RFE/RL HEADLINES
12/15/2011 10:00:34 PM
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyRFE/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. |
TRANSMISSION
 Tadic's "Kosovo and EU" Policy Hangs In The Balance Serbian President Boris Tadic's unprecedented criticism of the EU after the postponement of a candidate status decision for Serbia because of a lack of cooperation with Kosovo could signal a change in his position toward the territory. More  Belarus President: Western Leaders 'Have No *****' You'd think that Lukashenka might back away from the brink a little bit and try to mend some fences with the West. But you'd be wrong. More  The Putin Show And The Kremlin Shuffle In the post-December 4 environment, Russia's Team Putin has found itself in a bind: crack down and risk greater instability or reform and risk losing power. More  Afghan Rape Victim 'Wants To Marry' Attacker An Afghan woman, who was jailed for "forced adultery" after a relative raped her and then pardoned amid an international outcry over the case, says she wants to marry her attacker to avoid "hostility" and so her baby daughter does not grow up "as an orphan." More  Turkey Slams French Armenia Genocide Bill Turkey has reportedly threatened on to recall its ambassador to France and freeze ties with Paris if the French parliament next week passes a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide. More  No Vote Talks Yet For Armenia Coalition The three political parties represented in Armenia's government have not yet negotiated on the possibility of jointly contesting the May parliamentary elections. More  Moscow, Baku In Radar Talks The Russian Defense Minister told reporters the talks -- which began on December 13 -- would continue through December 15. Russia signed a lease agreement for the strategic Qabala radar station in 2002 that is due to expire in December 2012. More  Belarus Ex-Candidate Can't See Lawyer Human rights activist Paval Levinau told RFE/RL that when he asked warden Vital Ahnistykau at the Vitsebsk labor camp why jailed former presidential candidate Andrey Sannikau's lawyer was unable to see his client, Ahnistykau said Sannikau wrote a letter to the labor camp's administration when he arrived at the penitentiary stating that his life is under threat. More  U.S. Military Ends Iraq Mission The U.S. military officially ends its war in Iraq, lowering the U.S. flag at military headquarters outside the Iraqi capital. More  Protests Held For Kyrgyz Inmates Some 30 relatives of Kyrgyz inmates on hunger strike picketed a pretrial detention center in Bishkek on December 15 to demand the prisoners' demands be met, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. More  Russian Crisis Has Investors Nervous Russian shares have fallen more than 10 percent since the disputed December 4 election. And firms with close ties to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have taken the biggest hit. More  EU Raises Vote Concerns With Russia It wasn't on the official agenda. But when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sat down with EU leaders at a summit in Brussels today, the controversy surrounding Russia's recent parliamentary elections took center stage. More  U.S. Officials Cite Russian 'Awakening' U.S. officials criticize perceived "manipulation" of voting in Russia and say recent mass protests could represent a "nationwide awakening" among Russians who want more accountability from their government. More  Defiant Putin Touts Vague Reform This year's televised call-in session with Vladimir Putin took on added significance amid massive protests over Russia's disputed parliamentary elections. Putin defended the vote as a reflection of public opinion. More  Tajiks Give Murder Suspects To Kyrgyz Tajik authorities have extradited two Kyrgyz citizens suspected in the killing of a top Kyrgyz official. More |