A 26 February 2024 meeting of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration, chaired by the Russian-imposed governor Yevgeny Balitsky, noted that “thanks to the great amount of work of the internal policy bloc of Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration, assistance was provided to the Berdyansk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church i

Russian occupation forces have seized many religious leaders of a variety of religious communities. In most of these cases it is unclear if they were targeted specifically for their exercise of the freedom of religion or belief, or because they are independent Ukrainian community leaders. Religious leaders of all faiths who refuse to join Russian-c

March 2014 – February 2022 freedom of religion or belief violations in then-occupied areas The renewed February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was preceded by the 2014 invasion and illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula when Russian-controlled rebels also seized some eastern parts of Ukraine’s Donbas Region. Serious systemic violations o

Historically Iran and Armenia have had a very healthy and cordial relationship. Iran and Armenia’s relationship can be seen as a mutually beneficial economic collaboration built around investments, trade agreements, and infrastructure projects. Iran today remains Armenia’s third largest trading partner, and an estimated 30% of Armenia’s inter

Insufficient highways and rail lines represent only one example of the failure of the Russian government to support regional infrastructure in the North. Another problem involves pipelines. The shifting ground with the melting of permafrost has caused pipelines to fail, spilling their contents and even leading to their abandonment on occasion, as c