SSU: 128 Ukrainian prisoners are being held in the Donbas and on Russian territory

According to Yuriy Tandit, the Adviser to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), 128 Ukrainian prisoners are being held in the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine and on Russian territory, as reported by UKRINFORM.

"The list that we submitted (during the negotiations of the Trilateral Contact group in Minsk - Ed.) includes 128 names. It includes not only our people in Donetsk and Luhansk, but also those who are on the territory of Russia," Tandit said.

He noted that women and …


Medvedev signs decree instructing government employees to travel using Russian airlines

The Russian government has instructed civil servants to travel using Russian airlines, or air carriers of other members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC). The corresponding decree was signed by the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, RBC reported.

"These new regulations oblige persons whose air travel is reimbursed from the federal budget to buy tickets of Russian airlines," the government’s official website stated.

The list of acceptable airlines is posted on the official website of Federal …


Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We will not discuss an exchange for Savchenko until a verdict has been reached

On Saturday, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the question of transferring Nadiya Savchenko to Ukraine will not be discussed until after the court has made its decision.

On the program "Vesti on Saturday with Sergey Brylev" on the TV channel Russia 1, Zakharova was asked to comment on the issue of a potential deal with Ukraine that would see the transfer of Savchenko and several other political prisoners currently being held in Russia.

“This is not …


Prominent Belarusian businessman detained by KGB

The Belarusian KGB confirmed on Sunday that it has detained prominent businessman Yury Chizh on suspicion of large-scale tax evasion, Interfax reported. 

Chizh, the owner of the Belarusian firm Triple, has been a close adviser to President Alexander Lukashenko since the early 1990s, and has long been referred to as one of the President’s main sponsors.

Sources indicate that Chizh has recently fallen out of favor with the Belarusian government.

If convicted, Chizh could serve up to 7 years in …


Russia plans to set up legal entity to circumvent sanctions against Crimea

The Russian Federation plans to set up a legal entity to work with foreign companies in the Crimea. This will allow companies to do business in Crimea without fear of violating economic sanctions, as stated by the Russian-controlled head of the Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, Krym.Realii reported.

"The technicality of the arrangement provides for the creation of a legal entity within Russia that will work with foreign companies who wish to do business in Crimea,” said Aksyonov. He did not disclose …