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London court’s ruling on Assange worthy of system of independent justice - senator

The British judiciary system would need to test its independence after the US appeal, Konstantin Kosachev noted

MOSCOW, January 4. /TASS/. Chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev has said that the London court’s ruling blocking WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to the United States is worthy of the system of independent justice, but the British judiciary system would need to test its independence after the US appeal.

"The fact that Assange was not to be extradited is generally a ruling worthy of a system of independent justice, in this case British justice. Frankly speaking, the judge’s reason, who merely refers to Assange’s suicidal inclinations, seems a bit odd. To my mind, the UK, as a member of the Council of Europe and a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, should have referred to the impossibility of defendants’ extraditions to the countries that use the death penalty, which is to the United States," Kosachev told reporters on Monday.

Nevertheless, the Russian senator assumed that the ruling is likely to be appealed by the US.

"And in this case the reasons like ‘we will for sure keep Assange from committing a suicide’ will come into play. It means that today’s ruling is subject to legal challenge, demagogic dilution and political pressure. I suspect, by referring to the Anglo-Saxon fellowship. And how independent British justice will eventually prove to be is yet to be seen by all of us," he says.

In Monday’s hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that Assange could not be extradited to the US as there was a serious risk to his life. The judge said that the WikiLeaks founder suffered from severe depression, had been diagnosed with autism and was at a risk of killing himself. According to Baraitser, his condition is likely to seriously deteriorate under conditions of solitary confinement in the US.

The US Department of Justice has indicted the WikiLeaks founder on 18 criminal charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in jail. The charges against Assange are related to the largest leak of classified information in the US history.

The US government said it would appeal the decision, which means that the case of the 49-year-old Australian is likely to drag on for years.

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Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

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"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

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North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

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Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country

US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

Earlier, Putin stressed that the Ukrainian army is unable to fire the latest Western-made long-range missiles on its own without support from NATO satellite feeds and the involvement of the bloc’s military

Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Russian stock market indices mixed on Friday — market data

The MOEX Russia Index surged by 0.48% to 2,581.05 points

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

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"Our friends are living in the Arab world," the politician noted

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

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Bank of Russia lifts official dollar rate to 102.58 rubles for November 23-25

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Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

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Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

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Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

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Putin's speech shows West that Russia won’t waver, is ready for any scenario — expert

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WIPO members adopt Riyadh Design Law Treaty

The treaty is aimed at harmonization of national and regional laws and at unification of formal requirements to designs registration

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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Oreshnik can reach targets across entire Europe — missile troops commander

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, such behavior is "typical of the Democrats"

Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

Russia got the support of 129 countries in a November 20 vote in New York at the 40th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

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The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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Press review: Russia fires missile at Ukraine plant and Biden forgives Kiev $4.65 bln debt

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier in the day that the country’s latest Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile hit all the targets at a major Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) with its MIRVed warheads

Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

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Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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Over 1,200 children from Dagestan remain in refugee camps in Middle East

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Russia forced to roll out new weapons as West fuels conflict, Minsk says

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Putin’s recent statements reflect long-standing policy, expert says

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Kremlin clarifies notification process for Oreshnik missile launch

"An automated warning was sent 30 minutes before the launch," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

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Commissioning of Oreshnik and new developments: Putin’s meeting with defense specialists

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025

China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Putin’s remarks on hypersonic missiles send serious warning to West — Turkish politician

According to the Russian president, it can install a nuclear warhead on this missile, if necessary, Deputy Chairman of Turkey’s Patriotic Party Hakan Topkurulu said

Russia inflicts damage on gas production facilities used for Ukraine’s defense industry

Energy facilities backing Ukrainian defense industry extensively attacked