-
Rate of theft by Russian officials reaches more than $7 million per day
The total damage in the corruption cases concluded in the first eight months of 2019 in Russia is approximately 102 billion rubles, around $1.6 billion at current exchange rates.
These figures were cited on Monday by Dmitry Sevastyanov, deputy head of the division for combating the misuse of budget funds at Russia’s Chief Directorate for Economic Security and Opposing Corruption, Kommersant reports.
The average rate at which money leaked from the budget on various levels was thus around $200 …
-
Ukrainian film director Sentsov: EU could take stronger measures against Putin
During a press conference in Spain, Ukrainian film director and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov said that the European Union could take stronger measures against Putin and confront him harder, reports Ukrinform news agency.
"[European] countries continue to buy Russian gas and oil, and because of that, Putin is still in power and does what he wants," said Sentsov.
Sentsov is participating in the events organized by the Bureau of the European Parliament in Barcelona. Together with the …
-
Russia threatens Belarus with economic crisis for refusing to integrate
Refusing to enter into a union with Russia will drive Belarus into an economic crisis, said Konstantin Zatulin, deputy chair of the State Duma committee for the CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with Russian nationals abroad. The Russian politician was commenting on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s decision not to sign any documents to deepen integration with Russia that might deprive Minsk of its sovereignty.
Russia wants Belarus to transition to a full-fledged union state …
-
Poland notifies Gazprom of intention to terminate gas supply contract
The Board of Directors of the Polish national oil and gas company PGNiG notified Russian gas giant Gazprom of its intention to terminate the binding contract for the purchase and sale of natural gas. The so-called Yamal contract was signed on September 25, 1996 and expires on December 31, 2022.
In the Declaration of PGNiG, it is noted that deliveries of liquefied natural gas and fuel from other countries will replace the Russian gas supply.
In the first half of 2019, Poland reduced purchases …
-
Young Syrian Kurds throw Molotov cocktails at Russian patrol in Syria
During a joint patrol by Russian and Turkish forces in northern Syria, a group of teenagers threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the patrol vehicles. No soldiers were injured, the vehicles remained operational, and the convoy continued its patrol, RBC news agency reports, citing a representative of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria.
“In order to prevent possible accidents, the convoy’s seniors decided to go around this group of young people and continue …