Excerpts from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, May 15, 2024
- Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting
- Ukraine crisis
- Commemorating the 79th anniversary of Victory in Moldova
- Western attempts to expropriate frozen Russian assets
- Russian media gets outlawed in the EU
- IOC’s double standards
- Developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone
- Launching a global intergovernmental register to exchange data on cyber attacks/incidents
- US courts acquits attacker of the Cuban Embassy in Washington
- International Day of Families
- 215th anniversary of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Service
- The 4th Kostomarov Forum
Answers to media questions:
- Renovation of the Foreign Ministry building
- The pseudo-investigation by the Financial Times
- Statements by David Cameron
- The West’s reaction to protests in Georgia and Armenia
- Maia Sandu’s interview
- Serbia’s new government
- Ukrainian delegation’s visit to Belgrade
- Western media’s duplicity
- Serbia’s foreign policy
- 8th Russia-China Expo
- Situation in the South China Sea
- Indians’ plea for help
- Russia-India relations
- The use of Western weapons to target Russian territory
- Statements by David Cameron
- On sending Western troops to Ukraine
- Situation in the Middle East
- Armenian prime minister’s visit to Russia
- Russia-Armenia relations
- Contacts with Turkey
- Russia-Africa cooperation
- Russia-Portugal relations
- Japan’s “extended deterrence” concept
- Student protests in the US
- Protests in Armenia
- Russian border guards in Armenia
- Caring attitude to Great Patriotic War monuments
- Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement
- Interaction with Russia’s partners
- Voting in the Russian presidential election in Georgia
Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting
On May 20-21, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Astana. The foreign ministers will discuss the current state and prospects for further development of the association and current international and regional issues.
They will focus on the content of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting on 3-4 July in Astana to streamline SCO’s activities under present-day conditions. Mr Lavrov is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session. We will inform you about them in due course.
I would like to start with the Victory Day. The ruling clique in Kiev is trying to devalue the feat of our grandfathers and great grandfathers who fell in the fight against Nazism. The Kiev rulers have been doing this persistently for many years on Western money. It seems to me now they have crossed the line that somehow connected them to the generations who fought against fascism.
On May 9 of this year, Ukraine did not celebrate Victory Day officially for the first time in the years of its “independence.” In June of the past year, Vladimir Zelensky signed a law that transferred the holiday to May 8 and called it a “Day of Memory and Victory over Nazism.” However, for many Ukrainians, May 9 still remains a sacred date. As usual, they brought flowers to the monuments of Soviet fighters and mass graves of Red Army soldiers that had sacrificed their lives to save the world from Nazism.
On May 9 of this year, Ukrainian nationalists, including those in police uniforms, blatantly mocked people. Those who had symbols linked with the Great Patriotic War and WWII, were hit hardest. Nothing stopped the enforcers. They did not care whether those people were veterans or simply elders, they all were banned from approaching memorials; their arms were twisted and flowers were ripped out. Let me recall that I am referring to the monuments and veterans of the Great Patriotic War and WWII. People came to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes. This is in accordance with history and the verdicts of the Nuremberg Trials. Moreover, in addition to the physical attacks on veterans and people who wanted to pay respects to the memory of the fallen soldiers, they were charged with administrative offences and reports thereof were drawn up.
Nobody can break the will of the people that are grateful not simply to heroes but to their own families and friends that perished or survived during the hardships of the Great Patriotic War. This memory will live forever.
Zelensky is destroying Ukraine in every conceivable way historically and by turning it into a terrorist cell. May 11 marked the 10th anniversary of the historic referendum held in the DPR and LPR about the future of these republics, whose residents refused to recognise the nationalist junta that seized power in that country in February 2014, or to follow its aggressive policies. Remember how all these years Zelensky, and before him Poroshenko, referred to the residents of the DPR and LPR, and all the decisions made there? They labeled them terrorists. They launched a brutal “anti-terrorist operation” against them. Later, international law provided a stark response to this Nazi slogan used by the Kiev regime, not confirming any of the accusations made by the Kiev regime over the years against the people they considered their own citizens. None of the definitions, such as “terrorists” provided by the Kiev regime, namely, Zelensky and Poroshenko, regarding these people and administrative entities (I mean Donbass) have been confirmed in the international legal context. Let me remind you that the majority of those who voted in the then Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine supported self-determination of the regions. To commemorate this, May 11 is celebrated as Republic Day in the DPR, and May 12 as Republic Day in the LPR.
For this anniversary, the Banderites, with the support of the United States and their NATO allies, carried out a series of barbaric terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks are barbaric by definition, but what Zelensky is doing is beyond good and evil, because these attacks are aimed against the civilians and civilian infrastructure in the republics of Russian Donbass. All of that is being done to the people whom Zelensky still considers “his own people.”
Late in the evening of May 10, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the town of Rovenky, the LPR. Presumably, long-range ATACMS missiles with cluster munitions recently supplied by the Americans to Kiev were used in the attack. The missile hit an oil depot setting it ablaze. Nearby blocks of flats were damaged. Four people died, and 15 more, including a teenager, injured.
The Kiev military used the same munitions to shell the city of Krasnodon, the LPR, on May 13. One of the shells hit a playground in a city park. Luckily, no one was there. After a series of explosions, a fire broke out in the industrial zone. Three fatalities and six injured people were reported.
On May 11, Ukrainian neo-Nazis fired at Donetsk using US-made HIMARS missiles. A direct hit at the Paradise restaurant in the Kirovsky District killed three people and injured eight more, including a 12-year-old girl.
Other city districts were targeted as well. Explosions were heard near the recently opened perinatal centre and a cafe that was a meeting point for the participants of a car rally dedicated to Republic Day. Luckily, no one was hurt.
May 12, 2024, will forever remain one of the worst days in Belgorod’s history. The Kiev regime carried out another terrorist attack on the residential quarters using various types of missiles. One of them leveled an entrance of a 10-storey block of flats on Kharkov Hill killing 16 people, including children, and injuring dozens of others.
As usual, Kiev cynically claimed it was not involved in the attack, and social media run by Kiev regime underlings were brimming with joy. Why not? Kiev now has another terrorist attack under its belt. Bankovaya Street began to come up with absurd theories and accused Russia of deliberately blowing up or shelling the building.
This terrible tragedy in Belgorod shows that the Kiev regime has lost all sense of humanity waging war on blocks of flats and civilians. The Kiev regime “leaders” cowardly avoiding accountability for their own failures, resort to all kinds of atrocities just to distract the population from the national catastrophe of historical scale in Ukraine. The regime that has sold out and destroyed Ukrainians views them solely as cannon fodder and a free resource, a lucrative deal between the Kiev regime and Washington.
The Investigative Committee of Russia launched thorough investigation into the Kiev junta’s crime in Belgorod. All those guilty of this and other terrorist attacks on the territory of this country will be inevitably punished for their crimes against civilians.
Proceeding from the evidence submitted by the Investigative Committee, courts of the Russian Federation continue passing verdicts on the Ukrainian militants that committed grievous crimes against civilians.
Based on the collected evidence, a court sentenced to 27 years in prison A. Krasnoshchyok, the commander of a unit of the 1st Separate Marine Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In April 2022, he and his co-fighters murdered in cold blood a man and a woman in a civilian vehicle.
Sniper of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine V. Chernoknizhny was sentenced to 22 years behind bars. In March 2022, he shot an unarmed man with an automatic rifle at the entrance to a maternity hospital in Mariupol.
None of Ukrainian criminals will manage to escape punishment. They will be identified and held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Against this backdrop, I cannot but comment on Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit and new batches of “US aid” to Ukraine. They are no longer just supplies of arms to the Kiev regime but are supplies of arms for the murder of Ukrainian citizens by the Kiev regime.
On May 14−15 of this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to Ukraine. On the eve of this visit, The Washington Post wrote that he had arrived in Kiev in a critical moment for Kiev and demanded that it must hold out as long as it could. He sang a song, ate a pizza and moved on. Obviously, the situation in the front and military failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are a source of growing concern of the Joseph Biden administration. After all, they have election in the US. They will have to present to their voters certain reports on what they have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. What is the gist of President Biden’s “Ukrainian democracy” project that has turned into a global collapse? It is no accident that on May 10 of this year, the US announced the urgent allocation of a new package of military aid to Ukraine to the tune of $400 million. According to the available information, this consignment of arms will include ammunition for Patriot air defence missile systems and HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, Bradley infantry armoured vehicles, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armoured vehicles, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, fire arms and patrol motor boats, as well as equipment maintenance services and training of Ukrainian military. That’s right, of course. After all, Blinken had to bring something along. He couldn’t go to eat pizza empty-handed.
In an interview with the CBS News TV Channel on May 12 of this year, Antony Blinken spoke about the provision of US systems. He said in this context: “I'm convinced that Ukraine can effectively hold the line in the east…it can continue…to hold Russian forces at risk, including in Crimea.” When in Kiev, he reported that the US aid will be increased and will have a tangible impact in the battlefield.
In May 16 of this year, the NATO Military Committee intends to hold a meeting of NATO countries at defence minister level in Brussels to discuss further support for Ukraine. The participants are planning to discuss strategic priorities of the alliance and its partners. The agenda includes a search for and transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine additional air-defence systems and air defence missiles. Obviously, the US continues twisting the arms of its “allies” and demanding that they resolve this problem without any delay.
