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NAVALNY'S ALLEGED POISONING

Diplomat takes Paris to task over its refusal to respond to Lavrov’s message on Navalny

According to the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, the Russian top diplomat mentioned neurologist Vitaly Kozak’s letter about inconsistencies in the allegations about the blogger’s poisoning

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TASS

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Moscow was bewildered by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s refusal to provide an answer to a verbal message by his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the issue of Alexey Navalny, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Friday.

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"We were perplexed by the clearly expressed refusal by the French side to give any answer to Sergey Lavrov’s verbal message to the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. A reminder that Sergey Lavrov’s verbal message regarding neurologist Vitaly Kozak’s letter about inconsistencies in the allegations about Navalny’s poisoning was conveyed to the addressee on February 15. It is well known that France has so far not responded to either Russia’s formal request of September 16, 2020, to provide the blogger’s test results or to the query by the Russian Prosecutor-General’s Office of September 18, 2020, on mutual legal assistance in accordance with the relevant European convention," the diplomat specified.

According to Zakharova, Russia views that not only as "Paris’ use of the all-too-common double standards," but also as disregard for fundamental diplomatic courtesy. "Without bothering itself with any substantiated explanations, Paris became just an active participant in the information crusade of pressure on our country. You need to stand by your words, so would you be so kind as to do that. Follow your glorious traditions, not the infamous traditions of the collective West of recent years," Zakharova concluded.

Navalny’s ‘poisoning’ saga

Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny was hospitalized in Omsk on August 20, 2020, after he suddenly felt ill during mid-flight while traveling from Tomsk to Moscow. He fell into a coma and was then hooked up to a ventilator. Later on, he was taken to Berlin and admitted to the Charite clinic. On September 2, the German government claimed that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been allegedly exposed to a nerve agent belonging to the Novichok family.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was ready to fully cooperate with Berlin. He also pointed out that Russian doctors had detected no traces of poisonous substances in Navalny’s body.

IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

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Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

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Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

According to Sumantra Maitra, Washington’s move will not improve Kiev’s situation

US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

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Elon Musk denies his impact on Trump’s decisions on nominates for cabinet positions

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Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

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Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

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According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

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"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Russia counts on West's responsibility in nuclear deterrence issues — Kremlin

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed to update the country’s nuclear doctrine, the Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence

Official declines to say if US gives Ukraine targeting data for Storm Shadow missiles

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also declined to discuss the presumed first strike on Russia with the missiles

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

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The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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Japanese lawmaker urges global condemnation of decision on missile strikes on Russia

Muneo Suzuki described Joe Biden’s decision as "dangerous and provocative"

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

According to the latest version of the document, the core principle is that nuclear weapons are a last resort to ensure the protection of the country’s sovereignty

US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

"Experts are well aware - and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this - that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce these weapons," the president said

Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"