Events in Russia

[angelburst29]

December 29, 2018 - Putin to celebrate New Year with his family — Kremlin spokesman
Putin to celebrate New Year with his family — Kremlin spokesman

© Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin will celebrate New Year at home with his family, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Rossiya-1 TV channel on Friday.

"[The president will celebrate] New Year with his family," Peskov said.

The Kremlin spokesman added that the president has working meetings scheduled up until the last minutes of 2018, saying that this is "inevitable." Among events Putin will attend in the last days of 2018, there are several New Year sporting events, Peskov noted.


December 27, 2018 - Kremlin spokesman expects no surprises in president’s New Year address
Kremlin spokesman expects no surprises in president’s New Year address

© Yegor Aleyev/TASS

The traditional presidential New Year address, televised across Russia in the last minutes of the outgoing year, will be filmed in the traditional format and is unlikely to contain any surprises,
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

When asked whether any surprises should be expected, Peskov replied: "No, it is going to be traditional." "So far, we expect it to be a traditional address," he added.

Presidential addresses, aired on New Year’s eve, are traditionally recorded on the territory of the Kremlin or somewhere around. In 2000-2007, Putin’s speeches were made on the Kremlin’s Ivanovskaya Square, against the background of the Spasskaya Tower and the Kremlin Presidium. As those buildings were closed for reconstruction in 2008-2011, then President Dmitry Medvedev delivered his New Year addresses on the Patriarshy Bridge. On December 31, 2012, Putin made his address to the country’s citizens near the Kremlin’s Troitskaya Tower and the State Kremlin Palace.

Putin’s New Year address delivered on December 31, 2014, was for the first time ever filmed on the premises of the Christ the Savior Cathedral, with the Kremlin seen in the background. In 2015-2017, presidential speeches were again filmed on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin.

Year 2013 was a unique one, with two different presidential addresses aired in various areas of Russia. Far Eastern residents were shown the presidential address recorded several days before the New Year. The rest of Russia could see the video showing the president during his visit to the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, where he arrived on December 31 to support local residents affected by devastating floods. For the first time in 13 years, the congratulatory video was made indoors.

 

[Ca.]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1078592815771385856

Irkut rolls out third MC-21 and answers AirInsight questions | | AirInsight
December 27, 2018
Snip:

We followed up with a few questions to Irkut about their progress to date. Our questions were: How many days to assemble #1,#2 and now #3? Since #1 started flying, have there been any changes to the design? i.e. is #3 exactly the same as #1 and #2?

We got these answers within a few hours from a company spokesman.

1. Assembly of the MC-21 aircraft at the Irkutsk plant is done using the same technologies that will be used to assemble aircraft during serial production. This allows easier transfer to mass production, although it increases the amount of work on initial stages. Now key assembly technologies are in place, workers have received all necessary training, logistics are in place as well. This allowed us to decrease the time needed to assemble the third aircraft by 40% compared to the first one.
2. There are no major changes between the first, second and the third aircraft. However, the third aircraft has received minor changes as a result of ground and flight tests. This is normal practice while creating an absolutely new aircraft.

In our view, the rollout of the third example and the response to our questions suggests growing confidence at Irkut and UAC. Based on the 40% time decrease, the FAL’s team is well on their way down the learning curve. With each airframe completed, the time taken should continue to see improvements. Early production is planned at 20 per year, rising to 30. This suggests an initial 18 days per rollout dropping to 12 days.

For comparison purposes, Boeing is able to roll out a 737NG or MAX twice each day. Airbus is at roughly the same number. Which means Airbus and Boeing, at current rates, should have about 50 aircraft rolled out for every one MC-21 rolled out once Irkut has its FAL humming.

https://twitter.com/russiabeyond/status/1079664752551493632
Make salads, listen to the President’s speech, set off fireworks outside - what else do the Russians do on New Year's Eve?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1079290480767188992

Translated from Russian by Microsoft
The main phrase of 2018 is about the Russian counter-nuclear strike: "Why do we need such a world if there is no Russia?" for the first time since the times of the Russian Empire, we have declared that we will stand on our way to the end. One day these words will write on the monument to Putin

https://twitter.com/Russ_Warrior/status/1078625551886311424
#Russia Finishes Building Security Fence Along #Crimea-#Ukraine Border https://shar.es/aaEdmc

https://twitter.com/x/status/1078614793991475201

https://twitter.com/x/status/1079663453193654272

 

[angelburst29]

December 30, 2018 - Seven dead, dozens trapped under rubble after Russian gas blast: agencies
Seven dead, dozens trapped under rubble after Russian gas blast: agencies | Reuters

MOSCOW - As many as 40 people could still be trapped in the rubble of a Russian apartment block that partially collapsed in a gas explosion on Monday, killing at least seven people, news agencies reported.

