Orthodox Church of Ukraine fears for property and priests in Donetsk

The Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine or OCU is concerned about the total prohibition of OCU community activities and the deportation of priests from the territory of the Donetsk region that is not controlled by Ukraine. 

“From March 1, 2019, there will be a threat of total prohibition of activities of the communities and clergy of our Church, full confiscation of communities' property and deportation from the territory controlled by …


Daughter of Putin’s spokesman interns at European Parliament for pro-Russian MP

Yelizaveta Peskova, daughter of Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, has been working as an intern in European Parliament for a French MP, Current Time reports. 

Her job gives her complete access to European Parliament’s facilities and databases, including its internal computer network and the MP’s internal network. 

Peskov’s daughter, who is currently 21 years of age, officially registered as an intern in the office of EU Parliament member Aymeric Chauprade. Her name and surname can be …


Russia donates $9 million worth of air defense weapons to Tajikistan

Russia donated $9 million worth of air defense systems to Tajikistan, reports TASS with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense. 

The report specifies that this delivery includes radar stations designed to detect and track airborne objects, as well as transmit target designation to air defense systems in Tajikistan. 

The military equipment transfer was carried out in accordance with the Tajikistan’s Armed Forces modernization program, noted the ministry. The Kremlin also pointed out that …


European Union extends weapons embargo against Belarus

The EU has extended its arms embargo against Belarus and sanctions against four people for a year, as reported on the EU Council’s website.

“The Council decided to prolong the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2020. These measures include an embargo on arms and on equipment that could be used for internal repression as well as an asset freeze and travel ban against four people designated in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition …


Russia's Gazprom reshuffles top management after gas theft case

Three of Gazprom’s high-ranking top managers, including two deputy chairmen of Gazprom’s management committee, lost their posts as a result of the 30 billion rubles worth gas theft case investigation. The ex-senator from Karachay-Cherkessia, Rauf Arashukov, and his father, the twice-convicted advisor to the general director of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz, Raul Arashukov, were implicated in this case. 

According to Interfax, on Tuesday, the deputy chairman of Gazprom board, Valery Golubev, was …