Donetsk's Shevchenko Boulevard to be renamed after Kadyrov

According to Glavnoe, the head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, took the decision to rename the Boulevard Shevhenko as part of the ongoing “de-Ukrainization" campaign in areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.  It is to be renamed in honor of the leader of the Chechen Republic, also known as the “patriot of Russia”, Ramzan Kadyrov. Glavnoe reported that this information was posted in the newspaper of the DPR.

It should however be noted …


Ukrainian Media: Former Swedish Prime Minister a Possible Successor to Yatsenyuk

The Government of Ukraine may be headed by the former Swedish Prime Minister, Carl Bildt, instead of Arseniy Yatsenyuk, as reported by Glavcom, citing a source in the presidential administration.

The appointment of Bildt, as the newspaper notes, would simplify the negotiations with international money lenders for Kiev, and would also allow President Poroshenko to take greater control of the activities of the government. In addition, such a personnel choice would help the authorities to shift …


Separatists in Donbas use the exchange of prisoners as leverage over Ukraine

Former President Leonid Kuchma, the second President of independent Ukraine and current representative of the Ukrainian government to the Trilateral Contact Group, stated that separatists in Donbas use the exchange of prisoners as leverage over Ukraine, when in fact many of those prisoners could be deceased by now.

“The last time, we negotiated twice on the number of prisoners to be exchanged. Representatives of the separatists came and negotiations started anew. Delaying this process is their …


PACE Collects Signatures to Initiate Investigation into Nemtsov's Murder

The deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have begun collecting signatures to initiate a further investigation into the murder of a Russian opposition leader, co-chairman of the RPR-PARNAS, Boris Nemtsov. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Alliance of European Liberal Democrats in PACE, Swedish MP Kerstin Lundgren, in an interview with Voice of America.

She indicated that the collection of signatures is almost completed. According to procedure, in …


Despite Frequent Power Cuts, Russian Authorities in Crimea Say Electricity Supply Is 'Stable'

Russian authorities in Crimea provided three straight hours of electricity to homes and called the power supply situation ‘completely stable.’ The press service reported on January 24th that industry works and that the supplied power came to 48 megawatts. The power supply priorities have changed.

In the past, homes were disconnected from the electrical grid three times a day for 2 hours at a time. This was a problem because heavy frosts—17 degrees below zero—plagued Crimea.

On the 30th of …