Emergency personnel work at the site of collapsed apartment building after a suspected gas blast in Magnitogorsk, Russia December 31, 2018. Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief/Handout via REUTERS.

The blast, thought to have been caused by a gas leak, damaged 48 apartments in a nine-storey building in Magnitogorsk, an industrial city in the Urals some 1,700 km (1,050 miles) east of Moscow, the emergencies ministry said.

President Vladimir Putin flew into Magnitogorsk late on Monday afternoon, visiting the injured in hospital and meeting with local authorities, state television showed.

Putin looked on as rescue workers toiled in temperatures of -22 Celsius (-8 Fahrenheit) to locate people trapped under the debris.

Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev said at a meeting with Putin there were “presumably between 36 and 40 people under the rubble” as of Monday evening, agencies reported.

After reporting four casualties earlier in the day, Zinichev said that another three bodies had been discovered.

“We have found another three bodies but we cannot take them out (from under the rubble),” agencies quoted Zinichev as saying.

“We are working carefully because there is a risk that the building will collapse.”

Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova told state television that the chances of finding survivors were fading as the day wore on.

The blast tore through the building at around 6 a.m. (0100 GMT) when many residents were asleep, RIA news agency reported. Monday was a public holiday in Russia.

There have been several similar incidents in Russia in recent years due to aging infrastructure and poor safety regulations regarding gas usage.

In 2015, at least five people were killed when a gas explosion damaged an apartment building in the southern city of Volgograd.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Making Russia great again: Vladimir Putin chosen as politician of the year — poll


© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Russians have chosen President Vladimir Putin as politician of the year, the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center said in a statement.

"Vladimir Putin remains the politician of the year for Russians, as 46% of those polled mentioned his name," the statement reads. Putin, who was chosen by a landslide, is followed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (18%), Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (9%), Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (6%), and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky (5%).

According to the pollster, Sergei Bezrukov still tops the charts as the most popular Russian actor (8%), with Konstantin Khabensky coming in second (5%).

Among the most popular athletes are figure skater Alina Zagitova (11%), footballers Artyom Dzyuba (8%) and Igor Akinfeyev (7%) and mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov (5%).

The nationwide poll, involving 1,600 people above the age of 18, was conducted in December 2018. The margin of error does not exceed 2.5% at the 95% confidence level.

 

[angelburst29]

January 1, 2019 - Baby Boy found alive after 35 hours under rubble after Russia blast
Baby boy found alive after 35 hours under rubble after Russia blast | Reuters

MOSCOW - A baby boy has been found alive after 35 hours spent in freezing cold in the rubble of a Russian apartment block that partially collapsed in an explosion, emergency officials reported, calling it a miracle.

The blast, thought to have been caused by a gas leak, damaged 48 apartments in a 10-storey building in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk on Monday, killing at least seven people with 36 people still missing.

Video footage from the local emergency ministry showed a rescuer worker removing the baby dressed in pink socks and putting a blanket around it before he starts running toward an ambulance.

The current temperature in the city of Magnitogorsk, home to one of Russia’s largest steel plants in the Urals some 1,700 km (1,050 miles) east of Moscow, is -17 Celsius (1.4 Fahrenheit).

The fact that the 11-month-old infant, currently diagnosed with a serious freezer burn and a closed-head injury, was lying in his bed and was wrapped up in layers saved his life, TASS news agency reported, citing a regional emergency center.

The baby was found when a rescuer heard him crying and “a large-scale operation was immediately organized,” Interfax news agency reported, citing emergency officials. His removal was difficult because of unstable debris which posed risks for rescuers.

“Hundreds of people were waiting for the appearance of the injured child from under the rubble like a miracle. And the miracle happened...,” the officials were quoted as saying by Interfax. “Tears drew in the eyes of the weatherbeaten rescuers.”

The boy’s mother is alive and has already arrived to the hospital, Interfax added.

