11:41
26.3.2014
Yerevan's consul-general in St. Petersburg, Hrair Karapetian, has denied local reports that he described Russia's annexation of Crimea as "reunification," according to RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
The official website of Russia’s Pskov Oblast published a report earlier this week suggesting Karapetian in a March 24 meeting with Pskov Governor Andrey Turchak "congratulated the Russian official and all Russians on the reunification of Crimea with Russia."
Armenia's relations with Moscow -- and indeed Kyiv -- are under particular scrutiny since Yerevan essentially abandoned hopes of an Association Agreement with the European Union by pledging in September to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
Ukraine's government protested and withdrew its ambassador to Armenia after Yerevan's president reportedly endorsed as legitimate the March 16 referendum in Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian troops and pro-Moscow forces since late February.
Correspondent Aza Babayan writes of the consul-general in St. Petersburg's denial and the previous statements from Yerevan:
The official website of Russia’s Pskov Oblast published a report earlier this week suggesting Karapetian in a March 24 meeting with Pskov Governor Andrey Turchak "congratulated the Russian official and all Russians on the reunification of Crimea with Russia."
Armenia's relations with Moscow -- and indeed Kyiv -- are under particular scrutiny since Yerevan essentially abandoned hopes of an Association Agreement with the European Union by pledging in September to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
Ukraine's government protested and withdrew its ambassador to Armenia after Yerevan's president reportedly endorsed as legitimate the March 16 referendum in Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian troops and pro-Moscow forces since late February.
Correspondent Aza Babayan writes of the consul-general in St. Petersburg's denial and the previous statements from Yerevan:
Karapetian rushed to deny the report, saying that his meeting with Turchak was of a ‘fact-finding nature’ and that during it they mostly discussed community issues, as well as issues connected with the development of economic ties between the Pskov Oblast and Armenia.
The Armenian diplomat underscored that he did not make any such statements during the meeting, suggesting that the reporter who covered the event "may have confused something."
“Taking the opportunity, I said that, of course, our official position is -- and both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sources declared about that -- that the right of peoples to self-determination, which was accepted in relevant UN documents, must be respected. I also cited the example of Nagorno-Karabakh as a self-determined territory and our conversation was limited to that," Karapetian explained.
"Probably the regional correspondent, who was listening to our conversation, concluded for himself that this could be presented as a greeting or congratulation regarding the recognition of Crimea [as part of Russia], and that way the wrongwording appeared. I corrected that, turning to the corresponding news service, the problem was corrected,” Armenia’s consul general to St. Petersburg told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am).
The Armenian diplomat underscored that he did not make any such statements during the meeting, suggesting that the reporter who covered the event "may have confused something."
“Taking the opportunity, I said that, of course, our official position is -- and both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sources declared about that -- that the right of peoples to self-determination, which was accepted in relevant UN documents, must be respected. I also cited the example of Nagorno-Karabakh as a self-determined territory and our conversation was limited to that," Karapetian explained.
"Probably the regional correspondent, who was listening to our conversation, concluded for himself that this could be presented as a greeting or congratulation regarding the recognition of Crimea [as part of Russia], and that way the wrongwording appeared. I corrected that, turning to the corresponding news service, the problem was corrected,” Armenia’s consul general to St. Petersburg told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am).
11:30
26.3.2014
Ukraine's acting president has asked lawmakers to approve military exercises with the United States, following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Oleksandr Turchynov said Ukrainian armed forces plan to conduct two sets of military exercises with the United States this summer.
Turchynov also requested approval for maneuvers with NATO member Poland, as well as joint ground operations with Moldova and Romania.
All of the exercises are to be conducted this year. The request came just hours after Russia's general staff announced it now controlls all of Crimea's 193 military facilities previously belonging to Ukraine.
Turchynov also requested approval for maneuvers with NATO member Poland, as well as joint ground operations with Moldova and Romania.
All of the exercises are to be conducted this year. The request came just hours after Russia's general staff announced it now controlls all of Crimea's 193 military facilities previously belonging to Ukraine.
