Deep Dives

The Search For The Russian Assets Of The Kazakh President's Family

Despite the opacity of both the Kazakh and Russian governments, an investigation by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time has uncovered evidence of the Russian business dealings of Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's son and former wife.

Diamonds, Pineapples, And A Soviet Execution

A folder in Ukraine's KGB Archive reveals the glittering wealth, and shocking punishment dealt out to an allegedly corrupt fruit merchant in Kyiv.

The Faces Of Memorial: Those Who Created It, Helped It To Flourish, And Who Were Working For It Until The End

The story of Memorial is the story of thousands of people the group has helped, hundreds of volunteers, and dozens of members hard at work in Moscow and regions across Russia. RFE/RL looks at 7 people whose work displays the breadth, depth, and impact of the organization the state is shutting down.

Mighty Memories: Memorial's Fight To Remember Stalin's Victims In The Urals

Labeled as 'foreign agents,' Memorial activists in Yekaterinburg, Russia still refuse to forget the past

'This Is A Love Story': 15 Years On, Litvinenko's Widow Refuses To Let The World Forget

Former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko died in London 15 years ago of radiation poisoning. His widow has been working ever since to make sure his life and murder are not forgotten.

Four Ways That Belarus Succeeded Against EU In Migration Crisis

The Babyn Yar Tragedy As Described By The Executioners, Their Accomplices, And Survivors

Yom Kippur, the Jewish high holy day of repentance and atonement, fell on September 29 in 1941. This same day, the execution of more than 33,771 Jews in Nazi-occupied Ukraine began at Babyn Yar. The bloodshed would come to be known as one of the most tragic events in Kyiv’s history.

A Woman's Voice From Kabul: Audio Diaries From Inside Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

Current Time is publishing a daily series of audio diaries by Kabul-based freelance journalist Liza Karimi. The diaries provide an Afghan perspective on how the country is changing since the Taliban’s August 15, 2021 takeover of Kabul.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Rank As Standouts In Pegasus Spyware Investigation

Out of Current Time’s coverage zone, two countries, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, feature prominently in the findings of the Forbidden Stories-Amnesty International investigation into alleged surveillance by Israeli NSO Group's Pegasus spyware.

When Wearing The Wrong Socks Or Dancing Is A Crime In Belarus

Tens of thousands of people have been detained in Belarus in a brutal government crackdown after a disputed election in August 2020 extended the decades-long rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. For such "crimes" as wearing the wrong socks or dancing in the streets, people have been fined or even jailed.

'I Spent My Youth Terrified': Afghanistan Residents Remember Life Under The Taliban

Current Time spoke with three adult residents of Afghanistan who recall the disruption that occurred when the Taliban came to power in 1996, and fear what the consequences may be if they manage to return to rule Afghanistan now, after the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops.