RFE/RL BELARUS, UKRAINE, AND MOLDOVA REPORT
22.01.2013
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
 Orthodox Epiphany Gets Chilly Reception Orthodox worshipers in Russia, Belarus, and elsewhere celebrated Epiphany -- marking the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist and the beginning of his ministry -- with ritual plunges in subfreezing temperatures around midnight on January 18-19. Honoring an old Russian tradition, in many places bathers dip themselves in cross-shaped holes cut in ice over lakes and rivers. (11 PHOTOS) More  Christmas Caroling In Belarus Traditional "Christmas carol kings" or "Kalyada tsars" parade through the village of Semezhevo as part of an attempt in Belarus this year to keep old traditions like Christmas caroling (Kalyady) alive. It's believed to be connected to historical events, when soldiers asked villagers for food during Christmas time. More  Opposition Activist Beaten In Minsk A Belarusian opposition activist reportedly has been beaten in Minsk. More  Belarus Said To Plan Greater Web Restrictions A prominent Britain-based anticensorship group says its research indicates the authoritarian government in Belarus plans even tighter restrictions on citizens' access to the Internet. More  Belarusians Slaughter A Pig For Christmas It's traditional in parts of Belarus to kill a pig during the Christmas holidays. RFE/RL's Belarus Service visited the village of Budcha in the Hantsavichy district and watched Kantstantsin Klyauchenya slaughter and butcher a 150-kilogram hog for his children and grandchildren. More  Belarus Activists Fined After Posting Protest Photo Online Three Belarusian men have been fined for holding an unsanctioned rally in the city of Hrodno. So far, that's par for the course for Belarus's beleaguered opposition. But the three were not detained during their protest. Instead, the evidence used against them was a photo of their picket posted online. More  Rare Amur Tigers Born At Ukrainian Zoo A zoo in Yalta in Ukraine's Crimea region is boasting the arrival of two new Amur tiger cubs. Also known as the Siberian tiger, the Amur -- the largest tiger subspecies -- came close to extinction in the 1960s. More  Freedom House Laments Eurasian Declines, 'Return Of Iron Fist' In Russia The non-Baltic former Soviet Union now rivals the Middle East as one of the most politically and socially repressive regions in the world, according to the latest edition of "Freedom in the World," the annual report compiled by U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House. More  St. Petersburg Unveils World's Biggest iPhone The latest version of Apple's iconic iPhone, the iPhone 5, is 9 millimeters taller than its predecessor, but it doesn't hold a candle to an iPhone unveiled this week in St. Petersburg, Russia. More St. Petersburg Latest City To Honor Apple's Steve Jobs A giant 3-meter-tall black iPhone, with a working touch screen, was unveiled outside the St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics, and Optics on January 9. It's a memorial honoring the contributions of Apple founder Steve Jobs. The screen displays video, photos and text documenting Jobs' remarkable life. It joins monuments to Jobs in Budapest and Odesa. (7 PHOTOS) More  Invigorated Customs Union Presents Russia's Neighbors With Stark Choice Russian President Vladimir Putin's premier foreign-policy initiative, the Eurasian Customs Union, is showing unprecedented vitality. But the European Union says membership in the ECU is incompatible with closer economic ties with the EU. This confronts many former Soviet states -- especially Ukraine and Moldova -- with a stark choice. More |
