Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has criticized France’s support for Syria’s opposition, calling the decision “unacceptable.” Speaking to reporters ahead of a visit to France on Monday, he said the move to recognize the new opposition coalition as the “sole legitimate representative” of the Syrian people amounted to “regime change.” “What will be the fate […]
Medvedev: Support of Syria Rebels ‘Unacceptable’
Posted November 26th, 2012 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
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UN Slams Russia on Torture
Posted November 24th, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Committee Against Torture has strongly criticized Russia for failing to investigate widespread allegations of torture and intimidation, and reprisals against human rights activists and journalists. In a report presented Friday at the committee’s 49th session in Geneva, a panel of 10 independent experts said they are seeing very few effective investigations that lead […]
Russia Opposes NATO Patriots on Turkey’s Syria Border
Posted November 22nd, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Russia has warned against NATO’s possible deployment of Patriot missiles near Turkey’s border with Syria. Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Thursday that Turkey’s request for deployment to the Western military alliance “would not foster stability in the region.” NATO ambassadors met Wednesday to consider Turkey’s request, which followed weeks of talks between Ankara and […]
Europe, Russia Move Ahead with Mars Mission
Posted November 21st, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
The European Space Agency has announced a tentative agreement with Russia for an unmanned mission to explore signs of life on Mars. The project, approved at a meeting in Naples Wednesday, calls for sending an orbital probe to Mars in 2016 that would look for traces of methane gas and other biological clues in the […]
Jailed Pussy Riot Members Change Lawyers
Posted November 19th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
The two jailed members of the Russian all-female punk band Pussy Riot have replaced their legal team, their lawyers citing public pressure for their decision to quit. Mark Feigin, one of the lawyers for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, confirmed the news Monday, saying they had been refused a meeting with Tolokonnikova at the prison […]
Germany, Russia Clash on Human Rights
Posted November 16th, 2012 at 6:50 pm (UTC-5)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel clashed Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the two-year jail sentences imposed on two members of the female punk band Pussy Riot for performing an anti-Putin song in a Moscow cathedral. Visiting the Kremlin for a Russian-German business forum, Chancellor Merkel expressed Germany’s concern about the passage of laws in […]
US House Approves Russia Trade and Human Rights Legislation
Posted November 16th, 2012 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that would upgrade U.S. trade relations with Russia while punishing Russian officials for human rights violations. The House passed the bill Friday by a margin of 365 to 43. It now goes to the Senate for approval. The bill combines two separate measures into one. The […]
US House Approves Russia Trade and Human Rights Legislation
Posted November 16th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a combined bill that would upgrade U.S. trade relations with Russia, while punishing Russian officials for human rights violations. Friday’s vote of 365 to 43 is the first step in the process. The legislation must still go through a vote in the Senate and be signed by U.S. […]
Russia Signals Readiness for Talks on Limiting Weapons
Posted November 15th, 2012 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Russia says it is ready to launch talks with NATO on limiting conventional military forces in Europe. Moscow’s new envoy to NATO, Alexander Grushko, said Thursday that the consultations should be done without any attempts to tie them to political issues. Grushko says “the ball is in Europe’s court,” adding that Russia is waiting for […]
Russia Warns Against US Human Rights Bill
Posted November 15th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Russia is warning the United States in connection with the possible adoption of a bill designed to punish Russian officials implicated in human rights abuses. The legislation, known as the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, would freeze American bank accounts and deny U.S. visas to corrupt officials and human rights violators. The Kremlin […]
