Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, February 10, 2023
Table of Contents
- Diplomatic Worker’s Day
- Day of Remembrance for Diplomatic Couriers Killed in the Line of Duty
- Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the Government Hour at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
- Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with the heads of executive bodies of the CIS, CSTO, EAEU and Union State
- Ukraine crisis
- The anti-Russian conference in Copenhagen
- The continued infringement on the rights of the Russian-speaking population in Latvia
- The arrest of student activist Tatyana Andriyets in Latvia
- The situation in Moldova
- US journalist Seymour Hersh’s report on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 blasts
- Remarks by spokesperson for US Department of State Ned Price
- Situation in Türkiye after the earthquake and recommendations for Russian citizens
- Russia's earthquake relief efforts in Syria
- Fires in the Republic of Chile
- Russian Navy ship saves a French national in the Atlantic Ocean
- Admitting Russian athletes to competitions
- The situation around the IOC statement and the issue of allowing Russian athletes to take part in international competitions and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- The SCO Film Festival, part of India’s presidency
- World Radio Day
- Day of Remembrance for Russians who performed their duty outside the Fatherland
- The Red Army’s Budapest Offensive Operation
- The 78th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden
- Josep Borrell’s statements
- Russia’s participation in treaties with the Council of Europe
- The International Federation of Journalists’ steps affecting the Russian Union of Journalists
- Prospects of a peace treaty with Japan
- Security architecture in East Asia
- De-classified documents from US archives
- IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit to Moscow
- Shutting down the Kazakhstani trade mission
- Developing Russia’s partnership with South Caucasus countries
- Russian Foreign Ministry Special Representative Igor Khovayev’s visit to Armenia
- Obstacles put up by the United States with respect to humanitarian aid for Syria
- Third parties participating in settling the conflict in Ukraine
- US interference in other countries’ domestic affairs
- Russia-Norway cooperation
- The collective West’s reaction to Sergey Lavrov’s African tour
- Prospects of Russian-European cooperation
- Statements by leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Russia providing comprehensive humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria
- Russia’s cooperation within regional international organisations
- Certain aspects of normalising the relations between Russia and Western countries
- The outcome of Sergey Lavrov’s African tour
- Naturalisation and withdrawal from Russian citizenship
- Russia-Iraq relations
- Norway’s involvement in the Nord Stream terrorist attacks
On February 10, Russia observes a professional holiday – Diplomatic Worker’s Day. The President of the Russian Federation instituted this day in an executive order on October 31, 2002.
The choice of date was not random. The earliest documented mention of the Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Office) dates back to February 10, 1549.
As Russian leadership has said many times, the domestic diplomatic service will continue using its entire arsenal to resolutely rebuff any attempts by unfriendly states to isolate Russia in the international arena.
We will continue promoting the development of a more just polycentric world arrangement, which reflects the balance of interests of all members of the international community.
We will focus on revealing the potential of our cooperation with our constructively minded partners in the CIS, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific Region, Africa and Latin America. We consistently work to improve relations with them and our efforts are producing results.
The goal of pooling international efforts to defend traditional values and preserve Russia’s cultural and historical legacy is becoming increasingly urgent.
The main goals lie in ensuring our national interests, creating favourable external conditions for the country’s steady development and strengthening its positions. In working for these goals, our diplomats show the pragmatism inherent in our foreign policy and a creative approach.
As per established tradition, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov laid flowers in the lobby of our building at the commemorative plaques with the names of our colleagues who lost their lives at the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, were killed while performing their duty, and in the years of reprisals in the 1930s-1940s and the early 1950s. Information on them is presented at the Information Kiosk – an interactive terminal that was officially opened today in the central lobby of the ministry. The Ministry of Foreign Trade staff was not forgotten, either – a wreath was also laid at the memorial plaque with their names.
A new exhibition devoted to the 225th birth anniversary of a brilliant Russian diplomat, Alexander Gorchakov, is unveiled at the ministry building. It includes documents from the Foreign Policy Archives of the Russian Empire and the State Archives of the Russian Federation. These documents reflect the Chancellor’s contribution to resolving the challenges facing Russian foreign policy in the second half of the 19th century.
A gala event for the ministry’s staff will take place tonight. Mr Lavrov will give a speech. On the one hand, this is an important day, but on the other, we are celebrating it not just in our place of work but at a combat post, considering global realities. Many interesting materials are accessible on the ministry’s information resources online.
Day of Remembrance for Diplomatic Couriers Killed in the Line of Duty
With regard to our professional day, we cannot but recall our colleagues – diplomatic couriers. On Saturday, February 4, the employees and veterans of the Diplomatic-Courier Service held a traditional day of remembrance for the diplomatic couriers killed in the line of duty.
The tradition of observing the first Saturday of February in memory of diplomatic couriers was established following athe heroic deed of the diplomatic couriers of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, Theodor Nette and Johann Makhmastal. While on a train from Moscow to Riga, on February 5, 1926, they repelled an armed attack by criminals that were trying to seize Soviet diplomatic mail.
Those gathered in the lobby of the Ministry honoured the memory of couriers with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the memorial plaques. The commemorative list of diplomatic couriers killed in the line of duty includes 25 names. This is a very dangerous job today as well.
By tradition, Foreign Ministry staff laid flowers at the monument to Theodor Nette at Vagankovo Cemetery and visited the burial sites of diplomatic couriers at Kuntsevo and Troyekurovo cemeteries.
There used to be one more commemorative site. In Latvia, Russian Embassy staff have traditionally visited a memorial sign at Ikskile Station where Nette and Makhmastal fought. Unfortunately, it was removed in August 2022 at the order of the local authorities.
On February 15, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will deliver remarks during the Government Hour at the State Duma plenary session on Russia’s current foreign policy issues and will answer MPs’ questions.
The Minister’s annual meetings with parliamentarians allow for enhancing the interaction between the executive and legislative branches of power, exchanging views on the current international situation and outlining ways of further promoting Russia’s common foreign policy through joint efforts.
Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with the heads of executive bodies of the CIS, CSTO, EAEU and Union State
On February 16, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet in Moscow with the heads of executive bodies of the CIS, the CSTO, the EAEU and the Union State.
The participants are expected to discuss the performance of these associations in 2022 and promising areas for cooperation in the near future, as well as exchange views on topical international and regional issues. They will pay particular attention to aligning the integration processes in the Eurasian region and establishing closer inter-organisational contacts in the areas of overlapping and complementary competences.
The Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements was signed eight years ago, on February 12, 2015, by all members of the Contact Group – Ukraine, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, the OCSE and Russia in the presence of the Normandy Format leaders (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine). At that point in time, it was an outstanding and effective result of diplomacy that demonstrated the consolidation of the involved countries’ capabilities and resources and of the entire world’s ability to unite to overcome a crisis.
Donetsk and Lugansk agreed to be reintegrated into Ukraine on the condition that they were given a special status and autonomy that was substantially smaller than the autonomy of Belgian regions or Swiss cantons. Six months before that, referendums were held in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions to determine the people’s ambitions. Whatever they are called in the West, the referendums were a free expression of the people’s will. In February 2015, Donetsk and Lugansk announced their agreement to become reintegrated into Ukraine based on the Minsk agreements.
The Package of Measures was a realistic roadmap that could have been implemented. Some might say it could easily have been implemented, while others think it could have been done at a price and involved compromises by both sides. Opinions may differ, but it was a realisable roadmap for overcoming instead of aggravating a crisis. It offered a guarantee that the implementation of the Minsk agreements’ fundamental provisions would prevent the situation from going from bad to worse. On February 17, 2015, the package was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2202, which made the Package of Measures an integral part of international law, binding on all parties.
It later turned out that the Kiev regime and its sponsors and mentors did not intend to move towards peace. They deceived the international community by saying at the UN Security Council that they wanted peace and by signing a document on a peaceful settlement. They knew from the very beginning, as they say now, that they would move in the opposite direction, that the signatures were not worth the paper they were written on, that they would not carry out their promise. It was a lie, doubletalk and false intentions presented as the truth.
All these years, the Western countries, including Germany and France as co-sponsors of the Minsk process, lied through their teeth about their commitments to the Minsk process and the UN Security Council resolution. They turned a blind eye to the Kiev regime’s crimes in Donbass. Moreover, they accused Russia of failure to implement the agreements, although we were not required to do anything. The worst part is that they were acting out a performance, and they knew it. The Kiev regime, feeling the support of the West, pretended to be negotiating while sabotaging its own obligations. We noted more than once that we left these negotiations with a feeling of sabotage, subversion, and an unwillingness to honour the agreements and a desire to push the situation to a dead-end from which no exit was possible. Former President Petr Poroshenko has admitted that Ukraine was procrastinating to gain more time to prepare for a confrontation with Russia. The former leaders of Germany and France, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, have made similar statements. In other words, the Kiev regime and the West buried the Minsk agreements together.
Today, the Ukrainian armed forces continue to shell residential buildings, schools and hospitals in Donbass and the Zaporozhye, Kherson, Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation.
The relevant international organisations have not yet reacted to the Kiev regime’s inhumane shelling of the hospital in Novoaidar, the Lugansk People’s Republic, where 14 people were killed, and the children’s hospital in Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson Region, where, thankfully, nobody was injured. Regrettably, the international community continues to take no notice of these events. I am not referring to the international community that has watched this happening for years, at a loss for words and with a sinking heart, but those who throw accusations around while disregarding the facts. They have engaged in doubletalk, lies and propaganda for years, using every resource at their disposal, but never finding an opportunity (let alone a heart, which they don’t have) to take notice of the dehumanisation of the Kiev regime.
The NATO countries bear part of responsibility for these crimes because they are sending weapons and intelligence to the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev. The lack of international organisations’ reaction to these flagrant violations of international humanitarian law discredits these institutions, which have become NATO’s obedient puppets.
Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry posted a statement on the shooting of Russian POWs by Ukrainian Nazis. This is a heinous crime by the Kiev regime. Kiev’s Western curators are largely responsible for yet another shooting of Russian POWs, because they have nurtured this nationalist and neo-Nazi regime. Today, they applaud their “spawn,” whom they show off to other NATO countries like in a circus. There were freak circuses in the past. Now, Britain and other NATO countries have organised something that civilised countries prohibited long ago. They picked a human being, if you can describe him as such, spent years to train him to perform certain actions, supplied him with weapons and money, and pressed the button. This is something their public should see, the performance by a clown dressed in pseudo-military clothes. Zelensky was taken from one auditorium to another to show off a monster who was trained to start a bloodbath. This is nothing but a freak show. There is no doubt that the general public, let alone Ukraine, has been stupefied with the propaganda that is widely used in the West.
