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Post by blindpig » Tue Jul 15, 2025 4:44 pm

TRUMP ESCALATES UKRAINE WAR – PUTIN ACKNOWLEDGES REALITY IS TURNING OUT TO BE MARXIST

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By John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with

There is only one way to interpret the meaning of the carefully scripted, rehearsed, memorized , sloganized, and repeated words which President Donald Trump announced in his Monday meeting with Mark Rutte, the Dutch ex-prime minister and now Secretary-General of NATO. They mean the opposite of what he thinks he is saying; and he cannot comprehend either the difference, or that they mean nothing at all. Between meaning that is false in fact and meaning that is non-credible to a friend or foe, Trump’s brain cannot discriminate; does not comprehend.

By Russian as well as Anglo-American neurological and psychiatric standards, this man is a certifiable maniac.

The strategic problem this poses for Russia’s military and political decision-makers, according to a source in a position to know, is that Trump’s mental disability is not that he is lying – he doesn’t aim to deceive. Rather, he is clinically incapable of understanding the logic, the evidence, the weight of options, and the sequence and consequence of actions. He cannot think; ergo, he cannot negotiate in good or even bad faith. He is, according to this Russian neurological diagnosis, a mentally incapacitated brain with only one reflex – the use of force to compel capitulation or effect destruction.

Trump said it himself during his 34-minute press briefing yesterday (July 14) with NATO Secretary-General, ex-Dutch premier Mark Rutte. “[President Vladimir Putin] fooled a lot of people. He fooled Bush. He fooled a lot of people. He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden. He didn’t fool me. But what I do say is that at a certain point, you know, ultimately talk doesn’t talk. It’s got to be action.”

By action, Trump told Rutte, “we make the best and we’re going to be sending the best to NATO, and in some cases, to maybe, at Mark’s suggestion, if we go to Germany where they’re going to send early on missiles and they’ll be replaced and NATO is going to take care of it…we’re going to make top of the line weapons and they’ll be sent to NATO. NATO may choose to have certain of them sent to other countries where we can get a little additional speed where the country will release something and it’ll be mostly in the form of a replacement…we have the best equipment in the world. We make equipment like no other. You know, our submarines, nuclear submarines are so powerful, they’re the most powerful weapon ever built. And we have the best in the world by — they’re [Russia] 20 years behind 25 years behind us. We have the greatest equipment anywhere in the world. I just hope we don’t have to use it.”

Rutte acknowledged that the new US arms to be supplied to the Ukraine will include both Patriot missile batteries for air defence, as well as long-range missiles. “You,” Rutte to Trump, “are the most powerful nation on Earth, the most powerful military on Earth. But given that, the US has decided to indeed massively supply Ukraine with what is necessary through NATO. Europeans are 100 percent paying for that. And what we have been doing over the last couple of days is talking with countries…it will mean that Ukraine can get its hands on really massive numbers of military equipment both for air defence but also missiles, ammunition, etc., etc…this afternoon, Boris Pistorius, the German defense minister is visiting Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense and we’ll discuss also I think on this whole Patriot thing. Norway is involved. So that’s on the Patriots. But this whole deal is also about missiles or ammunition. So it’s broader than Patriots…I can tell you that at this moment, Germany massively but also Finland and Denmark and Sweden and Norway, we have Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, they all want to be part of this and this is only the first wave. There will be more. So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need so that we can make packages.”

Trump added that President Putin is “pleasant” to talk to but not “serious”. After Putin delivered last week (July 10), through Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a revised set of end-of-war proposals which Secretary of State Marco Rubio called a “new idea, new concept”, Trump doesn’t dismiss them so much as indicate that he does not know what the July 10 proposals are, or how they differ from those tabled by Russia in Istanbul of June 2

In Trump’s recall, as he reports himself, there have only been his telephone calls with Putin. He does not remember anything else.

“I [Trump] speak to him a lot about getting this thing done and I always hang up and say, well, that was a nice phone call, and then missiles launched into Kyiv or some other city. And I said, it’s strange. And after that happens three or four times, you say, the talk doesn’t mean anything. My conversations with him are always very pleasant. I say, isn’t that a very lovely conversation, and then the missiles go off that night. I go home, I tell the First Lady, you know, I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation. She said, oh, really, another city was just hit. So it’s like, look, he’s — I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy.”

Trump is repeating himself. “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” he said at a cabinet meeting on July 9. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless” – Min 5:26.

Rutte spoke for Trump when he dismissed the 33-point Russian negotiating memorandum of June 2 because the messenger, head of delegation in Istanbul Vladimir Medinsky, was “this historian, explaining history of Russia since 1250…So if I was Vladimir Putin today and hear you speaking about what you were planning to do in 50 days and this announcement, I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously than I was doing at the moment, if I was Vladimir Putin. But when I’m Ukraine, I think this is really great news for them.”

At NATO prompting, the Trump Administration has now dismissed the Russian terms of June 2 and the new July 10 Lavrov proposals as perfunctorily as the Biden Administration dismissed the proposed treaties for the US and NATO, which Lavrov’s ministry submitted on December 17, 2021.

Those were the final terms before Russian strategy was compelled to pre-emptive and preventive war, but on Putin’s orders, that was a “special military operation” short of war.

Moscow sources now say that on the evidence of Trump’s latest statements, he will not negotiate on any terms Russia has already submitted or will submit. He can only understand terms of capitulation he dictates himself. But even those ceasefire and peacemaking agreements Trump claims the credit for negotiating himself are garbled in his recitation of them. In addition to the Pakistan-India, Israel-Iran, Congo-Rwanda and Serbia-Kosovo agreements he has mentioned before, he told Rutte he is now claiming credit for two new ones he hasn’t mentioned earlier – for which there is no evidence at all.

“We solved another one, one that we just seemed to have Armenia and Azerbaijan. It looks like that’s going to come to a conclusion, successful conclusion. We worked on Egypt with our [their] next-door neighbour who is a good neighbour [Ethiopia]. They’re friends of mine, but they happened to build a dam which closed up water going into a thing [sic] called the Nile. I think if I’m Egypt, I want to have water in the Nile and we’re working on that one. It’s a problem, but it’s going to get solved. They [Ethiopia] built one of the biggest dams in the world, a little bit outside of Egypt. You know about that. You’ve been hearing about that one and that turned out to be a big problem. I don’t know. I think the United States funded the dam. I don’t know why they didn’t solve the problem before they built the dam, but it’s nice when the Nile River has water. It’s a very important source of income in life. It’s the life of Egypt and to take that away is pretty incredible, but we think we’re going to have that solved very quickly. So we do good.”

Trump’s references are to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) which has been built between 2011 and 2023, on Ethiopia’s Blue Nile River, east of the Sudanese border, and 2,500 kilometres upstream from Egypt. China was involved in the financing; the US was not. Ethiopia’s conflict with Egypt over the dam can be followed here.

Trump’s recall of the GERD project was from a meeting he had a month ago, on June 18, with Ethiopia’s newly appointed ambassador to the US, Binalf Andualem. The Ethiopian press agency reported the meeting briefly. Trump ignored it in his tweet record, and there is no reference to the meeting in the official White House calendar for the day. Click for a brief review.

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Left, President Trump in the Oval Office on June 18 with Ethiopian Ambassador Binalf Andualem.

Russian sources also believe that Trump’s incapacity is well understood by his own officials – the subordinates he has appointed, and the staffs under them – to be as useful to them for continuing their war against Russia as it was for their predecessors to have under the President Joseph Biden who was incapacitated by Lewy Body dementia associated with his late-stage Parkinson’s Disease.

The mental incapacity of a US president is not exactly a new problem for the Kremlin. It was last recognized in Ronald Reagan during his first term — as early as April 1981, after Reagan had survived a gunshot wound and two hours of surgery under general anaesthesia. But at that time, the Soviet Politburo was already in the Afghanistan War and struggling with the incapacities of Leonid Brezhnev, Yury Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko. Compared to the Polish mania of Zbigniew Brzezinski who had triggered the war in Kabul in 1979, the Reagan succession was a small relief for the Kremlin.

In strategizing for Russia’s defence, President Putin has always opted against deterrent, preventive or pre-emptive military measures, insisting on more time, and allowing the oligarch constituencies surrounding him to persuade against recognizing the US war as a permanent threat to Russia.

Putin has just admitted this in a television interview on July 14. “I thought that the contradictions with the West were primarily ideological,” he said. “It seemed logical at the time – Cold War inertia, different views of the world, values, the organization of society. But even when the ideology disappeared, when the Soviet Union ceased to exist, the same, almost routine deviation from Russia’s interests continued. And it was not because of ideas, but because of the pursuit of advantages – geopolitical, economic, strategic. The world respects only those who can protect themselves. Until we show that we are an independent and sovereign power that stands behind our interests, there will be no room for anyone to treat us as equals.” Source: https://t.me/s/zarubinreporter — translated here.

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President Putin in interview with Pavel Zarubin, July 14. Source: https://x.com/onlydjole/status/1944402835988201736

This is Putin’s acknowledgment, without his using the Soviet terminology, that it’s not his fault that reality turns out to be Marxist – the famous quip of Che Guevara.

The General Staff reaction to Trump’s new 50-day deadline for Russia to capitulate is to anticipate an escalation in US force. According to a source in a position to know, “50 days means special ops, attacks [inside Russia] within the next few weeks. That’s Trump’s bluff. Any escalation from Trump will get Oreshniki. Otherwise we will keep grinding away, hit new targets. Americans and Europeans, too. But both sides would like the full-fledged war to be delayed and try to win now through deep destructive strikes. On our side, there is a huge sense of relief that the war continues. Everyone wants peace but no one wants not to win.”

Whether or not Trump has agreed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to supply long-range offensive missiles for the Germans to operate in the Ukraine against Russian hinterland targets is not yet clear. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was at the Pentagon while Rutte was with Trump at the White House, but the press release from the Pentagon omits detail. “Beside bilateral topics,” Pistorius told Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, “we will have the opportunity today to discuss some of the key security challenges we face together, strengthening NATO and enhancing our collective defence capabilities, which is really a relevant challenge, maintaining our steadfast support for Ukraine in its courageous fight for freedom and sovereignty, and addressing regional security dynamics in key regions like the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.”

In advance of his arrival in Washington, Pistorius telegraphed his Ukrainian arms plan. “‘We only have six [Patriot systems] left in Germany,’ Pistorius said, adding that two others had been lent to Poland and at least one was always unavailable due to maintenance or training. ‘That’s really too few, especially considering the Nato capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can’t give any more…Pistorius said he would discuss a proposal he made to Hegseth last month to let Germany buy two Patriot systems from the US for Kyiv…Pistorius said Germany would not deliver its long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine despite a wave of recent Russia air attacks and a renewed request from Kyiv.”

https://johnhelmer.net/trump-escalates- ... e-marxist/

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Can an Examination of Social Issues Reveal the Ideology Trying to Resolve Them?

Putin held a meeting on social issues
Karl Sanchez
Jul 14, 2025

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Putin on far left out-of-picture, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov and Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, left to right.

A debate of sorts has arisen regarding Russia’s ideology, which was the focus of the Gym’s previous article and the topic of today’s Moon of Alabama article, whose commentary is all over the place. Oddly, few if any want to engage the source and the argument that a nation’s deeds can reveal its ideology. Putin’s meeting to examine social issues, primarily health care and demography issues a few days after a long discussion about education, ought to shine some light onto the ideological issue and perhaps solve it. The meeting lasted about 40 minutes, so let’s see what it reveals:
V. Putin: Tatyana Alekseyevna, did you want to start with the results of the Year of the Family? Let's do that.

T.Golikova: Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich. As you remember, we summed up the results of the Year of the Family at a meeting of the State Council at the end of the year, and in general, we note quite serious and positive changes in the focus of our citizens on having children and on large families.

In line with the instructions you have given, and in pursuit of the main national goal of preserving the population and improving health, well-being, and family support, we have adopted a new strategy for implementing family and demographic policies and supporting large families. We are currently working with the expert community, citizens, and our regions to develop a plan for implementing this strategy.

I would like to say that, of course, the main legacy of the Year of the Family and the development of the strategy that I mentioned, as you instructed, has begun to implement four national projects that are under our supervision and are aimed at achieving the national goal.

This is probably the most extensive national project, "Family", which amounts to almost 18 trillion rubles over six years. Then there is the national project "Long and Active Life", which is another 2.1 trillion rubles. The national project "Personnel" is worth 114 billion rubles. And the national project of technological leadership "New Technologies and Health Preservation" is not as large, with a budget of 38 billion rubles, but the main thing is not the budget, but the result that we want to achieve through the implementation of this national project, as it aims to address the challenges of regenerative medicine, active longevity, and extended longevity. I have already discussed this national project and its objectives with you.

At the end of last year, when you held a meeting of the State Council, you gave us an order to implement additional measures that need to be implemented in 2025 and 2026.

What do I mean? I mean that we have made a decision – and this will be implemented as of September 1, 2025 – that young women who are enrolled in full-time education will no longer receive maternity benefits based on their stipend, which is relatively small at two to five thousand rubles, but instead will receive maternity benefits based on the minimum subsistence level set in their region of residence. This means that we are moving away from the two to five thousand rubles, and the maternity benefit will now be around 90 thousand rubles.

In addition, the Government has recently approved draft laws, which have been submitted to the State Duma for adoption. These laws relate to changes in the pension provision for mothers with many children. Previously, we counted one and a half years of work experience for every four children, but now this six-year limit has been removed, and the number of children will be counted in the work experience.

And another measure that we have adopted and included in the draft law is a measure that equates the Mother-Heroine with the Hero of Labor in terms of benefits. This will mean that they will receive 72,000 rubles per month, or if they want, then they will be able to receive benefits in kind if they make such a choice. Once they reach retirement age, they will receive an additional 32,000 rubles to their pension.

At the same time, I would like to say that we have made a decision to recalculate pensions, not from the date of the law's entry into force [to recalculate from scratch].

In addition, I would like to say that starting from January 1, 2026, the so-called family tax payment [a refund or deduction] will be made for the first time based on the results of 2025. You may remember that when we modernized the tax legislation, we made this decision regarding income tax. What is important? According to our calculations, this payment will affect almost ten million children from 4.2 million families. In terms of scale, it is comparable to the single allowance, because the single allowance is also received by ten million children today.

And I would like to add, before I hand over the floor to my colleagues, that Anton Olegovich could say a few words about the Family National Project in addition to what I have already said. As you instructed, the Family National Project has implemented a new demographic support form since January 1, 2025. We have allocated 75 billion rubles (12.5 billion rubles annually) until 2030 to support the demographic measures that the regions of the Russian Federation consider crucial for their regions. At the same time, 41 regions were included in this support, which have a total birth rate below the national average in 2023.

We have created a so-called demographic menu of ten measures that are most frequently asked about by our citizens, and as part of this demographic menu, we have suggested that the regions take these measures into account in their demographic support programs. We now know what decisions the regions have made and what they consider to be important.

I would like Anton Olegovich to say a few words about what we are doing for large families and what measures will be taken. Then Mikhail Albertovich will talk about healthcare.

V.Putin: Good. But before we pass the floor, colleagues, we discuss demographic issues regularly, and we probably remember well the famous song from Soviet times, when girls came to the dance and some of them stood aside, because “according to statistics, there are nine guys for every ten girls.” I understand that our statistics have changed, and we now have a shortage of women.

T. Golikova: By the way, there were a little more boys born in 2024, I think 51.5 percent of boys were born in 2024. It used to be the other way around.

In general, Vladimir Vladimirovich, unfortunately, this is a serious problem that is related to two demographic waves. One demographic wave was during the Great Patriotic War, and the other was during the 1990s, which essentially overlapped and dramatically reduced the number of women in their reproductive years.

That's why we're betting on large families. It's very important for us that every family has at least one child. Even if there are no [natural] children in that family, it's still one, two, or three. This is crucial for a country as large as ours. Therefore, we're focusing our support measures on large families.

V. Putin: Anton Olegovich, please.

A. Kotyakov: Thank you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich.

As part of the national Family project, which Tatyana Alekseevna has already started talking about, we are focusing on supporting large families so that they become the new social norm.

When the Year of the Family began, you signed a decree on defining the status of a large family, which established uniform principles for defining and classifying large families. In accordance with your decree, all regions have adopted the necessary legal framework, and 42 regions have defined the status of a large family and the full range of federal measures without the need criterion. Gradually, the number of regions is increasing. Today, we can see that large families have a special status in the regions of the Russian Federation.

Of course, we are working to make the benefits and preferences available to large families more convenient for our citizens to use. As a result, we have launched a registry of large families that can be verified electronically through the unified portal of public services. This is convenient for our citizens when they apply for support measures, and it is also convenient for businesses when they want to create specific support programs for large families.

Today, there are already 2.8 million large families in our country, and 2.1 million of them are already registered. We are filling up the registry. In general, it is in demand today, which means that it is an opportunity to document your status, and it is also quite convenient to use a barcode or a portal, and citizens are actively using it.

As Tatyana Alekseevna has already said, we have started preparing for the introduction of the so-called family tax payment, which will start on January 1, 2026. The program and the implementation of this decision itself...

V. Putin: Deductions.

T. Golikova: Deductions. It's called the Family Tax Benefit.

A. Kotyakov: It is calculated as a compensation for the previously paid personal income tax, minus the percentage until it reaches six percent. This means that if a citizen has paid 13 percent of their income tax and has two children in their family, and their income is less than one and a half times the minimum subsistence level for each family member, they have the right to submit an application during the declaration campaign, and we will reimburse them for the previously paid personal income tax up to the six percent rate.

Today, together with the Federal Tax Service and the Ministry of Digital Development and the Social Fund, we are carrying out all the necessary preparations. The process of receiving this payment will be quite simple, again through the possibility of submitting an application through the unified portal of public services. We plan that by the middle of 2026, citizens will be able to receive the corresponding payment, and by the end of the year, everyone will be able to return the previously paid personal income tax.

I would like to emphasize once again that we believe that this should be as simple and convenient as possible for our citizens, which is why we are doing it on the principles of the social treasury.

V. Putin: Will it happen within a year?

T. Golikova: Yes, we assume that the amount of the payment can range from 89 thousand to 156 thousand rubles in terms of the refund.

A. Kotyakov: This is based on the amount that was previously paid to citizens. Accordingly, based on the coverage, we can see that this measure could potentially benefit families with around ten million children. This is approximately 4.2 million families. This will be a significant financial support for families in 2026.

The new measure is, of course, comparable to the mass measure that is already being used in the Russian Federation, such as the unified allowance. Today, more than ten million children who are being raised in families are also covered by the unified allowance.

The new unified allowance is also received by pregnant women who register early in their pregnancy. This means that by the end of 2024, approximately 150,000 pregnant women will be able to receive state support during their pregnancy, even if they face financial difficulties, which is comparable to the minimum subsistence level for working-age individuals.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, as part of the national project "Family", we continue to implement such support measures as maternity capital. Today, in total, over the entire period of the state program of maternity capital, it has been provided to 14.8 million children.

In parallel with the development and recording of new ways to use maternity capital, the procedure for obtaining a certificate was also an important factor. Today, maternity capital is provided proactively to our citizens, without an application, upon the birth of a child. As soon as the child is registered with the civil registry office, the Social Fund provides a certificate to the mother's "Personal Account" on the unified portal of public services within seven working days, which can already be used.

At the same time, we are also working to simplify the procedure for using maternity capital. Today, thanks to active cooperation with the banking community, it is possible to use maternity capital funds to pay off a mortgage, to pay off a loan, or to make a down payment, all without leaving your home, using a mobile banking app. This is quite convenient. Banks are also interested in this, as it helps them build their customer base.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, I cannot help but focus on the issues of demography. Today, Tatyana Alekseyevna has already mentioned that, as part of your instructions, we are allocating additional funds from the federal budget for the co-financing of regional demographic programmes, and we are doing this for those regions that have a total birth rate below the national average. Currently, 41 regions of the Russian Federation are eligible for these funds [There are 85 regions]. This year, we have allocated 12.5 billion rubles for the co-financing of their programmes.

At the same time, if we look at the areas, together with the professional community, together with public organizations, together with members of the State Duma, and together with experts, we have discussed possible areas that could be offered to the regions in addition to the federal level, in addition to the federal measures that are currently provided, in order to expand their regional component, taking into account local specifics.

Accordingly, we have formed ten recommended support measures. It is clear that the subject has the right to expand this list with its own funds, but the ten measures that are co-financed by the federal budget.

Accordingly, today these ten measures are implemented differently in each constituent entity of the Russian Federation. We are already seeing, let's say, an increase in efficiency in certain areas, and this allows us to understand that we can extend this to other territories in the future.

It should also be noted that we have developed demographic growth programs in all our regions, but only 41 regions receive additional financial support from the federal budget.

We have a fairly close relationship with our colleagues from the healthcare sector, because we understand that demographic issues and fertility issues are directly related to the demographic component. Mikhail Albertovich has a separate federal project within the Family national project, a separate independent national project that focuses on the health of our citizens, including reproductive health.

V. Putin: Please, Mikhail Albertovich.

M. Murashko: Thank you very much.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, first of all, I would like to say that we have achieved all the results related to the health of children and adolescents through the programmes and national projects that have already been implemented, and the infant mortality rate was 4 per 1,000 in 2024 [6.5 in 2023], which is one of the lowest rates [Slovenia and Singapore were lowest at 1.5 in 2023, the latest year for complete global data]. In 2025, at one of the meetings, you stated that we have maintained a positive trend this year, and the current rate is 3.7 per 1,000.

If we look at the overall child mortality rate, it has decreased by more than 16 percent over the past five years, and we have seen a decrease in all age groups of children. We have also created a solid infrastructure, including 21 new children's hospitals, re-equipped children's clinics, and the implementation of modern lean technologies for patients. To ensure a comfortable patient experience, we have established simulation centers for skill development and, of course, fully implemented technology in all regions of the Russian Federation and made telemedicine consultations available. If necessary, we can transfer you to a higher level, which ensures continuity of medical care in all regions.

On your instructions, we are implementing a project to create world-class rehabilitation centers. You have opened one of them in Podolsk. This year, we plan to open another unique center in Yevpatoria, near Lake Moinaki, where the most advanced and revolutionary technologies will be available to children. We are also continuing construction in Novosibirsk, which will be the third center. We have decided to call them “ships”--three ships that will provide health services. This is a unique result, as doctors are saving children who were previously considered unrecoverable.

On your instructions, we are implementing a neonatal screening program, which is the most extensive, and many countries are already interested in learning how we have implemented it. This is because neonatal screening helps to prevent disabilities, as the Circle of Kindness Foundation, which operates on your instructions, provides full medical support from the moment of diagnosis, even before the onset of clinical symptoms. This helps children avoid any health problems or disabilities.

And the new national project, which concerns family health and, first of all, motherhood and childhood, of course, concerns the re-equipment of perinatal centres. The unique programme that we have implemented in previous years in the country to create perinatal centres, it is time for their re-equipment. Therefore, 142 perinatal centres will be re-equipped, we have entered this programme already this year. Everything is going according to plan, the most modern equipment will be supplied.

I would like to point out that these projects are pulling the domestic industry forward. We can see the number of domestic devices being supplied in this area, and we are essentially covering almost the entire range.

336 new women's consultations will be established. These women's consultations will essentially ensure full coverage of all services necessary for women to implement their reproductive plans.

We will equip 180 children's hospitals. There is a very important component here – an emphasis will be placed on providing emergency assistance. Because older children most often have problems--some injuries, [when] children are playing, somewhere there is a situation when it is simply necessary—and the emphasis will be placed on emergency care and minimally invasive technologies so that the child can quickly recover and enter his normal life.

We are also purchasing 536 cars for children's polyclinics. We have implemented this technology in the new regions, and when you gave us the task of examining all the children, we carried it out. In six months, we conducted medical examinations of every child, and we developed a technology that involves equipping cars with mobile equipment. When we visit schools or kindergartens, we conduct comprehensive examinations within a short period of time.

It's a unique technology. It's fast and efficient, and it's uploaded to an electronic card and provided to parents, including a treatment and rehabilitation plan. Now, the same technology will be implemented in all regions, and these machines will essentially provide services directly to organized groups. It's convenient, efficient, and can be done during the learning process.

Now, let's talk about the national projects that were implemented for the adult population.

First of all, we should mention diseases of the circulatory system. During this period, 159 new centers were established to provide assistance to patients with cardiovascular diseases. Today, this number has exceeded 600, with 653 vascular centers operating in various regions. This has led to a decrease in mortality rates from diseases of the circulatory system.

This is another important point. When the decision was made to provide medication to patients who had suffered heart attacks and strokes, this medication therapy led to a decrease in mortality and prevented repeated heart attacks and strokes, and almost 20 percent of people survived thanks to this medication therapy after the events they had experienced. We have expanded this program to include severe patients with chronic heart failure who are under long-term observation, which also helps to prolong their lives.

The second major project that has been implemented is the provision of assistance to patients with malignant neoplasms. This project is unique in its scope and scale, as the most advanced equipment has been delivered to the regions, making chemotherapy and radiation therapy accessible to every citizen of our country.

I would like to note that 18 new oncology dispensaries have been built and 569 outpatient oncology centers have been opened, which have brought chemotherapy closer to patients' homes, making it more convenient and comfortable. Additionally, the technologies have been standardized, as we have adopted clinical guidelines nationwide this year.

And medical examinations help this. There are 109 million people who underwent medical examinations and medical examinations last year, which allows us to detect [diseases] at an early stage, while in oncology, 61 percent of diseases were detected at the first or second stage. That is, both early diagnosis and treatment stages are now available, and the complexity of treatment.

