US anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe violate INF Treaty - Russian foreign ministry

"Obviously, it is a flagrant violation of liabilities under the INF Treaty," the ministry stressed.

MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. The United States’ deployment of its Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe is a flagrant violation of Washington’s liabilities under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday commenting on latest report of the US Department of State on countries’ observance of their liabilities in the sphere of weapons control and non-proliferation.

"The United States has deployed Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems at its base in Romania and plans to deploy another such system in Poland. Such systems incorporate vertical launch systems similar to Mk-41 universal systems that are capable of launching intermediate-range cruise missiles Tomahawk," the ministry noted.

"Obviously, it is a flagrant violation of liabilities under the INF Treaty," the ministry stressed.

According to the ministry, this is not the only section of the treaty where Washington is failing its liabilities. Thus, for more than two decades, the United States has been continuing tests with the use target missiles having the same characteristics as ground-based short-and medium-range ballistic missiles to improve elements of the systems prohibited by the INF Treaty. More to it, Washington is boosting production and the use of unmanned fighting vehicles that fall under the INF Treaty’s definition of ground-based cruise missiles.

"Notably, we have been pointing to the two latter violations of the INF Treaty for 15 years," the ministry said. "But there is no constructive reaction.".

Russia’s foreign ministry has warned the United States about inadmissibility of strengthening its own security at the expense of other countries.

"While implementing its anti-missile plans, the United States must be guided, in deed but not in words, by the generally recognized principle of inadmissibility of strengthening own security at the expense of other states. Notably, Washington has repeatedly reiterated this principle in corresponding international formats," the ministry said on Saturday commenting on the latest regular report of the US Department of State on observance by states of non-proliferation and weapons control agreeements.

The ministry reminded that the United States withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001 to embark on the course towards unilateral and unrestricted building up of its global anti-missile defense system. "This way it has wrecked on of the pillars of the global strategic stability system," the ministry stressed.

Threat to international security

"The US’ deployment of its missile-defense system has adversely impacted the system of international security, dramatically complicated relations not only in the Euro-Atlantic but also in the Asia-Pacific region and turned into one of the most serious obstacles on the path of further gradual nuclear disarmament as it creates dangerous opportunities for the resumption of the nuclear arms race," the ministry said.

"The danger is that the existence of an anti-missile umbrella may give rise to a calamitous illusion of invincibility and impunity and hence tempt hotheads in Washington into new dangerous unilateral steps on global and regional problems in bypassing of the United Nations Security Council and contrary to common sense, like it was done on April 7 when the United States delivered a missile strike on a sovereign state, Syria," the ministry noted.

"We have repeatedly drawn attention of the US side to this problem but the US side demonstrates no readiness for cooperation and reckoning with Russia’s concerns. The United States has refused to even discuss its own guarantees that missile-defense systems that are being deployed in Europe are not aimed against Russia," the ministry said.

"We still have no answer who these super-costly missile-defense preparations are conducted against as they are disproportional to all possible challenges.

Iran deal fails to change situation

"Demonstrative in this respect was the US’s unwillingness to adjust its missile defense plans despite successful implementation of the 2015 agreements on the Iranian nuclear program," the ministry noted. "However we remember that it used to be a core and, as a matter of fact, the only argument Washington used to justify deployment of its anti-missile systems in Europe."

"Anti-missile elements that are being deployed around the world are part of a very dangerous global project aimed at securing US’ overall overwhelming superiority to the prejudice of security interests of other states," the Russian foreign ministry underscored. "The US missile defense architecture is tilting the strategic balance of forces in the area of offensive weapons and creates more and more serious risks of global instability.".

CFE Treaty

Russia sees no point in getting back to the subject of the implementation of the absolutely obsolete Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), the ministry says.

"Since the authors of the report once again mentioned Russia’s suspension of its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe presenting it as a ‘violation’ of liabilities under this treaty, we should remind the following: the United States and its allies have more than once violated restrictive provisions of the CFE Treaty through NATO’s expansion," the ministry said. "Moreover, they have been dodging Russia’s initiative to upgrade the regime of control over conventional weapons in Europe in compliance with the new military political realities on the continent. The most vivid example is their refusal to ratify an agreement on adaptation of the CFE Treaty."

