Russia gives Kyrgyzstan $30 million and promises further $1.6 billion
Russia is continuing the Soviet practice of making multi-billion dollar investments into regimes near and far that are loyal to the Kremlin.
The Russian government has agreed to grant free financial assistance to Kyrgyzstan, announced Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan itself sent the request for financial assistance. Russia agreed to allocate $30 million to support the republic’s federal budget. The decision was made earlier in March, but was not reported on, …
Ukrainian Security Service deports Russian journalist from Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has approved deportation of Russian journalist Margarita Bondar, who has worked in Ukraine for the Russian news outlet Ukraine.ru, reports the press service of the SBU.
"The State Migration Service decided to expel Russian journalist Margarita Bondar from our country based on the materials of Security Council of Ukraine," reads the report.
According to SBU, during 2018 Bondar followed the instructions of the management of Ukraine.ru, which is part of …
Nord Stream 2 AG: Denmark has not refused to authorize pipeline route
Nord Stream 2 AG, the company operating the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, has refuted Naftogaz’s claims that Denmark has issued a negative decision on the pipeline route, RIA Novosti reports, citing a company spokesperson.
“The Danish Energy Agency (DEA) has not declined even one of Nord Stream 2’s two applications to receive authorization [for the construction project]. Both of them are still valid,” the Nord Stream representative stated.
According to the spokesperson, the DEA has …
Israel carries out airstrike in Syria
The Syrian news agency SANA has reported a series of explosions caused by airstrikes near the Aleppo airport and the adjacent industrial zones. Israeli fighter jets are believed to be behind the attack.
“At around 23:00 [local time] on Wednesday, our aerial defense systems repelled an Israeli aerial attack on a number of facilities in the Shaykh Najjar industrial zone north-east of Aleppo, and shot down several missiles,” SANA cites its source as saying. The losses were reportedly limited to “ …
Wealthiest Russian ex-Minister arrested for embezzling $62 million
Mikhail Abyzov, who served for six years as Minister for Open Government Affairs in former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s cabinet, was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday.
One of the 200 wealthiest people in Russia and the top-earning civil servant in 2015, Abyzov has now been charged with creating a criminal organization and embezzling 4 billion rubles (around $62 million at current exchange rates).
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the …