I will have to disappoint them because no arms will save the criminal Zelensky regime from collapse. All combat hardware sent to Ukraine will be destroyed. If someone has doubts about this, these doubts will go out in smoke after a visit to a relevant exhibition in the Moscow Park Pobedy (Victory Park) on Poklonnaya Gora. It is very popular with Muscovites and Moscow guests. I’m sure that soon it will receive new display items. I advise you to visit it.
On to a truly dreadful and criminal law that will come into effect in Ukraine on May 18 which, I believe, represents an act of genocide committed against the Ukrainian people by the Kiev regime and its backers who make it draft such laws. The issue is about a controversial law to toughen the mobilisation effort in Ukraine. We’ve discussed it extensively and answered many related questions. Essentially, in order to preserve itself and to promote the geopolitical interests of its Anglo-Saxon masters using the American money, Zelensky’s regime is sacrificing its people which are the most valuable asset Ukraine possessed until recently. Millions of people have overnight become expendables at the stroke of a pen by the head of the Kiev gang.
There are practically no obstacles left that would prevent the Kiev regime and Zelensky specifically from deliberate extermination of Ukrainians, other than those who came up with this law and are now fiercely implementing it. Frankly, I’m not sure how many Ukrainians are among them. It’s a motley bunch of people with all kinds of passports hiding behind embroidered shirts or Russian blouses. It’s a circus like you’ve never seen before. The victims are ethnic Ukrainians and Ukrainian citizens who have lived there for generations. According to this law signed by Zelensky, ordinary Ukrainians who have become slaves to Bankovaya Street will die for Ukraine, while the high and mighties will continue to live off their woe.
Notably, this law comes into effect just three days after the world marks International Conscientious Objector Day on May 15. This day was established on May 15, 1997 by none other than the Bundestag of Germany as a tribute to and condemnation of the criminal practices of the Third Reich, which brutally persecuted those who refused to fight for Hitler’s army.
Today, we see the Kiev regime employ methods similar to those used by its ideological predecessors, Nazi Germany. Yet, the “democratic” and supposedly free Europe does not condemn it. The United States and Canada simply fund the Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Indeed, history repeats itself for those who do not learn from it.
The above facts once again confirm the timeliness of the objectives of the special military operation to denazify and demilitarise Ukraine and to eliminate threats originating from its territory, as repeatedly stated by Russian leadership. All these objectives will undoubtedly be achieved.
Commemorating the 79th anniversary of Victory in Moldova
We began by discussing Victory Day in Ukraine, where Zelensky goaded police at the people laying flowers at the monuments honouring their fallen relatives and Ukraine’s heroes. Now, let’s look at what’s happening in Moldova, which has become another ground for the “democratic experiments” by liberal democracies funded by the West and implemented by Maia Sandu-led regime.
May 9 showed how far the pro-Western and Russophobic minority in power in Moldova is from the actual situation in the country and the sentiments of the Moldovan people.
Official Chisinau distanced itself from participating in the numerous events marking the 79th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It all came down to Maia Sandu almost furtively laying, in the morning of May 9 before mass processions began, a modest bouquet at the Eternal Flame and the granite steles of the soldiers who fought against Nazis.
Haste and modesty were due to the fact that the government efforts were focused on pompous celebration of Europe Day, which is also observed in Moldova on May 9. The European Village was set up on Chisinau’s central square. Its pavilions provided an overview of everyday life in EU member states. According to Moldovan commentators, the show was “weak and unimpressive.” Social media images showed small groups of people waving EU flags half-heartedly. The square hosting the evening concert, which was supposed to be a major attraction for the young people, was filled to a quarter of capacity.
In contrast, those who truly honour the memory and history of their country and the people celebrated Victory Day in Moldova enthusiastically. Over 50,000 people participated in commemorative events on both banks of the Dniester River. The Immortal Regiment and Victory March processions drew most of the participants, as did rallies at the memorials to liberator soldiers, the patriotic Candle of Memory event, car and bicycle rallies, and concerts by local performers. Eternal flames were lit at war memorials in Comrat and Orhei using the flame brought from the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War received greeting cards signed by President Putin. Victory Volunteers joined the Call a Veteran on Victory Day drive.
People ignored advisories issued by the Moldovan police not to wear the St George ribbons. According to the General Inspectorate, 189 such “infractions” were documented on Victory Day.
For the majority of the people in Moldova, Victory Day is genuinely a celebration of peace, truth, and justice. Tens of thousands of people proved by their actions that they cherish their glorious past and will not put up with the attempts to impose on them an ideology that not just contradicts, but destroys Moldova’s historical memory.
Western attempts to expropriate frozen Russian assets
Due to the lack of funds for aid to Ukraine, the West has once again intensified discussions on the expropriation of the frozen assets of the Bank of Russia with a view to using them to pay for military supplies to Kiev. In April of this year, the US passed its 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, which grants the US President the right to withdraw Russian gold and currency reserves. However, this act does not provide legal justification for such confiscation. That said, it imposes demands that are unacceptable for Russia, such as halting hostilities against Ukraine and paying “full compensation” for damages, or participating in an “international mechanism” for reparations in favour of the Kiev regime.
We are well aware that attempts to expropriate Russian assets constitute direct violations of the law in the countries and associations that intend to take such measures.
We have long been convinced that the West, having lost its ability to provide even pseudo-legal grounds for its predatory actions, has never intended to abide by international law or its own legislation. On the brink of bankruptcy and sustaining their economies by accumulating debt and seizing the material resources of others, the US and its satellites are trying to dictate their terms to the countries of the Global Majority. In a bid to preserve the waning dominance amid the rise of the multipolar world, the Westerners are openly resorting to neocolonialist measures: unilateral restrictions, weaponising reserve currencies, arbitrary freezing and confiscating the funds and property of other states, and engaging in trade wars. It cannot be ruled out that the US may simply stop paying its foreign debts, compelling others to relinquish their financial claims against Washington “of their own free will.”
Such aggressive measures are partly aimed at stifling the Global South, undermining its potential for dynamic economic development, eliminating competition and sealing the informal position of the developing world as a periphery that supplies the West with free resources and guarantees markets for its industry.
It is no surprise that advanced countries are artificially restricting access to resources from multilateral financial institutions on favourable terms for countries in need. New loans and debt relief, including to those from the International Development Association, are often contingent on the recipient countries’ willingness to align with the Western political agenda, including joining illegal unilateral restrictions. According to the World Bank, the debt of developing nations amounted to $9 trillion by the end of 2022. This figure includes the debt of the poorest countries, which reached a record $1.1 trillion, with many at serious risk of default or already in default. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports, over 12 years the aggregate debt of African states increased by 183 percent to $1.8 trillion, growing four times faster than their national GDPs. At the same time, the Kiev regime, which the West plans to continue sponsoring even after hundreds of direct and indirect injections, including with stolen Russian assets, was allowed by its G7 creditors in December 2023 to postpone its debt payments until March 2027.
The Westerners are undermining the international currency and financial system that they themselves created. They are ignoring the lawful rights and interests of developing nations. In these conditions, the future belongs to new centres of financial and economic power, such as BRICS, the SCO, the EAEU, as well as countries in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. They are ready to work together on an equal and mutually beneficial basis, without imposing ultimatums and restrictions, or engaging in illegal confiscation or theft.
Blocking and confiscating Russian assets in Western jurisdictions are illegal measures that violate the fundamental principles and norms of international law, including the principle of sovereign equality of states and the UN Charter.
We consider any encroachment on our country’s property rights and interests as blatant and cynical theft, driven by a desire to line one’s own pockets. On a broader scale, such actions represent an escalation of economic aggression and amount to an element of a hybrid war against the Russian Federation.
Russian media gets outlawed in the EU
We’ve repeatedly made it clear that our country is coming under information attacks from NATO and its individual member states. The collective institutions within the bloc are working against our nation in the information sphere.
Citing the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, Bloomberg reported that the European Union, which has effectively become NATO’s commercial appendage, is planning to ban broadcasting by several more Russian media outlets. We are clear-eyed about the fact that this agency spreads disinformation, and is also used to leak information by dedicated entities. Bloomberg is essentially being used as a gutter to spread such information. I’m not sure whether this will happen now or later, or whether there are specific decisions on the table waiting to be implemented, or if it is still a work in progress. I do not have that information.
I would like to remind the hotheads in Brussels that dozens of journalists from EU countries live comfortably and work in Russia.
I will let you in on a “secret:” each time we try to send them home in response to restrictions imposed on Russian journalists, they are reluctant to go. They may hate Russia in the articles they are paid for, but they enjoy life here. If such measures are taken against Russian journalists by the EU, collective Brussels, or individual countries, Western correspondents will have to feel the pinch of our response. Previously, they felt our love; now, they will have to face the consequences of our response. Just like we responded swiftly and severely to the harassment of Russian journalists in the past, we will do so again.
If even one Russian media outlet faces unwarranted restrictions, it will have repercussions for their colleagues (Western journalists) in Russia. This is not a threat or a warning, but a description of an inevitable scenario under certain circumstances that may be orchestrated by the West. So, we just wanted to make things clear in advance.
We are accustomed to the Western double standards, but that doesn’t mean we are willing to put up with them.
The inconsistency and political bias of the IOC leaders have plunged the Olympic movement into a deep existential crisis.
