Eurotopics.net

Thousands of people took to the streets in Chile to commemorate the victims of Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship. September 11 marked the 50th anniversary of the coup d'état that ended Salvador Allende's democratically elected government. It was followed by 17 years of dictatorship marked by serious human rights violations, with thousands of dissidents being arrested or "disappearing". Commentators analyse the long shadows cast by the past.

Regional elections were held in the Russian Federation on the weekend. Independent observers reported irregularities and described the elections as the least free since the beginning of Vladimir Putin's rule 24 years ago. Elections were also held in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Commentators are unsparing with their criticism.

After being suspended by Fifa and under huge public pressure, Luis Rubiales has resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation. He didn't want Spanish football to be "negatively impacted by the disproportionate campaign" against him, he said in explanation. Footballer Jenni Hermoso, whom Rubiales had kissed on the lips during the award ceremony, has since filed a complaint.

The drama Zielona granica (The Green Border) by Polish director Agnieszka Holland about refugees on the border between Belarus and Poland has won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival - much to the displeasure of the government in Poland. Commenting on the online platform X, Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro compared the film with anti-Polish Nazi propaganda. Now the director wants to sue him for defamation.