Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, December 9, 2021
Table of contents
- Update on Ukraine
- Forum on the cultural and humanitarian ties of Crimean Tatar organisations with their compatriots in Turkey
- Afghanistan update
- UN General Assembly approves Russia-US draft resolution on international information security
- Results of the Second Session of the UN Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction
- A meeting of political directors from member countries of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council charged with implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The “Russian trace” in Catalan affairs
- New German government’s plans to relax visa regime for Russian nationals aged 25 and younger
- Human Rights Day
- Summit for Democracy
- 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States
- 75th anniversary of United Nations Children’s Fund
- 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the United Republic of Tanzania
- New Reality: New Opportunities international youth forum of Russian compatriots abroad
Answers to media questions:
- The ECHR ruling concerning deportation of refugees from Poland to Belarus
- The situation around Russian media outlets in Moldova
- Meeting of the trilateral working group on Nagorno-Karabakh
- Russia’s stance on commenting statements on Nagorno-Karabakh in the media
- Russia’s peacekeeping efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh
- Meeting in the 3+3 format
- Russia’s position on the upcoming meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia
- Armenia‒Azerbaijan contacts
- Statements by Armenian representatives
- Joint statement by the ministers of Russia, the United States and France on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Statements by European Commission Spokesperson on Ukraine
- Publications in Armenian media
- NATO’s activity in the Black Sea region
- Promotion of the Russian language abroad
- Interaction with the new German government
- Astrakhan Region senior officials’ visit to Azerbaijan
- Russia‒US contacts on strategic stability
- Resumption of talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in Vienna
- Sputnik Light supplies to Slovakia
- Russia‒US summit
- Missile strike on Syrian territory
- Experts’ work as part of Russia‒US interactions
The situation in Ukraine continues to cause concern. Kiev, supported by NATO countries, which are supplying the country which is in a state of civil war with weapons, is building up forces on the contact line in Donbass. The number of ceasefire violations registered since the signing of an agreement on additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire in July 2020 has approached 90,000. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has reported that Kiev is deploying heavy weaponry, including large calibre artillery systems and armoured vehicles, to the eastern regions of Ukraine. It also continues using drones.
The EU has recently joined in the efforts to militarise Ukraine. On December 2, 2021, the EU Council adopted a decision to allocate 31 million euros to “help strengthen the capacities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” This decision is unlikely to promote peace in Donbass.
Taken together, this has deadlocked the peace talks. The meetings of the Contact Group and its working subgroups held on December 7 and 8 have again failed to produce any results. Instead of honouring the Minsk Package of Measures, Kiev only pretends to be implementing its obligations, avoiding a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk and trying to shift responsibility for the skidding settlement onto Russia, which, as you are aware, is an intermediary of the peace process.
These actions are aimed, in part, at drawing the attention of the Ukrainian people away from internal problems. The level of the shadow economy remains high and has increased to 31 percent of GDP, according to the Kiev authorities. Ukraine’s population is decreasing rapidly. According to UN experts, it is likely to decline to 35 million by 2050. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has reported that there are some 5 million unregistered firearms in the country, which is alarming in light of rampant nationalism.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities have been expanding the legal framework that is undermining the Minsk agreements. During the previous briefing, I mentioned the draft law to allow foreign armed units to come to Ukraine in 2022. This action directly contradicts Paragraph 10 of the Minsk Package of Measures, which provides for the withdrawal of foreign armed formations from Ukrainian territory. The draft law On the Principles of the State Policy of the Transition Period has not been removed from the agenda either. Instead of a special status and amnesty for the residents of Donbass, this document envisages a military-civilian administration and lustration, which has become a fact of life in Ukraine.
Kiev has now turned its attention to Ukrainians with Russian passports. On December 2, 2021, President Vladimir Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law amending the law on citizenship of Ukraine, which will introduce fines and even restrictions on the freedoms of Ukrainians holding Russian passports. Just as the draft law on the automatic loss of Ukrainian citizenship upon the acquisition of Russian citizenship, which was submitted last summer, the new bill will flagrantly violate the rights of millions of people in Ukraine.
Regrettably, Kiev’s Western patrons continue to cover up and encourage the non-implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures by Kiev, justify Kiev’s destructive policy towards Donbass residents, and disregard large-scale violations of human rights and the growing neo-Nazi trends. This is harming, above all, Ukraine and its citizens.
We call on Kiev to stop the sabotage of the Minsk agreements and large-scale infringements on human rights, and to ensure strict compliance with the rule of law. We hope that our Western partners and relevant international organisations will encourage the Kiev authorities to work towards these priority objectives.
On December 10-12, Ankara will host a forum on the cultural and humanitarian ties of Crimean Tatar organisations with their compatriots in Turkey. We welcome this purely humanitarian event. We hope that it will attract the attention of the large Crimean Tatar diaspora in the Republic of Turkey and will also help people get a personal impression of the life of their compatriots in the Russian Crimea. We are sure that the forum will become a solid argument against the myth, promoted by Ukrainian politicians, about “mass persecutions” of Crimean Tatars and their hope that Crimea will be returned to Ukraine.
We would like to express gratitude to the Turkish co-organiser of the forum – the Federation of Crimean Tatar Cultural Associations, chaired by Unver Sel.
It is obvious that consolidated efforts are producing results. Contrary to the expectations of our ill-wishers, information about the real situation in Crimea is breaking, slowly but surely, through the wall of censorship and open bans in the Western media and is helping the international community accept the reality.
We support the World Bank’s decision to transfer $280 million to the UN World Food Programme and UNICEF from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), which was frozen earlier. However, we consider this measure to be insufficient and call for the unfreezing of the remaining funds – over $1 billion – as soon as possible. The Afghan authorities are in need of resources to establish a normal economic life for the population, to restore the civil infrastructure and the operation of socially important facilities.
