Russian embassy in UK calls Aeroflot jet search at Heathrow blatant provocation

Border Force and Customs officers have searched the aircraft that was conducting the Aeroflot flights 2582 / 2583, Moscow - London - Moscow, the embassy said.

LONDON, March 31. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy to the UK has called the search of an Aeroflot jet organized by the British authorities on Friday ‘a blatant provocation’ that defied the accepted international rules.

"Today, we have witnessed another blatant provocation by the British authorities," the Embassy said in a report at its official homepage.

"Border Force and Customs officers have searched the aircraft that was conducting the Aeroflot flights 2582 / 2583, Moscow - London - Moscow," it said. "This kind of event is extraordinary. Moreover, the British officials tried to search the aircraft without the crew being present, something categorically prohibited by the rules in force."

"After an Embassy officer arrived at the airport, long negotiations were conducted that allowed to ensure the right of the captain to be take part in the search," the embassy said. "After the search was over, the British officers refused to provide any written document that would specify the reasons for their actions, their legal foundation and their outcome."

"Our attempts to get in touch with the Foreign Office in order to clarify the reasons of the inappropriate behavior of British officials did not bring fruit," the report said. "The Embassy has sent a diplomatic note demanding the British side to provide explanations of the incident."

The Embassy promised careful analysis of the incident.

"At this moment, we have no other explanation but that the incident at Heathrow is in one way or another connected with the hostile policy that the UK government is conducting with regard to Russia," the Embassy said.

Russia’s embassy in the United Kingdom managed to defend the Aeroflot jet captain’s right to be present while his plane was searched by the British authorities.

"The British officials tried to search the aircraft without the crew being present, something categorically prohibited by the rules in force. After an Embassy officer arrived at the airport long negotiations were conducted that allowed to ensure the right of the captain to be take part in the search," the embassy said.

The Embassy managed to defend the Aeroflot jet captain’s right to be present while his plane was searched by the British authorities.

"The British officials tried to search the aircraft without the crew being present, something categorically prohibited by the rules in force. After an Embassy officer arrived at the airport long negotiations were conducted that allowed to ensure the right of the captain to be take part in the search," the embassy said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-03-2018

Russia forced to retaliate expulsion of diplomats — Kremlin

Russia did not start any diplomatic wars, the Kremlin spokesman said.

MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. The United States forced Russia into taking retaliatory measures following the expulsion of its diplomats, but Moscow remains open to building good-natured relations with other countries, including the United States.

"Russia did not start any diplomatic wars," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media. 

"Russia was never the initiator of exchanges of sanctions, expulsions of diplomats and so on," he said. "Russia was forced to take retaliatory measures in response to unfriendly, unconstructive and unlawful actions - in this particular case, the expulsion of our diplomats and the closure of the consulate by Washington. Russia remains open to building good-natured relations. We wish to have such relations."

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-03-2018

First regiment armed with Sarmat intercontinental missile to enter duty 2021

Russia’s newest silo-based inter-continental ballistic missile Sarmat is expected to go operational in the Uzhur-based strategic missile force division in 2021.

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. Russia’s newest silo-based inter-continental ballistic missile Sarmat (RS-28) is expected to go operational in the Uzhur-based strategic missile force division in 2021, a source in the defense-industrial complex told TASS.

"Under the government-run program for armaments extending till 2027 Sarmat is to be produced serially starting from 2020. The first regiment armed with this missile is to enter duty in the Uzhur-based division," the agency’s source said. At first the regiment will consist of a command center and two missiles in silos. Eventually the regiment’s strength will be increased to six silos.

TASS has no official confirmation of this.

Earlier, mass media quoted officials as saying more than once that the deployment of the new heavy missile is to begin after 2018 although the RS-28’s flight tests have not started yet.

Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said the Russian army will get the new ICBM Sarmat by the moment the life cycle of the current heavy missile R-36M2 Voyevoda expires. In the Soviet Union these missiles were manufactured at the Yuzhmashplant (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine) and entered duty in 1988-1992.

Strategic Missile Force commander Sergey Karakayev said the Voyevodas will stay in service at least till 2024, but their service life may be extended up to 2027.

RS-28 is Russia’s new generation silo-based heavy liquid propellant inter-continental ballistic missile. Work on it has been underway since the 2000s with the aim to produce a substitute for the R-36M2 Voyevoda. It has a mass of about 200 tonnes and payload of about 10 tonnes. The media reported the first successful popup test in December 2017.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-03-2018

Kemerovo bids final farewell to fire tragedy victims

The catastrophic blaze took the lives of 64 people.

