Exhibition of painting 'When they bombed Bukhara' by the pacifist painter Vjačeslav Akhunov called off. Bolshevik troops bombed the Uzbek city in 1920. Fears of a Russian-ordered stop. The role of an agency at Putin's direct orders.
Bizarre theories proliferate in the country at war, contrary to the scientific discoveries 'imposed' by the West. Russians who can live 900 years, miraculous homeopathy, satellites that perform interstellar travel. With the new patriotic science, Moscow wants to conquer not only this world, but the entire universe.
Supporters of Chechnya's independence, suppressed by Putin 20 years ago, reappear. Local leader Kadyrov could exploit the movement if ignored by the Kremlin. Chechen independence battalion fights against the Russians in Ukraine.
The former Soviet countries of the region busy recovering the deep dimensions of their own memory. Kyrgyzstan still lagging behind. Further ahead Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The history of peoples begins with that of families. The humiliating labour migration to Russia and Europe from the region.
Amid a large police deployment and scores of faithful praying, pro-Moscow Patriarchate monks have started to move out equipment from the monastery complex after the Ukrainian government ultimatum for them to leave expired. Other buildings and structures could soon meet the same fate. The pro-Moscow Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its 12,000 parishes might be outlawed.
Vepsy, Ižory and Vožani could lose their lands. Already repressed in the Stalin era. They have affinities with Baltic and Finnish peoples. With war on Ukraine, they are back in the crosshairs of the authorities. Accused of separatism, extremism and of being 'foreign agents'.
The Chinese launch the new 5+1 format for dialogue with the former Soviet republics in the region. The focus on communication campaigns in Kyrgyzstan. The risk of being dragged into the geopolitical competition between the West and the China-Russia duo.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I supports the creation of a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction on Lithuanian soil. It will give autonomy to the Lithuanian Orthodox who no longer want to depend on the Moscow Patriarchate. Analogy with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church founded in 2018. A response to Patriarch Kirill's support for the Putin war against Ukraine.
The president's party at 54%. For the other forces only crumbs. The results of the uninominal constituencies are awaited. The government formation is the only structured one in the country. The low turnout is not a good sign for the 'new Kazakhstan' dreamt of by the head of state.
Some Cossack groups claim their own entity independent of Moscow. The risk of disintegration is one of the effects of the Russian war on Ukraine. The first attempts at a Cossack state after the Bolshevik revolution. Difficult to determine how many people belong to the community.
The team that participated in the European Championships consisted only of refugees from Chechnya. They fled with their families at the time of the Putin war against Chechen separatists. It is now normal in sports for national teams to be multi-ethnic. Moscow attacks.
The 'president's gift' is part of presidential propaganda. The latest initiative that reintroduces it is the granting of 30 new buses to some cities. There is no control over the destination of these funds. In 2023 they will reach the sum of EUR 43 million.
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