Contents tagged with Russia

  • Rally against anti-protest legislation held in Moscow

    In Moscow, on the Yauza Gate square, a rally was held to support Ildar Dadina and several other political prisoners. Participants also called for the abolition of the ‘protest’ Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code, the law against participating in unsanctioned protests, as reported by a correspondent for Grani.  The rally was attended by about 400 people.

    The activists held slogans such as: "Anyone who thinks is the enemy," "Putin, bring in your henchmen," "The Constitution should be read to …

  • New policy poses challenges for foreign drug companies in Russia

    A new policy by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will pose challenges for foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers this year. New rules will make it necessary to receive a Russian variant of a certificate of conformity of quality if they wish to do business in the country.

    The chief representative of Pfizer in Russia told Business FM that there isn’t enough time or resources to check drugs under the new policy while still working within budget and schedule constraints. This …

  • Timo Soini: Illegal Crossings of Russian-Finnish Border Must Be Stopped

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Timo Soini, stated that it is necessary to take tough steps in order to stop illegal migration across the Russian-Finnish border. “It seems that rough measures are even desperately required. We have to bring an end to illegal immigration and migration,” the Minister stated in an interview.

    The influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa is rising south of the Murmansk region on the border with Finland. Refugees are no longer allowed to cross …

  • Russian Capital Outflow Increased By 30 Percent Last Week Amid Ruble Crisis

    The total outflow of means from funds invested in Russian assets increased to $91.8 million during the week beginning January 14th. According to Interfax, based on data provided by the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR) analysts, last week investors withdrew $70 million from Russian investments—an outflow of means increased by 30%.

    Sberbank CIB estimates the total net cash outflow from funds investing only in shares of the Russian Federation also increased to $42.1 million from January 14 …

  • Authorities in Moscow reject application for anti-Kadyrov rally

    City authorities in Moscow have rejected an application submitted by the liberal Yabloko party to hold a public rally to call for the removal of Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic.

    Radio Free Europe reported that Yabloko instead plans to hold a rotating one-person picket on January 26th in front of President Putin’s administration building, as public demonstrations in Russia of more than one person must be approved by the authorities. Russian opposition groups report that it is …

  • Russian Army to Add Four New Divisions

    The Russian Defense Ministry announced a significant expansion of staff of their ground forces "in response to the increasing intensity of the NATO countries’ training." There are currently no Russian ground troops in Crimea.

    The Russian Federation ground forces will be strengthened by combining existing sections of the Army into four new divisions, said the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, January 22nd. "In 2016, three divisions will be formed in the Western territory and one in the …

  • Gazprom: Ukraine's Transit Fine Is an Attempt to Exert Pressure

    Gazprom claimed that the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has no authority to regulate the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. This was reported by Interfax, citing the press service of Gazprom on Friday, January 22nd. The Russian gas giant said that the decision of the AMCU to impose a $3.47 billion fine upon Gazprom was an "attempt to exert pressure."

    "This arouses extreme surprise, because Gazprom does not carry out any business activities on the territory of Ukraine by passing …

  • Russian Court to Consider Extending Natalia Sharina's House Arrest

    The Russian investigative committee is asking the court to extend the house arrest of the Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, Natalia Sharina, for another three months, her lawyer Ivan Pavlov reported.

    "On January 27th, the Presnensky Court of Moscow will consider the extension of the house arrest of Natalia Sharina. The investigative committee asked the court to extend this period for another three months," Pavlov said. According to him, the court will begin hearings …

  • US Withdraws Accreditation of 5 Honorary Russian Consulates

    The United States closed five Honorary Russian Consulates in response to the closing of the American Center in Moscow, Interfax reported, referencing the Press Secretary of the Embassy of the USA to Russia, William Stevenson, on Friday, January 22th.

    "This action is taken in response to the continued Russian interference in our diplomatic consular activities in Russia" the American Embassy stated.

    The US withdrew accreditation from five of the six Honorary Consulates in the USA: in California, …

  • New Ukrainian embargo on Russian goods to come into force in February

    An extended embargo on newly listed banned goods from Russia will take effect in early February as stated in the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers decision № 28 from 20 January. Added to the extended list of banned goods approved on December 30th 2015 were onions, green tea, prepared or preserved fish, white chocolate, pellets, candies containing alcohol, chewing gum, marmalade and jelly, corn flakes, biscuits and crisp breads, soya and tomato sauce (ketchup).It is worth noting that the list of …