KEMEROVO, March 28. /TASS/. Funerals for the Zhimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall fire victims have begun in the Siberian city of Kemerovo. The first funerals took place at the Kirovskoye cemetery, a TASS correspondent reported.

The bodies of two children and one adult were brought to the cemetery in closed caskets following a funeral service held in St. Trinity Church.

According to earlier reports, on Wednesday, funeral services for the fire victims are underway in three of the city’s churches, involving dozens of people, many of whom bring flowers and wreaths.

Kemerovo shopping mall fire

A fire erupted on the top floor of the Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) four-storey shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 25, eventually engulfing an area of 1,500 square meters. According to recent reports, the blaze killed 64 people, including 41 children.

According to President Vladimir Putin’s decree, Russia is observing a day of national mourning on March 28. Flags are flying at half mast, entertaining events have been cancelled across the region.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-03-2018

Lavrov: 'Rest assured, Russia won't tolerate' West’s obnoxious conduct

The top diplomat believes the decision by some Western countries to expel Russian diplomats is due to a colossal blackmail campaign and pressure from the United States.

TASHKENT, March 27. /TASS/. Moscow won’t tolerate Western countries’ crassness and will definitely respond to the expulsion of diplomats, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"Rest assured, we will respond," Lavrov said in reply to a TASS question. "The reason is that no one would like to tolerate such obnoxiousness and we won’t either," he added.

The decision by some Western countries to expel Russian diplomats comes as the result of a colossal blackmail campaign and pressure from the United States, he went on.

"The conclusion that readily offers itself is that we were quite right when said more than once that truly independent countries in the modern world and in modern Europe are very few. When one or two diplomats are asked to leave this or that country, with apologies being whispered into our ears, we know for certain that this is a result of colossal pressure and colossal blackmail, which is Washington’s chief instrument in the international scene," Lavrov said. "This is what we hear in this situation and in relation to the Palestinian problem. ‘We will not be giving any money to the Palestinians until you say you will agree to the idea we have not formulated yet.’ In other words, ‘take it for granted.’ These ‘take-it-for-granted’ statements (charges against Russia in connection with the reported poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia - TASS) are an insult to the system of Anglo-Saxon, British justice," Lavrov said.

In his opinion, this decision by Western countries "reflects the determination of the ruling elites to ignore the voice of the people."

"I’ve been shown some related publications. Germany’s daily Die Welt has conducted a poll to ask the respondents if more sanctions should be taken against Russia. More than 80% said NO. Such mechanisms of direct democracy should be used more often," Lavrov said.

Skripal incident and expulsion of diplomats

A number of EU member countries, the United States, Canada and Australia earlier announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence (GRU) officer Sergei Skripal, which the UK blames on Moscow without providing any evidence. In particular, Washington expelled 60 Russian diplomats, including 48 embassy staff and 12 members of Russia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In addition, the US authorities decided to close Russia’s consulate in Seattle.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that those unfriendly actions would not remain unanswered.

On March 4, ex-Colonel Skripal and his daughter Yulia suffered the effects of an alleged nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury. British Prime Minister Theresa May said the substance used in the attack had allegedly been the so-called Novichok-class nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union. London expelled 23 Russian diplomats. Moscow rejected all of the United Kingdom’s accusations, saying that a program aimed at developing such a substance had existed neither in the Soviet Union nor in Russia. In retaliation to the UK’s steps, 23 British diplomats were expelled, the British consulate general in the city of St. Petersburg was closed and the British Council had to shut down its operations in Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-03-2018

Fire tragedy at Kemerovo shopping mall leaves at least 64 dead

According to the Emergencies Ministry, 16 people are still missing.

KEMEROVO, March 26. /TASS/. The death toll from a blaze that ravaged a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo has reached 64, Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov told reporters.

"Regrettably, we have to announce that 64 people have died in the disaster," he said. Six bodies are yet to be recovered.

The risk of building collapse remains, nonetheless. According to the emergencies minister, structure reinforcement equipment has been delivered to Kemerovo.

Earlier, Russia’s Investigative Committee Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko confirmed 56 deaths.

"After the fire broke out, 44 people requested medical assistance, ten of them were hospitalized," she added.

Puchkov said earlier that 16 people were still reported to be missing after the deadly blaze.

