Events in Russia

Aug 10 2019 - Russian FM: Washington Meddled in Moscow Anti-Gov't Unrest by Mapping Protest Locations Online

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Minister-Counselor of the US Embassy in Moscow Tim Richardson over a publication on the diplomatic mission’s website about the unauthorized August 3 rally in Moscow.

Russian FM: Washington Meddled in Moscow Anti-Gov't Unrest by Mapping Protest Locations Online


"On August 9, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Minister-Counselor of the US Embassy in Moscow Tim Richardson. He was
reprimanded in connection with publishing information about an unauthorized rally in Moscow on August 3 on the official account of the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs on the Twitter social network and on the Diplomatic Mission's website", the foreign ministry said, TASS reported.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that it viewed "the publication of the protest route, drawn up by the organizers of the unauthorized event, as agitation towards participating in it and an appeal for action, which represents an attempt at meddling in our Country's Domestic Affairs".

The US Embassy (in Russia) had published a map of downtown Moscow that flagged sites where anti-government rallies were about to happen on August 3. The map went public a day before the protests, which led the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to believe that the US Mission had known before hand where the unrest would take place,
according to RT.

Moscow witnessed a string of opposition rallies on August 3 and, a week earlier on July 27, with opposition activists protesting the city’s decision to disqualify numerous independent candidates over alleged procedural fraud. Over 2,000 people were detained by police during both rallies.

Moscow’s opposition leaders plan to push ahead with more protests this Saturday. Activists in other big Russian cities are also likely to follow suit.

Aug 11 2019 +130 Detained in Moscow After Protesters Break off from Peaceful Rally to Walk Streets
+130 Detained in Moscow After Protesters Break off from Peaceful Rally to Walk Streets

Dozens of arrests were made in Moscow after groups of activists heeded calls for unauthorized protest walks through central streets, after the opposition rally that gathered tens of thousands and went off without incident.

A rally in support of opposition candidates, who’d been barred from the Moscow City Council election over paperwork irregularities, concluded Saturday evening with conflicting attendance estimates, ranging from 20,000 to 50,000, however, not everyone went home after the event on Sakharov Avenue was over, RT reported.

Several hundred people marched from the downtown Moscow’s main rally site deeper into the city center, making their way to Maroseika Street and the surrounding areas – full of restaurants and clubs and within walking distance from the Kremlin – to continue their protest there, chanting anti-government slogans.

Scores of riot police in helmets and bulletproof vests arrived on site and blocked the traffic on the street. They used loud speakers to persuade the protesters to disperse.

Those who refused the appeal were arrested en masse. At least 136 were detained “for various violations”, according to the Interior Ministry. Conflicting unofficial figures claimed nearly twice as many detentions were made.

Calls to go on “peaceful walks” after the Saturday rally appeared on social media in the run up to the event. Police and authorities warned that any unsanctioned marches would be immediately curbed, citing public security concerns.

Moscow has witnessed several unauthorized rallies over the past few weekends, after some opposition figures called on their followers to take to streets and storm the City Council over the disqualified candidates. Scuffles during the protests were met with a strong police response, with over 2,300 arrested. The vast majority of them were fined and set free, but some of the activists, who faced charges of provoking mass unrest and public disturbances, remain in custody.

Russia, after protests, tells Google not to advertise "illegal" events
People attend a rally to demand authorities allow opposition candidates to run in the upcoming local election in Moscow, Russia August 10, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Russia's state communications watchdog said on Sunday it had asked Google <GOOGL.O> to stop advertising "illegal mass events" on its YouTube video platform.

Russian telecom watchdog urges Google to ban promoting illegal rallies on YouTube
1228247.jpg

© EPA-EFE/Julien de Rosa

MOSCOW, August 11, 2019 - Russian telecom and media watchdog has sent a letter to Google demanding that it stop using YouTube video hosting for promoting unauthorized rallies, Roskomnadzor said on its website on Sunday.

"Roskomnadzor has sent to Google a letter demanding that it take measures to prevent the advertising of unauthorized mass events on YouTube video hosting owned by the company," the statement said.

According to the telecom watchdog, "some structures" were buying YouTube advertising tools (push notifications) with the goal of disseminating information about unauthorized events aimed at disrupting elections at various levels across Russia. These push notifications are also sent to the users, who have not signed up for YouTube channels of these structures.