"Bearing in mind all these circumstances, we see no sense in getting back to the subject of the implementation of the CFE Treaty which has long gone obsolete," the ministry said. "As for the prospects for a new regime of control over conventional weapons in Europe on the principles of equal and indivisible security, balanced rights and liabilities of the parties, they should be looked at in the context of NATO’s abandoning measures of military "containment’ of Russia in Europe, normalization of relations with Russia, including in the sphere of military cooperation."

The Russian foreign ministry reminded that only after Russia had suspended the CFE Treaty, the United States and its allies raised the issue of the "necessity to solve the problem of control over conventional weapons in Europe." "But their attempts to use dialogue on this matter as a tool to exert pressure on Russia have in the long run led to its suspension," the ministry explained.

"Stating their commitment to preserving, strengthening and modernization of control over conventional weapons in Europe, the United States and NATO have actually embarked on a course towards ‘containing’ Russia and further tilting the balance of forces in Europe in their favor, including in the exact vicinity of the Russian borders," the ministry pointed. "US’ attempts at ‘flexible’ interpretation of the provisions of the Russia-NATO Founding Act along with building up heavy weapons and military hardware at NATO’s European advanced deployment depots are nothing but dangerous balancing on the verge of violating provisions of this most important document.".

US military biological infrastructure in neighboring countries

Moscow is alarmed over the deployment of the United States’ military biological infrastructure along its borders, the foreign ministry says.

"We cannot but be concerned over systemic deployment of the US’ military biological infrastructure along the Russian borders," the ministry said. "Of special worry is reinforcing of the US Army Medical Research Directorate - Georgia (in the village of Alexeyevka)."

"Pentagon is implementing similar projects in other our neighboring countries," the ministry said.

Despite its liabilities, the United States still leaves room for possible "retaliatory use" of toxic and other types of chemical weapons. "It creates a rather alarming situation around the US’ observance of liabilities under the BWC [Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction - TASS]," the ministry added.

Russia is not reviewing its stance on role of nuclear weapons

Allegations that Russia is reviewing its stance on the role of nuclear weapons are not true, the Russian foreign ministry says.

"Concurrently, the absolutely ungrounded false thesis of growing ‘Russian nuclear threat’ is being fomented," the ministry said. "Provisions of our Military Doctrine concerning the use of nuclear weapons are deliberately distorted. Allegations that Russia is reviewing its views on the place and role of nuclear weapons and is focusing on them are being inculcated onto Western society."

"All this has nothing to do with the real state of things," the ministry stressed.

According to the ministry, it is possible to speak about changing attitude to the role of nuclear weapons only in the context of the US’ modernizing its nuclear arsenals. "The United States plans to deploy new nuclear air bombs with lower capacity but higher precision," the ministry noted. "Such characteristics considerably lower the threshold of the use of nuclear weapons. Such nuclear tools are no longer a political weapon but are rather combat weapon.".

Freeze of Russia’s tranche on IAEA projects

US banks’ freezing of Russia’s tranche meant to finance humanitarian projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can be seen as abuse of the international financial system, the ministry says.

"There is no escaping the impression that deliberate steps are being taken to create obstacles for Russia’s financing an IAEA humanitarian project. Such actions by US banks can be seen as abuse of the international financial system by means of control over dollar-denominated transactions, which, in this case, does direct harm to the operation of the United Nations system," the ministry stressed.

The ministry reminded that in March US banks had frozen a tranche of Russia’s voluntary contribution to finance the implementation of the IAEA Program of Action for Cancer Therapy and the Russian bank making the payment had been asked to confirm that the money transfer had nothing to do with Iran. "Despite the Russia’s side explanation that the sum was meant purely for humanitarian purposes, American banks delayed the transfer for several weeks and returned the frozen sum to the account of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom in early April," the ministry said. "IAEA cannot receive the Russian voluntary contribution for cancer treatment in 2017 till now."

"We believe that US financial institutions would hardly dare to block state payments of a sovereign state. It looks like a free interpretation of US government restrictions in the context of national sanctions that are indiscriminately harming even purely humanitarian operations," the ministry stressed. "Despite the fact that the Russian side has repeatedly raised this issue in contacts with US officials, the US administration has failed to explain to its banks that their steps were erroneous.".

