From the Kremlin

What the....WHAT!?!

Watch: Video resurfaces of Putin singing ‘Blueberry Hill’ to Hollywood celebs​


"The video, taken from a charity concert in St. Petersburg in 2010, also shows celebrities including Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, and Kevin Kostner watching the performance."

 

Russian Orthodox Church issues apocalyptic warning

"Some “madmen” believe Russia could be defeated, but this could trigger the end of the world, Patriarch Kirill has said"

"According to Patriarch Kirill, the root of the problem is that some “madmen” believe that Russia, which “has powerful weapons and is populated by extremely strong people… who had never given in to an enemy and had always emerged victorious, could be defeated under the current circumstances.”

"Neither would it be possible to “impose on them certain values that cannot even be called values, so that they would be like everyone else and obey those who have the power to control most of the world,” he noted."

"We pray to the Lord so that he enlightens those madmen and helps them understand that any desire to destroy Russia will mean the end of the world,”
 
CLEARLY, CLEARLY, SINCERELY: THE ATTITUDE OF RUSSIANS TO PUTIN'S MESSAGE IN FIGURES VTSIOM
VTSIOM specialists presented a study with an assessment of what Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly. The analysis showed that Russians consider Putin's theses clear, understandable and, importantly, sincere.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message to the Federal Assembly on February 21.

What Vladimir Putin said determines the development of the state for the coming year and subsequent periods. The President of Russia, of course, gave an assessment of the special military operation in Ukraine, thanking everyone in the country for their support. The fighters are fighting the Nazis on the front line, but a lot of work is being done in the rear. It helps a lot on the battlefield, because our military knows that they have a huge country behind them, and people support their actions.

The President spoke about the socio-economic development of Russia, saving people, and supporting entrepreneurship. In addition, an assessment of the international situation was given. In light of the aggression of the collective West against Russia, it was decided to suspend our country's participation in the DSNV.

81% of respondents reacted positively to the content of the message of the President of Russia. Moreover, for 45%, the assessment sounded like "completely positive", and for 36% - as "rather positive".

The majority, according to the VTsIOM study, reacted positively to what Vladimir Putin said in the message. An emotional assessment of the theses was also given. Thus, 78% admitted that they consider the words of the President of Russia honest and sincere. Speaking about Putin's position in the message, 88% added that they consider it clear and understandable.

The study was commissioned by the Expert Institute for Social Research (EIS).
Чётко, понятно, искренне: Отношение русских к посланию Путина в цифрах ВЦИОМ
 

Moscow Court arrests WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich over espionage case​


MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. Moscow’s Lefortovsky District Court arrested The Wall Street Journal reporter, US national Evan Gershkovich, who was previously apprehended in Yekaterinburg, over espionage charges, a source in the law enforcement told TASS Thursday.


MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. The activities of the Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Yekaterinburg, were not journalism-related, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel on Thursday.

 
"On Monday, the UN Security Council did not support a resolution by Russia and China on an international investigation into the sabotage at the Nord Stream pipelines"

MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. "Russia is going to demand reports from the countries conducting national investigations into the sabotage at Nord Stream pipelines, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday."

"To avoid the repetition of such attacks in the future, to protect the global energy infrastructure is possible only by establishing the truth, punishing those who are behind this terrorist attack," the diplomat said."



 
I, just like Maria Zakharova, would ask: what is it? An attempt to jump off the sinking ship of a united Europe?
Macron's presence at the BRICS summit will be inappropriate — Russian Foreign Ministry

The trip of French President Emmanuel Macron to the BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in the Republic of South Africa is inappropriate, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on August 22-24.

"It is clear that the leader of a state that pursues such a hostile and unacceptable policy for us, so emphatically and convincingly argues that Russia needs to be actively isolated internationally, shares the general NATO line on inflicting a so—called strategic defeat on us, such a leader is inappropriate as a guest at the BRICS," he said in Sochi.

According to him, Moscow has conveyed its position on this issue to the South African side.

At the same time, the diplomat noted that it is "the business of the host party" to determine the circle of invitees.

Last week, the newspaper L'Opinion, citing a source in the Elysee Palace, wrote that Macron, during a telephone conversation that took place in early June, asked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to allow him to attend the BRICS summit. According to the publication, the request of the French leader caught Ramaphosa by surprise.

Later, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, during a visit to South Africa, confirmed that Macron was interested in dialogue with the countries of the association.

"I informed my colleague Naledi Pandor about the president's availability and his interest in continuing the dialogue that France supports with BRICS," Colonna said.