Unless Google takes response measures, Russia will consider this as meddling in its sovereign affairs and hindering democratic elections in the country, Roskomnadzor said, noting that it would give an adequate response.

Earlier on Sunday, the chairman of the Federation Council’s temporary commission for the protection of state sovereignty and prevention of interference in Russia’s internal affairs, Andrei Klimov, said in a statement that foreign forces used YouTube video hosting during the August 10 authorized rally on Moscow's Sakharov Avenue in order to manipulate Russian citizens, encouraging them to violate law. The rally on August 10 was the fourth in support of independent candidates at the upcoming election to the Moscow City Duma (parliament). The previous rallies were held on July 20, July 27 and August 3, with only the first one of them being authorized.

Foreign forces used YouTube to manipulate protesters in Moscow - senator
The rally on August 10 was the fourth in support of independent candidates at the upcoming election to the Moscow City Duma.
1228245.jpg

© Valery Sharufulin/TASS

MOSCOW, August 11. /TASS/. Foreign forces used YouTube video hosting during the August 10 authorized rally on Moscow’s Sakharov Avenue in order to manipulate Russian citizens, encouraging them to violate law, the chairman of the Federation Council’s temporary commission for the protection of state sovereignty and prevention of interference in Russia’s internal affairs, Andrei Klimov, said in a statement.

"In particular, according to our information, on August 10, our foreign opponents took advantage of information and computer technologies (including popular video hosting YouTube) in order to manipulate Russian citizens, who attended an authorized rally on Moscow's Sakharov Avenue", the senator said.

"Simply speaking, people started receiving on their gadgets information from the sources, for which they had never signed up", the senator said. This information was of instigative nature, encouraging citizens to violate law by sending them to protected federal facilities, he explained.

Under Article 33 of the Russian Criminal Code, instigators are persons who encourage others to commit crimes by persuasion, bribery and other means.

These technologies cannot be used without the assistance of certain Western organizations and owners of network companies,
the senator noted. These facts won’t be left unanswered by the commission, he warned.

In this context, Klimov noted that on August 8, the commission officially cited the facts of blatant and illegal foreign meddling in the country’s sovereign affairs in connection with the election to the Moscow City Duma. "Unfortunately, these attempts of meddling continued today," he said.

Thousands defy crackdown in Moscow's biggest protest for years
Law enforcement officers detain a man after a rally to demand authorities allow opposition candidates to run in the upcoming local election in Moscow, Russia August 10, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Tens of thousands of Russians staged what a monitoring group called the country's biggest political protest for eight years on Saturday, defying a crackdown to demand free elections to Moscow's city legislature.

Russian protesters gather outside presidential administration building
Russian riot police ringed off the presidential administration building in Moscow on Saturday after a crowd gathered nearby following an opposition rally and hundreds more were seen walking toward the area chanting, Reuters witnesses said.
 
'The same picture as in Venezuela:' Maria Zakharova blasted the US embassy for attempting to interfere in Russia's internal affairs, while Crimea authorities have repelled a massive cyberattack on the E-Government systems.

By Drago Bosnic - On Aug 14, 2019

14.08.2019
 
«Героем себя не считаю»: командир экипажа Airbus A321 рассказал об аварийной посадке в Подмосковье

Translation
"I do not consider myself a hero": the commander of the Airbus A321 crew told about the emergency landing in the Moscow region

Damir Yusupov, the commander of the airliner A321, made an emergency landing in the suburbs, told how he made the decision after the engine failure. According to him, at first one turbine failed and the crew intended to return to the airport Zhukovsky, where the plane took off a few minutes earlier. However, then the second engine also began to lose power. At that moment Yusupov realized that an emergency landing was inevitable. The incident occurred on the morning of August 15. According to the preliminary version, the engines of the aircraft, on Board of which there were 226 passengers and seven crew members, got a few seagulls, because of what the pilots had to urgently land the car on a cornfield, without releasing the chassis. As a result of emergency 75 people asked for medical help, one was hospitalized.
On the morning of August 15, the Airbus A321 aircraft of Ural airlines made an emergency landing immediately after departure from the Zhukovsky airport near Moscow.
The Board carried out flight on route 178 Zhukovsky, Simferopol. According to the Federal air transport Agency, immediately after takeoff, the aircraft collided with a flock of gulls, birds hit the engines led to "interruptions in their work." The crew decided to make an emergency landing on a corn field near the runway. The plane landed successfully with the landing gear retracted and the engines turned off. On Board were 226 passengers and seven crew members.
According to the commander of the crew Damir Yusupov, the decision on what actions to take in this situation has changed several times. He noted that the engines are in turn. After the first engine failed, the pilot planned to gain altitude and return to Zhukovsky. However, after the failure of the second engine, he realized that to avoid an emergency landing will not succeed.

