The Dispatch

Putin approves changes allowing him to stay in power until 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favored term limits once the…

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Erdogan flies to Moscow for Syria ceasefire talks with Putin

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan flew to Moscow on Thursday for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over a potential ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib, where their militaries are facing off in a…

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Putin submits plans to ban same-sex marriages in Russia

Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft amendment to Russia’s constitution that would enshrine marriage as between a man and a woman in a conservative update to the country’s founding document.…

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Russia and Turkey Agree to Reduce Tensions in Syria’s Idlib

Russia and Turkey have agreed to reduce tensions on the ground in Syria’s Idlib province while continuing military action there, the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday following several days…

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Ukraine’s prime minister submits resignation . . . again

Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk submitted his resignation for a second time after reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy might be gearing up to sack him, the Ukrainian news outlet…

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Russia Sends Warships to Syria

Russia on Friday said it was sending two warships armed with cruise missiles to waters off the Syrian coast and blamed Ankara for the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in…

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Boeing lands in Moscow after cracked window emergency

A Boeing-777 passenger plane en route to Bangkok with more than 200 people on board has been forced to fly back to Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport because of a cracked cockpit…

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Photo Story: Amusement park Dream Island inaugurated in Russia

An employee polishes a Smurf figure in the Dream Island amusement park ahead of its upcoming inauguration in Moscow, Russia, 27 February 2020. The amusement park is scheduled to open…

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Photo Story: Anniversary of killing of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov commemorated

A man lays flowers at the site where Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov died during an event marking the fifth anniversary of his assassination, in Moscow, Russia, 27 February 2020.…

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Russia relaxes visa rules for EU citizens

Russia is to relax its draconian visa rules from 2021. The 16-day e-visas will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021, for citizens of the European Union and different countries in…

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Ukraine president convenes country’s security council after Russian forces shelling in Donbass region

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will convene a Ukrainian security council meeting on Tuesday after one soldier was killed and four wounded in what Kiev said was heavy shelling by Russian…

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Photo Story: Tribute to victims of Ukraine International Airlines crash in Iran

The ceremony of the founding a memorial square to the memory of victims of the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 that crashed in Iran, at Boryspil International Airport in…

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Photo Story: Book dominoes world record attempt in Russia

People install a domino books titled 'Just do it! Do it easy!' by German-Russian businessman Oskar Hartmann prior to attempt to set the book dominoes world record in Moscow, Russia.…

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Moldova’s president claims ‘Europe can only be stronger with Russia’

Europe can only be stronger if it forges closer ties with Russia, Moldova’s president claimed in an exclusive interview with Euronews. Igor Dodon called for more economic cooperation between Moscow…

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Audio interview with mysterious Maltese professor related to the Trump-Russia scandal

Professor Joseph Mifsud, the mysterious professor at the heart of the Trump-Russia scandal, can be heard talking about his involvement for the first time in a new podcast from The…

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Russia to ban foreign information technology companies for national infrastructure

A Russian government agency has proposed banning the use of foreign information technology for critical national infrastructure, a draft government order shows, as Moscow moves to step up its control…

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As expected, Azeri ruling party strengthens grip after parliamentary election

Azerbaijan’s ruling party was leading on Monday in a snap parliamentary election called by President Ilham Aliyev to consolidate power and speed economic reforms by replacing the old guard associated…

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Barrage of mysterious bomb hoaxes plagues Moscow

People in the Russian capital Moscow are mystified by a flood of bomb hoaxes forcing the evacuation of courts, schools and malls while authorities appear unable to find the culprits…

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Azerbaijan holds a snap parliamentary election

Azerbaijan holds a snap parliamentary election on Sunday, seen as the next step by President Ilham Aliyev to consolidate power and create a younger, more dynamic parliament to push forward…

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Photo Story: -6 C in St. Petersburg

People walk near the Peter and Paul fortress on a sunny day in central St. Petersburg, Russia. The air temperature dropped to minus six degrees Celsius in Russia's second largest…

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Iran will no longer share evidence from Ukraine airliner crash after leaked audio

Another pilot witnessed the moment the plane was hit and alerted the control tower, a leaked recording showed. Ukraine confirmed its authenticity, and now Iran says it no longer wants…

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Russia may deport any foreigners found with coronavirus

Foreign citizens could be deported from Russia if they test positive for the coronavirus, the prime minister said, according to country’s media outlets. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said a national plan…

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Russia decides to suspend working visas to Chinese citizens, air services due to coronavirus outbreak

The Russian government is going to suspend issuance of work visas to Chinese citizens, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the emergency response headquarters for the prevention of the novel…

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Worker dies in Russian sport stadium roof collapse

General view of partially collapsed 'Peterburgsky' Sports and Concert Complex in St.Petersburg, Russia. The roof of the building collapsed during dismantling, killing a worker. The man was one of four…

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Turkish foreign minister calls for enlarged NATO, Georgia membership

Turkey’s foreign minister called on Thursday for the enlargement of NATO and the addition of Georgia to the organization. “I don’t understand why we have not invited Georgia or we…

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Poland and Russia bicker over WW2

Poland’s president has accused Russia’s Vladimir Putin of spreading a “historical lie” about his country in the run-up to events marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Andrzej…

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Putin names new Russian Cabinet

Russian President Vladimir Putin formed his new Cabinet Tuesday, replacing many of its members but keeping his foreign, defense and finance ministers in place. The Cabinet shake-up comes as Putin…

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Photo Story: Musical tribute in Ukrainian airports

Musicians from a military orchestra perform in the main terminal of the Boryspil International Airport in Kiev, Ukraine, 20 January 2020. Military orchestras on 20 January will perform at the…