That show was taking place against the backdrop of reports about the execution of POWs by Zelensky’s military personnel. Not a single person who attended that freak show asked how much blood from innocent civilians, including children, the president of Ukraine has on his hands. These prepaid meetings, interrupted only by numerous commercials and broadcasts, took place while helpless prisoners were being shot, against the backdrop of what the West doesn’t want to hear about or deal with. We have provided information about the mass graves that are the result of this eight-year-long slaughter.
Covering their crimes with silence, the NATO countries make these crimes possible. This Russian blood is on the hands of the countries that are supplying Ukraine with weapons and Nazi ideology. The silence of the relevant international organisations, which have exchanged a professional and unbiased approach for a striving to curry favour with the United States and other Western countries, is disgraceful. They are afraid, each for a reason of its own. The Investigative Committee of Russia has already announced that it is studying new videos of Kiev’s war crimes. We are sure these crimes will not go unpunished.
In the meantime, life is getting back to normal on the territories liberated from the Kiev regime. Special attention is paid to healthcare facilities – 64 of them have already been restored and almost another hundred are being repaired. A new perinatal centre for 140 beds and an area of 26,500 square metres is under construction in Donetsk. As part of patronage assistance, specialists from other Russian regions are restoring a city hospital in Volnovakha and conducting repairs and restoration work in the Central City Multi-Profile Hospital and a maternity hospital in Krasnodon.
In Mariupol, Russian military are removing explosives from the tramway terminal and tram tracks. Municipal services have started restoring tramway infrastructure.
The Kiev regime does not stop demanding from the West more and more arms supplies for preparing a “counteroffensive.” The main purpose of the performance staged by President Zelensky was to beg “the bosses” to give him long-range missiles and aircraft. On February 8 of this year, he visited London and Paris and on February 9, he was a guest at the EU summit. Indicatively, during this visit Vladimir Zelensky, supposed to be the President of independent Ukraine, flew on the aircraft of the Royal Air Force.
Do you remember what Zelensky promised to his people and what he demonstrated in the first months of his presidency to the stormy applause of the West? He said that he was together with his people, flying regular planes and sitting in regular plane seats, that there was no difference between him and average citizens. How things have changed in four years! These are not just VIP aircraft. Western, NATO aircraft move him wherever he needs to stage yet another freak show. By the way, during his visit to the United States on December 21, 2022, he flew on aircraft of the US Air Force.
Advisor to the head of Zelensky’s office Mikhail Podolyak also resorted to begging recently. He announced that “Ukraine must receive everything it needs here and now – not in 2024 or 2025.”
The project of building a democratic, strong and independent Ukraine collapsed. Now its fragments are presented, much to everyone’s surprise, as an established state that is upholding freedom and democracy. Meanwhile, its neo-Nazi regime is involved in laundering money sent via Ukraine by Anglo-Saxons. It is creating in central Europe a bridgehead for countering our country.
All this surprisingly coincided with the February 2 decision by the Council of Europe to allocate 500 million euros worth of military aid to Kiev via the European Peace Facility (EPF). Just think of it – half a billion euros from this Peace Facility will be spent on carnage. On February 3 of this year, Washington also announced yet another package of arms worth almost $2.2 billion. This time, the package includes HAWK air defence systems, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) with a range of 150 kilometres and Claymore anti-personnel mines. Given the recent high-profile report by Human Rights Watch NGO, which accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine of using Lepestok (Petal) anti-personnel blast mines against civilians, this step by Washington looks like a purposeful attempt to push the Kiev regime to commit more war crimes. I think that unfortunately this is what is going to happen. But it is important to understand who is to blame.
There appeared reports that the authorities of Norway are going to spend part of their windfall gas profits on Ukraine. Oslo plans to allocate to Kiev almost $1.5 billion a year. Half of this sum will be used for military aid and the other half for civilian support. What kind of civilian support is this? Having received military aid from Oslo, the Kiev regime will be killing those civilians that Oslo is going to support. Does nobody understand this?
The Westerners have of late stepped up the efforts to provide training to the Ukrainian military. On February 2, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the EU planned to bring the number of Ukrainian cadets at the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine to 30,000. The Ukrainian Defence Minister Alexey Reznikov said the Ukrainian troops began learning to drive Leopard tanks at European training grounds on February 6.
As you may be aware, the EU has allocated half a billion euros from the Peace Facility. So, is it about peace or training even more Ukrainian citizens to never make it back home? The West must make its choice.
By arming the Ukrainian forces with increasingly powerful, as they think, weapons and training the Ukrainian military, the United States and its NATO vassals are doing everything to escalate hostilities, which will inevitably draw the conflict out and increase the number of victims.
In their reckless support of the Kiev-based Nazis, Western leaders have crossed every conceivable and inconceivable line. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s confession to the effect that the West was at war with Russia were still a fresh memory when the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, hinted unequivocally that physical elimination of the Russian leadership was a desirable outcome. Statements like this one are absolutely unacceptable for an official from any country that is a member of the international community. This is not some made-up country or a sect of ghouls, but an official state and a UN member. These people do not represent some private outfit, but they represent the people who elected them. Against the backdrop of these statements, official Berlin declares itself a champion of international law and human rights.
Should we remind Berlin of its own history and the number of times in their most recent history the German officials spoke about the desirability of eliminating a particular leader or a nation, which would make it easier for them to live their lives? They react strongly to reminders about their own history. They are so sensitive about someone comparing their current regime to the Third Reich. It's not us who are making the comparison. It's you who are becoming increasingly more reminiscent of your roots. I’m quoting you directly.
The Ukrainian authorities continue to wage a raging war on the Russian language, literature and culture. Having banned the Russian language in violation of its own constitution, Kiev is now fighting for the “purity” of person-to-person communication. Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language Taras Kremen said he supported the ban on interpersonal communication in Russian imposed by the leadership of the Kiev-Mogila Academy and hoped that other universities would follow suit. No other comparison comes to mind but one. But I think that even in the 1930s, European fascists and Nazis did not go that far. They put yellow stars on the sleeves of the Jews and shipped them to ghettoes, but they never barred them from speaking with each other in their native language. Ukraine went farther. They exterminate people and try to root out culture. They engage in outright lies and make it illegal for people to speak their native language.
As a reminder, Ukrainian officials, in particular Arseny Yatsenyuk and Vladimir Zelensky observed cynically that, despite the fact that the Russian language does not enjoy the status of an official or working language in Ukraine, they all think in Russian and speak Russian at home. They said this to prove their normalcy. It turns out that now they have publicly admitted that they are not so normal after all if they decided to prohibit some of their citizens from speaking their native language even in person-to-person communication.
By virtue of office, I watch videos from the battlefield and some of these are videos showing communication between troops, gunmen and extremists from the Ukrainian forces or units acting in the interests of the Ukrainian forces. Interestingly, Kiev is sending them to carnage and forcing them to die and does not mind their speaking Russian, whereas these same people cannot live in peace, work or study in the Russian language. It needs to be put under control, crossed out and removed. This is unheard of in real history or in fiction. This is a phased-in and quick dehumanisation of the Kiev regime for the money of and to the cheers of their NATO curators.
This did not start today. Today, it is just getting increasingly ugly. Just like during the Middle Ages or in Nazi Germany, Ukraine is waging a war on books written in the Russian language. The other day, Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for Humanitarian and Information Policy Yevgeniya Kravchuk said 11 million books in Russian had been written off from the Ukrainian public libraries as of November 2022. They take pride in this and present it as a result of the people's deputies’ effective work. Prior to that, they imposed bans on book imports and limited and imposed quotas on the use of the Russian language in the media.
Now, they are seizing and destroying books and making it illegal to communicate in Russian. Go ahead and call it by its name. Say who you have taken your cue from by acting like this. Come clean.
Kiev has taken its anti-Russian mayhem even further. Yesterday, February 9, the Ukrainian Nazis, acting in a cowardly manner and trying not be seen by their own citizens, demolished the monument to the Hero of the Soviet Union, the legendary pilot Valery Chkalov, and dismantled the monument to the Hero of the Soviet Union, General Nikolai Vatutin. General Vatutin led the 1st Ukrainian Front to liberate Kiev from the Nazis on November 6, 1943 and was later treacherously killed by Bandera henchmen. A monument to the general was erected on his grave. However, the Ukrainian authorities were nonchalant about it. This is the man who liberated Kiev from the Nazis. This is his grave. There is a monument to him on that grave.
The Ukrainian powers that be and the “democracies” that are flooding Ukraine with weapons continue their savage policies which cannot be covered by any staged acts. They will not succeed in creating a fake image of “peace-loving” people who “strive for fair and mutually agreed upon solutions” with the international community. Nothing can cover up these acts of dehumanisation. The “paint” peeled off a long time ago. Ordinary Ukrainian citizens are of no interest to anyone on Bankovaya Street, in Brussels, Washington or London. All of the above makes the special military operation’s goals and objectives even more important and leaves no doubt about the underlying reasons for starting it.
The anti-Russian conference in Copenhagen
The War Crimes and Accountability in Ukraine international conference hosted by the Danish Foreign Ministry in conjunction with the embassies of Great Britain and Ukraine was held in Copenhagen on February 1. Is there any doubt left about who is in charge of the harrowing bloody developments in Ukraine? Of course, not. No one has any doubt about it now.
Going off on the same old rant about Russia’s alleged aggression against Ukraine and making statements about the importance of international efforts aimed at spreading information “about Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine and bringing to justice the people involved in them,” the participants of this gathering simply conceded their support of the neo-Nazi Kiev regime and the latter’s foul methods. They publicly confirmed their commitment to crimes that are taking place on the Kiev regime’s watch. No one even mentioned the colossal casualties and numerous targeted crimes to exterminate dissenters in Ukraine. All of that was led directly by NATO, Brussels, and Washington. No one noticed how, over the span of many years, the Kiev regime destroyed the civilian infrastructure in Donbass, including medical and educational buildings. No one ever mentioned these facts, which means we have a sheer case of doublespeak on our hands. Not just hypocrisy or double standards, but a global effort to repackage things, to replace the truth with a lie, and to pass off a lie as the truth.
All of that is backed up by the arms supplies to Ukraine, the funding of the conflict, and the setting up of training camps and training programmes for the Ukrainian forces.