Since we have created a material and technical base, we could not help but change the state guarantees program. As part of the state guarantees program for this year, since we now have both equipment and financial resources available, we have increased the number of patients receiving stenting by 30 percent. We already had very high numbers, and we are now expanding our efforts to be proactive, identifying and referring patients.

In addition, we have increased the volume of care for patients with rhythm disorders by 60 percent, including the installation of a cardiac pacemaker, and have increased the number of interventions for this year for patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the brachiocephalic vessels, which are the vessels that supply the brain. When this surgery is performed, it effectively prevents future strokes. Therefore, it is not only a treatment but also a preventive measure in this situation.

Therefore, these projects are absolutely clearly linked to their subsequent implementation. And as part of the implementation of new national projects, we have essentially taken them up.

Speaking about new national projects, we have the Long and Active Life project, which essentially includes the continuation of cancer care, but at a new level. We have already contracted for equipment that will be supplied for the diagnosis of cancer stages more broadly, which also improves the quality of diagnosis. We are also creating a production of radiopharmaceuticals, and we have one of the most extensive ranges in the world today, including special scanners that will detect the stage of the process and treat patients.

We continue drug therapy in cardiology.

On the modernization of primary education. Over the past four years, we have opened an average of eight to nine new facilities after repairs and new construction every day. This is a tremendous number. In the next period, we will continue to open ten thousand facilities, and we will complete this task on your behalf.

And another important point is digitalization. You gave the order to create a unified information system in each region. Almost all regions have already done this. The electronic medical record is the basis for implementing artificial intelligence programs, forecasting, and individual management. Therefore, this is probably the industry that has widely implemented artificial intelligence today. And not only for diagnostics, but also for helping doctors make diagnoses and create treatment programs, so this is all happening at a new level.

And the new national project "New Technologies for Health Preservation." It is primarily focused on scientific research, as it is the research that allows us to have an interest in our medicine and to introduce new drugs more widely. Therefore, it is also funded for scientific research, and we have allocated funds to support the material and technical base of institutions that conduct clinical research, and we have already allocated funding this year. Additionally, we have established special units that provide patenting, support, and the search for industrial partners and databases for conducting preclinical and clinical research.

In other words, we are essentially accompanying scientific research throughout its entire development process. Today, we can see that the return on investment in scientific research is increasing, and these results will be implemented in accordance with the planned timelines.

V.Putin: Good. Digitalization in healthcare is indeed developing quite quickly, and 900 million medical documents can already be obtained in electronic form. This is a good thing.

We have a large programme to combat malignant growths and neoplasms, and it is being implemented, as I can see. Indeed, the work is progressing actively. However, there are regions where the level of cancer is quite high, and no new facilities have been established there yet. I have already forwarded some of the governors' appeals to you, and I would like to draw your attention to this.

T. Golikova: Yes, when we are planning the budget for 2026-2028, we are primarily looking at the instructions that you have given, taking into account the number of cases and the decrease in mortality in these regions.

V.Putin: All right, thank you.

T. Golikova: Therefore, we will implement this part.

Can I say a few more words about the national project that I mentioned, which has been implemented since January 1, 2025? This is the national project "Personnel." It is a challenge for our country. We will say a few words about it.

It may not be very large in terms of volume, at 114 billion rubles, but it includes completely new approaches. For the first time since last year, we have started to form a five-year–-and from this year, a seven-year–-forecast of labour resource needs by professional and qualification groups and regions. This is important for us in order to ensure that the education system and the system of retraining meet the current needs of the labour market.

Now, our colleagues from the education sector are adjusting their admission targets to match the forecasts we are building. However, we are doing this in collaboration with employers. Currently, we have 320,000 employers participating in a seven-year forecast survey, providing us with information about the skills they require. This seven-year forecast is linked to the track of secondary and higher education.

Today, we see that secondary vocational education will be in high demand for the Russian economy in the near future. According to all estimates, this is already 70 percent. Higher education is slightly less popular, but it is also focused on other areas.

I'll ask Anton Olegovich to say a few words, because I think it's important.

A. Kotyakov: Today, we are making forecasts in two directions: from top to bottom and from bottom to top.

That is, from top to bottom, based on the parameters set out in the socio-economic development forecast, we have clearly calculated the main growth indicators for the industries that we need. Why did we also go from bottom to top and conduct a survey of employers? Because it was important for us to understand the regional aspect, which we do not always see in the socio-economic development forecast, the qualification breakdown, and the industry breakdown.

Today, we have involved local employers in this work. Employment centers are working with them, as are the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including the bodies responsible for personnel policy in their territories.

This work was started for the first time last year. We have held quite a few training seminars specifically for employees of enterprise human resources departments, because today we are practically creating a new culture of forecasting, of personnel forecasting for the medium and long term.

Unfortunately, it was lost in certain years. Today, we often see that businesses are living in the present, with a maximum of one or two years ahead. In order to synchronize training with the demands of the manufacturing sector, we had to move to a seven-year horizon, taking into account the training periods in higher education institutions. This was the key point of employer involvement.

What are 320,000 enterprises? This is 23.5 million employees, which is almost 50 percent of the people who are currently employed. This means that we have a very good representative sample that allows us to form long-term trends in production development.

At the same time, we have put a lot of effort into synchronizing the development concept of individual sectors and their parameters for increasing labor productivity with the forecasts we had for socioeconomic development. There was a certain discrepancy, let's say, in certain sectors. Additionally, we saw underestimated parameters for increasing productivity in certain areas.

Today, our colleagues have specific targets both within the framework of the national project and in terms of productivity growth, which they must achieve. At the same time, we understand that if productivity growth is lower than what we have stated in our forecast, it will generate an additional shortage of personnel.

Today, according to our estimates, we need to involve 10.9 million people in the economy by 2030. This includes those who are currently retiring due to their age. This means that approximately 800,000 people will be employed in new jobs, while approximately 10.1 million people will reach retirement age.

Thanks to this work, we have seen today that we do not have a clear connection between educational tracks, educational programs, and professional standards, which are currently being formed by business as a need. Consequently, as part of our work with experts, we have ensured that the professional standard for a profession is fully aligned with the educational standard that is currently being implemented in educational institutions. As a result, our colleagues have adjusted the admission targets, as we have shown them which professions will be in demand in the near future. Based on this… It is clear that it is impossible to reconfigure the admission figures all at once, but our colleagues have started to adjust them and have developed a plan for transitioning to the formation of admission figures based on requests.

If we are talking specifically about the labour market, then today another important factor is the formation of work attitudes for the younger generation. Therefore, a separate block within the national project "Personnel" is dedicated to the popularisation of working professions and the popularisation of work functions among our young people. This includes the re-launch of the "Best in Profession" competition, where we have selected more than 20 of the most in-demand professions for which we are conducting all-Russian competitions. The prize money has been increased to one million rubles, and all participants have the opportunity to win these prizes.

Today, we have formed the All-Russian Employment Fairs program. This year, it was a kind of celebration in the regions. People are already coming to the fairs with their families. We see that they come not only with students who are close to graduation, but also with young children, in order to form and understand where they can go. Today, we are also paying a lot of attention to career guidance within the framework of the fairs.

Therefore, taking into account the demand that the labour market is forming today, taking into account the parameters that we see today, the labour market and the requests from employers, we understand that our main reserve is young people. Therefore, as part of the national project, we are moving in terms of point routing, personal support for young people who are currently studying.

This means that starting from the first year, students will be matched with their future employers and mentors in the workplace. We are currently implementing this through 11 pilot projects across the Russian Federation, and starting from September 1, this personalized support program will be implemented throughout the country.

T. Golikova: And this project includes women who are on maternity leave, as well as participants in the special military operation. On your instructions, we have adopted a separate plan to increase the employment of participants in the special military operation. We are moving in this direction.

We recently held a commission on veterans' affairs and looked at this issue in detail by subject of the Russian Federation, in order to guide our colleagues to create the most convenient environment and infrastructure for our young people to find employment.

I would just like to remind you that we are subsidizing jobs, and we are providing 200,000 rubles for those who have health restrictions and have been demobilized from the army. In addition, we are subsidizing employers for the minimum wage, so that they are interested in employing people. We are also actively monitoring employment conditions in order to adjust the appropriate measures.

V.Putin: Yes, it is very important. I ask you to continue this work, we are constantly talking about it.

As for early career guidance, this is an issue that is constantly in our field of vision, and we have already seen some results. The number of young people who are interested in pursuing a career in the workplace is increasing, and the number of students enrolling in these programs is also growing. Overall, I believe that we are on the right track.

Thank you.
I’ve emphasized most of the socialistic elements displayed during this meeting. IMO, what we just read about describes the components of an ideology that’s Pro Life, an ideology that aims to do all it can to make life better for all Russians, not just to look after their health but to help them become a positive asset for themselves and for all Russians. Note that many of the national projects were suggested by Putin that inform us of what he thinks is important and of course that’s formed by his ideology, which is clearly humanistic. It most certainly isn’t Neoliberal; I would say it’s the exact opposite given what we see occurring in Neoliberal dominated nations. Here within the Empire, healthcare is being cutback and costs are crazy. Note that all those hospitals and other medical facilities being built in Russia are paid for by the state. As a person with heart disease, I applaud what Russia’s doing; same with its outstanding oncology efforts. The mother and child benefits are said to be exorbitant here within the Empire, but Russia seems to have no problem in servicing that priority. And that’s really it—people’s welfare is Russia’s priority, and that in my book constitutes Socialism—the overall wellbeing of society. And I do believe that’s made a priority within Russia’s Constitution. Here are some examples:
Article 38.1: Maternity and childhood, and the family shall be protected by the State.

Article 39. 1-3: 1. Everyone shall be guaranteed social security at the expense of the State in old age, in case of an illness, disableness, loss of the bread-winner, for upbringing of children and in other cases established by law.

2. State pensions and social allowances shall be established by law.

3. Promotion shall be given to voluntary social insurance and the creation of additional forms of social security and charity.

Article 40. 1-3: 1. Everyone shall have the right to a home. No one may be arbitrarily deprived of his or her home.

2. The bodies of state authority and local self-government shall encourage housing construction and create conditions for exercising the right to a home.

3. Low-income people and other persons mentioned in law and in need of a home shall receive it gratis or for reasonable payment from the state, municipal and other housing stocks according to the norms fixed by law.

Article 41. 1 & 2: 1. Everyone shall have the right to health protection and medical aid. Medical aid in state and municipal health establishments shall be rendered to individuals gratis, at the expense of the corresponding budget, insurance contributions, and other proceeds.

2. In the Russian Federation federal programmes of protecting and strengthening the health of the population shall be financed by the State; measures shall be adopted to develop state, municipal and private health services; activities shall be promoted which facilitate the strengthening of health, the development of physical culture and sport, ecological and sanitary-epidemiological well-being.

Article 43. 1-4: 1. Everyone shall have the right to education.

2. Guarantees shall be provided for general access to and free pre-school, secondary and high vocational education in state or municipal educational establishments and at enterprises.

3. Everyone shall have the right to receive on a competitive basis a free higher education in a state or municipal educational establishment and at an enterprise.

4. The basic general education shall be free of charge. Parents or persons in law parents shall enable their children to receive a basic general education.
That’s a de jure social contract. Yes, it’s financed by taxes that are collected by a government that’s elected by the people of Russia on national, regional and local levels. And Russians are prodded by government to give feedback about government’s performance at all three levels. Russia doesn’t boast or advertise its system as the USSR once did. IMO, today’s Russia is a vast improvement over the USSR for many reasons, yet it still retains its fundamental socialist basis and ideology.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/can-an-e ... ial-issues

Well, Karl's wrong about Russia/USSR. We'll see how long the 'socialism' lasts after the war is over. If oligarchs dominate the government and the means of production how can it be socialism? I think he's confused, he's talking about a welfare state.

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Chkhartishvili sentenced to 14 years in prison in absentia
July 14, 23:07

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Chkhartishvili was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison for disseminating fakes about the Russian Armed Forces. He will not return to Russia and will most likely die abroad.

The prosecutor's office asked for 18 years.
A fine of 400,000 rubles was also imposed. A ban on the administration of websites on the Internet after a hypothetical prison term.

P.S. Also today, Zilbeltrud was put on the federal wanted list "for evading the duties of a foreign agent." We will not see him in Russia again.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9955409.html

Google Translator

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Ahem, I Am Taking My Bows ...

... and my curtain calls)) Here is from Maria herself, about West's elites and their edikeishn))



When I talk, ad nauseam, about these creeps being uneducated--this is not a figure of speech; whole Western "elite" and their "academe" in any serious field--from governance to military--would be considered failures in Russia. Practically whole (with some exception) "humanities" field in the West related to history, governance and economics is an academic fraud as are those Ph.Ds who abuse academic sinecures BSing their students who merely, upon graduation, boost already a shocking rate of intellectual decay in the combined West.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2025/07 ... -bows.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:17 pm

Provocative Dmitri Trenin: The era of wars: World War III has already begun, but not everyone understands it

His Profile original, not the RT hack job
Karl Sanchez
Jul 14, 2025

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Again, the pen of Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Institute of World War Economics and Strategy, National Research University Higher School of Economics, has struck again and the result was published by Profile today. Do NOT rely on the RT hack job as much content is missing and rewritten—again. And again, Trenin presents a POV that’s clearly debatable. For example, I contend the Cold War never ended and thus the current set of conflicts are its extensions and are being escalated. I didn’t translate the second of his three essays for the Gym and now regret that choice, although I did cite four paragraphs in a MoA comment. Trump uttered some bluster again today:

We’re very, very unhappy–-I am-–with [Russia], and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in about 50 days.

Today’s Crooke/Napolitano chat mostly discussed West Asia but did spend some time talking and musing about what Trump might utter. Crooke noted as I did last week that zero progress has occurred on the American side to reset relations with Russia. And the supposed “severe tariffs” have already been discussed here and shown to be more dangerous for America than anyone else. So, 50 days will put us at the 80th anniversary of V-J Day when Putin will be in China to celebrate with Xi. With Lavrov currently in China talking with Xi and Wang Yi, they’ll have an opportunity to formulate their response and then hone it with others. The only way Ukraine will be solved in 50 days is if Zelensky capitulates, and that’s extremely doubtful. The Trenin essay is interesting since it mentions ideology after the several days of discussing that topic. So, let’s all read what Trenin has written:
Many are now talking about the drift of humanity towards the "third world war", implying that something reminiscent of the events of the twentieth century awaits us ahead. However, war is constantly changing its face. It will not come to us either in June 1941 (a large-scale military invasion), or as feared in October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis (in the form of a massive nuclear strike). In fact, the world war is already here, even if not everyone has noticed and realized it. The pre-war period ended for Russia in 2014, for China in 2017, and for Iran in 2023. This is not a "second cold" at all. Starting in 2022, the West's war against Russia has become decisive, and the transition from a hot but proxy conflict in Ukraine to a head-on nuclear clash with NATO countries is becoming increasingly likely. Donald Trump's return to the White House opened up an opportunity to avoid such a clash, [?!?] but by the middle of the year, thanks to the efforts of European countries and American "hawks", the prospect of a major war was again dangerously closer. The current world war is a combination of several conflicts affecting the leading powers – the United States and its allies [versus] China, and Russia.

Despite the variability of forms, the cause of this world war is traditional: a change in the balance of power in the world. [Was that really the cause for the first two world wars?] Sensing that the rise of new centers of power (primarily China) and the restoration of Russia as a great power threatened its dominance, the West launched a counteroffensive. For America and Europe, this is not the last, but definitely a decisive battle. The West is unable to accept the loss of world hegemony. It's not just about geopolitics. Western ideology (political-economic globalism and socio-cultural posthumanism) organically rejects diversity, national or civilizational identity and tradition. The rejection of universalism for the modern West means a catastrophe – it is not ready for regional status. Therefore, the West, having gathered its considerable resources into a fist and counting on the shattered but still existing technological superiority, seeks to destroy those whom it has written down as rivals.

To destroy is not an exaggeration. When the previous American President Joe Biden used this word in a conversation with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, he was more frank than when his Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke of "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia." A war of annihilation has been demonstrated by Western-backed Israel, first in the Gaza Strip, then in Lebanon, and finally in Iran. The fact that the same scheme was used to destroy targets on the territory of the Islamic Republic as during the attack on Russian military airfields on June 1 is not a coincidence. It is also natural that, apparently, the United States and Great Britain are involved in both sabotage— Russia, like Iran, China and North Korea, are considered irreconcilable opponents of the West in Washington and London. [Why?] This means that compromise in the ongoing war is impossible; there can only be temporary lulls.

Two hotbeds of world war are already burning: Eastern Europe and the Middle East. A third one has long been identified: East Asia (Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, the South and East China Seas). Russia is directly involved in the war in Europe; its interests are affected in Iran; and it can be used in one way or another in the Far East. Three hearths are not all. New ones can be created—from the Arctic to Afghanistan, and not only along the perimeter of the country's borders, but also within it. Instead of the previous strategies of warfare, which provided for the control of the enemy's territory along with breaking the will and depriving him of the ability to resist, modern strategies are focused not on the occupation of the enemy state, but on provoking internal destabilization and chaos

The West's strategy towards Russia–-after an unsuccessful attempt to "inflict a strategic defeat"–-is to exhaust it economically and psychologically in the war, to undermine our society, to undermine faith in the country's leadership and its policies, causing new turmoil. The enemy proceeds from the fact that his efforts should culminate in the period of the transfer of supreme power.

As for the methods of achieving this goal, the West does not limit itself (and its proxies) to almost anything. Absolutely everything is acceptable. The war took on a voluminous character. Thanks to the widespread use of increasingly advanced drones, the entire territory of any country, any of its facilities and all its citizens have become vulnerable to pinpoint strikes. Such strikes are carried out against strategic infrastructure and strategic nuclear forces; nuclear complex facilities and nuclear power plants; Politicians, scientists, public figures, diplomats (including official negotiators), journalists and, it is important to add, members of their families are being assassinated. Mass terrorist attacks are organized; under the aiming—not accidental! Residential areas, schools and hospitals are being shelled. This is a total war in the full sense of the word.

Total methods of warfare are based on the dehumanization of the enemy. Other people's casualties (including among their own allies, not to mention proxies) are not taken into account. The enemy's manpower and population are biomass. Only one's own losses matter, since they can affect the level of electoral support for the authorities. The adversary is an absolute evil that must be crushed and destroyed. The attitude towards evil is not a matter of politics, but of morality. Hence, there is not even external respect for the enemy, as it was in the Cold War. Instead, it is the whipping up of hatred. Enemy leadership is criminal by definition, and enemy populations are collectively responsible for the leaders they tolerate. The international structures (organizations, agencies, tribunals) seized by the West have been turned into part of the repressive apparatus aimed at persecuting and punishing opponents.

Dehumanization is based on total control over information and methodical and high-tech brainwashing. Rewriting history, including World War II and the Cold War, outright lies about the current state of affairs, banning any information coming from the enemy, persecuting those of their citizens who doubt the correctness of a single narrative, and branding them as enemy agents turn Western societies into convenient targets for manipulation by the ruling elites. At the same time, the West and its proxies, often using a softer regime in the enemy camp, recruit agents there to provoke internal conflicts – social, political, ideological, ethnic, religious, etc.

The strength of the enemy lies in the cohesion of the global globalist (already post-national) elite and the successful ideological indoctrination of the population. The split between the US and the rest of the West under Trump should not be exaggerated. The "Trump group" itself has split, and Trump is getting closer to his recent critics. The experience of recent years shows that many of the most important steps are taken by the "deep state" bypassing the current president. This is a serious risk factor. The West still has a formidable military force and the means to project it globally. It retains technological leadership, financial hegemony, and dominates the information field. Its theater of war includes everything from sanctions to cyberspace, from biotechnology to the field of human thought. His strategy is to hit enemies one by one. The West trained on Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya, for which no one stood up. Now it is in a state of proxy war with Russia. Western-backed Israel attacked Iran. North Korea and China are on the waiting list.

***

The "hot" war in Ukraine is moving towards a direct war between Europe and Russia. In fact, Europeans have long been deeply involved in the conflict. British and French missiles hit Russian targets, reconnaissance by NATO countries are transferred to Kyiv, Europeans are engaged in combat training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, joint planning of military, sabotage and terrorist operations. Many EU countries supply Kyiv with weapons and ammunition. Ukraine for Europe is a tool, a consumable; The war is not limited to Ukraine and will not end with it. As Ukraine's manpower decreases, NATO/EU will tap into the resources of other Eastern European countries, particularly the Balkans. This should give Europe time to prepare for war with Russia in the medium term.

A reasonable question: is this preparation for defense or attack? Perhaps some of the European elites have fallen victim to their own propaganda about the "Russian threat", but for the majority it is a question of the desire to retain power in the conditions of pre-war hysteria. Nevertheless, the dangers emanating from the western direction must be approached seriously. Of course, we should not expect a literal repetition of June 24, 1812 or June 22, 1941. There may be (and certainly will be) provocations from the Baltic to the Black Sea; attempts to open a "second front" in Transnistria, Transcaucasia or elsewhere are likely. Especially dangerous may be: the transfer of powerful weapons by the Europeans to Kiev, regarding which it will be claimed that Ukraine itself produced them; attempts to block the exit from the Gulf of Finland or Kaliningrad; new sabotage against Russia's strategic facilities. The main thing is that the European elites again have a goal–-to solve the "Russian question" in one way or another.

Under no circumstances should Europeans be treated lightly or condescendingly. Due to the fact that Europe has failed on many fronts, its leadership is nervous and mobilizing. Europe's loss of strategic thinking and its rulers' loss of prudence and even common sense makes it more dangerous. The hostility of the ruling circles of Europe to Russia is not a conjuncture that will soon be replaced by a "business mood". The point is not only that Russia, in the image of an enemy, helps the elites to unite the European Union and fight internal competitors. And not only in old phobias and resentments. More importantly, Russia is not just a "significant other"; it prevents the restoration of the hegemony of the West (including Europe), represents a civilizational alternative that confuses ordinary Europeans and limits the ability of European elites to exploit the rest of the world. Therefore, a united Europe is seriously aiming at crushing Russia.

Therefore, we have a long war ahead. There will be no such Victory in Ukraine as in 1945. The confrontation will continue in other forms, it is possible that it will also be in the military. There will be no stable confrontation (aka peaceful coexistence), as in the years of the Cold War. On the contrary, the next few decades bode well to be very dynamic. We will have to continue to fight for Russia's rightful place in the emerging new order.

***

What to do? There is no way back, and there is no peace ahead. The time has come for decisions and actions. This is not the time for half measures–-half-heartedness leads to disaster.

The main thing for us is not to weaken the front, but to strengthen the rear. We need a mobilization of forces, but not according to the instructions of 50 years ago, but "smart". Fighting half-heartedly, we will definitely lose. Our strategic advantage – confident political leadership – must remain so and, most importantly, be "seamlessly" reproduced. We must understand exactly where and which way we are going. Our economic, financial and technological policy must fully comply with the harsh realities of the long-term confrontation, and demographic policy (from fertility to migration) must stop and reverse the trends that are dangerous for us. Patriotic cohesion of the population, practical solidarity of all its social groups, strengthening the sense of justice should become the primary concern of the authorities and society.

We need to strengthen external alliances and partnerships. Military alliances in the west (Belarus) and in the east (North Korea) have shown themselves well. But we do not have a similar ally in the south. We need to work on strengthening the southern tier of our geopolitics. We must soberly and carefully analyze the results and consequences of the war between Israel, on the one hand, and Iran and its regional allies, on the other. The enemy, acting as a single bloc, relies on the destruction of enemies one by one. From this, we and our partners need to draw an obvious conclusion–-not by copying Western formats, but by achieving closer coordination and effective cooperation.

A tactical game can and should be played with the Trump administration, since it has already brought some tactical results (for example, it has contributed to a decrease in US involvement in the Ukrainian conflict). At the same time, it must be remembered that tactics are not strategy. Readiness for dialogue discourages many people, evokes dreams of a quick return to the "bright past". The American political elite, on the contrary, is still generally hostile towards Russia. No new détente with the United States will work, and the previous one ended badly. Yes, the process of reformatting the American foreign policy strategy from "imperial" to "great-power" is likely to continue after Trump's departure. We must keep this in mind and use it in practical politics.

The European leaders of the fight against Russia–-England, France, Germany–-need to be made to understand (not only in words) that they are vulnerable and in the event of a new escalation of the Ukrainian conflict they will not be able to remain unscathed. The same message should be addressed to the "activists of the first hour" of the anti-Russian war—Finns, Poles, Balts. Provocations on their part must be immediately and forcefully rebuffed. Our goal is to instill (saving) fear in the enemy, to knock off his arrogance, to make him think and stop.

In general, you should act according to your choice and according to your own logic. To act boldly, not necessarily in a mirror way. And not necessarily in response. If a clash is unavoidable, preemptive strikes will have to be launched. At first, by conventional means. If necessary, after carefully weighing everything, they are special, i.e. nuclear. Nuclear deterrence can be not only passive, but also active, including the limited use of nuclear weapons. The experience of the war in Ukraine shows that decision-making centers should not enjoy immunity. There we were heavily "indebted" with strikes, which gave the enemy a false impression of the level of our determination. In the struggle that has been forced upon us, we must aim at victory, i.e., the complete destruction of the enemy's plans.

