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Defence ministry official accused of corruption pleads not guilty

The defendants' lawyers said they believed the trial would run fast

MOSCOW, May 15 (Itar-Tass) — The Moscow District Military Court /MOVS/ began substantive hearings on Tuesday of the case against two former Defence Ministry officials, accused of corruption.

After the prosecutor read the indictment, former head of the Ministry's main medical department /GVMU/ Maj-Gen Alexander Belevitin pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his deputy Col Alexei Nikitin pleaded guilty.

The defendants' lawyers said they believed the trial would run fast. "We'll be trying to make sure that the court passed an unbiased and legitimate verdict," they said.

The MOVS refused to meet the petitions by the defendants' lawyers to hold the trial in camera and release Belevitin and Nikitin on bail. Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin earlier said there had been "attempts to obstruct the probe."

The officials received 180,000 euros /7 million roubles/ from representatives of two commercial firms for their assistance in concluding state contracts for the supplies of tomographs to the Defence Ministry.

"Experts said the equipment had been purchased at overstated prices for 187 million roubles, which caused a 51-million-rouble damage to the state," the investigators said.

The preliminary investigation was conducted by personnel of the main military investigator’s office for ten months. During this time, the investigators conducted 100 questionings and 30 expert examinations.

The SK enlisted the help of specialists from offices of Philips Medical Systems, Siemens AG and General Electric.

The criminal case comprises 54 volumes.

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 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

Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

Russia’s top diplomat noted that Josep Borrell may made the statement in a moment of weakness

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

This measure is not a prohibitive one and will make it possible to make competitive conditions equal for Russian producers, the ministry said

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

The tragedy occurred near the village of Priyutnoye located on the border of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region

Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

Viktor Orban believes the first phase of the conflict, which included proposals on sending troops to Ukraine, is over

Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

In 2023 the Russian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, Alexey Overchuk said

BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index edged up by 0.44%, the RTS Index surged by 1.13%

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

According to the president, this step will help strengthen his country’s defense potential and contribute to bolstering the national armed forces’ capabilities

Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

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

Russia’s export duty on wheat to be $37.42 per metric ton from April 24

The floating duty on Russian grain exports is effective from June 2, 2021

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There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

The group contains US finance and justice ministers, representatives of Australia, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, as well as the European Commission

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

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that "Ukrainian negotiators came and said that, for example, on the issue of maneuvers with the participation of third countries, let's replace the wording 'if all guarantor countries agree' with 'unless the majority agrees'"

Blast rocks military base south of Baghdad — Reuters

According to the news agency, one PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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Court arrests another man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

Ivan Paskar is charged with illegally transporting explosive substances, but he does not recognize his guilt

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

World’s anti-doping agency WADA still waits for Russia’s 2023 financial contribution

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said in February that the Russian side had agreed with WADA to pay the membership fee for the year of 2023

Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

The Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that Switzerland is on board with all Western sanctions

Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

Stoltenberg said NATO believes Ukraine has the right to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

Ukrainian POW exposes poor battlefield performance of NATO-supplied Javelins, NLAWs

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

No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

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Death toll in Gaza Strip since tensions escalated exceeds 34,000 — Health Ministry

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Armenia has to define CSTO’s zone of responsibility on its territory, says Lavrov

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

According to Faustin-Archange Touadera, since becoming the president, his actions have been guided by the need "to modernize the army and take into account new challenges"

US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Grossi ignores ‘elephant in the room’ in Zaporozhye nuke plant situation — Russian envoy

Dmitry Polyansky noted that the IAEA chief is being very cautious about the issue of attacks on the nuclear facility

BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that BRICS nations have already established a special channel for information exchange between their central banks

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

According to the foreign minister, Russia has decided not to depend on the West in all spheres, including those in which it can limit the country's development

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

Participation in ‘Columbine’ movement may result in life sentence — Prosecutor General

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

"The Hungarian community’s opportunities to use its native language in the fields of education, culture, media and self-governance have been significantly limited," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto specified

Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

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Drones downed over Isfahan cause no damage, says Iranian foreign minister

It is reported that several drones had been intercepted by the national air defense forces over Isfahan

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Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

The process is largely driven by increasing contribution of developing countries, Alexey Overchuk said

Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

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Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

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Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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About 30 events in 26 countries to be held as part of Russian Film Festival — minister

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

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Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

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Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

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Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

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

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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

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Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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