Doping informant flees Russia

Russian track athlete Andrey Dmitriev, who recently accused Russia’s sports authorities of lying to the international community about its supposed anti-doping efforts, secretly emigrated from Russia, fearing for his safety.

After his January interview with the German television company ARD about the doping mafia in Russia, Dmitriev was subjected to such intense pressure that "there was no alternative but to escape," he said to journalist Hajo Seppelt. Seppelt published his new interview with …


Separatist leaders attend 'Donbas integration ceremony' in the Crimea

In the annexed Crimea, a presentation regarding “the integration of the Donbas into the Russian Federation” was given at the first conference of the Russia-Donbas Integration Committee which was held on March 17th at the Livadia Palace in Yalta, as reported by Radio Liberty.

The first meeting of the Committee was attended by Igor Carpenter and Alexander Zakharchenko, the leaders of the LPR (Luhansk People's Republic) and DPR (Donetsk People's Republic), respectively. They arrived in the Crimea …


Russia will transfer three submarines armed with Kalibr cruise missiles to the Black Sea

In 2017, the Russian military will relocate three Varshavyanka -class submarines, armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, Interfax reports.

"By the end of the year, we plan to complete the tests and transfer from the Baltic to the Black Sea Fleet three other submarines of the same type: the Krasnodar, the Kolpino and the Velikiy Novgorod," the Black Sea Fleet information department reported.

According to the department, the first three Varshavyanka-class …


Media: Residents of Chechen capital were forced to take part in a rally dedicated to the annexation of the Crimea

Residents of Grozny said that they were forced to participate in a rally dedicated to the third anniversary of the annexation of the Crimea. The Caucasian Knot online news site did the main coverage for the story.

"This was another 'obligatory' event. The rally took place in the center of the city, next to the 'Press House.’ We were handed flags of Russia and Chechnya, as well as United Russia banners. We had to stay at the rally for more than an hour," an employee of one of the local agencies, …


Security Service of Ukraine has started to investigate European politicians who traveled to the Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) will analyze information regarding politicians from Europe and other countries who travel to the Crimea and decide whether to impose sanctions against them, as stated by the Secretary of the NSDC (National Security and Defense Council) of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, according to his press service.

“The SBU will prepare and submit to the NSDC of Ukraine a list of officials from the European Parliament, as well as politicians from European Union countries, …