Category: Politics

Photo: RIA Novosti Russian President Vladimir Putin has made no statements concerning his participation in presidential elections in 2018. This drew the attention of his press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, commenting on possible options for future elections. “President Putin himself has repeatedly said that it was premature to make any electoral petition, he no announcement has been done so far”, – said Peskov. He added that before the start of the electoral campaign still enough time, so “while the agenda is different.” As previously said a source in the Kremlin administration, the Federal center is put before the heads of subjects of the Russian Federation the task to hold the Russian presidential elections legitimate, and violations will be punished. One of the participants of the expert meetings and regional authorities with representatives of the Kremlin administration noted that legitimacy is a key target parameter in the successful presidential elections. Another indicator,

Photo: RIA Novosti I gave Moscow Stockholm the invitation to visit Crimea at any convenient for Swedish side level, said Tuesday the Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “In connection with questions that the Minister asked about the situation in Crimea, we invited our Swedish colleagues on formal, informal level — politicians, journalists, experts to visit the area of the Russian Federation and to see how there really are things,” said Lavrov, after a meeting with Swedish foreign Minister Margot wallström.

The Minister of foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin © Alexander Shcherbak/TASS MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova ironically commented on the statement of foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin, during which he called the expression “about the dead either good or nothing”, “Ukrainian proverb”. “Yesterday the foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin in the anti-ecstasy agreed to what is called the expression “About the dead or good or anything” “Ukrainian proverb”. Latin they, apparently, also lyustrirovali”, – Zakharov wrote on his page in Facebook.

Shoigu said about the lack of 1300 military pilots Air and space forces of the Russian Federation are deficient in trained military pilots, said the Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. “Only in 2018 will close the deficit by flight crews,” — said Shoigu at the government hour in the state Duma. He noted that at the end of 2016, the Russian space forces lacked the 1300 pilots. Shoigu said that due to the lack of trained professionals in 2016, it was decided to return 15 thousand a dismissed military personnel. For some professions military personnel renewed for 5 years the time limit of stay on military service.

The head of the defense Ministry of Turkey stated about the differences with Russia on the Syrian Kurds ANKARA, February 22 — RIA Novosti. Moscow does not share Ankara’s position that the self-defense forces of Syrian Kurds affiliated with the outlawed Turkey Kurdistan workers ‘ party (PKK), stated defense Minister of Turkey Fikri Işık. “I heard the statement of the Russian side that Russia could work with Turkey on the (Syrian) Rakka… But as far as I can see, the liberation of Raqqa (from the banned terrorist group “Islamic state” — ed.) are now more interested in the coalition. Russia’s interests more in Aleppo and in the West of Syria. It is wrong to use the self-defense forces of Syrian Kurds in the fight against another terrorist organization. We explain to Russia that the Syrian Kurdish democratic Union Party is the same as the RPK, but I can’t say that

Ukrainian nationalists demand to legalize a trade blockade of Donbass KIEV, February 22 — RIA Novosti. Several thousand Ukrainian nationalists began at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a meeting dedicated to the third anniversary of the death of people during riots in downtown Kiev in 2014; protesters again demand to legislate a trade blockade of Donbass, the correspondent of RIA Novosti. Informed nationalists marched along the Central streets of Kiev to mark the anniversary of the events of 2014. During the procession they burned smoke bombs. Now several thousand members of the nationalist party “Freedom”, “national corpus” and “Right sector” (banned in Russia) began to rally near the Parliament building. Among the many requirements of the demonstrators — the adoption of the law on occupied territories and the ban of trade with uncontrolled Kiev territories of Donbass. The leaders of the nationalists speak from the stage, installed near the Parliament

Photo: RIA Novosti The head of the defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu commented on the statement by the head of the British war Minister Michael Fallon on “the bear, sticking paws in Libya”. It is reported by RIA Novosti. Earlier, Fallon said that Western countries do not want Russia’s contacts with Libya. According to the Minister, Moscow is in this way “validates the strength of the West” and trying to weaken NATO. “We don’t want bear stuck to their paws,” he said. In response, Shoigu said that it is unlikely in the British “the zoo grew the beast that may indicate bear”. “If we continue the “animal” theme. Their coat of arms – a lion, was it? There’s an old proverb: all lions are cats but not all cats are lions. Let everyone understands in his own Affairs.” – concluded the Minister of defence.

Photo: RIA Novosti Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin 21 February, Tuesday, will meet with the Governor of Tomsk region Sergey Zhvachkina, and will also hold a meeting with Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, RIA “Novosti”. “Today, working meetings, of which half will be devoted to regional Affairs. The President continues to communicate with regional leaders, in particular, he will receive today the Governor of Tomsk region [Sergei] Zhvachkin today will also hold a meeting with Moscow mayor [Sergei] Sobyanin”, — he said. Earlier it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the retired heads of regions.

The Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov © Mikhail Metzel/TASS MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The issues of terrorism and economy were discussed during a telephone conversation the presidents of Russia and the USA Vladimir Putin and Donald trump, but a more detailed discussion of these topics is not. This was stated to journalists by the assistant to the Russian leader Yury Ushakov. “Terrorism and the economy were discussed among the topics during the conversation the presidents, while more detailed discussions on this bill was not, as far as I know,” – said the representative of the Kremlin, commenting on the statement by the press Secretary of the White house Sean Spicer about the US plans to establish cooperation with Russia in the spheres of economy and the fight against terror.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov © Dmitry Serebryakov/TASS MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Changing the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Armenia on visa-free travel, under which Russian citizens will be able to visit Armenia for internal passports will come into force on February 23. This was announced by the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov at press conference following talks with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian. “I would like to Express my satisfaction with the fact that from tomorrow (February 23) comes into force a change in the agreement on visa-free travel, according to which (change) citizens of the Russian Federation can visit Armenia on internal passports” – said the Russian foreign Minister.