We need not only to break through the enemy's air defenses in Ukraine (and, if necessary, in other places), but also to break through the information dome with which the West has taken refuge. Post-Soviet Russia refused to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. In wartime, this is an inadmissible luxury. We should not expect that traditional right-wing or "normal" left-wing forces will come to power somewhere and everything will work out by itself. It is necessary to undermine the united front of our adversaries from within, to play on the contradictions of interests and ambitions of different states, forces and persons. Europe is heterogeneous. Along with the ruling cell (England, France, Germany) and a group of activists-provocateurs (Finland, Poland, the Baltic states), there are dissidents (Hungary, Slovakia – while the current governments are in power there), the number of which may increase (for example, to the size of the former Austria-Hungary), as well as a fairly large "liability" from among the countries of Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus). In general, there is a large field for information and political work. NATO and the EU are hostile organizations for us, the OSCE is mostly useless, but we need to actively offer dialogue to all sober-minded forces in Europe, to create coalitions for life, for peace, for humanity. Russia is not going to "kidnap" Europe, but we will have to pacify it.
I really must protest as the Wolfowitz Doctrine and the policy goal of Full Spectrum Dominance were all proclaimed while Russia was on its knees and China hadn’t been made into the manufacturing powerhouse it now is by Western Neoliberal policies. The first two world wars were not about a change in the balance of power—that happened in those war’s aftermath. And Trump did nothing to try and regain the Russian trust required for any “deal” over Ukraine other than converse with Putin, open a dialog between foreign ministers, and force Zelensky to directly talk with the Russians. And the West has zero “technological superiority.” I would note that dehumanizing the enemy has long been a tactic. The difference today is the means by which its advocated. Trenin is also ill-informed about the West’s military abilities and how the new wave of warfare defeats those abilities. Trenin posits Europe is united, but is it really? Iberia and Italy aren’t on that train nor are Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, BIH, and likely some others. Russian military power could drastically reduce what little military NATO retains in just one day’s worth of missile attacks. Russia’s Navy is far more powerful than all NATO combined—even adding the Outlaw US Empire whose carriers are no more than nice big targets.

Russia has no need to “fight” to gain its place in the Multipolar World as it already is in the vanguard in its conception. Trenin has clearly escalated his hawkishness. He suggests Russia must “strengthen the rear,” which is what Putin’s been doing since he came to power. And we see Putin’s promoting and schooling of very capable military veterans for civil service was put into motion well before Trenin wrote this essay. In the Soth, Iran is the ally of choice, but to cement that Russian Zionist policy must change somehow, and that will be difficult politically because a constitutional change will be required. We see that Trenin falls into the trap of believing a nuclear war can be limited—that’s the same argument Karaganov tried to advance early in 2024. Putin, Lavrov and others have always offered good relations to those wanting them, and that was just reiterated at BRICS and the ASEAN meetings.

I’ve listed my objections to Trenin’s essay above and now ask what audience it was aimed at? Who in Russia reads Profile? The header picture at the article includes these words: родйна которую мы ващйщаем—the homeland that we create. It’s able to attract Russian intelligencia as writers. Otherwise, it’s impossible for me to say. I do know RT is targeted at English language readers located outside Russia. I felt Trenin’s two previous essays were aimed at Europe, but the rhetoric is all wrong for Europe and right for a Russian audience. Given the many true and false assumptions and spin, how many Russians will read it critically? Has the third world war already begun, and if so, when? Does Western hegemony, specifically Outlaw US Empire hegemony, since WW2 constitute a world war of sorts—financial and economic with some actual combat since all that has occurred globally? Or should we leave that determination to future historians?

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/provocat ... in-the-era

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Russia Matters: Trump Threatens Putin With Tariffs, Arms Supplies to Kyiv, But How Serious Are His Threats?
July 15, 2025
Russia Matters, 7/14/25

While hosting NATO’s SG Mark Rutte on July 14, President Donald Trump unveiled a deal with this alliance that would send weapons to Ukraine within days while also threating Russia with stiff penalties in his renewed effort to end hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. “We’ve made a deal today where we are going to be sending them [Ukraine] weapons and they [NATO countries] [are] going to be paying for them,” Trump was quoted by Wall Street Journal as saying in Rutte’s presence. During the same event the U.S. president also threatened Russia with “secondary tariffs” unless a deal to end the hostilities in Ukraine is reached by early September. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100%, you’d call them secondary tariffs,” Trump was quoted by Financial Times as saying. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later said Trump could choose to impose either tariffs or sanctions on countries that do business with Russia, according to Wall Street Journal. Last week saw Trump repeatedly state his unhappiness with Putin’s unwillingness to agree to an unconditional end of hostilities in Ukraine, promising a “major statement” on Russia on July 14. Thus, his July 14 threats came as no surprise, but they were also met with some skepticism. “It is unclear if… Putin will take Trump’s threat seriously,” Alexander Ward and his co-authors wrote in Wall Street Journal on July 14.“For a frequent flip-flopper like him [Trump], can anyone ever tell which flip or flop is for real?” Susan Glasser wondered in the New Yorker. “The president is a late and very reluctant convert to the approach of trying to confront and isolate Mr. Putin” and the approach he is taking “seems designed to keep him at least one arm’s length away from the conflict,” David Sanger and Maggie Haberman explained in New York Times. That Trump is “coming around on Ukraine” represents a decision that “isn’t isolationist or internationalist but realistic,” according to Peggy Noonan.

“Russia’s factories have begun churning out vast quantities of attack drones over the past year, producing a deadly fleet that is now taking to Ukrainian skies in record numbers almost daily,” Matthew Luxmoore and Jane Lytvynenko reported in a July 10 article for Wall Street Journal. Writing for the same newspaper Jillian Kay Melchior also noted the surge in Russian drone production, as did Andrew Kramer of The New York Times. “As Russia’s defense industry continues to ramp up, military analysts expect Russia to routinely launch more than 1,000 drones per volley by autumn,” Kramer warned. These articles indicate that the mainstream U.S. media outlets are catching up with the recent changes in correlation of drone production in Ukraine and Russia in the latter’s favor. In the first and second year of Russia’s full-fledged invasion into Ukraine, such outlets as Wall Street Journal were reporting how use of drones by Ukraine helped to turn the tide in Kyiv’s favor while New York Times reported how “Ukraine has stayed ahead in the drones arm race.” In the third year of the war Forbes declared that “For the first time, Ukraine is launching more long-range drone attacks than Russia.” The coverage of the drone race began to change, however, in 2025. For instance, in January of this year, ECFR’s Ulrike Franke published an article on the web site of this think-tank that estimated that Russia was matching Ukraine’s pace of drone production. Five months later, the press was also noticing this change. For instance, The Times of London’s Anthony Loyd reported from Donbas: “Russia has taken the lead in the drone race, outproducing Kyiv in the manufacture and use of medium-range FPV drones and fiber optic variants that have changed the shape of the entire 1,200 km front line.” Loyd’s May 2025 article was echoed by Politico’s Veronika Melkozerova, who reported in June 2025, citing Zelensky himself, that “Ukraine produces about 100 long-range drones a day, while Russia has managed to scale up production to 300 a day and is aiming for 500.” Russian drone producers managed to boost long-range drone production from 15,000 in 2024 to more than 30,000 this year, as well as up to 2 million small tactical drones, according to Melkozerova.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to nominate first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko as his next PM is a victory for his powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak for whom there appears to be little love lost in Washington. “Svyrydenko is considered a close ally” of Yermak, according to July 14 article in Financial Times. Apart from the new prime minister, changes are expected at education, health, culture, social policy and possibly finance, according to the Economist. The Economist reported on July 6 that a cabinet reshuffle is “imminent” and that is being driven by Yermak whose lecturing approach to diplomacy Americans despair at. While being allied with Yermak, Svyrydenko is also seen as having “strong ties with Donald Trump’s team after leading the minerals talks alongside U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent,” according to Financial Times.

https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2025/07/rus ... s-threats/

*****

Chief of GVSU No. 8 arrested
July 15, 18:51

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The court arrested the former head of the Main Military Construction Directorate No. 8, Vadim Vyguljarny, for 2 months on charges of especially large-scale fraud. GVSU No. 8 previously carried out the construction of residential and non-residential buildings for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. The arrested Vyguljarny was found to have property worth 300 million rubles.

In 2020, the defendant received contracts for the construction of Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) facilities in the Novosibirsk Region. The work was to be carried out by the company Sibirpromgroup, created by Vyguljarny. The total value of the contracts was 3 billion rubles. As a result, the company did not fulfill the plan. The head of GVSU No. 8 transferred the construction deals and more than 2 billion rubles to Krastim LLC, where his former colleague from Sibirpromgroup worked.

If anyone thought that the purges of corrupt officials in the army were over, then surprise. They are not over.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9956736.html

Fines for searching for prohibited content
July 16, 10:51

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Fines for searching for prohibited content

By the second reading of the amendments to the law on transport and forwarding activities, amendments were added introducing administrative liability for:

- searching for "knowingly extremist information" and for "consuming" (reading/downloading/viewing) "prohibited content";
- advertising VPN;
- creating and administering "local VPN services";
- transferring your SIM card to another person;
- transferring your account from an "Internet service" to another person.


The amendments have already been approved by the relevant committee, which in this case is the urban development committee, and will almost certainly be adopted in the very near future.
In recent years, the Duma has repeatedly seen cases of "pushing through" unpopular tightening laws under the guise of considering other completely harmless bills, and in all such cases, the laws were immediately adopted.
If adopted, the discussed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses could come into force as early as September 1 of this year.

It should be understood that, according to the current legislation, the overwhelming majority of news related to Ukraine, published by Western news agencies, falls under the definition of extremist materials.

In addition, it should be remembered that providers have access to the list of sites accessed by each Internet user, and Yandex saves the history of requests, which can be used to find violators of the new law.
Providers can also easily determine the probable use of VPN by their clients.

It should also be taken into account that for most large Telegram channels, law enforcement agencies collect information about participants, and posting prohibited information on channels automatically leads to a violation of the law on the prohibition of consuming prohibited information by participants.

Setting up a VPN on a home router or computer falls under the definition of "administration of a VPN service."

At the moment, in the amendments under discussion, fines for searching and viewing prohibited content are relatively small - from three to five thousand rubles - but the very fact of a violation can theoretically be used as a reason for detention, search and search for evidence of more serious violations. And the fines themselves can easily be increased or even replaced with criminal punishment, as has already happened with other laws.

https://habr.com/ru/news/928070/ - zinc

If the relevant amendments are adopted, a fine of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles can be received for searching for obviously extremist materials and gaining access to them. We are talking about extremist materials included in the published list or specified in paragraph 3 of Article 1 "On counteracting extremist activity" and gaining access to them.

It is proposed to add Article 13.53 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (search for obviously extremist materials and gaining access to them, including through the use of hardware and software for accessing information resources and information and telecommunications networks with restricted access) to the legislation.

The Ministry of Justice proposes to reduce the time period for including materials in the list of extremist
Society
In addition, it is proposed to supplement Article 14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of advertising legislation) with a provision according to which a fine of 50,000 to 80,000 rubles will be imposed for distributing advertisements for hardware and software for accessing information resources with restricted access. For officials, the fine will be from 80,000 to 150,000 rubles, and for legal entities, from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles. VPN services fall under this definition.

It was also proposed to add the following to the legislation:

Article 19.53 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (failure to comply with an order of a federal security service agency, a foreign intelligence agency of the Russian Federation, a state security agency, or the police to provide access to information systems and databases). It is assumed that violation of this article may entail the imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of 50,000 to 70,000 rubles. For individual entrepreneurs, the fine will be from 70,000 to 100,000 rubles, for legal entities - from 300,000 to 500,000 rubles.

Art. 13.52 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the procedure for using software and hardware access to information resources, information and telecommunication networks, access to which is restricted, on the territory of the Russian Federation). Failure of the owner of the software and hardware to provide access to such resources will result in the imposition of an administrative fine on individuals in the amount of 50,000 to 80,000 rubles, on officials - from 80,000 to 150,000 rubles, and on legal entities - from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles.

Similar fines will be imposed for failure to comply with the requirement of the federal executive body and the obligation to ensure compliance with the ban on providing access to resources. In the event of a repeated violation of one of the listed offenses, the fine for individuals will be from 150,000 to 200,000 rubles, for officials - from 200,000 to 300,000 rubles, and for legal entities - from 800,000 to 1 million rubles.

Art. 13.293 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the requirements for the use of a subscriber terminal for transmitting traffic or a virtual telephone exchange). If such actions do not contain elements of a criminal offense, they will entail a fine. For citizens, it will be from 50,000 to 80,000 rubles, for officials - from 80,000 to 150,000 rubles, for legal entities - from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles.

Art. 13.292 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (transfer of information necessary for registration and (or) authorization of a user of the information and telecommunications network "Internet"). For violation of this article, citizens will have to pay a fine in the amount of 30,000 to 50,000 rubles, individual entrepreneurs - from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles, legal entities - from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles.

It is noted that this action will not contain the elements of a crime if the transfer is carried out for lawful use or with the consent of the user.

Art. 13.291 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (transfer of a subscriber number or provision of the opportunity to use mobile radiotelephone services in violation of the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of communications). For individuals, the fine will be from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles, for individual entrepreneurs - from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles, for legal entities - from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles.

A gratuitous short-term transfer of a subscriber's number to another person for personal communication services will not be an offense.


https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/artic ... =copy_text - zinc

This is some kind of crap. For example, the actual work with obituaries collected from Ukrainian resources formally falls under the potential law.
The same applies to the banned Twitter, from where, for example, a lot of information is still parsed from resources on the Middle East.
So many questions. So few answers.

P.S. The State Duma clarified that the law will not affect the users themselves and will be directed at the organizers of the search for prohibited information.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9957519.html

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:32 pm

Vladimir Putin Chats With President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov
Karl Sanchez
Jul 15, 2025

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President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov.

Mr. Krasnikov updates Putin on what’s transpired since last year’s celebration of the Russian Academy of Sciences 300th Anniversary. As you’ll discover, Academy members don’t just sit in their labs and conduct research; they do a considerable amount of work and earn their pay. But why don’t I let the presentation be presented:
G.Krasnikov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, thank you very much for taking the time. Today, I would like to report on the work that has been done and give a report on the instructions. And then we will discuss a few more issues separately.

V. Putin: Good.

G.Krasnikov: The past year, Vladimir Vladimirovich, was a special one for the Russian Academy of Sciences-–its 300th anniversary. The celebration was not only of a Russian scale, but it was also of an international scale in accordance with the decision of UNESCO. We had more than 150 significant events and hundreds of events of a regional and scientific organization scale.

Among the most significant events were, of course, the solemn meeting at the Kremlin Palace. Then there was a general meeting at the end of May last year, which was attended by many foreign delegations. Most importantly, we held a meeting of the BRICS academies as part of this event. In fact, all the heads of the academies from India, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, and South Africa were present. It was a warm gathering, and we agreed on how to proceed.

Last year, [academicians] were awarded: four members of the Academy became full holders of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, three became Heroes of Labor, and one became a Hero of Russia. Only 500 people. We appreciate it, we see recognition of the merits of scientists, their deeds that they have done for our country.

Now I would like to focus on one of the main tasks, which is expert activity. We carry out this activity in accordance with the law [No. 253-FZ]. The number of expert assessments is increasing: compared to 2022, it has almost doubled, and we have completed 87,000 [expert opinions].

I would like to point out here that the expert opinions are no longer just taken into consideration; they are significant and serve as a guide for action. As a result, the number of negative opinions has increased by more than ten times, as experts have finally recognized their importance when they see that the expert opinions are being taken seriously. We have worked closely with the Accounts Chamber to ensure that our expert opinions are meaningful.

We have more than six thousand experts, more than a thousand of them are members of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Every year [in the expert corps] we make an "upgrade" in connection with the age of those who lose their activity-this is very important.

We provide long-term expertise for more than a thousand institutes and universities. In addition, we provide expertise for [high-tech] projects, such as the national technology leadership projects, the 20 projects that were discussed at the State Council last year.

We make expert reviews of road maps and regional scientific and technological development programs, and we receive more than a thousand requests from government agencies, as well as historical and cultural reviews.

I would like to mention [some] significant projects today: this includes the Moscow-Saint Petersburg high-speed railway, the tragedy in the Kerch Strait related to fuel oil, and extensive expertise.

By the way, we are conducting it, and now we are already trusted–-the Mongolian side has come out [with a project] on Lake Baikal: on the [river]. They want to build a whole cycle of hydroelectric power stations in Selenga, dating back to the Soviet Union. We have agreed with our Government, the Mongolian side, and we have set up a joint commission with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences to consider this issue. The decision will be mandatory for both our country and Mongolia.

Of course, I can't help but mention the examination of textbooks. Last year, you signed a law [No. 252-FZ] in August, which made [school] textbooks subject to mandatory examination by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

We have already conducted 346 examinations of textbooks and manuals for them. Moreover, we have now drawn up a plan with the Ministry of Education to create unified textbooks in mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry, and biology for general and secondary education. This plan has been approved, and we plan to have new textbooks developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences by September 1, 2027.

I would like to say a few words about a very important area–-this is a scientific and methodological guide. (Commenting on the presentation.) I won't go through this table, it's just written as it was: we've always had problems, and they're about the same as shown on the next slide. We usually formulate a vision of where research is needed, and we've looked at 5,200 areas.

The existing system led to the fact that our institutions themselves formed state tasks: we looked at them, only conducted an expert examination--yes, no. This led to an insular nature [of research]: only 30 percent [of scientific topics] were selected, and 70 percent were not selected. And this is nonsense, because fundamental exploratory research should go on a broad front, because there is a high probability of accidental discoveries, it is even difficult to plan. And even if we don't have a [breakthrough], we should definitely have teams that can pick it up.

In general, we have revised this situation and introduced a completely new approach since 2025. This approach now involves the Russian Academy of Sciences not only conducting expert reviews, but also formulating government assignments based on demand.

We have some highly sought-after results. These are studies that are available, which are waiting for the federal executive authorities, because [the regions] have introduced [positions] of deputy head for scientific and technical development, there are high-tech companies, there are our councils—all this is accumulated in thematic departments, plus applications from institutes are received there. As a result of such fruitful work, we form a state task, where we already determine 100 percent of the required work that needs to be completed on time.

In this regard, by the way, we have shifted the schedule; I will not dwell on it. It is already for 2027, the formation of a state task, and in September we will start receiving applications from institutions to get us into the budget cycle. But at the same time, this system allows you to assess exactly which institution is advanced, where there is not enough funding, and which institutions are problematic. Because it used to be that there were 30-40 institutes on one topic, and we only had to choose the best ones, but we didn't choose the best ones.

This mechanism allows us to select the best proposals and applications, and, in principle, to understand which institution needs to increase its funding, and which institution needs to be decided on together with the federal authority, the Federal Executive Agency, and the regional authorities, and for what purposes it can be [useful].

I would like to tell you separately: the sixth subprogram is fundamental [and exploratory] scientific research for the country's defense and security. We launched it at the end of 2023, and we haven't had it for a long time. We believe that it is very effective. I can say that it is done very correctly: all the research is in demand, and it has been approved by the general designers of weapons and general technologists.

For 2025, we see that there are a lot of applications [from scientific institutions]. We choose only every fourth application in order to provide [funding for projects]. I will report to you separately on the results of the sixth subprogram, because we are getting unique results in both hypersonics and other areas.

V. Putin: Okay.

G. Krasnikov: I also wanted to stop, but I can't ignore the special military operation. We have a situation where members of the Academy, in addition to their involvement in scientific research and defense work, are donating their personal funds [for the special military operation]. We are creating funds, and we are transferring the monthly academic payments to the fund.

Not only that, we have a subordinate 336th Separate Guards Brigade. We have taken over and are working with them.

V. Putin: The Baltic Fleet, right?

G. Krasnikov: The Baltic Fleet. Legendary: and the Orders of Zhukov, Suvorov, and Alexander Nevsky.

I would like to tell you that we are currently creating a unified landscape of scientific research. We are the Russian Science Foundation, and we have established a relationship with the Russian Academy of Sciences, which allows us to appoint the chairpersons of the expert councils.

We have now agreed with [Vladimir Alexandrovich] Bespalov, General Director, and Andrey Fursenko, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, that we also conduct all the experts of the Russian Science Foundation through ourselves.

We have agreed that the grants that are issued now should be very significant, and either [receive] negative [conclusions] or they should be included in the state assignment. We are ready to include them in long-term research projects for research institutes.

The same goes for the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research. They are concerned with the sixth subprogram, and all the good results that we get from the sixth subprogram are then picked up by the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research, which makes mock-ups, prototypes, and then we use them for R&D [research and development].

We have also restructured our influence on scientific and technological development. Two decrees have been issued here. The first Decree: we have created an NTS [Scientific and Technical Council] under the Commission for Scientific and Technological Development, which [Dmitry Nikolaevich] Chernyshenko heads. NTS is headed by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The second Decree is that he [the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences] became deputy chairman of this commission.

This turned out to be a very effective mechanism, because we have fully established relations between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Scientific and Technical Council. Here, we are fully consolidating our decision. For example, we have completed 19 projects on technological leadership, and we have carefully reviewed them, making more than 300 comments and holding more than 50 meetings. Our mechanism is highly coordinated.

I wanted to tell you about regional policy. We have built up [work] today with each region–-I will not dwell here in detail. I would like to say that we are also working with Yuri Trutnev, who is our Far Eastern branch, to resolve the issue of river flooding. Oleg Kozhemyako and I have built a joint center that looks at how to reduce damage. I mentioned Selenga in the Siberian branch, and there are still problems with the Pulp and paper mill: the sludge-lignin that we are looking at has settled. For the Ural District, North-West, St. Petersburg branch-we are working.

V. Putin: Have you set up your work?

G. Krasnikov: They built it, yes, thank you.

V.Putin: The issues that arose; we have discussed them before.

G. Krasnikov: They are tuned to work regional, there are a lot of them there, they consolidated, made scientific councils in the areas. They are now one of the most active departments.

On regional policy. First of all, we pay a lot of attention to the south of Russia, where there are two federal districts, Crimea, Donetsk, the Lugansk Republic, Zaporozhye, and Kherson. We have organized work. By the way, we have established a representative office of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Donetsk, which we have coordinated with [Denis Vladimirovich] Pushilin. [Svetlana Vladimirovna] Bespalova, the rector of Donetsk State University, has become the representative of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and we have connected the LPR to her to oversee the situation.

Not only that, but we also created the Kuzbass-Donbass Scientific and Educational Center. The problem is that there are issues with mines and groundwater: no one is taking care of them, there are sinkholes, changes in the soil, and problems with water quality. These issues are similar to those in Kuzbass. We have created this center.

We hold scientific conferences with the Volga Federal District, taking into account the fact that the Sea of Azov has become our inland sea. We held a large field council in the Chechen Republic, in Grozny.

International activities. As an example of international events, last year, Sirius hosted the XXII Mendeleev Congress on General and Applied Chemistry, in collaboration with UNESCO and IUPAC, the International Union of [Theoretical and Applied Chemistry]. There were over four thousand participants from 39 countries. Prominent scientists came and gave presentations. In fact, a Nobel laureate in chemistry from Israel made an amazing presentation at Sirius. This demonstrates our commitment to international collaboration.

V. Putin: Scientific contacts with our colleagues are continuing, aren't they?

G. Krasnikov: They are continuing.

V. Putin: Good.
The sixth subprogram conversation I’m sure would’ve been beyond interesting. Clearly, Russia’s scientific community isn’t standing or sitting but is working very diligently on a vast number and broad array of projects. I was surprised there was no mention of the Academy’s contributions to the modification of the state exam, although that work is also in relation to textbook designing. As I’ve mentioned before, Russia has one unified national school district whereas within the Empire we have 51 different boards of education, no overall unified system and textbook publishers who are more attuned to the ideology of particular states than the accuracy of content within the books they produce. And the same goes for the sciences generally. The international coordination with other science academies bodes well for the future of the Global Majority as the Collective West continues to limit contacts and joint projects. An interesting change was admitted as revealed within this paragraph:
I would like to point out here that the expert opinions are no longer just taken into consideration; they are significant and serve as a guide for action. As a result, the number of negative opinions has increased by more than ten times, as experts have finally recognized their importance when they see that the expert opinions are being taken seriously.
So, it appears that feedback within the experts is now happening via the sharpening of debate that ought to produce much better outcomes and policies. And it appears the main message is getting around—no one can afford to rest on their laurels as innovation and progress will soon pass your accomplishment and make it yesterday’s news. IMO, that helps everyone to move forward as a collective since all work being done is to advance Russia and Russians. Some discoveries do result is prizes and get spun-off into commercial production as previous reports have shown.

Yes, the SMO and conflict with NATO has accelerated scientific progress. But even during the Neoliberal war on Russia during the 1990s, science still progressed. Russia has a well-earned tradition of scientific excellence that has served it well. The empowerment it enjoys today may well be greater than at any previous time. With the education of more minds being made possible by the emerging Multipolar World, the imagination should wonder.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/vladimir ... -president

Update on Russia's Africa Policy

Director of the Foreign Ministry's Africa Partnership Department Tatyana Dovgalenko's interview with TV BRICS, July 9, 2025
Karl Sanchez
Jul 16, 2025

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It would be nice to have a more recent photo of Tatyana Dovgalenko.

BRICS-TV interviewed the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Director of its Africa Partnership Department that provides us with an overview and update on Russian-African activities that are rapidly growing in scope across Africa in ways that complement China’s activities. A lot of detailed information is provided that usually goes unreported:
Question: In early February of this year, a new unit was established in the Foreign Ministry–-the Department of Partnership with Africa. The structure of the diplomatic department previously had two departments that oversaw the countries of the continent: the Department of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Department of Africa.

What is the peculiarity of the new division? What are its goals and objectives? And what aspects will you, as its leader, focus on the most?

Tatyana: The principal feature of our Department is its functionality, which is its focus on the comprehensive and integrated development of relations between Russia and the entire African continent, which are currently experiencing a real revival.

