73 weeks have passed since the death of Nikolay Glushkov on British soil - no credible information or response from the British authorities
The Russian citizen Nikolay Glushkov was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his London house, on 12 March 2018. The Russian Embassy learned about the suspected murder of the Russian national through the media, rather than from British police, which would be the norm.
Russia has repeatedly asked for, and been denied, access to join the British investigation into Nikolay Glushkov’s death. All the following documents from the Russian side have been left unanswered:
- An official request by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation for legal assistance in the criminal case on the fact of murder of the Russian national Mr Nikolay Glushkov forwarded in conformity with the 1959 European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters;
- Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko’s letter of 9 April 2018 to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ms Cressida Dick with the proposal to meet in order to discuss ongoing investigation of Mr Nikolay Glushkov’s death;
- Embassy’s proposal to arrange consultations between officers of the Investigative Committee, Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Metropolitan Police.
Thus, the United Kingdom violates the established norms of diplomatic intercourse as well as international law, including the 1959 European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
80 years ago, with the Nazi invasion of Poland, the Second World War started. The devastating conflict resulted in 85 million deaths worldwide, including 27 million in my country and 450 thousand in Britain. It took years, if not decades, for the world to recover from the huge human, economic and moral losses.
Ahead of their talks, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of France Emmanuel Macron made press statements and answered media questions. The meeting continued behind closed doors.
On February 1, 2019, the United States of America launched a procedure to withdraw from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. The six-month period set forth in the Treaty’s withdrawal clause has expired. When one of the parties withdraws from the Treaty, it ceases to have effect automatically. Therefore, as of August 2, 2019 the INF Treaty no longer exists. Our US colleagues sent it to the archives, making it a thing of the past.
It is with regret that Russia states that the unilateral withdrawal by the United States from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles under a far-fetched pretext and the dismantlement of one of the last fundamental arms control treaties creates major complications for world affairs and brings about serious risks for everyone.
On August 2, six months after Washington initiated the withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by the USSR and the US in 1987, the treaty has been terminated for all parties: the US, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
This means that a key treaty for establishing the regional and global security architecture no longer exists. Under the INF Treaty, the parties eliminated two classes of nuclear armaments: land-based intermediate-range and shorter range missiles. The missile launchers and all the associated support facilities and equipment were also destroyed.
Question: Mr Lavrov, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. Cuba has long been considered a closed-off country, but, for Russia, it opened before and is opening now unlike for any other country. However, the Spanish-language RT channel is part of an open network in many Latin American countries, but not in the friendly nation of Cuba. How important is media presence on the island for Russia? What can be done in this regard?
Sergey Lavrov: I wouldn’t say that Cuba was a closed-off country. Europeans and Canadians have long enjoyed vacationing in Cuba and continue to do so. Americans have visited Cuba and, similar to many Russians, enjoyed vacationing there until completely unreasonable bans were introduced.
Vladimir Putin answered questions from American film director, screenwriter and producer Oliver Stone. The interview was recorded on June 19, 2019 in the Kremlin.
Oliver Stone: So, I interviewed Mr Medvedchuk. It was in Monte Carlo. He gave us a very interesting interview. He gave us his view of the Ukraine. I gather that you’re close with him.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would not say that we are very close but we know each other well. He was President Kuchma’s Chief of Staff, and it was in this capacity at the time that he asked me to take part in the christening of his daughter. According to Russian Orthodox tradition, you can't refuse such a request.
In recent years, every now and again, we come across reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. And as time goes by, a peculiar pattern has emerged. All these reports resurface against the backdrop of victories held by government forces, as they drive terrorist groups and their accomplices out of occupied land. It is then, as if by a magic spell, that the media are swarmed with reports on chemical attacks in Syria. News channels of international media, without any let-up, show footage with people in white helmets providing first aid to the people allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals.
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