Contents tagged with France

  • Greece decides to extradite to France Russian national suspected of cryptocurrency fraud

    The court in Greece approved the request of France to extradite a 38-year-old Russian Alexander Vinnik who is suspected of fraud using cryptocurrency. Vinnik is also wanted by the United States and Russia. Moscow threatened with retaliatory measures, Radio Liberty reports.

    Vinnik was arrested in Greece last year on a warrant issued by the United States. In France, the Russian is accused of cybercrime, money laundering, membership in criminal organization and extortion.

    Previously, the Greek …

  • Russia threatens to close France 24 TV channel

    Russia's state media regulator Roskomnadzor threatened to stop broadcasting France 24 TV chanel the day after the French Superior Council of Audiovisual (CSA) issued a warning to the Russian channel RT France for inaccurate reporting on Syria.

    Roskomnadzor stated that the French channel violated Russian legislation, Russian media reported.

    Roskomnadzor employees allegedly found that the editorial activity of France 24 is directed by a foreign legal entity. This violates Russian law on the …

  • French company Lafarge charged with cooperating with terrorists in Syria

    Lafarge, a large French construction materials company, has been charged with cooperating with terrorists in Syria and complicity in crimes against humanity, reported France 24.

    The investigation took two years. It revolved around the Syrian branch of the company, to which the head office, from 2011-2015, allocated 13 million euros to maintain the plant in northern Syria. Part of this money, according to the investigation, was given to extremist groups, including terrorists from the Islamic …

  • France drops charges against Russian oligarch Kerimov

    Russian billionaire and senator from Dagestan Suleyman Kerimov has been pardoned by the French justice system, and can leave his villa on the French Riviera, where he has been under house arrest since the end of last year.

    Kerimov, who was suspected of money laundering through a series of deals to purchase property in France, has had all the charges against him dropped, his attorney Nikita Sychev told Interfax. Kerimov’s passport will soon be returned to him, and he will be allowed to return …

  • Estonia to buy missiles for Mistral portable air defense systems from France for €50 million

    Estonia’s state defense investment agency signed a contract for the purchase of short range missiles for Mistral man-portable missile system (MANPADs) for €50 million, Estonia’s Ministry of Defense reported on Twitter.

    “The contract was concluded with the French manufacturer MBDA,” the statement reads. “It was signed by the head of the Center for Defense Investment, Rauno Sirk, and Vice President of the MBDA, Didier Philippe. In accordance with the agreement, between 2020 and o 2027, Estonia …

  • France rules out quick removal of EU sanctions against Russia

    French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, stated that Paris is against a rapid review of EU sanctions imposed against Russia for its aggression towards Ukraine, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reports.

    “When there is progress [towards settling the conflict in Ukraine], then we will be able to raise the issue of sanctions, and that is what we will tell Italy,” he stated.

    Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stated that his government will advocate a review of the …

  • French automaker PSA Group preparing to leave Iran because of U.S. sanctions

    The French automaker PSA Group is preparing to withdraw from Iran due to the threat of U.S. sanctions, reported France-Presse, citing a statement from the industrial group.

    “The process to suspend joint venture activities has been initiated in order to adapt the situation to U.S. law before August 6, 2018,” the company said.

    At the same time, the company’s headquarters stressed that “the company’s management is in contact with U.S. authorities in an attempt to reach an agreement on exclusion …

  • France and Russia want to create coordination mechanism in Syria

    France and Russia want to create a coordination mechanism between the leading powers in order to find a political solution to the problems in Syria,as stated on Thursday by French President Emmanuel Macron.

    According to Macron, the idea is to coordinate the efforts of the Astana Process, which includes Russia, Turkey, Iran, and a “small group,” the creation of which was initiated by France, and which includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Jordan, the United States and Saudi Arabia.

    “We need to …

  • Ukraine to buy French helicopters for €475 million

    The purchase of 55 French Airbus Helicopters for Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Emergency Service will cost Ukraine 475 million euros, which will be provided by France as a loan.

    The Ukrainian government approved a draft loan agreement at a meeting on Wednesday which assumes securing a bank loan for 430 million euros and a treasury loan of 45 million euros.

    Agreements between the French supplier and the Ukrainian buyer must be accepted no later than December 31, 2019. …

  • Putin and Macron to discuss the situation in Syria and Eastern Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the situation in Eastern Ukraine during a meeting in Saint-Petersburg on May 25, Yuri Ushakov, the Aide to the Russian President, stated.  

    According to Ushakov, the two parties will discuss the potential of crisis resolution in Syria and Libya, the problem of Middle East settlement, and prospects for maintaining the comprehensive overall plan of actions regarding the Iranian nuclear program following the United …