Syrian human rights activists report that on Friday, the fighters of Ahrar ash-Sham group and other rebel forces went on counteroffensive and took control of the village of Atshan and surrounding areas in Hama region. According to the Human Rights Monitoring Center, Atshan village was under the control of the Government Forces since October. This village is located at the intersection of several country roads and lies 10 km to The East of the village of Morek. Morek is situated near the highway …

The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine met Friday in Berlin to further discuss steps required to end the conflict in east Ukraine.Germany‘s Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "We can be glad that the ceasefire regime has been observed to a certain extent." He said " the progress has been made, but some serious challenges" remained, including organizing fair local elections in separatist-held areas.

Also in attendance at the Villa Borsig, in north-west Berlin were France's …

This year the number of Russian nationals’ asylum applications rose dramatically. This tendency is connected with the growth of policy restrictions, corruption and discrimination for gays. Russian citizens filed 1454 asylum applications in 2015. The U.S Department of Homeland Security reports that, since Vladimir Putin returned to the president’s office, the number of asylum applications has almost doubled.

Asylum applications are filed individually but can also include other persons, for …

According to the American data Russia has doubled the number of servicemen in Syria. At the same time  the media has been reporting that Washington and its allies are planning to increase assistance to the Syrian opposition.

Commander-In-Chief of the Russian Military Space Forces, Viktor Bondarev, said that Russia has recently sent air defence system to Syria in order to prevent hijackings of aircraft and retaliatory attacks.   

“We have evaluated all possible outcomes. We have stationed   …

As stated by Oleksander Turchynov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, at least nine ceasefire violations, committed by the Russian-terrorist troops, were recorded in the occupied territories over past 24 hours.

The commentary of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov was posted on the official website of the Council.

"It it not the first time that the Russian-backed militants want to disrupt the Minsk Agreements by …

According to Russian Air Force commander, Russia has sent anti-aircraft missiles to Syria to protect its jets involved in airstrikes against IS militants.

Russia has been carrying out airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters, and other opposition groups, in Syria since the end of September at the request of President Bashar Assad, Russia's long-term ally.

Russian officials have insisted that their military involvement in Syria will be limited to an air force operation. …

On Wednesday November 4, Russia’s president has signed legislation enabling countermeasures in the case of the wrongful arrest of Russian state property abroad.

The law, based on reciprocity, curtails the jurisdictional immunity of the country in question if not agreed otherwise.

 The law will come into effect in 2016.

The law shall be applicable to all property, including rental, which is administered by the foreign State. The document is available on the official portal of legal …

Leaders of nine countries have issued a joint statement at the Central European Summit in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.

They expressed grave concern over Russia's "continuing aggressive posturing" and backed a sustainable NATO military presence in the region.

"We will stand firm on the need for Russia to return to respect of international law as well as of its international obligations, responsibilities and commitments as a pre-condition for a NATO–Russia relationship based on trust and …