She noted that the decision on Macron's trip "should not be made by France, but by the BRICS countries, and first of all South Africa." The invitation should not contradict international law in connection with the possible arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit, the minister added.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin. The Kremlin called the ICC's decision null and void from the point of view of law, however, according to the Rome Statute (the founding document of the ICC) South Africa must comply with the court's decision. In early June, The Guardian wrote that South Africa may refuse to host the BRICS summit in order to avoid international pressure over the warrant.

The Kremlin, speaking about the possibility of Putin's trip to the summit, stated that the Russian side "will take part at the proper level" in the summit. Moscow also expects that the BRICS partners "will not be guided by such illegal decisions" of the ICC.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, demanded that Paris explain the intention of the French leader to come to the summit.

"Do they want to establish some kind of contact once again to show the activity of Paris, or is it some kind of Trojan horse?" "What is it?" she asked.
https://rusvesna.su/news/1687432460
 
Yesterday, by decree, Vladimir Putin dismissed First Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Security Service, Sergei Korolev, from the Interdepartmental Commission on Protection of State Secrets and appointed four new members: Sergei Alpatov, D.A. Kruglov, K.A. Lysogorsky, A.B. Makarov and V.D. Shulik.

Presidential Decree No. 479 of 29.06.2023
"On Amendments to the Composition of the Interdepartmental Commission for Protection of State Secrets Approved by Presidential Decree No. 535 of 10 October 2016".



That may mean (I'm not sure how it works) Korolev will also be dismissed from the leadership of the FSB.

Has it anything to do with the recent mutiny or is it part of regular rotations within the high position, we may never know.
 
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Q: (Joe) Niall, didn't you have a question about Prigozhin?

(Niall) Yeah, it's kind of the major issue today. Did the Russian government allow this situation today to come to a head like this?

(Joe) To flush out traitors.

(Niall) Was it done intentionally?

A: Yes.

Q: (Niall) So they were not surprised by this.

A: No.

Q: (Niall) They saw this coming.

(Andromeda) It's the first thing I thought.

(Joe) Yeah, so they knew obviously that there was a history of dissent within Wagner, and they decided to just let it develop up, give them enough rope, basically, to hang themselves...

(Andromeda) And bring all their friends too. [Laughter]
I would say, it looks like it has more to do with this.
 
Addendum to my previous post. It took me a while to find some of those officials.

DISSMISSED:

1. Sergei Borisovich Korolev (b. 1962, Kyrgyz SSR.) - the biggest mistery.
Russian statesman. First Deputy Director of the FSB of Russia since February 24, 2021. Army General since 2021
2016-2021 Head of the Economic Security Service of the FSB of Russia
Since 2000, he served in the third department of the Economic Security Service of the Office of the FSB for the city of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, and supervised law enforcement agencies
2007-2011 served in the military department, where he oversaw the GRU, then was an adviser to the Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov.
According to some sources, Sergey Korolev is one of the most influential Chekists.
For entertainment purpose, check Eng. Wiki

2. Kravchenko Alexander Nikolaevich (b. 1958)
Rostov-native. Since 2011, the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Volgograd Region.
2002-2008 the first deputy chief of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate in the Rostov Region. In 2008, he headed the Central Internal Affairs Directorate in the Volgograd Region.
Police Colonel General since Feb. 2023

3. Kucherenko Petr Alexandrovich (1979-2023)
State Secretary. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation since 2020. Full state adviser to Russia of the third class. Doctor of Law
On 20 May 2023, he died on the plane. He was returning from a business trip to Cuba and became ill on the plane. There was an emergency landing, but his life couldn't be saved. The official cause of his death has not yet been reported.
Western media immediately started spinning facts and "reporting" he was critical towards Putin and SVO suggesting you know what.

4. Pervushin Nikolay Innokentiyevich (b. 1958)
Deputy Head of the General Directorate of Special Programs of the President of the Russian Federation (GUSP) since 2011
Federal Service for Technical and Export Control of Russia, board member since Dec 2019
Military Industrial Commission of Russia, till 2011

5. Ryazantsev Oleg Nikolaevich (b. 1982)
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation since 2017
His duties include coordination and control of the activities of several structural units of the central apparatus of the Ministry, including the Department of the Military-Industrial Complex and Security Department.
Until 2017, served as director of the Department of the Defense and Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia.
Quite young, rapid carrier.