With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games fast approaching, the issue of Russian athletes participating under a “neutral status” remains unresolved. The IOC will make the final decision. IOC President Thomas Bach confessing that the IOC had asked Ukrainians to keep an eye out for Russian athletes’ online posts and media remarks for comments that could be used to justify their exclusion from the Olympic Games is highly inappropriate. That is how we worded it then, “highly inappropriate.” In fact, though, it is criminal rhetoric that is at odds with the documents regulating Mr Bach’s job. It is a collusion with the Kiev regime, which fosters racial and ethnic intolerance, aggressive nationalism, and eradication of all things Russian, including through the IOC institutions.
We believe these unscrupulous, unlawful, and immoral actions discredit the IOC leadership, undermine the Olympic Charter, and sow discord in the world sports. Is it safe to say that they discredited themselves? I believe it’s not. They have discredited themselves on many occasions. This is what this verb implies in Russian, a repetitive action. It is not about them tarring themselves for the umpteenth time, but about them destroying the Olympic movement, which they did not create.
The fundamental principle 4 of the Olympic Charter says the following, “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have access to the practice of sport, without discrimination of any kind in respect of internationally recognised human rights within the remit of the Olympic Movement.” What we see in reality is the opposite of that. Based on purely political motives, certain countries deemed undesirable by the West are effectively excluded from the global sports community through the efforts of international sports entities.
These biased and illegal double standards practiced by the IOC have been evident for decades, as international sports officials have repeatedly turned a blind eye to various hostilities during the preparations for and the holding of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. They opened their eyes only now, just one eye, in fact, since they continue to ignore other conflicts, clashes, and humanitarian disasters. Think back to NATO’s aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999, the US and its allies’ military operations in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, in Iraq from 2003 to 2011, and from 2014 in Syria. Where was the IOC then and where is it now regarding the situation in Gaza?
Developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone
There were many questions about the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. At the May 8 briefing, we explained in detail our vision of the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone.
The situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate during the past week after Israel launched a ground military operation in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah with its current 1.5 million civilian population. The hostilities are exacerbating their suffering. People are killed every day, including UN staff. There are no stable channels for humanitarian deliveries to Gaza.
All of this makes any prospects for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict and introduction of a ceasefire (something that Russia has advocated since the first day of the escalation, including at the UN) an illusion.
We see efforts to create conditions for a resumption of political settlement through direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue as the only reliable method to end the war and prevent prospective relapses into confrontation that take toll of innocent lives. This dialogue should be based on the international decisions, primarily the “two-state formula” providing for a peaceful and safe coexistence of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem and Israel.
Launching a global intergovernmental register to exchange data on cyber attacks/incidents
May 9 saw the official launching of a global intergovernmental register of contact points to exchange data on cyber attacks/incidents. This Russia-proposed initiative was consensus-coordinated by all UN member states within the framework of the Open-Ended Working Group on International Information Security. In effect, the case in point is creating a “unified service desk” that will make it possible for national security agencies to establish and maintain direct contacts in case of cyberspace incidents. Their objective is to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts in the digital environment.
Implementing this proposal is particularly important in a situation where Western countries have made it a practice to spread ungrounded accusations that the states they dislike are to blame for cyber attacks. We have repeatedly exposed this “megaphone diplomacy.” In turn, the register created under the UN auspices can and must become a channel for a depoliticised interaction between countries and transmission of technical data to identify and curtail the true sources of malicious cyber activities.
Russia will continue to work pro-actively on improving the register of contact points, primarily through specifying information exchange parameters and helping developing nations to create national rapid response teams for the eventuality of cyber incidents.
US courts acquits attacker of the Cuban Embassy in Washington
I would like to send our Cuban colleagues a message of support.
The Cuban Embassy in Washington suffered an armed attack on April 30, 2020, when an attacker used an AK-47 rifle to fire at the Cuban diplomatic mission. Luckily, no one was hurt in the attack, but the embassy building did sustain some damage. The attacker was detained and it took four long years to complete the investigation.
This drawn-out process concluded on May 1, 2024, when a US court acquitted the attacker. Despite all the evidence about the attack, the court ruled that the attacker was in a state of insanity when he perpetrated the crime, could not control his actions and could be declared innocent for these reasons.
The Cuban diplomatic mission in Washington has had to face other crimes of this kind as the United States authorities are seeking to create a threatening atmosphere in their efforts to target the Freedom Island’s government. This has become a regular occurrence. On September 24, 2023, the Cuban Embassy’s territory in Washington was targeted by two petrol bombs. It is quite telling that the US law enforcement agencies have yet to find and detain the perpetrator.
Our Cuban colleagues have shared their assessment of this verdict with the public, and we share their views. It seems that the infamous US justice system can offer immunity to anyone who targets diplomatic missions representing what Washington views as undesirable countries. This decision by the US court creates a dangerous precedent. In fact, this amounts to delivering individuals of this kind a license to kill, since they can go unpunished and even get acquitted.
In addition, this has also highlighted the obvious problems the United States has in terms of respecting diplomatic immunity, defending diplomatic missions and insuring their inviolability. We have raised this issue many times when discussing New York, Washington, San Francisco and Seattle. Let me remind you that Russia had its missions in these cities until the US authorities closed them without any legitimate reasons.
All we can do is remind the host country its duty to provide for the safety of foreign diplomatic missions present on its territory in strictly keeping with its international commitments.
We expect those in the United States who are reasonable and clearheaded to hear our message. We also want it to resonate beyond the United States across the Western countries where, unfortunately, attacks targeting Russian diplomatic and consular missions have become regular occurrences. By the same token, their authorities regularly fail to identify or refuse to hold to account those who perpetrate these attacks.
Today, on May 15, we are marking the International Day of Families for the twentieth time. It was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 47/237 of September 20, 1993, which defines families as the basic units of social life and major agents of sustainable development at all levels of society and that their contribution to that process is crucial for its success. Observing this date every year offers an opportunity to raise public awareness on family matters and spread knowledge on social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.
Russia has been proactive in supporting efforts by the international community to strengthen the role families play in society and elevate their social status. Let me remind you that the Constitution of the Russian Federation sets forth state protection and support guarantees for families, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood. These provisions form an integral part of and are fully in line with Russia’s international commitments in terms of human rights and the rights of the children, including under Article 16, Par. 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 10, Par. 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 23 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the preambular part of the Convention on the Rights of the Child of November 20, 1989, etc.
Since 2014, Russia has been implementing the State Family Policy Concept until 2025. This document aims to support and protect families, preserve traditional family values and elevate the role families play in social affairs, while also offering parents a higher profile within families as well as in society in general, preventing and overcoming hardships families face, improving their living conditions and improving their quality of life.
Russia designated 2024 as the Year of the Family as per Presidential Executive Order No. 875 of November 22, 2023.
The corresponding Action Plan provides for the following tasks: improving the social status of families with children, protecting the health of people of reproductive age and families with children, as well as promoting responsible parenthood practices and family values among young people and children.
215th anniversary of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Service
Today is another important date for the ministry. On May 15 (May 3 Old Style), 1809, Emperor Alexander I approved a submission from Foreign Minister Count Nikolay Rumyantsev on the establishment of a Consular Affairs Expedition at the Foreign Ministry. That date is considered the day of the establishment of an independent consular service in the structure of the foreign ministry.
Of course, the history of Russia’s consular relations with other countries began long before that. Russia received foreign consuls in the 16th century, while Russian consuls were dispatched abroad during the rule of Peter the Great, who proposed opening the first Russian consulate in Amsterdam in 1707. After that, Russian consulates opened in Venice (1711), Paris (1715) and Vienna (1718). But the consular offices only became an integral part of the Foreign Ministry of Russia after the establishment of the Consular Affairs Expedition. The approval of the first Consular Charter in 1820 provided a legal framework for the activities of Russian consular offices abroad.
Today, we offer consular services at 215 diplomatic and consular offices in 142 countries. We continue working consistently to expand Russia’s consular presence, primarily opening our foreign offices in regions with a large Russian diaspora and with tourist attractions.
In accordance with Article 1 of the Consular Charter of the Russian Federation, consular activities are aimed at protecting the rights and interests of the Russian Federation, ensuring that even outside Russia the citizens of Russia and Russian legal entities exercise the rights stipulated in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the universal principles and norms of international law, the international treaties to which Russia and the host country are party, and the legislation of the Russian Federation and the host country.
It should be said that in recent years unfriendly actions by Western countries have reduced the intensity of consular activities, and in some cases have led to their curtailment following the expulsion of hundreds of our diplomats and the closure of our foreign offices. This has affected ordinary people especially badly, complicating visa procedures for those who have no geopolitical interests and are not business sharks, but who simply live, travel, visit their relatives, do their jobs, and are engaged in various fields of activity. It has become much more difficult for them to receive passports and notarially certified documents. The absence of Russian consulates within easy reach has also affected foreigners who have a friendly attitude to Russia, those who are not open Russophiles and need to receive relevant documents in certain life situations. Today, it takes them longer to receive a travel visa to Russia for reasons outside the control of the Russian authorities.
Nevertheless, despite these obstacles, intrigues and even hostile actions taken to complicate the work of Russian foreign offices as much as possible, our foreign offices continue to do their job in full measure, providing support and assistance to Russian citizens living abroad.
