Contents tagged with Russia

  • Russian political scientist detained at Berlin airport, refused entry into EU

    Russian political scientist Oleg Bondarenko has been refused entry into the EU. He was detained at the airport in Berlin, and claimed that he had been prevented from entering the territory of the European Union at the request of Poland, TASS reports.

    "At the request of Poland, I have been forbidden to enter the territory of the EU, without explanation. The ban lasts 3 years," he said.

    According to Bondarenko, he flew to Berlin at the invitation of the German Left Party to participate in a …

  • Russian parliament may refuse to recognize Ukrainian borders

    Konstantin Zatulin (United Russia), First Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma committee for CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with Russian nationals abroad, proposed that the Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Treaty be renounced with respect to the section where the countries recognize each other’s territorial borders, RIA Novosti reports. The MP believes that the treaty favors Ukraine “one-sidedly”.

    “In an article of the treaty we recognize the territorial borders of Ukraine, and …

  • Ukrainian General: During the annexation of Crimea, Russia was ready to send Special Forces to Kyiv airports

    During the annexation of the Crimea, Russia planned to deploy commandoes in the airports of Kyiv, said Major-General of the Armed Forces Ihor Hordiychuk in an interview with ATR TV. "Tactical nuclear weapons of 152 mm caliber and above were ready. It was likely that as soon as we put up military resistance in the Crimea, neither NATO nor the US nor Europe would take our side. On the contrary, we would face accusations. We intercepted the conversations where they [the Russians] planned to land …

  • Kremlin: US trying to influence situation in Russia before Presidential elections by imposing new sanctions

    Introduction of new sanctions of the United States against some Russian citizens is an attempt to influence situation in the Russian Federation ahead of the presidential election, Deputy Interior Minister of Russia Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS news agency, adding that Moscow expected two reports about the sanctions to be released by the U.S. Presidential Administration in late January.

    “We approach this philosophically and see it, first of all, as another attempt to influence …

  • Russia deploys another S-400 surface-to-air missile system in Crimea

    A second division of the Russian S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system has been deployed near Sevastopol, in the annexed Crimea. The news agency Interfax reports that on Saturday, January 13, the command of the Fourth Air and Air Defense Forces Army provided information on the deployment of another division of the newest Russian surface-to air missile (SAM) systems in the Crimea.

    The system will control the airspace over Chonhar and Armyansk on the border with mainland Ukraine. The …

  • 1,500 foreigners refused entry into Ukraine in past year due to visits to annexed Crimea

    The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) reported on January 13 that nearly 1,500 decisions were passed to deny entry to foreigners, among them more than 100 artists and cultural figures, over visits to the annexed Crimean territory.

    According to the Service, approximately 2,300 administrative protocols were compiled under art.204-2 COA for violation of the order on entry and exit from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories in 2017.Thirty individuals have violated the rules for …

  • Russian social network Vkontakte recognized as pirate site in the US

    Vkontakte have been added to a list of the world's largest Internet resources that distribute pirated content. The social network has been added to the list, which is kept by the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), Voice of America reported.

    The USTR noted that the social network "is taking steps to combat piracy” and trying to protect copyrights. However, this has turned out to not be enough.

    "Despite these positive changes, Vkontakte continues to conduct illegal activities, …

  • Russia to add another warship and S-400 air defense missile system to Baltic Sea Fleet

    In 2018, the Baltic Fleet will receive another anti-aircraft missile complex S-400 Triumph, as well as a new missile ship, modern jets and helicopters, Vice Admiral Alexander Nosatov, the Commander of the Baltic Fleet, told journalists on Friday.

    "In 2018, we will continue to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of the fleet. The Fleet's Missile unit will receive a small missile ship of new design, while the Air Defense unit will be equipped with one more S-400 air defense system. The Fleet's …

  • Russian politician claims to have obtained a list of Russians who will be included on new US sanctions list

    Russian politician Oleg Mitvol claims that he has a list of high-ranking Russian officials and businessmen close to the top leadership of Russia who may be subject to US sanctions, reported Dozhd TV.

    Mitvol claims that the list was provided by his source in diplomatic circles. He added that he is worried about the situation since he is a client of Sberbank, which was included in the list. Now, the bank could lose access to card services or the ability to borrow or transfer money, Mitvol’s …

  • Lithuania bans 49 Russians from entering the country under Magnitsky Act

    The Lithuanian Minister of the Interior, Eimutis Misiūnas, has banned 49 Russian citizens from entering the country under the Magnitsky bill, as reported by Ministry spokesperson Karolis Vaitkevičius to BNS.

    A list was compiled by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) based on consultations with foreign partners, said MFA spokesperson Rasa Jakilaitienė. She specified that the list had been prepared prior to adoption of the Magnitsky bill by the Seimas, and included Russians accused …