Free Republic

Lithuania on Tuesday confirmed signs of torture on a prominent Ukrainian anti-government activist and urged an independent probe into the crime which could breach a related United Nations convention. "Dmytro Bulatov...has clear signs of long term torture and cruel treatment on his body," a Lithuanian foreign ministry said in a statement. Bulatov, who alleges he was "crucified" and tortured for days by unknown assailants in his homeland, is one of three injured Ukrainian protesters receiving free medical care in Lithuania. (...) The leader of the "Automaidan" movement, he organised motorcade protests outside President Viktor Yanukovych's sprawling country estate near Kiev...

FRANKFURT — Art exhibitions can grow out of long-nourished ambitions or sudden inspiration. "Dream Factory Communism," a show of Stalin-era works at the Schirn Art Gallery here, grew out of a taxi ride. In October 2001 the gallery's director, Max Hollein, flew to Moscow to plan an exhibition of works by Wassily Kandinsky. On his way from the airport, Mr. Hollein recalled recently, he was fascinated by the strange mix of billboards along the highway. Some were Western-style advertisements for Coca-Cola, Levi's and other global brands. Other ads for Russian vodka, beer and the like echoed the Socialist Realism of...