The Acting Head of the OSCE, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressed concerns over the increase in ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine including incidents involving OSCE observers.

“The SMM is a civil, unarmed mission. It plays an important role in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. SMM observers’ security should be guaranteed by both sides. The persons responsible for threats and use of force against observers must be brought to justice,” …

Smolensk customs officials have destroyed 97.7 tons of Polish apples and pears that were smuggled into the region. This was reported to Interfax by the department’s Chief State Inspector, Vladimir Safonov. According to him, the fruit was buried at the RudnyaKomUslugi waste disposal site.

Safonov also reported that the department had destroyed a total of 189 tons of sanctioned goods in April. These consisted of apples, pears and cabbages.

"All of these Polish items were officially imported as …

The Presnensky District Court of Moscow has extended the detainment of the Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature, Natalya Sharina, until July 29th, 2016. Sharina is accused of distributing extremist literature and embezzlement.

This update was posted on Facebook by Sharina’s lawyer, Ivan Pavlov.

The court has also denied the request that Sharina be allowed to take short outside walks during her detainment.

Investigators had searched the Library of Ukrainian Literature on the 28th …

Well-known Russian media manager, journalist and public figure, Anton Nosik, was indicted for "inciting hatred or hostility, resulting in the humiliation of human dignity" on Tuesday, April 26, in Moscow. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered not to leave the country, reports Interfax.

According to investigators, on October 1, 2015, Nosik, "using his personal computer posted on a blogging platforms, with the aim of arousing hatred and hostility towards a group of people on a …

Boris Vyshnevsky, the Deputy in St. Petersburg’s legislative assembly and Russian political analyst reported that, for the first time in many years, the opposition wasn’t allowed to hold a rally dedicated to the Spring and Labor Festival. “Petersburg democratic opposition received a refusal to hold the procession dedicated to the 1st of May and rally in the center of Petersburg for the first time in recent years,” the public figure wrote on his Facebook page on the 25th of April.

According to …

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh intensified overnight on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Both sides of the conflict, Azerbaijan and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), backed by Armenia, accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, claiming that they were forced to return fire.

The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan stated that the Armenian Armed Units attacked Azerbaijani settlements with the use of “Grad” rockets.

In turn, according to the Ministry, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces …

The U.S. hopes to develop joint defense production with Ukraine, which will allow the realization of the strategic and business objectives of both countries. This was said by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, during a meeting with the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Stepan Kubiv and Sales Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska. The Ambassador’s comments were published on the official Twitter page of the Ministry of Economic Development.

"We hope to continue …

Nadiya Savchenko has filed the documents necessary to be transferred to Ukraine, according to her sister Vera, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

"She now filled out the documents: application, biographical data, etc. In the words of the prison warden Kalgan, they are necessary for the extradition. She was told that the documents should be completed for the extradition procedure. Let us hope that this is the case,” Vera Savchenko told the TSN television network.

Last month, a Russian court found …