The continued infringement on the rights of the Russian-speaking population in Latvia
The Foreign Ministry systemically raises the issue of Latvia’s rude violation of its international obligations as regards protecting the rights of ethnic minorities, including the Russian-speaking population of this Baltic state, via permanent Russian missions in Geneva and Vienna at the relevant UN and OSCE human rights agencies. We regularly send inquiries to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci. Unfortunately, international agencies often remain passive, and this motivates Riga to continue this shameful practice.
In its annual reports on the human rights situation in various countries and the situation with Russian compatriots, the Foreign Ministry regularly sets out Latvia’s violations of its international obligations. The section on Latvia accounts for a substantial share of these documents. There are plans to publish similar reports in 2023. As always, these documents will devote special attention to the Baltic states and the European Union in general, as well as Ukraine.
The arrest of student activist Tatyana Andriyets in Latvia
On February 6, 2023, Latvian citizen Tatyana Andriyets was arrested in Riga and detained for a period of two months. Ms Andriyets, a student of St Petersburg State University, was staying in Latvia for the holidays. As it often happens in the Baltics nowadays, the authorities unjustifiably accused her of anti-state activities.
Latvian authorities hunted Ms Andriyets for a long time in connection with her public efforts to support the Russian-language education system and to protect the memorial legacy.
The criminal case opened against the student highlights the deplorable totalitarian atmosphere of political terror in Latvia directed against representatives of civil society. The country’s repressive state machinery and punitive justice system are selective and directed against the Russian-speaking minority, if it can be called that. All this shows that Latvia has turned into a police state where xenophobia has been elevated to the level of state policy.
We will do everything possible to provide Ms Andriyets with legal and other assistance.
We are once again urging specialised international organisations and human rights activists to voice principled assessments of developments in this Baltic country. This is nothing but lawlessness.
The process of converting Moldova, a sovereign country with its own traditions, aims and objectives, into yet another Ukraine is not just continuing but is getting into high gear. The Moldovan authorities are feigning disagreement with this obvious statement, claiming that it is “not true to fact.”
But let us look at the facts. On February 6 of this year, Moldova’s Information and Security Service decided, under a far-fetched pretext, to block access to RuBaltic.ru, a Russian-language news website. Somewhat earlier, on January 19, the same measure was applied to EADaily.com and Bloknot.ru.
On January 27 of this year, Moldova’s Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting fined Channel 1 in Moldova (Primul in Moldova) for its alleged failure to present information in an “even-handed” manner in a November 2022 broadcast, that is, a broadcast aired before the channel was closed down. I would like to remind you that on December 19, 2022, Moldova revoked the licences of six Russian-language TV channels, including Channel 1.
Yesterday, I saw a news story that struck me as surreal. Usually, fines are imposed on certain content. In this case, a “fine” or a warning was issued to a Moldovan media outlet for what the local regulator regarded as “insufficient” news on the Ukraine situation. They focused on a period of time and calculated that Ukraine had been covered less than it should have been. And the “fine” was precisely for this failure. This is something you would not find in any anti-utopia. No wise guy has ever hit upon the idea of exposing totalitarianism and dictatorship in such a fiction-like mode. I have never seen anything like this. Perhaps someone has. If so, please send me a reference so that I can read this opus. I have never seen a work of fiction (be it a film or a novel), where a person or an outlet would be fined for failing to impose a topic on an audience at a sufficient length. There were cases where punishment was meted out for overdoing or botching it. But fining for insufficient coverage?! A strong move! A new word!
At the same time, the Western and Ukrainian media unashamedly relay openly Russophobic content to the republic, but there are neither fines, nor warnings, nor attempts to make them conform to Moldovan laws and the country’s international obligations.
The Moldovan press is openly running a discussion on whether it is expedient to preserve the Soviet monuments. The authorities go on with their policy of glorifying accomplices of Nazis.
Moldova’s leaders state that its neutral status, enshrined in its Constitution, is “insufficient” to ensure its stability and security. They also declare their intention to strengthen relations with NATO.
They tell us that this is Moldova’s internal affair. Yes, this is so. But there is no disregarding the fact that we already saw similar actions in Ukraine, actions inspired by the same outside forces that are now imposing this policy on Chisinau. Like now in Moldova, this was done earlier in Ukraine with a clearly expressed unfriendly, to put it mildly, message under the pretext of fighting the “Russian threat” and the “Kremlin’s agents.” But in reality, provocations were being prepared, which later led to irreversible processes within the [Ukrainian] state. This begs the question: If the “summands” are the same, why should the result be different? Is there anyone among the current Moldovan leadership, who wants to ask and answer this question?
The Moldovan authorities are claiming that their actions are aimed at promoting stability and security. But we often see them achieve an opposite effect.
A recent case in point are amendments to the Criminal Code the local Parliament approved in the final reading on February 2. The amendments introduce some new concepts, including “separatism” and “unconstitutional entity.” We commented on this topic in December 2022, when the “separatism bill” was approved in the first reading. We indicated that this step was eroding the basic principle of the negotiating process on the Transnistria settlement. I am referring to the principle of equality of the parties. We pointed to a sharp reaction it had caused in Transnistria. We called for an even-handed and responsible approach.
Regrettably, Chisinau failed to take heed of this, leading to an even greater alienation between the two shores of the Dniester.
We once again urge the Moldovan authorities not to take cues from those who would like to turn Moldova into yet another “anti-Russia” in accordance with the Ukrainian or Baltic scenario. We are confident that keeping constructive and pragmatic relations meets the common interests of our countries and – primarily – peoples bound by age-old traditions of friendship and a glorious common history.
US journalist Seymour Hersh’s report on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 blasts
We have carefully studied the publication by US journalist Seymour Hersh implicating US officials in the explosions of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. And this is not a figure of speech but a statement of the direct involvement of states (let me stress this: we are talking about state participation) in an act of sabotage and a terrorist attack. Given Norway’s unquestioning compliance in its foreign policy, including in its relations with Russia, with the line laid down by Washington and Brussels, we are not surprised by Mr Hersh’s conclusions about Oslo’s complicity in these acts of sabotage.
It is obvious that all these facts should come under an international investigation. At the same time, it cannot be hoped that the Norwegian authorities will take an unbiased position and display readiness for constructive cooperation in this matter. We have evidence for this, too.
We have repeatedly offered the authorities of Denmark and Sweden, including in messages by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, our help in investigating these terrorist attacks. But the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia has received refusals to its requests from the relevant agencies of these countries. It is patently clear that their authorities are not interested in identifying the true perpetrators of these crimes. Judging by all appearances, they are interested in the opposite: in concealing the data, facts, and evidence.
We proceed from the premise that only a comprehensive and open investigation with the obligatory participation of competent Russian authorities and Gazprom can provide the public with reliable and objective data on the reasons, executors and instigators of these acts of sabotage.
Remarks by spokesperson for US Department of State Ned Price
We have heard amazing statements coming from the US State Department and the White House which immediately started giving mixed signals which has become their habitual procedure in recent years. We were surprised by what the State Department had to say. Unlike the White House, there are people there with field-specific training.
At the most recent US State Department briefing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price took questions about the newly released investigation results. As you may be aware, Seymour Hersh is more than a journalist. He is an investigative reporter. Ned Price brushed off accusations as “utter and complete nonsense.” In addition, taking a question on interaction with Oslo and Berlin on this matter, he said, “it would not be typical for us to engage allies and partners on something that is utter and complete nonsense.” Admittedly, the most typical thing we have seen in Washington over the past decades was to implicate its allies in “complete nonsense.”
I am not even sure where to start. The list goes on and on. Let us start with the phrase about “engage allies and partners.” Talking about solidarity is Washington's hallmark. In their book, solidarity is about engaging their partners in all kinds of nonsensical activities. The stick-based discipline within NATO not only presumes “engaging allies and partners” in what is complete nonsense, but is precisely what “Euro-Atlantic solidarity” is all about. Remember they expelled Russian diplomats from European capitals under far-fetched pretexts such as the alleged poisoning with a chemical warfare agent (Skripal and Navalny) – no one really knows what happened – followed by “interference” in internal affairs and elections by allegedly Kremlin-operated bots? Remember that? We do. Washington actually dictated and imposed its will on its “allies and partners” using made-up and false pretexts in the process. How many years have passed since the “poisoning” of the Skripal family? Where are they now? What happened? Is the investigation still underway? There is nothing like that. On the other hand, there were “consultations” with “allies and partners” who were forced into making unnecessary and unfavourable decisions and had to expel Russian diplomats and face Russia’s response. None of the “allies and partners” has ever seen the materials that Washington used to derive its conclusions. It is also true that Washington and London form one Anglo-Saxon bundle.
Let us take a look at the “utter and complete nonsense,” using Ned Price’s words, with regard to our country.
Twenty years ago, US Secretary of State Colin Powell brought a vial with some powder to the UN Security Council and called on US allies and partners to start a war on a sovereign state without any grounds whatsoever. Later, these calls turned out to be sheer nonsense. I have a question for Ned Price (I am not even asking about US history or, God forbid, international relations): do you know the history of the department you are working for? Twenty years is not a long time to forget how, under the pretext of complete nonsense, you forced your “allies and partners” into waging wars on other continents.
Occasionally, the US engages its “allies and partners” in absurd situations without even asking their permission. Remember NSA employees tapping Angela Merkel's phone. The world learned about this thanks to Edward Snowden. The United States was wiretapping her under an absolutely absurd pretext from 2002 to 2013. Like a kraken, Washington used its tentacles to eavesdrop on the internal affairs of its “allies and partners.” We can see this clearly now as well where, under pressure coming from the United States, the Europeans are making decisions that are clearly and wholly unfavourable for themselves, thereby significantly downgrading the lives of their people and worsening the situation on the continent as they continue to act on the global level in the interests of the United States of America.
From “allies and partners,” I would like to segue into what Ned Price calls “complete nonsense” with regard to the US’s involvement in blowing up civilian infrastructure. There is no doubt that the State Department’s knowledge of the history of their country is poor. That is where we come in.
As a reminder, in 1983 the CIA and other US security services mined an underwater pipeline at Puerto Sandino and used their accomplices to blow up oil storage facilities at Puerto Corinto which led to an environmental disaster for the local civilians. Not just one or two countries, but the entire region. In 1984, when this story was leaked to the press, Managua turned to the International Court of Justice. Mr Price, this is not “nonsense,” but the authentic history of the United States of America. The arbitration court found Washington guilty and ruled for it to pay damages. Is that “nonsense?” You have been doing this and will keep doing this until you are stopped. The United States blocked the resolution in question. No one was held accountable for this act of sabotage. What is “nonsense” is the impossibility of holding Washington accountable, not the fact that they have been doing this throughout history.
