Russia prepares a trial batch of new AK-12 for Armenia

In an interview with Kommersant, Vladimir Dmitriev, the head of the Kalashnikov concern stated that a contract was signed with Armenia, for the supply of the new AK-12 automatic weapons. 

According to him, the first batch is ready for delivery. “For now I can say that Armenia will be the first country, besides Russia, to purchase the AK-12. The contract is signed, we are preparing a small batch with approximately 50 assault rifles. They will assess, field test them, and we hope, continue to …


Russia cautions Israel against airstrikes on Syria

During a briefing, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that it is necessary to stop Israeli airstrikes on Syria. A video of her speech was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Facebook page. 

“The practice of arbitrary strikes on the territory of a sovereign state—in this case, we are talking about Syria—should be stopped,” Zakharova stated. According to Zakharova, such strikes added to tensions in the region that were not in the long-term interests of any …


Russia shows the contentious missile which US believes violates the INF Treaty

On Wednesday, Russian authorities showed military attaches and journalists accredited in the Russian Federation the new missile system, which, according to the United States, violates the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty concluded during the Cold War. With the presentation of the missile system, Moscow made another attempt to refute accusations and prevent the withdrawal of Washington from the treaty. 

Washington threatens Russia to withdraw from the INF Treaty, stressing …


Putin expects TurkStream pipeline to be launched by the end of 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that the land section of TurkStream will be ready as planned before the end of 2019. 

"We hope that the work on laying the land part [of the TurkStream pipeline] will be conducted in the same quick manner, so as to launch the gas pipeline as planned before the end of this year," said the Russian President at a press conference following the Russia-Turkey negotiations. 

“The joint strategic cooperation is being successfully carried out on the largest …


Citibank to close one third of its Russian branches

The subsidiaries of foreign banks are continuing to reduce their presence in Russia. Citibank, a subsidiary of the American Citigroup, plans to close one third of its branches in Russia over the course of 2019, board member and consumer business manager Michael Berner told reporters on Wednesday.

The bank is currently in the top 30 in Russia by assets, and has 22 branches, 12 of them in Moscow.

“In the first quarter we plan to close two branches in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg, and in the …