Putin critic Alexei Navalny jailed for 19 years by Russian court - BBC News

Putin critic Alexei Navalny jailed for 19 years by Russian court – BBC News

Russia’s imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has told supporters not to lose the will to resist, after his jail term was extended to 19 years. Mr Navalny was found guilty of founding and funding an extremist organisation. He denies the…

Russian authorities shut down leading human rights group - BBC News

Russian authorities shut down leading human rights group – BBC News

Russia’s Supreme Court has ordered the closure of Memorial, the country’s most prominent human rights group, which chronicled Stalin-era purges and was a symbol of democratic change after the fall of the Soviet Union. The ban follows a wider crackdown…

Putin’s party heads for re-election with critics banned and claims of voting fraud - BBC News

Putin’s party heads for re-election with critics banned and claims of voting fraud – BBC News

Votes are being counted in Russia after three days of polling in parliamentary elections. As expected exit polls are predicting a win for President Putin’s United Russia party. Few critics of the Kremlin were allowed to run and there are…

Hundreds of anti-Taliban protestors take to streets of Afghan capital - BBC News

Hundreds of anti-Taliban protestors take to streets of Afghan capital – BBC News

Hundreds of protestors including many women have taken to the streets of the Afghan capital Kabul, in the biggest show of dissent since the Taliban took control of the country. Many in the crowds chanted slogans against neighbouring Pakistan whose…

Warning of new “civil war” in Afghanistan if Taliban reject power-sharing talks - BBC News

Warning of new “civil war” in Afghanistan if Taliban reject power-sharing talks – BBC News

One of Afghanistan’s main opposition leaders has warned there will be civil war, unless the Taliban reach agree to share power, following their takeover of the country. Ahmad Massoud has warned that war is inevitable unless the Taliban agree to…

Belarus leader meets Putin and accuses West of destabilising his country - BBC News

Belarus leader meets Putin and accuses West of destabilising his country – BBC News

The leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has accused the West of trying to destabilise his country, as he held talks with his main ally, Russia’s President Putin.   The two men pledged to strengthen their alliance.  It follows international condemnation of…

Belarus President Lukashenko defends forcing passenger plane to land to arrest journalist - BBC News

Belarus President Lukashenko defends forcing passenger plane to land to arrest journalist – BBC News

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has defended his decision to force a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk in order to arrest a journalist and critic who was on board. The EU and the UK have imposed new sanctions…

Outrage as Ryanair plane “hijacked” by Belarus to arrest dissident journalist - BBC News

Outrage as Ryanair plane “hijacked” by Belarus to arrest dissident journalist – BBC News

Belarus has been accused of hijacking a European passenger plane and engaging in “state terrorism”, after it forced a Ryanair flight to perform an emergency landing in Minsk and arrested an opposition blogger, who is critical of the country’s authoritarian…

Putin warns West of “rapid and harsh” response from Russia if it crosses “red lines” - BBC News

Putin warns West of “rapid and harsh” response from Russia if it crosses “red lines” – BBC News

President Putin has warned countries in the West not to cross what he called a “red line” with Russia, stating that it would trigger an “asymmetrical, rapid and harsh” response. Mr Putin’s comments during his state of the nation address…