We consider it important to continue international humanitarian support of the Afghan people. As a reminder, on December 1, the second consignment of Russian humanitarian aid arrived in Kabul, containing 36 tonnes of food. We plan to deliver one more consignment of humanitarian aid before the end of this year.
We welcome the steps taken by our foreign partners to establish a dialogue with the new authorities. In this context, we have noted the statements made by the EU, Germany and Indonesia about their plans to resume their diplomatic missions’ work in Kabul.
We also note the steps taken by the Afghan authorities to ensure women's rights in the country, in particular, an executive order that regulates women’s legal status in various public spheres.
UN General Assembly approves Russia-US draft resolution on international information security
At one of our past briefings, we discussed a joint Russian-American initiative, a draft resolution on international information security, which was submitted to the General Assembly for consideration. The Russia-US draft resolution, “Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, and advancing responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs,” was approved by consensus on December 6, during the plenary meeting of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.
The document, based on a Russia-sponsored project and elaborated by joint Russian-US efforts in the spirit of the Geneva accords between our countries’ leaders, has been adopted with an unprecedented number of co-sponsors, 108 states.
In terms of its content, the resolution reflects Russia’s key approaches to building an international information security system, namely: preventing conflicts in the information landscape, promoting peaceful use of ICTs, preventing their use for criminal and terrorist purposes, as well as continuing dedicated global negotiations with the central role of the UN. It is fundamentally important that a UN General Assembly resolution has for the first time provided for developing legally binding norms in the field of ICT use. The document expresses support for the new Open-Ended Working Group created at Russia’s initiative and reaffirms its mandate, as set forth in UNGA Resolution 75/240.
The Russia-US resolution creates a favourable framework for further constructive interaction of the global community through the UN Open-ended Working Group. The approval of this document by consensus will mark a return to a single-track negotiation process on international information security. The first substantive session of the Working Group will take place in New York soon, on December 13-17, where we will jointly develop specific agreements and hands-on solutions to achieve our common goal of ensuring an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment.
The Second Session of the UN Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction was held from November 29 to December 3, 2021 in New York. The Russian Federation participated in the event as an observer.
The participants managed to build on the success of the first session, which took place in November 2019, and pave the way for further progress.
The Rules of Procedure were approved, establishing consensus as the only method of decision making on procedural and substantive issues; this can be considered an invitation to all interested parties that so far remain outside the discussion framework to join the dialogue and become involved in the process.
In addition, an important decision was made to establish a Working Committee to continue deliberations on various aspects of creating the WMD-free zone amongst members of the Conference during the intersessional period. This should facilitate the work that is geared towards the final result. While being open to all members of the Conference, the Working Committee may also decide to invite observers and experts to contribute to its work.
The Second Session participants approved a report, which summarised the discussion on the sidelines of the event on specific thematic aspects of the future Treaty.
Given the significant results achieved, we hope that the positive dynamics will persist in the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East until the next session of the Conference, scheduled for November 2022.
We are confident that establishing a WMD-free zone will contribute to strengthening peace and stability both in the Middle East and around the world.
On December 7-8, political directors representing member countries of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council charged with implementing the Peace (Dayton) Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina held a meeting in Sarajevo. Russia was not in attendance. The meeting’s format was incomplete by virtue of unacceptable circumstances, which, from Russia’s point of view, are in flagrant violation of both the legal norms and the existing practice. This has happened for the first time in the 26-year history of the international effort to assist the post-conflict settlement in that Balkan country.
We have repeatedly pointed out to our Steering Board partners that a private individual, such as German national Christian Schmidt, cannot chair Board events, since this seriously detracts from the international community’s status and role in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regrettably, our remonstrations were not heard.
We have not lost hope that the Steering Board for Bosnia and Herzegovina will revert to the consensual format. In this connection, we are keeping our full membership in this body.
We have categorically refused to join the final communiqué of the Sarajevo meeting, which our PIC colleagues adopted on December 8. We think that this document is an example of undisguised interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and in the life of that country, an example of crude distortion of the real state of affairs in the country, and yet another attempt to impose outside interests on the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We firmly believe that statements of this kind only aggravate the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was provoked from the outside. It can in no way promote the establishment of an interethnic dialogue, foster mutual understanding, or shape a unifying, future-oriented agenda.
We suggest that those whom it may concern familiarise themselves with the statement issued by the Russian Embassy in Sarajevo. This statement has been posted on the Embassy’s website and quoted by the media in the region.
We call on all participants in the process of post-conflict settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina to respect the Dayton principles and the practice that has taken shape over the quarter century of multilateral cooperation in the name of an early normalisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The “Russian trace” in Catalan affairs
We have to return once again to the myth regarding the “Russian trace” in Catalan affairs.
We have commented on the publication – or rather a fake – in the Spanish media alleging that Russia “meddled” in the preparations for Catalonia’s illegitimate independence referendum in 2017. I am referring to the reprints of a fake by US journalist Michael Schwirtz published by The New York Times in September 2021. Russia has repeatedly pointed to the absurdity of the Schwirtz allegations, particularly in the context of his “evidence” (in fact, fakes pure and simple) based on a “10-page European intelligence report.”
This position has been confirmed by a recent story in El Diario, a popular Spanish news website, which quotes the EU diplomatic service as saying in reply to a request from Catalan European MPs (including from Carles Puigdemont, the mastermind of the Catalan referendum) that the “EU Intelligence and Situation Centre has nothing to do with the report mentioned in the New York Times article.”