"Joint nuclear missions"

The United States is not observing its key liabilities under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT Treaty) when it involves its allies to the so-called joint nuclear missions, the Russian foreign ministry says.

"The United States is claiming it ‘observes’ its liabilities under the NPT Treaty but the alarming situation linked with Washington’s non-observance of key provisions of that treaty is still in place," the ministry said. "The United States continues to involve European non-nuclear NATO countries to the so-called joint nuclear missions."

The ministry reminded that such ‘joint nuclear missions’ typically include elements of nuclear planning and drills of practical skills of the use of nuclear weapons that involve carrier planes, their crews, infrastructure of airfield and ground support services on non-nuclear NATO states. "It is a direct violation of Articles I and II of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," the ministry stressed.

According to the Russian foreign ministry, the problem of joint nuclear mission has only one solution that is to pull all non-strategic nuclear weapons back to the US territory and ban their deployment abroad, eliminate the entire infrastructure that can be used for quick deployment of such weapons, and, "of course, to refrain from any exercises linked with drilling skills of the use of nuclear weapons by the armed forces of state that don’t possess such weapons.".

Iraq, Syria

Russia calls on the United States to share with the United Nations Security Council data on the presumable use of chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria, the Russian foreign ministry says.

"The United States should demonstrate a more responsible approach to the issue of the use of chemical weapons in the Middle East by non-state entities," the ministry said. "And for these ends, it should simply act in compliance with its liabilities under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2118, 2209 and 2235 and share with the United Nations Security Council evidence to crimes committed by Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan collected by the US military in 2015-2016 directly in the sites where extremists used these toxic agents."

"We would also like to see ‘irrefutable’ proof that chemical weapons that were allegedly used in an attack on Khan Shaykhun [a city in the Syrian Idlib Governorate] had been stored at the Syrian airbase in Shayrat in order to understand why Washington acted in violation of international law over the presumable chemical incident in Idlib," the ministry added.

Instead, the United States has blocked a decision of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on organizing an objective investigation in Khan Shaykhun, the ministry said, adding that the United States has not yet provided information about the elimination of chemical weapons seized in Iraq back in 2003-2009.

Russia wants US to explain violations in arms control sphere

Russian expects explanations from Washington on violation of its liabilities in the sphere of arms control, the Russian foreign ministry says.

"We want to hear articulate explanations on all episodes we mentioned and call on the United States once again to abandon its unseemly practices of laying ungrounded claims to other states on the backdrop of its own serious ‘drawbacks’ and this way misleading international public opinion," the ministry said.

"We also express the hope that Washington will finally returns to the time-tested efficient way of settling disputable issues and differences, i.e. full-format talks with all-round consideration of the core of problems, without politically-motivated biases and grandstanding through throwing ungrounded accusations," the ministry added.

The ministry cited US’ violations of its liabilities under other agreements, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, as well as problems with the implementation of US’ liabilities in the sphere of control over conventional, chemical and biological weapons, and the Open Skies Treaty.

Standing for formal observance of liabilities in the sphere of arms control, the United States is giving dogmatic assessment to the actions of other states in violation of international practices of settling such issues, the Russian foreign ministry pointed. "In the recent years, there have been more and more grounds to think that such US’ actions are rooted not in trivial unwillingness to put itself to the bother of maintaining an uneasy and long expert dialogue but rather in something more serious - Washington’s fear to be caught in throwing ungrounded accusations against other states and in violating international arms control and non-proliferation agreements," the Russian ministry stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-04-2017

Ukrainian military shells positions of LPR militia ten times in 24 hours

According to the LPR people’s militia, the Ukrainian military’s attacks involved 152 mm artillery guns, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, infantry combat vehicles, grenade launchers and other light weapons.

LUGANSK, April 29. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military shelled the positions of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) militia ten times over the past 24 hours, an LPR security source said on Saturday.

"The Dolgoye, Frunze, Pervomaisk, Almaznoye, Lozovoye and Veselogorovka settlements, as well as the Prince Igor Monument area, came under fire," the Luganskinformcenter news agency quoted the source as saying.

