Poroshenko signs law banning Russian films

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has signed a law banning films produced in Russia after 2013, as well as films which popularize authorities of an aggressor state.

An amendment to the Ukrainian law "on cinematography", concerning the films of an aggressor state (No 3359), entered the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) with the President's signature on April 20, 2016.

"Under part one of this article, a ban on the distribution and demonstration of films containing the …


NATO intends to strengthen its military presence in the Black Sea region

According to NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, the Alliance intends to strengthen its military presence in the Black Sea region, RBC-Ukraine reported, with reference to Deutsche Welle.

Vershbow explained that the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation on the one hand, and the “instability and violence on the southern borders of the Alliance that threaten to spill over onto its territory in the form of terrorism and uncontrolled migration" on the other, pose a "challenge …


Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria discuss possibility of creating joint army brigade

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, discussed the possibility of creating a joint military brigade with Romania and Bulgaria during his visit to Bucharest.

“We have discussed the possibility of creating a Ukrainian-Romanian-Bulgarian brigade based on the model of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian-Polish brigade, as we have had a very positive experience implementing that agreement, during the President of Bulgaria’s visit to Kiev and in today’s negotiations. I’m sure that such steps will …


Latvia may open a criminal case against the organizer of tours to Crimea

The Security Police (SP) of Latvia requested that the prosecutor's office of Riga initiate criminal proceedings against a tour operator that organizes trips to the Crimea, Delfi.lv reported.

According to the SP, the criminal proceedings were initiated as a result of the violation of the EU ban on providing services directly related to tourism in the Crimea and Sevastopol. The SP believes that enough evidence was gathered to start criminal proceedings against one individual for an intentional …


PACE to impose sanctions against those involved in persecution in Crimea

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will impose personal sanctions against all of those who are involved in political persecution in Crimea. A member of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament), Georgy Logvynskiy, posted this on his Facebook page.

According to the PACE resolution, the targeted sanctions include freezing assets and bank accounts, an entry ban and other sanctions, including arrest and detention. "These targeted sanctions …