We can only regret the haste and lack of responsibility with which the European Parliament, based on fake info concocted by overseas “experts,” decided to investigate what they call Russia’s presumed contacts with the Catalan separatists. After all, they could have done this work in advance by sending requests to relevant organisations, obtaining their replies and thus forming an objective picture. But no, this doesn’t seem to be part of the European Parliament’s working methods. The desire to spot the notorious “Russian trace” must have prevailed over the need for the most basic fact checking. This is yet another example of how politicking murders professionalism. We will wait and see whether The New York Times will have the courage to publish a denial in view of the newly emerged circumstances. Given that NYT correspondents are posted in Russia, they might influence their colleagues at home to return to this topic and refute their own claims. I understand that this is hard for them, but it would be the right thing to do from the perspective of staying true to journalism as a profession.
New German government’s plans to relax visa regime for Russian nationals aged 25 and younger
We noted reports from the new German government concerning potential relaxed visa regime for Russian nationals aged 25 and younger. These statements contain the intention to create visa-free travel opportunities for Russian nationals from “important target groups,” as stated in the reports, including young people aged 25 and younger. This initiative is presented as a measure of support for Russian civil society due to allegedly extensive restrictions on civil and democratic freedoms in our country.
We will see how this initiative will be translated into action. In its current form, it raises more questions than it clarifies. We can only feel perplexed by attempts to artificially fragment Russian society and single out “target groups.” It is not clear how this arrangement will apply to young residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, which EU members continue to discriminate by denying visas. How do the authors of this initiative expect to ensure the principle of reciprocity and a similar visa-free regime for young Germans under 25 travelling to Russia? We have many questions and I have just mentioned some of them.
If Germany truly wishes to be instrumental in promoting contacts between people, perhaps it would be logical to return to our proposal of a full-fledged Russia‒EU visa-free travel agreement, without any limitations on categories of citizens. The work on the agreement was blocked by Brussels in 2014. Since Berlin is interested in expanding our contacts, it would be nice if our German colleagues addressed the EU headquarters with this matter.
Also, as an alternative of genuinely collaborative nature, we would like to draw your attention to the idea that was earlier promoted during the St Petersburg Dialogue Forum of the Russian and German public. Following the forum on July 18‒19, 2019, in Bonn, a memorandum on relaxing the visa regime between Russia and Germany was adopted. Among other things, the memorandum calls for mutual cancelation of visas by Moscow and Berlin for the nationals of the two countries aged 18 to 25‒30 who participate in bilateral cooperation programmes.
We are ready to discuss the entire scope of these issues with our German partners.
On December 10, the international community observes Human Rights Day. It was on this day in 1948 that the UN General Assembly approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights thus laying a solid foundation for the modern international system of encouraging and protecting human rights.
This international day is a good opportunity to summarise results and outline new goals that would contribute to improving the human rights situation in specific countries and in the world in general.
Russia is unwaveringly committed to the letter and spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the principles and standards formulated in international human rights pacts and other universal human rights documents. It is our belief that effective fulfilment of international obligations under the existing documents by countries is only possible based on the principles of dialogue and cooperation and engaging all interested parties in the decision-making process concerning human rights.
It is regrettable that some countries pursue a policy of using the issue of human rights to serve their own opportunistic political and economic interests, including to interfere in domestic affairs of sovereign states.
Despite the growing number of global challenges that require consolidated efforts from all members of the international community, there are states (usually those considered to be developed democracies) that still refuse to change their course that can be described as selfish, refuse to abandon aggressive approaches, including illicit unilateral enforcement measures that have a negative impact on human rights. Many countries descend to using the COVID-19 pandemic to promote their vision of human rights norms and standards by rewriting international law that encourages and protects human rights. The same countries actively resort to discrimination, which is prohibited by international law, by enforcing vaccine-based nationalism thus violating the most important human right, the right to life.
Russia has always opposed such approaches and insisted that there is no alternative to constructive international cooperation on human rights, that it is unacceptable to apply double standards and it is important to duly respect national, cultural and historical specifics of countries’ development. It is achieving this level of dialogue and cooperation that our country will always strive for in its activity within international, universal and regional human rights organisations.
Instead of working out together the best way to use international legal instruments and universal mechanisms to promote human rights and improve the human rights situation in different regions, our Western partners are preparing for yet another ideology-driven get-together. I am talking about the “summit for democracy”.
We have commented on this event several times, but the number of questions regarding it is increasing. The summit, organised at the US initiative, will be held on December 9-10, 2021, but December 8 has been declared by the organisers as Day Zero of the event.
To add a patina of legitimacy to this questionable event, they have invited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will speak on December 10. The schedule for that day is devoted to human rights, with the traditional Western focus on “empowering human rights defenders and independent media” and “strengthening democracy and defending against authoritarianism,” which provides for discussing the developments in Belarus. The participants will also discuss “protecting democratic institutions,” including elections, the rule of law, and a resilient information space. Just as expected, they will not be discussing the situation in their own countries, instead focusing on the states which have not been invited to the meeting.
The summit’s official theme is to promote “the global conversation amongst governments and civil society.” Strangely, this conversation will only engage a group of select countries. It is a new round of segregation.
Even US media outlets, which provided extensive coverage to the upcoming event, admit that the term “democracy” is being used as a code word, as a way to distinguish “friends” from “foes” within the framework of the United States’ rivalry with Russia and China and attempts to contain them. This story has been invented to more easily identify and distinguish “friends” from “foes.” It is obvious that the US administration is trying to create the broadest possible coalition of “friends” against “foes.” As we pointed out on numerous occasions, a course has been set for creating new dividing lines in international affairs.
