The Russian economy’s longest recession in 20 years has eliminated 20% of the middle class and made savings a luxury unavailable to the overwhelming majority.

In May 2018, only 19% of Russians belonged to the middle class, that is, people who can easily buy not only clothing and food, but also durable goods. Before the start of the crisis it was 24%, and the current proportion is the lowest in 5 years, data from a NAFI survey indicates.

In fact, the middle class is even smaller: a salary of …

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree relieving Russian ambassador to Argentina Viktor Koronelli, who informed the Argentine authorities about the discovery of cocaine in the back room of the school attached to the embassy. Another presidential decree appointed Koronelli to the post of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia in Mexico, relieving his predecessor, Eduard Malayan, from office.

Viktor Koronelli called his appointment to the post a great honor and trust, …

The Armenian government, headed by Nikol Pashinyan, has begun a large-scale fight against corruption and the country’s shadow economy. The highest profile investigation is the Manvel Grigoryan case, DW reports.

On June 19, the Armenian parliament removed the parliamentary immunity of Lieutenant-General Manvel Grigoryan, head of the former ruling Republican Party. The prosecutor general’s office was given the go-ahead to file a criminal case against him and to arrest him as a means of restraint. …

According to sources in the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin, Turkey will receive its first F-35 Joint Strike fighter this week, despite objections from Congress.  

Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-35 fighters, will hold a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas in honor of the new fighters destined for Turkey, a company spokesman said.

The National Defense Authorization Act, passed by both chambers of Congress, contains restrictions on Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program.

U.S. lawmakers …

Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, who has been convicted by Russia of "terrorism," will not ask Russian President Vladimir Putin for clemency which will allow him to be exchanged for Russian prisoners in Ukraine, wrote First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Herashchenko on her personal Facebook page.

“Putin's Press Secretary [Dmitry] Peskov states that [Oleg] Sentsov ‘must take care of his pardon himself,’ hinting that Oleg should have appealed to the Russian president with such a …