You are making a mistake if you think these developments took place only during the Cold War. In 2020, the Venezuelan authorities prevented an attempt at a terrorist attack at the El Palito oil refinery in northern Venezuela. According to Caracas, the CIA and the NSA were involved in an attempted act of sabotage. Back then, we heard the United States say it was all nonsense. Was it really? These are cold, hard facts.
I must give it to the State Department official for calling it “nonsense,” what the president of his country called the desired outcome six months before the act of sabotage.
Let me remind you what President Biden said: “If Russia invades — that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again – then there will be – we – there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We [meaning the United States and the Biden administration] will bring an end to it,” he said long before the special military operation.
I have a question for Ned Price: are your president’s words “nonsense?” Then say it as it is and admit that “nonsense” is not media articles (because these facts have yet to be checked the way it’s usually done in democratic law-based countries, as Olaf Scholz said), but President Biden and high-ranking State Department officials’ statements. Victoria Nuland happily mentioned the same thing before and after the terrorist attack as she saw the pipeline turn into a pile of scrap metal. This is her most recent statement. This is still about what is “nonsense” and what is not.
The United States is lying on the air again as it refers to some kind of congressional oversight and is openly ridiculing members of the media who are asking their public officials legitimate questions, which stem primarily from the US president’s statements. No one is making things up. Everyone is just trying to make sense of what happened. Among other things, piecing the US officials’ actions and statements together helps us see the whole picture.
Situation in Türkiye after the earthquake and recommendations for Russian citizens
The situation in Türkiye remains extremely serious, with the unprecedented destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure as a result of the earthquake. The death toll is tremendous. I will not give any figures. Unfortunately, they are constantly increasing, including the number of victims.
We have expressed our condolences to the citizens of the countries affected by the earthquake, including Türkiye and Syria.
The Türkish authorities are taking measures to overcome the destructive consequences and to assist the victims, to organize temporary shelters or evacuation to safe areas in the country.
On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin EMERCOM special rescue teams (150 people, including dog handlers, medics and psychologists) were quickly dispatched to Türkiye to provide assistance with equipment and machinery. Russian EMERCOM has deployed an autonomous camp and an air mobile hospital with therapeutic, surgical and intensive care units in the town of Kahramanmaras, where technical survey and debris removal work is being carried out. A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Be-200 plane has been engaged to extinguish fires in areas near the earthquake.
The hotlines of our foreign institutions in Türkiye and the Foreign Ministry Crisis Management Centre are available for requests from Russian citizens. Requests for assistance are promptly dealt with in close contact with the local authorities.
Despite the fact that the areas of increased seismic activity are far from traditional tourist destinations, we recommend that Russians in Türkiye observe increased safety measures and follow the instructions of local emergency services and messages from our foreign missions and the Russian Foreign Ministry, and refrain from travelling to the affected provinces of Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Malatya and Diyarbakir.
Russia's earthquake relief efforts in Syria
The Russian Federation was the first to extend a helping hand to the Syrian Arab Republic, which had been seriously affected by the major earthquake that occurred on the night of February 6 this year.
Military personnel of the Russian armed forces detachment in Syria were immediately involved in search and rescue work. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, 10 joint teams, totalling about 300 men, are working to remove rubble and provide medical assistance in the villages that suffered heavy damage. The Russian Reconciliation Centre quickly set up and started operating food distribution points in Aleppo, Latakia and Hama and in a number of other settlements.
In accordance with the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, an operational group of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry and a rescue team from the Leader centre consisting of 50 people, including dog handlers and the necessary special equipment, were dispatched to Syria on February 6 to assist in disaster relief efforts.
In the near future, two flights from Moscow will take off with humanitarian aid. For details, please follow up with our colleagues from the Emergencies Ministry.
In addition to our country, many countries, including many from the Arab world, are assisting Syria in dealing with the consequences of the earthquake.
I would be remiss not to mention this. It would seem that nothing is unbelievable. In my opinion, this is unbelievable news. "The collective West" has ignored the fact that the earthquake, with its epicentre in Türkiye, caused thousands of deaths and terrible destruction not only there, but also in Syria. This is not just a manifestation of the politicised approach that Westerners have taken in providing humanitarian assistance to the victims in that country. It is something monstrous, beyond the notion of basic human values that make us human. Under the current circumstances, the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria remain in place. That makes it difficult, to say the least, for other countries and non-governmental organisations to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and to assist the Syrians, and it results not only in human suffering but also in the loss of lives.
Given the scale of the tragedy that has befallen Syria, such behaviour by Western countries is contrary to human morality and cannot be justified.
We have taken note of the statement made by the Prime Minister of Greece. He explicitly said that aid to Syria could not be provided because of sanctions. This is inhumane logic. There are symbolic, albeit not fully explicit, rules of some kind preventing a total collapse. It seems to me that when statements are made that the victims in Syria cannot be helped because of the sanctions on Syria, this is a rupture with an abyss behind it. We cannot allow ourselves to be so involved in someone else's dirty games. One must always remain human and see and feel the suffering of others. The country has been hit by a devastating earthquake and children are trapped under rubble. Video clips have been sent around the world, showing little boys and girls filming appeals from under the rubble, asking for help and thanking God that they have survived even in these conditions. There's no telling how long. At this moment at least we need to stay human and lend a helping hand. Instead of invoking the lawlessness that continues to be perpetrated simply because someone once thought it possible to dictate their illegitimate will to the legitimate government of Syria. Once again, such behaviour by Western countries is contrary to human morality and cannot be justified.
We call for an immediate reconsideration of this inhumane position and the lifting of the restrictive measures imposed on Syria.
Once again we stress the need for urgent international assistance to the Syrian Arab Republic, in close coordination with its government, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country.
Let me remind you that things are now quickly being forgotten. Under the guise of humanitarian assistance, Western countries, governmental and non-governmental organisations even breached borders and violated local laws, acting with "the best of intentions." The Syrian government was saying that there were rules set in place during the fighting, that one should use the allocated corridors and not try to enter Syrian territory even under these proper pretexts of providing aid where it could pose a mutual danger. But West did not take this as a flashing light at the time. They said they had an obligation to help, and they went ahead no matter what, in defiance of all regulations, requirements and laws.
The question is: now that the destruction is caused by a natural phenomenon that has no culprits, only victims, why can’t we transcend our own cynicism (I am asking the West) and provide Syria with much needed assistance? I want this question to be answered. It is not rhetorical.
Fires in the Republic of Chile
We are saddened to hear the news from Chile about the emergency there concerning unprecedented wildfires that have hit the country’s southern regions. The fires have taken the lives of 27 people, and left about 1,000 people injured. According to preliminary data, there are no victims among Russian nationals.
We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those killed and express solidarity with the Chilean people in this difficult time. We wish those injured a speedy recovery.
What is happening in Chile and other countries once again confirms the importance of uniting the global community and maintaining international cooperation in the face of our common environmental challenges and natural disasters.
Russian Navy ship saves a French national in the Atlantic Ocean
On the morning of January 31, 2023, the Russian Navy’s tanker Kama, which was performing its duty as part of a long-distance voyage in the central part of the Atlantic, received a distress signal from a sinking ship. Deviating from its course, the tanker came to the rescue, and the crew took aboard French national Lucas Monteoux, who was solo-sailing across the ocean.
The Russian sailors provided the French yachtsman the necessary medical assistance. The French authorities have been notified of the event through diplomatic channels. There are plans to deliver Lucas Monteoux to Cape Town, the nearest port along the vessel’s route, soon. We are currently in contact with French diplomats in Moscow and Paris, and are ready to work together as necessary.
On February 1, the Russian Embassy in France received a thank you letter from Lucas Monteoux’s parents addressed to the commanders of the Russian Armed Forces and the crew of the tanker Kama for saving the life of their son.
Such deeds should inspire the humanity and be an example to follow.
Admitting Russian athletes to competitions
On February 10, 2023, the United Kingdom will host a meeting of sports ministers from European countries where they will discuss the issue of admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions. In reality, the objective of this well-known group of Russophobes is to launch yet another campaign against our athletes, with urges to otherwise boycott the events.
We consider such initiatives, from countries with rampant Russophobic sentiments, not only as attempts to pressure major international sports organisations, but also the desire to cause division within the international Olympic movement.
All of this is a blatant violation of the common standards of international law in sports and fundamentally contradicts the principled position of the Russian Federation, which traditionally speaks for the equal development of sport cooperation where there is no place for politicisation and bias, but for honest and just competitions, and providing all countries with equal access to the Olympic and Paralympic movements without exception.
We believe it is important to provide Russian athletes, who have devoted their lives to sports and who are prepared to battle for a title, with the opportunity to participate on equal footing in international competitions. The restoration of the rights of Russian sports meets the interests of the entire global sports community.
We believe that without Russian athletes, major sporting events lose an element of competition, the heated battle and visual appeal, which will eventually lead to a lack of interest, and thus, discredits the bureaucrats in international sports bodies. Russia has always been and will continue to be one of the most important participants in international sports and Olympic movements. The highest professionalism and skills of our athletes are renowned. We would want to hope that all sensible people, including those in the Western countries, will eventually understand this.
As for motivation, we have constantly been told that the motive for such anti-Russia measures is the desire to resist Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine. No, this is not what bothers you. You have been trying to push Russia out of global sports for many years. It is not just about Ukraine. Every year, you find new pretexts or use old ones, renovate them and pass them for new ones. Every time, there is some pretext to do everything to deny access to Russian athletes.
Let me remind you of the doping story. Unfortunately, so many countries, people and athletes got caught doing it. But never was there an attitude like there was towards Russia, especially given that it was largely unjustified. Our country made all the necessary statements and gave assurances that the situation would be thought through and work would be done to prevent and eliminate attempts of anything that could make athletes look suspicious. It was said earlier that these are double standards. Then, something inexplicable began. They started denying visas to our athletes. What do doping and Ukraine have to do with this? We were told that very few people worked in consular agencies that are engaged in issuing visas. This is not true, of course. We know perfectly well how many people work in embassies and consulates. They are given these functions like the diplomatic missions of other countries; in particular, I am talking now about the United States. If people were dismissed from consular services, it was not because of Russia, but because the US Department of State gave the instructions.
Doping has been a pretext, visas have been a tool. Let’s recall how many dirty scandals they have tried to unravel around our athletes to pressure them. Now there is a new pretext. What are we going to do with the previous ones? Are they forgotten? No, we remember everything. This is proof of only one thing: they want to exclude Russia from international sports not for an objective reason (even if we disagreed with it), but it would have been objective for another country. But no, they simply do not want to see us as rivals in an honest competition. Why? Because in every major competition, we win many medals. When we participate in global sports events we show that our athletes, coaches and organisers are an inseparable part of the event. We can host international sports events and take part in them abroad. We can do it all, but our rivals cannot bear this.
