Economy & Development

No Nickel In Nikel? A Russian Mining Town Faces Steep Decline

For decades, nickel mining and smelting in the northern Russian town of Nikel provided a living for its residents and vast wealth for the company's owners. But since the town's large smelting plant was shut down over environmental concerns, residents have been wondering what the future holds.

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.

Friends Turn Plastic Waste Into Cash, Clean Up In Kyrgyzstan

Three friends in Kyrgyzstan's capital hated seeing the pollution caused by plastic waste, so they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Peacekeepers In Kazakhstan: An 'Ideal' Way For Russia To Counter International Critics?

What's Behind The State Of Emergency And Protests Erupting Across Kazakhstan?

A steep rise in energy prices appears to have triggered protests across Kazakhstan that resulted in mass arrests, the dismissal of the government, and the declaration of a state of emergency. We take a closer look at what's driving the crisis in Kazakhstan.

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 USSR Quiz: 15 Questions For 15 Republics

Join us on a trip back in time to the last years of the Soviet era and the beginning of a period that would test preconceptions about both sovereignty and democracy.

Poisonous Ruins: Russian Town Struggles With Toxic Lead Legacy

It was once ranked among the most polluted places on Earth, but Rudnaya Pristan in Russia's Far East, about 500 kilometers north of Vladivostok, has cleaned up its act since the closure of its lead smelting plant. Local fish populations benefited from cleaner water but are threatened by overfishing.

Return To Coal: Kyrgyzstan Goes Back To Dirty Fuel To Cope With Hydroelectric Shortage

Kyrgyzstan is forcing homes and businesses to go back to using coal as a severe drought has reduced output at the country's lone hydroelectric plant, which usually produces 40 percent of the country's electricity. Other energy-saving measures include switching off street lights and neon advertising.

Kyrgyzstan's 2020 Protest Anniversary: More Frustration Than Jubilation, Analysts Say

Kazakhstan Will Get Its Own International Dialing Code And Abandon Russian One

Kazakhstan will switch from its current Russian dialing code, +7, to its own national international dialing code, +997, the government said.

Afghan Resistance Rep Ahmad Wali Masud: Anti-Taliban War Will Spread in Afghanistan