Why a Siberian Shaman Is a Thorn in the Kremlin's Side

"Alexander Gabyshev, a self-styled shaman from Russia’s Far East, has been held in

compulsory psychiatric treatment since 2019, after he set out on a cross-country trek to Moscow with the goal of peacefully expelling President Vladimir Putin from power and “restoring democracy” to Russia by performing a shamanic ritual on Red Square.

On Monday, a court in Russia’s Far East ordered to transfer him from a neuropsychiatric dispensary to a general psychiatric hospital in Yakutsk, where he will undergo a “milder” form of treatment.

Russia’s Memorial human rights organization has declared Gabyshev to be a political prisoner.

The Free Yakutia Foundation, an anti-war movement in Gabyshev’s home republic of Sakha, has penned this op-ed on how Gabyshev’s message was able to resonate with so many ordinary Russians." MT

Russian Forces Repel Five Ukrainian Attacks in Donetsk Direction

"The Russian armed forces have repelled five Ukrainian attacks in the Donetsk direction in the past day. The Ukrainian military lost up to 160 soldiers in the Donetsk direction and up to 120 soldiers in the South Donetsk." Sputnik

Gangs Of Rioters Acquire Guns As French Migrant Riots Spiral Out Of Control

"Rioting has continued across France for the fourth consecutive night after a 17-year-old

French teenager of Algerian descent was shot and killed by police. The French government has deployed 40,000 police officers across major municipalities, though the situation continues to spiral out of control, with multiple reports of gangs of rioters roaming the streets with guns......French President Emmanuel Macron authorized the use of armored vehicles in an effort to help quell the riots. Armored vehicles — some reportedly belonging to GIGN counter terrorism units........After attending an Elton John concert while the riots raged on Wednesday, Macron finally addressed the situation in a series of statements Friday morning. The French president noted that most of those arrested are “youths” and called on parents to intervene....there were more than 3,800 fires on public roads.....more than 500 buildings were set alight........ Rioters compromised predominantly of African and Middle Eastern migrants continued to loot stores, burn vehicles and attack French citizens while law enforcement has been unable to intervene in many cases." TP

Ukrainian generals killed in Russian strike

"Two Ukrainian generals were killed in a Russian high-precision strike on the Donbass city of Kramatorsk... the base was hosting a “staff meeting” involving dozens of Ukrainian officers and foreign advisers." RT

‘Record’ number of arrests made during unrest in France

"French President Emmanuel Macron will convene a crisis meeting – the second in two days – after another night of rioting in protest after a police officer killed a teenager.....France’s elite police force was deployed to the cities of Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille and Roubaix.....Broken glass could be seen on the streets of Lille, and police and emergency services vehicles were seen driving down the streets, as well as police in riot gear running down streets......Bus and tram services have been suspended in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, from Thursday night, the local transport authority said.  It’s not clear when the services would resume." CNN