6. Stepakhin Sergey Ivanovich
Couldn't find anything more than that: In 2010 was awarder a medal and in 2015 was assigned a rank of Acting State Advisor of the Russian Federation, 2nd class; both times he served as Deputy Head of the Directorate of Information and Documentation Support of the President of the Russian Federation.

ADMITTED

1. Sergei Sergeevich Alpatov (b. 1959)
From Eng. Wiki: Russian intelligence officer; serving as acting director of the Economic Security Service (SES) of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) since March 2021 when he replaced Korolev. Nothing is known about him prior to 2015 when already in the rank of general, he was appointed to lead the department "M" of the FSB, which oversees the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor General's Office and other law enforcement agencies.
Not much from official sources, most comes from the Dossier Center and places like kompromat etc., but found some mainstream media quotes confirming the above.

2. Kruglov D. A. - Deputy Head of the Directorate of Information and Documentation Support of the President of the Russian Federation
There is Kruglov Dmitriy Andreyevich, an international law academic who works, or worked, at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow but I have no idea if that's the same. Other than that, failed to find anything.

3. Lysogorskiy Kiril Alexieevich (b. 1986)
Deputy minister of industry and trade of the Russian Federation (since Oct 2022)
2007 graduated from the Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces
2002-2011 served in the army, then worked in various positions in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Office of the Government of the Russian Federation
2020 - 2022 - Director of the Department of Industry of the Government of the Russian Federation
In Dec. 2022, was included in the board of the Military Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation.
Full state adviser of the Russian Federation of the I class.

4. Makarov Alexandr Borisovich
Deputy Head of the General Directorate of Special Programs of the President (GUSP) since Feb 2020

5. Shulika Vitalij Dmitrevich (b. 1970)
Police Colonel-General; Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation since 2017
Bio:
1990: Service in the Navy
2009: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
2012: Deputy Head of Department "P" of the Main Directorate of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. In October 2012, was appointed head of the Department of Operational-Search Information of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
2014: Major General of Police
2017: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
2020: Responsible for the digital transformation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
2021 Colonel General of Police
 
VTB is a Russian majority, state-owned, international trade bank. In 2012, it was ranked 446th on the FT Global 500, 210th on the FT Europe 500 in 2014 and 127th on the FT Emerging 500 the same year. From the wiki, here is a sanctions list against VTB since 2014.

  • In 2014 prior to Russo-Ukrainian War, VTB Bank was one of the biggest banks of Ukraine.
  • On 29 July 2014, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published that the Bank of Moscow and VTB Bank OJSC, the second largest bank in Russia, has been added to the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List.
  • On 31 July 2014, VTB Bank and its subsidiaries was added to the European Union sanctions list due to its role in the Crimean Crisis that same year.
  • On 6 August 2014, VTB was added to the Canadian sanctions list due to its role in the Russo-Ukrainian War and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.
  • On 13 August 2014, United States clarifies entities under sectoral sanctions. United States increases its sectoral sanctions on VTB Bank together with its subsidiaries (“the VTB Group”) and the Bank of Moscow through its parent bank, VTB Bank OAO, and other entities that VTB has 50 percent or greater ownership either individually or in the aggregate, either directly or indirectly. Also, US persons cannot use a third party intermediary and they must use caution during "transactions with a non-blocked entity in which one or more blocked persons has a significant ownership interest that is less than 50 percent or which one or more blocked persons may control by means other than a majority ownership interest."
  • On 1 September 2014, VTB was added to the Australian autonomous sanctions list for Russia, Crimea, and Sevastopol.
  • On 12 September 2014, the United States issues a consolidated listing of directives associated with Executive Order 13662 sanctions during the crisis in Ukraine. For the Russian financial sector, Directive 1 was amended to increase the financial sanctions on the Russian financial sector for "all transactions in, provision of financing for, and other dealings" in new equity or new debt issued on or after 12 September 2014 to longer than 30 days maturity. New equity or new debt issued from 29 July 2018 until 12 September 2018 was sanctioned if longer than 90 days maturity.
  • In 2015 the banks' chief Executive Andrei Kostin predicted loses for the bank in the years to come because of the plunging ruble accelerated by western sanctions.
  • On 15 March 2017, Ukraine imposed sanctions against VTB Bank and subsidiaries because of the ongoing Russian interference in Ukraine.
  • On 28 November 2017, the United States increases the Executive Order 13662 sanctions to the Russian financial sector. For the Russian financial sector, Directive 1 was amended to increase the financial sanctions on the Russian financial sector for "all transactions in, provision of financing for, and other dealings" in new equity or new debt issued on or after 28 November 2017 to longer than 14 days maturity. New equity or new debt issued from 12 September 2014 until 28 November 2017 was sanctioned if longer than 30 days maturity.
  • On 27 November 2018, the National Bank of Ukraine declares the Ukrainian subsidiary of VTB Bank insolvent due to its declining liquidity and worsening financial position.
  • On 25 June 2020 European Court of Justice rejected VTB and Sberbank bank's 2014 lawsuit against EU sectoral sanctions citing that regulators were within their aims of "imposing a cost on the Russian government" because of the latter's actions in Ukraine. The Court specified that intentionally ambigous language versions of the regulation (that the bank argued were wrongly applied) doesn't prevent the Court to from choosing one that fits best its general purposes.
  • In February 2022, amid the Russo-Ukrainian crisis, US and EU officials were reportedly finalizing an extensive package of sanctions on VTB bank and other related Russian entities. On 24 February, after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, US president Joe Biden and British prime minister Boris Johnson announced new sanctions against VTB bank along with other Russian individuals and companies.