The main distinguishing feature of our position is that we are not forcing anything on anyone and do not try to lecture anyone. We are always ready to promote an equal interstate dialogue with all countries and regional associations on the basis of international law. I would like to remind everyone that #UNCharterIsOurRules.
I would like to quote the event’s organisers. Today US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has made a sensational statement in terms of depth and truth: “We have entered a phase in foreign policy and international relations where it’s no longer the formal Greek structure of the Parthenon – the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank, and so forth.” At the same time, he admitted that his country is trying to reform the international architecture by establishing new “alliances, partnerships and institutions” that will work in Washington’s interests. In plain English, the United States is doing everything in its power to destroy the international order based on international law led by the UN, and to make use of the chaos it itself has created to promote – no, not even a system but a game designed to engage as many sates as possible to work in Washington’s interests.
I did not expect such revelations, but this is exactly what we heard today. Those who have been invited to the summit and who will take part in it today and tomorrow will be granted the honour of serving US interests. This is sad. This is new dividing lines, a new kind of segregation and yet another proof that international law is being replaced with obscure rules that are changed to suit the interests of a certain state. The mistakes of the past, which cost humankind dearly, will not be used as a warning against repeating them. The world has lived through all that and has paid an enormous price for such mistakes.
30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States
This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
We regard the CIS as a successful regional international organisation and a useful platform for exchanging views on a broad range of issues, from politics and the economy to security, education and couture. The range of CIS activities is growing and new areas of cooperation appear every year. The global coronavirus pandemic has not slowed down but boosted the organisation’s contacts. The CIS promptly responded to the challenge of the pandemic thanks to a solid legal framework in the field of healthcare and coordinated efforts of sectoral cooperation bodies.
The strengthening of friendly ties with our CIS partners is a steadfast foreign policy priority in Russia and proof that states can retain their sovereignty and at the same time join forces to cooperate and promote not only mutually acceptable but mutually beneficial projects, as well as face the challenges together against which no one is immune.
I would like to draw your attention to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video address on the 30th anniversary of the CIS. We intend to continue working to strengthen our foreign policy coordination within the framework of the CIS and to enhance the CIS effectiveness and international standing.
We firmly believe that during this decade the CIS will remain an area of friendship and trust-based dialogue in the interests of our nations and regional stability.
75th anniversary of United Nations Children’s Fund
On December 11, the UN Children’s Fund (UNISEF) marks its 75th anniversary.
In the course of its history, the fund has come a long way from a temporary emergency programme to a key organisation in the UN system that acts in the interests of all children in the world.
Russia has consistently developed cooperation with UNICEF in accordance with our country’s state policy priorities to facilitate international development.
In order to make our interaction with the fund more systematic, predictable and task-oriented, the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the Russian Federation and the UN Children’s Fund was signed in 2019. Talks are currently underway to expand the participation of Russian suppliers of medicines, vaccines and medical equipment in the fund’s procurement system.
December 11, 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Tanzania. Our country contributed to the liberation movement of the Tanzanian people and was one of the first countries to recognise the sovereignty of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later formed a unified state.
The Russian Federation and the United Republic of Tanzania currently maintain a partnership and friendly relations based on mutual respect for each other and regard for each other’s interests. They coordinate their steps within the UN and other multilateral organisations and also work together to provide stability and strengthen security in the East Africa region. Bilateral trade, economic and investment relations are developing actively; the contractual framework of our cooperation is also expanding.
To mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania Liberata Mulamula will exchange messages of congratulations. We congratulate the people of this country and wish them wellbeing and all the best.
New Reality: New Opportunities international youth forum of Russian compatriots abroad
The New Reality: New Opportunities international youth forum of Russian compatriots abroad will take place between December 11 and 15 in Minsk and Gomel under the auspices of the Government Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad with support from the Moscow Government.
The event will bring together over 80 representatives of the youth wing of organisations uniting Russian compatriots living in the former Soviet states who have an active social and public stand in the foreign community. The opening ceremony will be attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The list of speakers includes Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, Russian State Duma deputies, representatives of the Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), the Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, as well as Russian non-government organisations and foundations engaged in working with the youth.
The agenda will focus on the development of the youth movement of compatriots who live in the post-Soviet space, shaping their leadership qualities and increasing legal literacy.
Answers to media questions:
Maria Zakharova: It is highly symptomatic that the European Court of Human Rights has imposed a ban on Poland deporting refugees to Belarus and urged it to provide people fleeing from the West’s war adventures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria with at least minimal humanitarian standards and a certain wherewithal for survival, including food, clothes, medical services, and, in a number of cases, legal assistance.
We have repeatedly commented on this and called on a “civilised” Europe, a supposed champion of humanism and human rights, to focus on this problem. We pointed out the extremely harsh treatment that the Polish border guards and military meted out to the migrants, many of whom are women and children.
Special-purpose equipment and munitions (teargas, floodlights, water cannons, police dogs) were used against them on many occasions. This is the first quarter of the 21st century. Countries calling themselves “civilised” fight civilians (refugees, migrants) with stun grenades and smoke-puff charges. All of this has been documented by the relevant UN and Council of Europe services and by the EU’s Frontex Agency. On November 16, the Polish services sprayed chemical pesticides, which resulted in 132 persons, including 23 children, getting chemical burns and respiratory injuries. This calls for a thorough international investigation. The correspondents operating on the Belarusian side of the border, whom Belarus allows to cover this situation (the Polish territory across the border is officially an off-limits area) repeatedly witnessed how Polish law-enforcers were pushing people back to Belarus. I think you saw this too. This is evidence of Warsaw’s purposeful violation of international and European law.