"The decision has changed several times... I planned to gain some altitude, to linger, to failover (engine. — RT), make a decision, calculate everything. But, as it turned out, there was little time at all. With one engine, we planned to return," the crew commander said.

At the same time Yusupov noted that the decision not to release the chassis, he took deliberately, because it was safer in an emergency landing. The pilot also said that other options were considered, but he believes that he made the right choice.

"There were other options, but it's good that we did not take them, because we sat without rolls, with a normal pitch angle, softened (landing. — RT). If I had made other attempts to return... I do not know how it could end," — said the pilot.

He also said that he did not see a large cluster of birds before takeoff.

In addition, Yusupov said that he did not consider himself a hero.

"Many people say that the hero, but the hero himself, to be honest, did not feel, because he performed what had to perform, saved the plane, passengers, crew. I think that was the only solution. I do not consider myself a hero," Yusupov said on the TV channel "Russia 1".

"Heroes-pilots»
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov called the pilots A321 heroes.

"The passengers and crew were alive. We wish a speedy recovery to those who suffered, and congratulate the heroes-pilots who saved lives and put the plane", — RIA Novosti reported Peskov's words.

The fact that the disaster was avoided thanks to the professionalism of the crew, said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

"We had an accident. Thanks to the very skillful action of the crew, it was possible to prevent a catastrophe, it was possible to prevent the death of people," Medvedev said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

He noted that the special Commission has to understand the reasons of an event. Medvedev also pointed out that the pilots should be presented to the awards.

"It is obvious that the actions of the crew deserve the highest praise. As a result of the consideration of this situation, it will be necessary, apparently, to prepare documents on how to present them to the state awards," he said.

The professionalism of the team
The professionalism and coherence of the crew was highly appreciated by officials and experts. So, the head of Rosaviatsia Alexander Neradko noted that the team acted "competently, professionally and courageously".

"The crew made the only right decision in this situation — to land directly in front of a corn field," — reports TASS words of the official.

At the same time, the crew members showed professionalism not only during landing, but also after it, when organizing the evacuation of passengers from the aircraft.
Former designer of Sukhoi design Bureau Vadim Lukashevich in an interview with RT noted that the pilots faced an extremely difficult task.

"Brilliant action. It can be seen that the birds were almost at the end of the run, they had no choice but to try to fly... They could turn over, break, because the plane just took off, he had fuel to Simferopol, and maybe on the way back. His weight is obviously above the maximum landing... The pilots worked great," he commented on the situation.

Vadim Bazykin, test pilot, honored pilot of Russia and General Director and co-owner of JSC "Spark+airline"agree with him.

"The crew looked great in this situation, takeoff is the most difficult part of the flight... When there is a failure at such heights, there are still time and speed limits. The crew performed the actions flawlessly," the expert said in an interview with RT.

The commander of the aircraft, made an emergency landing - 41-year-old Damir Yusupov. In 2013, he graduated with honors from Buguruslan flight school of civil aviation, after which he entered the Ural airlines. He became the commander of the aircraft in 2018, the total time of his flight exceeds 3000 hours. Yusupov is married and has two children.

The co-pilot, George Murzin, began working in the airline only last year. The pilot is 23 years old, in 2017 he graduated from the St. Petersburg state University of civil aviation. Its total flight time is more than 600 hours, reports TASS.

The Governor of Sverdlovsk region Yevgeny Kuyvashev has published in his Instagram a list of the crew of the A321.

"The heroic crew of flight "the Ural airlines": KVS — Damir Yusupov, the co-pilot — George Murzin, senior flight attendant — Dmitry Ulicki, flight attendant — Nadezhda Vershinina, flight attendant — Dmitry Goncharenko, flight attendant — Aliya Lakaeva, flight attendant — Yana Yagodina", — he listed the team of the liner.
Eyewitness
Eyewitnesses told RT details of the emergency landing. According to them, right after take-off they heard a characteristic sound of the engine which can't be started.

