Before an hour
International outcry over 25 years in prison for Kremlin critics
A screen set up in a room of Moscow City Court shows live broadcasts of the verdict in the case against Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, accused of high treason and spreading ‘false’ information about the Russian army, in Moscow April 17 ., 2023.
Kirill Kudryavtsev | AFP | Getty Images
There was an international outcry after a Russian court sentenced Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on treason charges and other charges including spreading “false” information about the Russian army.
The US, Britain and Germany condemned the verdict, with London calling the conviction of Kara-Murza, an opposition politician, journalist and human rights activist in Russia and a dual British citizen, “politically motivated”.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has summoned Russia’s Ambassador Andrey Kelin, saying it would “make it clear that the UK considers Mr Kara-Murza’s conviction to be in breach of Russia’s international human rights obligations, including of the right to a fair trial.”
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming.
The US Embassy in Russia said in a statement that “today’s decision by the court to sentence Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for expressing a critical opinion on his government’s policies is another terrible sign of repression , which has found its way into Russia . We call for his immediate release.”
Elsewhere, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement that the 25-year sentence was “another blow to the rule of law and civil society space in the Russian Federation.”
“No one should be deprived of their liberty for exercising their human rights, and I call on the Russian authorities to release them immediately,” Turk said.
— Holly Ellyatt
3 hours ago
US has never given up attempts to spy on Russia, Kremlin says
The Kremlin claimed Monday that the US had “never given up” on attempts to spy on Russia, saying a recently leaked Pentagon document proved it.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov waits to watch the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow’s Red Square, May 9, 2022.
Kirill Kudryavtsev | AFP | Getty Images
When Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov was asked if the Kremlin was concerned about “the extent of penetration of US intelligence agencies into Russian structures” following the recent leak of information allegedly collected by Washington, Peskov said:
“Our special services and counterintelligence units are doing their job. The United States has never stopped working and trying to conduct intelligence activities with us. This meets with appropriate resistance, and in this case our special services do their job,” Peskov told reporters on Monday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Peskov’s comments come after a plethora of Pentagon documents were leaked and released online that appear to show information Washington had gathered about Russia, the war in Ukraine and other nations.
— Holly Ellyatt
4 hours ago
Slovakia hands over MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine
A MiG-29 army aircraft was presented at the presentation of the AWACS E-3A Component aircraft from Geilenkirchen and the F-16 and MiG-29 from the 31st and 33rd
Darek Majewski | Gallo Pictures | Getty Images
Slovakia transferred 13 Soviet-era warplanes to Ukraine, the country’s defense minister said on Monday.
Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nagy said on Twitter that “all 13 Slovak MIG-29s were safely handed over to the Ukrainian Air Force. Proud to be on the right side and doing the right thing to protect life. We stand by Ukraine.”
Slovakia’s government approved delivery of the jets to Ukraine in March, and several aircraft were delivered last month. Poland has also offered MiG-29s to Ukraine.
— Holly Ellyatt
5 hours before
Putin critic sentenced to 25 years in prison
Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza sits on a bench in an accused’s cage during a hearing at the Basmanny court in Moscow October 10, 2022.
Natalia Kolesnikova | AFP | Getty Images
A Moscow court on Monday jailed outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza for a quarter of a century after finding him guilty of treason and other offenses he denies, Portal reported.
Kara-Murza, 41, a father of three and an opposition politician with Russian and British passports, has spoken out against President Vladimir Putin for years, trying to get Western governments to impose sanctions on Russia and individual Russians over alleged human rights abuses, Portal reported.
Prosecutors had accused him of treason and discrediting the Russian military after he criticized what Moscow called a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
In his final speech in court last week, Kara-Murza had compared his own closed-door trial to the show trials of Joseph Stalin in the 1930s and declined to ask the court to acquit him, saying he stand by and was proud of everything he had said, according to Portal.
—Melody Warner
5 hours before
Russia’s Putin, Shoigu, discuss Pacific Fleet exercises
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow April 17, 2023.
Gavriil Grigorov | AFP | Getty Images
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on exercises by the Pacific Fleet to President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
In footage aired on state television, Shoigu was shown saying the drills included “mock strikes on enemy naval groups” in the Pacific.
Putin replied that rapid checks showed that the Pacific Fleet stationed in Russia’s Far East was at a high level of readiness and that Russia’s priority was Ukraine.
The drills come as Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu visits Moscow. On Sunday he met with Putin.
Read the full Portal report.
– Portal
6 hours ago
Russia’s foreign minister embarks on a trip to Latin America
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov begins a tour of Latin America on Monday, with planned visits to Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.
