family Snubs EU's Top Brass The British royal family has simply snubbed all EU politicians when it comes to invitations to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. More   Watchdog OSCE Concerned Over Independent Belarus Newspapers The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's representative on freedom of the media has expressed alarm at Belarusian moves to shut down two of the country's largest independent newspapers. More   Commentary Western Colleges Risk Moral Catastrophe By Partnering With Emirati Autocracy Given that academic freedom is limited in the United Arab Emirates, Western universities risk moral catastrophe by setting up branches in the wealthy sheikdom. More