According to the LPR people’s militia, the Ukrainian military’s attacks involved 152 mm artillery guns, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, infantry combat vehicles, grenade launchers and other light weapons.

On March 29, members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine adopted a statement on introducing a ceasefire in Donbass starting from April 1 ahead of the Easter celebrations.

On April 12, the Contact Group confirmed its commitment to the Easter ceasefire and agreed to ensure a complete ceasefire in Donbass starting from April 13. However, attacks still continue.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-04-2017

Moscow holds first night rehearsal of Victory Day Parade

A total of 28 foot parade units were marching across Red Square

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/. The first evening rehearsal of Victory Day Parade involving 10,000 troops and 114 pieces of modern armament and military hardware took place in Moscow’s Red Square, Russia’s Defense Ministry reports.

A total of 28 foot parade units were marching across Red Square, including servicemen of higher military educational institutions, Suvorov military schools and Nakhimov naval academies, cadet corps, and also troops of Russia’s Western Military District, the Emergencies Ministry, the National Guard and the Federal Security Service of Russia.

"A parade team of the all-Russian military and patriotic movement Yunarmiya (Young Army), and also servicemen of the 61st separate marine infantry brigade of the Northern Fleet’s coastal defense troops will march across Red Square for the first time today," the Defense Ministry said before the event.

The Victory parade’s mechanized column comprised Msta-S sell-propelled howitzers and the newest Koalitsiya-SV systems, the Iskander tactical ballistic missile complex representing missile forces and artillery, Tigr and Taifun armored vehicles, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, Buk-M2 and Tor-M2U air defense missile complexes, Pantsyr-S1 missile/gun systems, launchers of the advanced S-400 long-range antiaircraft missile systems and Yars ICBMs.

The mechanized column also included advanced types of the armor based on the Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang combat platforms.

"The most advanced examples of air defense systems in the cold (white-grey) Arctic color - the Tor-M2DT surface-to-air missile system and the Pantsyr-SA antiaircraft missile/gun complex, and also T-72B3 tanks passed through Red Square for the first time," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian troops will hold another night rehearsal on May 3 and a dress rehearsal of Victory Day Parade on May 7.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-04-2017

Twelve militants of Islamic Jihad Mujahideen Jamaat grouping detained in Kaliningrad

The FSB now plans to deport the detainees shortly to the countries they arrived from, as they will face criminal responsibility there for the terrorist crimes they have committed.

KALININGRAD, April 27. /TASS/. A total of twelve militants of the Islamic Jihad Mujahideen Jamaat international terrorist grouping, which is banned in Russia, were detained on Wednesday in Russia's westernmost Kaliningrad region an exclave territory in the southeastern Baltic area.

"Operatives detained twelve descendants from the Central Asian countries, who make up a cell of Islamic Jihad Mujahideen Jamaat, in the course of a special operation," the Kaliningrad regional branch of the FSB federal security service said.

"Their involvement in recruiting activities is not ruled out," the report said.

As a result of the operative search, the FSB identified the leader of the cell whom the law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan placed on a wanted list for extremist crimes. It is believed that he recruited residents of the Kaliningrad region - and particularly the ones hailing from Central Asia - in the interests of Islamic Jihad Mujahideen Jamaat.

"The malefactor is giving confessionary evidence, some of which highlights the activity of his relatives in international terrorist organizations," the report said.

"In addition to it, the operatives have exposed connections of the cell leader and an inquiry into their involvement in the paramilitary units operating in Syria," it said.

The FSB now plans to deport the detainees shortly to the countries they arrived from, as they will face criminal responsibility there for the terrorist crimes they have committed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-04-2017

Russia takes steps in response to NATO’s activities in Europe

Moscow is taking steps to ensure its security in response to the deployment of NATO’s new battalions to Europe, a Russian diplomat says.

MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. Moscow is taking steps to ensure its security in response to the deployment of NATO’s new battalions to Europe, Russian Permanent Representative to the alliance, Alexander Grushko, said on Wednesday.

