Contents tagged with Russia

  • Herashchenko: 127 Ukrainians are still held by separatists in the Donbas

    The Commissioner of the President for the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions and Ukraine’s representative to the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine-Russia-OSCE), Iryna Herashchenko, stated at a press conference on the 17th of February that 127 Ukrainians are held captive by militants.

    “Currently, we have 137 Ukrainians, who are illegally held captive. Ten of them are held in Russian prisons,” the Ukrainian news quoted her as saying. …

  • Dzhemilev files lawsuit against the FSB due to ban on entry to Crimea

    Lawyer Mark Feygin believes that it is the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who prohibits Dzhemilev from entering Crimea. In January 2016, the Simferopol Court arrested the ex-leader of the Crimean Tatars in absentia.

    Mark Feygin, a lawyer of the former chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, said the lawsuit was filed against the FSB. According to his statement on Twitter, it's the FSB who prohibits Dzhemilev entry into Crimea, and therefore (from the …

  • Russia transfers more military aircraft to Crimea

    According to official sources, large-scale military exercises were scheduled to be carried out on in Crimea, and Russia continues to transfer military equipment to the occupied Peninsula.

    During the last week a dozen military aircraft (IL-76) of the Russian Armed Forces were transferred to the peninsula, as stated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).  14 helicopters and one battalion tactical group of the Russian Army were transferred as well.

    According to the Ukrainian officials, on the …

  • Ukrainian Intelligence: Putin adviser Surkov visited Donetsk

    Russian presidential aide, Vladislav Surkov, has visited the occupied region of Donetsk.

    This was reported by the Chief of Staff of the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Alexander Tkachuk.

    “On the 16th of February, Putin’s personal adviser, Vladislav Surkov, was in Donetsk.  Russia was very careful in trying to hide the preparations for his visit,” Tkachuk said.

    “During his visit, Surkov received reports from the heads of local administrations of the so-called Donetsk People’s …

  • Russia files lawsuit against Ukraine over $3 billion debt

    On the 17th of February, the Ministry of Finance of Russia filed a lawsuit against Ukraine with the Supreme Court of London for the recovery of a $3 billion debt in the form of Eurobonds.  Russia provided this loan to Ukraine in December 2013, the Minister of Finance, Anton Siluanov reported.

     “The lawsuit was filed after unsuccessful attempts to contact Ukraine for a constructive dialogue with regard to debt restructuring,” Siluanov stated and was quoted by Interfax.  He called a court …

  • Strelkov gives negative portrayal of leaders of pro-Russian separatists

    Igor Strelkov (Girkin), the former Defense Minister of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, gave a destructive description of the so-called DPR and LPR leaders in an interview with the Novorossiya movement’s website

    “For two years they were in limbo, being a kind of a bargaining chip, which everybody wanted to return in exchange for uncertain preferences or some goods. It has led to the fact that favorites came to power, those who were chosen not on the basis of their professional or moral …

  • Moscow authorities reject proposal to hold rally in memory of Boris Nemtsov in city center

    The Russian opposition has agreed to hold a demonstration in remembrance of Boris Nemtsov following an alternate route in Moscow.  This was reported by Interfax on the 16th of February referencing one of the leaders of the People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS), Constantine Merzlikin.

    “We were not allowed to hold the rally along the route through the Great Moscow River Bridge.  They offered the traditional route along the Boulevard.  Even though we held a meeting and agreed to this, I believe that …

  • Georgia's path to NATO is through the Black Sea

    The Head of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, Tinatin Khidasheli, will take part in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting, which has already begun in Brussels.

    It was reported today that the city of Tbilisi can join the NATO-created security system of the Black Sea region.  Georgia can now also play its part in ensuring the security of the region.

    Khidasheli mentioned that with Tbilisi joining the system, it will assist in the process of strengthening the capacities of NATO …

  • Moldovan Defense Ministry: Russia is the main threat to our national security

    According to the Newsmaker news portal, the Minister of Defense of Moldova, Anatol Salaru, has said that Russia is the main threat to the security of Moldova.

    In his opinion, the strengthening of the position of Russia in Moldova would jeopardize the security of Ukraine and even Turkey.

    Salaru also believes that only NATO is capable of protecting the country from Russia.  This is why he wants Moldova to become a member of the Alliance.

    “The safety of the Republic of Moldova is a part of the …

  • EU expresses concern over violation of rights of Crimean Tatars

    The European Union expressed concern over the systematic violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the residents of the Russian-occupied Crimea and, in particular, the Crimean Tatars, the Press Officer of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, David Stulik, said.

    In particular, the EU strongly condemned the illegal detention of thirteen Ukrainian citizens and representatives of the Crimean Tatars by the Russian authorities in the Crimea on February 11-12, 2016 he said in an interview with the …