In a meeting, the VTB CEO informs Putin of the status of the bank today:

Meeting with VTB CEO Andrei Kostin


VladimirPutin had a meeting with President and Chairman of VTB BankManagement Board Andrei Kostin to discuss the financial group’s current operations.

July 11, 2023
13:40

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kostin,

Traditionally, VTB has been primarily engaged in servicing foreign trade operations, and in this context, it has been considerably tied to clients working in this sphere, tied to foreign infrastructure. Of course, VTB probably found it harder to cope with difficulties, created for us by ill-wishers, as compared to other financial institutions. Nevertheless, your efforts and those of your team made it possible to overcome the main challenges.

What is the current situation of VTB?

VTB CEO Andrei Kostin: Mr President, since the fourth quarter of 2022, we are in the black and have been posting profits. We see positive dynamics in all spheres of our work.

We are actively creating a new payments and settlements infrastructure involving rubles and currencies of friendly states. We have the necessary expertise and infrastructure for this because we are present in major Asian countries, such as China and India, and we are present in the CIS countries. We are therefore working actively in this sphere.

I would like to thank you for your political support because these issues need to be resolved at a high political level, and we always feel this support. So, thank you very much.

Regarding anti-Russia sanctions, we have probably become somewhat immune because of them, and we have enhanced our sovereignty in this field.

Look at what is now happening in the United States. This is virtually the largest financial and banking crisis since 2008, and it is already spreading to Europe. This is what we have been talking about, that sanctions against Russia are a double-edged sword. In effect, by using sanctions against Russia, the West has demolished the global trade system and caused an inflation surge. Western attempts to resolve this problem by standard methods devalued bank assets, and we can see the result of this.


However, our banking sector is feeling quite safe. I do not think that there will be any problems, although we incurred certain losses last year when our property was simply taken away from us.

Vladimir Putin:
Perhaps what you have said about raising the level of independence and sovereignty is rather timely, considering greater negative trends in the US banking system.

Andrei Kostin: I agree with you. We now have to learn to work in a new way. I believe that it is possible to considerably reshape the financial system in several years. Of course, I believe that it will look different.

Vladimir Putin: What is the current structure of the bank’s portfolio?

Andrei Kostin: Mr President, we no longer issue loans in Western currencies; it is impossible to take out such loans. We are expanding the ruble market, and we are starting to work with the yuan and other currencies. This process is going on, and I think, it is picking up pace. Today, rubles account for over 50 percent of payments and settlements with friendly countries. This is why I believe that this process will continue.

Vladimir Putin: I was talking about individuals and corporate clients.

Andrei Kostin: Of course, we are gradually increasing the share of private clients, and we are actively lending money to industry.

Vladimir Putin: All right.

<…>
 
These are three days old, but the Israel/Palestinian downward spiral was discussed.

Russia-Iraq talks

Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Muhammed Shia Al-Sudani, currently on an official visit to Russia.
October 10, 2023
14:55

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues, friends,

Welcome to Russia and Moscow.

Mr Prime Minister,

We are delighted to see you.

Relations between our countries are developing rather successfully. Next year, we will mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

In previous decades, our country accomplished very much in building relations with Iraq, and in the most diverse fields – first and foremost in the economic sphere. An intergovernmental commission is working on this today. In 2022, our trade soared by 43 percent but, unfortunately, dropped this year.

We have a lot to discuss. In this sense, of course, your visit is quite timely.

