Free Republic

Russia has denounced moves in Estonia, a former part of the Soviet Union, to criminalize public displays of Soviet symbols. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin described the draft law, which would equate Soviet and Nazi symbols, as "blasphemous." The Estonian government on November 30 approved the bill and sent it to parliament for adoption. The amendment bans the public display of symbols including the Soviet hammer and sickle and the Nazi swastika, saying these emblems incite hatred.

Tbilisi. April 27 (Prime-News) – Further expansion of NATO and affiliation of Georgia and the Ukraine will make Russia increase its military expenditures, Mikhail Kamynin, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia says. Russia has questions to NATO with regard to possible deployment of military bases in its new member states, in particular in Romania and Bulgaria, Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying by RIA Novotsi. "We hope that the alliance will observe its political and legal commitments in terms of military restraint when deciding on the deployment of the bases, and in particular the commitment not to...