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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Avakov, Kolomoisky: Russia opens over 400 criminal cases |
| 2022-02-24 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [UKRINFORM] The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated more than 400 criminal cases targeting Ukrainian officials, military servicemen, and volunteer fighters who defended Ukraine from Russian occupation, and is setting up a "trial". This was reported on the Investigative Committee’s website, Ukrinform reports. Russian detectives brand the persons targeted in the fabricated cases "war criminals whose victims were civilians, including women and children." The IC accuses the Ukrainian side of "employing prohibited means and methods of waging war" and claims that it has established complicity in crimes on the part of 85 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies. Among them are former commander of the Naval Forces of Ukraine Ihor Voronchenko, ex-commander of the Air Force Serhiy Drozdov, ex-commander of the Airborne Troops Mykhailo Zabrodsky, and others. Russian investigators plan to "bring to justice" former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, his ex-deputy Anton Gerashchenko, and ex-Defense Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko, who allegedly "incited terrorism." According to the IC, former Defense Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Heletey and former Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenko allegedly "issued orders to completely destroy the ethnic group of Russian-speaking citizens." The Russian Investigative Committee is also "charging" the former head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration Ihor Kolomoisky and ex-Verkhovna Rada Head Oleksandr Turchynov (without revealing the charges). Russian investigators accuse commanders of several brigades and the Aidar Battalion of "shelling civilians," claiming that they know by name all members of the "Right Sector" and "Azov" Battalion fighters, who are being accused of "committing violent crimes." At the same time, accusations are made against Russian citizens who fought on the side of Ukraine at that time. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation added that "the list will be supplemented." As Ukrinform reported earlier, on February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the “LPR/DPR” puppet statelets and signed the relevant decrees. At the same time, he accused Ukraine of escalating the situation in Donbas. On Tuesday, the State Duma and the Council of the Russian Federation ratified agreements with the so-called "LPR/DPR" on friendship and mutual assistance, including military. The Federation Council also unanimously approved a motion by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the Russian military abroad. U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a decision to impose the first package of sanctions against Russia. The European Union has also adopted new sanctions. Russian FSB thwarts terrorist attack in Crimea, arrests 6 [ALMAYADEEN] The 6 arrested are part of the Ukrainian nationalist Right Sector terrorist organization. On Wednesday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that it has thwarted a terrorist attack in one of Crimea's Orthodox churches, and has arrested 6 Russian citizens. The citizens, reportedly, are supporters of the Ukrainian nationalist Right Sector organization - a party that is banned in Russia. "The Russian Federal Security Service prevented a terrorist act in the Republic of Crimea. As a result of the measures taken, we arrested six Russian citizens, who are supporters of Ukrainian extremist organization Right Sector, who were preparing to detonate an improvised explosive device in one of the Orthodox churches in the region in order to intimidate the population," the FSB said in a statement. The FSB confiscated compartments of an improvised explosive device found with one of the detained men, also finding correspondence with plans and symbols of the party. Ukraine claims that Crimea is occupied by Russia. However, Crimea became part of Russia after a March 2014 referendum in which 96% of Crimeans voted to rejoin the Russian Federation. Last month, German Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach said that Crimea, despite Kiev’s attempts to pressure Russia, will never return to Ukraine. "Crimea is gone, and it will never come back," he said at a conference hosted by India's Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses. As for the countries that want to be part of NATO, the Vice-Admiral said that Georgia meets the criteria for membership, but it joining the alliance is “illogical”, considering how this would impact its relations with Moscow. Earlier this month, Zelensky stressed that his country would like to join NATO, asserting his belief that it would be a "security guarantee" for Ukraine and saying Kiev was counting on Berlin for entry. "We count on the support of Ukraine's full membership in the EU. Such a step would be a powerful signal of the geopolitical choice of the Ukrainian people, recognized by our legislation and many countries of the world," he said at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Russia has been demanding a written commitment that Ukraine would never be able to join NATO and that the alliance would not place any military equipment in certain countries in the region surrounding Russia. Moskalkova: Situation in Donbas meets all signs of genocide [REGNUM] The situation that has developed in Donbass meets all the signs of genocide, which are enshrined in international documents and national legislation. This was stated by the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova. “It must be admitted that the situation that has developed there meets all the signs of genocide that are enshrined in international documents and national legislation,” RIA Novosti quotes her. She added that since 2014 there has been a whole chain of events, including the prohibition of payment of pensions and benefits. Follow the development of events in the broadcast: “Russia recognizes the DPR and LPR. Reaction and comments – broadcast” As REGNUM reported , on February 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a genocide was taking place against the Donbass by the Ukrainian authorities. |
| Posted by:badanov |