Chechnya
New documentary follows LGBTQ people fleeing persecution in Chechnya
In early 2017, stories began emerging on how Chechen authorities were persecuting the LGBTQ community. The World speaks to director David French on his new film, “Welcome to Chechnya,” which gives an inside look at the abuse and torture faced by the republic’s LGBTQ people and those who try to help them escape.
Why this Syrian man regrets bringing Al-Qaeda fighters into his country
Expectations are pretty low for this week’s Syria peace talks in Geneva. It will the first time that government and opposition representatives actually meet since the civil war began almost three years ago. But a third major player in the conflict will be missing: the Al-Qaeda-affiliated rebel group that controls much of north-east Syria. Most of its fighters are foreign. Here’s the story of one Syrian man who has been forced into exile by the very men he once helped bring into his country.
The terrorist attacks in Russia have roots that go back centuries
Two suicide bombers have struck the Russian city of Volgograd in the last two days, leaving more than 30 people dead. But these terrorist attacks aren’t isolated incidents — they have roots that go back to battles fought 200 years ago.
Putin writes to American people in New York Times op-ed
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare effort at communicating with the American people through the New York TImes. In an op-ed, he confronted President Barack Obama’s decision-making regarding U.S. intervention in Syria and called for the U.S. to hold back any strikes.
Spain had near-miss with terrorism attributed to Chechen group
Last year, Spain foiled what it said was a terrorist plot to fly gliders into the British enclave of Gibraltar. Two Chechens and a Turk were convicted, but later freed when a judge decided there wasn’t enough evidence. Various intelligence agencies reportedly were interested in the incidents, because of the ties to Chechnya.