"We have not started to gain a normal height, which should be. Began to gradually fall. The distinctive sound appeared from time to time when it tries to start but does not start. Hard landing, silence... We were not warned — in the sense that prepare. Many, can, films look with this. There was nothing there, we just understood that everything. I have a small child, three years old, I pressed her to the seat so that she did not shake, although she was wearing a seat belt," the passenger shared her impressions.

At the same time, she is sure that the chief pilot of the aircraft did everything in his power to carry out a successful landing.

"We saw the field, I see that we are approaching, have already started to group, I started to press the children. But in a few seconds we knew we were falling. He (the commander of the aircraft. — RT) as well as possible worked, planted. He deserves credit. He came out, we applauded him, we all ran to say thank you. I think he did everything he could," the girl concluded.

Some passengers claim that they saw flames during landing.

"I saw a fire that erupted with clapping. The fire was strong enough," — told RT one of the women.

Victim assistance
Of the 226 passengers on Board, 74 people asked for medical help, including 19 children, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Moscow Central Board of the Ministry of emergency situations. One person was hospitalized. There were no deaths as a result of the incident.

All passengers of the flight are insured and will receive payments, TASS quotes the words of the commercial Director of the airline Kirill Skuratov. He also said that after a medical examination, passengers will be delivered to Domodedovo, where multiple flights will bring in Simferopol.

However, some passengers eventually refused to fly to Simferopol, Zhukovsky reported. 50 people returned the tickets, the rest changed the date of departure.
Incident investigation
Ural transport Prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the emergency landing of the aircraft, stated in a statement on the website of the organization. Earlier, the inspection was initiated by the Moscow interregional transport Prosecutor's office.

The investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case on violation of the rules of traffic safety and operation of air transport, told RIA Novosti in the press service of the Department.

"The investigative authorities of the Moscow interregional investigation Department on transport of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part 1 of article 263 of the criminal code ("Violation of the rules of traffic safety and operation of air transport") on the fact of a hard landing of a passenger plane EN route

Experts have already taken the black boxes from the aircraft, they will be sent for examination.

"The boxes were seized and will be sent to the interstate aviation Committee for decoding," TASS said, citing a source in law enforcement agencies.
«Героем себя не считаю»: командир экипажа Airbus A321 рассказал об аварийной посадке в Подмосковье
 
«Героем себя не считаю»: командир экипажа Airbus A321 рассказал об аварийной посадке в Подмосковье

Translation
"I do not consider myself a hero": the commander of the Airbus A321 crew told about the emergency landing in the Moscow region

Russian pilots land plane in cornfield, earn Kremlin praise
A still image, taken from a drone video footage, shows the Ural Airlines Airbus 321 passenger plane following an emergency landing in a field near Zhukovsky International Airport in Moscow Region, Russia August 15, 2019. Moscow News Agency/Handout via REUTERS

Two Russian pilots safely landed an airliner carrying 233 people in a cornfield outside Moscow after striking a flock of birds, prompting the Kremlin to hail them as heroes who will receive top state awards.

Kremlin hails emergency landing pilots as heroes
The Kremlin will bestow state awards on two pilots who made a successful emergency landing of a passenger plane with 233 people on board near Moscow on Thursday.

Russia flies nuclear-capable bombers to region facing Alaska
FILE PHOTO: Russian army Tupolev Tu-160 (R) and Tupolev Tu-22M3 fly in formation over St. Basil's Cathedral during the rehearsal for the Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russia May 4, 2019.  REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva/File Photo

Russia said on Wednesday it had flown two nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers to a far eastern Russian region opposite Alaska as part of a training exercise that state media said showed Moscow's ability to park nuclear arms on the United States' doorstep.

Kremlin warns of foreign espionage as scientists chafe under new restrictions
The Kremlin said on Wednesday Russia must be vigilant in protecting its industrial secrets against foreign intelligence services after scientists criticized new restrictions on them meeting foreigners.