On March 25, a fire erupted on the top floor of the four-storey Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall, engulfing a total of 1,500 square meters. The fire was extinguished but, in Puchkov’s words, the rubble has started to smolder due to the multilayer floorings in the building. Firefighters are currently dousing the smoldering spots found earlier.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-03-2018

German politician suggests G7 resume dialogue with Russia

He also spoke out in favor of thinking about the expediency of linking anti-Russian sanctions to full compliance with the Minsk agreements.

BERLIN, March 25. /TASS/. The West should more actively use channels for dialogue with Russia, if Moscow shows willingness to do so. Despite the complexity of the Crimea problem, one cannot link improvement of relations with Russia with this issue only, leader of Germany’s Free Democratic Party Christian Lindner said in an interview published in in the Welt am Sonntag Sunday newspaper.

Stumbling block

"I advise to use the existing negotiation channels with Moscow more intensively. Besides, Russia should be brought closer to the circle of G8 counties. The G7+1 format could be an intermediate step," the politician noted. Lindner stressed that the Crimea issue was "the biggest obstacle to easing tensions" between the West and Moscow. "If we do it in such a way that everything will depend on this crisis, there will be no progress at all," he said. Despite the Western stance, which is that the peninsula’s reunification with Russia contravened international law and "is unacceptable," it is necessary to check whether Russia wants to get out of the escalation spiral with the help of simpler problems, Lindner added. "If there are positive signals from Moscow, we should respond to them positively, even if there is no solution to the Crimea issue yet," the politician pointed out.

He also spoke out in favor of thinking about the expediency of linking anti-Russian sanctions to full compliance with the Minsk agreements. The opposition politician added that restrictive measures "are necessary at the moment." Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel earlier spoke about gradually removing sanctions concurrently with progress in Minsk.

The Free Democratic Party secured 10.7% of votes at the elections to the German Bundestag. Initially, it was to join Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition along with the Green party, but the talks on forming the government were deadlocked. Lindner, 39, has led the party since 2013.

Russia’s stance on Minsk accords

Russia will not allow Ukraine’s attempts to make Donetsk and Lugansk abandon the Minsk agreements to be a success, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier. "Attempts are being made to stifle you [Donbass residents] with a blockade, attempts to make you accept Kiev’s ultimatum and make Donetsk and Lugansk abandon the Minsk agreements," Russia’s top diplomat pointed out.

"We will not allow them to succeed."

"The Minsk agreements were endorsed by the UN Security Council," he went on to say. "That’s an international agreement, and it is necessary to execute it.".

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-03-2018

Peskov calls statement that Savchenko was recruited by RF intelligence "sheer nonsense"

Nadezhda Savchenko is suspected of colluding to change the constitutional system by force and plotting an attempt on the life of the Ukrainian president.

MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. The statement that the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) deputy Nadezhda Savchenko was recruited by intelligence services while imprisoned in Russia, is "sheer nonsense," the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Mir 24 TV channel broadcast on Saturday.

"This is probably a suggestion offered by the British, they like such theories. Of course, it is sheer nonsense. Savchenko is an internal affair of Ukraine," he said.

Peskov also wondered whether "European leaders will make any announcement requesting Kiev to free Savchenko."

On March 15, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko submitted a motion to the country’s parliament about the fact that Savchenko is suspected of committing a number of criminal offenses, including planning a terrorist attack in the parliament’s session hall. On March 22, Ukrainian MPs stripped Savchenko of immunity and voted for prosecuting and putting her in police custody. Shortly after, she was taken into a pre-trial detention center.

Savchenko is suspected of "colluding to change the constitutional system by force, plotting an attempt on the life of the Ukrainian president, conspiring to carry out a terror attack, assisting the activities of the terrorist organization, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), carrying, acquiring and transferring firearms."

The former pilot Savchenko had taken an active part in Kiev’s military operation in eastern Ukraine and was detained in Russia in June 2014. She had been sentenced in Russia to 22 years in jail over complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine. She spent nearly two years in Russian custody and was pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 25, 2016. Savchenko then returned to Kiev and began her active political career as a Ukrainian MP. She fell into disfavor of Ukraine’s authorities after her private trips to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine and talks with their leadership.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-03-2018

NATO warplanes buzzing Russia’s borders create dangerous incidents, cautions diplomat

Moscow is concerned over frequent flights by NATO warplanes near the Russian borders.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Russia is concerned over increasingly frequent flights by NATO warplanes near the Russian borders with their transponders off, which provokes possible dangerous incidents, Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Artyom Kozhin said on Friday.

"What continues to cause concern is the increasing intensity of flights by the military aviation of NATO member states, and also Sweden and Finland near our borders in the area of the Baltic Sea," the deputy spokesman pointed out.

