Section: Voice of America (USA)
Belarusian Opposition Leader Rejects Western Help
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has told VOA that the country’s political crisis is “absolutely an internal affair” as she appeared to reject any idea of imminent Western intervention or help. Speaking Monday from Vilnius, Lithuania, Tsikhanouskaya said, “The Belarusian people have a responsibility for what’s...
Families of Malaysia Airlines MH17 Victims Want Damages, Lawyers Say
The families of the nearly 300 victims of a downed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane want reparations, their lawyers said Monday, more than six years after the plane was shot down over Ukraine.All 298 passengers and crew on board MH17 were killed on July 17, 2014, when the plane was allegedly shot down by a Buk missile fired from territory in...
Russian Navy Conducts Major Maneuvers Near Alaska
The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times. Russia’s navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the Bering Sea, which involved...
Senior Polish Diplomat Talks to VOA on Ties, Hopes for Belarus
Piotr Wilczek assumed his post as Poland’s ambassador to the United States in 2017. Prior to this position, he taught for many years as a liberal arts professor at universities both in Poland and the U.S. Below is a transcript of a recent written interview, centered on the question of Belarus.VOA: Why does Belarus matter?Wilczek: Belarus...
Fired White House Lawyer Alleges Retaliation by Trump, Democratic Lawmakers Say
A former White House lawyer contends he was fired for reporting concerns about President Donald Trump’s efforts to have Ukraine investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and about alleged legal and ethical breaches by Trump’s national security adviser, Democratic lawmakers said on Wednesday.Army Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Vindman filed...
Washingtonians March for Belarus, Recalling Baltic Protests
Sundays for the Barysevich family are usually a time to catch up on chores and take their two young children to nearby parks and playgrounds. But just weeks after a disputed election in Yauheni Barysevich’s Belarusian homeland, this past Sunday was a time to protest.“The last two weeks have been very different for our family and every...
What Explains Vietnam’s Bid to Buy Russia’s Virus Vaccine?
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Russia announced it was the first to approve a vaccine for the coronavirus, and even more so when Vietnam said it would buy up to 150 million doses. Not many were expecting the news, but if it comes to pass, a few factors would explain how Vietnam and Russia got here. The two sides have a long history, from...
Explainer: Why Revolt in Belarus is Different From Ukraine
A former Soviet republic on the fault line between Russia and Europe is boiling with revolt this summer. Sounds familiar — but Belarus 2020 isn’t Ukraine 2014, and that’s why it’s hard to predict what will happen next. Here is a look at what’s different this time, and why it matters: No real leader The uprising in Belarus...
Former Ukrainian Premier Tymoshenko Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is in serious condition with a fever, her party’s spokeswoman said on Sunday. Tymoshenko, 59, who twice served as premier before her defeat in the 2010 presidential election, became the first high-profile Ukrainian politician known to have...
Black Boxes from Downed Ukraine Jet Show Missiles Hit 25 Seconds Apart, Iran Says
Analysis from the black boxes of a downed Ukrainian passenger plane shows it was hit by two missiles 25 seconds apart and that passengers were still alive for some time after the impact of the first blast, Iran said on Sunday.The announcement by the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization marks the first official report on the contents...
