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Opposition should be able to control elections - Putin

"It is necessary to make it so that regional election commissions feature all political forces represented in the parliament," he said

MOSCOW, December 15 (Itar-Tass) —— The opposition should have an opportunity to control elections, and election stations should feature all parliamentary parties, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during a Q&A session on Thursday.

“The opposition should have an opportunity to control fully everything happening at election stations, and it is quite possible to do with web cameras,” he said.

“It is necessary to make it so that regional election commissions feature all political forces represented in the parliament,” Putin said.

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Georgian president says she will veto law on foreign agents

According to Salome Zourabichvili, she is certain that the parliamentary majority will override her veto

US not going to be in armed conflict with Russia — official

The President of the United States has made that very clear

Russian state companies invested almost $10.72 bln into digitalization — Minister

The most important is the fact that Russian solutions account for more than 85% of expenses, Maksut Shadaev noted

Avtostat revises new car sales forecast to 1.5 mln in Russia this year

According to the best case, the Russian car market may soar by 65% to 1.75 mln cars

Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

White House effectively rules out option for US forces to intercept Russian missiles

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden had made it clear that the United States would not take on a combat role in Ukraine

Romania now hosts as many as 11 F-16 jets for training of Ukrainian pilots

The ministers expressed their willingness to find a way for the center to continue to operate beyond 2025

Shoigu calls to urgently launch production of medical robots

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Iran may break through Israel’s air defenses in major attack by drones, missiles — expert

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Number of people convicted of high treason in Russia last year revealed

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Iran says it won’t prevent return of Russian sailor from seized ship — MFA

The Russian Embassy in Tehran keeps the issue under special control, Maria Zakharova said

Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

"Taking into account the fact that Canberra does not intend to give up its anti-Russian course and continues to introduce new sanctions, work on updating the Russian stop list will continue," the ministry said

Humanitarian efforts in Gaza doomed without durable ceasefire — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya is convinced that the work of the UNRWA is indispensable under these circumstances

UN concerned about 'increasingly dangerous rhetoric' in Middle East, official says

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes," including an attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus

Israel says its jets attacked Hezbollah air defense site in eastern Lebanon

I"DF soldiers recently carried out strikes to eliminate "an immediate threat" in the Qawqaba area in southern Lebanon," Israel Defense Forces said

Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

Inflation in Russia down to 0.12% over week — statistics

Inflation stood at 7.83% in annual terms as at April 15, 2024

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

US deliberately fuels tensions in Asia — Russian envoy to Washington

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

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VTB CEO calls for SWIFT to be fully abandoned in payments

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Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

Meanwhile, Slovakia supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

Russia to scrap moratorium on intermediate missiles if US deploys them anywhere — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

Russian software sales soaring over last four years — Minister

The number of employees in IT companies increased by 1.5 times over four years, Maksut Shadaev said

Georgian protests against foreign agent bill reek of US influence — Medvedev

"The experienced and all-too-familiar Hollywood touch can be seen behind these rallies," the politician pointed out

Iranian president warns of 'terrible response' to any action against country

Ebrahim Raisi opined that the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole "failed to fulfill their minimum legal obligations to condemn the [Israeli] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus"

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Shoigu tests commando vehicle, calls for additional machineguns

The Russian defense minister "personally tested the special transportation vehicle and its running qualities"

Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 7.83% over week — Economy Ministry

Prices slowed down to in their growth to 0.1% during the reporting week

Former Ukrainian MP sees Zelensky turning into 'usurper' after his term expires

The legitimacy of the authorities is a hot button issue in Ukraine, where parliamentary and presidential elections are prohibited during martial law

Severstal to unveil Q1 dividend recommendation on April 23

The quarterly cycle of information disclosure is convenient for the company as a matter of principle, Nikita Klimantov noted

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Israel plans to send 'painful message' to Iran in response to attack — newspaper

According to the report, Israel’s war cabinet will meet on April 16 for a third straight day

Russian forces pummel Ukrainian army, equipment in 133 areas over past day

Russian troops took better frontline positions in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

Earlier on Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament passed the foreign agents bill in the first reading

Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

According to Rada Deputy Speaker Alexander Korniyenko, some of the law’s provisions will take effect after its publication, while most of them will enter into force in a month

Israel planned to strike back at Iran on April 15, but decided to postpone, Axios reports

Israel told the US administration about the decision to wait, according to a US official

Ovechkin may beat legendary Gretzky’s goal record starting next NHL season

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Both main US parties threatened Telegram, co-founder says

"So we got two letters that said: whatever we do, we would be violating the US Constitution," Pavel Durov said

