Russian Deputy PM Rogozin denied entry into Montenegro

The Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs has banned the entry of Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin, into the country.  Rogozin is on the "black list" and therefore subject to sanctions due to his position on the Ukrainian crisis.  This was reported by Glavnoe and Radio Svoboda in the Balkans.

Montenegrins have not forgotten Rogozin’s words that they will “regret” their decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  The authorities are now trying to prevent a new …


New Mandate in Ukraine Requires all Phone Conversations between Civil Servants and Politicians to be Recorded

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine introduced a mandate to record all telephone conversations and meetings between Category 1 and 2 civil servants with politicians and business representatives, as announced by the Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk during a government meeting.

"Recording of phone conversations as well as the personal meetings between political representatives or Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, business entities or their representatives, is now required for all Category 1 and 2 …


Biden urges ruling coalition to restore unity of Ukraine

US Vice President Joe Biden has called on the ruling coalition in Ukraine to quickly restore unity in the country so the government can move forward with reforms.  These reforms are in accordance with Ukraine’s obligations under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.  Biden stated this during a telephone conversation with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.

Biden and Poroshenko talked about the importance of achieving progress in security issues and political aspects of the …


Opposition leader Alexei Navalny files lawsuit against Vladimir Putin

The leader of Russia’s Progress Party, Alexei Navalny, has filed an administrative lawsuit against Russian President, Vladimir Putin.  He argues that Putin has violated the law on “combating corruption”.  The Kremlin stated that the president is unaware of the lawsuit.

The opposition leader wrote on his website that he has filed an administrative claim in the Tver Court of Moscow, in which President Putin is the defendant.  This was confirmed in a blog by Rubanov Roman, who is the director of …


Russian FSB carries out operation against 11 Crimean Tatars

On the 11th of February, representatives of the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB), accompanied by Special Forces, stormed the houses of Crimean Tatars who adhere to the canons of Islam.  There were 11 cases of houses being searched on that day, and 12 people were detained.  Searches were performed in Yalta, Alushta and Bakhchysarai.

The searches involved smashing windows and placing bags over the heads of suspected terrorists and traitors.  At 6 am, Russian Security servicemen entered the …