Tag Archives: Vladimir Putin

RUSSIA: German Neo-Nazis Train With Local Extremists

Radio Free Europe reports: German neo-Nazis are conducting paramilitary training with a Russian ultra-nationalist group at a camp near St. Petersburg, German magazine Focus reported on June 5. Citing German security sources, Focus said members of the far-right National Democratic Party’s (NDP) youth wing and neo-Nazi The Third Path completed training at the camp run by the Russian Imperial Movement. …

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Trump Invites Putin To Summit, Says G7 Is “Outdated”

The Associated Press reports: President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday to tell him about his proposal to convene an international summit that would involve Russia, the Kremlin said. Trump said Saturday he will postpone until the fall a meeting of the G7 leading industrialized nations that he had planned to hold next month, and plans to invite …

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RUSSIA: Putin’s Spox Hospitalized With Coronavirus

The Associated Press reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman says he is hospitalized with the coronavirus. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday, “Yes, I’ve gotten sick. I’m being treated.” The announcement comes just a day after Putin said Russia was successful in slowing down infections and announced easing some of the nationwide lockdown restrictions. Russia …

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Russian Health Workers Keep “Falling” Out Of Windows

The Moscow Times reports: A paramedic who complained about being forced to work despite contracting coronavirus is in critical condition after he fell from a hospital window in western Russia this weekend, local media reported. This is at least the third incident in which a Russian healthcare professional has plunged from a hospital building under mysterious circumstances in the past …

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Russia Reports 9600 New COVID Cases, New Daily High

Reuters reports: Russia reported 9,623 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow, where the mayor threatened to cut the number of travel permits. The death toll nationwide rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus …

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New Russian Cathedral To Feature Putin, Stalin Mosaics

The Moscow Times reports: The walls of Russia’s new Orthodox cathedral dedicated to the Armed Forces will be decorated with the faces of President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Soviet leader Josef Stalin, the MBKh News website reported Friday. The 95-meter Armed Forces cathedral, a symbol of close defense-church ties in Russia, is expected to open on May …

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RUSSIA: Workers Ordered To Stay Home Until April 30

The Associated Press reports: President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered most Russians to stay off work until the end of the month as part of a partial industrial shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Speaking in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said he was extending the non-working policy he ordered earlier for this week …

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RUSSIA: Lawmakers Approve Up To Five Year Prison Sentence For Disputing Kremlin’s Coronavirus Numbers

The Associated Press reports: On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers approved fines of up to $25,000 and prison terms of up to five years for anyone who spreads what is deemed to be false information. Media outlets will be fined up to $127,000 if they disseminate disinformation about the outbreak. Lawmakers rushed the bill through all three readings in just one day …

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Russia To Close Borders Tomorrow To Curb Coronavirus

The Moscow Times reports: Russia will close all border crossings on March 30, the government said late on Saturday, tightening restrictions after the country reported its biggest one-day rise in new coronavirus cases. The authorities said they so far had recorded 1,264 confirmed cases, an increase of 228 in 24 hours, and ordered that all vehicle, rail and pedestrian checkpoints, …

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RUSSIA: Putin Dons Hazmat Suit For Hospital Visit

Reuters reports: The mayor of Moscow told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that the number of coronavirus cases in the Russian capital far exceeded the official figures, as Putin donned a protective suit and respirator to visit a hospital. The comments by Sergei Sobyanin, a close ally of Putin, were authorities’ strongest indcation yet that they do not have a …

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Trump’s Intel Chief To Attend Russian Victory Parade

Reuters reports: U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien will travel to Moscow to attend Russia’s World War Two Victory Day celebrations in May, U.S. ambassador John Sullivan said on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin presides over an annual parade on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s World War Two victory over Nazi Germany and uses the occasion to show off …

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Russia Targets West With Coronavirus Disinformation

Axios reports: Russia is already spreading misinformation about the coronavirus throughout the West, according to digital forensics experts and government officials. The most effective misinformation plays into existing fears, especially around health, safety and well-being. Russia often takes advantage of real-world health crises to sow discord among Americans. A document sent to European lawmakers Monday by European Union officials asserts …

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Russian Lawmakers Vote To Reset Putin’s Terms To Zero

Reuters reports: Constitutional changes allowing Vladimir Putin to run for president again in 2024 sailed through Russia’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday, opening the way for him to potentially stay in power until 2036. The 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Wednesday voted in favor of the change, along with other amendments to the constitution, by …

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Putin Backs Ploy To Keep Him In Power Until 2036

The New York Times reports: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Tuesday that he would support legislation that would allow him to run for a fifth term as president in 2024. The proposal, unexpectedly floated by a lawmaker at a session of Russia’s lower house of Parliament on Tuesday, would allow Mr. Putin — who is 67 years …

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Feds Brief Sanders That Russian Trolls Are Helping Him, Sanders Warns Putin To “Stay Out” Of US Elections

The Washington Post reports: U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the Democratic contest, according to people familiar with the matter. President Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also been informed about the Russian assistance to the Vermont senator, according to people …

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Kremlin Denies “Paranoid” Report On Helping Trump

Reuters reports: The Kremlin said on Friday that allegations from U.S. intelligence officials that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election campaign and trying to boost President Donald Trump’s re-election chances are false and the result of paranoia. A person familiar with the matter said on Thursday that U.S. intelligence officials had told U.S. lawmakers last week that Russia was …

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Lawmakers Warned: Russia Is Helping Trump Again

The New York Times reports: Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, in a disclosure that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him. The day after the Feb. 13 briefing to lawmakers, Mr. …

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Putin Backs Constitutional Ban On Same-Sex Marriage

Reuters reports: President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia would not legalize gay marriage as long as he was in the Kremlin. He made clear he would not allow the traditional notion of mother and father to be subverted. “As far as ‘parent number 1’ and ‘parent number 2’ goes, I’ve already spoken publicly about this and I’ll repeat it …

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Russian Party Leader Offers To Fly Putin To Mar-A-Lago To “Raise Glass To Your Success” Over The Democrats

Politico reports: The leader of Russia’s pro-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, congratulated President Trump for his acquittal in the Senate and suggested that he and members of his party, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, visit Trump’s Florida estate to “raise glass to your success.” Zhirinovsky went on to denounce House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as well as Sen. Mitt …

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Russian Government Resigns As Putin Tightens Grip

The Guardian reports: Vladimir Putin has proposed changes to Russia’s constitution that would limit the power of a potential successor if he steps down in 2024, indicating he may occupy a beefed-up role as Russia’s prime minister or in the government’s state council. In a televised speech before senior officials, Putin suggested amending Russia’s constitution to limit a future president …

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