kremlin

Georgian police disperse protesters as parliament approves ‘foreign bill’ second reading

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Georgian police disperse protesters as parliament approves ‘foreign bill’ second reading

Georgia’s parliament approved a bill on “foreign agents” that requires organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence. The bill has caused a political crisis in Georgia, leading to large protests in the country. President Zourabichvili advised protesters to focus on the upcoming election to change the government. The bill has been criticized as being inspired by Russian laws used to suppress dissent. The European Union has condemned the violence in Georgia, and the bill could affect Georgia’s integration into the EU. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to clear protesters outside parliament. The bill must pass one more vote before becoming law.

U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn’t order Navalny to be killed – WSJ

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U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn’t order Navalny to be killed – WSJ

U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably did not order the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February. Putin denied state involvement and had considered exchanging Navalny with the West. The U.S. assessment, based on classified intelligence and public facts, did not absolve Putin of overall responsibility for Navalny’s death, given the history of targeting Navalny by Russian authorities.

U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn, ’t order Navalny to be killed

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U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn, ’t order Navalny to be killed

Fact: U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didn’t order opposition politician Alexei Navalny killed at an Arctic prison camp in February.

Putin’s War Will Soon Reach Russians’ Tax Bills

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Putin’s War Will Soon Reach Russians’ Tax Bills

Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, is planning to increase income and corporate taxes to help finance the war in Ukraine. This move demonstrates his control over Russian policy and reflects his confidence in his political control over the Russian elite.

Russian peacekeepers have begun withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Karabakh, says Kremlin

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Russian peacekeepers have begun withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Karabakh, says Kremlin

Russian peacekeepers have started withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, ending their multi-year deployment. The move comes after Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh last year despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers, triggering the exodus of ethnic Armenians. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan has questioned his country’s alliance with Russia and is building closer ties with the West. Armenia has asked Russian border guards to leave their posts at the main airport in Yerevan. Kremlin spokesman Peskov confirmed the withdrawal, and Azerbaijani media reported that Russian peacekeepers have already started leaving the region. The peacekeeping troops were deployed in November 2020 under a Moscow-brokered deal to stop fighting between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces.

Telegram platform to hit 1 bln users within year, founder says

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Telegram platform to hit 1 bln users within year, founder says

The Telegram messaging app is expected to reach 1 billion active monthly users within a year, according to its founder Pavel Durov. The app, which aims to remain neutral and not involved in geopolitics, has become a crucial tool for both governments and individuals during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, despite criticism for spreading misinformation.

Paris 2024 torch lit in ancient Olympia [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

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Paris 2024 torch lit in ancient Olympia [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony. The torch was lit by Greek actress Mary Mina using a backup flame due to cloudy skies. The torch relay will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic flame in Paris at the opening ceremony. Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as neutral athletes with no national flag or anthem. The torch relay began with Greece’s Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos passing the flame to France’s three-time Olympic medallist in swimming, Laure Manaudou. The French torch relay will last 68 days and end in Paris on July 26.

Putin tells the Middle East to pull back from a catastrophic clash

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Putin tells the Middle East to pull back from a catastrophic clash

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged all sides in the Middle East to avoid actions that could lead to a new confrontation with catastrophic consequences for the region. Putin spoke to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi about Iran’s retaliatory measures against Israel and emphasized the need for restraint to prevent further escalation. The root cause of instability in the Middle East was attributed to the unresolved conflict between Palestinians and Israel. Both leaders confirmed their support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a political settlement of the crisis. Iran has provided Russia with powerful missiles and drones used in Ukraine.

Russia calls for restraint after Iranian strikes on Israel

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Russia calls for restraint after Iranian strikes on Israel

Russia expressed extreme concern over Iranian strikes on Israel, calling for all parties to show restraint. Tensions will remain high until the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is resolved. Russia condemned Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus and warned that unresolved crises in the Middle East could escalate tensions. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that a war between Israel and Iran would harm Joe Biden’s chances of being re-elected as U.S. president.

Russia, ’s Alexei Navalny penned secret memoir before his death, says widow

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Russia, ’s Alexei Navalny penned secret memoir before his death, says widow

Fact: Alexei Navalny wrote an autobiography before he died, titled “Patriot,” which will be published in at least 11 different languages on October 22.