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DPR militants involved in ‘coup’ in Abkhazia
The administration of the Abkhazian President, Raul Khajimba, accused members of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) of the coup attempt, reports Interfax.
Abkhazia’s officials are trying to determine how these people arrived and stayed in the region.
According to the publication Echo of the Caucasus, one of the organizers of the rally on January 8-9, which led to protesters capturing Khajimba’s administration office, was Ahra Avidzba, aka "Abkhaz" who fought against Ukraine as part …
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Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian airliner
Iranian state media reports that Iran shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane unintentionally.
The Iranian army issued a statement on Saturday morning. According to the army, this was a human error. The army officials stated that the mistake occurred when a passenger plane turned toward the military area. The army said in a statement that those responsible would be held accountable.
Ukraine International Airlines' passenger plane crashed early Wednesday after taking off from Tehran airport. …
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Russian gas deliveries to Europe drop by 20 percent
Gazprom started 2020 by significantly reducing its gas deliveries to Europe. During the first eight days of January, Russian gas exports dropped by 20%, writes Kommersant, citing statistics from gas operators.
Transit through Ukraine has dropped by nearly two thirds, from 262 to 91 million cubic meters per day. On January 7, Gazprom supplied only half the average volume stipulated by its transit contract with Ukraine (180 million cubic meters), even though it will still have to pay for the …
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Iraq resumes negotiations on purchase of Russian S-300 aerial defense systems
Iraq has resumed its talks with Russia on the purchase of Russian S-300 anti-air systems, RIA Novosti reports, citing Mohammed Ridha, head of Iraq’s parliamentary defense and security committee.
According to the Iraqi MP, negotiations should have been resumed a long time ago, and the systems should have been purchased already. Ridha noted that he does not know exactly which stage the talks are currently at, but they have definitely been approved by the Iraqi government. However, he said that …
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After Iran's attack on U.S. bases in Iraq unidentified warplanes attacked pro-Iranian forces in Syria
On Friday, January 10, Unidentified aircraft attacked pro-Iranian militia positions near the Syrian town of Abu Kamal in Deir Ezzor province on the border with Iraq, reported the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). No information has yet been received on the extent of the damage. The Arab press has already rushed to blame Israel for the raid.
According to the Lebanese television channel Al-Mayadeen, affiliated with Hezbollah, a truck carrying weapons was attacked. SOHR, in …