RFE/RL

RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova Report 09.07.2013 A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. For more stories on Eastern Europe, please visit and bookmark our Eastern Europe page .

 

Belarus Belarusian Villagers Cast Out 'Rusalka' Residents of Vialiki Bor in southern Belarus recently took part in the folk tradition of expelling a "rusalka," or water sprite, from their village in order to ensure a good harvest. More   Moldova Gloves Come Off In Moldova's Church-State Battle Threats of excommunication and tax audits are the latest weapons in the ongoing battle between Moldova's reformist government and the country's powerful Orthodox Church. More   Ukraine Ukrainian Villagers Say Alleged Police Rape Case Just Tip Of Iceberg A woman’s accusation of a brutal rape by village police officers in Ukraine unleashed a firestorm of public outrage last week. Now further accusations are emerging that police in the town have committed and covered up similar crimes in the past. More   Make Way For MOOCs: How Free, Online Courses Could Revolutionize Education What do you call free, internet-based classes taught by professors from top U.S. schools? They're known as "massive open online courses," or "MOOCs." But some are simply calling them an educational revolution. More   Mob In Ukraine Storms Police Station After Rape Incident Residents of the Ukrainian town of Vradiivka stormed the police station and threw petrol bombs late on July 1 after a woman reported being raped and beaten by police. The woman, who was badly injured, said that two police officers had grabbed her on the street and forced her into a taxi. Video footage shows officers using pepper spray to try to repel people armed with metal bars from attacking the police station. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has ordered an inquiry into the rape and sacked the regional and local police chiefs. (Reuters) More