Diplomat dismisses rumors that Russia will soon withdraw from Council of Europe

Russia is set to actively cultivate cooperation with the organization and its member-states, said Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Ivan Soltanovsky.

PARIS, February 28. /TASS/. Twenty-five years after joining the Council of Europe Russia is set to actively cultivate cooperation with the organization and its member-states, and the rumors on its imminent withdrawal are unfounded, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Ivan Soltanovsky told TASS on Sunday.

"The media regularly circulate rumors without any real basis that Russia will soon withdraw from the Council of Europe. Such escalation of the situation does not benefit the common cause," Soltanovsky stated.

The diplomat noted that although the coronavirus situation has seriously limited the possibilities for physical contacts, this did not hinder plans on arranging a trip of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric to Russia in October 2020.

In December, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Hendrik Daems paid a brief visit to Moscow and is planning on returning to Russia in the near future. In February, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe Christos Giakoumopoulos visited Moscow.

"Despite the pandemic, contrary to the wishes of Russophobes, we keep working in full, defending Russian national interests, despite the noticeably increased pressure on our country, including on European international platforms. The key to success is confidence in one's own righteousness, calmness and an over-the-horizon vision of prospects," he stated.

Over the past 25 years of its membership in the Council of Europe Russia has made a real contribution to the organization’s work and is ready to expand cooperation to address new pan-European challenges, especially in the fight against COVID-10 and vaccination, Soltanovsky told. "Of course, we consider fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the world as a priority issue. We are ready to cooperate with the CoE in the field of vaccination and stand for ensuring equal access for everyone to certified vaccines on the European continent," Soltanovsky said.

The diplomat sees a great potential of cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, ecology, biotechnology, in which "a great deal of expertise has been accumulated."

"In general, the number of pan-European challenges and threats is on the rise, new technologies do not only make life easier for the population, but also go hand in hand with inevitable human rights violations, attempts to manipulate and impose restrictions by developers, providers and Internet giants. Finding worthy solutions is possible only through joint efforts," he stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-02-2021

Putin: Special Operations Forces established in response to challenges of the time

Russian President has congratulated the military personnel and veterans of Russia’s Special Operations Forces on their professional holiday.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the military personnel and veterans of Russia’s Special Operations Forces on their professional holiday.

"Russia’s Special Operations Forces were established in response to the challenges of the time, to serious changes in the nature of military threats and methods of warfare. You have successfully gone through the difficult stage of formation and combat coordination, relying on the unique school of the Russian special forces as well as the cutting-edge approaches to military strategy and tactics," reads the message of congratulations posted on the Kremlin website on Saturday.

The president stressed that the Russian Armed Forces had "unique capabilities for solving problems of particular importance and complexity." "We have seasoned, experienced fighters who are ready to act in a non-standard situation anywhere in the world, if their country’s interests and security require such action," he noted.

"I am sure that you will be able to stand up to any combat mission, even that of the most challenging nature, because Special Operations Forces members are brave and unfaltering people with unbending will, true patriots of their Fatherland," the head of state stressed.

Putin thanked them for their military service and wished success and good health to their families. "Best wishes to the honored veterans who stood at the origins of the Special Operations Forces," the president noted.

Special Operations Forces Day was established by the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin of February 26, 2015, in recognition of their merits in the successful resolution of the crisis situation in Crimea in the spring of 2014.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-02-2021

Trawler dead in the water in Barents Sea, with its main engine failed

There are no threat to the lives of the ship’s crewmembers, a spokesman for Russia’s Marine and River Transport Agency told.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russia’s emergencies ministry has confirmed that a fishing trawler with a crew of ten has lost way in the Barents Sea.

"On February 21, we received information that the main engine of the Polaris № МК0355 small trawler has failed in the Barents Sea, near the Rybachy Peninsula in the Murmansk region, were it was fishing. The trawler has a crew of ten," the press service of the Russian emergencies ministry told TASS on Sunday.

"The crewmembers are in satisfactory condition," the press service said, adding that a rescue ship is heading to the area.

A source in the local emergencies agencies told TASS earlier in the day that the Polaris trawler had been dead in the water in the Barents Sea, with its main engine failed.

The ship is owned by Nord West Fleet Company.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Russia’s Marine and River Transport Agency told TASS there are no threat to the lives of the ship’s crewmembers.

"The weather in the area is good, with air temperatures of nine degrees below zero, the wind of 12 meters e second and no icing. There is no threat to the crew.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-02-2021

Over 50 flights delayed, several cancelled in Moscow airports due to snowfall

Two flights have been cancelled and 36 delayed in Domodedovo.

MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. More than 50 flights have been delayed or arrived behind schedule, another three have been cancelled in Moscow on Saturday due to heavy snowfall, according to the data on online boards of the city’s airports.

As of 8:40 am Moscow time, 21 flights have been delayed in Sheremetyevo, and five - in Vnukovo. Two flights have been cancelled and 36 delayed in Domodedovo, whereas in Zhukovsky one flight has been cancelled and one delayed.

A heavy snowfall started in Moscow in the second part of Thursday and may last until February 14.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-02-2021

Russia expels Swedish, Polish, German diplomats for attending unauthorized rallies

They were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Russia has declared a Swedish, a Polish and a German diplomat personae non gratae because of their participation in the January 23 unauthorized rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"In compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, diplomats who took part in unauthorized rallies have been declared personae non gratae. They must leave Russia as soon as possible," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Sweden’s, Poland’s and Germany’s ambassadors were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday over these incidents.

"The Russian side expects that Sweden’s, Poland’s and Germany’s diplomatic missions and their personnel will strictly abide by international law," the ministry stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-02-2021

Firefighters battling major blaze in Siberian city found dead

The victims were 46-year-old Anatoly Jhalnerchik, 45-year-old Alexey Puzyryov and 27-year-old Maxim Ryabtsev.

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. Rescuers found the bodies of firefighters who died while extinguishing a fire in the building of an auto parts warehouse in Russia’s Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, the country’s Emergencies Ministry told TASS on Thursday.

"The bodies of firefighters who died when fulfilling their duty have been found," the ministry’s press service stated.

Head of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry Yevgeny Zinichev expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased firefighters. The victims were 46-year-old Anatoly Jhalnerchik, 45-year-old Alexey Puzyryov and 27-year-old Maxim Ryabtsev. Jhalnerchik and Puzyryov had wives and children. Besides, a worker also died, whose name was not specified. "The ministry will provide comprehensive assistance and support to the victims’ families," the press service noted.

Currently, the Emergencies Ministry’s psychologists are working with relatives of the dead firefighters.

A fire was reported at an auto parts warehouse in Krasnoyarsk at about 10:39 a.m. local time (06:39 a.m. Moscow Time) on Wednesday. The fire covered up to 3,500 square meters. The first unit of firefighters containing three people that was sent to search for those missing at the warehouse became disoriented in the building due to heavy smoke. Then they ran out of oxygen, the building collapsed and they were killed. The fire was put out early on Thursday.

Head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Yevgeny Zinichev has ordered to set up a special commission to investigate the causes of the fire. A group of experts has been sent to the scene led by Deputy Emergencies Minister Ilya Denisov. Furthermore, two criminal cases have been opened - the crime resulting in the involuntary manslaughter of two or more people and fire safety requirements violation.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-02-2021