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UN to defend status of Russian diplomat Krasnoshchekov — spokesperson

"We stand by immunity of our personnel who is on duty. We’ve done so in this case," he said

Russian diplomat Mikhail Krasnoshchekov Pavel Bushuyev/TASS

Russian diplomat Mikhail Krasnoshchekov

© Pavel Bushuyev/TASS

UNITED NATIONS, May 31. /TASS/. The United Nations stands against stripping Russian diplomat Mikhail Krasnoshchekov, a staffer of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), off diplomatic immunity as the doctrine of persona non-grate cannot be applicable to UN personnel, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said on Friday, commenting on Kosovo’s decision to declare him persona non-grata and take him to court.

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Kosovo authorities declare Russian diplomat persona non-grata

"We note that the doctrine of persona non-grata does not apply to, or in respect of, United Nations personnel. The doctrine applies to diplomatic agents who are accredited by one state to another in the context of their bilateral relations," he said. "The United Nations is not a state and its personnel are not accredited to the states where they are deployed but work under the sole responsibility of the Secretary-General."

"We stand by immunity of our personnel who is on duty. We’ve done so in this case," he pledged.

Kosovo’s leaders claimed the Russian diplomat was trying to hamper the police operation. On Wednesday, Kosovo prosecutor general’s office said it planned to demand the Russian diplomat be stripped of diplomatic immunity and be faced with criminal charges.

In the morning of May 28, unrecognized Kosovo’s police intruded into the northern municipalities of Kosovo and Metohija. Two Serbs were slightly injured in shootouts. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said Kosovo’s police had detained 28 people, including Russian national Mikhail Krasnoshchekov, a staffer of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). During the detention Krasnoshchekov suffered serious head and facial injuries and was taken to a hospital in Kosovska Mitroivica. Now he is receiving treatment at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

Georgia’s riot police fire rubber bullets at protesters near parliament building

At least one person was injured

Over 140 people detained at Istanbul rally for resisting police — TV

Local authorities banned any May Day rallies of trade unions and political parties blocking off the square and engaging over 42,000 police officers to ensure security

Exhibition of captured NATO military hardware kicks off in Moscow

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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West plans to give Kiev not only F-16s, but also weapons for them — Pentagon

"It’s not only the airplanes, but also the training of the pilots, training of the maintenance and also making sure we have the weapon systems to go with it," US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles Brown said

Russian Defense Minister attends meeting on special military operation

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu gave instructions to take measures to reduce the maintenance and repair time for military hardware, increasing supplies of spare parts in combat zones and support areas

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Firefighting operation involved more than 70 rescuers and 19 fire vehicles

US court sentences Binance founder to four months in prison — Bloomberg

A judge handed down a much lighter sentence than the three years sought by the prosecution, the agency reported

Russia developing new combat helicopter for Airborne Force

The new chopper will be a follow-up of Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 models, a source said

US defeat in Ukraine only matter of time, says North Korean Defense Ministry official

The head of the North Korean Defense Ministry’s Department of External Military Affairs slammed the US for pushing for an escalation of the conflict and trying to change the situation in Ukraine at any cost

Police arrest over 200 people at protest rallies in Columbia University

According to the TV channel, police officers used flash-bang grenades to enter a university building where the protesters had barricaded themselves

Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

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Kiev regime’s brutality: Ukrainian POWs open up about ruthless anti-retreat squads

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Iran authorizes 130 IAEA inspectors — AEOI chief

Mohammad Eslami emphasized the continuous interaction and dialogue between Iran and the IAEA under the comprehensive safeguards agreement

Russia, Turkey to hold consultations on issues on UN agenda — Russian foreign ministry

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Syria introduces electronic visas — embassy

Syrian diplomats explained to TASS that a relevant platform will issue visas online, obliterating the need to visit an embassy or a consulate

Armenia, Russia in dialogue to resolve problems in relations — top Armenian diplomat

Some issues require complete mutual understanding, but Isuch problems exist in any relations, said Armenian Foreign Minister Aarat Mirzoyan

US Congress passes bill to ban enriched uranium imports from Russia

It now needs to be signed by US President Joe Biden

Majority of Germans against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine — poll

37% favored such supplies

NATO has had no designs against Russia, will never have them, Blinken claims

During the July 2023 summit in Vilnius, NATO leaders called Russia "the most serious and direct threat to security"

Houthis attack two commercial vessels, two US destroyers

Movement’s representative Yahya Saria said that the Ansar Allah delivered drone strikes on two US destroyers in the Red Sea. According to him, the hits "reached their targets"

Ukrainian suicide drone attacks village in Belgorod Region

Two passenger cars were damaged

Protest rally against Poland’s military support for Kiev held in Warsaw

The organizers noted on the X social network that the rally is attended by several hundred people