A still image taken from a video footage showsaA rescuer carries a 11-month-old child found alive in the rubble of a Russian apartment block that partially collapsed after a suspected gas blast in Magnitogorsk, Russia January 1, 2019. Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief/Handout via REUTERS TV

 

[Ant22]

The traditional presidential New Year address, televised across Russia in the last minutes of the outgoing year, will be filmed in the traditional format and is unlikely to contain any surprises,
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

When asked whether any surprises should be expected, Peskov replied: "No, it is going to be traditional." "So far, we expect it to be a traditional address," he added.

Presidential addresses, aired on New Year’s eve, are traditionally recorded on the territory of the Kremlin or somewhere around. In 2000-2007, Putin’s speeches were made on the Kremlin’s Ivanovskaya Square, against the background of the Spasskaya Tower and the Kremlin Presidium. As those buildings were closed for reconstruction in 2008-2011, then President Dmitry Medvedev delivered his New Year addresses on the Patriarshy Bridge. On December 31, 2012, Putin made his address to the country’s citizens near the Kremlin’s Troitskaya Tower and the State Kremlin Palace.

Putin’s New Year address delivered on December 31, 2014, was for the first time ever filmed on the premises of the Christ the Savior Cathedral, with the Kremlin seen in the background. In 2015-2017, presidential speeches were again filmed on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin.

Year 2013 was a unique one, with two different presidential addresses aired in various areas of Russia. Far Eastern residents were shown the presidential address recorded several days before the New Year. The rest of Russia could see the video showing the president during his visit to the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, where he arrived on December 31 to support local residents affected by devastating floods. For the first time in 13 years, the congratulatory video was made indoors.

And here it is:

Russian President Vladimir Putin Addresses People as New Year Arrives (VIDEO)

The New Year address by the Russian president just minutes before the clock strikes midnight is the most watched New Year’s Eve television broadcast in the country.

Russia has never had and will never have assistance, which is why Russians should act as a cohesive, united and strong team to undertake urgent social, economic and scientific issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday in a New Year's address.
"We have never had and will never have help. That is why it is important to be a cohesive, united and strong team. And let friendship and good hope, which unite us now, be here in the future, help us in work and in achievement of common goals," Putin said.
According to the Russian president, on New Year's Eve, all people make wishes just like children.

"And let [those wishes] be. But we all know for sure that achieving the best for ourselves, for our families, for our home country is only possible through our own efforts and joint coordinated work. We have to perform a number of urgent tasks in economy, science and technology, health care, education and culture and, most importantly, ensure that we increase prosperity and standards of living step by step," Putin stated.

The Russian president added that in 2019 every Russian citizen should see a change for the better.

The address usually begins on December 31 at 11:55 p.m. Moscow time (20:55 GMT). In his speech, the president briefly sums up the results of the outgoing year, sets priorities for the future and wishes citizens a happy New Year.

Immediately afterward, the television broadcasts the Kremlin Clock chiming a final countdown before midnight and then the national anthem is played.

 

[angelburst29]

And here it is:

Thanks, Ant22!

He's such an amazing individual! I imagine, there are more than just Russian's who look forward to seeing his New Year's Address?


January 2, 2019 - Death toll rises to 18 in Russian apartment block collapse
Death toll rises to 18 in Russian apartment block collapse | Reuters

MOSCOW - Eighteen dead bodies have been recovered from the debris of an apartment block in Russia that partially collapsed in an apparent explosion, while 23 people remained unaccounted for, the regional emergencies ministry told Reuters on Wednesday.

The blast, initially thought to have been caused by a gas leak, damaged 48 apartments in a 10-storey building in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk in the early hours on Monday, 1,700 km (1,050 miles) east of Moscow.

A baby boy was found alive on Tuesday after 35 hours spent in freezing cold in the rubble, in what emergency officials described as a miracle.

In a separate incident late on Tuesday, three people died on the same street where the building collapsed, when a minibus became engulfed in flames, TASS news agency reported citing the local government office.

Video footage purporting to show the incident, posted on social media sites, shows a burning vehicle and some bangs are heard. A police spokesman declined to comment when contacted by phone.

The reason behind the collapse of the apartment block is still being investigated, the Investigative Committee, which probes into major cries, said on its website.

It said no trace of explosives materials had been found so far on the site. The initial reports put a possible gas leak behind the collapse.

