Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Tuesday, 6 December 2011


RFE/RL Headlines
 
RFE/RL HEADLINES
12/6/2011 8:54:20 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 

Syrian Resistance Increases Along With Efforts To Unite ItSyrian Resistance Increases Along With Efforts To Unite It 
Efforts to unite the Syrian opposition in their struggle against President Bashar al-Assad's regime are intensifying. But for that to happen a number of political and ideological differences must be overcome. More 
 
NEWS 

Suicide Bomber Strikes Shi'ite Muslim Shrine In KabulSuicide Bomber Strikes Shi'ite Muslim Shrine In Kabul 
A suicide bomber attacked a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in central Kabul on December 6, killing at least 30 people in what appeared to be a sectarian attack. The bombing took place as worshippers were observing the festival of Ashura. More 
 
CAUCASUS REPORT 

South Ossetia Heads Into Uncharted Constitutional WatersSouth Ossetia Heads Into Uncharted Constitutional Waters 
The Supreme Court of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia has upheld its annulment of the outcome of the presidential runoff in which opposition candidate Alla Dzhioyeva defeated the Kremlin's preferred candidate, Anatoly Bibilov. More 
 
THE POWER VERTICAL 

Podcast: Russia's New PoliticsPodcast: Russia's New Politics 
Sunday's elections in Russia appear to have crystallized mounting discontent with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule. In the latest edition of The Power Vertical podcast, I speak with Kirill Kobrin, managing editor of RFE/RL's Russian Service, about the emerging political reality. More 
 
AFGHANISTAN 

Dozens Dead In Kabul Shi'ite BlastDozens Dead In Kabul Shi'ite Blast 
Dozens are killed and scores more injured in a suicide bomb attack at a Shi'ite religious festival in Kabul. Meanwhile, another deadly bombing kills at least four people near a mosque in north Afghanistan. More 
 
ARMENIA 

Armenian Opposition Slams Speaker ChoiceArmenian Opposition Slams Speaker Choice 
The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) has condemned the upcoming election of Samvel Nikoyan as the new speaker of Armenia's parliament. More 
 
Armenia Ex-Cop Makes 'Honor' PayoutArmenia Ex-Cop Makes 'Honor' Payout 
A former chief of Armenia's traffic police who faces allegations of embezzlement has paid more than $100,000 to the state to defend his "honor and dignity" despite his assertions of innocence in a fuel-skimming scam. More 
 
BELARUS 

Belarusian Slams Care Package FailureBelarusian Slams Care Package Failure 
A Belarusian opposition party official has filed a formal complaint with prison officials for failing to deliver a care package to a jailed Belarusian activist. More 
 
Belarus Activist's 'Flag Trials' PostponedBelarus Activist's 'Flag Trials' Postponed 
Two trials against a well-known Belarusian activist for displaying a pre-Lukashenka-era national flag have been postponed in the eastern city of Vitsebsk. More 
 
KYRGYZSTAN 

Uzbekistan Frees Kyrgyz DetaineeUzbekistan Frees Kyrgyz Detainee 
Uzbek border guards have released a Kyrgyz man two days after he was detained on December 4. More 
 
Religious Branch Office In Osh ClosesReligious Branch Office In Osh Closes 
Kyrgyz Mufti Chubak-Hajji Jalilov shut down the Religious Directorate branch in the southern city of Osh on December 6. More 
 
RUSSIA 

In Russia, More Protests, Hundreds ArrestedIn Russia, More Protests, Hundreds Arrested 
A heavy police presence didn't deter thousands of opposition supporters from once again turning out in Moscow, where they faced competing pro-government rallies. More 
 
Thousands Rally For, Against Russian GovernmentThousands Rally For, Against Russian Government 
More 
 
Trial Opens In Russian Boat TragedyTrial Opens In Russian Boat Tragedy 
he trial of the captain of a cargo boat charged with failing to rescue passengers from a sinking boat has bugun in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. More 
 
First Person: Life In Russia As A Non-Russian ChildFirst Person: Life In Russia As A Non-Russian Child 
Aida Kasymalieva reports from Moscow for RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. This summer, she brought her 5-year-old daughter, Bermet, to Moscow from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, where she had been living with her grandparents. This is Kasymalieva's account of her daughter's experience of life in Russia. More 
 
Moscow Beefs Up Police As Rallies ContinueMoscow Beefs Up Police As Rallies Continue 
The situation in Moscow is tense as opposition and pro-Kremlin groups take to the streets in the Russian capital, amid reports that authorities have deployed tens of thousands more police and troops. More 
 
Clinton: Ex-Soviet Nations Need ReformsClinton: Ex-Soviet Nations Need Reforms 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pushed for greater democratic reforms and respect for human rights in former Soviet republics -- criticizing Russia for a parliamentary election she says was rigged. More 
 
TATAR-BASHKIR 

Election Observer In Tatarstan Reports Vote RiggingElection Observer In Tatarstan Reports Vote Rigging 
An election observer in the Russian republic of Tatarstan says she witnessed several cases of vote rigging at a local polling station in the State Duma elections on December 4. More 
 
UZBEKISTAN 

Uzbek Detainee Kills HerselfUzbek Detainee Kills Herself 
A woman has committed suicide in the western Uzbek city of Andijon after reportedly being interrogated by police for four days. More 
 
Uzbek Guards 'Holding Kyrgyz Citizen'Uzbek Guards 'Holding Kyrgyz Citizen' 
Kyrgyz border officials say Uzbek border guards are refusing to release a Kyrgyz citizen detained on December 4 despite a pledge to Kyrgyz authorities to do so. More 
 
'Alternative' Energy Fuels Central Asia'Alternative' Energy Fuels Central Asia 
Soaring fuel prices; electricity rationing; early snow -- it's enough to send people scurrying for alternative ways to heat their homes and cook their meals. More