We have a positive opinion of the International Olympic Committee’s efforts to rectify the situation that these Russo-phobic elements are trying to create.
It is impossible to hold major international competitions without Russian athletes. Sport has always served to rally athletes from all over the world, and any form of discrimination against any specific country or athlete does not belong to the Olympic movement. I would like to note that this is not a figure of speech or the Russian position alone. The findings of UN international experts confirm this.
It is important that an overwhelming majority of the Olympic movement’s members support the IOC proposal on allowing Russian athletes to take part.
Russia has always consistently defended the principles of the Olympic Charter, which expressly bans any forms of discrimination against athletes. Moreover, no one can be barred from competitions on the basis of his or her passport, citizenship and ethnicity. This directly violates specific agreements reached by the international community, including human rights, humanitarian law, etc.
We can see that the governments of certain countries are now openly voicing their intention to interfere in the decision-making process of international sport federations and to try to take them hostage by presenting political demands that they boycott the Olympic Games. We are convinced that this directly runs counter to the Olympic Charter and aims to destabilise and destroy the Olympic Family.
History shows that boycotts never achieve their goals and, in the long-term, they severely punish several generations of athletes. They punish all athletes, rather than those covered by restrictions, because sport without fair competition no longer amounts to sport.
The SCO Film Festival, part of India’s presidency
On January 27-31, 2023, Mumbai hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival during India’s presidency of the SCO. The SCO Heads of State Council organised the screenings in association with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India and the country’s National Film Development Corporation. Acting on behalf of Russia, Roskino organised the event together with the Russian Ministry of Culture.
The festival became the first international event of 2023 to highlight the Russian film industry. Russia contributed seven films. The Russian film Do Not Bury Me Without Ivan received a special prize from the festival jury.
Over 55 films were screened during the festival, which became another important step towards expanding partnership between Russian filmmakers and representatives of the SCO film industry.
February 13 will mark World Radio Day, established by the UNESCO General Conference in 2011 and approved by the UN General Assembly as an international holiday a year later. On this day in 1946, United Nations Radio began broadcasting.
Back in 1895, the brainchild of the outstanding Russian scientist and inventor Alexander Popov became the first means of instantaneous transmission of information over long distances, ending the era of the unchallenged dominance of print media and opening a new era of electronic media. Today, despite the rapid development of advanced information and communication technologies, radio is still very popular in all corners of the world, and is the preferred way to receive news in some countries and regions. It continues to play an important role in informing and alerting people and raising the level of education. We should not forget about the equally significant cultural and entertainment function of radio.
Today radio representatives come up against the same problems as their colleagues from other professional areas of the media world. New challenges have been added to the traditional challenges of the media, such as the need to adapt their tools to new technological realities, while maintaining the trust of listeners and high standards of quality journalism. The key ones include censorship barriers artificially erected in the collective West and states gravitating towards it, disconnections from the air, arbitrary blocking of broadcasting, and other repressive measures aimed at the total cleansing of the information space from any signs of dissent. The real abuses in the media sphere, unfortunately, also concern radio.
Those who honourably fulfil their professional duties often face personal threats, and experience the ugliest manifestations of the neoliberalism dictatorship. This is how one can characterise the politically-biased arrest, imprisonment and subsequent inhumane treatment by the Latvian authorities of Editor-in-Chief of Radio Sputnik Lithuania Marat Kasem. We once again demand his immediate release and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against him.
Usually, such international professional days established by General Assembly resolutions are an occasion to take stock and talk about achievements. I hope that February 13, 2023 will be an occasion for the international radio community to rally around Marat Kasem, a man who truly dedicated his life to radio and the development of this profession. Not in words, but in deeds. I have not known him for long. But I know people who worked with him for a long time in various fields, primarily on the radio. Everyone talks about his utmost professionalism and special human qualities. If this can be considered an appeal, consider it one.
I would like to ask everyone to use the upcoming Would Radio Day to protest against what the Latvian authorities (not only
On the eve of World Radio Day, I hope all radio professionals to continue to work despite the difficulties you face, and I wish you opportunities for conscientious professional work for the benefit of society. For our part, we will support this in every possible way.
Day of Remembrance for Russians who performed their duty outside the Fatherland
February 15 marks the Day of Remembrance for Russians who performed their duty outside the Fatherland. In accordance with the 2010 federal law, this day has been celebrated since
After World War II, about 1.5 million of Russians took part in more than 30 armed conflicts outside the country. Soviet soldiers and officers fought in
2023 also marks another memorable date: 50 years of Russian peacekeepers’ participation in UN peacekeeping operations. More than 70 Russians are still serving in
The historical role and contribution of our peacekeepers, those who performed their duty outside the Fatherland, was reaffirmed during the visits made by the Russian delegation headed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to African countries, in particular. They remember, love and are grateful to the Soviets and Russians there.
The Red Army’s Budapest Offensive Operation
On February 13, 1945, Red Army units expelled German troops from Budapest, Hungary, following the Budapest Offensive Operation.
The leaders of the Third Reich attached much strategic significance to Hungary. The Wehrmacht deployed its large Army Group South, with 35 divisions, in Hungary, and the Hungarian army numbered 190,000 officers and men.
On December 26, 1944, Soviet forces crossed the Danube River, encircled Budapest and presented the country’s pro-German authorities with an ultimatum, which they rejected. The enemy continued, desperately, to resist. After bloody fighting, Red Army units seized Pest on January 18, 1945, and they captured Buda on February 13. The city had been destroyed almost completely, and the bridges across the Danube River had been blown up.
Hungarian military units, including the Buda Volunteer Regiment and a railway construction detachment, supported the Red Army’s operations on the Budapest theatre.
The Red Army’s Budapest Offensive Operation produced the following main results: Hungary, Germany’s last ally in World War II, had to pursue peace. The strategic situation on the southern flank of the Soviet-German Front changed completely. The enemy was forced to withdraw from Yugoslavia more quickly. The Red Army was able to advance in Czechoslovakia and in the Vienna sector.
To commemorate this victory, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Parliament) of the USSR issued a decree instituting the Medal for the Capture of Budapest on June 9, 1945. In all, 362,000 Soviet officers and men received this medal. In his poem, “The Enemy Burned His Cottage Home,” Mikhail Isakovsky immortalised the feat of Soviet soldiers during the Battle of Budapest. Please read this work, which I consider iconic.
The 78th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden
Next week marks the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden by the Royal Air Force and the US Air Force on February 13-14, 1945. According to many historians, the bombing of Dresden had no military significance and instead aimed to achieve a political goal. In effect, the Western Allies wanted to showcase their aerial might before the advancing Red Army.
So, what happened, and why does this remind us of the tragedy of Raqqa and other Syrian and Iraqi cities that were destroyed completely in recent years? The first air raid was launched on the evening of February 13, 1945, with 244 heavy British bombers dropping 507 tonnes of high-explosive bombs and 374 tonnes of incendiaries. The second 30-minute air raid came in the early hours of February 14 and was twice as powerful. In all, 529 bombers dropped 965 tonnes of high-explosive bombs and over 800 tonnes of incendiaries. On the morning of February 14, 311 USAF planes dropped over 780 tonnes of bombs. In broad daylight on February 15, 210 US aircraft dropped an additional 462 tonnes of bombs on the city.
This proved the most devastating European airstrike in all of World War II. The total area of Dresden, completely destroyed by the raid, exceeded that of Nagasaki four times over, after the August 9, 1945 US atomic bomb strike. Over 75-80 percent of Dresden’s buildings were destroyed completely. Irretrievable cultural losses include the old churches of Frauenkirche and Hofkirche, the well-known Opera building and the world-famous Zwinger architectural palace ensemble. At the same time, the industrial enterprises suffered insignificant damage. The railway network also remained little affected. It is hard to estimate total casualties because the city was filled with hundreds of thousands of refugees. Many of them were either buried under the rubble or incinerated during the firestorm. Various sources put the total number of fatalities between 25,000-50,000 and some at 135,000 or more.
In a less well-known air raid on Prague (February 14, 1945), about 60 US aircraft dropped 152 tonnes of bombs on the city’s densely populated districts, killing 701 and wounding 1,184 people, all of them civilians. About 100 buildings, including some cultural and historical landmarks, were destroyed. USAF representatives later claimed that Prague had been attacked by mistake after US bombers heading towards Dresden veered off course. However, military historians believe that the air raid was deliberate and aimed at destroying industrial facilities, part of the future Soviet sphere of influence.
Photos of Dresden, taken in 1945, show the tragedy of the city that was wiped out and that lost virtually its entire population. While analysing this historical fact, one finds it hard to show any emotions linked with the need for vengeance. No, this was something different. Indeed, we had every reason to exact vengeance on Nazi German forces, including for a similar air raid on Stalingrad on August 23, 1942. It is impossible to forget this. However, the Soviet struggle against Nazism did not call for destroying cities together with their population. This is the “privilege” of the Anglo-Saxon world, in the worst sense of the word. All those years, we did not remind them that we knew what they had done, and how. This was not because we did not know or understand it, but because we hoped that a new world would emerge. We hoped that mistakes would be taken into account, and that this would not happen again. What do we see today? They drove Vladimir Zelensky through the streets of London, as if they wanted to show him off. They should better recall how they created these humanitarian disasters decades ago.
Question: High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell recently justified a ban on Russian media broadcasting in the EU by the need to defend the freedom of speech, announced the establishment of some centre to counter external disinformation and at the same time promised to continue supporting the media outlets that were recognised as foreign agents in Russia. Do you see some sort of controversy/inconsistency here?
Maria Zakharova: Of course, I do. We have often spoken about this being the West’s “golden standard,” rather than double standards, a policy of absurdities and doublespeak.