Starting in September, Poland introduced a state of emergency in the strip of territory that borders Belarus, something that barred media access to that area and prevented humanitarian organisations from establishing a presence in the vicinity of the border. After the expiry of the state of emergency’s maximum three-month term, Poland approved an amendment to the law on the state border, actually retaining all the restrictions under domestic law. This is not the way to behave for those claiming a commitment to fundamental human rights documents.
The Belarusian authorities are seeking to help the refugees within the framework of their international obligations. They have opened access to the border areas for humanitarian organisations, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration, the WHO, and others. They have also organised regular deliveries of humanitarian aid to the migrants. Minsk’s aid and assistance to the migrants is estimated at $25 million. They have converted the Bremino-Bruzgi logistics centre into a shelter, where most migrants have been evacuated from the border strip. They also convinced some of the people to go back home, with 3,000 people having left Belarus.
Regrettably, the European capitals and institutions prefer to disregard the refugees’ disastrous plight and deny them the very possibility of implementing their right to refuge, instead of urging their ally to live up to its international obligations and restore the rule of law in Poland. The West itself has for a long time painted in bright colours the advantages of the Western way of life and encouraged these people to come and use all the concomitant benefits, including various allowances. At the same time, the Western troops have made life in these countries not only hard to bear but often downright impossible.
Double standards can be seen even in approaches used by relevant UN agencies. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is forcing Tajikistan to receive, at its own cost, more Afghan refugees in addition to the 6,000 who are already there and to accommodate them with families. Moreover, Dushanbe is being urged to perform commitments on letting in even asylum seekers. No calls of this kind were addressed to Warsaw. I didn’t hear of Dushanbe joining any coalitions that invaded and occupied other countries, plundered their natural resources, or engaged in illegitimate economic activities. There was nothing of the kind. But Poland was part of this for decades, including an occupation of Iraq, controlling Iraqi territories, etc.
We welcome the international community’s steps to improve the position of the destitute people on the border with Poland who are seeking asylum and protection from domestic war and devastation in well-off Europe. We would like to believe that the ECHR’s decision will be able to induce our European partners to revise their attitude towards the refugee problem and resume the implementation of their commitments, which they so loudly declare and use to teach others. We hope Warsaw will refrain from the use of force against people in a quandary and will get down to carrying out its commitments on human rights.
Maria Zakharova: We closely follow the situation with Russian media outlets in the world and in the Republic of Moldova. The report you mentioned has not gone unnoticed.
Indicatively, it was published a year after the country’s Parliament amended the Code on Audio-Visual Media Services and resumed news and analytical broadcasts from Russia. At that time, we praised this decision since it meets the interests of Russian-speaking citizens of Moldova. It should be recalled that 80 percent of Moldova’s population use Russian, one way or another.
Unfortunately, the resumption of these broadcasts was not to everyone’s liking. This probably explains the publication of the above-mentioned survey. The Centre for Independent Journalism, whose experts prepared the report, positions itself as an “apolitical” NGO but does not conceal its ties with the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The report’s authors monitored three Russian channels, namely, Channel One in Moldova, NTV Moldova and RTR Moldova, over a period of ten days and decided that their content did not help form correct opinions. This is just fantastic! It turns out that there are correct and incorrect opinions, and that media outlets should broadcast “correct” opinions. We are talking about correct opinions, rather than correct facts; it goes without saying that facts must always be correct. The report does not specify what opinions are “correct,” and who perceives them as such and why. The entire matter has been raised in a splendid and incomparable manner. At the same time, they are writing about the Russian content’s “propaganda elements,” which allegedly threaten the country’s information security.
Any resident of Moldova who has watched Russian channels at least once can see that the report’s conclusions are completely far-fetched. One can disagree with opinions expressed in the broadcasts, one can argue with them and deny them, or one can agree with them and form one’s own opinion using all available data. One can question the opinion of opponents using specific viewpoints that are provided by Russian television channels, information blogs, talk shows, etc.
The “apolitical” Centre for Independent Journalism has produced a politicised report. Its experts tried to discredit Russian channels and to brand opinions differing from views that the Centre considers “correct” or “incorrect” as propaganda. Quite possibly, they are paving the way for reinstating a ban on Russian programmes that had been in force from February 2018 until December 2020.
We hope that the authorities of the Republic of Moldova are sufficiently committed to their obligations, including those assumed by Moldova as an OSCE member state, and other documents guaranteeing the free dissemination of opinions and information and the freedom of speech, and that they will not give in to similar provocative reports and take steps violating the pluralism of opinions, media freedom and the interests of their own Russian-speaking citizens. We are confident that this approach completely meets the constructive and pragmatic nature of bilateral relations that our countries have built up in the most diverse fields.
Maria Zakharova: The top-level Sochi agreements confirm the readiness of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to take further steps towards normalisation of relations. In our contacts with Baku and Yerevan, we are working on their consistent implementation, including efforts to resolve border disputes and to unblock transport ties in the South Caucasus.
As agreed in Sochi on November 26, 2021, it is important to move towards establishing a bilateral commission to delimit and demarcate the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with Russia providing consultative assistance at the request of the parties. We are expecting both countries to complete the line-up of their national delegations as soon as possible.
Efforts to unblock all regional economic and transport ties also continue within the framework of the Trilateral Working Group. For more detailed information, please contact the press services of the staffs of Russian and Azerbaijani governments, as well as the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.
On December 8, 2021, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed matters of implementing the Sochi agreements during his telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. A press release on the results of the conversation is posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
Maria Zakharova: Media outlets often ask us to comment on statements by the parties to the conflict. Russia has a position of principle on this matter, and you know this. We believe it is necessary to refrain from making any statements or undertaking actions that can delay the implementation of the trilateral agreements reached at the highest level or result in an escalation.