The smooth operation of our foreign offices in the consular field is ensured by the use of flexible forms of working with people and IT penetration. Today, people can make an appointment at our consular offices and file requests for the majority of consular documents online. Offline consular sessions are regularly organised in the areas of compact settlement of Russian citizens. Today, such visits are made to the cities where our consular offices have been closed. Our next task is to introduce digital services for Russians living abroad. We are implementing a single electronic visa project for short-term visits to Russia, which is available in 55 countries.
We will continue to inform you about important aspects related to changes in the Russian legislation and law enforcement practices in the consular and related fields. We are doing this on the websites of the Foreign Ministry of Russia and our consular service, at briefings, during interviews, in our on-the-spot comments in the media and, of course, on the Foreign Ministry’s social media accounts.
I would like to extend our warm greetings to our colleagues in the consular sphere at the Central Office and abroad, as well as to the veterans of the consular service, and to wish endurance, patience and health to them and their families, who have essentially become our comrades-in-arms. I believe this is an apt word, because the situation in international affairs can be described as a battlefront, and the Russian diplomats, in particular our consular staff, are at the forefront of that battle.
I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the upcoming 4th Kostomarov Forum, which is scheduled to take place on May 22-24 at the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute. This event is organised with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and falls under the auspices of the Russian Federation’s Commission for UNESCO Affairs. The main focus of the forum will be “Language and style of media text.”
The forum participants will engage in discussions concerning the Russian language and its role in public life in Russia and other countries. Additionally, they will explore the evolution of the language in light of the technological breakthroughs of the past few decades. Leading scientists, academics, experts on teaching methodology, educators, cultural figures, writers, publicists and Russian language enthusiasts from various countries will take part in the forum. The programme will feature over 30 events, including panel sessions, roundtable discussions, seminars, conferences, presentation sessions, workshops, meet-and-greet sessions with writers, presentations of new projects and the latest research conducted by the Pushkin Institute. The 25th anniversary Cyril and Methodius Readings will also be included in the programme. The participants will focus on literary works of Alexander Pushkin in the context of his 225th birthday anniversary.
The forum’s updated programme can be found on its website. Participants can register on the website and also have option to livestream forum events.
Question: What can you say about the latest news about the start of a new phase of renovation of the Foreign Ministry building?
Maria Zakharova: Indeed, social media reported this information. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced the beginning of a new phase of restoration and renovation of the Foreign Ministry building which is a major Moscow landmark.
The historical building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers built in 1953 for the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to a project designed by architects Vladimir Gelfreikh and Mikhail Minkus. It is a complex of buildings sitting around the central 27-storey skyscraper crowned with a tower and a spire. The latter was not part of the original design. The decision to quickly and promptly build a spire was made after the construction was completed in 1953, and was followed through. Also, side wings adjoin the building from two sides. The building is a cultural heritage site.
The restoration efforts began in the 2000s with the renovation of the left wing. The design and repair and restoration work on the spire and other decorative architectural facade elements was completed in 2017. This project was unlike others. The specialists dismantled the 56-metre spire, worked on it, and then put it back in place. The decorative concrete inserts in the upper parts of the facades and the USSR Coat of Arms sculptural bas-relief were restored back then as well. In December 2017, the restorers were presented with an award for renovating the Foreign Ministry spire as the best 2017 restoration project.
In December 2019, comprehensive restoration of the Foreign Ministry’s right wing was completed. It took one year to renovate the building’s facades and historical premises, including the unique grand foyer adorned with marble columns and the grand marble staircase in the right annex.
In 2024, specialists will start cleaning the facades of the central part of the building and two 16-storey annexes. The renovation effort will include rebuilding the roof, replacing the cladding of the plinth, and restoring the historical appearance of the windows and doors. In addition, the 16-storey annex to the right of the main building, including its interior decorations, is included in the renovation and restoration plans.
The renovation will be completed in late 2030.
Question: What can you say about the statements by a number of Swedish officials regarding the Financial Times’ probe into the risks associated with acts of sabotage by Russia in Europe?
Maria Zakharova: This is another pseudo-investigation by the Financial Times and another case of unfounded Russophobic insinuations about the “hidden hand of Moscow” that takes its cue from earlier times. This time, at the behest of some people in the UK who call themselves journalists, but are not, and citing sources in Western intelligence agencies, our country is blamed for malicious derailing accidents in Sweden.
We remember Russian submarines surfacing in the capitals of landlocked Northern European countries. It turned out later none of that really happened. Now, we are supposedly derailing trains.
It is surprising to hear some Swedish officials speculating about Russia’s alleged implication in recent derailments of empty railroad cars in the northern Swedish, pardon me for being blunt, backwoods. These remarks look particularly preposterous amid chronic ailments of the Swedish transport infrastructure with regular failures in the above-ground part of the Stockholm metro in winter, frequent delays in interurban train traffic, as well as a widely covered incident of a high-speed Arlanda Express train connecting Stockholm to the airport derailing in May 2023. I’m tempted to inquire: “Is this also our doing? Or, is something wrong with the mass transit service in Sweden?”
Instead of looking for the imaginary “Russian trace/hand” in occasional transport accidents, it would be better for our Swedish “partners” to, first, focus on their own economy, which includes transport and, second, resume the investigation into actual acts of sabotage on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. It was a terrorist attack. That is exactly how it was determined. There is not a single country around the world that would claim it was not a terrorist attack.
So what do we have? Some train cars derail outside Swedish towns and culprits get immediately identified causing major uproar. According to the Swedish authorities, the accident that caused an environmental disaster in the Baltic Sea and Europe, undermined energy cooperation, and led to global economic consequences − I’m referring to the terrorist attacks on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines − does not need to be investigated. What is that? These are double standards. This is an act of complete and devastating self-incrimination. We are talking about Stockholm, but this is now typical of the rest of the Western world.
Question: How can you comment on the speech by UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Cameron at the National Cybersecurity Centre?
Maria Zakharova: This closely resembles what I have just said, while replying to previous questions. The Financial Times is actively advertising this issue. Obviously, this highlights British methods. This resembles what we are now hearing from UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Cameron and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who, if you excuse me for my explicit language, are openly lying to His Majesty’s subjects, and do this every day.
We are doing our best to disavow these things stage by stage. This amounts to downright lies and a belligerent statement by the head of the Foreign Office. We have not heard anything new. This statement fully confirms London’s commitment to a destructive line in bilateral relations. The same concerns assurances by Downing Street that the UK will continue to escalate the situation and facilitate greater international tensions.
Why are we hearing alarmist statements from the UK leadership in the past few days? This alarmism fully reflects the striving of the ruling Conservative Party to cover up their monstrous foreign policy and economic failures by the external factor and to score points by inciting global confrontation in line with the Cold War playbook.
We are witnessing David Cameron’s desire to make media statements. Obviously, he has no other achievements. Returning from political oblivion at the end of the Conservative Party rule, he should have chosen some other and more appropriate subject. He is trying to boost his party’s popularity among disappointed UK voters. They are inventing all kinds of tall tales there.
Question: How can you comment on never-ending protests in Georgia and Armenia, as well as the US and EU response to them?
Maria Zakharova: We are always saying that the domestic policy life of any specific country is an internal affair of a sovereign state. In this case, we are amazed, rather than surprised, by the “stability” of the Western response.
This amounts to yet another double standard, and this example shows everything clearly.
Official representatives of the United States and the European Union continue to attack Georgian authorities for their alleged brutal treatment of protesters. They are using different methods and noting that Georgian authorities are acting contrary to US values, and that this will not help them join the EU. They intimidate, scare and note the brutal treatment of protesters.
What do we see with regard to Armenia? Deathly Western silence, specifically, during mass arrests with the use of brute force in Armenia. It appears that they have excluded the West from this agenda. They are playing only one “tune,” as if nothing else is happening.
We can see that US and European media outlets are apparently acting on someone’s orders and are advertising demonstrations in Georgia in every way. Their high-strung news reports portray those involved in such demonstrations as heroes. In their reports and comments, mainstream Western media outlets show them as protesters acting in line with the law. They forgive them for anything, they whitewash any unlawful activities, and do not see any violations of the law.
At the same time, the mainstream Western media seems to be downplaying protests in Armenia, and they are pretending that nothing serious is happening there. Western media outlets portray these developments in Armenia as something that does not reflect the will of the Armenian nation, and they allege that outside forces are orchestrating these protests. This is surprising. These reports do not meet any standards.
To prove my point, I would like to quote Peter Stano, the Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission, and Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State. Here is what Peter Stano said: “We strongly condemn the acts of intimidation, threats and physical abuse against protesters. We call on the (Georgian) government to ensure that people's right to protest is protected.” Matthew Miller made a similar statement: “We condemn the use of violence against peaceful protests, including against journalists covering the demonstrations. Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression.”
What are they saying about Armenia or other countries? Nothing. We have repeatedly caught Western representatives red-handed, while making such hypocritical assessments. This is not just political selectivism, this amounts to manipulating public opinion in their own country, abroad and at international platforms.
Question: On May 7, speaking in an interview with Yury Dud (a foreign agent in Russia), President of Moldova Maia Sandu actually admitted that she lost the three and a half years she has been in power in vain and failed in her effort to fight corruption, improve the wellbeing of Moldovans and strengthen the democratic values. She put the blame on “external circumstances,” primarily Russia’s actions.
