Stories about Russia from March, 2023
Police in Kyrgyzstan pressures exiled anti-war Russians to keep quiet
The war in Ukraine presented Bishkek a challenging task of navigating Russia’s demands for explicit support of its invasion and the risks of falling under Western sanctions.
Prospects for peace loom as much as prospects for another war in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Russian Ministry of Defense said the move was a breach and violation of the agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020.
How Russia has changed a year after the invasion of Ukraine
Local politics has been put on the back burner, civil society is in shambles and opposition media is trying to reach Russians while in exile
How did Serbia become ‘the biggest victim’ of the war in Ukraine?
Serbian pro-government media promote the narrative that that country has been “pressured,” “blackmailed,” “overkilled,” and targeted in “orchestrated attacks” by "great powers" as part of "special warfare" from the West.
Central Asians fighting in Ukraine are both defending and attacking it
The authorities in Central Asia have issued stern warnings to their citizens not to fight in Ukraine, threatening lengthy prison sentences for participating in armed conflicts abroad as mercenaries.
Weathering Russian xenophobia in everyday life
In recent months, there has been more talk about "Russophobia" — anti-Russian sentiment. What they face is nothing compared to what national minorities face in Russia.
A Russian girl drew anti-war picture. Now she is in a children's shelter and her dad is under arrest
One year ago, a fifth-grade student, Masha Moskaleva, drew an anti-war picture. Now, her father faces up to three years in prison and Masha may be sent to an orphanage.
Burkina Faso changes tactics in its fight against Jihadist attacks
Burkina Faso seems to be trying out a new strategy of inviting Russia to take France's place as regional peacekeepers and calling on local volunteers to defend the country.
The South Caucasus: In pursuit of its lost identity
Many former Soviet countries are currently navigating their own process of decolonization.
‘I am fighting Russians not because I hate Russia.’ The story of a Ukrainian volunteer infantryman
This is an illustration of how a former civilian and civic activist with very liberal, humanistic, and pacifistic views starts to think like a soldier.
‘Glory to Ukraine’: Outrage, pride, and mystery around the apparent execution of a prisoner of war
The executed POW was identified as a Ukrainian territorial defense unit soldier Olexandr Matsievsky. Ukrainian President Zelensky awarded him Hero of Ukraine, the highest national award.
Transgender girl from Russia commits suicide in a refugee camp
This terrible case exposes the problem of access to psychological and medical care in refugee camps. Representatives of the LGBTQ+ community are at high risk when it comes to suicide.
Crimean Tatars are among the most politically persecuted groups in Russia
This oppressive campaign is a part of a broader effort by the authorities to repress the Crimean Tatar community, whom they consider political opponents
Georgians take to the streets as parliament considers new ‘foreign agent’ bill
Hundreds of Georgians took the streets to protest what civil society describe as Georgia's very own "foreign agent" law.
Relations between Turkey and Armenia pivot from ‘football diplomacy’ to ‘earthquake diplomacy’
The gesture gained even more significance because in 1988 Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Armenia when the latter was hit with an earthquake that killed more than 25,000 people.
From Turkey, thoughts on the Ukraine war, one year later
"My heart goes to all the brave friends and colleagues who have kept doing their jobs despite the chaos. And heartfelt condolences to all the families of those who are no longer with us."
My toxic identity: A year after the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
There were all the stages of grief: first denial (it is not happening), then anger (someone please, kill the guy in Kremlin).
‘Good Night Imperial Pride': How activists in Berlin fundraise for the Ukrainian army
Activism is a pressing need for members of the group Good Night Imperial Pride, which is acting in hopes of contributing to the end of Russia's war in Ukraine.
People fleeing from Russia: ‘We were deprived of “home” too’
Valeria considers her story banal: “I left Russia because I can’t and don’t want to be silent, and I don’t want to go to jail for this either.”
Fake Russian fact-checkers spread propaganda about the war in Ukraine
PolitiFact analyzed this website and found its fact-checks that use well-known techniques of Russian propaganda — incoherence, a large number of claims, repetition of statements on obvious untruths — to confuse the public.