Armed security officers search office of Russian rights group
FILE PHOTO: A board at a tram stop reads Human rights in front of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, July 26, 2013. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo

Russian security officers armed with automatic rifles on Wednesday searched the Moscow offices of a rights group that represents the interests of Russian nationals in the European Court of Human Rights, the group said.

Future of last nuclear pact between Russia and U.S. uncertain: U.S. envoy
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, left, as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stands behind prior to their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The last major nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States is outdated and flawed, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow said on Wednesday, saying it could be scrapped altogether when it expires in 2021 and replaced with something else.

Kremlin says WTO's existence would be in doubt if U.S., others left
FILE PHOTO: The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, July 26, 2018.  REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the existence of the World Trade Organization (WTO) would be in serious doubt if major economies such as the United States left it, a prospect raised a day earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kremlin says it is winning arms race against U.S. despite rocket accident
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the troops during the military parade during the Navy Day celebration in St.Petersburg, Russia, July 28, 2019. Dmitri Lovetsky/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The Kremlin boasted on Tuesday it was winning the race to develop new cutting edge nuclear weapons despite a mysterious rocket accident last week in northern Russia that caused a temporary spike in radiation levels.

Russia pays tribute to dead nuclear workers, vows to develop new weapons
Russia held a memorial service on Monday for five scientists killed in a mysterious explosion last week after an official at their research institute suggested they had been working on developing a small nuclear reactor. Rough cut (no reporter narration).

Russia's top nuclear official promised on Monday to succeed in developing new weapons as he paid tribute to five scientists killed in what U.S. experts suspect was the botched test of a new missile vaunted by President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow court allows opposition candidate to run after protest: TASS
People attend a rally to demand authorities allow opposition candidates to run in the upcoming local election in Moscow, Russia August 10, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The Moscow city court cancelled a decision by an election commission to bar a Russian opposition candidate, Sergei Mitrokhin, from running in a municipal election in September, TASS news agency reported.

Kremlin shrugs off Moscow protests, backs tough police response
Law enforcement officers and journalists run along a street after a rally to demand authorities allow opposition candidates to run in the upcoming local election in Moscow, Russia August 10, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The Kremlin on Tuesday shrugged off five weeks of street protests in support of free elections in Moscow, saying the situation had not warranted comment from President Vladimir Putin and voicing strong support for the tough police response.

U.S. investor Calvey to stay under house arrest: Moscow court
U.S. investor and founder of the Baring Vostok private equity group Michael Calvey, who is under house arrest on suspicion of fraud, attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

A court in Moscow ruled on Thursday to keep U.S. investor Michael Calvey under house arrest, facing charges of embezzlement which he denies.

Russia softens stance in foreign investor case, frees Frenchman
Partner in the Baring Vostok private equity group Philippe Delpal, who was detained on suspicion of fraud, is escorted inside a court building in Moscow, Russia February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

Russia softened its stance in a high-profile legal standoff that has shaken foreign investors when a court on Thursday freed jailed French private equity executive Philippe Delpal from custody and placed him under house arrest instead.
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin was appointed acting Prime Minister on August 9, 1999 by then president Boris Yeltsin. Putin has been in office as President or Prime Minister ever since, a period spanning two decades.
THE PATH OF LETTING GO. The 9 Life Path is one of insight, generosity, emotion, compassion, global awareness, interpretation, diversity and strength. 9 contains a little bit of all the other numbers, as well as many unique characteristics of its own. Its influence makes you versatile and unusual.
Interesting. (august) 8/9/1999 all ad up to 45; 4+5=9.
 
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-blast/kremlin-says-it-is-winning-arms-race-against-u-s-despite-rocket-accident-idUSKCN1V31DD said:
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter on Monday the United States was “learning much” from the explosion which he suggested happened during the testing of a nuclear-powered cruise missile vaunted by President Vladimir Putin last year.

Russia, which has said the missile will have an “unlimited range” and be able to overcome any defenses, calls the missile the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel). The NATO alliance has designated it the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.

Its influence makes you versatile and unusual.

Trying to summarize this "balance" situation I think of the following:
Session

Session 14 April 2918:
Q: (Joe) They mentioned the last one there about [Gauss meter squeals] how the STS forces [Gauss meter squeals] would become desperate as the change approaches. Is there a kind of, "as above, so below" thing going on where the US and its allies are basically becoming desperate as a change in the global power structure approaches, and that's what's driving them insane?

