Aug 01 Who's included in the massive prisoner swap between Russia and the West? By Dasha Litvinova, Associated Press They include journalists, veteran political activists and those simply opposed to the war in Ukraine. Among the Russians jailed in the West were alleged sleeper agents who lived double lives. On Thursday, they walked free – part of the largest East-West… Continue reading
Aug 01 WATCH: Biden addresses U.S.-Russia prisoner swap freeing WSJ journalist Gershkovich and others By Associated Press The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan in a multinational deal. Continue reading
Aug 01 Russia frees Gershkovich and Whelan, part of biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history By Eric Tucker, Dasha Litvinova, Matthew Lee, Associated Press The trade followed years of secretive back-channel negotiations despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading
Jul 29 Ukrainians honor soldiers killed in blast and demand government to get prisoners of war freed from Russia By Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press Ukrainians are urging their government to do more to get Russia to release prisoners of war. Continue reading
Jul 27 Russian warships make another visit to Cuban waters in show of growing ties By Associated Press Three Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Saturday, Moscow's second such maritime voyage in as many months in a reflection of deepening ties between Russia and Cuba. Continue reading
Jul 26 Watch 11:01 Why French authorities fear Russia may attempt to disrupt Paris Olympics By Nick Schifrin, Zeba Warsi Just hours before the Olympic opening ceremony, saboteurs launched a coordinated arson attack on French train lines. It stranded nearly a million travelers and sparked even more concerns about potential threats to the games which are being protected by unprecedented… Continue watching
Jul 24 French authorities detain Russian man accused of plotting to 'destabilize' Olympics By Barbara Surk, Angela Charlton, Associated Press French authorities say they have foiled several plots to disrupt the 2024 Olympics. Continue reading
Jul 23 Watch 8:11 'The Russian legal system is a sham': Alsu Kurmasheva's family blasts her conviction By Amna Nawaz, Zeba Warsi Russian courts have convicted a string of journalists in recent days. Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual Russian-American citizen and journalist, was convicted and sentenced to six and a half years in prison for spreading "falsehoods about the Russian army." Her trial… Continue watching
Jul 22 U.S.-Russian journalist convicted in a rapid, secret trial, court records show in Russia By Associated Press Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was convicted of “spreading false information” about the military, according to the website of the Supreme Court of Tatarstan. Continue reading
Jul 19 Watch 5:48 Russian 'sham trial' and 16-year sentence for Gershkovich is appalling, WSJ publisher says By Amna Nawaz, Zeba Warsi After a rushed, secretive trial, a Russian court convicted American journalist Evan Gershkovich in a case the U.S. dismisses as a sham. The Wall Street Journal reporter was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony. He is the… Continue watching