Moldovan Constitutional Court rules to return to direct presidential elections
The Constitutional Court of Moldova reversed a 16-year-old amendment to the constitution that allowed lawmakers to select the head of state. Following the court’s decision on Friday, Moldovans will now be able to choose their leader through direct presidential elections.
"We think that that the president of the republic is to be elected by the nation," Court President Alexandru Tanase said on March 4th, as reported by TASS.
The court made its decision in response to a complaint filed by …
Expert says the worst is yet to come for the Russian economy
The head of the Higher School of Economics' Center for Development, Natalya Akindinova, explained that January economic data indicated that the Russian economy has started to worsen.
“This relates in particular to construction, cargo turnover and trade. The total fall in basic industries in January was 0.4-0.6% lower than December without taking into account seasonal fluctuations. The huge lack of growth has been accumulated in real incomes and consumer demand, and its downside potential has …
Russian Gazprom to receive 2 billion euro loan from Chinese bank
Gazprom and the Bank of China have signed an agreement granting the Russian gas monopoly a €2 billion loan for a period of five years as reported by the press service of the company.
It is the largest funding deal coming directly from one credit institution in the history of Gazprom. It was also noted by the company that it was the first bilateral loan agreement with the Chinese Bank.
In August 2015 Gazprom secured a loan from a consortium of Asian Banks for $1.5 billion at LIBOR + 3.5% for …
FIDH: The Mejlis ban may lead to a wave of persecution of Crimean Tatars
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights condemn the persecution of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People in Crimea. This was stated in an official statement on the International Federation for Human Rights website on Wednesday, March 2, as reported by Krym.Realii. The report also reviewed the actions of the Russian authorities in Crimea and the case scheduled for the 3rd of March in court, which aims to prohibit the Mejlis on the …
Former Pentagon adviser: The US should have given anti-tank missiles to Ukraine two years ago
According to Evelyn Farkas, the former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, if Ukraine had received Javelin anti-tank missiles two years ago, the country would not be experiencing the current conflict.
As the former Pentagon adviser explained to Golos Ameriki, the US could still provide Ukraine with these ani-tank missiles, which would help to change the balance of power in the region, as well as send a clear message to Moscow that if the current conflict …