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Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated Europe on Saturday for "Russophobia" and criticized the Baltic States over human rights at the unveiling of a World War Two memorial. -snip- In his speech, Putin also lambasted the Baltic States over human rights. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - ruled from Moscow during the Cold War but now members of the European Union and NATO military alliance - have been among the strongest critics of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Did a Rssian precision strike supposedly destroyed an underground "NATO command center" in Ukraine earlier this month, with "dozens" of Western officers and military personnel purportedly killed in the "Kinzhal" (or "Dagger) missile attack. At least, that is the claim circulating on some social media channels, including those known for spreading pro-Kremlin talking points and Russian propaganda. In some cases the claim was supported by a photo of the supposed strike site, showing large-scale devastation and a burned-down building.

On Sunday, October 23, Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Annunciation Cathedral of the Diveevo Convent and called upon the faithful to pray for the secession of hostilities to St. Seraphim of Sarov, whose name is inseparably linked to the history of the Convent. "Today our Fatherland is going through a test caused by Russophobia, by the evil views, evil thoughts and evil will aimed at Russia. There is an idea right now is the high time to do away with Russia altogether. And why so? Because our view of the world, of God, of mankind is contrary to their, because it...

Russian nationals living in Estonia will have their firearms forcibly confiscated by the police if they refuse to hand them over voluntarily under a new law. The gun confiscation measure will also apply to Belarusians living in the eastern European country. The government has finalized the details of the bill and it will be put before the legislature, after which it is expected to be voted into law. ...

Eldar Gadzhiev’s heart sank when he heard the sputtering from the engine of his Skoda one day in April. Gadzhiev, who owns a fleet of four cars that he leases as taxicabs in Moscow, knew it was a terrible and expensive time for a breakdown. Prices for spare parts, if you even could find them, had spiralled out of control since Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine two months earlier. “I understood that I was in a bad situation,” he said. “I thought: the repairs are going to cost as much as the car.” Dealerships were useless, he said....

The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters and said it was toughening penalties against Russian banks in retaliation for “war crimes” in Ukraine....In addition to sanctions aimed at Putin’s adult daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova, the U.S. is targeting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; the wife and children of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and members of Russia’s Security Council, including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister.The penalties cut of all of Putin’s close family members off from the U.S. financial system and freeze any assets they hold in the...

A young Russian pianist who was set to perform with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra this week has been struck from the schedule after protest. However, the orchestra maintained its praise for 20-year-old Alexander Malofeev, who has been outspoken against the invasion of Ukraine, where he said he has some family members. "The OSM feels that it would be inappropriate to receive Mr. Malofeev this week," wrote a spokesperson for the orchestra, Pascale Ouimet, in a statement. "We continue, however, to believe in the importance of maintaining relationships with artists of all nationalities who embrace messages of peace and hope. We...

Six men sat down for a business meeting on the morning of October 18 last year, amid the hubbub and marble-columned opulence of Moscow’s iconic Metropol Hotel, to discuss plans for a “great alliance.” A century earlier, the grand institution was the scene of events that helped change the face of Europe and the world: Czarist forces fought from inside the hotel as they tried and failed to hold the Bolsheviks back from the Kremlin in 1917, and it was here, in suite 217, that the first Soviet Constitution was drafted after the revolution succeeded. The six men — three...

The chief paradox of the upcoming elections in Russia is that everyone knows who the winner will be but no one knows what his policy will be – or even whether it will be completely 'his.' After establishing “a personalist dictatorship, Putin has watched as his system has drifted into one in which he will remain president, but “groups of siloviki” will fight over the spoils. Putin’s inability to protect members of his elite from the consequences of Western sanctions has given rise to this situation. Those sanctions have already led to the failure of three of the 15 largest...

Recently within the American conservative and Christian zeitgeists I have noticed a growing positive view of Vladimir Putin and desire for a U.S.-Russia Christian military alliance against Islamic terrorism. As both a conservative Christian American and a policy specialist on Russia and Eastern Europe, this is a perilous line of thinking. The growing trend among conservatives to support Putin’s Russia is problematic because Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) engage in activities that run directly contrary to U.S. national security objectives, values of Western civilization writ large, and teaching of Christian scripture. Perceptions that Russia is...

Neocons, the Inquisition, Russophobia and Lies By Julio Severo A charge of “liar” is a very serious charge. In his article “Putin’s Paid and Unpaid Liars,” Cliff Kincaid, a Catholic neocon, levels this charge against Don Hank, an evangelical conservative. Kincaid’s contention with Hank is over Malaysian flight MH17, destroyed last year in eastern Ukraine, killing all 283 passengers. Hank opined, in an e-mail group, that there are doubts about the culprit in this case. For Kincaid, there are no doubts now that the Dutch Safety Board has issued a report indicating that a Russian BUK missile is to...

Pro-Putin history textbook 'response' to Russophobia: editor Thu Dec 27, 2:54 AM ET A new Russian history textbook that reportedly praises President Vladimir Putin and justifies Stalin's dictatorship is a response to anti-Russian tendencies abroad, Kommersant daily quoted the controversial book's editor saying Thursday. "I have analysed books on Russian history in neighbouring countries and came to the conclusion... that our neighbours excel at educational Russophobia," the editor, Alexander Filippov, was quoted as saying. "The Russian people is presented as a source of all evil. It was necessary to respond," he said. The newly approved textbook, "Russian History 1945-2007," is...

THE Russian ambassador has triggered a new stand-off with Britain by accusing the police of treating Russian residents and tourists like the mafia. Yuri Fedotov said that “Russophobia” was leading to problems ranging from discrimination in shops and restaurants to serious assaults. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Fedotov, a former deputy foreign minister who was posted to London in 2005, said: “Maybe that is as a result of this stereotype that any Russian is connected to the mafia.” An estimated 400,000 Russians live in Britain and many of London’s most expensive properties are owned by super-rich businessmen such...

On Wednesday December 14 an event occurred which does not leave much space for doubts that the “gas blackmail” exercised by Russia has got nothing to do with the gas itself. The “Gasprom” stand with regard to the price of gas had undergone a miraculous change. The price that the Russian monopolist is demanding for its product has gone up from $160 per 1000 cubic meters to $230. This means that a fair price is absolutely out of the question if to consider the Russian motivation in this matter. Simply because prices for such a commodity never undergo rapid changes,...