Radio Free Europe
RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.
Three Jehovah's Witness Get Prison Terms In Russian-Annexed Crimea Amid Crackdown.
Jehovah's Witnesses" Volodymyr Maladyka (left), Yevhen Zhukov (center), and Volodymyr Sakada were each sentenced to six years in prison on October 6.
SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine -- A Moscow-imposed court in the Russian-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea has sentenced three Jehovah's Witnesses to prison terms amid an ongoing crackdown against the religious group.
The Crimean Solidarity human rights group said on October 6 that the Nakhimov district court in the city of Sevastopol sentenced Yevhen Zhukov, Volodymyr Maladyka, and Volodymyr Sakada to six years in prison each after finding them guilty of organizing activities for the group, which was labeled as extremist and banned in Russia in 2017 but is legal in Ukraine. The court also ruled that, after serving their prison terms, the three men will be placed under parole-like controls for one year. They were also banned from publicly expressing their views and from publishing articles in media and on the Internet for seven years after finishing their prison sentences. The case against Zhukov, Maladyka, Sakada, and a fourth believer, Ihor Shmidt, was launched in October 2020 after their homes were searched. Shmidt was tried separately and sentenced to six year in prison in late October last year. Since the faith was outlawed in Russia, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia and Russian-annexed Crimea. The United States has condemned Russia's ongoing crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities. For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin. The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, rejecting military service, and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays. According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses were either convicted of extremism or are being held in pretrial detention. The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovah’s Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners.
Srebrenica Genocide Must Be Condemned, Denial Banned, 2 Members Of Bosnian Presidency Tell UN.
The 1995 genocide in Srebrenica must be globally condemned, support for victims must be expressed, and denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals be banned to prevent future similar tragedies, two members of the tripartite presidency of...
U.S. National Dies In Occupied Donetsk, Says Russian Journalist
Russell Bentley, a U.S. national, has died in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in Ukraine, Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russia's state media outlet RT, wrote on Telegram on April 19.
Imprisoned Mother Of Chechen Activists Loses Bid For Early Release For Health Reasons.
Zarema Musayeva, the imprisoned mother of three self-exiled outspoken Chechen opposition activists, has lost a bid for early release because of her medical condition after health officials in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya changed her ...
Ukraine, Israel Aid Advances In Rare House Vote As Democrats Help Republicans.
With rare bipartisan momentum, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed ahead on April 19 on a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian support as a robust coalition of lawmakers helped it clear a procedural...
Detained Former Karabakh Separatist Official Begins Hunger Strike, Says Family.
Ruben Vardanian, a former Russian citizen of Armenian descent who served as prime minister in the de facto government of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, has begun a hunger strike in a Baku prison, his family said on April 19.
McConnell on Mayorkas impeachment trial: «This process must not be abused».
Before the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were dismissed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell decried Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's efforts to cut short the trial. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane rep...
'Cloud seeding not to blame for intense rainstorms in UAE'.
Professor Maarten Ambaum, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, spoke to Sky News about the intense weather system that dumped a year’s worth of rain in a day on Dubai causing extensive flooding. #shorts #dubai #flooding SUBSCRIBE to our Y...
Trump’s positions on abortion since 1999
Since 1999, former President #Trump has been on just about every side of the abortion issue. Here’s a timeline of his many positions. #AbortionRights #2024Election » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerfu...
Greg Gutfeld: OJ Simpson's new book is 'If I cremated myself' #shorts.
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld gives his own take on the infamous trials and tribulations of O.J. Simpson. Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service...
VOA Newscasts - April 17, 2024
Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.
Israel Ambassador: Iran's missiles 'can get to London'.
Israel's Ambassador to the UK has told Sky News that Britain should be on guard - as the same missiles recently launched by Iran, have the potential to get to London. #iran #israel SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: Follow us on Twi...