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Crimea and Sevastopol

Russia has no intention to pay compensation for Crimea, senior MP says

The Czech president said earlier that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s decision on handing over Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 was a mistake

MOSCOW, October 10. /TASS/. Russia is not going to pay any compensation for Crimea, including compensation to Ukraine as Czech President Milos Zeman has suggested, the chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Committee for International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, said on Tuesday.

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Czech president calls Crimea’s reunification with Russia ‘accomplished fact’

"Crimea is already an accomplished fact," the Czech leader said at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), adding that Russia could pay compensation to Ukraine "in financial form or in oil and gas."

"We can only welcome the statement of Czech President Milos Zeman who acknowledged in actual fact Crimea’s accession to Russia as a fait accompli. However, his suggestion to pay compensation to Ukraine in this or that form is wide open to criticism," Slutsky told reporters. "Russia will not pay anything to anyone," the senior parliamentarian stressed.

Speaking at the PACE session, the Czech politician said Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s decision on handing over Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 was a mistake. "Nikita Khrushchev made an unpardonable stupid thing, and many politicians acknowledge today that Crimea cannot be returned to Ukraine," Zeman said.

Zeman cited former German President Joachim Gauck as saying: "If we want to take Crimea and return it to Ukraine, this would mean a European war." According to Zeman, this is impossible.

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German politician admits Crimea being part of Russia is fact of life

"We should avoid a European war, and you should understand this," he said.

Following the February 2014 coup d’etat in Kiev, the authorities of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol held a referendum on March 16, 2014, on reunification with Russia after sixty years under the sway of Ukraine. More than 80% of registered voters came to the polls and of that number, 96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol voted in favor of reunification.

On March 18, 2014, President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty on accession of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, and both houses of Russian parliament ratified it on March 21.

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Foreign policy Crimea and Sevastopol

Military operation in Ukraine

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

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

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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

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

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

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Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

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The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

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Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

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Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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

He also revealed that some weapon batches contained anti-armor systems whose service life had expired

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

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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

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

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

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported