Eurotopics.net

In the central Russian Tula Oblast, Alexei Moskalev, a single father, has been sentenced to two years in prison for "discrediting the Russian military". He was targeted by the state after his 13-year-old daughter draw a pro-Ukrainian picture in school. The child has been sent to an orphanage, while Moskalev escaped house arrest ahead of his verdict. The case is attracting a lot of bad press.

Bulgarians will head to the polls for the country's fifth parliamentary election in two years on Sunday. The two major parties led by ex-prime ministers Boyko Borisov and Kiril Petkov are neck and neck in the polls, so whether the results will produce a viable coalition that could form a stable government is an open question. The national press highlights other aspects of the vote.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international competitions as neutral athletes, provided they compete without a flag, an anthem and national symbols. The recommendation meets with little enthusiasm from commentators.