She also said in the same interview: “Gazprom told us that we owed it $700 million, but Moldovagas’ debt to Gazprom proved to amount to $8 million.” And, “It is one thing, if you have a business relationship and another, if they come and say: ‘This is how much you owe,’ but the debt has never existed.” Thereby she has reaffirmed Chisinau’s refusal to recognise their accumulated debt to Gazprom. What is your comment on this?
Maria Zakharova: It is a case of “two solitudes” meeting each other for an interview. A dialogue on equal terms.
People in Moldova itself have already commented on this interview, with dozens of memes appearing as a result. It is obvious that it was conceived as a pre-election publicity stunt intended to boost Maia Sandu’s falling ratings.
But it worked the other way. Her statements stunned the Moldovans, who made fun of her and accused her of incompetence and hypocrisy. Independent political observers note that the crying feature of that interview was that Maia Sandu was ignorant of facts and had to answer many questions in the sense that she “can’t recall the details” or avoid an answer altogether. Why then did she agree to an interview? Among other things, she found it difficult to name the criteria for allowing the Moldovan diaspora in some countries to vote by mail in the upcoming presidential election in October 2024 and not allowing diasporas to do the same in other countries, including Russia. This is one of the key topics in debates unfolding in Moldova today. She was unable to answer this question either.
There was an avalanche of criticism from the expert community over Maia Sandu’s allegations that the Moldovan authorities were unbiased towards the local media and averse to censorship. This called forth peals of Homeric laughter. Since 2022, 13 Russian-language TV channels and 60 internet websites have been blocked under far-fetched pretexts and without a court decision. They are preparing the ground to close another nine local TV channels and radio stations. According to Maia Sandu, these are “mass disinformation media,” while all TV channels are free to criticise her and regularly do this. In all evidence, this amounts to the Western values she is so eager to adopt.
This interview has uncovered the reasons for the rapidly deteriorating state of affairs in the Moldovan economy. The main one is incompetence.
According to official statistics, Moldovan exports declined by 12.5 percent and imports – by 7.5 percent in January and February of this year by comparison with the same period in 2023. The national debt has reached almost $6 billion, a considerable sum for a country with a population of 3 million. At the same time, trade with the EU diminished by $94 million, an indicator showing EU’s eagerness to accept Moldova in its ranks.
The economic collapse is a backdrop for the flight of the able-bodied population, primarily young people, from the country. Moldovan sources indicate that the country’s labour force was 1.4 million-strong in the in 2000. According to recent forecasts, this figure is likely to drop to 880,000 in 2024.
Recent opinion polls have shown that 65 percent of respondents view the situation in Moldova as “alarming and tense,” while 42 percent said that it looked like a “horror movie.” The level of distrust for President Maia Sandu has exceeded 60 percent. Moldovan experts note that the Moldovans associate Maia Sandu’s “European project” with poverty and lawlessness, and its real face reminds the recent Eurovision finals.
As for Moldova’s debt to Gazprom, why should we comment on all that nonsense and gibberish she attempted to peddle in the interview? The reason is that her narrative was about our country and absolutely false.
We have repeatedly commented on this topic. There were facts galore. The Moldovan authorities used the so-called “report on the historical debt audit” that the Moldovan Ministry of Energy published on September 6, 2023, as the basis for claiming that there was, in effect, no debt at all. But the report falls short of the international standards and independent auditing requirements and cannot be regarded as a proper final document of an objective financial analysis. Neither can its conclusions influence the size and justification of the debt, which has been confirmed by both documents and international arbitration decisions.
Maia Sandu’s opinion on this point does not change anything in this matter. Why did she fail to mention [these decisions]? It is unclear. Obviously, she is reluctant to talk about this.
Question: What is Russia’s stance regarding the formation of the new government in Serbia, which includes two politicians, Aleksandar Vulin and Nenad Popovic, who have been blacklisted by the United States?
Maria Zakharova: This issue pertains solely to Serbia’s internal affairs. We consistently stress that the formation of a government is an internal matter for any state, and it is for the people of that country to assess and evaluate.
Ratified on May 2, 2024, the composition of Serbia’s government reflects the freely expressed will of its citizens during the elections on December 17, 2023. There’s certainty that staffing decisions were made based on the professional experience and business acumen of each candidate.
We have perspectives to offer, albeit from another viewpoint. We anticipate that Serbia’s new Cabinet of Ministers will continue to advance bilateral relations in accordance with the Russian-Serbian strategic partnership, fostering multifaceted cooperation for the mutual benefit of our nations. Naturally, we are prepared for this. I am confident that there is no need for this reminder, but just in case, let’s dispel any doubts.
Question: What were Ukraine’s goals behind Yelena Zelenskaya and Dmitry Kuleba’s visit to Belgrade, considering Serbia’s decision not to join the sanctions against Russia?
Maria Zakharova: Regarding Ukraine’s objectives and those of the Kiev regime, it would be best to ask them. I am unable to ascertain their intentions in this matter. It’s not within our purview to address their motives.
Regarding Belgrade’s decision not to join anti-Russia sanctions, it’s worth recalling that this stance was adopted by the National Security Council of the Republic of Serbia as early as February 2022. We acknowledge and understand this position, which is evidently rooted in the national interests of the country, the opinion of its citizens, and its unique historical background.
I would like to emphasise that the Serbian leadership retains its sovereignty in deciding to abstain from joining these sanctions, which are illegitimate and unlawful. Serbia’s refusal to align with them is not merely indicative of our strategic ties with Serbia, but also reflects its refusal to participate in the West’s illegal endeavours.
Regarding contacts, it’s important to acknowledge the unconditional sovereignty of all nations. It’s worth noting that the crimes committed by the Kiev regime against the people of Donbass bear a striking resemblance to the criminal actions of Kosovo thugs against the Serbian population. Is that not so? Allow us to present the evidence. Consider the issue of illegal organ trafficking. Serbs were among the first people on the European continent to endure its horrors, discovering the truth not through cinematic depictions but from the reality of mass graves. Unfortunately, those responsible have yet to face justice, as highlighted in the memoirs of Carla Del Ponte, the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
In Kosovo, under the direct guidance of local leaders, we witness the deliberate destruction of churches. This echoes the current situation in Ukraine regarding Orthodox churches and the persecution of Orthodox Christians who refused to reject the canonical Orthodox church in Ukraine. Additionally, public figures who oppose such actions are targeted. Let’s not forget the killings of journalists who write about all this. The Kiev regime compiles lists of journalists to be eliminated. And they are killed. Remember the number of journalists who were killed during the NATO bombing of Serbia, each falling victim in different circumstances. Journalists are similarly facing threats under the scrutiny of the Kiev regime. It’s crucial to keep this in mind.
The current authorities in Kiev, including Vladimir Zelensky, his predecessor Petr Poroshenko, as well as Oleg Tyagnibok and Arseny Yatsenyuk, have never uttered a single word of condemnation, not even on the anniversary of NATO’s bombing of Serbia. Do you see? This silence speaks volumes. It’s crucial to keep this in mind.
Question: Reporters representing Western media outlets complained during a recent briefing at the European Commission that RT and Sputnik can still be accessed in European countries, even though Brussels has imposed a blanket ban on their broadcasting operations as far back as 2022. What would be your comment regarding this story?
Maria Zakharova: This is surrealism at its finest. The fact that this debate unfolded right in the European Commission building is just insane. If we are to assume that they support democracy, freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion, how can they debate this topic with journalists going bonkers in their frenzied effort to convince officials to impose an all-out informational blockade against their own colleagues?
Pro-Western journalists have been literally calling for reprisals against any undesirable media outlets. These calls came from journalists, not the police or law enforcement agencies. And it all happened within an institution which views promoting democracy, freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion as its historical mission.
This provides a spectacular symptom of how democratic values get depreciated in these countries. In fact, this amounts to renouncing these values and destroying them. The European Union has always presented media freedoms and pluralism as one of its major achievements. With this in mind, what we saw can also be described as a symptom of how low the EU has fallen.
This basically amounts to betraying and trampling upon the ideal of liberalism by European bureaucrats, as well as well-schooled media outlets which have been trained over all these years to obediently toe the line as approved by the establishment mainstream. This effort required a lot of investment. This is how these media got used to working this way. They were taught and drilled to treat Russia as a red flag, an irritant, resulting in all this anti-Russia sentiment, sponsored content and payouts taking the form of regular salaries, grants and other nifty bonuses. They could not care less that truth and accurate reporting have long vanished from the pages of their outlets.
It is for this reason that the independent journalism label no longer applies to media outlets of this kind. But there is more to this than that. In fact, the real reasons behind this debate at the European Commission are quite simple. As a matter of fact, RT and Sputnik have been quite good at competing with the biased EU media outlets. There is a natural demand within the EU audience to hear an alternative point of view. Truth be told, they have been exposed to this mainstream for all these years and have grown tired of it.
We can see growing worldwide demand for RT and Sputnik publications, as well as materials coming from other media outlets. They established themselves as sources of interesting, timely and topical reporting. Changes in the media preferences people have in these countries enabled Russian broadcasters to expand their reach and coverage, hurting the bottom line of their Western colleagues in the process. This is why they decided to send their own journalists to strangle the Russian media using political censorship, economic factors and other regulatory levers.
Our journalists have been under tremendous pressure coming from Western governments, facing all these bans and blocks, efforts to stigmatise and marginalise our media, and the horrific labels applied to them. Journalists have been suffering attacks and reprisals, both symbolic and physical. They receive threats and get beaten up when covering various events, detained under far-fetched pretexts, interrogated, etc. We see similar developments in the virtual realm: the West seeks to label them, comes up with all kinds of incredible stories about them, and disparages them all the time. All kinds of reports and papers target Russian journalists using words which never apply to media professionals from any other country. But they are an exception from this rule. They are doing everything to literally force our journalists to abandon their trade, both in virtual and physical terms. But despite all this, our journalists refuse to give up and will never do that.
They understand that there is a lot of demand for what they do around the world. The world needs unbiased reporting since you cannot simply live in a world where post-truth reigns supreme. This is why, as far as we can judge by their statements, they will carry on with their efforts to expand their audiences and work in this toxic environment, which has now become dangerous for them. The truth will find its way, and Russian journalists and media outlets, among others, will contribute to this process.
Question: Welcoming Yelena Zelenskaya to Belgrade marks Serbia’s multi-pronged foreign policy. Serbia continues to show the world, including Russia, its commitment to an independent foreign policy and its willingness to cooperate with everyone – the West, the East, Russia, Ukraine, Berlin, and Brussels. Since Serbia’s leadership is independent in its decision-making (straddling the fence, in fact), we should, perhaps, revise our approach to Serbia’s leadership and transition to market-based bilateral relations? The Russian Federation appears to be used as a source of cheap resources.
Maria Zakharova: Russia develops its cooperation with Serbia on an equal, pragmatic, and mutually beneficial foundation. We have established a steady partnership and a trust-based dialogue across a variety of spheres. We have a broad range of issues under discussion. We are fully aware of where we stand, and we act accordingly.
I came across the news about Ukraine’s business forums in Serbia. I wonder if those who plan to hold these forums are familiar with Ukraine’s economic performance and its current economic situation. Do they know what Ukraine is doing to its entrepreneurs, businesses, and its people more broadly? By receiving enormous financial injections from the West, Ukraine signs loan commitments of outlandish proportions, essentially putting up its people who are shipped to slaughter as collateral.
Let’s hope that Ukraine’s investment in the Serbian economy will match that of the US investment.
Question: The 8th China-Russia Expo kicks off in Harbin this week. It is listed among the major events in China to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. The Expo’s business agenda will focus on forming new economic growth points and promising joint ventures. What is your take on the importance of this event amidst ongoing Western attempts to impede global economic growth?
Maria Zakharova: The China-Russia Expo has emerged as a key platform for business interactions between our two countries. It is held alternately in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and Harbin, China.
This is the eighth forum which will be marked by the attendance of President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to the PRC. This underscores the importance assigned by the leaders of Russia and China to the practical ties between the two nations.
With Russian-Chinese trade expanding at a dynamic pace, entrepreneurs from both countries have been eager to take part in the Expo with over 20 Russian regions being represented alongside major companies such as Rostec, Rosatom, and Alfa Bank.
We believe that the robust business activity and intensive economic and humanitarian exchanges serve as clear evidence of sound and full-fledged efforts to develop cooperation between our countries. Leveraging the vast potential of Russian-Chinese cooperation brings substantial benefits to both sides, meaning that the attempts to artificially cap our interaction are doomed.
The sanctions policy pursued by the collective West against Russia and China has proven ineffective and counterproductive. Notably, at a special session of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh (April 28-29, 2024), Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva highlighted the fact that global trade restrictions had quadrupled in recent years with a devastating impact on global trade and the economy in general. Importantly, this quadrupling should be measured in the context of a significant increase in the number of sanctions, prohibitions and trade restrictions that were imposed in previous years and decades.
Question: On May 17, the Philippines will send up to 100 “fishing boats” as part of its “civil mission” to the waters off Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. Accompanied by the Manila Coast Guard, the “fishing fleet” plans to place several “symbolic” buoys with provocative inscriptions. Can you comment on Manila’s moves?
Maria Zakharova: This is a bilateral matter to be discussed by these sovereign states, so my comment is unnecessary.
Question: We have seen videos of Indians in the Russian army asking for help. In India, there have been arrests regarding agents who recruit Indians. How many Indians are currently serving in the Russian army and how are they recruited? Is there any government official involved in recruiting Indians for jobs in the Russian army? Does the Russian army ask them about their consent and/or inform them about their jobs?
Maria Zakharova: If you provide us with any information on this matter, I can assist in clarifying it. However, at present, I don’t possess any relevant information to offer you.
Regarding recruitment, as you said, none of the officials are engaged in such activities. On the contrary, we consistently advocate against the misuse of Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad for recruiting mercenaries into the Ukrainian armed forces. You are undoubtedly familiar with our stance through our repeated calls on this matter.
If you possess any specific information that you can share with us, I’ll review it and discuss it with my colleagues.
Question: I asked this question because in India, we have seen many videos with Indians who serve in the Russian army.
Maria Zakharova: We are unable to provide commentary on these videos until we’ve had the opportunity to watch them. We have encountered situations where we have had to release anti-fake stories in response to videos supposedly featuring Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, only to discover later that they were generated using artificial intelligence and neural networks. These videos typically take a single image and synthesise a voice, albeit convincingly, using artificial intelligence. Given our past experiences, I cannot characterise the video you are referring to without first watching it. It’s essential to view the content before offering any comment. I It’s impossible to comment without first evaluating it.
Question: Is there any update on the vostro account in rupees? We have heard that Russia is investing that amount in India. Is this true? Could you provide more details as to what you spend this money on?
Maria Zakharova: Investment collaboration stands as a cornerstone of Russian-Indian relations, constituting one of its vital components. Our partnership thrives across various sectors, encompassing industry, energy, and agriculture.
It’s undeniable that the United States has been exploiting the dollar for a long time, employing it as a political instrument. This deliberate strategy involves leveraging the dollar as a tool of hybrid warfare against nations identified as targets by the Americans.
These practices create obstacles to normal trade, financial, and economic relations. Consequently, many countries within the Global Majority, including Russia, are progressively transitioning to the use of national currencies in their transactions. This shift aims to avoid falling victim to the American strategy of weaponising the dollar and using it as an aggressive element of trade war, as well as to avoid dependence on the imperialist, hegemonistic narratives propagated by the United States.
The momentum toward transitioning to national currencies is evident from both the numbers and trends, indicating an irreversible shift. Notably, significant regional associations like BRICS, ASEAN, and the EAEU are actively engaged in this transition, as has been reiterated on numerous occasions. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided comprehensive comments on this matter in his remarks and interviews.
Question: According to the Defence Ministry, a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile hit the apartment block in Belgorod on May 12, 2024, killing 16 people. However, frontline correspondents mentioned a Western-made high-precision guided air bomb in their reporting. What will Russia do if it turns out that Western munitions were used to carry out this strike?
Maria Zakharova: What a staggering question. Is it about bringing Lewis Carroll’s writings into the real world so that I feel as if I was Alice seeing the Reuters rabbits running around through behind the looking glass? Is this why you framed your question this way? I am sorry, but this does sound absurd to me. Do you even understand the question you asked? What will happen if it turns out that a missile fragment was made in the West?
But we have been talking about Western-made missile fragments and ordnances for all these years. How about that? We have been raising this issue at international venues, and our experts have been holding dedicated demonstrations – or should I say exhibitions, even if I should not be using this word – so that international experts can see this with their own eyes. How about the fact that our Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, has been raising this issue during almost all UN Security Council meetings on Ukraine to hammer home the message that there is a real hybrid war underway and it is being fought through Ukrainian proxies. We have said many times that these munitions are the reason why civilians in both Russia and Ukraine get killed regardless of their ethnic background, including so many mercenaries from all over the world who happen to be there.
And now, two years into the war, all of a sudden, you ask this question. Why is it only today that you brought it up? You ask what will happen and what would be Russia’s response. How can you say that there has been no response on our behalf? We have been observing what was happening in Donbass for seven years and how they used all the assets they had against people there, including Western instructors – or should I say would-be instructors, since they were actually intelligence operatives, as well as sabotage, and policies bordering on genocide or even going beyond genocidal practices. They have been doing all this using Western funding and special assets of all kinds. We saw through all these actions and rang all the bells, as the saying goes, using every opportunity we had to expose these actions. We sought to promote the Minsk agreements as a way to avert actions of this kind.
There were all these Maidan uprisings with their participants receiving dedicated gear, uniforms. There were mercenaries trained in the West, as well as Ukrainian nationals trained to pose as civilian protestors while sabotaging the legitimate government. We have been talking about all of this for ten long years, and for all these years we offered all kinds of opportunities to resolve and stop this impending collapse. There were bilateral talks, followed by the Minsk agreements, and the Normandy format. There were all these endless talks of all kinds.
But when in January-February 2022, the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky ramped up the shelling of Donbass many-fold, using Western funding and Western weapons, we then moved on to defend people. We responded by offering various opportunities, including peace initiatives, political and diplomatic avenues. After that we had to defend people in Donbass from being exterminated.
If we mention the terrorist attacks perpetrated with the participation of British intelligence services against the Black Sea fleet and our ships. We immediately designated these attacks as acts of terror. I am not even talking about the role the West has been playing when designating targets and continuing this unrelenting flow of weapons.
