EU makes first use of Magnitsky Act, on Russia

posted in: European Union, News

EU foreign relations chief Josep Borrell speaking to US secretary of state Anthony Blinken by video-link on Monday (Photo: consilium.europa.eu) The EU has agreed to blacklist Russian officials guilty of wrongly jailing opposition figure Alexei Navalny, in a new “low” … Read More

EU is ‘ready to impose new sanctions’ against Russia over Navalny

Josep Borrell and EU foreign affairs ministers will meet next week.  – AP EU countries are ready to impose new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Euronews has learned. A political decision is … Read More

Russia says it would be ready to cut EU ties if hit with painful sanctions

posted in: News, Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Friday it would be ready to sever ties with the European Union if the bloc hit it with painful economic sanctions, a statement that Germany described as disconcerting and incomprehensible. Ties between Russia and … Read More

Not just Navalny: economic pain also behind Russian protests

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The trigger for some of the biggest protests to sweep Russia in years was the arrest of opposition politician and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was detained on his return to the country last month after surviving … Read More

Russia Rises Up Against Putin as Thousands Defy Kremlin’s Medieval ‘Castle’ Crackdown

posted in: News, Russia

The Kremlin deployed a brutal “castle” strategy to protect Putin from pro-Navalny protesters but huge numbers are risking beatings and imprisonment to make their voices heard. Anton Vaganov via Reuters MOSCOW—The opulent, fortified Kremlin, which stands right in the center … Read More

Russia calls US notice of opposition protests ‘gross interference’ and warns of ‘response’

posted in: News, Russia

The Russian government is apparently fuming after the United States issued an alert about anti-corruption protests and included the locations and times. The U.S. Embassy noted the demonstrations, which are being planned for Saturday in cities throughout Russia in support … Read More

EU and Russia Clash Over Belarus, Poisoning Accusations

posted in: News, Russia

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, listens to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during talks in Minsk on Thursday. (Alexander Astafyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (CN) — The harsh view that the European Union is a weakling when it … Read More

Putin approves changes allowing him to stay in power until 2036

posted in: News, Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a session of the lower house of parliament in Moscow on Tuesday to consider constitutional changes. Photo: Sputnik via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes … Read More

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