Referring to the articles on non-payment of the Congestion Charge by diplomats in British media the Embassy of the Russian Federation would like to explain its position regarding the aforementioned issue.
As it was clearly stated on many occasions in the notes verbale of the Embassy to the FCO and our other official statements we consider the payment of the Congestion Charge as a tax contravening the obligation of the receiving State to permit and protect free communication on the part of the mission for all official purposes, as provided for in the Clause 1 Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations signed and ratified by Britain in 1964. The Embassy also sees no legal ground for considering the Congestion Charge as falling within any of the exceptions to Article 34 of the same Vienna Convention exempting a diplomatic agent from all dues and taxes, personal or real, national, regional or municipal.
As we have repeatedly stated before, the Embassy of the Russian Federation remains prepared to engage in a discussion on the matter between diplomatic missions and the FCO based on a strict observance of the Vienna Convention.
Rosatom is a Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, which integrates the whole value chain of the nuclear fuel cycle from uranium mining and fuel fabrication to electricity generation and back-end services.
The second Development Working Group Meeting within Russia's G20 Presidency was held on May 15-17, 2013 in Moscow (Russia). The representatives of the G20 Ministries and Official Development Assistance Agencies, as well as experts from the international organizations and outreach invitees attended the meeting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a video conference with participants of the OECD Forum on Tax Administration, organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and which is taking place in Moscow on May 16 and 17.
Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the UK Alexander Yakovenko took part in the annual dinner of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on 15 May 2013.
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Andreyev, I have a few regular questions regarding the current state of the company, the situation on the world markets, your social projects (I know that your company does a lot of work in that area) and the relationship with your shareholders, including the representatives of Yakutia.
In the run-up to the G20 Summit in St.Petersburg, Civil 20 has initiated the preparation of a report and recommendations for the G20 focused on the issue of surmounting the risks originating from growing income inequality.
On 16 May the Russian Embassy in London will host a briefing for the press on the participation of Russian wine-makers in the London International Wine Fair 2013. The invitees include British wine experts, journalists and bloggers, business community and representatives of the British wine market.
On 15 May 2013 the Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko met with the UK Cabinet Minister without Portfolio Kenneth Clarke at the Russian Ambassador’s Residence in London. Prospects of an expanded UK-Russia trade and economic co-operation were discussed at the meeting.
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