Our main line is to implement the tasks set by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, taking into account the agreements with his African colleagues following the Russia-Africa summits, and to bring joint activities within the framework of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum to a new level.

The Department includes the Secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, established in 2020, with the tasks of preparing and holding Russian-African summits and high-level meetings, facilitating the organisation of other events in the Russia–Africa format, as well as coordinating work–-both interdepartmental and with African partners–-to implement the decisions taken.

The work is based on the high-level ambitious Action Plan of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum for 2023-2026. The document covers a wide range of areas of cooperation—from security, trade and investment to education, agriculture, science, culture, etc.

Another key area of the department's activities is building up our cooperation with African integration associations. I am referring, first of all, to the largest organisation that expresses the common voice of the continent–-the African Union and its "subordinate" structures, as well as regional and subregional associations of the continent, alliances of states, multilateral formats and mechanisms.

We are helping to build up inter-parliamentary and inter-party ties with pan-African structures. In cooperation with other departments of the Ministry, relevant agencies and public organisations, as well as expert scientific and business circles, and, of course, the diplomatic corps of the African states, Moscow is determined to promote the Russia-Africa partnership in all areas–-political, trade and economic, military-technical and humanitarian.

We are open to multilateral projects with the participation of non-regional friendly countries. In short, everything that is not related to bilateral relations, such as multilateral formats and mechanisms in Africa, including financial, parliamentary and so on, is within the competence of our Department.

Question: At the presentation of the Department of Partnership with Africa, you outlined the topic of building up Russia's cooperation with African integration associations as a key area of work for the new unit. What are these associations? And what joint work is planned? What should this give to relations between countries?

Tatyana: Along with the development of bilateral ties, the most important area of our work to build up Russia's presence in Africa is to strengthen cooperation with the integration associations operating on the continent. The Foreign Ministry's new Department of Partnership with Africa has been entrusted with coordinating this work.

Through the efforts of integration associations, a continental and regional security architecture, mechanisms for African peacekeeping, customs unions, free trade zones, including the world's largest African Continental Free Trade Area, and the largest banks (Afreximbank, African Development Bank) are successfully functioning.

The key coordinating centre of these processes is, of course, the African Union, which unites all the countries of the continent. We welcome its efforts to achieve the goals set out in its main policy document, Agenda 2063. In practical terms, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Foundations of Relations and Cooperation signed in Sochi in 2019 and the Russia-African Union Action Plan for 2023-2026, adopted in St Petersburg in 2023, are a solid foundation for our ties. Good results have already been achieved on this track, but we look forward to even greater results from our joint work in the future.

We note the growing role of this pan-African association in world affairs. The African Union has been a full member of the G20 for a year now. The participation of Africans in the work of the UN and other international platforms is becoming increasingly important. We support their justified desire to expand the representation of African states in the UN Security Council in accordance with the continent's common position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

At the same time, it is a priority for us to build multifaceted cooperation with other regional communities in Africa. Among them: the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

We see the emergence of new associations aimed at sovereign development and defending their own identity as a counterbalance to the neocolonial models imposed by the West as promising. In this regard, we attach particular importance to the development of cooperation with the Confederation of Sahel States (ACU). In April of this year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held his first meeting with the foreign ministers of its member states.

At present, work is underway to create a legal framework for our interaction with integration associations: memoranda on the foundations of relations and cooperation, as well as action plans designed to translate their provisions into practice and aimed at implementing specific joint projects, have been signed or are in the process of being coordinated. Interdepartmental and business contacts are being established in the most promising areas of mutual interest for the Russian and African sides in the political, trade, economic, agricultural, scientific, technical, humanitarian and other spheres. We are convinced that the above mechanisms will become the foundation for building more effective work with the countries of the continent, taking into account the regional architecture and specifics.

Question: How do you plan to work on the climate agenda? Countries in the Global South are increasingly thinking about the transition to green energy, as well as combating the effects of climate change.

Tatyana: We adhere to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and welcome the efforts of African countries and the African Union to develop strategies for sustainable energy development and ensure comprehensive access to modern energy sources. We are committed to constructive cooperation in this area with all countries and integration associations of the African continent.

Today, many African countries are striving to increase the share of renewable energy sources in their energy mix. This is quite natural, because the continent accounts for up to 60% of the world's solar resources, as well as significant wind and geothermal potential.

At the same time, we see that "green energy" is used by external players, namely Western countries, as one of the tools of neocolonial policy towards Africa. The widespread imposition of the "green agenda", covered with beautiful slogans, is designed, in fact, to limit the countries of the continent in their desire to create a self-sufficient energy base for electrification and industrialization, to exacerbate their technological dependence and economic backwardness.

Our African friends understand that in order to meet household needs and industrial production, predictable and stable energy sources are needed, and the acceleration of the "green transition" is fraught with numerous risks for food and energy stability.

As a country with extensive experience in the field of energy, including the use of natural gas as an environmentally friendly fuel, "peaceful atom" technologies and the potential of renewable energy sources, we are able to offer comprehensive solutions that will allow us to achieve a balanced use of various types of energy resources and ensure energy sovereignty for African countries.

Question: The volume of trade between Russia and African countries is growing. In 2024, it amounted to $25 billion. And, as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted, these figures do not yet correspond to the existing potential. Does the new Department have a strategy for developing economic cooperation with the continent? How are you planning to bring trade to a new level and what are the prospects?

Tatyana: Increasing mutual trade with Africa is one of our absolute priorities. In 2024, the volume of trade with the continent increased by 13% and amounted to $27.7 billion. (exports – 24.2 billion US dollars, imports – 3.5 billion US dollars). There is still a significant imbalance in our trade with the regions of the continent: North Africa accounts for 70% of our trade.

At the same time, taking into account the existing potential, the achieved indicators are far from the limit. We still have a lot to do, especially since the Action Plan for 2023-2026 pays significant attention to trade and economic cooperation with Africa. Among the main areas are trade, energy, transport and logistics, digital technologies, etc.

In order to strengthen Russian-African trade and economic cooperation, the mechanism of intergovernmental commissions on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation (IGC) with African countries is being actively used. Since the beginning of this year, meetings of the IGC have been held with Algeria, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Mozambique, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania (twice), Tunisia, South Africa. By the end of 2025, IGCs with Angola, Guinea, Morocco, Namibia, Sudan, and Uganda are planned.

The first Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ) in Egypt will be a serious help in deepening cooperation between Russian and African economic operators and implementing joint projects in Africa. In May of this year, the parties signed an agreement on the transfer of land for the RIZ in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The task is based on building a full cycle of production by Russian companies of their products, which in the future will be sold not only in the Egyptian market, but also in third countries, mainly on the African continent. This project (the work plan for its launch is designed for 13 years) will organically fit into the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is currently being formed.

We proceed from the importance of direct contacts between the Russian and African business communities and encourage them to more actively develop promising niches in the Russian and African markets. We note that there is mutual interest in this issue. It seems that the development of economic ties with partners on the continent will be facilitated by improving the awareness of the business community about the capabilities and needs of the parties, including by increasing the number of business missions and wider participation of economic operators in joint congress and exhibition events. We are actively working in this direction.

Question: How can the African continent be of interest to Russian investors?

Tatyana: Africa is a dynamically developing continent with huge natural resources and rich human potential–-1.5 billion people, most of whom are young people. Thus, it is both an extensive production base and a constantly expanding sales market, which cannot but attract foreign, including Russian investors. According to forecasts, the total volume of the African economy in the next decade may increase several times (up to 8.5 trillion US dollars). Already now, Africa's share in world production is 2%, in the world economy—3%, the twenty fastest growing economies in the world account for 12 African economies, which are 2-9 times ahead of the world average.

Russian companies could be interested in projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants and nuclear power plants, the installation of renewable energy generating facilities, the development of hydrocarbons, diamonds, gold, uranium, copper, rare earth metals, bauxite and the processing of raw materials. The experience of domestic investors is also in demand in the creation of complex infrastructure, including the modernization of seaports and terminals, railways and roads. There is a strong demand for digital technologies from Africans, particularly in the government, municipal, and financial sectors. And, of course, African countries are traditionally interested in investing in agriculture, which is the basis of the food sovereignty of any state.

As an additional measure to support the activities of domestic companies on the African continent, in accordance with the President's instructions, a special investment mechanism (fund) has been created to facilitate Russian projects in Africa.

Question: The joint development of minerals is a very promising area of cooperation between Russia and Africa. What projects are already being implemented in this industry and what are planned for the future?

Tatyana: Today, Russian economic operators are successfully implementing projects in the oil and gas and mining industries of various African countries. The work of such companies as Rosneft, Gazpromneft, LUKOIL, Gazprombank, ALROSA, Nordgold, Severstal, Renova, RUSAL, Vi Holding and many others can be noted. We are talking about geological exploration, the development of oil and gas sites, the construction of LNG terminals and related infrastructure, and mining.

We intend to support the creation of sectoral dialogues with Africa with the involvement of interested Russian and African ministries and departments, as well as the business and scientific communities. Thus, the Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue, organized in November this year on the basis of the St Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II, will become a "touchstone" in this area.

Given the huge potential of Russia and Africa in the field of subsoil use, the exchange of best practices, knowledge and technologies, investment in joint projects and the creation of raw material alliances will not only make a significant contribution to strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations, but also have a real impact on the global market of mineral resources.

Q: Our country is currently building Nuclear Science and Technology Centres in Zambia and Rwanda. What is the reason for the demand for the creation of such research sites in these countries? And how, in your opinion, do such projects strengthen relations between Russia and Africa?

Tatyana: Nuclear Science and Technology Centres play a key role in ensuring the technological and scientific sovereignty of countries that do not have their own nuclear programme. Zambia and Rwanda have selected a multi-purpose research reactor project with a capacity of up to 20 MW to further develop nuclear, power and non-power technologies.

First of all, the construction of the Center is a preparatory step for the creation of the nuclear industry in the country. It raises awareness among the local population and overcomes deep-rooted prejudices. In the host State, qualified personnel are trained by experienced specialists to manage the national nuclear programme and to manage the relevant facilities safely and effectively. The centres also provide environmental solutions for the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, as well as the decommissioning of facilities. Local manufacturers are attracted and thereby sustainable supply chains are created, which not only lays the foundation for further development of technologies, but also gives impetus to the growth of the country's economy.

Secondly, modern scientific programs are carried out on the basis of the Center: from the study of mineral raw materials and ores to the application of nuclear technologies in medicine, industry and agriculture. Further development of these areas allows countries to significantly improve the level of healthcare, create competitive industries and achieve food sovereignty.

An equally important task of the Centers is to prepare the customer country for the placement of a nuclear facility on its territory using the best Russian developments and taking into account the requirements of the IAEA.

We believe that the Nuclear Technology Centres will not only serve as a reliable channel of interaction between Russia and African countries, but will also provide interested African partners with an additional tool to strengthen the national scientific and technological base.

Question: Does the Department plan to establish ties with Africans who have gone to study in Russia? For example, involve them in some projects at the stage of study? After all, students are the best time to make friends between young people, to form a reserve for future cooperation.

Answer: You are right: the knowledge, impressions, and contacts that are acquired in youth remain with us for a long time. According to our embassies, the vast majority of African graduates of Soviet universities are ready to send their children to study in Russia. The good reputation of Russian education among Africans creates a solid foundation for further building up cooperation in this area. Associations of graduates of Russian universities operate in many African countries.

In Russia, there are also diaspora associations and student communities based on universities, where students from Africa are most widely represented. The main thing is that they manage to perceive the profile program as much as possible, become highly qualified specialists and, upon returning, help the economic development and growth of the technological sovereignty of their countries. This is the main goal of the educational opportunities provided by Russia for foreign students, Africa is no exception here.

For its part, the Department supports various initiatives to involve African students in the discussion of topical problems of the continent and the prospects for Russian-African cooperation. For example, MGIMO recently hosted the forum "Russia–Africa: What's Next?", in which, along with experts, students from African communities took part on the basis of this university. Following the event, a resolution was signed confirming the firm desire of Russian-African youth to develop multilateral cooperation in the context of an ever-changing geopolitical situation.

Question: It is believed that there is a shortage of specialists in the field of African studies in Russia, and in various fields, such as trade, the media, etc. What measures need to be taken to increase the number of Africanist experts?

Tatyana: I agree with your remark: even during the most active period of our relations with Africa, in the 1960s and 1980s, Africanists were, as they say, "piece goods." At that time, demand followed supply: the USSR "entered" Africa, opened embassies and trade missions there, built plants and factories, supplied equipment, etc. And they were. The Soviet Union knew how to train personnel for strategic tasks—this system allowed the USSR to effectively implement its foreign policy strategy on the continent, ensuring strong ties with African countries.

Unfortunately, much of this was lost after the demise of the USSR. Russia lost a whole generation of Africanists, the continuity of personnel and knowledge was disrupted. The remaining heritage needs to be adapted to the requirements of the time, to combine Soviet developments with modern approaches and technologies. Our return to Africa is impossible without high-quality personnel support, without people with experience and a deep understanding of the current realities of the African continent. It is important to give priority to their training. In addition to country studies, the study of African languages is of key importance here, primarily the most common ones—Swahili, Lingala, Khausa, Wolof, etc.

Today, the state is consistently working to increase the attractiveness of the African direction among young people. Thus, within the framework of the "Program for the Development of Education in the Field of Oriental and African Studies" adopted in 2023 by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, initiatives are being implemented to develop new thematic educational programs, promote academic mobility and open youth laboratories. An important role here is also played by Russian universities, on the basis of which there are bachelor's and master's programs in African studies, among them: the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University (IAAS), RUDN University, MGIMO, Russian State University for the Humanities, St. Petersburg State University, Voronezh State University, etc. In 2024, the IAAS launched the "Development of Asia and Africa" program, the emphasis is on language training students in one of the African languages (Amharic, Hausa).

At the same time, in order to increase the number of experts in African studies in the country, it is necessary not only to strengthen existing academic programs, but also to expand the horizon of practical opportunities: to develop joint research projects with universities on the continent, internship and internship programs in Russian organizations and companies cooperating with Africa, to more actively involve students in participation in major international events, for example, within the framework of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.

At the same time, no matter how high-quality education is, motivation is a decisive factor. Young people should see that African studies is not just a highly specialized niche, but a modern, promising and actively developing direction that promises great prospects, both in terms of professional growth and financial returns.

In general, attracting specialists to the field of African studies is not only a matter of personnel training, it goes beyond the educational task, it is, first of all, an investment in the future of Russian-African relations, a strategically important step towards improving the quality of interaction between our countries.

Question: The nature of the sunny continent is unique. You can go to Africa to admire the landscapes of nature reserves, national parks, mountains and oceans, look at wild animals living in the wild, for example, in Kilimanjaro. But so far, the African destination is not the most popular for travel among Russians. What could contribute to the development of tourism?

Tatyana: The potential for the development of Russian tourism in Africa is enormous. In addition to the destinations traditionally popular with our compatriots (Egypt, Tunisia or Morocco), in recent years there has been an increase in interest in traveling to Tanzania (+159%), Kenya (+141%) and the Seychelles (+71%). The demand for trips to Africa among Russians has increased by 50%.

At the same time, one of the obstacles to attracting Russian tourists to Africa is the lack of objective information and the persistence of a stereotypical, usually distorted, view of the continent in the mass consciousness. Promoting a positive image of Africa through media and educational projects, articles, documentaries, travel blogs would help increase its tourist attractiveness among our compatriots. An additional help in this matter would be the more active participation of representatives of the African tourism industry in industry events in Russia, the establishment of contacts with Russian partners.

Among the issues that need to be addressed is ensuring logistics and transport accessibility. The restoration and expansion of direct flights to the countries of the region could tip the scales in favor of the African direction. Measures implemented at the interstate level to simplify the visa regime and, in the future, the introduction of visa-free travel to African countries would increase the tourist attractiveness of Africa.

The promotion of the African direction in Russian tourism requires not targeted initiatives, but a systematic approach, including the coordinated efforts of the state, business circles and specialized structures. Thus, it is possible not only to revive tourist interest, but also to strengthen Russian-African relations in general.

Question: What is the importance of holding events such as the Days of Russian Culture in African countries for the development of relations between countries?

Tatyana: Cooperation in the field of culture is an integral part of the vast range of relations between Russia and Africa, an important element in strengthening friendship and interpersonal communication. Africans have a keen interest in our culture, and Russian cultural events held on the continent are invariably very popular.

Last year, the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia were successfully held in a number of African countries. This project is aimed at demonstrating the richness and diversity of Russian spiritual culture in foreign countries, implemented by the ANO "Russian Seasons" with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

In particular, on September 5-8, 2024, the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia were held in South Africa for the first time. The rich program of events included: a concert of the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble under the direction of Yuri Bashmet; exhibition "Novodevichy Convent. To the 500th anniversary of the foundation"; Round table "United in Spirit: Cultural Heritage and Traditional Values as the Basis of Humanitarian Cooperation and Mutual Knowledge between Russia and South Africa"; as well as a performance by the Moscow Synodal Choir.

On September 25-30, 2024, the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia were held in Ethiopia, within their framework concerts were held by the United Choir of the Moscow Theological Academy and the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius; The exhibition "Novodevichy Convent. To the 500th anniversary of the foundation"; artists of the Sergei Obraztsov Puppet Theater held a master class "In the World of Puppet Theater"; the play "A Star on the Way to Bethlehem. The events ended with a performance by the balalaikas sextet of the Osipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia under the direction of I.I. Senin.

This year, the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia were held from May
24 to 26 in Zimbabwe, their main event was the performance of the State Song and Dance Ensemble "Altai" named after A.F. Berezikov.

Question: In 2024, 2 African countries–-Egypt and Ethiopia–-joined BRICS. How does the increasing involvement of African states in BRICS, both as full participants and partner states, affect the development of the association?

Tatyana: BRICS continues to strengthen its role as one of the pillars of a new, fairer world order. The principles inherent in interaction within the framework of the Association–-consensus, equality, mutual consideration of each other's interests–-resonate with an increasing number of countries in the Global South, which are striving to realize their aspirations and aspirations.

Among them, African states occupy a special place. It is obvious that the dynamically developing African continent claims a leading position in the emerging multipolar architecture. African countries are already quite widely represented within BRICS: South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia are actively participating in the work of the association, using opportunities to promote not only their national interests, but also the pan-African agenda.

Following last year's summit in Kazan, a category of BRICS partner states was established. In January of this year, Nigeria and Uganda joined the association in this capacity. They are invited to various events of the association, including a meeting of foreign ministers, meetings of mechanisms at the expert level.

Contacts between BRICS and the African Union are ongoing and have a fairly long history. The states chairing this continental organisation regularly participate in meetings of BRICS summits in the outreach/BRICS plus format. In 2023, South Africans invited all African countries to the Johannesburg summit. In 2024, President of Mauritania Mohammed al-Ghazouani (as chair of the African Union), as well as Head of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, visited Kazan.

Officials of a number of African states have repeatedly publicly expressed their interest in strengthening cooperation with BRICS. There are also several official applications that are under consideration. There is no doubt that the practice of involving African countries in the work of various BRICS mechanisms will only expand in the future.

In this context, the New Development Bank should also be mentioned. Along with South Africa, which was one of the founders of the NDB, it also includes Egypt since 2023, and Algeria was also recently announced. Africa remains one of the promising areas for further expansion of the Bank's shareholders, which will qualitatively expand the portfolio of its investment projects.

Russia has always supported the expansion of the participation of African states in BRICS. This not only strengthens its international prestige and contributes to the practical implementation of the principle of multilateralism that underpins its functioning, but also gives the Association greater political weight and turns it into a universal dialogue platform. Thus, BRICS is becoming a larger alternative to Western formats of interaction.
One major point that was recently made by Lavrov is the very little value added to African exports, which is where the vast majority of profit is made. As was pointed out as the goal of Rosatom’s training mission to ensure nationals are capable of operating their facilities, the same ethos must be applied to the upgrading of subsoil raw materials. Another essential that’s vitally needed for inter-African commerce is rail and road infrastructure that connects Africa’s nations. And then there’s the #1 priority for all African nations—food sovereignty and the elimination of malnutrition and famine which are the basic problems associated with extreme poverty. Africa ought to be capable of producing more than enough food to feed itself. Abandoning the cultivation of plantation export crops needs to be done and the odious debts they were made to service repudiated. There’s a very large amount of work to be done to eliminate the tragic effects of Colonialism and Neocolonialism. BRICS must be part of that process, while African leadership must focus on Africa and not on being part of the Neocolonial Disease.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/update-o ... ica-policy

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Russia Matters: Trump Threatens Putin With Tariffs, Arms Supplies to Kyiv, But How Serious Are His Threats?=
July 15, 2025
Russia Matters, 7/14/25

While hosting NATO’s SG Mark Rutte on July 14, President Donald Trump unveiled a deal with this alliance that would send weapons to Ukraine within days while also threating Russia with stiff penalties in his renewed effort to end hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. “We’ve made a deal today where we are going to be sending them [Ukraine] weapons and they [NATO countries] [are] going to be paying for them,” Trump was quoted by Wall Street Journal as saying in Rutte’s presence. During the same event the U.S. president also threatened Russia with “secondary tariffs” unless a deal to end the hostilities in Ukraine is reached by early September. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100%, you’d call them secondary tariffs,” Trump was quoted by Financial Times as saying. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later said Trump could choose to impose either tariffs or sanctions on countries that do business with Russia, according to Wall Street Journal. Last week saw Trump repeatedly state his unhappiness with Putin’s unwillingness to agree to an unconditional end of hostilities in Ukraine, promising a “major statement” on Russia on July 14. Thus, his July 14 threats came as no surprise, but they were also met with some skepticism. “It is unclear if… Putin will take Trump’s threat seriously,” Alexander Ward and his co-authors wrote in Wall Street Journal on July 14.“For a frequent flip-flopper like him [Trump], can anyone ever tell which flip or flop is for real?” Susan Glasser wondered in the New Yorker. “The president is a late and very reluctant convert to the approach of trying to confront and isolate Mr. Putin” and the approach he is taking “seems designed to keep him at least one arm’s length away from the conflict,” David Sanger and Maggie Haberman explained in New York Times. That Trump is “coming around on Ukraine” represents a decision that “isn’t isolationist or internationalist but realistic,” according to Peggy Noonan.

“Russia’s factories have begun churning out vast quantities of attack drones over the past year, producing a deadly fleet that is now taking to Ukrainian skies in record numbers almost daily,” Matthew Luxmoore and Jane Lytvynenko reported in a July 10 article for Wall Street Journal. Writing for the same newspaper Jillian Kay Melchior also noted the surge in Russian drone production, as did Andrew Kramer of The New York Times. “As Russia’s defense industry continues to ramp up, military analysts expect Russia to routinely launch more than 1,000 drones per volley by autumn,” Kramer warned. These articles indicate that the mainstream U.S. media outlets are catching up with the recent changes in correlation of drone production in Ukraine and Russia in the latter’s favor. In the first and second year of Russia’s full-fledged invasion into Ukraine, such outlets as Wall Street Journal were reporting how use of drones by Ukraine helped to turn the tide in Kyiv’s favor while New York Times reported how “Ukraine has stayed ahead in the drones arm race.” In the third year of the war Forbes declared that “For the first time, Ukraine is launching more long-range drone attacks than Russia.” The coverage of the drone race began to change, however, in 2025. For instance, in January of this year, ECFR’s Ulrike Franke published an article on the web site of this think-tank that estimated that Russia was matching Ukraine’s pace of drone production. Five months later, the press was also noticing this change. For instance, The Times of London’s Anthony Loyd reported from Donbas: “Russia has taken the lead in the drone race, outproducing Kyiv in the manufacture and use of medium-range FPV drones and fiber optic variants that have changed the shape of the entire 1,200 km front line.” Loyd’s May 2025 article was echoed by Politico’s Veronika Melkozerova, who reported in June 2025, citing Zelensky himself, that “Ukraine produces about 100 long-range drones a day, while Russia has managed to scale up production to 300 a day and is aiming for 500.” Russian drone producers managed to boost long-range drone production from 15,000 in 2024 to more than 30,000 this year, as well as up to 2 million small tactical drones, according to Melkozerova.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to nominate first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko as his next PM is a victory for his powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak for whom there appears to be little love lost in Washington. “Svyrydenko is considered a close ally” of Yermak, according to July 14 article in Financial Times. Apart from the new prime minister, changes are expected at education, health, culture, social policy and possibly finance, according to the Economist. The Economist reported on July 6 that a cabinet reshuffle is “imminent” and that is being driven by Yermak whose lecturing approach to diplomacy Americans despair at. While being allied with Yermak, Svyrydenko is also seen as having “strong ties with Donald Trump’s team after leading the minerals talks alongside U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent,” according to Financial Times.

https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2025/07/rus ... s-threats/

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Mass surveillance will not be allowed
July 17, 12:55

Image

The Federation Council explained the wonderful bill on fines for using VPN. It may be adopted this fall.

Mass surveillance will not be allowed

There are no plans to punish Russians for accessing prohibited resources using VPN, Senator Artem Sheikin told RIA Novosti.

"If access is provided through anonymizers or VPN and the established requirements are violated (for example, through an illegal VPN that does not interact with Roskomnadzor), liability may arise from the owners of these VPN services, but not the user directly," the agency's source said.
This is how he commented on the amendments on fines for advertising such services, which were approved by the Constitutional Committee of the State Duma.