Roscosmos chief notes high quality of Vostochny space center’s construction

Yury Borisov said that the space facility’s launch pad bore practically no visible signs of the recent Angara-A5 carrier rocket’s launch

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

EU summit urges to provide air defense systems and all necessary military aid to Kiev

The document also says that the EU and its member states will step up humanitarian support and civil protection assistance to Ukraine

Decision on peacekeepers’ pullout made by top leadership of Azerbaijan, Russia — official

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Russia maintains constructive dialogue with both Iran, Israel — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov mentioned a recent phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Volume of frozen Russian assets in Germany reaches around €3.9 bln

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Turkish foreign minister urges West to stop Israel, prevent war in region

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Envoy reports dozens of Russians killed in Ukrainian attacks in past week

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik, over that period, Ukrainian troops fired "at least 1,362 munitions" at civilian facilities

Xi Jinping proposes four principles for resolving Ukrainian crisis

The Chinese leader had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukrainian crisis with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on an official visit to Beijing

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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Press review: Iran fires back at Israel and Russia, West spar over AI rulebook

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 15th

Ukraine to lose at least 10 mln citizens over mobilization law — political scientist

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According to Denis Pushilin, it is too early to say when the city could be liberated

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russian PM signs off on plan for regions to accommodate evacuees from Palestine

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Lavrov states West’s growing concern about BRICS plans to develop own financial tools

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Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

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Shoigu visits presentation of over 30 promising weapons, including robotic vehicles

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Press review: Israel mulls response to Iran's strike and Ukraine plays shot-caller with US

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Hezbollah fires rockets at Israeli barracks in Shebaa Heights

Anti-tank guided missiles hit an artillery battery in Al-Samak in the Kfarchouba hills

Russia shares counter-UAV experience with CIS

In February-March 2024, the Military Aerospace Defense Academy held training of CIS specialists in counter-drone fight

Russia, CIS partners to hold air defense exercise in 2024

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Gasoline output in Russia up 12.1% week-on-week on April 1-7 to 845,900 tons — statistics

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Erdogan accuses Israel of seeking to spread conflict throughout entire region

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Russian security official vows 'well-deserved' punishment for those behind Crocus attack

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Hamas grateful to Erdogan for his support — TV

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Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

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Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

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Almost 3,000 shots fired at Russia’s Kursk Region during military operation

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Russian security chief urges measures against 'ethnic enclaves' in Russia

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Press review: US throws Russia New START curveball and Washington's aid balancing act

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 17th

Kiev’s attacks on Zaporozhye nuke plant result of impunity encouraged by US

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the attacks on the nuclear facility "must be stopped"

Russia restores gasoline production after decline — Energy Ministry

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Water level in Kurgan to hit historical maximum in few days

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Iran withdraws officers out of Syria due to Israel’s potential strike — newspaper

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EU isolated in its ‘blossoming garden,’ reluctant to let strangers in — Russian diplomat

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US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

Peacekeepers fully accomplish mission in Karabakh, Russian senator says

According to a statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh

Funding needs to be restored to UNRWA before end of investigation — Russia’s UN envoy

"Investigation should be objective and based not only on data provided by Israel but also on Palestinian information", Vasily Nebenzya said

US retrieves weapons previously banned under INF treaty — Russian ambassador

Anatoly Antonov emphasized that such steps were another powerful blow to strategic stability

Russia assumes that Security Council will soon return to Gaza ceasefire issue — diplomat

"Ramadan has passed, and the question of a long-term ceasefire is once again very acute," Vasily Nebenzya said

US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

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G7 seeks to accelerate supplying air defenses to Ukraine — sources

The Kiev regime has long insisted on Western partners supplying it with more effective air defenses

Combined heat and power plant damaged in Ukraine’s Sumy

Details are unknown

Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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US believes that Russia tested 9M729 missile for range beyond 500 km

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No snap elections before delimiting borders with Azerbaijan, Armenian PM says

Nikol Pashinyan said about it, replying to a question from a resident of the borderline village of Berkaber about the necessity to hold snap elections before delimiting the border with Azerbaijan

New US bill calls for $26 bln in assistance to Israel

The bill also includes a proposal to earmark $2.4 billion to fund US Armed Forces operating in the Middle East in response to threats against Israel

Putin pardons 52 female convicts — Kremlin

First and foremost, the pardon covers women with minor children, pregnant women and women, whose relatives are involved in the special military operation

Situation with air service between Russia and Dubai stabilizing — air transport agency

Domestic airlines completed about 30 flights between airports in Russia and Dubai

Only information resources of foreign web hosting companies blocked in Russia — watchdog

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Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

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EU leaders call upon all Middle East stakeholders to show maximum restraint

The European Union is also poised to impose new sanctions on Iran, related to drones and missiles