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Kyrgyz activist Altyn Kapalova won a three year-long battle to give her three children her name instead of their father's, breaking rooted patriarchal norms in the country. The Constitutional Court's ruling in her favour sparked a heated debate in society.

Kyrgyz activist Altyn Kapalova won a three year-long battle to give her three children her name instead of their father's, breaking rooted patriarchal norms in the country. The Constitutional Court's ruling in her favour sparked a heated debate in society. © Altyn Kapalova

Fight Over Matronymics Sparks Political Battle in Kyrgyzstan

President proposes revision of Constitutional Court decision after ruling allows mother to give her name to her children.

Andrii Medvedev in the courtroom on 20 June.

Andrii Medvedev in the courtroom on 20 June. © Iryna Domashchenko

Captured Russian Paratrooper Pleads Not Guilty

Accused declined to answer questions from journalists during most recent court hearing.

Ukraine Justice Briefing

Tuesday, 29 August ‘23

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

Elina Hambardzumyan in Stepanakert, with four of her six children; five of them are of school age. The start of school for the about 20,000 school children in Nagorny Karabakh is shrouded in uncertainty as the blockade of the region drags into its ninth month.

Elina Hambardzumyan in Stepanakert, with four of her six children; five of them are of school age. The start of school for the about 20,000 school children in Nagorny Karabakh is shrouded in uncertainty as the blockade of the region drags into its ninth month. © Siranush Sargsyan

Start of School in Jeopardy as Nagorny Karabakh Blockade Continues

Education institutions are due to reopen on September 1, but parents worry for children's well-being.

Drone shot of Andriy Bohomaz and Valeriia Ponomaryova after their car came under fire near the village of Velyka Komyshuvakha.

Drone shot of Andriy Bohomaz and Valeriia Ponomaryova after their car came under fire near the village of Velyka Komyshuvakha. © Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

Ukraine: Saved by a Drone

Woman led through minefields by a Ukrainian army quadcopter bearing a hand-written banner reading, “Follow me.”

Ukraine Justice Briefing

Tuesday, 22 August ‘23

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

Aleksandr Kablov moved to the settlement in 2017. A shift worker at Kazakstan’s oil and gas fields of Tengiz and Karachganak, the 40-year-old lives there when he is on holiday.

Aleksandr Kablov moved to the settlement in 2017. A shift worker at Kazakstan’s oil and gas fields of Tengiz and Karachganak, the 40-year-old lives there when he is on holiday. © Talgat Umarov

Kazakstan’s Eco-settlers: Turning Barren Land Into Forest

A group seeking an alternative way of life started planting trees; two decades on, they have created an oasis.

Yahidne resident Ivan, who was held in the basement together with his family and most of the other villagers, showed IWPR around the school basement on August 3, the day of the court hearing.

Yahidne resident Ivan, who was held in the basement together with his family and most of the other villagers, showed IWPR around the school basement on August 3, the day of the court hearing. © I. Domashchenko

Yahidne: “Let the World Know”

Hundreds of villagers were crammed into a cellar to serve as “human shields” for the Russian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill in March 2014 to annexe the Crimean peninsula but Ukraine and most of the international community do not recognise its annexation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill in March 2014 to annexe the Crimean peninsula but Ukraine and most of the international community do not recognise its annexation. © Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

War Crimes in Crimea

Despite lack of active hostilities, Ukraine continues to seek judgements in international courts over alleged offences.

Global Voices: Europe/Eurasia

CABAR logo

THIS WEEK ON CABAR.ASIA

Highlights from IWPR’s Central Asia network of analysis and investigations.

The construction of the Qosh Tepa canal in Afghanistan is causing water shortages in southern Uzbekistan, while in Kyrgyzstan the government is considering the construction of a nuclear power plant. In Kazakstan, conservation activists are working to save the Central Asian tortoise from extinction.

Elsewhere, CABAR delves into the efforts by Central Asian authorities to detect, reduce and prevent statelessness across the region.

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Editor's Picks

A woman reacts over the body of her daughter, next to a clinic that was damaged during a Russian missile attack, on June 1, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. At least three were killed, including a child, and others were injured by falling debris from intercepted missiles.

A woman reacts over the body of her daughter, next to a clinic that was damaged during a Russian missile attack, on June 1, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. At least three were killed, including a child, and others were injured by falling debris from intercepted missiles. © Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

Ukraine Justice: “Reporting the Story is Just the Start”

Journalists need training and support to properly cover war crimes trials.

Students attend a lesson on housekeeping at a training facility for domestic workers on November 22, 2022 in Kampala, Uganda. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are a frequent destination for Ugandan domestic workers, with official estimates suggesting that around one hundred and sixty-five thousand Ugandans are in temporary employment contracts in the region.

Students attend a lesson on housekeeping at a training facility for domestic workers on November 22, 2022 in Kampala, Uganda. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are a frequent destination for Ugandan domestic workers, with official estimates suggesting that around one hundred and sixty-five thousand Ugandans are in temporary employment contracts in the region. © Luke Dray/Getty Images

International Migrants Day

Ugandan Women Pay the Price of Exploitation

Activists warn that vulnerable domestic workers risk abuse, often returning with serious health conditions.

Ukraine War Diary by A. Borden

Harsh Victory at Position X

Commitment, sacrifice and luck secured a vital early win in the south-eastern campaign, but can Ukrainian forces press on?

Sevim Kaya has been a bus driver for 16 years.

Sevim Kaya has been a bus driver for 16 years. © Umut Akar

Behind the Wheel in a Macho City

Some women face Adana's male-dominated traffic chaos for a living.

Karine (not her real name) was 15 when she realised that the male body she was born into was not hers. She moved from the rural community she grew up in to the capital Yerevan to be free to be herself. Unlinke many people in her community she was able to find a stable job as a hairdresser and manicurist.

Karine (not her real name) was 15 when she realised that the male body she was born into was not hers. She moved from the rural community she grew up in to the capital Yerevan to be free to be herself. Unlinke many people in her community she was able to find a stable job as a hairdresser and manicurist. © Anahit Zakaryan

Life in the Shadows for Armenia’s Transgender Community

Recent murder highlights widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTI people.

An AFPTV cameraman films while smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza on October 8.

An AFPTV cameraman films while smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza on October 8. © Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images

The Israel-Hamas Conflict

Interview: The War on Disinformation

Open source intelligence (OSINT) can provide facts – but impatient, angry audiences often prefer opinions.

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