Other statements by the senator:

if the amendments are adopted, opening a page with extremist materials will not be a violation if the content is not distributed, saved or popularized;
liability is provided for intent, when the actions were conscious and aimed at an illegal goal; the focus is on providers, not on punishing users;
Russians will not be fined for logging into Instagram* and blocked resources;

they will also not be punished for complaints about extremist content, Russians have every right to report illegal information;
Discussion of VPN services or expression of personal opinion will not be considered their advertising;

violations of the proposed articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses will be recorded through materials, appeals, messages in the media, mass surveillance will not be allowed.


Details of the bill

The document provides for fines for advertising VPNs and similar means that provide access to prohibited sites:

from 50 to 80 thousand rubles for citizens;
from 80 to 150 thousand - officials;
from 200 to 500 thousand - legal entities.

Fines of up to one million rubles are also threatened for violations in the operation of equipment that provides access to prohibited resources, for example, for failure to comply with the instructions of Roskomnadzor.


https://ria.ru/20250716/vpn-2029455375.html - zinc

P.S. Funny. The Kremlin asked the deputies to explain what they mean by this law.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9959607.html

Google Translator
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Fri Jul 18, 2025 3:08 pm

TRUMP’S SECONDARY SANCTIONS ON RUSSIAN OIL ARE SPITTING IN THE WIND

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By John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with

As President Donald Trump got off his helicopter on Tuesday afternoon, he was asked by a reporter about his threat to impose 100% secondary trade sanctions if President Vladimir Putin doesn’t capitulate on US terms for ending the Ukraine war within fifty days.

“Question: Are you concerned that uh, secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil will hurt American consumers, higher gas prices —

“Donald Trump: I don’t think so. I think that whole thing is gonna go away eventually. It should have gone away. And Putin does say, ‘Oh, I want peace. I want peace,’ but so far he hasn’t lived up to that. So I think it’s gonna go away. But we’re gonna find out soon. We’re gonna find out soon.

Question: Can you give us more details on the sanctions? Is it 100% sanctions?

Donald Trump: No, I don’t wanna do that. But they’re very biting, they’re very significant and they’re gonna be very bad for the countries involved. I mean, they’ll be very, very powerful and, uh, very bad for the countries involved. And I hope we don’t have to pull that string and maybe we won’t. We’ll see. Gotta end.”

The Kremlin has said next to nothing except to warn that Putin might not think Trump’s threats worth answering. “If and when President Putin deems it necessary,” declared spokesman Dmitry Peskov, “he will certainly comment on that. Let’s wait for Putin to decide whether he will comment on that himself.”

In the meantime, the Kremlin-funded internet platform for political, economic and military strategy, Vzglyad, has published the assessment that Trump will not dare to implement his secondary sanctions threat because the impact on the US will be much too damaging.

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The text has been translated verbatim without editing; charts with captions and sources have been added for illustration of the market dynamics and of the anti-Russia sanctions claims.
July 16, 2025
How will Trump’s threats against Russian oil buyers turn out?
By Olga Samofalova

Donald Trump is threatening to punish buyers of Russian energy resources if the situation in Ukraine is not resolved in fifty days. First of all, China, India and Turkey, as the main buyers of our oil and petroleum products, are under attack. Surprisingly, however, world oil prices easily accepted such an ultimatum from the United States. Experts explain why there is no panic.

BRENT OIL PRICE RESPONDS TO NEW TRUMP SANCTION THREAT, JUNE 17-JULY 17

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Source: Brent crude oil price marker, closing price each day, June 17-July 17, 2025. July 17 price for September delivery, $69.59. Source: https://markets.businessinsider.com/com ... /oil-price

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russian energy buyers if Russia does not agree to a peace agreement on the conflict in Ukraine in fifty days. The American president did not share specifics.

However, it can be assumed that we are not talking about the inclusion of culpable companies on the SDN [US Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons] list, but about the introduction of 100% duties on goods from those countries which will have disobeyed the United States and continued to buy Russian energy resources. It is not yet clear whether this will apply only to Russian oil or also to Russian petroleum products. In the end, the United States may also hit gas from Russia.

“If the Trump administration plans to impose prohibitive duties on Russia’s main foreign trade partners, tariffs of 100% on imports from China, India and Turkey may be imposed as early as September 2025. These countries are the main buyers of Russian coal, oil and petroleum products. The main restrictions will relate specifically to mutual trade, and not to the inclusion of certain companies in the SDN list,” said Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market.

“About 85-90% of our oil is bought, literally speaking, by just two countries. These are India and China. China is the largest buyer of Russian oil if we take into account both oil pipelines and deliveries by sea. If we count only maritime supplies, then, as a rule, India is the largest buyer of our oil, and China is in second place,” says Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (FNEB) and the National Energy Security Fund (NWF).

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Source: https://energyandcleanair.org/june-2025 ... sanctions/

According to Chinese Customs data, China buys about 2 million barrels of Russian oil per day, mainly ESPO, [Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline] , Sokol and Sakhalin oil, plus Urals grade oil and Arctic oil.

India mainly buys our flagship brand of oil, Urals. According to Kpler vessel tracking data, the total volume of Russian oil imports into the country is about 1.8 million barrels per day. This year, Turkey became the third largest importer of Russian oil, which bought a record 400,000 barrels per day in June. This was the result of lower prices for Russian oil: it has been below $ 60 per barrel for the fourth month in a row. Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, plus Japan and South Korea also buy Russian oil through pipelines, Yushkov adds.

CURRENT PRICE QUOTES FOR RUSSIAN CRUDE OIL BLENDS

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Source: https://oilprice.com/oil-price-charts/ Russian crude oil is primarily traded as the Urals blend, which is a mix of sour (high sulphur) crude from the Urals-Volga region and sweet (low sulphur) crude from Western Siberia. Other, less common types include the Sokol and Sakhalin blends, both produced in the fareast. Sakhalin crude, lifted at the Sakhalin-2 and Sakhalin-3 sources, may trade at a slight discount or premium compared to other Russian crudes, depending on market conditions and demand.

IMPACT OF SANCTIONS WAR ON DISCOUNT BETWEEN BRENT AND URALS

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Source: https://energyandcleanair.org/june-2025 ... sanctions/

As for petroleum products, Russia exports about 2.5 million barrels per day of petroleum products, including low-sulphur diesel fuel, gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil and others. Turkey has sharply increased its purchases from Russia since 2022, and their exports from Turkey to the EU have increased by exactly the same amount, Yushkov notes. Turkey has become an intermediary between Russia and the EU, and is making good money from it. In 2024, Ankara bought 16.1 million tonnes of Russian oil, which is 9.5 million tons more than in 2021, that is, before the start of its oil production. At the same time, the total export of petroleum products from Turkey has actually doubled, from 11 million tons in 2021 to 22.2 million tons in 2024. Shipments to the EU from Turkey also doubled, from 5.2 million tons in 2021 to 11.4 million tons in 2024.

Russian oil products are also purchased by India, Brazil, countries of the Middle East (the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia), and North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and others), Yushkov notes.

Markets and oil reacted rather weakly to Trump’s threats: global oil prices fell slightly. And here’s why. The fact is that, one way or another, the consequences for the United States itself will be negative. This will mean an immediate withdrawal from the market of 5-7 million barrels per day, which no one can replace. Theoretically, OPEC+ could do this by increasing production, but it will not be a very fast process, and it is not certain that the cartel will do this, Yushkov believes, because in this case the deal will fall apart and it is unlikely that Russia will participate in such an agreement a second time.

THE TURKISH SANCTIONS-BUSTING OIL TRADE

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Source: https://www.intellinews.com/turkey-simp ... es-325794/

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The STAR refinery is Azeri owned and 98% dependent on Russian crude, with 73% of its crude imports supplied by the US sanctioned company LUKoil. 87% of its seaborne exports of oil products are directed to G7+ countries. Source: https://energyandcleanair.org/publicati ... ian-crude/ CREA, an anti-Russian source advocating tougher sanctions, reported last September that “the USA’s imports of oil products from Turkish refineries rose by more than three times year-on-year in H1 2024 and have generated €125 million in tax revenues for Russia. The USA’s H1 2024 imports of oil products from the STAR refinery have generated €38.3 million in revenues for the US sanctioned company Lukoil — the single largest crude supplier to the refinery.”

Yushkov identifies two possible scenarios.

The first scenario is when India and China do not abandon Russian oil. Then the United States imposes protective import duties on goods from these countries. “This means that a global trade war is starting: Chinese and Indian goods are no longer supplied to the United States, and China, in retaliation, will impose duties on American goods and limit the supply of rare earth metals to the United States. This will lead to huge inflation, and the US Federal Reserve will fight it by raising rates, for which Trump is actively criticizing it. High interest rates and expensive loans with inflation will drive the American economy into recession,” says Yushkov. In addition, China already understands that it can fight and even win trade wars with the United States.

The second scenario is that China and India and all the others start obeying the United States and refuse to buy Russian oil. “If Russia cannot sell oil anywhere, then a global energy crisis will break out, because a huge amount of oil and petroleum products will instantly leave the market. Prices will return to triple digits. It will be, in fact, the same thing that was predicted now when the Strait of Hormuz was closed. This is a global shortage and energy crisis, which will affect all Western countries, including the United States, because they are buyers of these energy resources.

Fuel consumption in the United States will rise to new historical records – this is exactly what Trump criticized the previous US President Joe Biden for. This threatens inflation again, a rise in the US Federal Reserve rate, and eventually a recession in the American economy”, says Yushkov.

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According to CREA, “The USA should also ban imports of oil products from refineries owned, operated or running on crude oil sold by the sanctioned Russian company Lukoil. Any purchases of refined products from refineries part-owned by Lukoil or from refineries running on Russian crude purchased from Lukoil are sending funds to a sanctioned entity that is closely related to the Kremlin. Low reliance will not impact domestic prices: Banning imports from these refineries or Lukoil supplied entities will not have any effect on oil prices or create any domino effect. For example, the USA’s purchases from STAR refinery constitute a mere 1% of its total seaborne imports of refined oil products. Banning these imports — from a refinery with huge imports of Lukoil crude — would have no effect on domestic prices or supply.”

US RETAIL PRICE TRAJECTORY FOR AUTO GASOLINE, 12-MONTH BIDEN-TRUMP COMPARISON
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Source: https://ycharts.com/indicators/us_gas_price

Therefore, no matter what scenario you take, the United States itself will suffer. “It’s hard to imagine that Trump would allow such a development of events,” the FNEB expert believes.

Of course, this is also a negative effect for Russia, because the budget earns about 25% of its income from oil and gas. However, it is also not worth waiting for the collapse of the entire Russian economy.

Curiously, if the United States prohibits Turkey from reselling Russian fuel to the European Union, they will also hit the uncooperative Brussels. Trump has to be tougher with the EU, impose new duties in order to get what he wants. “If there are no more Russian oil products passing through Turkey, Ankara will lose this business and additional earnings, and fuel shortages will begin in the European Union, prices will rise,” Yushkov believes.


As for LNG, it is certainly beneficial for the United States to clear the European market of LNG from Russia. However, it is unlikely that Trump will do it now and in such a difficult way. “All the LNG that comes from Russia to the European Union is actually gas from one Yamal LNG plant. It is enough for the United States to impose sanctions against this particular project, and none of the Europeans will violate these restrictions. I think this scenario is very likely, but not now, but in a few years, when more LNG exports from the United States begin,” the source concludes.
https://johnhelmer.net/trumps-secondary ... more-92092



Field Trip! Putin Visits Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works
Karl Sanchez
Jul 17, 2025

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The scale of the plant makes it impossible to fit into one picture frame.

Putin’s Field Trip to the Urals Federal District began at this massive plant that was initially constructed in the early 1930s by both Russian and American contractors. Here’s the Kremlin’s description of the visit:
Accompanied by the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Urals Federal District Artem Zhoga, the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexey Teksler, as well as the Chairman of the Council Directors of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works Viktor Rashnikov, and MMK CEO Pavel Shilyaev. The President inspected the coke oven battery complex No. 12 he helped launch via video in 2024.

Volume production of the new battery is 2.5 million tons of dry coking coal annually. Equipment upgrades reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere by more than 11 thousand tons per year, to ensure waste-free production due to the introduction of a dry quenching unit for coke.

The head of state also got acquainted with the workshop of engineering products. In here a modern production facility has been created, which will allow, starting from 2026, to provide import substitution of equipment in the mining and metallurgical industry. The workshop will be able to produce more than 10 thousand tons of products per year.

After inspecting the workshop, Vladimir Putin had a brief conversation with MMK employees.
The 18-minute video shows Putin’s chat with some of the plant’s workers and doesn’t show us any of the very impressive works. Globally, Russia’s the fifth largest producer of “crude steel” just behind the USA and ahead of South Korea, with China number one producing eight times that of number two India. As is the practice with these plant visits by Putin, the transcript reports the conversation he has with the plant’s workers, and this visit is no different:
Conversation with employees of the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon!

I want to congratulate you, and as they say in such cases, I want to use you as an example to congratulate all the metallurgists and all the employees of our large mining and metallurgical complex on the upcoming holiday, Metallurgist Day.

Comments: Thank you very much!

V. Putin: All the best to you.

On the one hand, your company is already an adult company – it's 100 years old, but on the other hand, it's a young company that's constantly getting younger. And this is very pleasant, because, first of all, you live here. From an environmental perspective, it's extremely important for people to feel this renewal. We've only shown the results so far, but these results are also confirmed by the relevant control services, as the amount of harmful emissions has decreased significantly. And, I repeat, it is clear where the result comes from and what it is made of: after all, the company's management and shareholders have invested an average of 90 billion rubles in modernization over the past few years. This is a significant amount of money. This year, as Viktor Filippovich [Rashnikov] mentioned, the amount will be slightly lower, but overall... And next year, there will be an increase again. This is what contributes to the result.

And, of course, the interest of all employees, from workers, engineers, and scientists to the most qualified specialists, ordinary workers, and the most qualified – the interest of all, including shareholders and company executives, is what gives this result.

I sincerely congratulate you on Metallurgist Day and your 100th birthday.

Replies: Thank you.

V. Putin: All the best to you.

If you have any topics to discuss or questions, please feel free to ask.

I beg.

A. Titov: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

My name is Alexander. First of all, on behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank you for your attention to our Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant.

This is not the first time you have visited our city. Our city is developing, and so is our plant. I would like to know your impressions of today's visit.

V.Putin: I've only seen the plant so far. We're also going to visit the park. But we're in constant contact with the governor, and I know how Magnitogorsk is developing. We'll meet with the governor again and talk about everything: the development of the region as a whole and Magnitogorsk in particular. I hope you can see and feel this. Hospitals and kindergartens are being renovated, and new ones are being built. By the end of this year, there will be 30 new healthcare facilities, right? Have you recently opened 30 healthcare facilities?

A.Teksler: Vladimir Vladimirovich, there are three facilities here alone, and there are already 300 facilities in the region, taking into account major repairs, new construction, and more than 100 FAPs, and more than 300 facilities, taking into account major repairs.

Of course, the main healthcare facility in Magnitogorsk is a new hospital. We will start building it this year. It is a very important facility.

V. Putin: Social facilities will be developed: kindergartens, schools, healthcare facilities, and a new hospital. Of course, leisure facilities should be developed for young people. Let's take a look at one of these facilities today. What is its name?

A. Titov: The Attraction Park.

V. Putin: The Attraction Park.

O. Simonova: Is it okay?

V. Putin: Yes, please.

O. Simonova: Olesya Simonova.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we were talking about the development of the city and the development of the plant. And we really have something to be proud of and something to show.

We are one of the first companies in the country to develop industrial tourism. Almost 70,000 people have visited our plant. We also have ski resorts nearby, such as Bannoye and Abzakovo, which attract a large number of visitors.

V. Putin: I went skiing there.

O. Simonova: Our hockey team, Metallurg, has also won the Gagarin Cup on several occasions, and as a result, a large number of fans come to our city. However, Magnitogorsk's airport is too small, and the repair of its runway has been delayed for two years. Our city desperately needs a large, modern airport. We hope that this construction project will be completed in the near future. We ask for your support in resolving this issue.

V.Putin: I know, we discussed this last time. Today, when we were driving from the airport, our conversation with the governor began with this. I know about it. However, the governor says that the runway has already been brought to a standard condition. However, I have doubts, because I felt that it is still far from the standard.

Unfortunately, the contractor has disrupted previous plans and scheduled events, and legal proceedings are currently underway.

State agencies that believe that the contractor will not fulfill its obligations believe that it still owes 600 million rubles. However, I believe that 1.6 billion rubles should be allocated for the completion of all necessary components and the adjacent territory.

A. Texler: 2 billion 600 [million].

V.Putin: 2 billion 600 [million]. We have the money in the budget, the question is in the organization of this work. I will also deal with this. The governor believes that this is at the end of 2027.

A. Texler: No, it's a terminal.

V. Putin: Yes, a terminal.

A. Texler: The runway itself, or rather, the airfield...

V. Putin: At the end of 2026.

A.Texler: Yes, 2026, and the terminal is 2027.

V. Putin: At least, that's what the documents say. I'll take care of it and see what happens. I think that all the planned activities should be completed by the end of 2026. This will certainly help the city. The city is promising, vibrant, and developing.

You are welcome.

A. Bolbashev: My name is Alexander Bolbashev.

Question: I often hear [there are] discussions in the Government about increasing the recycling fees for imported cars. It is clear why this is done. First of all, to protect the domestic market and support the domestic car manufacturer and domestic production.

V. Putin: I have told all the secrets. This is done to solve environmental problems.

A. Bolbashev: But in reality, we see how the cost of a car is growing, both imported and domestically produced, unfortunately. It's no secret that it's becoming increasingly difficult for young people to purchase a car.

The proposal is that we should reconsider the support measures that would take into account the interests of both the automakers and the government, as well as the interests of the end consumer, including ourselves.

V.Putin: Of course, we have always done this. When inflation is a little bit of a squeeze, creates problems, when other issues arise that require additional attention, then there is always an idea to support the automotive industry, including providing support to those who buy a car, whether it is industrial enterprises or public transport, cities are purchasing, municipalities, regions or citizens, individuals.

Such programmes are always in place, and they are being worked on all the time. And now the Government is also thinking about implementing these programmes. Of course, we will adjust the system in such a way that-–as you have just said about private transport–-to help people to purchase and manufacturers to increase the production of our domestic cars. Of course, we will do this.

You are welcome.

V.Plekhanov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, hello.

It's a great honor for me to be here. My question is: I recently got married, and I have a beautiful young wife...

V. Putin: Congratulations.

V. Plekhanov: But unfortunately, we are postponing the birth of our child because we do not have our own housing. We do not fall into any...

V. Putin: Excuse me, please. The fact that you got married is good. But the fact that you are postponing the birth of a child is a mistake.

V. Plekhanov: So I have a little proposal. Unfortunately, we do not fit into any preferential programs.

V. Putin: Why is that? If a child is born, you will immediately receive a benefit.

V. Plekhanov: We wanted the child to be born later.

V. Putin: Certain support measures are already available for the first child.

V.Plekhanov: Yes, we know. The proposal is as follows: is it possible to change the preferential program "Young Family" and give it to young couples in advance, so to speak, but with a mandatory condition...

V. Putin: You're a trickster, you haven't given birth to any children yet.

V. Plekhanov: ... so that they can have a child in the next two, three, or four years.

V. Putin: We need to work a little, otherwise why pay the money? When the child is born, the government will provide support. However, if we are honest and serious, we need to admit that the support measures we have developed so far, which are quite extensive, are not enough. The most important thing we have done is to create a unified support system that extends from the birth of a child, or even earlier, from the pregnancy of a woman, to the age of 17. Now I will not list everything, there one follows from the other, and by year-up to 3 years and beyond. But I still think that this is not enough, given the demographic problems, we have a lot of them. As a matter of fact, it is the same as in any industrially developed country, where priorities change, first of all, women's priorities: getting an education, then post-education, and so on. Women have their first child at an average age of 29-28 years. We raised the baby a little, and then we didn't have enough time or energy for the second or third. That's why I reacted so quickly. It's better not to wait for anything, like a gift from heaven.

And then, you know what: there's no greater happiness in life than children. In fact, it might be the whole point of life.

V. Plekhanov: Thank you. We will take your advice.

V. Putin: Please. I think your wife will support you.

Please, what else?

V. Astakhov: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

My name is Astakhov Vladislav.

All of us here are employees of the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant, and we are certainly interested in the future development of this industry.

How do you assess the prospects for the development of the metallurgical industry? The main thing is to increase the attractiveness of the industry for attracting young people, i.e. young specialists.

V.Putin: You know, it is becoming more and more technologically advanced. We have been walking around with the heads of the entire company, and I have become interested in listening to what they are saying. I think I already know a lot, but when they start talking about what has been done, how it looks (you can see for yourself), and how production is developing, it becomes more and more technologically advanced.

Once upon a time, this enterprise employed almost 100,000 people. Now, it employs 17,000. New production facilities are emerging, requiring a new level and class of specialists. This also affects the level of wages, as the more highly skilled a specialist is, the higher their salary. It's like a chain of connections. This chain is becoming stronger and stronger. Therefore, I believe that it will become more and more interesting for young people.

V. Astakhov: Thank you.

V. Putin: Look at this machine-building enterprise, this modern production facility. Isn't it interesting?

D. Makeev: May I ask you another question?

V. Putin: Yes, please.

D. Makeev: My name is Denis. I have a more sports-related topic, and I'm interested in sports sambo. To put it simply, I've worked a shift and gone to the gym, and many of my colleagues are also interested in it. I wanted to ask you, do you think that sports sambo will eventually become an Olympic sport?

V.Putin: You know, we have a lot of problems with the Olympic Committee besides the ones you mentioned. But in general, this is one of the few sports that is completely national. It was born in the Soviet Union, as you probably know, and I can tell other colleagues that it is a fusion of various martial arts from the peoples of the USSR, and it is our invention. There are not many sports that have made it to the international stage. Rhythmic gymnastics was also born in Russia, in the Soviet Union, as was sambo, and a few other sports. At one time, the issue of making SAMBO an Olympic sport was considered. In general, it makes sense to fight for this, especially since we have very good indicators and results, and many world champions. I am confident that if this sport becomes an Olympic sport, there will be good real results and achievements.

We are currently developing SAMBO in schools across the country. It is a very democratic sport. In addition, it is very interesting and spectacular, attracting a large number of fans. It is democratic because it is inexpensive. It is not like playing hockey, where you need to buy a uniform, skates, and pay for ice. Or playing tennis, where you only need a racket. I would like to see SAMBO athletes compete in the future. Relations with the Olympic Committee are gradually being restored. We will consider discussing this issue.

V. Shchukin: Hello, my name is Vladislav Shchukin. You probably know that a wonderful attraction park appeared in our city some time ago.

V. Putin: We're going now.

V. Shchukin: I think it's probably the largest park in Russia. At least it will be.

V. Putin: But let's assume that it is the largest.

V. Shchukin: We will consider it so. And this place is so loved by our little residents of the city, because there are various holidays, events, the main events of our city. And, of course, a lot of entertainment.

Tell me, what kind of activities did you remember from your childhood?

V. Putin: My hobby is sambo wrestling. Then our whole group switched to judo wrestling. These are my two most serious hobbies and pastimes – sports.

V. Shchukin: A serious hobby.

V. Putin: What kind of sports do you practice?

V. Shchukin: Volleyball.

V. Putin: Great. Now volleyball has really become – I don't know, the rules were changed once or something – it has become such an athletic sport. And the girls play so beautifully, and the men play great. It's a very beautiful sport. So congratulations, it's a good choice.
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The interactions were good and the atmosphere judging from the video was very relaxed. There almost always seems to be at least one question related to the Family National Project. The most interesting point was how technological innovation has reduced the plant’s staff by 80,000+ employees and shines a different light onto Russia’s extremely low unemployment rate of 2.3%; and while the staffing was reduced, statistics show that steel production remained at about the same level.

Social facilities are a very big asset for all Russian cities, and Magnitogorsk as mentioned has a new one almost completed. Here’s one corner having sports facilities:

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The next photo shows almost the entire 400 hectare park with the above facility in the cutoff bottom corner:

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Russia spends lots of effort and monies on modernizing and beautifying their cities, towns, villages, which given the climates one encounters in most of Russia allows people to enjoy the short period of good summer weather and have pride in their surroundings that also lifts the spirit. Thirty years ago, many Russian cities, towns and villages looked like slums filled with dilapidated housing and industrial facilities. Not all the work’s done, but it’s being worked on, planned for, and scofflaw contractors like the one mentioned above are being busted for their corruption and lack of civic pride that enables their corruption.

Putin also met with the regional governor of Chelyabinsk which is where Magnitogorsk is located. Over the last five years the gross regional product has doubled which has helped fuel all the modernization which in turn increases the region’s economic activity. And for those who have no clue where that is within Russia, here’s a map:

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Roughly 3.5 million people live in Chelyabinsk, meaning much remains semi-wilderness with 3748 lakes. Want to get away?

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/field-tr ... gnitogorsk

******

Major General Shesterov Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Fraud in Patriot Park
July 17, 21:05

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These were the "dark times of Putin's repressions in the army"...

Major General Shesterov received 6 years in prison for fraud in Patriot Park

Former Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Innovative Development of the Russian Ministry of Defense Vladimir Shesterov was sentenced to six years in prison and a fine as part of a criminal investigation into fraud during the construction of Patriot Park.

"Find Shesterov guilty of committing fraud on an especially large scale and official forgery... The total sentence is 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony and a fine of 500 thousand rubles."

The investigation established that in 2022-2024, former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov, Shesterov and former director of Patriot Park Vyacheslav Akhmedov entered false information into documents about construction work completed in the park and thus stole more than 25 million rubles.

Shesterov fully admitted his guilt.


P.S. Repressions in the army continue. We are losing the best.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9960577.html

Law on online extremism adopted
colonelcassad
July 17, 19:17

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And it's fast here.