There have been several similar incidents in the country in recent years due to ageing infrastructure and poor safety regulations about gas usage. (Or something on a cosmic level - like - due to a charge buildup on the planet?)

Russian Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a partially collapsed apartment block in Magnitogorsk, Russia in this handout photo released by Russian Emergencies Ministry January 2, 2019. Russia's Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters/Handout via REUTERS

 

[angelburst29]

January 3, 2019 - Russia charges former US Marine with Espionage: Interfax
Russia charges former U.S. marine with espionage: Interfax | Reuters

MOSCOW - A former U.S. Marine detained in Russia has been charged with espionage, the Interfax news agency said on Thursday, meaning he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Russia’s FSB state security service detained Paul Whelan, 48, in Moscow last Friday on suspicion of spying, in a case which threatens to aggravate diplomatic tensions with the United States.

The FSB opened a criminal case against Whelan but gave no details of his alleged espionage activities.

Interfax said the Russian authorities had brought formal charges against Whelan on Thursday, citing what it described as an informed source. Reuters could not independently verify the Interfax report.

Whelan’s lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, declined to comment on the charges but told Reuters that under the terms of the arrest order, Whelan was expected to remain in custody in Moscow until at least Feb. 28.

“I consider his detention and arrest baseless. It’s based on investigators’ supposition that he will hinder the investigation process. We are asking for bail instead,” Zherebenkov told Reuters by telephone.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States had asked Russia to explain Whelan’s arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determines his detention is inappropriate.

Whelan’s family has said that he was visiting Moscow for the wedding of a retired Marine and is innocent of the espionage charges against him.

Under Russian law, espionage can carry sentences of between 10 and 20 years in prison.

“FEELING POSITIVE”
Zherebenkov said Whelan, who is being held at the Lefortovo detention facility in Moscow, was “feeling positive” and that a translator was explaining the legal procedures to him.

“All his rights and all international principles are being fully followed,” Zherebenkov said.

Slideshow (4 Images)
Russia charges former U.S. marine with espionage: Interfax | Reuters


January 1, 2019 - US demands Russia explain American's detention on spying charges
Russia charges former U.S. marine with espionage: Interfax | Reuters

Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia for suspected spying, appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family on January 1, 2019. Courtesy Whelan Family/Handout via REUTERS

The United States wants an explanation for why Russia detained a former U.S. Marine on spying charges in Moscow and will demand his immediate return if it determines his detention is inappropriate, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman visited the detained man, Paul Whelan, at a detention facility in Moscow and spoke by phone with his family, the State Department said. The United States had expressed concern through diplomatic channels over delayed access to Whelan, who was detained on Friday, a department spokesman said in a statement.

“We’ve made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges, come to understand what it is he’s been accused of and if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return,” Pompeo said in Brasilia, where he attended the inauguration of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday.

Russia’s FSB state security service opened a criminal case against Whelan but it gave no details of his suspected espionage activities. Under Russian law, espionage can carry a prison sentence of between 10 and 20 years.

Whelan’s family said on Tuesday that he was visiting Moscow for the wedding of a retired Marine and is innocent of the espionage charges against him. He had been staying with the wedding party at Moscow’s Metropol hotel when he went missing, his brother David said.

“His innocence is undoubted and we trust that his rights will be respected,” Whelan’s family said in a statement.

David Whelan told CNN that his brother, who had served in Iraq, has been to Russia many times in the past for both work and personal trips, and had been acting as a tour guide for some of the wedding guests. His friends filed a missing persons report in Moscow after his disappearance, his brother said.

David Whelan did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.

Paul Whelan is 48 and lives in Novi, Michigan, according to public records.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from May 10, 1994 to Dec. 2, 2008 and the highest rank he attained was staff sergeant, according to records provided by the Pentagon. Whelan was discharged for bad conduct following his conviction by court martial on charges related to larceny, the Pentagon said.

BorgWarner Inc (BWA.N), a Michigan-based automotive parts supplier, said Whelan is the company’s director of global security and oversees the safety of its facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and other locations.

According to the company’s website, it does not have any locations in Russia.


Jan. 2, 2019 - American Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines on charges of theft - newspaper
American Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines on charges of theft - newspaper

US national Paul Whelan, detained in Moscow on suspicion of espionage, was discharged from the US Marines on larceny charges, The Washington Post said.