The energy sector is certainly the main aspect of our collaboration. Our largest companies operate rather successfully in your country. Our companies have invested a total of about $19 billion, and our collaboration, already quite effective in this area, is only going to expand. We coordinate our work within the OPEC + format, and we are doing this rather successfully in order to stabilise the situation on global markets. On the whole, we are enjoying much success, and I hope that we will continue working in this manner moving forward.

We have many bilateral objectives, and we will focus our attention on all of them. Tomorrow, we will take part in a plenary meeting of the Russian Energy Week. This is a valuable and respectable international event in the field of global energy, during which specialists and experts can convene and discuss current developments, as well as shorter-term and remote prospects.

Of course, your visit to Russia is taking place amid crises: the Ukrainian crisis continues, and, unfortunately, we are witnessing a sharp deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. I think that many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the United States’ failed policy in the Middle East, which tried to monopolise the settlement process, but, unfortunately, was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides, but, on the contrary, put forward its own ideas about how this should be done and put pressure on both sides, truly both: first on one, then on the other. But each time without considering the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people, bearing in mind, first of all, the need to implement the decision of the UN Security Council on the creation of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.

But in any case, no matter what happens there… I know your position, Mr Prime Minister, and our position is that harm to the civilian population should be minimised and reduced to zero, and we call on all sides of the conflict to do so.

We will certainly talk about this, as well as other problems, during your visit today. After the expanded meeting,we are also planning a face-to-face conversation during a private lunch. There will be an opportunity to discuss everything in detail.

Welcome again, Mr Prime Minister.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Muhammed Shia Al-Sudani (retranslated): Thank you very much, Mr President.

Greetings to the members of the delegations.

Thank you very much for the invitation to visit Russia.

Russia is a friendly country we have deep and historic ties with. I would like to once again express Iraq’s gratitude to Russia for its support in the fight against terrorism, the war against terrorism, for providing us with weapons so that we could resist armed terrorist gangs. Without a doubt, this episode in the relationship is very valuable; 2014 was of great importance for relations between our countries.

With our visit, we want to strengthen interaction and develop relations that have excellent prospects in the political, security, cultural and economic spheres. We have many different opportunities before us.

We have a good foundation; there are Russian companies that operate, for example, in the oil and gas sector. Our countries play an important role on the oil market, and therefore it is important for us to continue bilateral coordination and cooperation within the OPEC+ format. This coordination should be based on consideration of supply and demand mechanisms, and the interests of investors, producers and consumers. We will, of course, touch on and discuss these issues during today’s meeting. And tomorrow we will also have a good opportunity to discuss these issues, as well as energy issues, which, of course, are the focus of many, including the Iraqi government.

Our visit is taking place at a time when we can see the implementation of a large development project that will ensure trade between Asia and Europe and contribute to the integration of transport corridors, I mean the North – South Transport Corridor first of all. This will support all countries in the region and the entire world and have a positive effect on them.

Now, developments in Palestine have taken a complicated and dangerous turn. This is the natural result of the fact that Israel has continued to violate the rights of Palestinians, while the international community has remained silent and failed to live up to its obligations under internationally recognised resolutions. We are now witnessing another Intifada: an uprising of Palestinians demanding to put an end to such violations of their rights.

An obvious escalation, and a very dangerous one, with civilians killed as a result and spontaneous bombings carried out, including against civilian targets: all this may result in the destruction of the Gaza Strip. Now we all, as Arab and Islamic countries, and also together with Russia, a permanent member of the [UN] Security Council, a great power, have a responsibility here. This is a moral responsibility, including on major powers,to stop these violations of the rights of Palestinians and to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip.


Of course, today Iraq is trying to maintain stability in all regions through its policies, including with regard to the Ukrainian crisis. We have suffered greatly from blockades and war; of course, that is why our position is firm: we support the search for peaceful solutions through dialogue to end conflicts that have very negative consequences at the humanitarian level and at the economic level.

Obviously, the purpose of this visit is discussing these issues and our common positions as well as strengthening our bilateral relations. We also want to contribute to relieving the suffering in the region and ensuring stability in the Middle East and the entire world.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin:Thank you.

Telephone conversation with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
October 10, 2023
22:10

The leaders focused on the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. They expressed their deep concern at the continuing escalation of violence and the catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties.

Both leaders emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire by both sides and resumption of negotiations and expressed mutual readiness to actively contribute to this end. The sides underscored that a long-term peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis was only possible on the basis of the ”two-state“ formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The parties also touched upon separate issues of Russian-Turkish cooperation in various fields.

Contacts between the leaders of the two countries will continue.
 
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