Russian watchdog demands that Facebook delete post insulting WWII veterans

Publication of clearly offensive information that insults Russia’s military glory or offends WWII veterans constitutes a criminal offense in Russia.

MOSCOW, May 29. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) demanded that US company Facebook delete an Instagram post that insults the memory of World War II veterans, the watchdog said on its website on Friday.

"Roskomnadzor has sent a letter to Facebook Inc top management, demanding that content insulting the memory of World War II veterans be deleted," the watchdog said. "The governmental agency found the unlawful post on the Instagram social network, owned by Facebook."

According to Roskomnadzor, publication of clearly offensive information that insults Russia’s military glory and memorable dates, or desecrates military glory symbols, or offends WWII veterans constitutes a criminal offense in Russia and is subject to criminal proscution.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-05-2021

Russia has overcome the crisis in aircraft construction, says prime minister

As a confirmation, Mikhail Mishustin mentioned the MC-21 aircraft, which is among the best passenger aircraft of this category.

MOSCOW, May 22./TASS/. Russia has managed to cope with the difficulties in the aircraft industry emerging after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told Knew Knowledge Marathon on Saturday.

As a confirmation, the prime minister mentioned the MC-21 aircraft, which is among the best passenger aircraft of this category. The Soviet Union was among the global leaders on the track of aircraft construction, Mishustin reiterated. However, it found itself in a crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union, with a revival beginning only in the 2000s.

"Our country has managed to overcome the difficulties, and the MC-21 plane is an evidence," Mishustin said. "A really good aircraft was designed, the best among the passenger airlines of this type," he stressed. The prime minister praised Irkut Corporation, chief designer Konstantin Popovich and Alexander Inozemtsev, who led the work to design the engine.

In December 2020, MC-21-300 made the first flight with Russian PD-14 engines. The new aircraft is to replace Tu-154, Tu-134 and Yak-42 operated by the Defense Ministry, the Federal Security Service and the Emergencies Ministry.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-05-2021

Immortal Regiment online march brings together 5 million participants

Online marches started in the Russian regions at 15:00 local time.

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/. Around five million people have taken part in the nationwide Immortal Regiment march online, including some 2.5 million this year, the press service of the Immortal Regiment national social patriotic movement said on Sunday.

"We have stopped receiving applications for the participation in the Immortal Regiment online march. Around 2.5 new applications were added to the last year’s more than 2.5 million participants," it said.

Online marches started in the Russian regions at 15:00 local time. According to the organizers, applications filed before 10:00 a.m. on May 7 and approved by moderators were broadcast on Victory Day, May 9. "The duration of the march differs in different regions, depending on the number of applications," the press service added.

In Moscow, the online march was broadcast on around 300 urban screens in Moscow, as well as on the Ostankino TV Tower, in metro and in a number of shopping malls. In regions, it was broadcast on local television.

Applications filed on May 7 and 8 will be broadcast on the march’s online resources on May 10, and applications lodged on May 9 could be seen on May 11.

It is planned to hold an Immortal Regiment march in a traditional offline format on June 24, 2021, the day when the first Victory Parade took place in Moscow 76 years ago.

The Immortal Regiment movement was first launched in the city of Tyumen in West Siberia in 2007 and was initially called "Victors’ Parade." It acquired its current name in 2012 in Tomsk, and in 2013 it involved 120 cities. The movement officially became nationwide in 2015.

By now, the Immortal Regiment march has spread beyond Russia.

Source: ITAR TASS 10-05-2021

Russian fighter scrambled to intercept US spy plane over Chukchi Sea - defense ministry

The Russian border was not violated.

MOSCOW, May 6. /TASS/. A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance plane over the Chukchi Sea, Russia’s National Defense Management Center reported on Thursday.

"A MiG-31 fighter from the Pacific Fleet’s air defense quick reaction alert forces was scrambled to identify an aerial target and prevent Russia’s state border violation," the Center said. "The crew of the Russian fighter identified the aerial target as a US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135 and escorted it over the Chukchi Sea," it said.

The Russian state border was not violated by the US spy plane, the National Defense Control Center stressed.

"After the US reconnaissance plane moved away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield," the Center said. "The entire flight of the Russian Su-30SM fighter proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace. The Russian border was not violated.".

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-05-2021