Crimean Tatar Leader Meets with Russian Opposition Delegate in Strasbourg

Mikhail Kasyanov, the leader of the Russian Opposition “People’s Freedom Party”, took part in the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), dedicated to the memory of Boris Nemtsov. At the session, Kasyanov assured Ukrainian Commissioner for the Affairs of Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, that Crimea will eventually be released and returned to Ukraine.

According to Kasyanov, the economic and political situation in Russia is worsening. The people`s approval of …


Finland prepared to deploy troops along Russian border to control refugee crisis

In reference to a Lännen Media publication, Kainuun Sanomat reported that Finnish authorities are prepared to deploy soldiers in joint force with the Russian Federation along the eastern border.  This is due to the current influx of refugees into Finland.  It was noted that as of right now there are officially 1500 guards protecting the border with Russia, which equates to approximately one border guard per kilometer.

“However, in practice, only a part of personnel is on duty there,” the …


Russian Banks Refuse to give Loans to Crimeans

The instability of the credit histories of Crimean residents means that the denial of their loan applications has become a “common practice” of Russian banks, as explained by the head of the Union of Financial Services Consumers (FinPotrebSoyuz), Mikhail Beliaev.

“As we know, the bank is a commercial institution and operates within strict guidelines and instructions... We need to understand that the labor situation in the Crimea is not good, of course, and therefore wages are not stable. It is …


Pro-Russian Separatists Acknowledge Debt Owed To Kiev

Following the results of the negotiations of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, the self-proclaimed LPR (the Lugansk People`s Republic) and DPR (the Donetsk People`s Republic) have acknowledged debts to the Ukrainian budget and their repayment.  Agreements on the exchange of prisoners have not yet reached.

The acknowledgements were reported by Daria Olifer, the Press-Secretary of former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.  This became known after the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group …


The ICC in The Hague to begin investigation into war crimes in South Ossetia

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has made the decision to start an investigation into the war crimes committed in South Ossetia in 2008.

On the 27th of November 2015, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC authorized the Prosecutor to initiate an investigation into these crimes under the ICC jurisdiction.  These crimes were allegedly committed in Georgia and linked to South Ossetia.  They allegedly occurred between the 1st of July and the 10th of October 2008.

The court stated …