"He enlisted in the Marines in 1994 and rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant, serving two tours in Iraq, in 2004 and 2006, according to military records released to The Post. Whelan was discharged for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of several charges related to larceny, according to the records," the newspaper wrote.

According to the Washington Post, "Whelan works as the corporate security director for BorgWarner, an automotive parts supplier based in Auburn Hills, Mich., that has business contracts in Russia." Paul Whelan’s brother David said that he was responsible for physical security issues.

The Washington post added, citing "Whelan’s brother and Russian acquaintances" that "he has been visiting Russia since 2007." "Several Russian acquaintances described Whelan as a friendly man who greatly appreciated Russia and had a basic command of the language."

Whelan’s brother said that Paul had arrived in Russia to attend the wedding of a fellow former Marine and a Russian woman.

American’s detention
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday that Whelan had been detained in Moscow on December 28 while on a spy mission. The FSB Investigative Department opened an investigation under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code (espionage), which carries a punishment of ten to 20 years in prison. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the US embassy in Moscow had been notified about Whelan’s detention in accordance with the bilateral consular convention.

According to the US State Department, diplomats have requested consular access to the detained. The Washington Post pointed out that the Vienna Convention "dictates that consular access must be provided within a 72-hour window from the time of arrest" but "US government shutdown may have hindered this process, said a person familiar with Whelan’s case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case." "The person added that it could take months before the case is resolved," the paper said.


Jan. 2, 2019 - American Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines on charges of theft - newspaper
American Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines on charges of theft - newspaper

US national Paul Whelan, detained in Moscow on suspicion of espionage, was discharged from the US Marines on larceny charges, The Washington Post said.

"He enlisted in the Marines in 1994 and rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant, serving two tours in Iraq, in 2004 and 2006, according to military records released to The Post. Whelan was discharged for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of several charges related to larceny, according to the records," the newspaper wrote.

According to the Washington Post, "Whelan works as the corporate security director for BorgWarner, an automotive parts supplier based in Auburn Hills, Mich., that has business contracts in Russia." Paul Whelan’s brother David said that he was responsible for physical security issues.

The Washington post added, citing "Whelan’s brother and Russian acquaintances" that "he has been visiting Russia since 2007." "Several Russian acquaintances described Whelan as a friendly man who greatly appreciated Russia and had a basic command of the language."

Whelan’s brother said that Paul had arrived in Russia to attend the wedding of a fellow former Marine and a Russian woman.

 

[Voyageur]

And here it is:

Putin said.
According to the Russian president, on New Year's Eve, all people make wishes just like children.

"And let [those wishes] be. But we all know for sure that achieving the best for ourselves, for our families, for our home country is only possible through our own efforts and joint coordinated work. We have to perform a number of urgent tasks in economy, science and technology, health care, education and culture and, most importantly, ensure that we increase prosperity and standards of living step by step," Putin stated.

Nice!

January 3, 2019 - Russia charges former US Marine with Espionage: Interfax

Whelan was discharged for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of several charges related to larceny, according to the records," the newspaper wrote.

According to the Washington Post, "Whelan works as the corporate security director for BorgWarner, an automotive parts supplier based in Auburn Hills, Mich., that has business contracts in Russia." Paul Whelan’s brother David said that he was responsible for physical security issues.

Interesting. It is not a small company having "29,000 worldwide" employees and operating in 66 locations in 18 countries. Director of Corp/Security is no small matter and Whelan was certainly well familiar, as was said, in Moscow to run a tour for the party.

As an aside, his brother is Canadian and I think Whelan moved down to the states (must have married) and then joined the Marines.

I'm sure the Russians would not have arrested him unless they have some damn good evidence.

 

[angelburst29]

Interesting. It is not a small company having "29,000 worldwide" employees and operating in 66 locations in 18 countries. Director of Corp/Security is no small matter and Whelan was certainly well familiar, as was said, in Moscow to run a tour for the party.

As an aside, his brother is Canadian and I think Whelan moved down to the states (must have married) and then joined the Marines.

I'm sure the Russians would not have arrested him unless they have some damn good evidence.

A specific reason for his arrest hasn't been announced yet ... but the first thing that came to my mind, when I read that Whelan was "the corporate security director for BorgWarner, an automotive parts supplier" ... was Putin's new Russian built Presidential Motorcade (and other accessories) that were featured in the Putin Thread. Some prototype's will be made available to the public. Maybe, Whelan was after blueprints of auto parts or something along that line?