Your question shocked me. Why did you decide to ask it today? Is that because what happened shook the world? It follows the same patterns and scenarios used by international terrorist cells in North Caucasus. Is this the reason you noticed what is going on? Or because there is a complete overlap here with international terrorism practices nurtured in the Middle East, such as ISIS and other illegal groups?
Let me assure you that this also includes terrorist attacks involving Western weapons and assets. Everything must be accounted for, not just shells, but also communications, data, information, intelligence, and instructors. It all forms a single whole. These terrorist attacks have been perpetrated for all these years.
On May 12, 2024, the Kiev regime perpetrated yet another barbaric attack against residential neighbourhoods in Belgorod. It was a terrorist attack – there is no other way to describe it. According to the Defence Ministry, Ukrainian Nazis used the Tochka-U missile systems at their disposal to perpetrate this attack, as well as the Olkha and the Czech RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket launch systems.
When Russia used its air defence systems to deflect this missile attack, the fragments from one of the intercepted Tochka-U tactical guided missiles damaged an apartment block resulting in civilian casualties. The Russian Investigative Committee’s Main Investigative Directorate opened a criminal file under Article 205 “Terrorist attack” of Russia’s Criminal Code. This unrelenting bloody effort to spread fear is designed to kill innocent people, demonstrating the criminal, human-hating nature of the Vladimir Zelensky regime and his Western backers and sponsors. They are the ones sponsoring Kiev’s terrorist aspirations and spending their resources on terrorist activities instead of investing them in promoting freedom, democracy and human rights. Otherwise, the West must use the same approach as it did regarding terrorists in the Middle East, in particular in Syria, when it designated some of them as moderate while calling others radicals. So maybe they can now label terrorist attacks along the same lines by designating some of them as justified and saying that others were not justified. They may come up with a way to rank these terrorist attacks on their infamous “highly likely” scale by, for example, creating categories like moderate, less moderate, and immoderate terrorist attacks. It is a tough question, but I would not describe it as double standards. This was a crime sponsored by the West which provided its weapons and many other assets. Ukrainian terrorism has no future, just like any other terrorism. We will make sure that all those responsible for preparing and carrying out terrorist attacks against Russian civilians face inevitable punishment. They will be held to account no matter where they are and no matter who takes them under their wing.
What surprises me the most in this context is that the entire global community expressed its sincere sorrow when numerous and regular terrorist attacks plagued Western Europe. I remember what was going in London in the 1990s very well. At the time, the British capital took unprecedented measures to find the perpetrators. You are asking me about what we will do, right? But what will the Western countries do, if the investigation finds that this terror attack involved fragments from their shells? In fact, this is a question for them. What will they do and how will they explain this to their people and their future generations that their hands are covered in blood?
You must refer your question to them. How are they spending their taxpayers’ money? They keep talking about their rejection of terrorism or refusing to sponsor terrorist regimes. How does all this relate to these statements?
Western legal experts, as well as human rights activists must consider the fact that once these crimes are investigated, and if they involved Western weapons, once we identify all those who were involved and know for sure that we are dealing with Western supplies, how will Western countries treat these crimes? This is a good question, but it is not up to us to answer it.
Question: Thank you for elaborating. To put that in perspective, I asked about Belgorod in the context of recent remarks by David Cameron who suggested that Ukraine could use Western weapons to strike targets in Russia.
Maria Zakharova: We’ve addressed Mr Cameron’s utterly insane and anti-human remarks on an earlier occasion. Not only are they aggressive and Russophobic, but they also tend to stoke conflict in Europe and globally. They have shattered the image of London as a capital of a country that respects human rights, opposes human rights violations, and is committed to counterterrorism, and now, terrorism. All of this was torn apart and largely went down the tubes following Cameron’s remarks which also voided the international law and Britain’s international legal obligations.
What made him say that? There may be many answers to this question, including the future of the party, the upcoming electoral processes, low party rankings, or his own low rankings. On top of it, it may be the desire to stoke a global crisis, considering Britain’s dire situation, its failing economy, and multiple crises it is facing. It also includes the loss of its resource base and its traditional ties, the subjugation of some countries to London and the West in general. An entire host of reasons may prompt such remarks. Most importantly, these aggressive and inflammatory remarks tend to destroy the legal and the human rights foundations underlying the state of Great Britain.
Question: Estonian president’s security advisor Madis Roll told Breaking Defence that his country’s government was considering sending troops to western Ukraine to provide combat service support to the Ukrainian armed forces, adding that direct involvement in combat operations was out of question. What will Russia do if this plan gets implemented? Will Russia consider Estonian military personnel as a legitimate target?
Maria Zakharova: Any weapons supplied to the Nazi Kiev regime are considered legitimate military targets by the armed forces of Russia and will be destroyed.
By the same token, the Russian armed forces will inevitably see foreign mercenaries as targets.
Your focus on Estonians is perplexing. Is it because you like them more or because you like them less? This goes for all countries and peoples. Please get rid of this latent racism.
Question: Do you believe President Biden’s remark about possible suspension of military aid to Israel in the event of a full-scale operation in Rafah will deter Tel Aviv from keeping hostilities on in this town?
Maria Zakharova: I’ll leave this complex back and forth between Washington and Tel Aviv for them to sort out. Let them say what they have to say and then comment on it. This question is best directed at them. We’ve already made our position on this international conflict clear. We reiterated it today.
Exporting weapons to areas of conflict is Washington’s favourite tactic. These actions by the US military-industrial complex further destabilise different regions of the world, exacerbate antagonism, fuel terrorism and extremism, disrupt the inter-religious balance, and undermine the economies and public administration institutions. Most importantly, it pushes back the moment of crisis resolution and makes it uncertain overall in the context of the unfolding Middle Eastern situation. The list of historical examples (of how the United States supplies its weapons to conflict zones) can go on indefinitely.
Question: Was Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan’s recent visit to Russia productive in terms of resolving issues in Moscow-Yerevan relations?
Maria Zakharova: The results of the meetings between the heads of state have been commented on by the Presidential Executive Office. Please see Yury Ushakov’s comment on this matter.
Question: Are there chances for political improvements in Russia-Armenia relations? Economic cooperation is there and even expands. What about the political aspect?
Maria Zakharova: Please direct your questions about these “temperature readings” to the other side. Russia has always been committed to and has operated relying on the premise of allied relations with Armenia. It was like that throughout history. Without a doubt, it’s a two-way street. We have never veered away from the chosen path. Please direct all your other questions to Yerevan.
Question: Reportedly, President of Türkiye Erdogan held an emergency meeting to address the threat of a replay of the 2016 coup. Will Moscow help the Turkish side this time, as it did in 2016 when it used its channels to help Antalya uncover the plot against the Turkish president?
Maria Zakharova: Since you reminded me of that incident, I will also remind you of the fact that it was not done publicly, not into a microphone, and not to boost our rankings or to show off. It was a constructive help through the corresponding channels. We traditionally maintain this dialogue with our Turkish colleagues.
Question: Who, do you think, might be behind the current coup plot?
Maria Zakharova: Experts from the relevant agencies and departments should comment on this information and everything related to it. I don’t have anything to share with you today, but I will get back to you with any updates forthcoming.
Question: Do the recent contacts by Russian diplomats with African leaders (in particular from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries), mean that the Russian foreign policy is currently aimed at expanding Russia’s influence on that continent?
Maria Zakharova: We do not expand influence, but rather cooperation in the African and other continents. For someone it is, possibly, one and the same thing, for others different. I do not want to compare them now. I am talking about what our country is doing – it is expanding cooperation.
Russian foreign policy, its foreign economic and humanitarian activity is currently aimed at consistent and comprehensive development of relations with Africa based on equality and mutual respect, in the vein of the agreements reached between the leadership of Russia and the African states at the Russia-Africa summits and in the course of regular working contacts. Some days ago, President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo visited our country during the Victory Day celebrations.
In November, Sochi is scheduled to host a Russia-Africa ministerial conference, where we also expect to see the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa.
I want to remind you that Russia-Africa summits started long before the present day and not as a response to illegal Western restrictions with respect to Russia and the West’s hybrid trade war against our country. We had something to offer Africa. This is why this summit format ripened then. We have held two such summits to date. In several months we will hold a Russia-Africa ministerial format meeting in Sochi.
Russia offers an honest and equal partnership without politicisation, pressure or interference in the internal affairs of other countries, including in Africa. Our country helped many states to become independent and get rid of the colonial yoke. It is universal knowledge. We develop our relations exactly along these lines. They have a solid historical basis.
Question: What can you say about the current status of Russia-Portugal relations?
Maria Zakharova: Unfortunately, I can’t say anything good. The hybrid war unleashed by the collective West against Russia has had a devastating impact on the entire body of relations between Russia and Portugal. Due to the hostile position occupied by Lisbon after the start of the special military operation and its unswerving adherence to anti-Russian actions, Russia-Portugal relations are going through the deepest crisis in its entire recent history.
All political contacts were frozen at Portugal’s initiative. Economic ties were reduced to limited trade exchanges. The Portugal-Russia parliamentary friendship group was dissolved following the decision made by the leadership of the republic’s Assembly. Interregional cooperation was curtailed. On February 20, 2024, Lisbon’s municipal assembly decided to discontinue the 1997 Protocol on Friendship and Cooperation with Moscow. The country is a scene of unbridled anti-Russia, Russophobic campaign that is fueled at the official level.