"The deployment is to be completed in June. All these NATO battalions will be integrated into countries’ national defense agencies. This creates new realities. NATO is trying to expand capabilities for reinforcement. That concerns airfields, ports. This is going to change the situation in central Europe profoundly," Grushko said. "As for the necessary steps, we are doing our utmost to ensure our interests and security. All that is being done through the means and measures we deem to be necessary," he emphasized.

"As for the necessary steps, we are doing our utmost to ensure our interests and security. All that is being done through the means and measures we deem to be necessary," he emphasized.

"Thank God, we have such military capabilities, which make it possible for us to choose from multiple various tools," Grushko added.

The diplomat went on to say that the Russia-NATO ministerial meeting is feasible, but it must be thoroughly prepared.

"The ministerial level is quite possible, but it needs to be carefully prepared to achieve certain results," he said. "At the moment, NATO is unprepared to change its stance. This concerns both the deployment on the eastern flank in June and the scheme of its relationship with Russia - to carry on a dialogue but not to take it to an expert level, primarily between the militaries."

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-04-2017

Israel to hold rally in memory of Red Army Victory

The ceremony will be held as part of the Days of Moscow beginning in Israel.

NETANYA, Israel, April 25. /TASS/. A commemorative ceremony will take place on Tuesday in Netanya, a city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, in front of a monument dedicated to the Red Army’s victory over Nazism during World War II. It is co-organized by Moscow City government and the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), Mikhail Savin, the chief of the RJC press service told TASS.

The ceremony will be held as part of the Days of Moscow beginning in Israel.

"An annual commemorative rally will be held by the Red Army Victory monument in Netanya on Tuesday in the run-up to VE-Day," Savin said. Russian and Israeli veterans of World War II will be guests of honor at the ceremony.

"The group of Russian participants who have come to Israel includes Ivan Martynushkin and Leonid Brandt - two soldiers who were among the first one to get into the territory of Auschwitz," Savin said.

"Alexandra Garbuzova, who survived captivity in that death camp as a little girl, has also come with the group. She was one of the exhausted children Brandt took out of the camp on his arms."

After the official laying of flowers and wreaths at the monument and a small musical presentation by the band of the Moscow Cadet School of Music, participants in the rally will proceed the Museum in Memory of the Fallen Soldiers located by the Victory Memorial.

"A photo display devoted to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Moscow will open there," Savin said.

The memorial in honor of Red Army’s Victory over Nazi Germany is located in the very center of Netanya on the picturesque seashore, next to Beit Yad Lebanim memorial compound commemorating the soldiers who died in different wars defending the State of Israel.

Visitors approach the monument through a dark labyrinth - a zigzag-like passage faced with black stone, the turns of which emblematize the main tragic moments in the history of the Jewish people. At a certain moment, the visitors moving by the passage see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ and then they get out into a sunlit circular space overlooking the sea.

Installed at the center of the ground is a sculpture in the form of a dove’s wings that traditionally serve as a symbol of peace and good-heartedness, as well as a link between man and the heavenly world.

According to Mikhail Savin, the events included in the Days of Moscow program will take place from April 25 through April 27 this year. "They’re held in Israel regularly with support from the RJC," he said.

"We take there the WW II veterans, former inmates of ghettos and death camps, popular politicians, public personalities, and diplomats from Israel, Russia and other countries," Savin said.

The program of the Days embraces four Israeli cities this year - Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Netanya, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Israel told TASS. The list of events includes a business forum, negotiations, meetings, roundtables on cooperation in the economy and technologies, photo exhibitions, sports competitions, and concerts by Russian performers.

As part of the program, Netanya hosts an exhibition titled ‘The Russian Outer Space’ where the photos made by Russian cosmonauts are put up for display.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-04-2017

Russian Foreign Ministry slams OSCE car incident in Donbass as 'provocation'

The ministry has described deadly incident with an OSCE SMM car as a provocation aimed at breaking down the settlement process in Donbass

MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. Russia’s foreign ministry has described Sunday’s deadly incident with an OSCE SMM (Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine) car as a provocation.