On July 17, 2025, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments on fines for searching for extremist materials on the Internet and gaining access to them at a plenary session. According to media reports, 285 deputies voted for the amendment, 19 voted against, and 20 abstained. The bill with amendments passed its second reading.

New amendments to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses with fines (supplemented by Article 13.53) for searching for and accessing "extremist materials" using software and hardware for access to information resources are aimed at monitoring the activities of service owners. Citizens face fines from 3 to 5 thousand rubles if they use software and hardware for access to information resources and information and telecommunications networks, access to which is restricted, "for illegal purposes."

Earlier, it was proposed to include a fine in the Code of Administrative Offenses for searching for extremist materials on the Internet, and a package of amendments related to fines for violating access to information was submitted to the State Duma for the second reading of the bill on increasing administrative liability for certain offenses in the field of transport and forwarding activities.

The amendments do not establish direct liability of individuals for visiting blocked resources. Liability only occurs for the deliberate search for and access to materials that are included by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in the list of extremist materials by a court decision (currently there are about 5.5 thousand materials).

Earlier, the first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Artem Sheikin explained to the media that citizens will not face administrative liability in the event of a single visit to an extremist material on the Internet via a random link.

The State Duma also adopted in the second reading a bill recognizing the commission of a crime using VPN services as an aggravating circumstance. The bill was introduced in October 2023 by a group of deputies, and was adopted in the first reading in December 2024. Changes are made to Article 63 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (aggravating circumstances).

On July 16, 2025, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications Anton Gorelkin said that using a VPN for any legal purpose is not prohibited, but committing a crime with it will be an aggravating circumstance.


https://habr.com/ru/news/928638/ - zinc

Now it remains to look at law enforcement practice. And then, based on it, I will supplement the blog rules on what is still prohibited. So far, everything is extremely vague and unclear, about the same as with the register of bloggers that was introduced, and part of the legislation for it is still not ready. So far, I have given the moderator the order to delete comments advertising shady VPN services. People are all adults, and everyone knows where and how to install a VPN.
Personally, I have been using a regular commercial VPN from Kaspersky for many years and it is, in principle, quite sufficient for the overwhelming majority of blockages, given that Crimea is under double blockages. Regarding extremist materials, given that they are on the list of the Ministry of Justice, it is of course impossible to remember everything there. Therefore, as before, the moderator will be guided by the rules of LJ and the current legislation on terrorism and extremism.

In general, given the potential fencing of the messenger market in the coming months, there is an obvious strengthening of state control over the RuNet in the conditions of war. The system is effectively switching to a mode of manual state regulation, and various loopholes and fragments of the old RuNet not covered by state control will gradually be cleaned out. Of course, in the conditions of this war, this will be positioned as a justified measure. Here the more interesting question is - what will be left of this, and what will be removed after the end of hostilities, whenever they end there.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9960406.html

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Sat Jul 19, 2025 4:11 pm

An Important Assessment by Director of Russia's Foreign Policy Planning Department Alexander Drobinin During His Interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda

How to react to the hegemon
Karl Sanchez
Jul 18, 2025

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Alexander Drobinin

Before, during and after the BRICS Summit, Russia’s engaged with many nations in conversation about how to deal with the hegemon’s Trade/Tariff War, and during his interview Mr. Drobinin outlines what it explains and advises. Much of what follows won’t be new to avide Gym readers and followers of the Hudson/Wolff chats. However, it’s the first time to my knowledge that Russia has publicly provided its advice. The line of questioning the Komsomolskaya Pravda interviewer pursues helps the narrative to unfold prompting readers to ask themselves if it was planned:
Question: More and more experts have begun to sound the alarm: the once prosperous American economy has become a colossus with feet of clay. Do you agree with this formulation of the question?

Drobinin: To say that the United States has problems is to say nothing. America is in big trouble, as befits a major power.

Last summer, the national debt of the United States exceeded $35 trillion. This year, the U.S. trade deficit is more than $918 billion. (17% more than in 2024). Of these, about $295 billion is with China. The negative balance of trade in goods with the European Union is $235 billion; with Mexico, $171 billion; with Vietnam, $123 billion.

American historians and political scientists draw parallels with Britain, then an empire in the mid-20th century. Since World War II, its sovereign debt has fluctuated between 200 and 270% of GDP. At that time, it was one of the highest in the world.

In the United States, this figure has now reached 124% of GDP. A dashing misfortune is beginning! Trump's Big Beautiful Bill will increase debt by at least $5 trillion. This is despite the fact that D. Trump went to the elections under the slogan of reducing the US debt.

The rapid accumulation of public debt and the hyper-deficit of foreign trade are visible signs of a change in landmarks.

In the middle of the last century, after two world wars, the role of the leader of the capitalist world passed from Britain to the United States. Now the picture is changing again. A serious challenge for any U.S. president (and for the world outside the U.S. an increased risk) has become the following trend: Americans are increasingly resorting to non-economic methods to overcome their economic and financial difficulties.

And this problem is no longer American, but common. A problem that affects or will affect everyone.

Question: Nevertheless, the United States continues to build its foreign policy from a position of strength. It turns out that Trump is bluffing, waving his sanctions and tariff baton?

Drobinin: Tariffs, like sanctions, are one of the last means of maintaining hegemony before the use of military force.

It is not because of the good life that US President Donald Trump is raising trade tariffs. Otherwise, you would have to put up with it or use force. Uncomfortable choice. The point of tariff and sanctions measures is to preserve the US-controlled global system and force everyone to play by American rules.

By raising trade tariffs, the Americans want to increase the cost of access to their market for goods from other countries in order to stimulate the revival of their own production.

Such a policy is unlikely to work in normal (non-war) conditions, since American (and any other) capital is accustomed to minimizing costs by moving production to countries with cheap and motivated labor.

In fact, the political power of the United States is going into conflict with national capital, which has long become transnational.

Question: Do you think she could have behaved differently?

Drobinin: There is an alternative course of action. It could include the adoption of the principles of sovereign equality and indivisibility of security, the abandonment of the policy of sanctions and tariffs, the end of the blocking of the work of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, and agreement to the redistribution of voting quotas to the IMF.

It is necessary to recognize the multipolar reality, to rely on taking into account the interests of other states and constructive cooperation with them, to start a dialogue with our people and elites about the impossibility of further prosperity of America at the expense of external expansion.

Question: But Donald Trump suggests that those who want to avoid the imposition of tariffs come to an agreement–-that is, he keeps the door open for a deal?

Drobinin: In July of this year, Donald Trump announced his new proposals on customs duty rates on imported goods from a number of countries, which will come into force on August 1 (the European Union, 30%; South Africa, 30%; the Republic of Korea, 25%; Kazakhstan, 25%; the Philippines, 20%; Cambodia, 36%; Canada, 35%; Mexico, 30%; Brazil, 50%; etc.).

This is an invitation to a deal on American terms. The target countries must agree with Washington by August 1. Otherwise, the rates set by Donald Trump will work.

Question: And what choice do potential victim countries have? And is there any?

Drobinin: Victim countries have several response strategies. On the surface, there are two.

The first is suitable for large trading players—China, the European Union or, for example, Brazil. It consists in the introduction of retaliatory tariff measures–-not necessarily mirror ones. Involvement in tough bargaining with the United States will follow. The potential outcome is a trade deal that more or less reflects the current balance of power and interests. But all participants will certainly have an unpleasant aftertaste.

The second strategy will be forced to be chosen by small countries: accommodation or least resistance. They, in fact, are forced to agree to the new rules of the game. The United States will rub its hands, but its partners will remain a clear loser.

What both strategies have in common is the continuation of the game by the rules set by the hegemon. That is, maintaining oneself in the Western trade, financial and economic system on less favorable terms.

Question: I am sure there is a third option...

Drobinin: And, indeed, there is. I am talking about an evolutionary strategy. It is based on the understanding that the current round of coercion is not the last. Others will follow.

Everything is logical: since the American system in its current form is not self-sufficient, it will continue to demand sacrifices on the side. At the same time, there are no signs of the Americans' readiness to negotiate on an equal footing.

Under such conditions, the right long-term strategy is to create parallel macroeconomic contours, outside of American control and coercion. Transfer of trade to national currencies, expansion of the range of participants in independent settlement and depository mechanisms and systems for the transfer of banking information, the creation of new investment platforms, sovereign insurance and reinsurance mechanisms.

BRICS and many other countries are doing this. This is a difficult, but more reliable path to the future.
Yes, it is a War, and winning wars requires strategy and sacrifices. That’s the third way proposal. The present must be toughed-out while the new systems are put in place for the future pathway to be possible. And the best chance for such a strategy to succeed is for as many nations as possible to stand together and take the same path. One point in favor is the fact that the reported GDP of the Outlaw US Empire contains many items that aren’t productive, that are actually costs and non-contributors whatsoever, such as the many types of rent and economic overhead costs with healthcare being the most negative—its expenditures are counted as a positive to GDP when they’re actually a negative, and thus must be subtracted twice to gain a more honest GDP figure. What that means is actual debt to GDP ratio is over 2:1 and growing—200%+—which is why the post-war British GDP was cited.

As Hudson outlined in his 1972 Super Imperialism, the Outlaw US Empire’s salad days should have come to a close then, but the world was still too weak and dependent on the hegemon for its well-being, so it meekly followed the tack the US system made at that time and has followed until very recently—the break seems to have occurred with the massive banking fraud and subsequent financial crisis in 2008-9 and the failure of the Georgia Color Revolution, which prompted a quick redirection of Imperialism by the Empire, which led to the rape and plunder of Libya.

The Outlaw US Empire’s debt issue acts like dry rot on a house’s foundation—it weakens it until the house collapses. Yes, it’s possible to fix the rot before it reaches a critical amount, but that would require an abrupt alteration of policy by US Imperialists that’s very unlikely to happen. Yesterday, I noted what the Ford CEO had to say about the future of his business, which will likely die because as a result of US policy and that of Neoliberal Wall Street Parasites, which are essentially one and the same. Since the policy won’t be changed, the world just needs to follow the third path outlined above and they will prevail.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/an-impor ... y-director

******

A monument to Dzerzhinsky will be erected in Omsk with the support of the FSB
July 19, 17:09

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In Omsk, with the support of the local FSB department, the opening of a monument to the founder of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, Felix Edumendovich Dzerzhinsky, is being prepared.

The local Cossack bun-crunchers are unhappy:

“You can say that Dzerzhinsky is an ambiguous personality, but he is a clear-cut personality – he is an executioner, the one who spun the wheel of the red terror. What does he have to do with Omsk, anyway? Well, he was on the railroad, he shot someone. And what, are they going to put up a monument to him here for that? I am surprised that the FSB originates from the Cheka. In tsarist Russia, we had other structures that were also responsible for state security. Maybe we should follow their example? It is strange for me to see Dzerzhinsky’s portrait in law enforcement agencies. Do they approve of the terror of their own people? It is somehow strange. And what about the authorities? Maybe everyone is just afraid of the FSB?”

Yes, our dear Bloody KGB traces its origins to the Cheka, and not to the tsarist secret police. That is why there are portraits of Dzerzhinsky in offices and new monuments to the founding father.
They take the example of the Cheka because, against the backdrop of the tsarist secret police that had screwed up all the polymers, the Cheka under Dzerzhinsky was a highly effective organization and the punishing sword of the state. This does not mean that FSB officers will run to shoot someone tomorrow as part of state terror. It is just that the Chekists are used to paying tribute to the founding father. As well as the SVR, which also erected a monument to Dzerzhinsky at the SVR headquarters. Also as a sign of respect for Dzerzhinsky's merits in organizing the country's foreign intelligence.

But in general, the task of the special services is not to be nice and pleasant to everyone. It is the shield and sword of the state. The effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the special services is assessed by the results achieved or failures. Therefore, the tsarist secret police or the late Soviet KGB can hardly serve as reference points for modern Chekists. For some reason, they are in no hurry to erect monuments to Kryuchkov and Bakatin. Just like monuments to Zubatov.

P.S. The monument to Dzerzhinsky should return to Lubyanka.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9964397.html

Google Translator

******

Medvedev condemns western 'treachery,' says preemptive strikes possible amid rising tensions with NATO

US President Trump has reportedly called on Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory

News Desk

JUL 17, 2025

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(Photo credit: Anatoly Medved / Photobank Roscongress)

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned on 17 July that Moscow must be prepared to deliver preemptive strikes against the west if necessary.

Speaking to TASS on the 80th anniversary of the Potsdam Conference, Medvedev said, “The west's treacherous nature and its warped sense of superiority are still evident. And we should therefore act accordingly, responding in full or even delivering preemptive strikes if need be.”

Reflecting on the historical lessons of 1945, Medvedev added that the conference – attended by the leaders of the USSR, US, and UK after their victory in World War II – revealed that relations with the west must not be based on illusions. He accused former Soviet allies of violating the decisions made at Potsdam, implying that today's NATO-aligned nations continue to betray post-war agreements.

Medvedev's comments follow a string of escalatory statements made by US President Donald Trump and plans to deliver new weapons to Kiev.

A Financial Times report on 15 July revealed that Trump, during a 4 July phone call, encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to strike deep into Russian territory. According to sources, Trump asked, “Can you hit Moscow? Can you hit St. Petersburg too?” Zelensky allegedly responded, “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”

Trump announced on Monday a series of steps aimed at pressuring Moscow to end the war with Ukraine. This includes “massive” supplies of US weapons and assistance, among them Patriot air defense systems.

The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, also signaled it is analyzing US President Donald Trump's recent threat to impose 100 percent secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian exports unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal within 50 days.

On the battlefield, drone attacks intensified overnight on Wednesday. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted 122 Ukrainian drones targeting its southwestern regions, with civilian casualties reported in Belgorod and Voronezh. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed the deaths of four civilians and one injury.

In retaliation, Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone strike on Dnipro killed at least one civilian. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted 41 out of 64 drones launched by Russia.

Russia and Ukraine also conducted a mutual repatriation of fallen soldiers. Moscow handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian troops, while Kiev returned 19 Russian bodies under a deal brokered during peace talks in Istanbul last month.

https://thecradle.co/articles/medvedev- ... -with-nato
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:23 pm

Brian McDonald: What one Russian journalist saw when he came home — and why he stayed | Putin’s spokesman explains why Moscow believes censorship is a weapon of war
July 19, 2025
By Brian McDonald, Substack, 7/11/25

“The truth is that repression in Russia is still very selective and limited. Even if you’re against the war, it’s much more likely that you’ll be hit by a car or killed by a falling brick than be repressed. But you don’t get paranoid about bricks every time you go outside, do you?”

So begins an extraordinary dispatch from The Moscow Times — which, despite the name, is Dutch, not Russian. The article, written anonymously for obvious reasons, is a quiet, defiant challenge to the dominant media narratives about modern Russia. It’s not a defence of the Kremlin, nor an apology for authoritarianism. It’s something rarer: a dose of clear-eyed realism in an age of curated hysteria.

The author is a Russian journalist who returned home after a year abroad, expecting arrest, surveillance, or worse. Instead, he found… life. Strange, complicated, contradictory life. “Of course, I’m a little afraid,” he writes. “Especially when a friend asks me ‘aren’t you afraid the FSB will arrest you?’ But I haven’t been paranoid for a long time. I’m not the only one in Russia. There are more of us than you might think.”

It’s hard to reconcile these accounts with what you see in Western media, which often treats Russia as if it were North Korea with snow. As someone who’s moved between both worlds it increasingly feels like we’re living on two different planets. There is the Russia of The Daily Mail and Der Spiegel, where jackboots echo daily and citizens speak only in code, terrified of voicing a thought. And then there’s the real Russia — the one 145 million people live in — where bars stay open late, the borders remain unlocked, and you’re far more likely to be hit by a moron on an electric scooter than interrogated by the FSB.

That’s not to say there is no repression. There are arrests. There are prison sentences — some for things as mild as social media posts. There are red lines, and if you cross them — especially on the Ukraine conflict — the consequences can be severe. The journalist admits as much: “Naturally, I have to work very carefully… And if [the police] find out that I write for The Moscow Times or any other banned media, I could face a substantial fine or even a prison sentence.”

But for a country at war, the system is not as suffocating as outsiders assume. There is no mass mobilisation. Men of military age come and go. The nightclubs are full, the restaurants are jammed, and cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and even Rostov or Voronezh feel safer than their Western counterparts. Certainly safer than Amsterdam or Paris or Barcelona.

In Britain or Germany today, you can be arrested for posting pro-Palestinian content. That’s not a hypothetical — it’s happening. Some of the Western European states claiming the moral high ground are detaining thousands of people annually for comments on social media. That’s not a justification; it’s a comparison. And in this age of double standards, comparisons matter.

Too many Western outlets seem committed to a storyline where Russia must always be descending, a grim theatre of horror to justify sanctions, decoupling, and moral posturing. The idea that ordinary life continues — that people still laugh, dance, build friendships, fall in love — is treated as taboo. As if noticing it is a betrayal.

Worse still is the sheer volume of stories written by people who haven’t set foot in Russia for years — often based in Berlin, Riga, or even Brooklyn — reporting on a society they no longer understand, quoting “sources close to the Kremlin” who, in reality, don’t exist. Anyone genuinely close to power in today’s Moscow would not speak to Western media; to do so would be essentially treasonous. What we get instead are vague, unsourced whispers dressed up as revelations. Controlled leaks — when they come — go to a tiny, sanctioned few: Reuters, CNN, maybe The New York Times. The rest of the coverage is padded with conjecture, fantasy, and recycled Twitter threads.

The bias drips from every paragraph. Anonymous quotes from “Russian officials” who speak in perfect press-release English and just happen to align with the worldview of Western elites. Descriptions of cities and people that feel airlifted from Cold War thrillers. A steady refusal to admit that Russia, despite sanctions, war, and geopolitical isolation, is functioning. Not booming in the headline-friendly style of Singapore or Dubai — but trundling along in a way that undermines the narrative of collapse.

Take, for instance, a breathless Daily Beast piece last month titled “Meet the Woman Who Vladimir Putin Fears the Most.” Not a general, not a rogue ex-oligarch, not a cyberwarfare genius — no, apparently it’s a 32-year-old feminist poet. Daria Serenko herself laughed at the absurdity, saying she nearly fell off her chair when she read it. Her activist group can’t even muster 100 Patreon subscribers. She never claimed to be Putin’s nemesis — that fiction was concocted in an English-language newsroom by people who don’t speak Russian, don’t understand the country, and frankly don’t care. It’s not journalism. It’s political fan fiction: a feel-good morality tale for Western audiences, where every Kremlin critic is a lionhearted hero and every headline is a cartoon villain monologue. And if they’ll invent that, what else will they invent?

What this journalist captures so powerfully is the schizophrenia of exile — the gap between what you’re told and what you see. “I think many journalists in exile become prisoners of their own bubble of like-minded anti-war emigrants,” he writes. The exiled media, he suggests, increasingly focuses more on the Russian diaspora than on Russians themselves.

And there are things they miss. “Over the last few months, I’ve met queer people who have found common ground with Z-patriots through unusual situations. I have spoken to hippie hermits who have gone to live in remote forests… I have visited communes in Moscow and St. Petersburg where leftists, queer people and artists live and stage guerrilla art actions.”

That doesn’t sound like a hellscape. It sounds like life under pressure. People don’t vanish; they adapt. They navigate. They find workarounds. And they tell their stories — carefully, quietly, but with conviction.

The most revealing passage might be the one where the journalist describes a quiet moment of paranoia. Sitting in a cafe with a colleague, who whispers: “There’s a guy sitting there. Behind you, with his back to us, behind the bar… I think he was on the bus with me.” They left quickly, just in case.

Even that tension fades. Eventually, he stopped scanning rooms and looking over his shoulder. What replaced the fear wasn’t denial, but familiarity. A survival instinct fine-tuned not to hysteria, but to realism.

In the end, he chooses to stay. Not because it’s safe. Not because it’s easy. But because, as he writes, “I am much more afraid of missing the unfolding story here, of leaving and never returning home. So between those two fears, I choose to face the first one.”

That, in its quiet bravery, may be the most subversive line of all. Not every Russian unhappy with the status quo is in Paris or Berlin. Some remain in Perm or Samara, in cafes and train carriages, staying grounded in reality and rejecting the imported panic.

You won’t read much about them in the West. But they’re still here. And they’re still living. And laughing. And crying. Some are still writing.

***

Putin’s spokesman explains why Moscow believes censorship is a weapon of war

By Brian McDonald, Substack, 7/11/25

If you want to grasp how Russia views itself in the grip of war—how it rationalises, justifies, and narrates its choices—then Dmitry Peskov’s latest interview is essential reading. The voice of President Vladimir Putin for over two decades, Peskov rarely wastes words and seldom speaks off-key. His conversation with Expert magazine, timed to the outlet’s 30th anniversary, lifts the curtain on how Moscow now sees the press: as both a weapon in its arsenal and a shield against what it calls hostile information fire.

As both press secretary and deputy head of the Presidential Administration, Peskov’s words carry institutional weight.

In Western capitals, the verdict on Russia’s press restrictions is swift and damning: censorship, propaganda, control. But what’s seldom heard—perhaps because few bother to listen—is how the story sounds from Moscow’s side of the glass. Peskov, speaking without bluster, lays out a case that’s less about silencing dissent than about holding the line in what he calls an information war. It’s not a plea for sympathy. It’s an argument for why the Kremlin sees the narrowing of the media field as long overdue.

“Now is a time of military censorship—unprecedented for our country,” he says bluntly. “The war is being waged not just with weapons, but in the information space.”

The argument is not new, but the framing is telling. According to Peskov, Russia faces a two-pronged challenge: a hot war in Ukraine and a broader information campaign waged by foreign-backed media and hostile platforms. He believes that some Russian-language outlets—operating from abroad—are explicitly geared toward undermining the Russian state.

“There are media that deliberately engage in discrediting Russia,” he says. “And it would be wrong to ignore them.”

He defends the restrictive environment as a necessary response not only to the war, but to what he characterises as years of adversarial coverage. In Peskov’s telling, skepticism toward Russia was baked into the editorial DNA of some domestic newsrooms and effectively institutionalised.

“I would even say that for a number of Russian media, expressing doubt or negativity about their own country was part of the editorial policy.”

The rise of more patriotic coverage over the past three years, in his view, is a corrective—not an aberration.

“Being a patriot is not some great achievement—it’s a normal human condition,” he says.

Peskov does concede that some loyalist outlets might go overboard, adding with characteristic sharpness: “There will always be those to whom the saying applies: ‘Teach a fool to pray, and he’ll knock his head against the floor.’”

But Peskov—Putin’s long-time spokesman—is firm in his belief that Moscow has no intention of returning to what he sees as the bad old days—when tearing strips off the country passed for analysis, and constructive criticism was in short supply. He reserves particular ire for Meduza, the Riga-based outlet branded a foreign agent by Moscow, dismissing its tone as “rabid.”

That criticism doesn’t land in a vacuum. Even before the war in Ukraine, Russia had long grown used to its portrayal in Western media—a country boxed in caricature, its failings broadcast with clockwork regularity, its achievements barely granted a line. You’d be forgiven, surveying two decades of headlines, for thinking Russia had no scientists, no artists, no valid grievances—just villains in suits and shadows.

Meanwhile, some of the loudest Russian-language outlets—The Moscow Times, Current Time, Svoboda, and yes, Meduza—were openly funded by Western governments or affiliated institutions. That funding wasn’t a secret, nor was it apolitical. Western states didn’t bankroll these outlets out of curiosity. They funded them to serve strategic purposes—and flattering Moscow was never on the brief.

Faced with this imbalance, Russia built its own response—RT, Sputnik, a global push to tell its story in its own words. But the effort was swiftly met with claims of propaganda and blacklists. Since 2022, RT has been barred across the EU. Moscow, for its part, answered in kind, shutting out a host of Western-funded publications from operating on its soil.

So now, we’re left with a media world split down the middle: two narratives, each one largely sealed off from the other, each convinced of its own authority.

Even Peskov seems to grasp that this stand-off can’t last forever. Not if you want to keep the public’s trust. Not if you want to build anything that might pass for consensus.

“Of course, the time will come when a softer information policy will be in demand,” he says. “Then we will see the emergence of a larger number of neutral media outlets—those that write about both problems and achievements.”

But if there’s to be that future, it will have to reckon with the cost of the present. The sharpening of Russia’s media laws has not come without consequence. Since 2022, statutes targeting “false information” and “discrediting” the armed forces have been used to detain and jail a range of voices.

In April, four journalists were each sentenced to five and a half years in prison over alleged ties to a group founded by the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny. All four denied wrongdoing, saying they were being punished not for conspiracy, but for their reporting. Maria Ponomarenko, another journalist, is serving a six-year sentence over claims she spread falsehoods about the Russian military.

Of course, not everyone buys the hymn sheet. Human rights groups call the new laws a wrecking ball for press freedom. Even within Russia, there are voices—quieter now, but not gone—that see the Kremlin’s doctrine less as strategy, more as slow suffocation.

Cases like these are held up in the West as emblematic of repression. Yet Russia is not alone in drawing blood where journalism cuts too close: according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2024 global census, Israel jailed more media workers in Palestine and its occupied territories than Russia. Still, the Kremlin’s legal red lines have been drawn with unmistakable force.

As the news cycle barrels forward—shorter, louder, faster—Peskov sees opportunity in slowness and specialisation. He argues that in an age of instant takes and shrinking attention spans, demand is rising for curated, subject-driven content in niche sectors like aviation or metallurgy.

“There is a huge layer of sectoral issues that are of public interest, but which few are seriously analysing,” he notes.

