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Probe launched into how Navalny used his donations

According to the investigation, Navalny spent over 356 million rubles collected as donations for his personal needs

Alexei Navalny Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Alexei Navalny

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. The investigators have initiated a criminal case against blogger Alexey Navalny over charges of embezzlement of 356 million rubles worth of donations to a number of his organizations.

"The Main Investigative Directorate of Russia’s Investigative Committee collected enough information to initiate a criminal case against Alexey Navalny and other people over signs of [fraud on especially large scale]," the Investigative Committee said.

According to the investigation, over 588 million rubles were collected as donations for a number of non-profit organizations. These funds were purposed exclusively for the operation of Navalny’s foundations.

"According to the investigation, Navalny, the de-facto leader of mentioned organizations, acting together with other people, spent over 356 million rubles out of this sum for his personal purposes: purchase of personal property, material values and payment for expenses, including vacations abroad. Therefore, the money collected from the citizens, were embezzled," the Committee said.

An investigation is underway, the investigators seek to identify everyone involved in the scheme.

Georgian foreign ministry condemns pressure on its diplomats abroad

According to earlier reports, Georgia’s ambassadors to Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States tendered their resignation amid protests in Tbilisi

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

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Syria’s new government wants to build strategic relations with Turkey

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Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

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Rutube sees prospects in BRICS countries — Gazprom Media

Rutube has already evolved into an international platform, Alexander Zharov emphasized

FSB posts video of saboteurs eliminated at border of Russia’s Bryansk Region

The four saboteurs eliminated by Russian troops were presumably citizens of third countries, as evidenced by their personal items

Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

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Iraq receives over 1,000 Syrian army troops — media

According to the Iraqi News Agency, "the soldiers were welcomed and provided with required assistance"

Syrian president stays in Damascus, carries out his duties — presidential office

On November 27, the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group (banned in Russia) carried out a major attack in northern Syria

Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

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West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

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Air raid alert issued in six Ukrainian regions

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US administration believes Assad may lose power next week — media

There is a growing consensus within the US administration that such a scenario is becoming increasingly likely, an unnamed US official told CNN

Commander Makarov was killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attack — ministry

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

Russia continues to provide military assistance to Syria — Lavrov

"It is not our business to forecast," he said

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Israeli delegation discussing in Doha ways of reaching deal om Gaza — TV

The Al Arabiya television channel said that, citing a source

Oil supplies to Hungary via Druzhba pipeline resume — top Hungarian diplomat

Reuters reported earlier that oil supplies to Belarus and EU countries via Druzhba had been suspended on December 19 due to technical problems

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

More than 107,600 people received wounds

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

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Putin describes ban on Russia’s use of US dollars as ‘complete foolishness’

The Russian president pointed out that this desision damaged the US economy and undermined the power of the United States across the world

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Putin agrees 'Russian world' now faces war

The Russian leader also agreed with Sergey Mironov, head of the "A Just Russia - For Truth" faction in the Duma, who said that "the birth rate is insufficient, because the matter concerns extinction"

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Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

According to the Houthi spokesman, the strike on US vessels was delivered with the use of "eight cruise missiles and 17 drones"

Lavrov describes attack by insurgents in Syria as carefully planned

"We will oppose this in every possible way. We will support the legitimate Syrian government. And at the same time, of course, we will actively advocate the need to resume dialogue with the opposition, as required by [UN] Resolution 2254," Lavrov continued

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

During a "Direct Line" Q&A session combined with his annual press conference on Thursday, Putin clarified that he had not yet met with Assad after his arrival in Moscow but plans to speak with him

Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Russian cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveyev complete spacewalk ahead of schedule

It is reported that the crew feel well

ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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Press review: Dubai hosts nuclear powers' meeting as OSCE preps Ukraine for EU and NATO

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 12th

Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

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Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

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The search effort is hampered by foul weather, blizzards and low clouds

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

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Russian President also said that he had handed down direct instructions to produce and test-fire the Oreshnik hypersonic missile

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

This was Putin’s first personal meeting with Fico since 2016

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

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Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

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"We’d better wait for the meeting to end to learn what they discussed," he Dmitry Peskov said

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According to the source in the Kremlin, Russia has granted asylum for Syria’s former President Bashar Assad and his family members

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According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has several closed-door meetings slated for December 22

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod

According to the source, various trials of core components of Poseidon underwater drones, including the nuclear power

Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

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Putin says he is always ready to talk to or meet with Trump

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Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

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Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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Syrian militants come close to Damascus — report

Syrian army units withdrew from some suburbs of the Syrian capital, Al Jazeera said

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

Press review: Israel and Hamas near a truce while Zelensky drafts a new negotiation plan

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 19th

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

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Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

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The previous generation of Russian politicians chose the course towards the country’s destruction for the sake of joining the so-called civilized world but this was what the West wanted, President Vladimir Putin

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel