North Asia

As promised, patriotic activists erect the first traditional symbol of their ethnicity in Morgaushsky District. The aim is to revive the Turkic group’s culture and consciousness. Made of oak and linden wood, the structure represents both male and female principles, costing about a thousand dollars.

Russia’s evolving military and economic crises are an echo of the Soviet collapse after the war in Afghanistan, and are getting more and more people to ask questions. For political scientist Gallyamov, Tsar Putin is getting weaker and looking for “a way out". The unexpected crisis with Israel is a sign that he is giving in to the Kremlin hawks. Despite his attempts to “stay in the saddle”, there is talk about his possible exile (in Tehran).

For Tamila Tasheva, the peninsula has become “the land of unfreedom” and increased “persecution” of activists. Today it is a “logistical rear” for the conquest of other territories in Ukraine. Russia’s demographic presence is growing in parallel with the exodus of Ukrainians victims of “forced emigration”. The issue of passports remains unresolved.

City Duma member Aleksandr Shishlov, from the Yabloko party, has been arrested, allegedly for discrediting Russia’s military currently fighting in Ukraine. Many scholars have taken his side. He is an example of those who are still fighting for freedom of expression in Russia.

Although independence is not on the agenda of the Moscow-controlled World Congress of Tatars, interest in Mirsaid Sultan-Galiev, one of the fathers of modern Tatarstan purged by Stalin, is reviving. Many Tatars are tilting against Putin's neo-imperialist ideology.

Poland is building up its defences with US$ 14.5 billion in South Korean weapons, some of which could go to Ukraine. Germany’s seeming failure to help Ukraine against Russia’s aggression is proving controversial in bilateral relations. Warsaw wants a strong military deterrent against Moscow’s threats.

Ukraine and Syria will be the main points of discussion. The Turkey-mediated grain deal between Ukraine and Russia still reverberates. Turkey’s “sultan” defends Russia’s “tsar” from Western criticism. Both want to keep their hold on power.

A moral counter-revolution, as some Russian media call it, is the global and declared aim of the war in Ukraine; for this reason, it has touched a sensitive nerve in the West, much more than the geographical proximity between NATO forces and those of neo-Soviet Russia.

Putin's invasion has blocked Chinese funding in Russia for the Belt and Road Initiative. A project for the joint construction of a transport super plane also suspended. The Chinese limit collaboration with Moscow to the energy market for fear of running afoul of Western sanctions.

The creator of the charity facility is Dr Ievkov. Support for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The Orthodox youth association 'Kinonia' contributes to the initiative. Migrants also assisted in sorting out documents, finding a place in hostels and returning home to Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan.

A response to the blockade of goods in transit from Lithuania. Crackdown started with Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent EU sanctions. Propaganda against Lithuanians intensifies in the territory: they are accused of subversion and of being spies.

The attack marred the opening ceremony of Hagia Sophia Church in Suqaylabiyah, a replica of Istanbul’s ancient Byzantine Basilica recently repurposed as a mosque. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an anti-Assad terror group still in control of a large area of northern Syria, was blamed. The incident comes a few days after Erdoğan, Putin, and Raisi meet to de-escalate the Syrian conflict.