Maria Zakharova: Everything Russia does conforms to its role as a mediator and participant in the OSCE Minsk Group. Our country has undertaken a series of peacekeeping efforts to bring about stability in the areas you mentioned. You know Russia’s principled position on this issue. Russia does everything to make sure that the agreements are fulfilled, and avoid any deterioration in the regional developments, although this cannot be guaranteed because we are dealing with a long-standing conflict.
Question: The process to devise demilitarisation and demarcation mechanisms has yet to get underway. Has there been any progress on specific transport corridors? We know that a meeting has taken place, but there have been no results.
Maria Zakharova: I have just commented on information we have now. I will share new details with you as soon as I get them.
Maria Zakharova: I can confirm this. The meeting is expected to be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
Question: Has Georgia refused to take part?
Maria Zakharova: It is true that Georgian representatives were invited to this meeting, but said that they will refrain from attending it. The first 3+3 meeting of an advisory regional mechanism for the South Caucasus is expected to be held tomorrow. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko will be representing Russia at this event. Tomorrow, we will discuss the outcomes and the line-up of country representatives in more detail.
Maria Zakharova: We welcome any efforts to bring the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan back to normal. We believe in the importance of maintaining regular contacts between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is our hope that at their December 15 meeting in Brussels Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan will reaffirm their commitment to fulfilling the trilateral agreements reached at the highest level on November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, as well as voice their support to the efforts by the troika of OSCE Minsk Group members, who are currently focusing on priority humanitarian issues.
Maria Zakharova: The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group oversaw the planning arrangements for the meeting. You can find the assessment of this situation in the December 4, 2021, statement by the troika on the OSCE website.
This is worth speaking not so much about the past, or events that failed to materialise, but what the parties will have to do moving forward, including their contacts, meetings, etc. I have already mentioned some of them. We do hope that they will be held in a constructive and business-like atmosphere and will bring about tangible results.
Maria Zakharova: There is no need to raise the status. That was a reply to a question, rather than a statement.
We do not see this as an “incident.” It was important to clarify the gist of the matter. The subject was raised on December 8, 2021, during a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. We believe that this subject is closed.
Maria Zakharova: The statement you mentioned is posted on the OSCE website, and anyone can read it. Why was it not published while being issued? The parties coordinated the text still further. There is nothing unusual here. This is normal work. The document was posted after the wordings of all the provisions were specified, including their translations into different languages.
I also advise you to read the statement by the ambassadors, co-chairs of the Minsk Group. This is an irreplaceable source of information on the subject.
I would like to draw attention to the provisions of this document. For example, it urges the parties to completely fulfil their obligations assumed under the statement of the Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders of November 9, 2020 and confirmed in their statement of November 26, 2021. They should renounce hostile rhetoric and provocative actions, and work constructively to resolve such important matters as the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and its subsequent demarcation and the resumption of economic and transport ties between both neighbouring states. They should also continue their interaction under the auspices of the Minsk Group’s co-chairs for attaining real progress on humanitarian matters, including the return of all detained persons, mine clearance missions, missing person searches, the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced people, and the protection of historical and cultural landmarks.
There is no reason for alarm. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced the statement. It has been published. Everything can be accessed, and it is possible to read the document.
Maria Zakharova: Young journalists who are only starting to cover international affairs, university graduates, students and interns planning to work in the media often ask the following question: “What is a media campaign? Does this amount to confrontation or pressure, influence?” Well, this is what it is. It is a large-scale information attack from several sources. First, information moves vertically, then it spreads horizontally via representatives of governments, NGOs, civil society and media outlets. An assertion about Russia’s alleged invasion of Ukraine was circulated. We can see how this drama is being played by different actors.
At first, even Kiev did not confirm this because it did not follow media reports. Talking to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty on November 2, 2021, Alexey Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, referred to such reports as misinformation. The Ukrainian party failed to work efficiently on the other side of the line. Ukrainian authorities later modified their position, readapted quickly and said that there was a Russian threat, that they could feel it, and that they were requesting assistance, money, weapons, etc. The statement that you have just quoted also fits into this category.
On December 6, 2021, The Financial Times wrote about US pressure on the European Union in order to change the sceptical attitude towards these conspiracy theories. However, it proved impossible to influence Russia. At the same time, it is now possible to spread the myth about the United States allegedly stopping a new war in Donbass. One wants to remind those who will be writing on this subject in such a manner that they invented this war. The truth is that Ukrainian authorities launched the war in Donbass against their own compatriots. They did this twice, in 2014 and 2015, and they were backed by their Western handlers. For many years, the Kiev regime and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been shooting, blowing up, conducting acts of sabotage and blockading their own compatriots. This truth is not very desirable, and it does not fit into the overall Western concept.
Russia consistently advocates a peaceful settlement of the domestic Ukrainian conflict on the basis of the Minsk Package of Measures, formalised in 2015 by UN Security Council Resolution 2202. Once again, we advise everyone to read it and to compare it with Kiev’s practical actions, supported by its Western partners. We should ask who fails to fulfil specific provisions, who is the aggressor, and who undermines the peaceful settlement plan, based on the UN Security Council Resolution, the Minsk agreements and documents that must be fulfilled by the entire international community?
As for the European Union, it is not involved in the process of resolving the domestic Ukrainian conflict. At the same time, it bears its share of responsibility for escalating the civil confrontation in this country in 2013-2014. This, too, is an undesirable truth that Brussels is trying to forget. EU representatives supported aggressive nationalist circles who had initiated a coup in February 2014. EU representatives also urged the new Ukrainian authorities to forcibly suppress civilians disagreeing with the coup. They supported the new authorities that refused to build a truly democratic and all-inclusive society in the interests of all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of their ethnic affiliation and native language. The EU could report on all this because it is directly responsible. Brussels’ emissaries attended protest rallies and inspired those perpetrating unconstitutional coups in 2014 and earlier. They did everything possible so as not to notice human rights violations, and how people trying to uphold their rights are being killed in Ukraine.