"The circumstances of the incident indicate a high probability of a provocation geared at breaking down the settlement process in Donbass. Obviously, such incidents and the general escalation of tensions are in the interests of those who are reluctant to implement political, economic and humanitarian provisions of the Minsk Package of Measures," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Russian foreign ministry called on the parties to the conflict to embark on a direct dialogue that is to result in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"Once again, we call for more active direct talks between the parties to the conflict, i.e. Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk, within the Contact Group to ensure complete implementation of the Package of Measures [on the implementation of the Minsk agreements] which is the only basis for the Donbass settlement," the ministry said.

The ministry expressed sincere condolences to the family of the US citizen, an employee of a medical company working under a contract with the OSCE, who was killed in the incident. The ministry also wished soonest recovery to those injured and called for a thorough and unbiased investigation of the incident. "We are resentful at this cynical action that claimed a human live and that was aimed against the international monitors working there for the sake of peace. We call for a thorough and objective investigation and demand those responsible be called to justice," the ministry said.

"This incident has revealed an acute necessity to duly ensure security for OSCE monitors, which is fixed in the mission’s mandate and has been noted by the Normandy Four leaders more than once, including during their latest telephone conversation on April 17," the ministry stressed.

A patrol car of the OSCE SMM drove into a mine near the village of Prishib in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR). The mission said one monitor had been killed and two more had been wounded. 

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz said in a conversation with the Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine Ertugul Apakan that the incident needs a thorough investigation.

According to the LPR’s militias, the patrol car deviated from its route. The LPR Ministry of State Security said a Ukrainian subversive group was behind the incident.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-04-2017

Russian army official says media mistook exercise for pooling units along Korean border

A number of Russian and international media said on Friday Russia was ostensibly building up the strength of its units on the border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Movements of army units in the area of the Korean border, which a number of mass media outlets have mistaken for an amassing of troops, are scheduled ones, as the units return to their permanent bases after a major military exercise in Buryatia, eastern Siberia, the official spokesman for Russia’s Eastern Military District told TASS.

A number of Russian and international media said on Friday Russia was ostensibly building up the strength of its units on the border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. As a proof of this, they published some video footage showing a freight train with armored vehicles

"Practically the entire system of air defense forces of the Eastern Military District was engaged in the exercise and about 300 missile launches were held in the course of the drill in combat control over the air defense units and the Air Force," said Alexander Gordeyev, the spokesman.

He also said the inspection of combat training done during the winter began on April 3 and would be over on April 29.

"The first phase of the exercise alone embraced more than 80 combined units and military bases of the Eastern Military District," Gordeyev said. "We had 22 drills of different types," Gordeyev said.

"Phase two includes inspections with full combat alerts, marches on the vehicles entered in the tables of equipment and by railway transport, and drills at special training grounds where the troops will be expected to fulfill special tasks," he said.

Gordeyev recalled that redeployment of troops over bid distances and drills on unfamiliar terrain had become regular practice with the Russian Armed Forces in recent years.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-04-2017

Kremlin advisor reveals the only way of dealing with US

Putin's advisor also believes that Donald Trump is just "doing what the ruling elite expects him to do".

YALTA, April 21. /TASS/. The only way to stop the United States’ aggression is to get rid of dollar addiction, a Kremlin advisor said on Friday.

"The more aggressive the Americans are the sooner they will see the final collapse of the dollar as the only way for the victims of American aggression to stop this aggression is to get rid of the dollar. As soon as we and China are through with the dollar, it will be the end of the United States’ military might," Sergey Glazyev said in an interview with TASS.

Commenting on the policy of the new US president, Glazyev noted that Donald Trump is doing what the ruling elite expects him to do.

"I had no illusions about him, that he will change the policy. First, America’s aggressiveness in the world is rooted in the aspiration to preserve America’s hegemony in a situation when they have already ceded leadership in the economy to China," he said.

"The United States has no tools to make all others use the dollar other than a truncheon. That is why they are indulging in a hybrid war with the entire world to shift the burden on their debts onto other countries, to confine all to the dollar and weaken territories they cannot control."

"In this context, the anti-Russian hysteria and growing Russophobia can be seen as a long-term factor linked with the specific interests of the United States’ ruling elite," the Kremlin advisor said.

