Kazakstan’s Shrinking Community of Old Believers

A young priest keeps ancient rituals alive in his tiny parish.

Jailed Georgia’s ex president Mikheil Saakashvili looked frail and emaciated during an appearance in a Tbilisi court on July 3. He spoke via video link from a hospital ward that serves as his prison. His conditions sparked concerns among rights groups and international community.

Georgia Lambasted Over Saakashvili’s Treatment

Former leader appeared emaciated in latest legal hearing, sparking condemnation from Kyiv.

Vladislav Yesypenko in court. © Crimea.Realities/Radio Free Europe

Crimea: Tortured into Confession

The detention and sham trial of a reporter illustrates how the Russian-controlled authorities treat independent media on the peninsula.

On June 20, riot police confronted residents in Soyudlu, in western Azerbaijan, as they protested against the construction of a second reservoir intended to hold waste from a nearby gold mine. © Still from video shared on social media

Azerbaijani Authorities Crack Down on Eco Protests

Villagers demand end to construction of a second reservoir for a local gold mine.

Ukraine Justice Briefing

Tuesday, 4 July ‘23

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

Anatoly Miroshnyk, a resident of the village of Sloboda, points to the shed in which the Russians allegedly shot Ukrainian soldiers. © Slidstvo.Info

Courtside

Russian Tried in Absentia for Killing Two Unarmed Ukrainian Soldiers

Found sheltering in a private house, the men were searched and summarily executed.

A view of a flooded area on June 10, 2023 in Kherson, Ukraine after the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant, which sit on the Dnipro river in the southern Kherson region, were destroyed, forcing downstream communities to evacuate due to risk of flooding. © Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

Interview

Ukraine: Prosecuting Ecocide

Pursuing those responsible for this crime would increase awareness and accountability, as well as having a significant and international impact.

In 2022, Karin Grigoryan and her husband opened Zove, a guest house in Karashamb, a village in Armenia's central region of Kotayk. Born and raised in the capital Yerevan, Grigoryan dreamed of moving to the countryside. The migration from large cities to rural areas has increased as people seek a slower pace of life and lower cost of living. © Gayane Markosyan

Armenia’s Rural Population Grows

Experts attribute migration to the impact of the 2020 Nagorny Karabakh war and rising rental prices in Yerevan.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has served as President of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan since 2016. © Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Uzbekistan’s Election Campaign Lacks Intrigue and Real Opposition

The presidential vote is likely to quietly legitimise the incumbent and consolidate his position.

Global Voices: Europe/Eurasia

THIS WEEK ON CABAR.ASIA

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

In Kyrgyzstan, authorities are moving to shut down the independent nonprofit Kloop Media Foundation in the latest action against independent journalism, while in Kazakstan an increasing number of people entrust, and lose, their money in schemes publicised as abiding by religious principles.

Elsewhere, an analysis digs into the different challenges that Afghan and Russian refugees face in Tajikistan.