Russian drone operators destroy Ukrainian positions near Semyonovka, Spornoye

Troops of the combat group "South" destroyed Ukrainian positions near two settlements

Russian flag hoisted over northern outskirts of Rabotino in Zaporozhye — politician

Rogov remarked that there were no houses left in the village now, for which reason it made no sense to fortify positions there

West bears responsibility for Afghanistan’s plight — Russian delegation

As the Russian delegation’s spokesman emphasized, "the determination of the Afghan authorities to correct the human rights situation in the country as a whole deserves support"

Musk says Ukraine should have reached agreement with Russia in Istanbul

Musk responded that he saw eye to eye with billionaire David Sacks, who said on the social network X that Kiev probably should have agreed to a deal in Istanbul

Musk sees plans for ten-year security agreement for Ukraine as ‘insane’

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said earlier that Ukrainian and US officials were discussing the amount of military, financial and other aid to Kiev for the next ten years as part of talks on a bilateral security agreement

Putin makes 90-year-old writer, US resident Garri Karolinsky Russian citizen

According to media outlets, Garri Karolinsky resides in New York and in recent years, at the invitation of the Russian side, has participated in the Congress of Compatriots in Moscow and in compatriot forums held in Crimea

Police detain 63 people at protest rally in Georgian capital

Six operatives of the Interior Ministry sustained various serious injuries

Report on alleged North Korean missile in Ukraine made by non-field experts — UN source

"There were three experts: on finance, general issues and the nuclear program", the source said

New York resident pleads guilty to conspiracy to smuggle drone technology to Russia

According to the US Department of Justice, the man may face up to five years in jail

Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

Deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Yury Popov also said that during the day, no shelling attacks on the positions of government forces were reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone

German minister highlights Soviet troops’ role in liberating Auschwitz-Birkenau camp

According to German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, the lesson of National Socialism is that war must never happen again

Tucker Carlson interviews Russian philosopher Dugin

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G7 agrees to work toward transitioning away from Russian gas imports

In a separate statement, the Group of Seven reaffirmed its commitment to reduce reliance on civil Russian nuclear-related goods

Police using tear gas against protesters in Tbilisi

Police are trying to push the protesters off the building

Panic on frontline growing on Ukrainian side — Kremlin

Russia must support the current dynamics in the special military operation zone, Dmitry Peskov said

Ukrainian command throws unfit soldiers to front line in Ocheretino, POW recounts

Alexander Vedernikov was mobilized for military service in the Rovno Region as "relatively fit" and had not received any special training

Serbia may have to chose between EU and BRICS in future — President Vucic

According to the Serbian leader, Belgrade will stick to the European path

Voting on foreign agents law in third reading due in two weeks — Georgian PM

"In two weeks from now we will have the third reading. After that in a month, in four weeks’ time, a procedure to override the veto will follow," Kobakhidze said

Death toll in China highway collapse climbs

At least 24 people were killed

Russian troops recover first Abrams tank from special military operation zone

It will be put on public display at the Patriot Park on Poklonnaya Hill

Top security official advises West to keep door open for joint research work with Russia

Nikolay Patrushev cited recent research showing that a simulated eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, which has shown increasing signs of active volcanic status over the years, and what consequences such a natural disaster could potentially leave in its wake

Example of Great Patriotic War veterans inspires amid current trials — Putin

President expressed hope that the festival would arouse great interest among the participants and become a bright event among the events dedicated to Victory Day

Foreign agents law to accelerate Georgia's European integration, prime minister says

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US undermines participation of Russian representative in UN Committee on Information

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges all parties to work for a ceasefire and lasting peace

Russia’s Battlegroup East takes new positions near Ugledar — top brass

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Riot police break up protest rally near parliamentary building in Tbilisi

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Russian drivers bought 500,000 baseball bats last year to settle road disputes — police

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Russian forces strike Ukraine’s Operational Command South headquarters

The enemy’s troops and military hardware had been hit in 112 districts

Russian cutting-edge missile frigate holds artillery firings in Arctic drills

"The combat exercises were conducted in the Barents Sea waters closed for shipping," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Latvia must name countries that allow Ukraine to hit Russia — MFA

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UN chief calls for letting int’l investigators to sites of mass graves in Gaza

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US authorizes energy-related transactions with Russian banks until November 1

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Russia’s Battlegroup East improves positions in DPR, hits roughly 100 Ukrainian troops

Ukrainians lost two pickup trucks and two US-made 155mm M777 howitzers

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Russian air defense forces block Ukrainian attempt to use ATACMS on Crimea — politician

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Russia opposes idea to pass resolution on Srebrenica at UNGA — Russia’s UN envoy

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Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

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Medvedev vows Moscow's response to US law on seizing Russia's frozen assets will sting

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Prosecutors call to arrest one of Russia’s richest men over alleged alcohol smuggling

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Lavrov informs Tajik counterpart about terrorism-prevention measures in Russia

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"