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Ukraine president gives PM second chance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday allowed Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk to keep his job after the leak of an embarrassing audio recording prompted Honcharuk to submit his resignation. In…

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Photo Story: Changing of the guard in Moscow

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (L) and Russian ex- Prime Minister and deputy head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (R) attend a meeting with members of Russian government…

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Photo Story: Snow in Georgia

A general view of snow-covered trees at Tbilisi National Park, near Tbilisi, Georgia, 17 January 2020. Snow has fallen in the mountain regions of the country. Photo: EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

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Ukraine’s Prime Minister resigns

Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk offered his resignation to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday after less than six months in the role. The presidential office responded to the letter, saying they would consider…

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Russia’s Prime Minister nominee Mikhail Mishustin approved by State Duma

A screen shows results of vote on a Russian Prime Minister nominee Mikhail Mishustin during a plenary session at the State Duma in Moscow, Russia, 16 January 2020. Russian President…

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Vladimir Putin names Mikhail Mishustin as new PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin formally put forward Mikhail Mishustin, the little-known head of Russia's Federal Tax Service, to be Russia's new prime minister, the Kremlin said. Putin submitted his candidacy…

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Russian government resigns following President Putin’s State-of-the-Nation Address

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that the government is resigning. The statement came shortly after President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address. Accepting the resignation, Putin asked…

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Ukrainian traditional holiday Malanka

Local men wearing bear costumes march during the celebrations of the winter holiday Malanka in the village of Krasnoilsk, western Ukraine, 14 January 2020. 'Malanka' - or 'Old New Year…

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Iran plane crash: Missile struck underneath cockpit – Ukraine

Ukraine's top security official, Oleksiy Danilov, has told the BBC that his country's investigators had already gathered evidence that a missile brought down a Ukrainian passenger jet, before Iran changed…

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Photo Story: Snow in Moscow

A food delivery man walks past a snowman in a snow-covered park in Moscow, Russia. This year, snow fell unusually late in Moscow. Photo: EPA-EFE/YURI KOCHETKOV

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Video shows moment alleged missile strikes Ukrainian aircraft

A video appears to capture the moment a missile struck a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran before it crashed, killing all 173 people on board minutes after it took off. The…

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Ukraine lists possible theories behind Iran plane crash, including missile strike

A top Ukrainian security official on Thursday set out what he said were the four main theories for why a Ukrainian airliner crashed in Iran the previous day killing 176…

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Photo Story: Tributes in Kiev for Flight PS752

Flowers and a toy paper plane are seen in front of the Iranian embassy in a tribute to the airplane crash victims in Kiev, Ukraine. Many families, several young children,…

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Turkey and Russia to inaugurate TurkStream pipeline

The Russian and Turkish presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are set to open the TurkStream pipeline on Wednesday. The meeting will take place in Istanbul to inaugurate the…

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Names of passengers, crew on board Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran released

Among the 176 people on board of the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 that crashed shortly after taking off from the Tehran airport on Jan. 8, were 11 Ukrainian citizens,…

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Terror attack, missile hit versions ruled out in Ukrainian air crash

Ukraine's Embassy in Iran has commented on the versions of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash near Tehran airport, saying a terror attack and a missile hit have so…

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Ukrainian president says all dead on board airliner that crashed in Iran, reports that black box has been recovered

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that all passengers and crew on board a Ukrainian airliner that crashed in Iran have been killed, citing preliminary information. In a…

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Photo Story: Russia prepares for the Russian Orthodox Christmas

People attend festival 'Journey to Christmas' in Moscow, Russia. Russians celebrated New Year's Eve on 31 December but will be celebrating Christmas on the 07 January, according to the Russian…

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif in Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, 30 December 2019. Zarif is in Moscow on…

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Putin thanks Trump for information which thwarted New Year terror attack

Vladimir Putin has thanked Donald Trump for intelligence that helped avert “acts of terrorism” in Russia, the Kremlin has said. The Russian president spoke to his US counterpart on the…

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Ukraine, eastern rebels swap prisoners in move to end war

Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine began exchanging prisoners Sunday in a move aimed at ending their 5-year-long war. The move was part of an agreement brokered earlier…

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The Year in Pictures – May: Inauguration of Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky.

President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky (C-R) attends his inauguration in Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, 20 May 2019. Zelensky with 73.22 percent of the votes beaten out current President Petro Poroshenko during…

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Ukraine, separatists expected to swap prisoners on Sunday

The government in Kiev expects to swap prisoners with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. The exchange was brokered by the Russian and Ukrainian…

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Russia to take retaliatory action against British media

Russia will take retaliatory measures against British media operating on Russian territory over what it regards as unfriendly action taken by British authorities against its own journalists, Russian news…

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China, Russia, Iran to hold joint naval drills starting Friday

China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, China’s defence ministry said on Thursday amid heightened tension in…

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UPDATED: Alexei Navalny detained in Moscow, Anti-Putin activist Ruslan Shaveddinov forcibly sent to Arctic

Police in Moscow have again detained Alexei Navalny, the most prominent foe of President Vladimir Putin and the governing United Russia party. Navalny has been jailed repeatedly in recent years…

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Putin says Russia has vessel to build Nord Stream 2

President Vladimir Putin said Russia has a “pipe-laying vessel” to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, Kommersant daily reported citing unnamed sources on…

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US concerned with Russian mercenaries presence in Libya

The United States is “very concerned” about the intensification of the conflict in Libya, with a rising number of reported Russian mercenaries supporting Khalifa Haftar’s forces on the ground turning…

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Photo Story: Christmas decorations in Moscow

An actor during a performance near the Red Square in the Russian capital Moscow which is decorated for the New Year and Christmas holidays. Photo: EPA-EFE/YURI KOCHETKOV

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