"In objective terms, they are conducting a global hybrid war and in subjective terms, this war is aimed against us. More to it, as it always happens when a global leader is changed, the war is for control over rimland nations. In the period of WWI and WWII, Britain acted as a provoker in a bid to keep its global leadership. Now the United States is doing the same. And Trump expresses these interests," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-04-2017

Defense Ministry confirms death of Russian military advisor in Syria

The ministry also refutes media allegations about the death of two Russian servicemen in Syria.

MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the death of a Russian military advisor, Major Sergei Bordov.

"A Russian military advisor, Major Sergei Bordov, has died as a result of an attack by militants on the garrison of (Syrian) government forces," the ministry said. "He was among a group of Russian military advisors who took part in the training of a unit of Syrian troops."

An earlier report on Bordov's death came from Reuters.

During the militants’ attack, Maj. Bordov steered the defense efforts of the Syrian fellow-soldiers to prevent a breakthrough of the enemy forces into the garrison town.

Russian Armed Forces command has recommended Maj. Bordov for a posthumous award.

Simultaneously, the Defense Ministry refuted the Reuters’ report on the death of two Russian officers in Syria.

"The rumors about an alleged death of two Russian officers in Syria are a yet another instance of disinformation and they stand at variance with reality," it said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-04-2017

French presidential candidate points to right to self-determination regarding Crimea issue

PARIS, April 20. /TASS/. It is important to remember the need to respect the right to self-determination when it comes to the Crimea issue, former French Prime Minister, presidential candidate Francois Fillon said in an interview with Le Figaro daily.

According to him, "there are two fundamental principles that need to be observed although they contradict each other - the respect for state borders and the right to self-determination." "No one will argue that from the historical, cultural and linguistic points of view Crimea is Russian. It is no use demanding that Russia leave Crimea because it is never going to happen," Fillon added.

He proposed that a conference under the United Nations auspices be convened to discuss the future of Crimea "so that a solution could be found."

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-04-2017

Bill to strip terrorists of citizenship may be given first reading in May — MP

A decision to grant the Russian citizenship may be reversed if an individual to whom it was granted has joined the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia.

MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. The State Duma lower house of parliament may give its first reading to a bill aiming to strip convicted terrorists of their Russian citizenship in the second half of May, a senior parliamentarian told TASS on Tuesday.

"We will not be stalling it. I think we will discuss it (under the first reading) after the (May) holidays," said Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the Duma committee for legislation and state-building. "The topic is clear; it has been discussed since long. We will advance it," he said.

The initiative was also backed by the first deputy to the chairman of the Duma committee for nationalities, Mikhail Starshinov. "We must clearly understand that ensuring security of our citizens should stand first, while a bid to hold arms out to the whole world sometimes leads to dire consequences," he said.

The leaders of all four State Duma lower house’s factions - Vladimir Vassilyev (United Russia), Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation), Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Liberal Democratic Party) and Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia Party) brought in the bill on Tuesday.

"The bill envisages amendments to Article 22 of the Law on Citizenship, under which conviction for a terrorism-related crime under the court sentence that has taken effect will constitute grounds for revoking the decision on acquisition of the Russian citizenship," an explanatory note said.

The current legislation does not envisage this, parliamentarians say. They believe these amendments will come as additional measures "to protect citizens against terrorism and will help avert terrorist crimes by people who have been granted the Russian citizenship," the note said.

A decision to grant the Russian citizenship may be reversed if an individual to whom it was granted has joined the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the Mir 24 TV channel last week.

"In line with the Russian constitution, we cannot strip anyone of their citizenship. However, we may cancel relevant decisions that served as a basis for obtaining the Russian citizenship. We will consult with our lawyers and I think that such decisions will be made in the near future," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-04-2017

Putin, Merkel, Hollande, Poroshenko discuss situation in Ukraine

"The leaders called for stepping up the efforts to resolve the problem of prisoners along the all-for-all formula," the presidential press service said.

MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone conversation with Germany's Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko on settling the armed civil conflict in eastern Ukraine, the presidential press service said.

"The Normandy Four leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Minsk accords in the field of security and political aspects of peace settlement," the report said. "They welcomed the agreement on resumption of the Easter ceasefire that was reached on March 29 at a meeting of the Contact Group (for settling the conflict in Ukraine) and stressed the importance of its strict observance."