Putin on TV: Documentaries and TV appearances by the Russian president

05.08.2018 - Want a Bike like the ones in Putin's Motorcade? Soon you'll get your chance
Want a Bike Like the Ones in Putin's Motorcade? Soon You'll Get Your Chance

The new vehicles of the Russian presidential motorcade made a splash among automotive enthusiasts after their debut this spring, with limos, sedans, and minivans spotted around Moscow and in Helsinki during last month's Russia-US summit. But details about the project's motorcycle have remained shrouded in mystery, until now.

Sergei Chemezov, CEO of the Rostec state corporation, the company in charge of building the new bikes, has told Sputnik that they will be sold to the public.

We plan to sell the motorcycle on the open market. There it will be marketed under the Izh brand," Chemezov said. "This is a prominent brand going back to the Soviet period, and currently belongs to our subsidiary Kalashnikov Concern, which is responsible for the work on the new vehicle," he added.

Although he couldn't promise that the bike for sale to the public would be identical to the presidential motorcade version, Chemezov noted that "it will definitely use the design and technical solutions used" in the Kortezh (Cortege) project version.

The bike will be sold both in Russia and abroad, the official confirmed. The price has yet to be set. Series production of the motorcycle has yet to begin. Earlier, Chemezov told reporters that the Kortezh motorcycle would start production in 2019 at the earliest.

According to publically available information, the Kortzeh motorcycle, which has yet to receive a name, has a curb weight of a whopping 500 kg, a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 250 km/h, and an engine putting out close to 150 hp. Rostec has promised that when completed, the bike will match or surpass the standards of its foreign competitors. At the moment, the Kremlin Garage uses Ural and BMW motorcycles to accompany the presidential motorcade.

Last month, a company involved the Kortezh project confirmed that the new vehicles have already received interest from foreign governments. On July 6, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said that a company from the UAE would be investing some 110 million euros in the Kortezh project.

Plans are in place to market the vehicles in the civilian market under the Aurus brand name starting in 2019. In addition to the limousine, sedan, minivan and motorcycle, a Kortezh SUV is also in the works, and is also expected to be introduced in 2019, with a prototype to be completed before the end of 2018.

Named after the Kremlin Towers, the Kortezh's limousine and sedan are called the 'Senate', the minivan the 'Arsenal', and the SUV the 'Kommandant'.

 

[Voyageur]

A specific reason for his arrest hasn't been announced yet ... but the first thing that came to my mind, when I read that Whelan was "the corporate security director for BorgWarner, an automotive parts supplier" ... was Putin's new Russian built Presidential Motorcade (and other accessories) that were featured in the Putin Thread. Some prototype's will be made available to the public.
Maybe, Whelan was after blueprints of auto parts or something along that line?

Perhaps, yet what else is BorgWarner into, if anything, I'm not sure, and or was Whelan playing a duality? The thing that stands out with Whelan is Military=convicted of several charges related to larceny (not specified). Corporation=Whelan works as the corporate security director.

The first is pretty serious (probably more than appropriating a few pencils) and would look poorly on a future resume and yet he is hired for one of the 'top' jobs at BorgWarner?

In another article it says:

"He was convicted at a special court-martial in January 2008 on several charges related to larceny and was given a bad-conduct discharge in December 2008 at the rank of private.

Whelan's last place of duty was Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California."

and:

"Whelan also worked as a Chelsea police officer from 1988-2000 as well as for the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, he testified in a 2013 court deposition.

In 2001, Whelan began work at Kelly Services, a Troy-based company that offers consulting, temporary workers and workforce solutions to businesses around the world. He took a military leave of absence from Kelly Services, he testified, to serve in Iraq.

At Kelly Services, his title was senior manager of global security and investigations. His job included campus security as well as electronic and IT-related security. He left the company in 2016 and started working for BorgWarner, an Auburn Hills-based auto supplier, in 2017, according to company spokeswoman Kathy Graham.

His job at BorgWarner involves overseeing security for "facilities, assets and people" in Auburn Hills and around the world, Graham said."

He may have aquired many special skills in the military that made him just right for his later job with BorgWarner.

I guess we will have to wait and see what the FSB charges him with.