We have repeatedly commented on similar statements by Josep Borrell on other issues. Then again, his claims may look inconsistent to an external observer who has not been immersed in the study of the Western countries’ policy. I do not think Josep Borrell himself is devastated by any contradictions. If he justifies a ban on unwanted media by ascribing it to caring about the freedom of speech and if he feels free to say this publicly, then this is what constitutes the essence of the neoliberal West’s policy under George Orwell’s doublethink: on the one hand, supplying a stream of weapons and mercenaries to the Kiev regime, and on the other hand – talking about peace and saying that all that is being done is for the sake of peace. Earlier today we said that new half a billion euro tranches are delivered to the
I can also tell you about another premise they often use – interfering in internal affairs in the name of the triumph of democracy. This is an oxymoron. It cannot be said that the the West or anyone else has a right to label a certain government as legitimate or illegitimate. The government is sovereign. But the key is that by labelling a regime, a government or an administration as “good” or “bad” they are killing democracy in that country. We are perfectly aware that a democracy may have some peculiarities at a certain stage of its development. Yes, there are nuances, traditions and geopolitical peculiarities. But obviously, the interference in internal affairs mentioned above eliminates any possibility of the progress of democracy. Meanwhile, the West is using promotion of and care for democracy as a smokescreen when it interferes in other countries’ internal affairs. Do you remember Syria which has been much spoken about today, and the slogan put forward by Washington – “He must go” referring to Bashar al-Assad? And all that in the name of democracy in Syria. How can this happen? Someone must go for democracy to progress? In this case, one must add “democracy as viewed and interpreted by the US.”
Another oxymoron is crushing dissent for the sake of freedom of speech. This is also common. We spoke about it today, citing the Baltic states as an example. Going back to Josep Borrell, he once again confirmed, voluntarily, that some of our media outlets had been designated as foreign agents for good reason. He openly said that they under the supervision of EU structures. Given the close alignment between the EU and NATO, we understand that they are EU-NATO structures.
Regarding the information exchange and analysis centre he announced as an instrument to fight disinformation, it looks like a fox guarding the hen house. It appears that NATO is set to fight disinformation which is ridiculous in itself since nobody in the world produces as much disinformation as NATO structures do. It is another tool for censorship and aggressive propaganda with a clear anti-Russia and anti-China component; a sort of a Ministry of Truth with its priority being to hunt information which is uncomfortable for Brussels and its allies from across the ocean and which could ruin their myths.
Question: The draft law on terminating international agreements with the Council of Europe submitted by the Russian President to the State Duma, includes the European Charter of Local Self-Government. How will the termination of this agreement affect the development of local self-government in our country?
Maria Zakharova: I would like to point out that the draft law has a complete list of international legal acts which have been terminated with regard to the Russian Federation due to its exit from the Council of Europe. It concerns the “closed” agreements that apply only to the member states of this organisation. Russia’s participation in it ended back on March 16, 2022 due to the fact that our country’s membership in the Council of Europe was terminated.
The draft law is meant to bring the Russian legislation in line with that historical fact. In essence, Russia cannot participate in the European Charter of Local Self-Government or in all other “closed” agreements of the Council of Europe.
Talking about the emotional part of it, we have no regrets about divorcing the current Council of Europe which, due to the Westerners’ efforts, has lost its common European unifying potential and in fact has turned in to an “ideology department” of the EU (think NATO). Nevertheless, we do not erase all the work that had been done in the Russian legislation during the 26 years of our membership in the Council of Europe. The provisions of the conventions including the Charter you mentioned have become a part of our legal system and are in effect at the national level.
Regarding the further development of local self-government in the Russian Federation, you understand that this issue is beyond the remit of the foreign ministry.
Question: A scandal is flaring up in connection with the International Federation of Journalists since a number of North European professional journalism organisations have decided to leave the organisation, on account, they say, of the Russian Union of Journalists being among its members. What can you say about this situation?
Maria Zakharova: We have never interfered in the affairs of independent professional media associations including their international associations such as the International Federation of Journalists. Hopefully, professionalism will prevail and everything will return to the principles of a mutually respectful dialogue between all parties.
It is a different matter that we observe a politicisation of professional activities here. Such situations are a direct result of deliberate escalation with an apparent Russophobic undertone in the activities of structures which were set up to pursue totally different tasks within the framework of constructive cooperation between equal participants. It is deeply regrettable that journalists’ trade unions from Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Finland, which were conceived as independent bodies, in reality are acting in accord with the Russophobic political agenda of their states and are being used to deliberately undermine the positions of the Russian media resources in the international arena. This is an element of the West’s overall political offensive strategy against our country.
In fact, if we read all this orchestrated turmoil, the above unions are blackmailing the Federation management including financially by threatening to leave it without paying their membership fees which amount to a fifth of its budget, as they demand that the organisation expel the Russian Union of Journalists contrary to the procedures in the organisation’s Charter. They chose an astonishing reason for that. They promote a narrative that the Russian Union of Journalists dared to open branches in the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Let me remark that the Federation’s statutes do not contain any restrictions on such actions. The Federation is actually not entitled to deal with issues which rest solely within the prerogative of state and respective international organisations, whereas issues of ensuring decent living standards in the territories which joined Russia are obviously of no concern to north European media unions.
I wish they would defend Julian Assange. They could have displayed a joint effort, for once, given that they are not individual representatives of mass media but federations. It would be better if they spoke up for their colleague who has been abused, tortured and mistreated for many years. He has been subjected to so much, and all for merely making public a tremendous amount of material shedding light on what the West and the Western regimes have been up to for many years. But no, instead of doing their work and standing up for the rights of Marat Kasem, for one, as well as a huge number of journalists killed, subjected to violence or put in prison, they are amusing themselves with matters which are improper for a professional structure. Let me repeat, since the story is utterly politicised, we comment on it correspondingly. In fact, internal proceedings at a non-government organisation are purely its own affair. However, the international context and underpinning are obvious.
We hope that the Federation's executive committee will be able to settle the situation and to de-escalate the deliberately inflated anti-Russia passions at its meeting in its Brussels headquarters, scheduled for February 22. How can this be done? Just be a journalist and follow your profession rather than creating waves of hatred towards each other.
Question: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denounced Russia for what he called “illegal occupation” of the South Kuril Islands, while noting at the same time that Tokyo is committed to signing a peace treaty with Russia. In view of the anti-Russia sanctions imposed by Japan and the Japanese side’s continued non-acceptance of the outcome of WWII, is a peace treaty dialogue with Japan still possible in the foreseeable future?
Maria Zakharova: We noticed the heightened rhetoric during the Northern Territories Day events on February 7 of this year. Once again, they did not hesitate to make use of the occasion but with a different level of aggression.
We would like to remind those who assert an allegedly “illegal occupation” of the South Kuril Islands, regardless of their official or unofficial positions, that Japan, as a UN member, must strictly and uncompromisingly abide by its Charter, including its provisions that irrevocably fixed the results of World War II. Everything is now unfolding around this “misunderstanding” (I think they do understand everything perfectly well) and their reluctance to accept the realities. Otherwise, Tokyo will have no alternative other than to leave the UN similar to the militarist Japan’s quitting the League of Nations, which happened, by the way, exactly 90 years ago in February 1933.
Regarding the peace treaty, we consider this theme closed. Let me remind you that the Foreign Ministry Statement of March 21, 2022, clearly indicates that “the Russian Federation does not intend to continue peace treaty talks with Japan because it is impossible to discuss this fundamental document on bilateral relations with a state that holds an explicitly unfriendly position and seeks to harm the interests of our country.”
Question: According to Japanese media reports, the US and Japan are planning to discuss the deployment of new hypersonic missiles on Japanese islands, including Okinawa. These have a range of up to
Maria Zakharova: We have certainly seen such reports in the Japanese press. This information needs to be doublechecked. However, the absence of official denials from the US and Japanese authorities is fairly indicative. The more so that Washington is actively engaged in efforts to rapidly complete the development of a wide range of weapons which were earlier banned by the INF Treaty and to deploy them in the Asia-Pacific Region and in Europe. And the US military are bragging about these plans.
For our part, we intend to carefully monitor any preparations for the practical implementation of such plans. For us, their implementation will mean a qualitative shift in regional security, which will also affect global strategic stability.
As to the response measures to sustain the necessary level of security for Russia, the deployment of US-made medium- and short-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific Region is the benchmark that would create the grounds for terminating our unilateral moratorium on deploying weapons of the above-mentioned class in this region.
Question: The US National Security Archive recently released a number of declassified 1993 documents regarding President Bill Clinton’s policy towards Russia. Outgoing Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger in his message to his successor William Christopher spoke about potential troubles the new Secretary of State might face including an “armed conflict between Russia and any of a number of states on its periphery, with Ukraine not the most likely but certainly the most dangerous possibility.” Can you comment on this 1993 statement?
Maria Zakharova: I saw a report about this document. How about a warning to his successors about the bombing of Yugoslavia, the Iraq invasion, the destruction of Libya and interference in internal affairs of other countries? Nothing was said about “potential troubles” regarding US policy?
Question: Other documents mentioned the Boris Yeltsin administration’s disagreement over the Yugoslavia issue … But it is a somewhat different question.
Maria Zakharova: That political “will” was made back then. It is odd that there is no mention of the real “potential troubles” which the US actually confronted because they were of its own making. I have listed some but by no means all of them.
Concerning Ukraine, all of that was designed by the US. In fact, all the scenarios have been designed by Washington: endless regime changes, a “supply” of pro-US politicians there under the guise of a Ukrainian patriotic community, financing the political life with US funds and influence etc. The 2004 Maidan, where the US played the major part, and the second Maidan in 2013, where everything came to a bloody conclusion after the US had built such a future for Ukraine both “on the ground” and across the ocean.
I don’t know, maybe they were warning about a danger on this track, meaning their possible actions spelled out in other documents, which are still classified. I believe there are documents about the
In my view, it is high time they declassified documents on Nord Stream. There is nothing more essential right now. It is directly connected with the situation in Europe and the Ukrainian crisis because the energy component is part of US interests in Ukraine. Now is the right time to declassify everything they have regarding Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. I think Ned Price will learn a lot of interesting things about his country.
Question: In addition, in that document Lawrence Eagleburger calls on the new administration to support reforms in Russia, primarily economic ones. “History will not judge the United States kindly if we fail to offer generous assistance.” What do you think of that statement now, 30 years later?
Maria Zakharova: Are you serious or do you just want to have a laugh? I have a counter question with an answer in it. As a journalist of an old news agency you must be aware of how the “assistance” was rendered and what sort of assistance it was. Also, what role was played by the financial and economic “advisors” who were dispatched here through various US “press services.” You must be aware of how we had our hands tied with endless loans which were not assistance but a burden, how “prompts” were made on various reforms which hit our national interests etc.
We see the current level of “assistance” from close range.
I think this question is not worth answering. Perhaps, historians, economists and financiers should draw their conclusions but our people have long understood what lies behind the notion of “US assistance.”
Question: IAEA head Rafael Grossi visited Moscow on February 9. What do you think of the outcome of the talks? How soon will the parties be able to build a security zone at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)? Will the Western countries be involved in the process?
Maria Zakharova: We have a comment posted on the Ministry’s website about it. I can confirm that Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov met with the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. They had an-depth discussion on nuclear security issues with a focus on the situation around the Zaporozhye NPP. A number of other issues of mutual interest were also reviewed.
Question: Kazakhstan decided to shut down its trade mission in Russia as part of its effort to streamline the operations of state agencies. Is Moscow going to close its trade mission in Kazakhstan?
Maria Zakharova: Definitely not. The issue has not even been discussed.
The closure of Kazakhstan’s trade mission in Russia does not require the revoking of the intergovernmental Agreement on mutual organisation of the trade missions of October 22, 1992.
It is presumed that the decision by the Kazakhstan authorities will not affect the operation of the Russian trade mission in Kazakhstan and all the liabilities under the Agreement will be complied with in full.
We are intent on applying all available state mechanisms to create the necessary conditions for Russian businesses to operate in Kazakhstan-related areas.
Question: Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Armenia was interested in promoting a trilateral dialogue among the South Caucasus countries whereby Yerevan views a Tbilisi platform as an opportunity for trilateral discussions. Does Moscow support this cooperation format, taking into account that Georgia refused to join the 3+3 multilateral platform “because of Russia”?
Maria Zakharova: We have spoken about this on several occasions. We proceed from the fact that each state has a right to participate in an international format which meets its interests and is not directed against third countries, while taking into account the existing balance of power.
If the trilateral dialogue of Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi contributes to settling controversies in the South Caucasus and enhancing stability and security in the region, we can only welcome it. We have said this repeatedly. Our partners know that. However, if this initiative has Washington and Brussels’ shadows behind it, striving to undermine the implementation of the trilateral agreements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, then it is quite a different story.
I would like to remind you that the above agreements by the three leaders of November 10, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021 and October 31, 2022 are the foundation for normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan. Starting in 2020, under this format, key processes were launched to unblock communications, delimit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and draft a peace treaty, as well as to promote contacts between public, expert and parliamentary communities.
As to more inclusive cooperation formats in the South Caucasus, there is a 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform. It includes the three South Caucasus states as well as
Question: Recently it has been reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special representative for the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Igor Khovayev, is now in Yerevan where he is meeting with Armenian leadership. Are there any details? What are the priority issues for discussion? Is the special representative expected to visit Baku?
Maria Zakharova: We always publish related articles following these visits. We will definitely inform you as soon as the events are finished. I will provide more specific information on his schedule.
Question: Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Bassam al-Sabbagh, said the Western sanctions are hindering assistance to Syria after the earthquake. He says states that want to send aid to Syria cannot send cargo by air due to the sanctions. The United States often puts restrictions on other countries using its international position as well as financial and economic dominance. Can you comment on Washington’s actions?
Maria Zakharova: I have elaborated on this subject quite a bit. I will not mention the number of victims in Syria, because unfortunately this number is always being updated.
In the provinces of Latakia, Aleppo, Hama, and Idlib, thousands of residential buildings were destroyed and damaged, and critical infrastructure facilities were disabled. People were left without heat and water. This is in winter, in February. Let me remind you that this is the coldest month in the eastern Mediterranean. The night temperature during this period, even in flat terrain, is only slightly above zero degrees.
In these conditions, we hear the desperate call for help. The Syrian authorities and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent address this call to the world community. I have already talked about what they received in response: almost identical statements based on the same principles promptly followed from Washington and Brussels. It has been said that the humanitarian programmes they fund are responding to the devastation in Syria. That is, it’s not the countries that will help, but the humanitarian workers who are already there. They will work. You have to address them.
This means neither the United States nor the European Union intends to lift a finger to help the Syrians in trouble. These statements were supplemented by stories that sanctions have been imposed on the Syrian state, which makes it impossible to provide assistance. They also are the ones who imposed these sanctions. This is a complete void of any idea of what the humanitarian situation is like, of its values and ideals. This is only about settling scores with those whom they for some reason consider biased and wrong.
All of this shows the US’s true attitude (the European Union is going along with it now) towards this area of human rights. Human rights cannot take a “break” for lunch, vacations or weekends off. This is a permanent, round-the-clock obligation, as soon as the state voluntarily assumes it, and even more so when it comes to a humanitarian disaster. What we are seeing now is, of course, a humanitarian disaster. Thousands of people killed, tens of thousands of injured, immense destruction – and all this against the backdrop of viral diseases and a generally difficult situation in the world. We do not see any desire or aspiration, not only to show the best qualities, but to at least comply with basic human qualities. Everything is exactly the opposite from the West.
I believe the continued operation of unilateral sanctions against people who are retrieving the bodies of their loved ones from under the rubble is not an element of politics in the generally accepted sense, but a manifestation of moral degradation and what is commonly called fascism in colloquial Russian. This is not just conservation, but also an active explanation of why these restrictions should be in place, making it impossible to provide assistance.
Question: Is
Maria Zakharova: We hear many public revelations from all sides. Sometimes, after reading hastily concocted memoirs or some philosophical discourse, it is amazing how people interpret various developments. In this case, I will not go into anyone’s personal recollections.
Indeed, quite a few countries have offered mediation services in the negotiating process; some have done this openly, and others use diplomatic channels. Something was done when this process started. A venue for the talks was provided, and mediatory services were used. Countries and politicians offered and fulfilled their mediatory functions while implementing humanitarian projects, exchanging prisoners, etc. Those willing to help and those who really helped worked in this field. We thanked all those who showed goodwill.
Replying to your question, we should look at this from a different angle. The
Unfortunately, their Western handlers, who simply discarded diplomacy and who follow their insane line to defeat
Today, the West and the
Question: The US Embassy in
Maria Zakharova: They are using various technologies. We have mentioned some of them in our documents that we sent to the
I can recall public campaigns in favour of specific local politicians. I am not talking about
Financial, political and material support for political forces from the outside, via closed channels of the relevant
They openly call for regime changes. This implies calls for a direct regime change, rather than statements favouring certain political forces. We have seen quite a lot, and we have openly discussed this for a long time. It is simply impossible to list everything.
They pay journalists for various stories and support media outlets because these journalists and outlets allegedly advocate democracy and pluralism. In reality, this implies funding for the so-called foreign agents needed to influence the domestic political situation. Moreover, Western diplomats take part in certain domestic political events. I have just given you a general overview of the matter.
Question: Josep Borrell said that the European Union supports the media that have been designated as foreign agents in
The website of the Russian Permanent Mission to the European Union has information about matters in Russia-Europe relations that were relevant eight to ten years ago. For instance, it says there that much will depend on the EU’s readiness for the dialogue on aligning the European and Eurasian integrations. In your opinion, it this likely today?
Maria Zakharova: What else are the websites of diplomatic missions for? There is a wide range of activities, one of which is to inform the audience of the country in which the diplomatic mission is located. Therefore, as a rule, our websites are run in two, or sometimes three languages spoken in that region.
One of the embassy’s objectives is to provide information about
It is a different matter is that this work must never violate the norms and rules of diplomatic missions. There must be no engagement in or influence on the domestic policy, or promotion of one or another domestic political event in the host country.
They must not replace the media. It is a website of a diplomatic mission, which must act in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We do everything in our power to, on one hand, act within the existing obligations of the embassies, consulates and permanent missions, and on the other hand, we should be informative and interesting.
One example of an unacceptable information project is recruiting and enrolling mercenaries for combat operations in
Question:
Maria Zakharova: We need to proceed from the legal and pragmatic point of view. The dialogue with
We proceed from the fact that the Joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission currently retains its importance as an efficient tool of managing the main fish resources of the Barents and Norwegian seas. The decisions taken by the commission allow us to use, regulate and preserve the common resources in a more rational way, which meets the interests of the Russian fisheries industry.
At the same time, we would like to note that
As for the Arctic Council, its full-fledged activity has been frozen because of the Western members of the council. At the same time, we continue to hold events as part of our presidency, and will strive to protect the rights and interests of
Question: Hysteria in the West over Minister Sergei Lavrov's trip to
Maria Zakharova: That's my comment – it's a hysteria. And a stupid one at that. They are hitting on the same themes that they themselves use. It shows their inadequate perception of reality, their unwillingness and inability to abandon their colonial view of the world (themselves as metropolises, others as colonies). Josep Borrell even mixed up the countries, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited.
There is an inadequate assessment of the actions of both
Question: The website of the Russian Permanent Mission to the European Union points out things that were relevant for Russia-Europe relations 8-10 years ago. For example, that "much will depend on the EU's willingness to engage in dialogue on the interface between European and Eurasian integration." In your view, is this realistic today?
Maria Zakharova: I will not argue about this in theory, as practice speaks for itself. The EU and NATO countries are doing everything to try to build new dividing lines in the pan-European space. It is bizarre to watch this in the 21st century, given that even the digital environment shows signs of unity. People have been enjoying the freedom of communication for decades now. The lessons of the Cold War should have been learned. Despite this, we see new attempts to fragment the European continent.
It is surprising that the European continent does not notice the integration processes in other regions. It calls Asia and
It all started long before present times. The last decades have seen yet another attempt to reincarnate the spirit of the Cold War in light of new opportunities. This is being elevated to an even more advanced level. The stages have been obvious. One of them was the imposition of unilateral sanctions in 2014, which began to outline the future "walls" that NATO and the EU would implement 10 years later. All this under the pretext of the events related to the referendum in Crimea and its reunification with the
The second wave came during the pandemic. Using the situation for political purposes, the dividing lines on the European continent were once again enshrined. They were not about wanting to protect populations, about taking cooperation to a new level to deal with the pandemic. They were part of enshrining more "embossed contours": the non-admission of Russian vaccines, of our citizens to EU states without their vaccinations, the impossibility of normal trade and economic relations. All without justification.
This did not end after the pandemic, but was cemented by another round of confrontation unleashed by the West. It has been preparing for it, and is now consolidating in new positions.
Question: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in parliament that EU observers should refute
Maria Zakharova: If this is an attempt to justify the drawing EU members into the region, then it can hardly be considered successful. Russian peacekeepers ensure peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, our military and border guards work on the
It is obvious that
We are open to dialogue with our Armenian partners on the issue of improving measures to maintain stability in the
Question: What kind of long-term assistance does
Maria Zakharova: Today I dwelled on this in detail. The priority efforts of the authorities of these countries and the international community are focused on the speedy removal of rubble, saving people and providing the necessary assistance to the victims.