In his telling, the future of journalism won’t hinge on speed but depth—on mastering a field and making it legible to power. That’s the role he sees for serious media going forward: to support informed decisions, not just spark arguments.

Whether one agrees with his views or not, Peskov’s remarks are essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how Russia sees the information war—and why the Kremlin sees its current media doctrine as both deliberate and necessary

In a world where every side preaches its own gospel, it helps to hear the sermon from the pulpit itself. You don’t have to believe it. But you do need to understand it. This is one of those moments.

https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2025/07/bri ... on-of-war/

******

Notes on Russian climate diplomacy

Lorenzo Maria Pacini

July 19, 2025
© Photo: Public domain
While not directly harming Russian interests, a transition to green energy that is too rapid risks undermining the country’s economic stability.

Join us on Telegram, Twitter, and VK.

Contact us: info@strategic-culture.su

The general strategic framework

Russian foreign policy strategy considers so-called “climate change” and global health to be complex, transnational issues that require scientific cooperation and technological collaboration.

Unlike Moscow’s predominantly bilateral approach to global health, Russia emphasizes its commitment to multilateral agreements in the climate field, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, which it sees as key instruments of its environmental diplomacy. Within Russian foreign policy, climate issues receive more attention than global health, especially in relation to energy.

Although Moscow links domestic climate policy to national security, it opposes the idea of considering climate change a threat to global security. One example dates back to 2021, when Russia blocked an attempt to include climate on the UN Security Council agenda, arguing that climate change is not a direct cause of armed conflict and would divert attention from the real drivers of war.

Russia’s diplomatic strategy on climate aims to promote normative principles, develop legal regulations, support economic measures to facilitate adaptation, enhance scientific collaboration and data sharing, and strengthen international cooperation. Moscow also wants to improve global mechanisms for verifying national progress on mitigation and adaptation, and to involve international actors more in the Russian carbon market.

In addition to participating in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, Russia also cooperates with other countries in different diplomatic forums. For example, it has supported joint climate policy initiatives within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Moscow is also very active in the environmental dynamics of the BRICS+, so much so that in 2024, during its presidency of the partnership, a Contact Group on Climate Issues and Sustainable Development was created, and the first BRICS+ conference dedicated to climate was held. The partnership faces several challenges: differences between members’ energy strategies, the absence of a central coordinating body, and different stages of development of carbon markets among member countries.

The Russian leadership wants to turn BRICS+ into a testing ground for climate policies, such as carbon markets, that could be adopted by middle- and low-income countries as mitigation and adaptation solutions. This approach reflects Moscow’s vision of a new model of global governance, alternative to the one dominated by the US and the West.

The Kremlin also has climate relations with countries that are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. One example is Russia’s facilitation of the sale of carbon units between Moscow and Abu Dhabi, with an agreement that represents a first step towards the creation of a carbon market between BRICS+ members.

Russian climate diplomacy also includes the promotion of nuclear energy through bilateral agreements involving the state-owned company Rosatom, a world leader in the sector, which enables it to transfer technology and expertise to countries wishing to include nuclear power in their energy transition, as in the cases of Uzbekistan and Burkina Faso. Another example of international cooperation in this regard is the support provided to Azerbaijan for the COP29 forum in 2024.

Russia declares itself in favor of multilateralism, particularly in the context of the COP summits and the Paris Agreement, where it seeks to carve out an active rather than marginal role. Climate diplomacy is a useful platform for Moscow to engage in dialogue on energy, technology, economics, and other sensitive issues with other states. Harsh Western sanctions have also prompted the Kremlin to accelerate its climate efforts.

However, it should be noted that Russia’s approach may not fully achieve its stated objectives. With climate integration into its core strategic interests, several challenges—including the SMO in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, Russia’s growing isolation from Western scientific cooperation, and domestic problems—risk reducing the priority of climate both domestically and diplomatically. These obstacles could favor China geopolitically and undermine global scientific efforts to address the climate crisis at a time when collective action needs to be strengthened.

The evolution of Russia’s climate strategy

Russia’s climate policies consistently reflect the geopolitical transformations that have taken place since the end of the Cold War and the evolution of global power balances in the first two decades of the 21st century. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and during a period of internal instability, Russia joined the emerging international climate system by signing the UNFCCC in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Even today, national policies consider climate change a threat to the country’s economic and environmental well-being.

Russia has continued to cooperate with the UNFCCC and adopted its first official climate strategy, the “Climate Doctrine,” in 2009. With the reaffirmation of Russia’s role on the international stage in the 2010s and beyond, its accession to the Paris Agreement in 2016, its medical strategy during the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, priorities have shifted: climate change has been elevated to the rank of a national security issue.

In 2021, the Russian government updated its National Security Strategy to include the concept of ecological security, which also encompasses climate change. Also in 2021, Moscow presented a socioeconomic development plan that aims to cap domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Two years later, in 2023, both the climate doctrine and the concept of foreign policy were revised, increasingly subordinating environmental policies to national strategic interests.

While not directly harming Russian interests, a transition to green energy that is too rapid risks undermining the country’s economic stability. According to the Kremlin, competition for resources in the context of the ecological transition could lead to underinvestment in fossil fuels and generate new energy crises. Furthermore, stricter climate regulations outside Russia could penalize oil and gas exports, which are a source of substantial public and private revenue.

To reconcile national security and environmental objectives, Russia’s climate strategy focuses on a low-emission approach and a path towards carbon neutrality, while favoring adaptation measures deemed more economically viable given the country’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels.

The country supports its positions with investments in scientific research to strengthen its influence in climate diplomacy and represent an autonomous pole in political decisions and also an example for other countries, maintaining a balance that is very useful at the political level but not easy for Western observers to understand.

https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/ ... diplomacy/

Well, Russia is run by capitalists ya know. Putting humanity and it's necessary environment in proper perspective is not to be imagined.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Mon Jul 21, 2025 3:45 pm

HOW TO EAT AZERBAIJAN MEAT PIE WITHOUT GETTING IT IN YOUR FACE

Image

By John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with

The qutab is an exceptional meat pie in a world that’s full of meat pies.

That’s because it is the national meat pie of Azerbaijan, and because there is nothing quite like it outside the Azeri borders or culture.

It is baked with a thin flatbread which is stuffed with heavily seasoned mincemeat of sheep, goat or beef. You might call the combination of meats, onions, pomegranate syrup, herbs, and spices complicated if you weren’t persuaded how uniquely tasty it is.

It’s the same with the politics of Azerbaijan. They are not to be confused with the politics of Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Iran, and Georgia, Azerbaijan’s neighbours, just as there can be no mistaking the qutab for a pirog, gozleme, lahmajoun, kubdari, or لاهم بی آجین (lahm bi ajeen). Caution: if you are MAGA supporter, it would be your big mistake to call any of them a pizza.

Mistaking the superficial appearance of things for the reality is what sophomores do because they haven’t learned to know better. It’s what state propaganda organs and their spokesmen do because they are paid money and because information warfare is what politicians do to advance their interests. Repeating that the qutab or pirog is a pizza over and over will convince many taste testers, according to the Big Lie doctrine of Adolph Hitler, Winston Churchill and their student, Joseph Goebbels.

Forcing taste testers at the point of a gun or bribing them with money will also work to turn the Azeri and the Russian pies into an American pizza for a time; this is to speak literally as well as metaphorically. In Russia, that time was ten years long – the decade Boris Yeltsin was president.

Very recently, his successor President Vladimir Putin acknowledged publicly how long it has taken for him to learn. “I thought that the contradictions with the West were primarily ideological. It seemed logical at the time – Cold War inertia, different views of the world, values, the organization of society. But even when the ideology disappeared, when the Soviet Union ceased to exist, the same, almost routine deviation from Russia’s interests continued. And it was not because of ideas, but because of the pursuit of advantages – geopolitical, economic, strategic.”

Right now the reality of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Russia isn’t how the propaganda, the force of arms, and the corruption of money are explaining it. To understand, click to listen to this discussion with Nima Alkhorshid, starting at Minute 42:30:

For background on the history of the conflict, the politics involved on all sides, and the reasons of state and of profit at stake now, there is a great deal to read; most Azeri and Armenian readers are very familiar with this history:

Azeri-Armenian ethnic wars. The ancient history; the Baku pogrom of January 1990. Azeris also remember with especial bitterness the killings of Black January 1990 – an action of Soviet troops under Kremlin orders who opened fire on civilian protesters in Baku, killing at least 130.
The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines (Azal) Flight J2 8243, December 25, 2024.

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=M5IAZtlVvoE

A preliminary accident-cause report was issued February 5, 2025, which focused on the failure of the aircraft’s hydraulic control systems, not on the cause of this failure which, initially, the Azeri pilots blamed on a bird strike and an explosion inside the cabin.

A few days earlier in mid-January 2025, Russian media had published a verbatim recording of pilot communications with air traffic controllers in Grozny and Rostov (Russia) from 07:36: to 09:02:47, and from then until 09:27 with Aktau (Kazakhstan) air traffic control. The two pilots were killed in the crash. It is unclear whether the transcript, taken from Russian air controller and airport tapes, has been edited. The flight black box decoding was done in Brazil, where the aircraft was manufactured, and the black boxes kept by the Azerbaijan government; it has not released the pilot tapes.

Because of the communications and navigation jamming problems the pilots flew into, they had decided to return to Baku two minutes before the aircraft was hit. The pilots then radioed “bird strike in the cabin… Uh, the bird’s impact and in the cab two chairs exploded.” They requested clearance to land at Mineralnye Vody (230 kms northwest) or Makhachkala (169 kms southeast), depending on the weather and visibilioty conditions. They reported they had lost navigational and altitude controls, also cabin oxygen. They were then cleared to land at Mineralnye Vody, but the pilots refused, insisting they would return to Baku, 483 kms to the south. Four minutes later they asked for a weather report for Aktau, 438 kms to the east.

To date, there has been no public release from the Russian or Azeri governments, or in media reporting, on the process which had been under way for clearing, delaying, or diverting regularly scheduled commercial flights from Baku to the Russian Caucasus in advance of or during Ukrainian drone attacks. The first of these to strike near Grozny took place two months earlier, on October 29, 2024; a second followed on December 4; a third on December 12, a fourth on December 15. There is no information on what measures were taken by Russian and Azeri aviation officials to protect civil flights as the Ukrainian attacks intensified. There is controversy in Chechnya and in Moscow on the readiness of the air defence systems protecting Grozny before the crash on December 25. It is thus possible that there was inadequate advance warning from Grozny to Baku before takeoff or during the 66-minute flight. It is also possible the Azeri pilots may have ignored the warning, or acted too slowly after it was transmitted.

Politically, there is reluctance to accept or acknowledge publicly that the Ukrainian drone attacks have been disrupting aviation links between the two capitals. The terms of President Putin’s apology to President Aliyev on December 28 reflects this.

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Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/192/events/76003

The Yekaterinburg arrests of Azeris, Baku arrests of Russians. On June 28 security forces of the Sverdlovsk regional branch of the Investigative Committee arrested more than fifty ethnic Azeris in Yekaterinburg. The official reason for the arrests was a prosecutors’ investigation of murders related to gangland disputes over street and market trade more than fifteen years earlier. Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, the accused gang leaders, died during the arrest. Subsequent evidence presented in Baku, after their bodies were returned for burial, indicated multiple injuries from assault. Three other Safarov kin, Akif, Mazakhir and Bakir Safarov, have remained in prison in Yekaterinburg.

The Safarov family is a publicly prominent one in Azerbaijan, and their uncle, Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijan Army lieutenant-colonel, has been celebrated as a national hero by President Ilham Aliyev for his act of murder against an Armenian officer at a NATO training camp in Hungary in 2004.

There were immediate protests at the Yekaterinburg incident in the Azeri diaspora in Russia, and in Baku. The Aliyev government ordered the suspension of official Azeri-Russian contacts, and on June 30 Azeri police arrested a group of Russians at the Sputnik media office in Baku. They were paraded in front of national television cameras accused of being Russian spies; Russian consular officials were denied access to them. The Sputnik media operation had been ordered closed in February as a reaction to the aircraft incident, but the Azeri authorities had not enforced their closure order.

The Yekaterinburg case was transferred from the regional Investigative Committee to the federal headquarters in Moscow under the direct control of the Committee chairman, Alexander Bastrykin. The Russian and Azeri foreign ministries summoned ambassadors to announce protests.

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Left to right: The two brothers who died during the Yekaterinburg arrest raid on June 28, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov; their brother, Seyfeddin Huseynli, a well-known writer and journalist in Baku. The case of Azeri military officer, Ramil Safarov, convicted in Hungary of murdering a fellow officer because he was Armenian in 2004, is connected because Ziyaddin and Huseyn were nephews of Ramil, and because the government in Baku has made Ramil a national hero for his murder.

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Baku television video of the arrests of Russians at the Sputnik office. The Russian media reaction was swift in retaliation. “Not only were the Azerbaijani media filled with outright anti-Russian, if not outright Russophobic rhetoric, but some [Baku] politicians actually called for an uprising in Russia…Of course, Aygun Attar and her ilk have turned everything upside down – those who are really familiar with Russian national politics understand perfectly well that there is no ‘Russian chauvinism’ and Islamophobia in the Russian Federation; rather, on the contrary, Islamophilia is flourishing. But these messages are aimed at a very specific audience – the domestic consumer, and Azerbaijanis in Russia. However, unfortunately, the threat of migrant protests is quite real, given that there are a lot of migrants in Russia, and various diasporas (including the Azerbaijani one) have great power in the Russian Federation. In theory, diasporas can become a factor of political instability in Russia, as they are instruments of political influence of third countries…The aggravation of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan has shown us Baku's true attitude towards Moscow – you can talk about ‘brotherly friendship’ and ‘multi-nationalism’ as much as you like, but in fact Azerbaijan is very cool towards the Russian Federation…The rhetoric of the Azerbaijani media at the moment is not much different from the rhetoric of similar Ukrainian media. With such ‘friends’ there is no need for enemies.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Maria Zakharova, announced that “the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are in the nature of a strategic alliance,” but that “there are forces which do not like this”, adding the Ukraine was trying to “add fuel to the fire.”

She and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attempted to play down the conflict. “We are maintaining contacts with the Azerbaijani side on this matter, including along law enforcement lines,” Zakharova announced. “We are convinced that all emerging issues should be resolved in a spirit of partnership, using the existing political and diplomatic channels. This approach, in practice, serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of our two countries.” According to Peskov: “We still believe that logic dictates one thing: Russia and Azerbaijan are and should remain close partners and allies, as the two nations share a common history, along with a shared present and future. The issues that arise should undoubtedly be addressed in a constructive way, reflecting the spirit of our bilateral relations.”

Azeri-Russian Declaration of February 22, 2022. Signed by Presidents Aliyev and Putin in Moscow, the terms require “readiness to hold urgent consultations in the event of a situation that, in the opinion of one of the Parties, may pose a threat to peace, disrupt the peace or affect the security interests of one of the Parties, as well as in the event of a threat of such a situation arising, for the purpose of its settlement” (Article 6); and “the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan refrain from any actions that, in the opinion of one of the Parties, damage the strategic partnership and allied relations of the two states. To this end, they are establishing a permanent mechanism of consultations through the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries” (Article 7). Also: “The Parties refrain from any actions, including those carried out through third states, directed against each other [Article 17].”

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Source: https://president.az/en/articles/view/55498 Aliyev’s decisions to supply fuel and other military assistance to the Kiev regime since the commencement of the Special Military Operation, two after the signing the Declaration, amount to violations of Article 17, in the Russian view.

Think-tank propaganda on the political conflict from the US, Israel, the Azeri opposition to the Aliyev regime based in Georgia. According to the Washington think tank, Jamestown Foundation, reporting on July 7, “the present level of tensions between Baku and Moscow is unprecedented in the post-Soviet period, making the future trajectory of the relationship unpredictable. While a complete break between the two is less likely due to deep economic and political ties, Azerbaijan appears to be leveraging the crisis to renegotiate its relationship with the country’s northern neighbour on more equal terms.”

An Israeli think- tank assessment is even more anti-Russian. “It seems that in addition to the criminal behaviour that has long been normalized, the atrocities committed by the FSB may have more defined geopolitical objectives. Russia is weakening in the Caucasus, whereas Azerbaijan is getting stronger. Finally, personal Putin motives add fuel to the fire of the ‘aim’ tensions… The crisis signals the potential end of the post-Soviet period of Russian hegemony in the South Caucasus… The Yekaterinburg crisis may be remembered as when Russia’s imperial overreach finally caught up with its regional ambitions, forcing a new generation of post-Soviet leaders to choose between subordination and sovereignty. One must not forget that Russia has no moral qualms whatsoever about resorting to the most cynical pressure for want of better options. Azerbaijan’s neighbors have similar concerns regarding future Russian moves. Russia may lose its influence, yet it is still dangerous for its former colonies.”

The Israeli author, a retired military officer, omitted to mention the development of Israeli military assets on Azeri territory.

A Georgia-based media platform of Azeris opposed to the Aliyev regime, reported in detail on the criminal dimension of the Yekaterinburg incidents. “Putting the Safarov brothers’ alleged criminal ties aside, it is a fact that within the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, mafia-connected figures fulfilled enforcement and arbitration roles. Migrant-run markets and businesses often fall under protection rackets controlled by Azerbaijani criminal groups linked to so-called vor-v-zakone (the Russian term for thief-in-law) traditions. These groups leverage ethnic and kin ties to recruit, control labour, and enforce territorial order. This phenomenon is still understudied.”

“Prominent figures include Nadir Salifov (Lotu Guli) and Rovshan Janiyev (Lankaranski), both ethnic Azerbaijani crime bosses who built criminal syndicates controlling markets, trafficking, and rackets in Russia and beyond. Salifov, while in prison, is believed to have directed extortion against Azerbaijani businesses across Russia and maintained control of Moscow’s wholesale markets. Lankaranski, is similarly believed to have commanded ethnic Azerbaijani criminal networks in Moscow’s labour and produce markets, collecting protection fees and overseeing illicit trade until his assassination in 2016. Lankaranski is still revered in Azerbaijani society for his protection of Azerbaijanis in Russia. Even though not reported in the media as much as the Yekaterinburg killings, Russia also arrested two such Azerbaijani thieves-in-law within the same time-frame: Zaur Nakhchivansky (on 2 July) and Vagif Bakinsky (on 4 July). Nakhichivansky is the son of Bayram Talibov, himself a thief-in-law who was murdered alongside Hikmet Mukhtarov in 2006. Nakhichivansky was later ‘adopted’ by Lankaransky, who subsequently raised him to thief-in-law status in 2013.”

“So far, the news is not promising. The head of the Azerbaijani diaspora of the Moscow region, Elshan Ibrahimov, was deported from Russia on 9 July; he was deprived of citizenship on 18 June for ‘committing actions that pose a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation’. He has headed ‘the national-cultural autonomy of Azerbaijanis of the Moscow region’ since 2018 and was a close ally of Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of Moscow oblast. Perhaps unrelated to the topic, but interesting enough — Vorobyov isn’t alien to the South Caucasus either; he was one of the few known soldiers of the Russian ODON (Separate Operational Purpose Division) who was deployed to Sumgait, Baku, and later Yerevan, to quell the nationalist riots and pogroms in the crumbling Soviet Union.”

For a Georgian analyst’s assessment, click to listen to the podcast of July 15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y506jd3MrJk

For an anti-Russian Carnegie Foundation perspective, following the air crash incident, consider: “Aliyev’s hardline position over the plane crash has once again affirmed his role as the ‘defender of the nation’: a nation that is not only impossible to oppress, but that can also stand up to its large, dangerous neighbor. Indeed, a sense of belonging to a national community is often predicated on being part of a nation that commands respect. And Azerbaijan’s response to the downed airliner could be added to a textbook on nation building. Whether intuitively or deliberately, Aliyev is acting according to the best principles of political science by fostering the shaping of a national identity. Nevertheless, Aliyev’s approach could backfire. Tactical attacks on Moscow must yield something, otherwise disappointment could set in. It’s far from certain that Putin will abandon his traditional intransigence to do something like admitting culpability in the air crash and handing over those who are guilty to Baku. After all, if Putin concedes in this way, all Russia’s other allies would be lining up for the same treatment.”

There has been uncharacteristic silence from the main Russian think tanks and media platforms. Instead, this was published by Monocle, a relatively new Russian business magazine and successor of Expert. “As for the sharp slaps from our neighbours, which, in the opinion of some, should be urgently responded to with loud fist bumps on the table, we can recall the three Baltic countries and ask how they are doing with transit, how busy their ports and railways are, and whether their fishing industry is doing well. There were times when unpleasant attacks from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia confidently held on to the top of the news agenda and echoed extremely painfully in Russia. At the same time, 35 kilometers from the border with one of the loudmouthed neighbors, work was silently underway to expand the port’s capacity in Ust-Luga. As for Azerbaijan, there seems to be an understanding that its geostrategic position in the region is advantageous, but not unique. Is it indispensable for all the surrounding countries in terms of transit? Being at the crossroads of all roads, the most important investment has always been, is and will always be good-neighbourly relations with neighbouring countries.”

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Source: https://monocle.ru/monocle/2025/28/azer ... -granitsy/

“According to Dmitry Trenin, it is obvious that Russia will never abandon the South Caucasus. Geo-economically, Transcaucasia is a corridor connecting Russia with the countries of the global South – Iran, India, Turkey, Pakistan, the countries of the Arab East and East Africa. In the event of any conflict in the Caspian region, it is not only our interests that suffer, and we have someone to join forces with in order to ensure stability in the Caspian Sea. Despite the concessions to our post-Soviet neighbors, the fear of Russia is inherent in all former Soviet republics, without exception, says Nikolai Silaev: ‘This is completely natural and understandable, given that Russia surpasses them many times in all indicators.’ And this fear is growing, because for the last 30-35 years they have been able to balance between Russia and the West, and now these swings have begun to break little by little. There is no single West, to which both we and the entire post-Soviet space are accustomed, now, says Silaev: ‘And most of the former Soviet republics have growing concerns about how they should now build their foreign policy. They are especially afraid of the moment when the special military operation will be completed and Russia will have its hands free. That’s why they’re frantically looking for new resources to balance things out.’ ”
Military escalation. In a speech in Turkey on July 19, Aliyev made an explicit statement in support for the Zelensky regime to continue the war against Russia. “ ‘We created a new reality in 44 days in 2020, and they were forced to accept it. Ukrainians must also not surrender and must never accept the violation of their territorial integrity,’ Aliyev said, referring to the second Karabakh war in fall 2020, which paved the way for Karabakh’s full liberation in 2023. On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year, he urged the Ukrainians to ‘never accept occupation.’”

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Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine ... n-/3636060 For more on Aliyev’s scheme to establish the “Zangezur Corridor” – also known as the Nahichevan and Meghri Corridors, running east-west between Azeri Nakhichevan, Turkey further to the west, and mainland Azerbaijan, along the frontier with Iran, read this.

The timing of Aliyev’s declaration followed heavy Russian air attacks earlier in the month on oil refinery and related petroleum production plants, as well as shipping terminals in Odessa, which are owned by the Azeri state oil company SOCAR and used to process Azeri crude oil for the fuel needs of the Ukrainian forces. Azeri media have also been reporting Russian attacks on SOCAR petrol stations in western Ukraine. The military escalation, according to Moscow military blogger Boris Rozhin, marks an end to informal undertakings between Putin and Aliyev that SOCAR assets in the Ukraine would not be hit.
Asked how he interprets the current conflict, a Russian with long experience in multi-million dollar business in Moscow, who was born Jewish in Baku and educated there, a source said: “We think that the absolute rulers can do whatever they want. But in this case they both act as hostages of their population’s mentality.”

“First- the plane. Russia had to express publicly its regrets, condolences, pay compensation and damages; participate in the funerals; mourn with the friend as they called Ilham and his father. But the big part of the Russian population may not like that. Azerbaijan could have accepted the private ‘I am sorry’ call from Putin but the big part of the Azeri population would not like it.”

“Second – the police raids on the Azeri gangs. Policemen want promotions and well-being, and if there is a small evidence of a crime, they catch people in mass if they belong to one ethnic group. Normal practice. But again, a big part of the population wants things done brutally with the aliens. Brutality and arrogance come to a certain high level and then things calm down as the rulers don’t need unnecessary headaches.”

https://johnhelmer.net/how-to-eat-azerb ... more-92106

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Moscow Is Not Russia ...

... they say. Well, this is definitely NOT Moscow, not even close, this is Tatarstan.



http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2025/07 ... ussia.html

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U.S. Inches Closer to Causing Major Caucasus Crisis With Offer to Administer Transport Corridor Between Turkey and Azerbaijan
Posted on July 21, 2025 by Conor Gallagher

It’s all connected, as they say. And the battles in Ukraine and Middle East between Washington and its adversaries are now spilling over into the Caucasus in earnest. US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack confirmed reports that we noted back on July 7 that the US is weaseling its way into the South Caucasus with its proposal to administer the 32-kilometer Zangezur Corridor. This route, long coveted by Ankara and Baku, would cut through southern Armenia along its border with Iran and connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave (and Turkiye). Washington is talking about acting as a neutral guarantor by taking out a 100-year lease on the corridor and having a private American logistics operator run it. Here’s Barrack:

US Ambassador to #Türkiye recommends the US take over a 32 km-long road segment in a 100-year lease #Azerbaijan has been eyeing for the Zangezur corridor project. #Armenia‘s leadership appears open to concessions to Baku and Ankara.