PS. Thanks, that is one interesting bike and can see why it has some attention.

According to publically available information, the Kortzeh motorcycle, which has yet to receive a name, has a curb weight of a whopping 500 kg, a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 250 km/h, and an engine putting out close to 150 hp. Rostec has promised that when completed, the bike will match or surpass the standards of its foreign competitors. At the moment, the Kremlin Garage uses Ural and BMW motorcycles to accompany the presidential motorcade.

 

[angelburst29]

Perhaps, yet what else is BorgWarner into, if anything, I'm not sure, and or was Whelan playing a duality? The thing that stands out with Whelan is Military=convicted of several charges related to larceny (not specified). Corporation=Whelan works as the corporate security director.

The first is pretty serious (probably more than appropriating a few pencils) and would look poorly on a future resume and yet he is hired for one of the 'top' jobs at BorgWarner?

Interesting resume'? Yet, I don't see any indications - he served any jail time?

"He enlisted in the Marines in 1994 and rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant, serving two tours in Iraq, in 2004 and 2006, according to military records released to The Post. Whelan was discharged for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of several charges related to larceny, according to the records," the newspaper wrote.

As noted, "several charges to larceny" when he was serving in Iraq, as Staff Sergeant brings to mind, a later report (2013-14) of three Staff members in charge of jet fuel allocation, cooking the books to show a lower inventory and selling the difference to independent buyers and pocketing the proceeds. Apparently, this was an on-going problem at "several" US Military bases in Iraq. The three were charged, demoted and kicked out of the service. Of course, this is only speculation on my part because "larceny" could include any number of things. This is just one example but it netted those three individuals - over $100,000 a piece - prior to being arrested and convicted. They didn't get any jail time, either.

Considering his employment record (after Iraq) maybe he's moonlighting with one of the ABC agencies? Espionage is a serious charge.

 

[Voyageur]

Interesting resume'? Yet, I don't see any indications - he served any jail time?

I don't know exactly how the military works - being found guilty of an offense is either time in the stockade or being drummed out.

Considering his employment record (after Iraq) maybe he's moonlighting with one of the ABC agencies? Espionage is a serious charge.

My thought, too (which might be baseless).

Yes, that is a very serious charge, hence the Russians would not take it lightly without due cause, OSIT.

 

[angelburst29]

Interesting. It is not a small company having "29,000 worldwide" employees and operating in 66 locations in 18 countries. Director of Corp/Security is no small matter and Whelan was certainly well familiar, as was said, in Moscow to run a tour for the party.

As an aside, his brother is Canadian and I think Whelan moved down to the states (must have married) and then joined the Marines.

I'm sure the Russians would not have arrested him unless they have some damn good evidence.

Whelan might have a legit reason to have several passports - considering BorgWarner operates in 18 countries? Along with US, Canadian, and UK passports, there's also one for Ireland.

Jan. 4, 2019 - Whelan detained in Russia may hold not only US and British passports, says source
Whelan detained in Russia may hold not only US and British passports, says source

Paul Whelan detained in Russia on suspicion of spying may hold passports of other countries apart from the US and British citizenship, a source in Russia’s Foreign Ministry told TASS on Friday.

"I believe the British citizenship and American citizenship are not the last," he said.

Earlier reports said that Whelan also holds British citizenship. A representative of the British embassy in Russia confirmed to TASS that Whelan detained on suspicion of espionage holds a British passport, and that London had requested consular access to him. Russian Foreign Ministry said that the request of the British side is under consideration. Media reports said that Whelan also carried passports from Canada and Ireland.

 

[angelburst29]

More information on Whelan. His Brother David is a twin. For nearly a decade, he has had an account on VKontakte, which means In Contact. More details on his Military record.

January 05, 2019 - Jailed American spent years collecting Russian contacts
Jailed American spent years collecting Russian contacts

A US corporate security executive and former Marine who has been jailed in Moscow on spying charges has spent more than a decade cultivating friends and contacts in Russia, both virtual and real.

Paul Whelan sought out friends throughout the country, most often through a social networking site that is similar to Facebook and popular largely in Russia. Several told The Associated Press that the American never seemed sinister, merely someone who was interested in Russia and wanted to be pen pals.

“I know him as a friendly, polite, educated, and easygoing guy,” said one of his contacts, who, like the other Russians interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity because of Whelan’s legal troubles.

