UN calls for investigation to be opened into treatment of homosexuals in Chechnya
The United Nations has requested a full investigation surrounding the LGBT community in Chechnya, as stated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid al-Hussein, at a briefing in Geneva. According to him, the UN continues to monitor this situation.
In April, Novaya Gazeta published material detailing a campaign in Chechnya, during which hundreds of homosexual men were abducted. Journalists claimed that the victims were tortured and forced to disclose information about other gays whom …
Media: Ukrainian political prisoner dies in Russian jail
Fontanka website reports that Ukrainian citizen Artur Panov, who was accused by the Russian authorities of preparing a terrorist act in Russia, has died of heart failure at a detention center in Rostov.
On February 14, a trial on the case of Arthur Panov began in the North Caucasus Military District Court of Rostov-on-Don. A Rostov student who was charged with assisting with the Ukrainian’s criminal activities also appeared with Panov in the dock.
Panov was detained in early December 2015 in …
Border Guard Service: About 200 Eurovision participants from 20 countries have already arrived in Ukraine
Within three days, Ukrainian border guards have registered about 200 participants and team members of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 from 20 countries. This was reported on May 1 by the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
"The border guards registered most of the participants at the ‘Boryspil’ and ‘Kyiv’ air transport checkpoints. Another team arrived at the ‘Platonovo’ motor vehicle checkpoint, which is in the Odessa region ", noted the Ukrainian State Border …
Lavrov and Tillerson discussed future talks on Syria in Astana
On May 1st, TASS reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The diplomats discussed, among other things, a meeting in Astana dedicated to the Syrian settlement, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
"The foreign ministers briefly exchanged views on the international meeting on Syria held in Astana on May 3rd and 4th," the Ministry's statement says.
Other aspects of bilateral relations were …
Media: US deploys Global Hawk drones to Japan from base on Guam
The United States has begun to move five Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam. The arrival of the first such drone to the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo was filmed by the Japanese NHK television channel.
More than 100 American technicians will also travel there to maintain and service the drones. The UAVs will be deployed in Japan temporarily, until October of this year. The decision that it would be a temporary deployment was based on the …