A: Yes. We told you that balance was coming.

Q: (Scottie) Cool!

(Pierre) It means balance is being restored at two levels: hyperdimensional level where there's less STS predominance, and...

(L) Well, you can't make that assumption. That's a big assumption that there's less STS dominance there.

(Pierre) Well, on the human level, is the emergence of Russia a manifestation of this rebalancing?

A: Yes

Cool...
 
Russia's Fire-Damaged "Losharik" Spy Submarine Heads For Repairs As New Details Emerge

August 16, 2019 - Russia will reportedly soon tow its top-secret nuclear-powered Project 10831 Losharik spy submarine to a shipyard in northwestern Russian for extensive repairs. The boat suffered serious damage in a fire on July 1, 2019, that ultimately killed 14 submariners. Reports offering additional details about the accident have also begun to emerge, though the Kremlin has offered little in the way of official information about the incident, just as it has continued to be coy about exactly what happened during a recent explosion during a missile test that involved a nuclear power source in the same region.

On Aug. 14, 2019, state-run media outlet TASS, citing an unnamed Russian defense industry source, reported that Losharik, also known by the hull number AS-31, would be heading in the fall to the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in the city of Severodvinsk in Russia's northwestern Arkhangelsk region. Zvezdochka is part of Russia's state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation and has performed work on nuclear-powered submarines in the past. Representatives from Sevmash, the shipyard that built Losharik, as well as the Rubin design bureau, which crafted the submarine's specialized deep-diving design, which you can read more about here and here, will also be involved in the repair work, though there is no timeline yet for when the sub might return to service. (Article continues.)


Russia invites Trump, Kim Jong-un for 75th anniversary of WWII victory events — Kremlin
1228854.jpg

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Paris confirmed Macron’s participation in the celebration of the 75th V-Day anniversary.

MOSCOW, August 16, 2019 - Russia has invited US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to attend the celebratory events timed to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War (WWII) on May 9, 2020, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Friday.

"Yes, you’re right on point, because yesterday, we sent out an invitation to Boris Johnson. We sent one to Kim Jong-un earlier," Ushakov said in response to a question on whether the Russian government has sent out invitations to world leaders.

The Kremlin aide also confirmed that Russia had already sent an invitation to Trump.

By now, Paris has confirmed French President Emmanuel Macron’s participation in celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

"The French side has confirmed the participation of its president in events on the occasion of the V-Day’s 75th anniversary on May 9," Yury Ushakov noted.

In early July, Ushakov stated that Russia intends to invite world leaders to the celebratory event timed to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). Among those invited are US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Macron accepted the invitation in a phone call with Putin held on July 18.

Earlier, Putin stressed the significance of celebrating the 75th anniversary of victory on May 9, 2020, stating that it is important to protect the history of the Second World War.


Decision to make emergency landing in cornfield made after second engine fails — pilot
Captain Damir Yusupov of the Russian Ural Airlines' Airbus A321  Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Captain Damir Yusupov of the Russian Ural Airlines' Airbus A321 © Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, August 15, 2019 - The decision to make an emergency landing of the Airbus A321 in a cornfield in the Moscow region was made after the second engine stopped working, the plane's captain Damir Yusupov told Rossiya-1 TV channel on Thursday.

"The engines were not working well enough to continue the flight, even to maintain the altitude that we have gained by that moment. The altitude was insignificant. At first, we decided to turn around and land but when we saw that the second engine has stopped working, I made a decision to land where we were," Yusupov said. He added that preparations for the flight were carried out in the routine mode.

After both engines stopped working, it became clear that crash landing was inevitable, he continued. "I made attempts to make the landing as soft as possible, so that the plane touches the ground with a minimal vertical speed," Yusupov noted. He explained that the crew decided to land the plane without chassis since it was safer that way. "It is safer to land a plane without chassis as it could have turned around, with far worse consequences," the pilot said.
 
Hello, sorry to interrupt, but is there here any information about those large Siberian taiga fire?

Edit: Nevermind, I just found the thread "Wildfires"
 
By Georgy Volodin - 01.09.2019

01.09.2019
 
Last edited:
Russia jails protester for three years for attacking policeman: RIA
A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced a man to three years in jail after convicting him of attacking a Policeman during an unauthorized political protest in Moscow in July, the RIA news agency reported.

