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Over 106,000 foreigners become Russian citizens in January-March 2023

The majority of those who became Russian citizens were Tajik nationals, followed by Ukraine and Armenia

MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. More than 106,000 foreigners were granted Russian citizenship in the first three months of 2023, or 35,000 less than in the same period last year, according to the Russian interior ministry’s statistics released on Friday.

Per the ministry, the overall number of those who received Russian citizenship in January-March 2023 was 106,320 whereas last year the figure was 141,663.

The majority of those who became Russian citizens were Tajik nationals (44,900). Tajikistan is followed by Ukraine (22,000) and Armenia (8,900). The top ten also includes Kazakhstan (6,900), Kyrgyzstan (5,400), Uzbekistan (4,700), Azerbaijan (3,700), Moldova (3,100), Belarus (2,400), and Turkmenistan (912).

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The embassy made the statement after Russian Ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky was summoned to the Czech Foreign Ministry

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Slovakia’s charge d'affaires to attend inauguration of Russian President — TASR

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IDF said it was delivering targeted strikes on Hamas facilities in the eastern part of Rafah

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Putin’s inauguration to be aired at noon on May 7 — TV channel

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Sri Lanka decides to keep free visas for tourists from Russia, six other countries

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French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

Earlier, media reports said that France had sent 1,500 troops to Ukraine, citing a statement by former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Stephen Bryen

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The politician also wrote, "In hostem omina licita," a Latin phrase that can roughly be translated as "everything is legal if it is done to an enemy"

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France not at war with Russia — Macron

"We are also not seeking a change of power in Russia," the French leader underscored

Israel’s operation in Rafah comes as response to attack on border crossing — diplomat

Yulia Rachinsky-Spivakov said that Israel, together with its international partners, has created a humanitarian zone, providing safety and vital infrastructure for displaced Gaza residents

Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

Russian troops to practice employing non-strategic nuclear weapons in missile drills

The missile drills will aim to maintain troop combat posture and will also come as a response to inflammatory statements and threats by some Western officials against Russia, the ministry specified

Launch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner manned spacecraft postponed

The decision was made due to problems in the oxygen relief valve of the Atlas V carrier rocket, manufactured by United Launch Alliance

US election results to not affect desire to inflict strategic defeat on Russia — Lavrov

No matter who wins the election, Russia is "by and large the enemy," the minister said

Russian forces knock out Ukrainian troops from two strongholds in LPR — expert

The situation near Belogorovka remains "stably tense," Andrey Marochko said

Draft Israel-Hamas deal envisages release of all hostages

During phase one of the agreement, Hamas undertakes releasing 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of a a large number of Palestinians kept in Israeli prisons and detention centers

Talking about sending troops to Ukraine Macron diverts public attention — Donetsk leader

Denis Pushilin highlighted that France needs to restore order, to deal with the sentiments, protests, changes that are now taking place in France itself

Russia's opponents tried to destroy it from within, but failed — Putin

The President stressed that the result of anti-Russian sanctions turned out to be "exactly the opposite of what was expected"

Chinese President Xi supports Olympic truce initiative for 2024 Summer Games in Paris

Chinese President Xi Jinping is traveling to Europe for the first time in five years and he has scheduled visits to Paris, Belgrade and Budapest upon invitations of the leaders of France, Serbia and Hungary

Macron’s Ukraine troop talk ego-driven, not strategic — Marine Le Pen

The head of the parliamentary faction said she is convinced that the conflict in Ukraine "is not a war for France," and stated that she opposes the admission of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO

Infrastructural facility damaged after Ukrainian drone attack — official

Emergency teams will start recovering efforts after agreeing upon with the Russian Defense Ministry, Vyacheslav Gladkov noted

FACTBOX: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biography

Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces

Putin’s inauguration kicks off in Kremlin

The main event will be held at the Grand Kremlin Palace but parts of it will take place outside at Cathedral Square where the Kremlin Presidential Regiment will march following the ceremony

West recognizes deteriorating situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

Western countries need to think how not to lose to Russia in the conflict, the minister said

US may send troops to Ukraine if Kiev defeated, Democratic leader says

The US House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also pointed out that a pro-Russian faction in the Republican Party is gaining momentum, which he accused of delaying the approval of additional funding for Kiev's military needs

Russian military intel declassifies WWII documents, hands them over to Victory Museum

"This is the first time in history that reports of the heads of military intelligence and cipher telegrams from foreign hubs in Germany on preparations for an attack on the Soviet Union are shown here," Igor Kostyukov said

Macron’s aggressive rhetoric baffles even his allies — diplomat

"Very often France’s allies from the UK and Germany, as we understand, try to get clarifications as to what the French leadership means, without getting a direct answer," Maria Zakharova pointed out

UK ambassador leaves Russian MFA after being summoned

The diplomat, who spent more than 30 minutes at the ministry, provided no comment as he was leaving

Zelenodolsk shipyard floats two warships

Project 22160 ships are designed to guard and protect maritime economic zone

Vladimir Putin to take his fifth presidential oath

Polish judge asks for political asylum in Belarus

Tomasz Szmydt noted that he currently considers returning to Poland impossible, including due to safety reasons