Spotlight: Newsbites

Russian Lawyer Who Defended Detainees Fined For 'Attack' On Police

A Russian lawyer and human rights activist has been found guilty of attacking police and fined 30,000 rubles ($468) by a Krasnodar court in connection with his detention while he was trying to provide legal advice to protesters being taken into police custody at an anti-government rally a year ago.

Single-Person Pickets Held In Moscow To Support Sentenced Activist

A series of one-person pickets have been held across the Russian capital in support of an opposition activist sentenced to four years in prison for repeatedly taking part in unauthorized rallies.

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy: No Autonomy For Breakaway Donbas Regions

Baku Fight Over Freedom Of Assembly All About Location, Location, Location

Zelenskiy: No Knowledge of Frozen Military Aid During Trump Phone Call

Russia Designates Anti-Corruption Foundation A 'Foreign Agent'

Dying To Keep A Language Alive: Scholar's Suicide Shakes Udmurtia

Albert Razin, a scholar and activist in the Russian region of Udmurtia, set himself on fire in front of the local parliament building in September and died shortly afterwards. His death was a final act of protest in defense of the Udmurt language, which he believed was threatened by recent legislation from Moscow.

Moscow Court Upholds Prison Sentence For Activist Accused Of Beating Officer At Rally

Moscow City Court has upheld the two-year prison sentence handed down to an activist last month for assaulting police during an unsanctioned rally on July 27.

“We’re Not Scared Of Anything:” Russia’s Protesters Vow To Fight On

Following an eventful summer, full of election protests and arrests, thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow again on September 29; this time, to call for the release of 13 men arrested as part of the so-called Moscow Case, an investigation into alleged “mass disorder” during an unauthorized July 27 rally for equitable candidate registration. With Russia's local elections now over, how much staying power do demonstrations for political transparency still have?

At The UN, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Calls For Greater International Assistance

‘The Cards Are In Zelenskiy’s Hands:’ Ukrainian Expectations For Trump-Zelenskiy Meeting