The parameters of further assistance to the countries affected by earthquakes, including the rebuilding of destroyed cities, will be determined after the first stage of rescue operations and an assessment by the local authorities of the extent of damage, the amount of assistance needed and the forms it will take.
Question: What is the prospect of creating an alliance similar to the G20, which would include Russia, India, China, Latin America and representatives of African countries? Can such an alliance lead to stabilisation in the world and a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict?
Maria Zakharova: There is already such an association, BRICS. It includes Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa.
Question: It does not represent all the African and Latin American countries.
Maria Zakharova: Do you think that there should be a structure uniting all the countries of the continents? If we talk about all states, then there is the United Nations as a universal mechanism. We were happy to take part in its creation. We support the UN and express the hope that it will be effective and continue developing, meeting new challenges and solving the tasks at hand.
If you are talking about regional associations, then, in addition to BRICS, there are the SCO, the EAEU, the CSTO, and the CIS. Each of them deals with a specific segment in a purely pragmatic way, where it can bring results: economic integration; reducing the share of expenses; increasing revenue through cooperation; security issues; and an international political, declarative part (not just to make a statement for the sake of making a statement, to build out certain vectors and shape the international agenda). The SCO and BRICS are also doing this, although there are purely applied tasks. These structures are alive, they expand, respond to the trends of the times, and add observers, new members, and interaction formats.
The G20 is active. We believe it to be an effective tool to address a number of issues, above all international and economic ones. It makes no sense to replace it with anything else. The existing associations are being developed and expanded, including in connection with the updated agenda. Every new year brings its own challenges.
As for the situation in Ukraine, it is man-made. Behind it are the countries of the West. They must stop escalating the conflict. In your question, there was a reference to friendly countries uniting. If we are talking about ending the conflict in Ukraine, then we need to realistically assess who is behind it, who created it, who provoked it, and who is now leading to an escalation. These are the unfriendly countries, that’s why they are called that. In the course of the whole situation, they showed this side of theirs.
Question: Are there now consolidated and responsible forces in the West capable of resolving disagreements with Russia via talks, without raising the stakes?
Maria Zakharova: The collective West does not consist of all the countries west of Moscow. Even among NATO members, there is not unity on a number of key issues. Not because some of them play along with Russia or speak for the Kremlin. They express their concerns based on their own national interests. They have an objective vision of the situation, which is not biased or politicised. Some can afford the luxury of speaking objectively about the issues that concern them.
There are NATO countries that we have not declared unfriendly. We maintain a dialogue with them and develop economic relations. We have similar approaches to some political questions; talks are underway. We can see how the US and the EU’s Brussels, as an extension of Washington (not so much as an expression of the will of the countries and peoples of the EU, but as a tool in the hands of the US) blocked our relations. They are trying to achieve it at the national level. They do everything to hinder the development of our relations with other countries. This is their reputation. It can be seen how “successful” it is with other countries. Our contacts are active, despite the difficulties caused by the Western non-partners. We are on our way and achieving our goals.
If previously anyone had illusions, now there are no more. The West has openly shown its true colours. The nakedly aggressive philosophy towards China dispelled any illusions about the foundations on which unity was cobbled together in the Western ranks.
The collective West is heterogeneous. We are talking about the ideology and philosophy imposed by Washington and promoted through NATO. But this does not mean that all countries within these alliances are completely subject to this logic.
Question: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s tour of Africa is over. Were there any attempts on the part of Britain, the US or the West in general to change the information field from positive to negative?
Maria Zakharova: Of course, there were. Some were discussed by Sergey Lavrov at his news conference in Bamako on February 7. He quoted Josep Borrell, who, following the traces of the Russian delegation in certain African countries, began to make breathtakingly stupid statements, telling tales and accusing us of various things. An entire information campaign was launched by the European Union to neutralise the positive and constructive results achieved during the Russian delegation’s visit to the African continent.
There have been many false narratives in the run-up. But it did not begin now and is not timed to coincide with our visits. Look how many materials counter the presence of Russian instructors in Mali and in the Central African Republic, which were carried out at the request of certain countries to ensure their security and to counter terrorism. You will see what a terrible, informational persecution is going on both of specific people and of governments that have dared to have their own vision of their development paths.
There is also an information and political component such as adoption of various declarations and bills by the West addressed to the African continent or affecting it, regulating the activities of some African countries concerning their contacts with Russia. A hideous story.
An excellent answer to this was given by the Foreign Minister of South Africa Naledi Pandor during Sergey Lavrov’s visit to that country. She gave an elaborated answer to the aspirations of Western Russophobic forces with their colonial logic. The African continent may well decide for itself how to develop, what to do, with whom to communicate, on what grounds and why.
Question: How do you see the results of this tour?
Maria Zakharova: If I may, I will not use a scale or a grading system. The results can be found in the statements by the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and in our posts on the website.
The value of these materials and our assessment is that it does not just have some kind of political charge or give some kind of political accent. It is based on the concrete results of talks. What we agreed on will be published on the website. What was said, where positions were checked, where they agreed on joint steps, where they promoted joint economic projects, where they talked about the challenges to be overcome in order for an area of interaction to be further developed. That is what we are talking about.
To express a political assessment at this stage means to give our opponents, including those in the European Union, a pretext to continue their mockery. Why would we need it? We use what was talked about, in specific figures and facts, as an assessment of these visits.
Question: Social media is widely and actively disseminating information that life in Russia has become so bad and difficult that people are fleeing to the West (I don’t mean “cyclists on tour” in Georgia and Kazakhstan), to the US, Germany, France, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic...
However, Rambler published indicative figures from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which completely refute these Russophobic allegations. “In 2022, 4,306 people renounced their Russian citizenship, compared to 4,356 in 2019. Inside Russia, 40 people surrendered citizenship.”
Is it known how many citizens of other countries, including the US, England, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Poland have received Russian citizenship in recent years? What is the general trend? Are there more people emigrating or immigrating? And to what countries?
Maria Zakharova: Currently, Russia’s diplomatic missions and consular offices are granting Russian citizenship in a simplified procedure to only those adult applicants who had USSR citizenship, have lived in states that were part of the USSR, did not receive citizenship of those states and remain, as a result, stateless individuals. On this basis, 2,688 people received Russian citizenship in 2021-2022.
As for granting Russian citizenship to children, then, according to the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, 48,742 children received Russian citizenship in 2021-2022. These indicators generally correspond to the statistics for previous years. Of these, 1,745 people are in the United States, 1,102 in the UK, 5,630 in Germany, 1,720 in France, 434 in the Czech Republic and 295 people in Poland, respectively.
It is obvious that people still have interest in Russian citizenship. For the indicators of renouncing citizenship, in 2021-2022, there were 51,430 people who received citizenship compared to 8,361 people who renounced it. This inequity testifies to the continuing interest among our compatriots abroad, despite the wildest pressure that is being exerted.
Question: Sergey Lavrov and you visited in Iraq. What is the current situation in the country in terms of independence after the occupation? What are the prospects for military cooperation between the Russian Federation and Iraq?
Maria Zakharova: The Russian delegation and the Foreign Minister have repeatedly visited Iraq over the past decade. I can say that when I talked with our Iraqi colleagues this time, I noted how much better the situation is both with security and the standard of living. I can see this from the situation on the streets of the cities without any figures orstatistics.
During Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to Iraq on February 6 this year, strengthening traditionally friendly Russian-Iraqi relations was discussed. We noted the priority importance of a confidential political dialogue at various levels in the interests of the progressive development of mutually beneficial economic and investment ties. Our oil companies have serious investments in Iraq and far-reaching plans for implemented together with their Iraqi partners. More than $13 billion has already been invested. In today’s conditions of illegal restrictions imposed by the Americans and their satellites, it is fundamentally important to protect legitimate economic relations from illegal pressure from those ideologists who introduce and implement aphilosophy of unilateral pressure and unilateral sanctions. Thisis why many countries in the region are convertingto transactionsin national currencies instead of US dollars.
What our Western colleagues are now trying to do confirms that the point is whether they can continue to maintain their hegemony in order to realise their desire to suppress dissent and the independence of any country in the international arena. This is the essence of the “rules” promoted by the Americans, the Westerners, instead of the UN Charter, international law, instead of the principles that form the basis of the United Nations.
We reaffirmed our common intention to promote business partnerships in the energy, industrial, agricultural and other fields. We have expressedmutual interest in the progressive expansion of military and technical cooperation.
These werethe main pointsdiscussed in Baghdad.
Question: If it is confirmed that Norway was involved in plotting the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines, what consequences can there be for Oslo? Will Russia retaliate?
Maria Zakharova: As far as I understand, everybody wants to know “yes or no,” “did they or did they not,” and “who exactly was involved?”
American journalist Seymour Hersh tried to answer these questions. The entire progressive international community would like to know what exactly happened there, considering that it was an attack on civilian infrastructure (carried out by terrorists by definition). Also considering that the US leadership was so eager to destroy this infrastructure. As we have heard from our American “non-partners,” they have no intention whatsoever to talk about this matter even with their own public. In fact, they never discuss sensitive issues because it means they would have to present facts, and they have forgotten how to do it. The Americans only know how to make accusations, unsubstantiated, groundless and unlawful accusations. They have styled themselves exceptional. And here they are acting accordingly. But this time, it will not work. This act, committed against civilian infrastructure that is of critical importance for the energy security of an entire continent, is a terrorist attack.
As for the question about “who and how,” that is to be established by an international investigation. If it were possible to come out and say, “This was done by so and so,” without an investigation, the world would have plunged into chaos long ago. It is, incidentally, what the United States, along with its followers, wants for the world. Every time they did exactly this, presenting charges and sentences without a trial or an investigation, without facts, or evidence, or testimonies. We proceed from different premises. There must be an investigation, even if we see the direct interest of the United States in destroying the civilian infrastructure of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, even if we hear their triumphant statements that “this” has at last become a heap of scrap metal on the sea bottom. These statements were made, not by public activists, environmentalists, or journalists, but by civil servants, ranging from the US President himself to high-ranking US Department of State officials and other representatives of the executive branch. And still there must be an investigation! Not only a journalistic inquiry but a real international probe!
The longer the parties involved in this incident (the United States, Norway and other countries) deny us an investigation and refuse to provide information for use by the e international community, the deeper the idea of their total culpability will become ingrained in the public mind. Their only chance to somehow justify themselves is to reveal the facts and let this country in on their behind-the-scenes “investigation,” if any. All the necessary requests have been sent. They must launch an investigation. It will be a different matter, if they already have an answer but are carefully concealing it. It will be an absolutely different story!
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