"Moreover, two-thirds of the aircraft of NATO countries, Finland and Sweden performed flights in September-November 2017 with their transponders off. These actions provoke the possibility of dangerous incidents with far-reaching consequences," the deputy spokesman said.

As the diplomat stressed, Russia on its part has done much to reduce tension in the region.

"Within the framework of the working group of experts for military and civil cooperation that operated under the ICAO aegis, an off-the-airway route was agreed in 2017 for Russian military aviation from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad and back," he pointed out.

‘In compliance with measures taken by the Defense Ministry of Russia on a voluntary basis for ensuring air safety, the flights are performed with turned-on transponders pursuant to flight plans provided in advance," the deputy spokesman said.

"Unfortunately, we do not see reciprocal steps from NATO member states," Kozhin said.

‘Despite the promises given earlier, we do not see the alliance’s desire to switch to an expert discussion of this issue within the Russia-NATO Council format," the Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-03-2018

Kremlin: Johnson’s statement about 2018 FIFA World Cup unworthy of foreign minister

Johnson said earlier that the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia would be allegedly akin to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. The Kremlin has found insulting and disgusting British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson’s claim the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia would be akin to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.

"It is an utterly disgusting statement. It is unworthy of a foreign minister of any country. It goes without saying that it is insulting and impermissible," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier declared that no members of the British Cabinet or the royal family would visit the World Cup following the poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4. Speaking about the idea the English team might boycott the World Cup Johnson told the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, "On balance it would be wrong to punish the team who have worked on this for a long time incredibly hard, given up their lives to it, I think it would be a pity for them," he said.

Johnson agreed that the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia would be allegedly akin to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.

Russia eleven cities will host FIFA World Cup finals on June 14 July 15. England is in group G together with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-03-2018

Moscow accuses London of sweeping facts on spy case under the rug

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent on March 4 and found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, UK.

MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Moscow doubts that any of the actual evidence in the Salisbury poisoning saga is in fact valid, Head of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department at the Russian Defense Ministry Vladimir Yermakov said at a briefing for foreign ambassadors on Wednesday.

The Russian diplomat drew attention to the UK's allegations that a warfare agent was used in the attack on ex-Colonel Sergei Skripal from Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate and his daughter, Yulia. "The question arises immediately: these British town criers, do they imagine what a warfare agent is? As any self-respecting expert will tell you that the actual use of a chemical warfare agent will inevitably lead to numerous victims right at the spot where it was used," Yermakov said, noting that this was not the case in the Salisbury incident.

"If the subject-matter for investigation has still not been determined for sure, and all facts are being deliberately covered up, while the real evidence may have disappeared anyway, since this has occurred in the UK more than once, then it is absolutely unclear what they, in the UK, are talking about at all, and what certain commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention have to do with this at all?" the diplomat asked. He also said that the above Convention envisages a clear and simple mechanism for bilateral consultations, which London has dismissed.

"Can this be some hypnosis under the influence of Mike Bassett’s Strike Back series aired in the UK several months ago and featuring a certain Novichok?" he asked in comments on London’s accusations against Moscow.

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent on March 4 and found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, UK. Both of them were hospitalized and are in critical condition.

British authorities blamed Russia for the poisoning, but failed to provide any evidence to support their accusations. Russia responded by refuting all of London’s allegations. With that, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and the suspension of high-level bilateral contacts. On Saturday, in response to London’s moves, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Russia had declared 23 British diplomats personae-non-gratae and would expel them within a week, close the British consulate general in St. Petersburg, and terminate the British Council’s activity in Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-03-2018

Russian court convicts ex-FSB officer and accomplice of high treason

According to investigators, the suspect received assignments from an employee of the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. A Trans-Baikal regional court has convicted and sentenced Maxim Kondratyev, a former FSB officer in the Siberian Military District, along with a co-conspirator on criminal charges of high treason, a source in the court informed TASS.

"The court found Kondratyev guilty of committing a crime under Section 275 of Russia’s Criminal Code (High Treason) and sentenced him to 14 years in a maximum security penal colony," the court’s spokesman said, adding that the perpetrator was also stripped of his military rank. The court also sentenced Namsaray Dambayev, the former FSB officer’s accomplice, to eight years in a penal colony under the same section.

According to investigators, Kondratyev received assignments from an employee of the Chinese Ministry of State Security and handed information over to him on the FSB’s activities for cash payments. In all, the defendants received 200,000 yuan ($31,500).