11:14
26.3.2014
Our Kyrgyz Service is reporting the initial results of a new Gallup poll in the country, which has found dwindling support for the Russia-backed Customs Union.
Support for joining the union has declined from 62 percent in February 2013 to 49 percent now. Opposition has increased from 21 percent to 35 percent over the course of one year.
According to our Kyrgyz Service, many people have concerns about the economic situation and unemployment -- it's unclear whether it's connected to the developments in Crimea.
The Customs Union was launched in 2011 and currently consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Russia hopes it will develop into a broader Eurasian Economic Union to rival the European Union.
But progress has been slow. From our news desk today.
UPDATE: These are official numbers from the survey.
February 2013 survey:
* 33 percent strong supporters of the Customs Union; 29 percent partial supporters; 10 percent opponents; 11 percent partial opponents; and 17 percent had no opinion.
2014 survey:
* 26 percent strong supporters of the Customs Union; 23 percent partial supporters; 21 percent opponents; 14 percent partial opponents and 16 percent had no opinion.
Support for joining the union has declined from 62 percent in February 2013 to 49 percent now. Opposition has increased from 21 percent to 35 percent over the course of one year.
According to our Kyrgyz Service, many people have concerns about the economic situation and unemployment -- it's unclear whether it's connected to the developments in Crimea.
The Customs Union was launched in 2011 and currently consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Russia hopes it will develop into a broader Eurasian Economic Union to rival the European Union.
But progress has been slow. From our news desk today.
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov says Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan are still "far from an understanding" on the free trade in oil and gas.
The three countries plan to sign an agreement on the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which aims at deep economic integration between members, in May.
But Shuvalov told lawmakers that all sides favored retaining restrictions on the trade in oil, gas, and other sensitive products such as alcohol, tobacco, and medical drugs for several years.
The Kremlin aims at launching the union, modeled after the European Union, by 2015.
The three countries plan to sign an agreement on the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which aims at deep economic integration between members, in May.
But Shuvalov told lawmakers that all sides favored retaining restrictions on the trade in oil, gas, and other sensitive products such as alcohol, tobacco, and medical drugs for several years.
The Kremlin aims at launching the union, modeled after the European Union, by 2015.
UPDATE: These are official numbers from the survey.
February 2013 survey:
* 33 percent strong supporters of the Customs Union; 29 percent partial supporters; 10 percent opponents; 11 percent partial opponents; and 17 percent had no opinion.
2014 survey:
* 26 percent strong supporters of the Customs Union; 23 percent partial supporters; 21 percent opponents; 14 percent partial opponents and 16 percent had no opinion.
10:34
26.3.2014
Meanwhile, back in Kyiv, the Ukrainian government has appointed a new chief of the National Television Company (NTK).
Here's the video of Miroshnychenko (the guy with the long hair) assaulting Panteleymonov (in the final 90 seconds of the video.)
The cabinet's press service said Wednesday that Zurab Alasania is now the NTK's director-general. Alasania, an ethnic Georgian, is a founder of the MediaPort online news portal in the eastern city of Kharkiv.
His appointment comes a week after Ihor Miroshnychenko, a lawmaker from the nationalist Svoboda (Liberty) party, and several other people forced NTK's then-acting chief, Oleksandr Panteleymonov, to write a letter of resignation.
A video posted online showed Miroshnychenko and the others hitting Panteleymonov in the head and face and verbally insulting him. The group accused Panteleymonov of working for Russian authorities.
The incident was condemned by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, the OSCE's representative for freedom of the media, and Amnesty International, who called those who abused Panteleymonov "thugs."
His appointment comes a week after Ihor Miroshnychenko, a lawmaker from the nationalist Svoboda (Liberty) party, and several other people forced NTK's then-acting chief, Oleksandr Panteleymonov, to write a letter of resignation.
A video posted online showed Miroshnychenko and the others hitting Panteleymonov in the head and face and verbally insulting him. The group accused Panteleymonov of working for Russian authorities.