While claiming the right to some “seriousness,” the EU does nothing to facilitate peace in Donbass, but it aggravates the situation still further, trying to portray Russia as a party to the conflict, as is written in the joint statement following the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev on October 12, 2021. The EU also induces Kiev to revise the Package of Measures, the only possible foundation for resolving the conflict. This is irresponsible. If Brussels were a neutral party, just like it is today, or a sympathiser, then it should not behave in such a way. The words “to aggravate the situation” mean to destroy or take away the lives of peaceful civilians.
Instead of lecturing Russia, they should analyse their own actions, stop ignoring the facts and assume responsibility for their actions. Instead of making further conjectures for dubious political purposes, the European Commission’s spokesman should think about this.
Maria Zakharova: Let us give the newspaper time until December 11. They should publish a retraction. It is fake news, disinformation. Sergey Kopyrkin continues to work and reach goals set by the country’s leaders.
Question: A comment on military air incidents in the Black Sea region has been published recently. In an interview with our publication, Peter Stano, a spokesperson for EU external affairs, said that the escalation in the Black Sea region could lead to a conflict that would be undesirable for both parties. He urged Russia to hold talks, including within the OSCE. What does Moscow make of this appeal, especially in the light of the recent incident with a passenger liner and a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft? Does the Foreign Ministry consider the OSCE an efficient platform for such talks, or should there be new mechanisms created?
Maria Zakharova: There are two options. The first one is that Peter Stano does not understand the facts. We provided them yesterday and spoke about the note of protest that we gave to the representatives of the US Embassy who were summoned to Smolenskaya Square. The second option is that if the EU spokesperson does have this information, he is distorting the facts and engaging in a disinformation campaign. You cannot help but see who is in charge of whipping up the conflict. If there are facts, they are analysed and everything becomes obvious, especially as regards the incident on December 3, 2021 that involved the US reconnaissance aircraft above the Black Sea.
We have cited five cases that happened in the past few months only. Let alone what is happening in the region: the endless NATO exercises and individual exercises by NATO countries (that are held on the sidelines of NATO exercises), contracts worth billions that are not related to humanitarian issues or economic investment, but to the purchase and delivery of all kinds of weapons to Ukraine, including those prohibited by the Minsk agreements and used in the conflict zone, as well as the deployment of “instructors” (who are actually militants). This is an entire range of measures designed to escalate the conflict and not to implement the Minsk agreements.
We inform and warn our partners on a regular basis about the risks to the military and political stability in the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as the negative consequences for European security that are posed by ill-considered, provocative actions by NATO near Russian borders, including in the Black Sea region. Just a while ago, it was a joke that Russia allegedly gathers troops at the NATO borders. Now it is a real “kingdom of crooked mirrors.” We are being accused of conducting aggressive actions against neighbouring countries, while not leaving the territory of our own state. It is not Russia that is deploying its armed forces to countries it does not have a common border with. NATO has expanded to Russian borders, holds military exercises in our border areas and beefs up military contingents in neighbouring countries, and constantly makes aggressive statements calling Russia an enemy, a threat. We conduct actions in our own territory, and we have a right to do so. Russia is a sovereign and independent state.
I would like to remind you of the main argument that our partners use to defend their logic. Russia potentially has the right to move forces on its own territory, but it could be a potential threat to the West, because in a historical context, our country “showed aggression.” It was not us who did that. The countries that later became NATO members not just showed aggression towards Russia, but started wars, including world ones. They killed our people on our territory. Let alone the destruction of infrastructure, buildings, factories, hospitals and schools. When they say that we can do that because it has happened before, please apply the same argument to the NATO countries that said that. They can do that because they repeatedly did that in their history.
We proposed initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions and preventing dangerous incidents. On the eve of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Stockholm (December 2 and 3, 2021), we suggested that more reliable contacts between our defence agencies be established on these issues. Our proposals were again ignored by the Western partners. On the contrary, the Alliance continues to boost its activity and military infrastructure in our neighbouring countries. Every week, several dozen NATO reconnaissance planes fly along our borders. This is not an online game. These are facts, and all of them are documented.
One of Russia’s priorities, including within the OSCE, is to work on de-escalating tensions, preventing incidents and receiving legally binding guarantees of security on our western borders. Preventing destabilisation in Europe is in our common interests.
Maria Zakharova: I haven’t seen any confirmation of the news regarding the CAR. As for Tajikistan, we announced the news some time ago. Supporting the Russian language abroad is among the key priorities of Russian foreign policy. It is considered during the development of all aspects of our relations with our foreign partners, including economic, scientific and educational ties. We regard the Russian language as the basis for the identity of our compatriots living abroad and as a means of international communication in the post-Soviet space. On a broader scale, Russian is among the official UN languages.
The relevant objectives are being addressed within the framework of the comprehensive state programme for supporting and promoting the Russian language abroad, which has been drafted by the Foreign Ministry jointly with the related departments and agencies on the President’s instructions. The programme’s events cover all regions of the world and are adjusted to the specific features of individual countries, but it is focused above all on the CIS, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Regarding the situation in Central Asia, it should be said that teaching Russian at schools is a sovereign right of these states. We know that their citizens would like to study Russian, and we welcome these sentiments. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance in this regard to Central Asian states. Increasing the area where the Russian language can be studied is introducing a huge number of people, primarily youth, to a vast amount of global knowledge, scientific and technical information, culture and arts. This is beneficial for geographic, historical and economic reasons.
