Lost and found
The week's news at a glance.
Moscow
Ivan Rybkin, a presidential candidate and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, disappeared for five days this week, only to resurface in Ukraine. Rybkin is the leader of the Liberal Russia Party, which has seen two of its top officials assassinated in the past two years. His absence, reported by his wife, provoked wild theories in the Russian press. Some speculated Rybkin had been killed by the government, others that he had staged his own kidnapping to pep up his campaign. Days later, Rybkin phoned from Kiev, saying he had been visiting friends. But on his return to Moscow, he was evasive about whether he had been detained. “I have never seen or felt such arbitrariness in 15 years in politics,” he said cryptically.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
5 high-concept animated science fiction shows for grown-ups
The Week Recommends How filmmakers are using a different medium to bring visionary science fiction to life
-
How far does religious freedom go in prison? The Supreme Court will decide.
The Explainer The plaintiff was allegedly forced to cut his hair, which he kept long for religious reasons