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-03-2018

Putin receives 76.66% of votes after 99.84% of ballots counted

Voter turnout reached 67.49%, according to preliminary data.

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Russia’s incumbent head of state Vladimir Putin garnered 76.66% of the vote in the March 18 election with 99.84% of the ballots counted, the Central Election Commission said.

Director of the Lenin State Farm Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Communist Party of Russia, is second with 11.80% of the vote, while leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky is third with 5.66%.

Voter turnout for the Russian presidential election reached 67.49%, according to preliminary data.

"[According to data] as of 10.45 a.m. Moscow Time, 73,432,312 people voted [in the Russian presidential election on March 18], the turnout reaches 67.49%," Bulayev said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-03-2018

Crimea votes for first time in Russian presidential election

The voting station at the Simferopol airport’s terminal may set a world record with the largest territory of 78,000 square meters.

SIMFEROPOL, March 18. /TASS/. Citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol will vote for the first time in the Russian presidential election on the fourth anniversary of the Black Sea Peninsula’s reunification with Russia.

Ballot stations on the peninsula opened at 8.00 a.m. Moscow Time (05.00 a.m. GMT). Some 1.5 mln and 311,000 citizens are eligible to vote in Crimea and Sevastopol, respectively.

A total of 1,206 ballot stations will open in the Republic of Crimea and another 182 in Sevastopol. Workers who are building the 19-km Kerch Strait Bridge, the longest in the country and one of the largest in Europe, will be able to cast their votes.

The voting station at the Simferopol airport’s terminal may set a world record with the largest territory of 78,000 square meters. The terminal’s construction was launched in 2016 and it is expected to be put into operation this spring.

More than 40 international observers from 20 countries, including from Israel, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Denmark and Ukraine, will cover the presidential election in Crimea. Late on Saturday, a delegation from France arrived at the Simferopol airport. According to the delegation’s representative Jacques Myard, an honorary member of the French parliament, the observers plan to visit all ballot stations in Crimea. The goal of the trip is to bring stability in the relations between Russia and Europe.

On Sunday, Crimea and Sevastopol mark the fourth anniversary of reunification with Russia. The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities in Kiev who seized power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The Russian president signed the reunification deals on March 18, 2014. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-03-2018

Russia to expel 23 British diplomats, close consulate general in St. Petersburg

Twenty three diplomats of the British Embassy in Moscow have been declared personae non gratae and will be expelled within a week’s time.

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. Twenty three British diplomats have been declared personae non gratae and will be expelled within a week, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

"On March 17, British Ambassador to Moscow Laurie Bristow was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry where he was handed a note saying that in response to provocative actions of the British side and evidence-free accusations against the Russian Federation over the incident in the city of Salisbury on March 4 this year, the Russian side has taken the following retaliatory measures.

Twenty three diplomats of the British Embassy in Moscow have been declared personae non gratae and will be expelled within a week’s time.

Taking into account the disparity in the number of consulates of the two countries, Russia withdraws permission to open the British Consulate General in St. Petersburg. Related procedures will be carried out in accordance with international law. Due to the unregulated status of the British Council in the Russian Federation it will be dissolved," the statement said.

Due to the unregulated status of the British Council in the Russian Federation, its activities are terminated," the statement said.

"The British side has been warned that if more unfriendly actions against Russia follow, the Russian side reserves the right of taking other retaliation measures," the ministry added.

On March 4, ex-Colonel Sergey Skripal of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate convicted for spying for the United Kingdom, and his daughter Yulia were exposed to a nerve agent. They were found unconscious on a bench near a shopping center in Salisbury.

On March 12, British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack on Skripal and his daughter. She identified the substance used in the attack as a Novichok nerve agent, developed in the Soviet Union. PM accused Russia of "an unlawful use of force" against her country. Later she announced that London would expel 23 Russian diplomats and take other measures against Moscow.

British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It works with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Its first office in Russia was opened in 1992 in Moscow, after which the council's branches were launched in a number of cities across the country. Since January 1, 2008 the activities of all regional branches of the British Council in Russia, excluding its head office in Moscow, have been terminated as not complying with the Russian legislation.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-03-2018

Russia to crank up pressure on UK over former spy’s poisoning case — envoy

On March 4, ex-intelligence officer Sergey Skripal aged 66, and his daughter Yulia, aged 33, came into contact with a nerve agent and were found unconscious in Salisbury.

MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Moscow intends to influence London over the poisoning of former colonel of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Alexander Yakovenko said on Rossiya 24 TV channel live on Friday.

