European Council formally lifts sanctions against Belarus
The European Council formally lifted sanctions against Belarus on February 25th, citing improvements in the country’s human rights situation.
In particular, asset freezes and travel bans were lifted against 170 individuals, including President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as three Belarusian companies.
EU Foreign Ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released several political prisoners in August of 2015. The appropriate legislation was approved on February 25th. …
Novaya Gazeta article on Nemtsov murder raises new questions
Russian independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, has published a lengthy article entitled "How Boris Nemtsov was killed”. The authors of this article belong to the investigations departments of the newspaper, and wrote that the name of Nemtsov’s murderer was reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 2nd of last year. The article also mentions that the report of the Director of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, stated that the perpetrators of the crime were members of the Chechen …
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister believes that it is too early to lift sanctions against Russia
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, commented on statements given by French politicians regarding the possible dangers of ongoing sanctions, saying that they not only affect the country’s economy, but the European Union (EU) as a whole.
Linkevičius noted that "no one is proud of the sanctions, but they were introduced for a reason".
In an interview with Radio French International (RFI), Linkevičius stated that Russia’s annexation of Crimea was the reason for the …
The EU is not satisfied with Ukraine's progress in fulfilling obligations for visa-free regime
The EU is dissatisfied with Ukraine’s fulfillment of all legal obligations concerning the adoption of visa-free regime in 2016, according to a Facebook post by Sergey Leshchenko, member of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, after a meeting with the diplomats of the EU agencies in Brussels.
“More precisely, Ukraine has fulfilled three of the five requirements for adoption. The EU considered the amendments to three acts made last week but the EU did not consider a declaration law, according to …
Shevchenko's house demolished in Russia
According to Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, the Ukrainian Minister of Culture, Russia has destroyed the residence of Taras Shevchenko in Orenburg.
Celebrated Ukrainian poet and political figure Taras Shevchenko lived in this building in the city of Orenburg during his exile in 1849.
The house of the 19th Century Ukrainian poet was demolished in spite of the fact it was registered as a cultural monument of architectural significance.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has instructed his …