The incident was condemned by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, the OSCE's representative for freedom of the media, and Amnesty International, who called those who abused Panteleymonov "thugs."
Here's the video of Miroshnychenko (the guy with the long hair) assaulting Panteleymonov (in the final 90 seconds of the video.)
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10:24
26.3.2014
Current status of #Ukraine's naval fleet (Spoiler: it's grim) https://t.co/hEYKu0QSTb #Crimea #Russia pic.twitter.com/73KlybUFpN
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 26, 2014
10:23
26.3.2014
Crimea's chief prosecutor, who became something of an Internet sensation, is now wanted by Ukraine's Interior Ministry.
BREAKING: Crimean chief prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya ‘wanted’ by Ukraine's Interior Ministry http://t.co/zxf28kS6jJ pic.twitter.com/FukGdjoJvL
— RT (@RT_com) March 26, 2014
10:06
26.3.2014
Swedish economist Anders Aslund has not been mincing his words in today's op-ed for "The Moscow Times" on the Crimea situation:
An overlooked fact is that 40 percent of Ukraine's exports to Russia consist of machinery and armaments. Motor Sich in Zaporozhe produces all of Russia's helicopter engines, Yuzhmash in Dnipropetrovsk manufactures carrier rockets and missiles and Antonov makes planes in Kiev. The Russian military-industrial complex will be in great trouble without these imports. Meanwhile, Western countries are quickly cutting arms deliveries to Russia as part of their sanctions.
09:58
26.3.2014
Russia's military takeover of Crimea is complete:
Russia's armed forces chief, General Valery Gerasimov, says the Russian flag is now flying over all 193 military facilities in Crimea.
His statement came one day after pro-Russian forces seized the last Crimean warship still under Ukrainian control.
According to Crimea's self-proclaimed authorities, more than 15,000 Ukrainian servicemen have applied to switch over to Russian law-enforcement agencies following the peninsula's annexation by Russia.
Another 1,500 Ukrainian servicemen are reportedly preparing to return to mainland Ukraine with their families.
Gerasimov said they would soon be able to leave freely by rail.
His statement came one day after pro-Russian forces seized the last Crimean warship still under Ukrainian control.
According to Crimea's self-proclaimed authorities, more than 15,000 Ukrainian servicemen have applied to switch over to Russian law-enforcement agencies following the peninsula's annexation by Russia.
Another 1,500 Ukrainian servicemen are reportedly preparing to return to mainland Ukraine with their families.
Gerasimov said they would soon be able to leave freely by rail.
08:58
26.3.2014
EU diplomacy continues:
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele are due in Kyiv on Wednesday for meetings with Ukrainian officials.
Fuele -- who spent several days in Kyiv conducting negotiations during the Euromaidan standoff between antigovernment protesters and President Viktor Yanukovych before his ouster -- is due to meet with acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov, among other officials.
Poland has been a big supporter of the new Ukrainian government and of its aspirations for closer ties with the European Union.
Fuele -- who spent several days in Kyiv conducting negotiations during the Euromaidan standoff between antigovernment protesters and President Viktor Yanukovych before his ouster -- is due to meet with acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov, among other officials.
Poland has been a big supporter of the new Ukrainian government and of its aspirations for closer ties with the European Union.
08:45
26.3.2014
Crimean military dolphins and sea lions "to start new training in the interests of the Russian fleet" (h/t @mashant) http://t.co/DDrmajX8Sh
— Joshua Kucera (@joshuakucera) March 26, 2014
If you're in doubt that military dolphins are actually a thing, check out this Wikipedia entry. Due to the secrecy of such practice, rumors of military dolphins include training them to lay underwater mines, to locate enemy combatants, or to seek and destroy submarines using kamikaze methods.[4] There has even been speculation about the potential development of sophisticated equipment, such as poison darts, sonar jamming devices, and so on for dolphins, and about combat between cetaceans of both superpowers.