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COUNTRY INSIGHTS

US sanctions 45 Russian entities
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 22 Dec 2020

On December 21 the Department of Commerce imposed sanctions on Russian and Chinese entities. Most of these are companies. The Russian companies are not allowed access to particular kinds of technology. The list of companies that manufacture aircraft, rocketry and nuclear energy is much longer tha...

Chinese lawsuit against Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 22 Dec 2020

On December 17 investors from China launched a legal action against the Ukrainian Government. They brought a USD 3.5 billion arbitration case. Kyiv refused to allow the aviation engine manufacturer Motor Sich to be sold to the Chinese. The US lobbied hard for Kyiv to do this.Skyrizon is the organ...

Russia bans flights from UK for a week
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 21 Dec 2020

On December 21 Russia took a snap decision to ban all flights to and from the United Kingdom. The ban takes effect at midnight on December 22 and will last until December 29.Many countries have prohibited flights from the United Kingdom owing to the new and more virulent strain of coronavirus tha...

Russia send soldiers to Central African Republic
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 21 Dec 2020

On December 21 Russia dispatched troops to the Central African Republic (CAR). The reason is ostensibly to forestall a putsch planned for the upcoming weekend. Rwandan troops joined the Russian mission.The CAR accused the erstwhile president Francois Bozize of planning a forcible seizure of power...

US closing last consulates in Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 20 Dec 2020

On November 19 the US announced that it will close its consulates in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg. The only US diplomatic mission left in Russia shall be the embassy. The US said the decision was taken for the sake of security.The decision emphasizes how Russo-US relations are at their lowest eb...

US accuses Russia of gigantic cyberattack
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 19 Dec 2020

On December 19 the United States said that Russia had carried out a cyberattack on several government agencies.On December 17 Microsoft said 40 major customers were attacked with malware. This enabled the attackers to gain access to systems. Electric power grids were among the systems exposed. 80...

Russian National Guard to assist Belarus
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 18 Dec 2020

On December 19 an agreement was signed empowering the Russian National Guard to operate in Belarus. The stated objective is to combat ''terrorism''.In August the two governments contemplated the deployment of the Russian Police to Belarus. Since then the situation seemed to become more placid. Ho...

Two-year sports ban for Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 18 Dec 2020

On December 17 the Court for Arbitration in Sport announced that Russia would be prohibited from taking part in international sports. This two-year ban will prevent Russia from participating in the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021 and the Winter Olympics in 2022.The CAS had initially decided ...

Putin urges food price cut as economy struggles
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 17 Dec 2020

Putin called upon stores to reduce food prices. Unemployment was up to 6.3% in October. Salaries have been slashed by 5% in 2020.The price of sugar rose 70% from January to November 2020. Other basic foods have seen price rises only a little less drastic.The government has resisted a second lockd...

Nord Stream 2 construction hampered by technical difficulties
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 16 Dec 2020

Russia is determined to complete the undersea gas pipeline to Germany in 2021. US sanctions have meant that most suitable ships cannot be hired for this.A Russian nuclear powered ship due to take part in the construction cannot participate in the project due to suffering damage. It needs repairs....

New Russian aircraft engine has its maiden flight
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 16 Dec 2020

On December 15 an MC-21 passenger plane flew for the first time with a Russian made engine. Rostec has been keen to promote domestically made aircraft engines. The engine used was a PD-14. An MC-21 is a plane made by Irkut which is owned by Rostec. The plane can also use a US made engine: PW 1400...

Azerbaijan claims 4 troops killed on border
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 15 Dec 2020

On December 13 Baku said that 4 of its soldiers were killed by Armenians. Armenia has not confirmed this. Baku has not provided any corroborating information such as the location of the deaths. Baku and Yerevan have exchanged accusations of breaking the ceasefire. The Armenians said that the Azer...

Swiss sanction Belarus
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 14 Dec 2020

On December 12 Berne announced that it was freezing the assets of President Lukashenka, his son Viktar and 13 other senior Belarussian officials. Those on the list are prohibited from entering Switzerland including in transit. Switzerland has traditionally been strictly neutral. It is sea change ...

Christmas comes early for Ukraine with World Bank loan
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 14 Dec 2020

On December 12 it was announced that the World Bank is lending Kyiv is USD 300 million. The loan is aimed to help low income people. The economy has been roiled by coronavirus. Up to 23% of people in Ukraine are in poverty. Unemployment has spiked. A loan due to be granted in April 2021 is being ...

Russian and British coronavirus vaccines may combine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 12 Dec 2020

On December 11 it was announced that the maker of Sputnik V will join forces with AstraZeneca to try to make a join coronavirus vaccine. The British coronavirus vaccine is made at Oxford. The Gamaleya Research Center developed Sputnik V. The state run laboratory's vaccine has met with widespread ...

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