Russian State Duma | Portal
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov begins a tour of Latin America on Monday, with planned visits to Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.
On the trip, which lasts until Friday, Russia’s top diplomat will hold talks with the leaders and foreign ministers of those countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
It added Lavrov has a “specific agenda aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in political, trade, economic, educational, humanitarian, cultural and other fields,” the ministry said.
The main goal of Lavrov’s trip is to strengthen cooperation between the countries in political, economic, trade, humanitarian and cultural areas, it said.
“For us, Latin America is a friendly region, one of the centers of the formation of a multipolar world with which Russia wants to conduct a dynamic dialogue and develop constructive cooperation that is not subject to external dictates,” the ministry said on Telegram.
Russia frequently promotes the concept of a “multipolar world” and criticizes the West’s perceived hegemony in global affairs. Since invading Ukraine, Moscow has stepped up efforts to strengthen alliances and friendships abroad, including with China, Brazil and India.
— Holly Ellyatt
7 hours ago
Demining in Ukraine could take at least a decade, UK says
A member of Ukraine’s emergency services demining division prepares to survey an area of farmland and power lines for landmines and other duds so electricians can access power poles damaged by Russian strikes to repair them in Korovii Yar, in the eastern Donetsk region in Ukraine, on March 20, 2023.
Violeta Santos Moura | Portal
Demining in Ukraine, an activity taking place in areas of north-east and south Ukraine previously occupied by Russian forces, could last for at least a decade, Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Monday.
“Civilian mine-related casualties continue to be reported daily in Ukraine. The most affected areas are the Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts [regions]: Territories Russia has previously occupied,” the ministry said in an intelligence update on Twitter.
With the arrival of spring and more people working in agriculture, the risk of civilian mine incidents will increase, the ministry warned.
“Over 750 mine-related civilian casualties have been reported since the invasion began – one in eight involved a child. It will likely take at least a decade to clear Ukraine of mines,” the ministry said.
— Holly Ellyatt
7 hours ago
Russia’s Putin meets Chinese Defense Minister and further deepens military ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin crosses himself during the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior April 16, 2023 in Moscow, Russia.
Contributor | News from Getty Images | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin met China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday, marking the latest high-level meeting between Russian and Chinese officials in recent months.
Footage of the meeting showed Putin shaking hands with Li and then taking a seat at a table with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
“We actively work through our military departments, regularly exchange useful information, cooperate in the field of military-technical cooperation and hold joint exercises,” Putin said, Portal reported.
The recent joint exercises, he said, have strengthened “the extremely trusting, strategic nature of our relationship.”
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that Li would make his first overseas trip to Russia on April 16-18 since his appointment to the post. The ministry said that during the visit, which ends on Tuesday, negotiations between Li and Shoigu would take place and the officials would discuss defense cooperation and global and regional security issues.
Putin’s latest meeting with a senior Chinese official comes almost a month after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow in March, where the leaders reaffirmed their strategic cooperation. Putin also met with one of China’s top diplomats, Wang Yi, in February.
China’s State Council released a statement on Sunday, saying Beijing stands ready to work with Russia to “deepen strategic communications between the two militaries, strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and make new contributions to maintaining global and regional… to provide security and stability”.
— Holly Ellyatt
8 hours ago
Dozens of prisoners of war freed as Ukraine celebrates Orthodox Easter
Ukrainian prisoners of war pose for a photo after an exchange amid the Russian attack on Ukraine in an undisclosed location, Ukraine.
Ukrainian Armed Forces | Via Portal
More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released as part of a major Easter exchange with Russia, a senior official said on Sunday, as Orthodox Ukrainians marked the holiday for the second time since Moscow unleashed its all-out war more than a year ago.
As celebrations were muted due to security risks and a curfew barring worshipers from usual nightly services, Ukrainian authorities and ordinary people exchanged messages of hope, connecting the story of Jesus’ resurrection to their longing for peace and a Ukrainian victory.
Dozens of families had particular reason to rejoice when Presidential Advisor Andriy Yermak announced that 130 soldiers, sailors, border guards and others captured by Moscow were on their way home after a “big Easter prisoner exchange.”
Yermak said in a Telegram post on Sunday that those released included troops who have been fighting near Bakhmut, the eastern mining town that has been the focus of Russia’s grueling offensive for months.
“The lives of our people are of the highest value to us,” Yermak said, adding that Kiev’s goal is to bring back all remaining POWs.
Read the full Associated Press report.
– The Associated Press