The German intelligence service, BND, is checking whether Russia is using the old KGB methods in order to weaken the position of Angela Merkel. The investigation is being conducted on behalf of the German government.BND and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, on behalf of the German government, are investigating whether Russia has resorted to the methods of the Soviet KGB, aiming to influence political debate and public opinion in Germany. The investigation is about the …

City authorities in St. Petersburg have agreed that the demonstration in remembrance of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov will be held on Mars Field.  “We received a call and were informed that the meeting, with the participation of 5,000 people, has been agreed to.  We are in the process of receiving the written confirmation,” Andrei Pivovarov, the Co-Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS), told Deutsche Welle on February 18th.

He added that the …

Ten Ukrainian IT companies have been ranked as the best outsourcing companies in the world. Four Ukrainian companies, including two with central offices in Lviv, are included in the list published by the International Association of Outsourcers in its annual rating of the best outsourcing companies – The 2016 Global Outsourcing 100.

The following companies were included on the list: Softserve, Eleks, Sigma, Miratech, EPAM, Ciklum, Luxoft, Intetics, Softjourn and TEAM international Services. …

The former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, David Petraeus, and former high-ranking American diplomat, John Herbst, called on the US government to increase military assistance to Ukraine, explaining that the relative calm in eastern Ukraine is only a tactical trick of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

"Despite the reduced level of open Russian aggression, it seems that this is a temporary tactic to have the sanctions lifted despite the expansion of Russian military …

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted an appeal to the parliaments of foreign countries with regard to Russia and the threats of pro-Russian separatists to execute prisoners held in the Donbas region.  This was stated in two resolutions, which were approved by 236 out of 239 deputies on the 18th of February.

The Ukrainian parliament has called on foreign countries to “use all available mechanisms at governmental, parliament and non-governmental levels.  They should also give a clear signal …

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a note of protest to the Russian Ambassador in Tallinn over an incident on Thursday in which a Russian military helicopter allegedly violated Estonian airspace. The episode occurred near the village of Vaskarnava near the Russian-Estonian border.

The helicopter did not attempt to contact Estonian air traffic controllers.

The Russian Defense Ministry denies the allegations. “On February 18th, Army helicopters did not fly in the area,” the …

France’s far-right National Front party has asked Russia for a €27 million loan to help finance its 2017 election campaigns, The Times reported on Friday, citing the party’s treasurer, Wallerand de Saint-Just.

In 2014, the National Front, led by Marine Le Pen, received an €11 million loan from a bank with Russian ties. At the time, French media claimed that the loan bought the party’s support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Le Pen’s party claims that the results of the Crimean referendum in 2 …

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the potential sale of 30 Mi-8/17 helicopters to Budapest, despite the EU’s sanctions banning such transactions.

According to an informed source who spoke with UNIAN, "the Hungarian Ministry of Defense wants to buy about 30 multipurpose helicopters Mi-8/17 from Russia. The contract value is estimated to be more than $ 400 million. Orban's visit to Moscow on February 17th included a discussion of a contract.” …