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France to recognise Putin’s “undeniable victory” and study OSCE report.

PACE notes that the election procedures met the international standards, but made it clear that Russia had not performed its international obligations in full

PARIS, March 5 (Itar-Tass) —— The French authorities stated Vladimir Putin’s “undeniable victory” in the March 4 presidential election.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said on Monday, March 5, that President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Alain Juppe would comment on the Russian election within the next several hours.

Valero said that France would continue cooperation with Russia on key international issues.

“Russia is an important partner whose support is needed for resolving the crisis in Syria,” the diplomat said.

At the same time, he said that “Paris is now studying the preliminary report of the OACE international observer mission.”

International observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that the March 4 presidential election in Russia complied with international standards but irregularities occurred all the same.

PACE member Tonino Picula of Croatia said the election procedures met the international standards, but made it clear that Russia had not performed its international obligations in full.

He said that equal conditions had not been created for all candidates.

There was no real competition in the election, he said, adding that the outcome was known well in advance.

Tiny Kox, head of the PACE observer mission, said the election was not quite fair and noted that web cameras and transparent ballot boxes could not resolve mistrust in the election and its fairness.

Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini of the ODIHR said the observations were based on the vote counting and stressed that members of local election commissions had not always adhered to the established procedures and ballots had been placed in ballot boxes unlawfully in several instances.

She said the observer mission would release the final report in two months giving recommendations to the Russian authorities.

Meanwhile, the observer mission will continue working to watch the investigation of irregularities and violations and would return to Russia in a month.

Tagliavini said it is up to the Russian people to recognise the outcome of the election or not.

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

Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

They "exchanged opinions on a wide range of pressing bilateral and international issues while focusing on the situation in the Balkans," the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN said

Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

BAM personifies giant labor and courage of two million very young people from across the entire Soviet Union, the Russian leader said

Chinese diplomat cautions US against 'demonizing' China-Russia relationship

The diplomat also called on Washington to "immediately stop imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals"

Armenia begins border delimitation with Azerbaijan — Interior Ministry

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WADA explains difference between Valieva’s case and Chinese swimmers’ violations

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Pobeda bloc expects global community to respond to struggle against opposition in Moldova

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Ukrainian troops fleeing Ocheretino in small groups, says DPR

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Russia firmly ready for peace solution in Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

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Romanian rescuers find Ukrainian deserters who spent four days in mountains

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

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

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Moscow Zoo delegation arrives in North Korean capital — media

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Top Hungarian diplomat warns US-NATO-EU competition in Ukraine could spark WWIII

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Over 280 recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

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Conflict in Ukraine can be over by end of 2025, Hungary’s Orban believes

Prime Minister said that it is possible if proponents of peace, not war, win the June elections to the European Parliament and the US Presidential elections in November

Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

Damage to TV tower in Kharkov causes problems with digital TV signal

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Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Mobilization law condition for new supplies of arms to Kiev by NATO — source

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Senior lawmaker threatens US with retaliation for 'stealing' Russian assets

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Armenians block highway to Georgia in protest of border delimitation with Baku

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Ukraine 'not in a position to win' against Russia — Spanish reserve colonel

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Armenia remains engaged with CSTO — head of post-Soviet security bloc

Imangali Tasmagambetov noted that "relations between the CSTO and Armenia, which is a member state of our organization, are far from being at their best"

Armenia purchasing only defensive weapons — PM

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Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

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Eleven Russians dead, 48 injured in Ukrainian strikes over week

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

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Russian economy to see serious structural changes — presidential aide

"The first one is the technology agenda, the very large one, with huge demands for our own small, medium and large solutions," Maxim Oreshkin said

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Value of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland drops to $6.36 bln over the year

The Swiss authorities pointed out that the value of assets of the Bank of Russia "may fluctuate in either direction, notably as a result of valuation changes on frozen securities, bank charges and exchange rate movements"

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

"There is no magic weapon, there is no series of weapons that could change this" situation for the Ukrainian armed forces, Scott Ritter said

Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated that China "is not an instigator or a party to the Ukrainian crisis and has never fanned the flames of the conflict, not to mention, used the situation for its own purposes"

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

New US military aid will not prevent end of Kiev regime — Russian mission to the UN

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Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

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Ukraine’s military intelligence chief recognizes Russia’s success in Avdeyevka

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Nicaragua, Russia sign declaration to counter illegal sanctions — vice president

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London grants agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador to UK — Ukrainian parliamentarian

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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