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German MPs: Expulsion of Russian diplomats from EU was done in a rush
Representatives of the German Bundestag’s Left have criticized the decision made by Berlin and various other EU states to expel their Russian diplomats in connection with the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal in the UK. On Monday March 26, Foreign Policy Committee member Stefan Liebich from The Left party said that the expulsion of diplomats was “a wrong step, which needlessly exacerbates the escalation”.
Berlin should make a greater effort to collaborate in the investigation, Liebich …
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Warsaw: Russian Special Services have stepped up operations in Poland
Polish Radio reports that Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz announced that Russian Special Services have intensified operations in Poland against the backdrop of the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal.
"This is a manifestation of solidarity with the UK. But, irrespective of this, our relevant services attract considerable interest from Russian services…[Poland] sees their activities as contrary to the Vienna Convention. This is another signal that the threat from …
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Ukraine completes delivery of Oplot tanks to Thailand
The Ukroboronprom State Concern recently announced completion of the contract for supplying Oplot-T tanks to Thailand.
According to a statement on the website of the company, the last batch of tanks was tested in the presence of the customer and will soon be sent to Thailand. Work on the manufacture of tanks was carried out by the Malyshev Plant.
The contract with Thailand was signed in 2011 and is worth over $240 million. In accordance with the export requirements, Ukraine was commissioned …
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Russian warplanes intervene into NATO’s Arctic exercise
The Russian newspaper Izvestia reports that Russian Anti-Submarine Aviation recently detected NATO’s submarines carrying out tactical drills in the Arctic. Two maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircrafts Tu-142 (NATO’s reporting name: Bear) had spotted and followed nuclear submarines of the Armed Forces of the United States and the United Kingdom participating in the Ice Exercise 2018 large-scale war games in the Beaufort Sea.
Izvestia reports that the Russian warplanes also …
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Ukrainian border guards detain a Russian fishing boat in the Sea of Azov
On Sunday, March 25, Ukrainian border guards detained a Russian fishing boat in the Sea of Azov.,as reported on the website of the State Border Service. "Yesterday, in Ukrainian waters, a maritime security ship detained a fishing boat violator under the flag of Russia. There were ten people on board,” the message reads. All ten sailors had Russian passports issued in Kerch.
The "Nord" vessel which was registered in the territory of annexed Crimea was stopped 15 miles away from the Obytichna …
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Lithuania bans entry to 44 Russian citizens
On Monday, March 26, Lithuania banned the entry of 44 Russian citizens. The country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has thus officially begun to implement the blacklisting of 21 Russian officials and functionaries specified under the country’s Magnitsky law.
So far, the list includes 70 people, including Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Chechnya, and Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Vilnius authorities suspect those listed of human rights violations, …
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Iceland announces diplomatic boycott of 2018 World Cup in Russia
Iceland has declared a diplomatic boycott against the World Cup, which will take place in Russia in summer 2018.
A statement on the boycott was released by the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
"Iceland stands in solidarity with UK over the Salisbury attack, [and is] taking diplomatic measures against Russia. High-level bilateral dialogue with Russia [has been] postponed, resulting in Icelandic leaders not attending the FIFA World Cup. We urge Russia to cooperate with the …
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Sole EU observer at elections in Crimea was European Parliament member from Cyprus
During the Russian presidential elections in annexed Crimean territory, the only documented observer with direct ties to European institutes was European Parliament member from Cyprus Eleni Theocharous who visited the Crimea on March 18, reported The Information Resistance website.
Eleni Theocharous is known for her close contact with Russia. On December 13, 2017, she went to the Moscow House of Nationalities to attend the conference “Russia and Crimea in the Post-Byzantine Space: European …
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Austria refuses to expel Russian diplomats because of the Skripal case
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated that Austria would not expel its Russian diplomats over the Skripal poisoning incident in Britain.
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Julia were poisoned nearly to death near London with a Soviet-era-made nerve agent known as Novichok. The British government highly suspects that Russia was responsible for this attempted assassination on British soil.
Chancellor Kurz made his country’s position clear with a post on Twitter. "We support …
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U.S. coalition conducts new air attack on Syrian army in Deir ez Zor
The United States-led coalition carried out a new air strike on the Syrian military and its allies. The village of Al-Muhasan, which is located on the right bank of the Euphrates River in the province of Deir ez Zor, was attacked.
Last week, the Euphrate Post reported that the Coalition struck at the Syrian Army and its allies on the western bank of the Euphrates River.
At that time, dozens of volunteer militia troops supported by Iran, pro-government units, as well as members of Russian …