Whelan was arrested Dec. 28 while on a two-week visit to the country and has been charged with espionage. The Russian government has so far given no details about the allegations against him, but a close look at his social media history suggests why he might have come to the attention of the Russian security services, regardless of his motives.

He has collected dozens of contacts on the social media site, nearly all of them men, many of whom have at least some connection to the military.

His family back home says he was nothing more than a tourist. In a Washington Post op-ed published Friday, his twin brother, David, urged the US government to pressure Russia to release him.

“Paul is a kind and considerate brother, son and uncle, and a generous and loyal friend,” he wrote. “He travels as often as he can, both for work and pleasure. He is many things to many people, but he is not a spy.”

Whelan, 48, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of spying. He is also a citizen of Britain, Canada and Ireland, which brings international pressure on Russia from several fronts. He was born in Canada to British parents, but grew up in Michigan, where he now lives.

His family said he was in Moscow over the holidays for the wedding of a fellow former Marine and had planned to travel to St. Petersburg before flying home this weekend. Instead he’s in Lefortovo, a notorious prison run by the KGB in Soviet times and still used for foreigners accused of spying.

Whelan has been visiting Russia since at least 2007, when he took advantage of a military program for Marines deployed in Iraq that gave them 15 days of leave and paid for the travel. Even before then, he had begun developing a network of contacts throughout Russia. Some said they met him online in 2006 and became “pen pals,” trading practice in English for Russian.
Whelan seemed fascinated with Russia and its culture, they said.

For nearly a decade, he has had an account on VKontakte, which means In Contact. Of his 58 friends at the time of his arrest, 54 were men. Many attended universities affiliated with the military, civil aviation or technical studies. Many share his interest in sports and firearms.

“We was guys with guns,” wrote another of his friends, who said he was a student working nights as a security guard when he first met Whalen online.

Both men, who live in separate Russian cities far from Moscow, said they first met Whelan in person in 2008 when he traveled around the country to meet some of his new friends. Others said they have only communicated online.

Whelan’s brother said it would not be surprising to find Russian soldiers among his contacts. “I’m pretty sure that some of the people he knows through social media are probably Russian soldiers because there are a lot of Russian soldiers and he probably knows one,” David Whelan said in an interview.

One of Paul Whelan’s friends on VKontakte said he believed the arrest was a mistake because a true spy would never act as openly as he did. He said Whelan gave him his home address and they exchanged Christmas cards.

Former CIA officers also have expressed doubts that Whelan was working for US intelligence. They note that the CIA would be unlikely to use someone in Russia without diplomatic immunity and leave them vulnerable to arrest.

Whelan’s Marine record also would likely prevent US intelligence from hiring him. He began active duty with the Marines in 2003 and was deployed twice to Iraq, rising to staff sergeant. But his military career ended with a court martial in 2008, when he was convicted on charges that included attempted larceny and dereliction of duty.

Court documents released by the military show he was accused of attempting to steal more than $10,000 while on duty in Iraq, where he worked as a clerk, in September 2006. He was also convicted of using a false social security number and profile for a military computer system to grade his own examinations, and of writing 10 bad checks totaling around $6,000.

He was dropped two grades in rank and given a bad conduct discharge from the Marine Corps.

“This guy is not an intel asset,” said Malcom Nance, a veteran intelligence officer. “He’s not the type of person you would use as an asset. There is no way.”

Nance said he suspects Russian intelligence officers have been watching Whelan for years, wondering if they could use him in some way and maybe trying to flip him.

A member of Russia’s parliament suggested Friday that once the investigation into Whelan was completed, he could be swapped for Maria Butina, a Russian woman jailed in the US since July. She pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to act as a foreign agent by trying to infiltrate conservative circles and the National Rifle Association to influence US politics.

However, she has been cooperating with federal prosecutors and is unlikely to spend too much time behind bars. Federal sentencing guidelines call for no jail time to six months.

After his discharge, Whelan returned to his job in the temporary staffing company Kelly Services, based in Troy, Michigan, where he had worked since 2001 in the IT department until taking the leave of military absence. He was Kelly’s head of global security and investigations until 2016.

Early the following year, Whelan joined auto parts supplier BorgWarner as global security director. BorgWarner, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, has facilities around the world but none in Russia and he never traveled to the country for business, company spokeswoman Kathy Graham said.