Russia jails blogger for Tweet, charges Kremlin critics over protests
FILE PHOTO: Russian journalist Ilya Azar delivers a speech during a rally to demand authorities allow opposition candidates to run in the upcoming local election in Moscow, Russia August 10, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

A Russian court sentenced a blogger to five years in jail on Tuesday after convicting him of inciting violence against the children of Police officers, and charged two Kremlin critics with organizing an illegal protest.

Russian blogger jailed for five years over Tweet advocating violence: RIA
A Russian court sentenced a blogger to five years in jail on Tuesday after finding him guilty of calling for violence against the children of police officers in a post on Twitter, the RIA news agency reported.

Russia strips Azeri blogger of citizenship and moves to deport him
Russia has ordered an immigrant blogger critical of the authorities in his native Azerbaijan to be deported there after revoking his Russian citizenship, his family said.

Russia says new U.S. sanctions hurt prospects for bilateral ties: RIA
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019.  Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday a new round of sanctions imposed by the United States undermined the possibility of normalizing bilateral ties, RIA news agency reported.

Russia denies visas to two U.S. senators, amid G7 tensions
FILE PHOTO: Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks after the senate voted on a resolution ending U.S. military support for the war in Yemen on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 13, 2018.      REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Republican and Democratic U.S. senators said Russia refused to grant them visas for a visit to Moscow next week, amid disagreement within Washington and among U.S. allies over whether the country should be readmitted to the Group of Seven.
 
05.08.2019

View attachment 31195
Vladislav Sinitsa

Moscow's Presnensky Court has sentenced Russian blogger Vladislav Sinitsa to five years in jail. The blogger pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Russian blogger sentenced to 5 years in jail over threats to children of police officers
3 SEP, 2019
MOSCOW, September 3. /TASS/. Moscow’s Presnensky Court has sentenced Russian blogger Vladislav Sinitsa, who was charged with extremism over his tweets threatening the children of Russian law enforcement officers, to five years in jail, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.

03.09.2019
 
Putin says Russia will make new missiles, warns of arms race
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 5, 2019. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would produce missiles that were banned under a landmark Cold-War era nuclear pact that ended last month, but that Moscow would not deploy them unless the United States did so first.

Russia's Putin: need wider G7-style group, with China, India, Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was ready to host a meeting of the G7/G8 group of nations, and would welcome a wider format featuring Turkey, India and China.

Putin rebuffs call by Japan's Abe to sign World War Two peace treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 5, 2019. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS  ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Thursday that Tokyo's military ties with the United States and many other issues made it hard for Japan and Russia to sign a World War Two peace treaty.

Putin says major Russian prisoner swap with Ukraine is close
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine was close, after a court in Kiev freed on bail a man suspected of involvement in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Putin slams Italy's arrest of Russian executive at U.S. request ( Very - very serious Putin!)
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an awarding ceremony following the Jigoro Kano Cadet Judo Tournament on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 5, 2019. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin complained on Thursday about Italy's arrest of a Russian state executive on suspicion of industrial espionage at Washington's request, saying the move would harm ties with the United States.

All to be done to protect interests of Russian specialist detained in Italy
Earlier, Rostec said it was studying the arrest of a Russian citizen, employee of its subsidiary, the Russian JSC United Engine Corporation, at the US request in Italy.

1230627.jpg
© Marina Lystseva/TASS

MOSCOW, September 5, 2019 - The Russian state-owned JSC United Engine Corporation (a Rostec subsidiary) has confirmed that one of its employees was detained. His interests will be defended, the corporation’s press service told reporters on Thursday.

"We confirm that our employee was detained overseas," the corporation said, adding that the detainee is not involved in any unlawful activity. "The corporation will do everything possible to protect his interests," the press service stressed.

In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry blasted the move as an example of unfair competition and said that the Russian embassy in Rome was monitoring the situation.

Earlier on Thursday, the Russian State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product Rostec said it was studying the arrest of a Russian citizen, employee of the Russian JSC United Engine Corporation, at the US request in Italy. The staffer is receiving all the assistance necessary and legal support in particular, a spokesperson for the corporation told reporters.