The Portuguese authorities have reduced to the minimum all contacts with the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. The Foreign Ministry of Portugal and other national central departments have actually isolated our ambassador.
Why is all this being done? It is not clear. There are many issues that our countries can and should address. But Lisbon is following its unlawful anti-Russia Russophobic course. I don’t know whether such decisions are made under pressure from NATO, EU or the United States, or this is the result of the activities by the anti-Russia lobby inside Portugal.
Let’s emphasise that this is not our choice. We are convinced that the current collapse of bilateral relations is completely at variance with the fundamental interests of the Portuguese people. We hope that eventually Portugal will make a rational assessment of objective facts of the modern world and its ongoing tectonic changes and understand the need for a gradual restoration of mutually beneficial and respectful relations between our countries.
Russia remains open to developing ties with all foreign partners, including those whom we call unfriendly regimes. I’d like to emphasise that we are talking about regimes, not about people who have fallen their victim. We are open to building relations with all countries, based on the principles of sovereign equality of states and respect for each other’s national interests.
Question: Tokyo plans to propose to Washington the concept of extended deterrence in Northeast Asia, which includes countries neighbouring Japan, especially China and North Korea. This arrangement implies the US commitment to use its nuclear and conventional forces to deter neighbours with the US nuclear umbrella. What can you say about this from the perspective of Russia’s security interests?
Maria Zakharova: I’m not sure Tokyo was the one to initiate this scheme. What we are dealing with here is Washington’s strategy of using Japan and its other satellites as obedient conduits for US interests in the Asia-Pacific region, including creating a network of US-centric configurations in the Asia-Pacific Region that are clearly aimed at putting military pressure on Russia, China, and North Korea. Clearly, such actions pose significant challenges to our national security. China will speak for itself, and we will speak for our own country. This is how things are.
We have repeatedly pointed to the serious risks to regional security and global stability arising from Washington’s deliberate actions to embroil its APR allies into increasingly destabilising extended deterrence schemes, including its nuclear component. Particularly concerning are the agreements reached by the United States and the Republic of Korea on joint nuclear planning that go hand in hand with the rhetoric about a nuclear-backed alliance, as well as the undisguised plans to make Japan part of this format. Essentially, the issue is about bringing certain elements of NATO’s nuclear sharing practices to the APR and the attempts to impart the status of a nuclear alliance modeled after the North Atlantic bloc to the emerging triple alliance of Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
All of this increases the potential for conflict in the region, heightens tensions, and provokes an ongoing arms race. Most importantly, countries like Japan and South Korea must understand that if they are drawn into these nuclear alliances, they will never be able to control the nuclear weapons involved. The lives of their people will be at the mercy of the United States’ shifting interests, as has happened repeatedly in various parts of the world.
We note that Tokyo’s increased involvement in these military interactions with the United States, amid the Kishida administration’s accelerated remilitarisation efforts, starkly contradicts Japan’s international commitments and the restrictions imposed by its Constitution. We urge Tokyo to strictly adhere to its post-war peaceful and non-nuclear status, under which Japan – thanks to the Soviet Union –joined the UN.
We will closely monitor the further evolution of Japan’s military-political and military-technical cooperation with the United States and other US allies to identify additional dangers and threats to Russia’s security. We will respond accordingly, if needed.
Question: What’s your take on the university student protests in the United States calling on Washington to stop the genocide in Gaza? In particular, the fact that the US media is using protests to create a diversion in order to discuss the protests themselves as a threat to the civil order and a manifestation of anti-Semitism instead of discussing Gaza? Some hold the view that US laws do not apply to the Biden administration, just as international law does not apply to Israel. What’s your take on that?
Maria Zakharova: Your question alone, even without my answer, contains enough material for an article.
I think the United States is simply confused when it comes to its own standards which it uses to assess particular events, rallies, and protests. It turns out they abide by the one and only standard which is what they stand to gain at a given point in time. That’s all. It is utter duplicity, a lack of standards, opportunism, a lack of conscience, morality, or honour. It’s a hideous and filthy game that they call promoting democracy and upholding human rights. In reality, though, it is just a tool that they use to implement their aggressive foreign policies.
Question: The head of the Diocese of Tavush, the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, called on the police not to use violence against the participants of a protest who want Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to step down. Will Russia, including the Foreign Ministry, come up with similar appeals to the Armenian authorities?
Maria Zakharova: I provided my comment on this issue when answering other questions earlier today.
Question: It transpired after the talks between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan that Russian frontier guards will leave their posts in several regions of Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan. That said, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov reported that Russian frontier guards will remain on the borders with Iran and Turkiye at the request of the Armenian authorities. However, Russian frontier guards stay in Armenia on the borders with Iran and Turkiye under the interstate treaty between Armenia and Russia. Does this mean that during the talks in Moscow, the Russian delegation offered Armenia to fully withdraw its frontier guards from Armenia and left them there only at Armenia’s request?
Maria Zakharova: We are seeing many speculations about the meeting between the Russian and Armenian leaders on May 8 of this year.
The assumption that the Russian delegation allegedly suggested full withdrawal of its frontier guards from Armenia is not true to facts. Other sources claimed that the withdrawal of frontier guards is taking place under the Baku-Yerevan agreements on the non-deployment of representatives of third countries at the joint border.
All these are conjectures. In reality, during the talks between the Russian and Armenian leaders, the participants discussed, at Armenia’s request, the withdrawal of Russian frontier guards from a number of Armenian regions on the border with Azerbaijan because they had fulfilled their previous missions.
Yury Ushakov made additional comments on this issue. I have already emphasised this.
Question: Azerbaijan destroyed in Artsakh one more monument devoted to the Armenian heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Replying to a similar question on February 14, you said that Russia was raising this issue and would discuss the destruction of the monuments of the Great Patriotic War with Azerbaijan. Have it been discussed? What is the result of these discussions?
Maria Zakharova: We regularly raise this issue in our contacts with both sides. Don’t think that we will miss it out.
Our approach is well known. Desecration of the monuments of the Great Patriotic War is unacceptable, no matter where they are located. Now, during the process of Baku-Yerevan reconciliation, we are urging both countries to have a careful attitude to each other’s cultural and historical heritage and not to engage in a war against monuments. This is devotion to the history of our ancestors, the formation of the atmosphere necessary for trust and mutual respect, without which peace in this region will be extremely difficult to achieve. We are conducting a trust-based dialogue with both capitals on this matter.
It would be great if you also used your information resources to draw attention to the war against monuments in other parts of the world. These are not just monuments. Soldiers of different ethnic origins are buried there and there are many Armenians among them. For many years, Russia has been the only country to rise to this battle. Please, use your resources and draw the attention of Armenian society when we are upholding monuments in Bulgaria, Austria and other parts of the world where they are desecrated. Not only Russian Ivans, but soldiers of all ethnic origins, atheists and representatives of different religions are buried there.
Recently, I talked with a soldier taking part in the special military operation. He is a representative of the Yakut people. When we started talking about ethnicities, he told me the following (I am citing him literally, without changing a single word): When you divide one wafer into three pieces to share it with your comrades in a trench, you all become brothers, regardless of your ethnic origin. That’s the way to treat it.
When we describe next time how a monument is demolished and a grave of Red Army soldiers killed during the Great Patriotic War is desecrated somewhere in Western Europe, please do us a favour and ask what representatives of your country are doing to defend these monuments together with us.
Question: What does Russia think about the most recent round of peace treaty talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia held in Almaty and, more broadly, Kazakhstan’s involvement in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement?
Maria Zakharova: We welcome the peace treaty talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia held in Almaty on May 10 and 11. They represent another step towards achieving sustainable peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus. We support Kazakhstan’s efforts in this regard and are willing to provide whatever assistance our partners may need.
Importantly, contacts in Almaty align with the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have identified the roadmap for the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation process.
Question: On May 12, Maxim Reshetnikov said that revised agreements on promoting and protecting investments will be signed this year with the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia. We understand that their main purpose is to promote bilateral investment as part of Russia’s foreign economic activities. Do you think these agreements can be seen not only as a platform for economic cooperation, but also as a window of opportunity for expanding political and diplomatic relations with these countries?
Maria Zakharova: Updating the agreements that regulate investment interaction with our foreign partners will advance Russia’s foreign economic interests. In practical terms, this involves reorienting export supplies, attracting investment into the domestic economy, and expanding our presence on the markets of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as creating the necessary transport, logistics, payment, and insurance infrastructure.
Amid the global credibility crisis provoked by the Western countries, which has accelerated the reevaluation and reformatting of the global economic relations, our absolute priority now is to join efforts with our foreign partners and to build sustainable cooperation mechanisms based on principles of constructive, respectful, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Without a doubt, these activities will contribute to strengthening political and diplomatic relations with many stakeholder countries.
Question: Why no polling stations were available in Georgia during the presidential elections in Russia?
Maria Zakharova: According to Russian law, polling stations abroad are usually established at the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Russian Federation. As is known, Russia does not have full-fledged diplomatic relations with Georgia, and the Russian side’s interests are represented by the Russian Federation Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi. Considering this, it was not possible to establish a polling station in Georgia.
Russian citizens permanently residing or temporarily staying in that country could vote in neighbouring countries, such as Armenia, at the Embassy in Yerevan or the Consulate General in Gyumri, as well as at the Russian Consulate General in Trabzon, Türkiye.
Our compatriots were informed accordingly in advance.