"The leaders called for stepping up the efforts to resolve the problem of prisoners along the all-for-all formula," the press service said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-04-2017

Russia’s hypersonic anti-ship Zircon missile reaches eight times speed of sound

The source noted that Zircon missiles can be launched from universal launching platforms 3C14 which are also used for the Onyx and Caliber missiles.

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Russia’s new hypersonic anti-ship Zircon missile has reached eight times the speed of sound during the test, a source with Russia’s defense sector told TASS.

"During the tests of the missile it was confirmed that its speed on the march reaches eight Mach (number that takes into account the dependence of the speed of sound on the altitude of flight - TASS)," the source said.

He did not specify when and from which platform the missile was launched.

The source noted that Zircon missiles can be launched from universal launching platforms 3C14 which are also used for the Onyx and Caliber missiles.

TASS does not have an official confirmation of this information.

Earlier other sources in Russian defense industry told TASS that Zircon missiles will be tested this year. It is expected that the new missiles will be installed at the heave nuclear-powered cruisers Peter the Great and Admiral Nakhimov.

Zircon’s firing range, according to open data, is about 400 kilometers; the maximum speed of the missile is indicated in about 4-6 Mach.

Hypersonic weapons are missiles and aircraft capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5 and more - or five times the speed of sound. They are extremely difficult to intercept due to their overwhelming speed and maneuvering capabilities. Hypersonic technologies in general, used in weapons systems and prospective aircraft, were seen by experts as a game changer in future warfare.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-04-2017

Putin sends Easter greetings to Patriarch Kirill – Kremlin

"The great holiday of Easter awakens the kindest feelings in hearts of people, unites Orthodox believers around the high spiritual and moral ideals" the president’s telegram reads

MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin greeted Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on the Easter Sunday, the Kremlin’s press service said.

"The great holiday of Easter awakens the kindest feelings in hearts of people, unites Orthodox believers around the high spiritual and moral ideals. I want to express my sincere gratitude to you for your many years of selfless work as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, to note your great contribution to development of cooperation between the Church and the state in the areas like culture and education, in strengthening of the institution of family and upbringing of the younger generation, in matters of education, mercy and charity," the president’s telegram reads.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-04-2017

Russian singer says she is happy over being chosen as Eurovision contestant

Russia’s Channel One Director Konstantin Ernst said earlier that singer Yulia Samoilova would take part in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. Singer Yulia Samoilova, who will not have a chance to participate in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest scheduled to be held in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in May, says she is happy to be confirmed to represent Russia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

"It was announced three weeks ago that if I am not able to perform this year, then I will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018," Samoilova said in an interview with TASS. "Of course, I am upset that I won’t be able to participate this year. But I am happy to be confirmed as the next year’s participant," the singer added.

According to her, it is still too early to start preparations for the next year’s contest.

On Friday, Russia’s Channel One Director Konstantin Ernst said that Samoilova would take part in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. "We have held talks on that with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) so they know that Yulia Samoilova will represent Russia," Ernst said when asked if Russia would participate in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

Channel One earlier decided to cancel the broadcast of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in light of the entry ban issued by the Ukrainian authorities against the Russian contestant.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-04-2017

Putin arrives in Kyrgyzstan to take part in regional summits

The president will attend summits of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

BISHKEK, April 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Friday in the Kazakh capital Bishkek to take part in summits of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

This is the Russian leader’s second visit to Kyrgyzstan this year. In late March, he visited the country as part of his Central Asian tour.

According to the Kremlin press service, the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, will focus on issues of integration and removal of trade barriers. The participants will also discuss main priorities for member states’ economic policies for the coming years.

The agenda of the meeting also includes issues of the EAEU external activities and relations with foreign partners. During the summit, Moldova may be granted an observer status in the organization. Moldovan President Igor Dodon will also take part in the event.

During the informal meeting of CSTO, comprising Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the leaders will "discuss issues of the organization’s further development and measures to strengthen cooperation on issues of regional security," the Kyrgyz president’s press service said. According to Russian president spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the informal conversation will be held with restricted attendance and floating agenda.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 15th anniversary of CSTO. The Russian president said in an interview to the Mir 24 TV channel prior to his visit that the organization has "definitely proved its effectiveness."

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-04-2017