The corporation later told TASS that the detainee is Alexander Korshunov, JSC United Engine Corporation director of business development.

When attending the plenary session of the fifth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked a question about the issue of Russian citizens being detained in third countries at the US request in the context of Korshunov’s arrest. Putin slammed it as a very bad practice and linked such arrests to possible competition. "This is a very bad practice, it strains our state relations. I say this without a hint of a joke or irony. We often see no grounds for such hostile actions. I have every reason to believe that it often is connected to competition," Putin said.

Putin: Russia will not be the first to deploy missiles previously banned by INF Treaty
US missiles in Japan, South Korea will threaten Russian territory, the president stated.

1230598.jpg

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

VLADIVOSTOK, September 5, 2019 - Russia will make the missiles previously outlawed under the INF Treaty, but it will not be the first to deploy them, President Vladimir Putin said at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum on Thursday.

"We said outright that we would not deploy anything after the Americans tested such a missile. We will make such missiles, of course, but we will not deploy them in the regions where no ground-based missile systems of this class of US manufacture have emerged," Putin stated.

Statements by the Pentagon chief that the United States was prepared to station such missiles in Japan and South Korea "could not make Russia happy," he remarked.

"We regret this and feel certain alarm. In fact, it was a subject of our talks with the prime minister [of Japan] many times before the United States started making such missiles," Putin said.

He described the US pullout from the INF treaty as a counterproductive move that was ruining the system of international security and arms control.

Elaborating on the subject, the Russian president noted that the United States’ deployment of missiles in Japan and South Korea would pose threats to a large share of Russia’s territory.

"If US missiles are deployed in Japan or South Korea, we understand that this will be done to counterbalance potential threats from North Korea, but it will create certain considerable problems for us," he pointed out. "Most probably these missile systems will be able to reach targets on a vast area in Russia, including the Far East," he said.

Putin recalled that there were two large Russian military facilities in the area — a base of surface ships in Vladivostok and a base of strategic nuclear-powered submarines in Kamchatka.

"That’s very serious. Certainly, we cannot but pay attention to this. It will be a factor of our talks with Japan and South Korea," Putin said.

For now Russia has no idea of the Japanese and Korean partners’ reaction to this. "We did not discuss that with the prime minister today," Putin pointed out.

Putin offered Trump hypersonic weapons from Russia to purchase
The Americans said that they will soon produce it themselves, according to Putin.

1230631.jpg

© Sergei Karpukhin/TASS

VLADIVOSTOK, September 5, 2019 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he offered his US counterpart Donald Trump the opportunity to purchase the newest kinds of weapons from Russia, including hypersonic ones.

Putin told the plenary session of the fifth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on Thursday that at the last meeting with his American partners in Osaka, Japan "the issue was raised as to how and in what way it would be possible to count Russian modern weapons, including the hypersonic missile systems, into the common agreements, considering that so far not a single country in the world possesses these weapons, not even the US."

"I told Donald the following: "if you want, we can sell you some and this way we will balance everything out. But truth be told, they are saying that they will soon produce it themselves.

Perhaps they will, but why waste money when we already have spent some and can get something back, and at the same time not harm our security but rather create a situation where there is a balance," Putin elaborated.

The Russian leader added that Moscow is willing to talk about "how and what can be taken into account, speaking about the types of carriers and number of warheads."

"This is a special issue, but Russia is ready for this dialogue in any case. However, we have not received a clear answer from the Americans," the Russian president pointed out.

He underlined that the US had remained mum on a Russian proposal to contain the looming arms race. Putin recalled that Washington had not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and on top of that, there is talk about plans to deploy weapons into outer space.

"These are very serious challenges that humanity might face. Imagine that each of us, which means each of them as well, has a certain kind of weapon hanging over our heads and constantly floating on a geostationary orbit, it can also be nuclear weapons. This can truly change the situation in the global security sphere. However, while our American partners are silent about all our proposals in the sphere of disarmament and containing the arms race, there’s nothing new here," he concluded.

Russia jails two more protesters ahead of Sunday's Moscow vote
Participant of a recent rally to demand free elections Yevgeny Kovalenko looks out of a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow, Russia September 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

A Russian court sentenced two men to up to three and a half years in jail on Wednesday for using violence against police officers at a political protest calling for a free election on Sunday.
 
Back
Top Bottom