Russia’s aggression in eastern Ukraine is causing concern in other capitals that were formerly on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain.  In Uzbekistan, broadcasters are racing against a deadline to rig their transmission facilities with self-destruct devices in case they fall into hostile hands.

Networks have 14 May to install explosives on their transmission towers, according to a US-funded broadcaster Radio Liberty.  Uzbekistan's National Security Service (SNB) is overseeing the operations, with agents going as far as to make sure that ventilation ducts and shafts leading to studios are too small for a person to pass through.  Broadcasters are also required to have two interior ministry police officers stationed at transmission facilities, which isn’t too surprising given Uzbekistan’s really, really horrible human rights record.

Tajikistan was also a Soviet Socialist Republic that’s in now hurry to get back under Moscow’s thumb.  Officials there noticed how pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine liked to build roadblocks, so they’ve had all old car tyres gathered up and dumped outside the capital Dushanbe.  And Kazakhstan – also not a champion of human rights – just passed legislation imposing excessive restrictions on freedom of speech and association during “states of emergency”.