He has been cooperating with RS since 1991. The editor and host of the Road to Freedom Program Vitaly Portnikov on Facebook , Twitter Portnikovv@rferl.org

In the Kizlyarsky district of Dagestan, during a clash with a group of militants, one soldier died, two more were injured. Two militants were killed. Seven civilians were also injured, one of whom died. This was reported to journalists by law enforcement sources. Last night, in the vicinity of the village of Serebryakovka, unknown people fired at the military personnel of the military, as a result, a shootout began.

Canada today officially completed participation in combat operations in Afghanistan. For 9 years, Canadian troops were part of the international forces conducting the struggle with the Taliban and fighters of Al-Qaeda. During this time, Canadians lost 157 troops killed. At the same time, 950 Canadian military will remain in Afghanistan - as part of a mission for the preparation of local security forces.

Three ministers of the Government of the Palestinian autonomy are deprived of legal immunity - in connection with suspicions of involvement in corruption. According to France-Presse, on Thursday the head of the anti-corruption committee Rafik al-Natsheh announced this on the air of the Palestine radio station. According to him, the removal of immunity from several ministers whose names are not called is associated with the need to investigate their activities.

Igor Guberman On the day of his 75th anniversary, the poet Igor Guberman introduced Radio Liberty to the latest Gariki and the best issue for three quarters of the century. -What can be seen from your 75-year-old window? - It can be seen that: I live in Israel - an amazing country, and everything will be fine. And I am very visible - old people, they are cautious - a terrible trouble for the whole world from an abscess on Islam, which is called fundamentalism.

The OSCE representative for freedom of the media Dunya Miyatovich called on the authorities of Tajikistan to free the BBC correspondent Urunboy Usmonov. Miyatovich said she was still awaiting an official response in connection with the case of Usmonov. On June 16, the OSCE representative sent a letter to the Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, in which she called the arrest of Usmonov an attempt to use censorship.

Irina Lagunina: On Tuesday, we talked about the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in favor of the Velkhiev brothers. The court during the consideration of the case 34085/06 admitted that since the brothers Bekhan and Bashir Velhievs in July 2004 were tortured by Russian public servants, this was a violation of Article 3 of the European Human Rights Convention.

Fedor Dostoevsky Marina Timasheva: In St. Petersburg, a new tradition is formed in front of his eyes - to celebrate Dostoevsky's Day. Last year, this unusual city holiday was held for the first time, this year, with great success was held for the second time. Says Tatyana Voltskaya Tatyana Voltskaya: with the name of Fedor Dostoevsky, in addition to his works, numerous scientific conferences and literary readings are associated, which cause interest among philologists around the world.

The European Central Bank increased from 1.25% to 1.5% per annum of the base interest rate on loans for 17 countries of the eurozone. This is the second increase in the rate since April of this year, before that it has been at the level of 1% for almost two years - the minimum for the entire existence of the bank.

The Presnensky court of Moscow authorized the arrest until September 5, the assistant to the Basmann Interdistrict Prosecutor Roman Fedosenko, accused of extortion. The court rejected the lawyer’s offer to free his client on bail of a million rubles. According to the investigation, Fedosenko and another assistant to the same prosecutor Kirill Korneshchev demanded 150 thousand rubles from a businessman, promising not to respond to the identified violations of the law.

13 civilians died in the province of a host in the east of Afghanistan as a result of the NATO aircraft, the provinces said today. According to the chief of the local police, Mohamad Zazai, among the dead - 8 women and four children. The blow was inflicted on a residential building in the Dovamanda area. The command of international troops recognized the fact of the death of civilians - as a result of an erroneous choice of the goal of the bombardment. An investigation has begun.

In the center of Moscow, activists blocked the construction of a hotel on the site of a demolished building of the 19th century. Local Residents, - a 9 -story hotel will close the intake of light into their windows, and During the construction of underground parking, the foundation of one From residential buildings, reports the public coalition in defense of Moscow. Activists claim that construction is underway with rude violations of the rules.