The Russian language is a means of interethnic communication in nearly all Central Asian republics and has the status of an official language in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Knowing Russian is important for millions of migrant workers in Russia. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have two major regional universities – Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University and Russian-Tajik Slavonic University – where students can receive education in Russian. Russian subject teachers are working at local general schools under a project underway in these republics. New schools have opened with tuition in the Russian language. In August 2021, the construction of such schools began in five cities in Tajikistan. We are considering the idea of building nine Russian-language schools in different regions of Kyrgyzstan. Work is underway in Uzbekistan to establish four branches of Russian universities in addition to the existing 12. There are over 70 mixed schools with tuition in the Russian language (Russian classes) in Turkmenistan, and Russian is taught as an obligatory foreign language at all other schools.
Demand for Russian has been growing throughout the world during the past few years. During my foreign trips, I invariably hear requests for opening more Russian schools because children want to study Russian. This concerns, above all, our compatriots, mixed families and foreigners without Russian roots or those whose ancestors left Russia decades ago who would like to find Russian culture. This is an obvious trend. The Russian government quota for African students at Russian universities has been increased by 25 percent for the 2022-2023 academic year and has reached 3,253 people. Russian is taught at universities in several African states. This is basic information, but much more interesting data are available on the ministry website.
Maria Zakharova: We hope to have constructive ties with the new German government, which took oath on December 8. We have always wanted to have constructive relations with Germany based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and a balance of interests. We hope to develop constructive and pragmatic cooperation with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock and all the other members of the German cabinet.
So far, we have not received any proposals for a meeting between the Russian and German foreign ministers. We are open to dialogue.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has scrutinised the coalition agreement under which the new German government will function. When reading the section on Russia, we took note of the message about the depth and diversity of Russian-German relations and the intention to cooperate with Russia. But we have also noticed elements that are unacceptable to us. We will give priority to the former block of intentions. We will form an opinion of the new German cabinet based on its practical actions.
Maria Zakharova: In our opinion, the visit was very successful. Igor Babushkin met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Minister of the Economy Mikayil Jabbarov. The Astrakhan Business Centre opened in Baku in a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev representing the Azerbaijani side. Following the Astrakhan Region Governor’s visit, the Government of the Astrakhan Region and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Programme for the Development of Cooperation for 2022.
Russia places great importance on the development of region-to-region ties with other countries, cross-border ties, and our regions’ ties with countries such as Azerbaijan. Trade and economic cooperation with that country is supported by 73 constituent regions of the Russian Federation, and 18 of them have agreements with Azerbaijan concerning trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The Russia-Azerbaijan Interregional Forum is a highly demanded platform. The 11th edition is to take place in Azerbaijan next year.
As for region-to-region cooperation with other CIS countries, we will also make sure to share our assessments with you. It is an interesting topic, especially in the context of the CIS anniversary.
Maria Zakharova: The comprehensive Strategic Stability Dialogue, initiated by the presidents of Russia and the United States, is intended to pave the way for future arms control. Russia believes that its goal is to work out a new security equation that would take into account significant factors of strategic stability and encompass all strategic offensive and defensive, nuclear and non-nuclear weapons.
As for the US interference in our internal affairs, we are counteracting this hostile activity on a systematic basis (we often comment on this). We are doing it in other formats as well. The Strategic Stability Dialogue is valuable in itself.
Maria Zakharova: A Russian delegation led by Permanent Representative to the International Organisations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov is taking part in the meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA today. We hope that the meeting will be effective and will initiate further work at the expert level and in working groups addressing the practical aspects of resuming the full-fledged implementation of the nuclear deal.
We hope that after the technical break that some of the delegations needed to report to their capitals, all partners will return to work without pauses and will work intensively. We can see no other way but to accelerate these consultations, relying on the experience and results of the previous rounds, and accordingly, drawing up lists of steps that the United States and Iran should take to ensure strict compliance with the JCPOA requirements, backed up by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
Russia has been working on this track for months, while adhering to all its obligations and proposing solutions that should help the parties find or elaborate a recovery package. We encourage our partners to do the same. We keep in touch on all tracks almost continuously. We are not doing this to help just one side achieve a result. We strongly believe that the JCPOA was initially designed to rest on a carefully verified balance of interests. Washington’s return to the implementation of UNSCR 2231 (after the previous administration broke its obligations and unilaterally withdrew from the agreement) is not a subject of bargaining. Any violations committed by the United States must be corrected. We hope that Iran will respond with a reciprocal unfreezing of its obligations, which were suspended in the previous two years (because of US actions). We believe that dynamic and synchronised progress on the part of Washington and Tehran will make it possible to get the nuclear deal back on a stable trajectory. We will do our best to facilitate this.
Our Permanent Mission is one of the most active Russian overseas missions with respect to [providing] information. I advise you to follow their updates both on its website and on social media.
Maria Zakharova: Slovakia has not made an official request on this matter. If we receive one, we are ready to consider it. Russian vaccines are supplied to foreign countries upon request.
Maria Zakharova: After each summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry and other ministries receive instructions to fulfill the agreements that were reached. This summit was no exception.
As for the issue you mentioned, I have nothing to share. I can tell you that this matter is on the Russia-US bilateral agenda.
Maria Zakharova: We condemn this kind of action. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Foreign Ministry senior officials comment on such matters regularly. We object to Syria becoming a battlefield between third countries.
That was Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s response when he was asked a similar question during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of the State of Israel Yair Lapid on September 9, 2021, in Moscow.
Maria Zakharova: Although I feel particularly strongly about the importance of informing the public, it seems to me that the working process comes first. I can assure you that this work is in progress. Let’s give our experts some time to share more than just slogans. They need to be able to show specific facts and results. We will do this in due time.