"We will crank up pressure on the British government over this issue. We will not allow them leave this track for sure," he said.

Yakovenko believes that Britain has been using the affair of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal for distracting attention from internal problems.

"The country is in grave condition in connection with Brexit. This causes strong pressures on the government [of Britain]: the government has been trying to think up evasive maneuvers in order to ease the pressure. This sort of aggression and political provocation that has been employed on the Russian track are very handy," Yakovenko said.

In his opinion, in the wake of the pullout from the European Union Britain has been "losing the leverage of political influence, so the country’s importance will be objectively dwindling."

"To stay afloat somehow it is crucial to obtaining a role in the Western world, first and foremost, probably with some emphasis on security," Yakovenko said.

"We try not to overreact at boorish statements and articles," he said, commenting on a statement made by British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, in which he had said that Russia should "go away" and "shut up". "We feel confident here in London as representatives of a great country," the Russian ambassador added.

According to Yakovenko, Russia believes it inappropriate to respond in the same manner.

On March 15, while speaking about Moscow’s possible retaliation over the UK’s measures taken in connection with the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal, Williamson said that "Russia should go away, it should shut up - but if they do respond to the action that we have taken we will consider it carefully and we will look at our options."

On March 4, ex-intelligence officer Sergei Skripal aged 66, and his daughter Yulia, aged 33, came into contact with a nerve agent and were found unconscious on a bench in The Maltings shopping center in Salisbury. Both of them have been hospitalized and are presently in critical condition. British Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of illegal use of force against her country, claiming that Moscow is behind the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter. In light of this, the UK leader stated that 23 Russian diplomats would be expelled and some other restrictive measures would be introduced. The Russian side refuted its alleged involvement in the incident and declared it would carry out tit-for-tat actions in the near future.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-03-2018

Kremlin: Putin to choose measures against London corresponding to Russia’s interests

The Kremlin says Russia will roll out tit-for-tat measures against the UK shortly.

MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally choose an option of retaliatory measures against London that will best correspond to Russia’s interests, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"Naturally, they [retaliatory measures] will follow soon, the Foreign Ministry and other government agencies will come up with their proposals," he said.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally choose an option of retaliatory measures against London that will best correspond to Russia’s interests.

"A final decision [on retaliatory measures] will, of course, be made by the Russian president. There is no doubt that he will choose the variant that best of all corresponds to the interests of the Russian Federation," Peskov told reporters.

He added that Russia is perplexed by the UK’s actions. Regarding the whole situation [with the case of former Russian military intelligence Colonel Sergey Skripal], unfortunately, we have to say once again: Russia is perplexed and does not comprehend the British leadership's stance against the backdrop of Skripal’s case," he noted.Russia will take retaliatory measures against the UK shortly, he added.

"Naturally, they [retaliatory measures] will follow soon, the Foreign Ministry and other state bodies will present their proposals," he said.

When asked if the Kremlin was ready to support Russians who could be affected by London’s sanctions, the Russian presidential spokesman said that he did not know "about London’s sanctions against Russians in the United Kingdom."

Regarding the whole situation [with the case of former Russian military intelligence Colonel Sergey Skripal], unfortunately, we have to say once again: Russia is perplexed and does not comprehend the stance by the British leadership and the British side against the backdrop of Skripal’s case," the Kremlin spokesman said. He stressed that "the accusations are unsubstantiated, moreover, these accusations surfaced even before any information on the used substance could appear."

"We consider the British position absolutely irresponsible with regard to diplomatic relations, as well as final goals and interests of a real investigation and search for the people who are behind this and from the point of view of violation of the international law by the British side, which is also obvious," Peskov told reporters.

Presidential election 

"This has no effect at all, and the election campaign is going according to the schedule, and, naturally, it is a priority for us. We insist that Russia has no relation to what happened in the UK. The most important thing for us now is domestic affairs," Peskov said. He mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s words that "the Russian domestic affairs and all that should be done on a permanent basis to improve the quality of life for the Russians are an absolute priority.".

Skripal case

On March 4, Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench near the Maltings shopping center in Salisbury after being exposed to a nerve agent. Both are currently hospitalized in critical condition.

On March 14, Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of an "unlawful use of force" against her country. She claimed that Moscow was involved in the poisoning.

In 2004, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested Skripal and later on, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for high treason. In 2010, the former colonel was handed over to the US as part of a swap deal involving espionage suspects. Later that same year, Skripal arrived in the UK and settled there. 

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-03-2018