The corridor would run through Armenia’s… pic.twitter.com/NokISzJ7Sc

— Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) July 15, 2025


Barrack’s comments were the first official acknowledgment of the US interest in direct engagement in the corridor. And here’s Trump, for whatever it’s worth, promising that a deal between Baku and Yerevan is close:

Trump: “Armenia and Azerbaijan—we worked magic there and it’s pretty close, if not it’s already done.” https://t.co/7oxitEmv2O pic.twitter.com/9e13y5U2Hg

— Hov Nazaretyan (@HovhanNaz) July 19, 2025


It’s presented as some benign intervention by Washington to unlock peace between the two sides, but if you’ve been following this story the past few years, it’s clear this geopolitical power play was the plan all along in order to damage both Russia and Iran. We can go at least as far back as then-U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affair, James O’Brien’s Nov. 15, 2023 comments during “The Future of Nagorno-Karabakh” House committee hearing for insight on the US intentions regarding these corridors. Here’s what O’Brien said then:

“A future that is built around the access of Russia and Iran as the main participants in the security of the region, the South Caucasus, is unstable and undesirable, including for both the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia. They have the opportunity to make a different decision now.”

It looks like that decision is imminent. If this happens, it means Armenia and Azerbaijan are reneging on the ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow to conclude the 2020 war between the two countries. Point 9 of the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia at that time reads:

All economic and transport links in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia shall guarantee the safety of transport communication between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with a view to organize the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both directions. Control over transport communication shall be exercised by the Border Guard Service bodies of the FSS of Russia.

Of course the US would go for this, but what about the other players? Why are they burning bridges with Russia and Iran at a time when both appear to be strengthening while the US and the rest of the West are in a downward spiral? And what are the short- and long-term repercussions?

The current Armenia has essentially been taken over by the West. The US has one of its largest embassies in the world in Armenia and even a representative of the US armed forces embedded in the Armenian Defense Ministry. While the opposition warns that this is inviting disaster (Ishkhan Saghatelian, a leader of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation, says, “This is the beginning of a new storm, not only for Armenia but also the entire region,” and predicts a “new cycle of violence and instability with unpredictable consequences.”), the Armenian government is cracking down hard on dissent as an announcement is likely approaching.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan likes to talk about how this is all a grand rebalancing act, but if so, it has been horribly executed and is akin to getting in deep with the sharks. Or here’s another take:

This is only the logical continuation of his early beginnings. He cannot operate in any other way. He is everybody’s drunk uncle who does drunk things while sober. The tragedy is that he still draws applause.

— Artyom Tonoyan @tonoyan.bsky.social (@DrArtyomTonoyan) July 18, 2025


What about Türkiye and its famous balancing act?

Ankara is concerned about Russia and Iran gaining too much influence in the Caucasus and elsewhere, including over Türkiye itself. Fear over what comes after a Russian victory in Ukraine is likely in part driving the Erdogan clique’s decision making. Türkiye is also getting loads of deals from the EU and Washington. For months, the EU has been increasing Türkiye’s role in the bloc’s defense industries and it was recently capped off by news a few weeks back that the two sides will hold defense talks after a three-year pause. Ankara is looking for access to the EU’s new $170 billion defense fund. And the US is reportedly on the verge of easing up on the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

How about Azerbaijan? While Baku and Moscow have either been hit with a series of escalating unfortunate events or a calculated campaign to turn Russia away from the corridor project (we covered the spiraling ties here) It too has been lavished with deals from the West for its oil and gas. In 2022, Baku and Brussels signed a memorandum on the growth of supplies from 10 to 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year. Gas supplies have already increased by more than 40 percent from 2021 to 2024, but Brussels is already asking for an additional 14 bcm as it tries to get completely off Russian gas.

Azerbaijan has had trouble keeping up with the demand. In 2024, the country produced 50.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and has even been importing more Russian gas itself in order to meet domestic demand and its obligations to Europe. There are plans to expand the Southern Gas Corridor which connects Azerbaijan to Europe, but for now it is already at full capacity.

Despite the current struggle to meet demand, it’s obvious why Baku would be interested in opening a corridor through Armenia. It could theoretically cut out Iran and Russia from grand designs to become a towering gas hub. There are visions of Azerbaijan upping its own output while sending gas west from Turkmenistan and elsewhere in Central Asia to Israel, Syria, and all over Europe.

Currently, it has to pay a transit fee to Iran just to keep the lights on in its Nakhchivan exclave—an arrangement it bristles at.

Türkiye, too, has long dreamt of this corridor that would cement it as a major energy and transit hub between Central Asia and Europe. But of course their gain would be Iran’s loss. Tehran would lose money, influence, and security. As a reminder of what the opening of the Zangezur Corridor would mean, it is the missing link in what would be the shortest land transport route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in a Eurasian trade and transport communications worth more than $1 trillion. And key to many involved parties is not only the shorter distance but the fact that it’s one of the few routes that entirely bypasses Russia and it would weaken Iran by opening an interlocked Turkic front across its northern borders. This so-called “Turan Corridor” is a major concern of Tehran for economic and defense reasons. From Security & Defence Quarterly:

Azerbaijan used to pay 15 percent of the 350 million cubic metres of gas sent to Nakhchivan through Iran as a transit fee. With the opening of the new corridor, Iran may lose this profit.

An agreement on sale of gas was signed between Türkiye and Iran in 1996. Based on that agreement, Türkiye has been buying gas from Iran for years. While Türkiye pays Iran US$490 for a thousand cubic metres of gas, it can buy the same amount from Azerbaijan for US$335.

If a gas pipeline is built from Azerbaijan to Türkiye through this corridor, Iran’s loss of gas revenue may be huge.

The planned gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan through Iran to Türkiye then to Europe was frozen in 2017 because of financial disagreements. Turkmenistan can now deliver this gas to Europe via Azerbaijan.

The importance of Iran’s pipeline to Armenia has also decreased.

The Strategic Council of Foreign Relations in Tehran, whose director is Iran’s former minister of foreign affairs Kamal Kharazi, condemned the construction of the Zangezur corridor, indicating that the corridor has been introduced as NATO’s “Turan corridor,” a project ostensibly supported by Israel and NATO, which aims to foment ethnic unrest in the areas of Iran inhabited by Turks. As per the aforementioned Council, NATO’s Turan corridor is supposed to directly bring NATO onto the northern border of Iran, the southern border of Russia, and western China and lay the groundwork for their disintegration.

I’ve seen a few reports that Tehran is supportive of Armenia unblocking regional transport routes and that things are fine between Baku and Tehran. That would be quite the shock. Tehran has in the past called the Zangezur Corridor a red line, and they might be backing off that stance a bit because aside from occupying southern Armenia to prevent it, there’s not much to be done. But it’s pretty clear they view having the US on their northern border as the glue to a Turan corridor as a major problem. In a Thursday call between senior Iranian and Armenian security officials, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, reiterated Iran’s consistent opposition to any shifts in the geopolitical landscape of the region. In May, Ahmadian warned that ““extra-regional” forces in the South Caucasus are “not interested in lasting peace in the region.” That’s quite the understatement.

With Azerbaijan already being used as an Israeli outpost to destabilize Iran and launch drone attacks, the idea of a strengthened and connected Türkiye and Azerbaijan across its northern border with the involvement of Washington is an absolute nightmare.

Moscow was previously on board despite the opposition from Tehran, but that was when Russia was to be included in the corridor and would benefit from it.

Now with so much money flying around, Azerbaijan and Türkiye both seem to have made the decision that their economic interests are better served by the West. Armenia looks to be committing national suicide by entering into deals with Azerbaijan and Türkiye with its security guaranteed by …Washington? France? Good luck with that.

Op-ed by Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s former foreign minister

In today’s press conference, Nikol Pashinyan likened the idea of granting control over a corridor through Armenia’s sovereign territory to a third party with outsourcing national infrastructure such as the airport,… pic.twitter.com/lfPje2niPd

— CIVILNET (@CivilNetTV) July 16, 2025


Both Ankara and Baku potentially believed that they wouldn’t face much consequences from Russia. They appear to have miscalculated.

Moscow is hitting back. Hard.

🇷🇺‼️Russia brutally punished Azerbaijan: A key refinery blew up – Moscow just showed Baku where it belongs ‼️

In a series of precision strikes, Russian forces hit the Kremenchuk refinery, the Drohobych oil plant and a facility in Odessa, which for years served as a logistics… pic.twitter.com/AkGX5QaNII

— Peacemaker (@peacemaket71) July 18, 2025


With regards to Armenia, the price of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used in cars there, has surged by 40 percent after Georgia blocked the transit of gas from Russia. Moscow hasn’t come out and said it, but it’s believed in Armenia that Georgia is acting on behalf of the Kremlin, and it is intended to send a message. Georgia also recently blocked the export of Armenian brandy to Russia, and there are plenty of other levers Moscow can pull. As Fitch Ratings notes, Armenia’s economy relies significantly on Russia for both trade and energy. For example, Armenia also currently pays Russia $165 per thousand cubic meters of gas, well below the market price in Europe, and Russia is Armenia’s number one trading partner.

But is this another instance in the New Cold War where Russia technically wins (it can inflict more damage on Azerbaijan, for example) but loses long term. Short of another military intervention, how does Moscow stop the Zangezur Corridor from opening without its involvement? Both Armenian media (for the past two years) and Azerbaijani media (for the past seven months) have been hard at work stoking anti-Russian flames and blaming Moscow for incidents large and small.

And should the relationship between Moscow and the two South Caucasus countries (and Ankara) continue to deteriorate, how much will that hurt Russia’s position in the South Caucasus—a region Moscow has major plans for with regards to trade corridors and countering Western isolation efforts?

Russia, to varying degrees, plays major roles in the energy economies of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkiye. Due to Russian companies’ large investments in the Azerbaijani oil and gas sector, it is one of the bigger beneficiaries of Brussels’ efforts to increase energy imports from Azerbaijan in order to replace Russian supplies. Türkiye gets nearly half of its natural gas and a quarter of its oil from Russia on good deals and profits from sending Turkstream gas on to Southeastern Europe.

But Russia also relies on both to counter Western isolation efforts. There aren’t many good options for Russia aside from applying more economic pressure, but that also has the potential to turn public opinion more against it. Yes, it could rely on its superior force but at what cost? Or it allows a Turkic/NATO corridor that allows Ankara to expand across the Caucasus and into Central Asia creating a whole host of new headaches for Moscow?

The US, meanwhile, sits back and nods in approval. Either it gets a 100-year lease foothold in the South Caucasus from which more trouble will no doubt spring and/or it makes more progress on the infamous RAND plan to “overextend and unbalance” Russia.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/07 ... aijan.html

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Collector of criminal cases
July 21, 16:50

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Collector of criminal cases

It is reported that two more criminal cases are being prepared against former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, in addition to those already opened.

The Investigative Committee of Russia is preparing to officially bring two new charges against former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov as part of a criminal case opened against him in 2025.
This was reported by TASS with reference to law enforcement agencies. It is noted that the new charges against Ivanov are related to the testimony given by businessman Sergei Borodin, who entered into a pre-trial cooperation agreement.

Earlier, it was reported that investigators opened a new case against former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov.

https://russian.rt.com/russia/news/1509 ... ineniya-sk - zinc

What a versatile person. The number of cases continues to increase, as does the amount of damage caused to the state during the war.

P.S. About Popov.

The Investigative Committee intends to bring new charges of bribery against former Deputy Defense Minister, Army General Pavel Popov, Kommersant writes.

According to the newspaper, the first episode is related to Popov’s free accommodation from 2014 to 2024 in an apartment on Frunzenskaya Embankment near the Defense Ministry building. This apartment was provided to him by a representative of a contractor who was doing renovations in the department, where Popov had his office. Experts estimated the cost of renting similar housing in this area and came to the conclusion that the official’s material benefit amounted to about 14 million rubles.

The second episode of the criminal case concerns the same contractor providing Popov with a Lexus LX 570 SUV for travel. According to experts, if the general had rented this car on a general basis, his expenses would have amounted to about 30 million rubles. Thus, this is the amount that the investigation considers his illegal benefit.

Popov himself did not deny using the apartment and car, but claimed that he did not do so on a regular basis. Under Part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code (accepting a bribe), Popov faces 8 to 15 years in prison.

As Kommersant writes, new episodes in Popov's case became known after the Investigative Committee sent materials to the prosecutor's office and then to the court concerning his accomplices - former director of the Patriot Park Vyacheslav Akhmedov and former deputy head of the Main Directorate for Innovative Development of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Vladimir Shesterov.

P.S. Shesterov was recently sentenced to 6 years in prison.

"Repressions in the army" have intensified.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9968313.html

By rail
July 21, 12:38

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For the first time in a long time I used a Russian Railways train.
I traveled on a single-decker train from Simferopol.

Pros.

1. Tidy compartments, clean carriage, clean linen, clean toilets.
2. Normal polite conductors.
3. Classic tea in cup holders.
4. Nice fellow travelers. We had an interesting conversation with a political officer from the Project 667 nuclear missile cruiser.
5. The first time I crossed the Crimean Bridge by train. It is prohibited to take pictures there. But you can look. The fortifications from the sea side are impressive in scale. The bridge, as usual, works perfectly. Despite 2 explosions. The Americans still cannot restore their bridge in Baltimore, which is smaller.
6. In the Rostov region, one could see various military equipment and a couple of trains with tanks from factories. In the Voronezh area, one could see an air defense mound with a Pantsir (I foresee a book about air defense mounds after the war). There was an alarm for drones there at night, so maybe it was practicing. Of course, you shouldn't film and post things like this during a war. But if you think about it, during the trip alone you could see at least 4 positions of S-300/S-400 batteries (typically a radar and 3 launchers). A hypothetical enemy intelligence agent could take pictures of these positions with a good camera while sitting in a compartment, especially if he knew where to film. Also, at one of the stations you could see "the consequences of falling UAV debris." But these are the usual realities of war.

Cons.

1. No Internet. Communication only at stations in some places. It was a kind of information detox. I've somehow gotten out of the habit of this.
2. There was no dining car. You have to take food with you or buy it at the stations + some change from the conductors. The selection there is not rich.
3. The air conditioning did not work during stops and when moving slowly. Stuffiness.

Features.

Due to drone strikes in the Rostov region on the 18th, we got into a resolving traffic jam of 50+ trains, which caused the train to be almost 5 hours late, but by picking up speed and skipping a number of stations, the delay was eventually reduced to 2 hours. The train manager personally walked through the cars and explained to everyone why and how. Everyone was given additional food from Russian Railways loaded at one of the stations. Plus, they explained the possibility of compensation for each hour of delay (3% of the cost of a ticket for 1 hour). They said that of course it was not our fault, but there would be compensation. A normal, healthy approach. People were understanding about this.

In general, it was bearable. But it took a long time.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9967695.html

Google Translator

(When I see people whining about not being 'connected' for a little while it makes be shudder. They should be relieved... I used to enjoy riding the Southern Crescent, lot of fun hanging in the club car. But that was the early 80s, proly not like that now. ya can't go home...)
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:48 pm

Along Kievskaya Street...
July 22, 15:14

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Along Kievskaya Street...

Ukrainians are genuinely surprised ( https://t.me/optimistkavshtatskom/23777 ) when they learn that there is a Kievskaya Street and a shopping mall with the same name in Moscow.

The reaction is predictable. If a person watches the local idiot box from morning till night, where they explain that five bags of remains of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are one body, packaged by the Russians to "build up numbers" - this will not do without consequences for the brain.

There is nothing paradoxical in the word "Kiev" for Moscow. And what about Moscow, for all of Russia.

We just do not fight with sculptures, streets and monuments. We fight with Banderaism and carrion, which infect used goods. With our connivance, of course. But this does not change the essence.

But Kievskaya Street and the shopping mall of the same name are not the limit! Look, Ukrainians, what else is in our beloved Moscow:

🔹 Kievsky Railway Station
🔹 Kievsky Railway Station Square
🔹 European Shopping Mall (owned by the Kievskaya Ploshad company)
🔹 Kievskaya metro stations - three at once, decorated with Ukrainian mosaics
🔹 Ukrainian Boulevard
🔹 Monument to Lesya Ukrainka
🔹 Hotel "Ukraine" - one of the Stalinist skyscrapers, and there is also a public transport stop of the same name
🔹 Taras Shevchenko Embankment
🔹 Monument to Taras Shevchenko
🔹 Square of the 300th Anniversary of the Reunification of Russia and Ukraine
🔹 Chernihiv Lane and the Church of Mikhail and Fyodor Chernigovsky
🔹 Streets and lanes: Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Lesya Ukrainka, Ivan Franko, Dovzhenko, Korneichuk, Bozhenko, Sumskaya, Dnepropetrovskaya and many others.

And all this is only Moscow! One city. Without new regions.

And if we take all of Russia - even without Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Crimea, and try to honestly list all the streets, schools, villages, monuments, museums, libraries, ensembles, departments, gastronomic festivals, cultural and transport links related to the so-called "Ukraine" - one post will not be enough for me. This will be a series of at least a hundred posts.

That's the difference.

We are not fighting the Ukrainian heritage (I do not consider Bandera and other filth to be heritage, it is a cancerous tumor). We are fighting, among other things, for at least something Ukrainian to remain alive.

Moreover.

Today, a normal Ukrainian feels much more at home in Moscow than in the hell into which the gopniks turned the remains of the former Ukrainian SSR. Where the streets are sprayed with green paint, and the names of the alleys are changed according to the manual of the next grant-giver.

Therefore, everyone who can escape from the clutches of the total zombification of UGIL in Russia will be humanly painful, but wildly soberingly surprised. Because he will inevitably understand that everything truly Ukrainian remains ONLY with us.

You were simply cut off from yourselves, Ukrainians.

And we carefully preserve all this, yours.

A paradox, yes. But one in which there is still hope.

(with Polina Reutova

https://t.me/optimistkavshtatskom/23779 - zinc

Well, in Sevastopol we still have Shevchenko Street. And a monument to Lesya Ukrainka.
They don't bother anyone at all, although we got rid of the hateful Ukraine more than 11 years ago.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9970132.html

(I can still hear that gal from Odessa, "We are all Russians!")

"On sanctions"
July 22, 12:59

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Director of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the goals of the West's sanctions campaign against the Russian Federation.

On sanctions

The European Union recently introduced the 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions, and the US Congress has prepared or is still preparing the sanctions “Graham-Blumenthal bill”.

It has long been unclear what goals those in Brussels and Washington are pursuing who are engaged in sanctions policy.
Either they want to hit the Russian economy, or the economies of Russia’s partner countries.
Or they want to “deprive it of the opportunity to finance the war in Ukraine”, or “force it to negotiate”, or simply “punish” Russia for its independence.
Or they want to infringe on the interests of Russian economic operators, or decision-makers, or provoke a popular uprising.

Statements by officials, parliamentarians and politicians are accumulating like a snowball, often contradicting each other.

For the sake of a thought experiment, let’s go back to the moment in time when everything more or less began.
Here are selected quotes from American and European officials in 2014 explaining why and what for anti-Russian sanctions were being introduced “for the annexation of Crimea”:

Sanctions are not a punitive measure, but are aimed at changing the policies or actions of the target country, organisations or individuals. The measures always target the policy or activity, the means by which it is implemented and the persons responsible for it. The EU makes every effort to minimise the negative impact on the civilian population and on legitimate activities. (Official Statement of the EU Council, Brussels, 29 April 2014)

* * *

So, as you know,
we have focused on individual sanctions against those involved in either the development or implementation of policies – in particular, the seizure of Crimea and the aggression in the east.
The US has also expanded this list to include those who finance and support the president and his office – that is, those close to him. Now the point is that if the elections are disrupted or we see further movement of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory, we will have to move to so-called “surgical sectoral sanctions.” (
Victoria Nuland, US Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, at a briefing in Luxembourg, May 13, 2014)

* * *

The goal of the United States is not to harm the Russian people, but to change the course of the Russian leadership with respect to Ukraine.
(Victoria Nuland, US Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Congressional hearing, May 8, 2014)

So, the original meaning of the sanctions, according to the statements of their initiators, was to force Russia to change its foreign policy, primarily in the Ukrainian direction. The result is zero or the opposite of what was intended.
But this does not prevent the Americans and Europeans from ignoring reality and continuing to believe that if they press even harder, Russia will break and change course.

It is none of our business to believe in this.
The consequences will obviously be completely different.

However, the West's persistence in pursuing a sanctions policy must be taken into account.
Today, forecasts that the maximum possible set of unilateral restrictive measures will be introduced against Russia, meaning a complete severance of direct trade and economic ties with the Western community, do not seem out of touch with reality. Also, one cannot neglect the probability that, in pursuit of the illusory goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the Ukrainian battlefield, sooner or later the West will use all types of weapons available to it against our country, with the exception of non-conventional ones.

(c) Alexey Drobinin

https://t.me/alexey_drobinin/85 - zinc

It is hard to disagree. Since 2022, I have been writing that everything that lies below the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons can and will be used in Ukraine. At the moment, almost all conventional steps along the escalation stage have already been taken, not counting several remaining types of missiles.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9969780.html

"Disappointments in Aliyev"
July 21, 20:10

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I was a little amused by the reaction of some citizens to Aliyev's statements in the style of "I thought he was like this, but he is like this, I am disappointed in my best feelings."

This blog and TG channel have been publishing materials for many years about arms supplies to Islamic terrorists in the Middle East via the Silk Road airline, which is linked to Azerbaijan (greetings to Dilyana Gaytandzhieva, who dug all this up). And about the participation of the Hazma division fighters in the war against Karabakh on the side of Azerbaijan. And about the supply of military products to Ukraine. And so on and so forth. Long before the recent "insights". So, in fact, nothing new is happening. Aliyev's hysteria is not even connected with the fact that Russia has begun to oppress the Azerbaijani criminal diasporas (and I am sure that they will continue to oppress them), but with the fact that the Russian Federation, in response to a similar course by Azerbaijan, has recently begun to move objects in Ukraine connected with the Azerbaijani oil industry, which they previously turned a blind eye to.

Therefore, the best response to Aliyev's hostile actions is certainly not public hysteria, but calm diplomatic rhetoric with simultaneous blows to the Ukrainian oil industry linked to Azerbaijan and the cleansing of Azerbaijani criminal diasporas according to the scheme of cleansing Georgian criminals in Russia during Saakashvili's time. Actions are always more effective than hysteria.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9968760.html

Google Translator

*****

Important Overlooked Info From SPIEF

Putin's somewhat cryptic language.
Karl Sanchez
Jul 21, 2025

Image

While reviewing the most recent This is China transcript, I was surprised to read what Zhang Weiwei said in his recollection of a statement made by President Putin related to the then ongoing 12-Day War:

Some people think that we need to do more, even military action. In fact, we have launched military operations against those who oppose our ideas and threaten Russia's security, most of whom are in the same group as those who provoked this conflict, but they are hiding behind them. What else do we have to do after all this? At the United Nations, we also support Iran.

Surprised because I didn’t recall that passage or any significant news coverage of what IMO was a very provocative statement. So, first I needed to see what was said in the official Russian transcript published by the Kremlin and then to run it by three different translation softwares to see if the cryptic nature of what Zhang said was correct. Here’s one translation:

Who says that we should have done more: what, more? To start some kind of military operations – is that so? We already have combat operations with those who we consider opponents of the ideas we defend and to be a threat to the Russian Federation. And these are basically the same forces – both in Iran, and in the Russian case – somewhere, far away, in the rear, behind their backs. But these are not even those who are on the line of contact.

Here’s another that’s clearer:

Who says that we should have done more: what is more? Start some kind of military operations, is that it? We are already engaged in military operations with those whom we consider to be opponents of the ideas we are defending, and those who pose a threat to the Russian Federation. Essentially, these are the same forces, both in Iran and in Russia, located in the background. But these are not even the ones on the front lines.

Russia and Iran share a common foe; some force located in the dark recesses out of the light and nowhere near the front lines directly engaged in combat. If I could produce a Venn Diagram, it would show the hidden actors—Zionist and Neocon think tanks and individuals, including prominent members of Collective Western governments, many of whom are billionaires. This knowing who your enemy is and more critical knowing about it/them is a key Sun Tzu saying the B at MoA invoked for today’s article:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Sun Tzu, Art of War, III.18
The main failure of the Collective West is they failed to understand and be guided by Sun Tzu’s maxim and thus have made a grand series of fatal strategic mistakes and continue to make them. There’s a series of old Southern US folk stories that’s part of a collection generically called Uncle Remus authored by Joel Chandler Harris beginning in 1881. One of the best known is the Tar Baby story, which the Urban Dictionary describes as follows:

A dummy made of tar, which cannot be struck without getting oneself hopelessly stuck to it--from the story "Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Fox" by Joe Harris, as told by his fictional narrator, Uncle Remus.

Tar baby has become shorthand for a situation better avoided than confronted.


There’re numerous things associated with the Outlaw US Empire where the tar baby is an appropriate description. The most pernicious IMO is the continuing need to remain #1, King of the Hill, having Primacy and Exceptionality over one and all. It’s what Trump says he wants to accomplish—America First via MAGA—and has invoked his Trade/Tariff War against the entire world—even those considered allies and part of the Collective West—which is a continuation of what he started during his first term. Of course, Biden had his own version just as Obama and Bush did before them. The goal of Primacy was established during WW2 and pursued ever since no matter what the consequences—killing US presidents, presidential candidates, social leaders, foreign governmental officials, UN Secretary Generals, destroying US domestic and international law, and oh so much more. And now we have the Neoliberal, Neocon and Zionist additions to the tar baby that have been stuck going on for decades.

IMO, Russia, China, Iran, and other nations see this gooey mess the Outlaw US Empire has created for itself and the world. IMO, the world is asking itself if it ought to try and apply a solvent to separate those factions or if they should just let them fly into the abyss they’ve created for themselves thinking that the impact at the bottom will allow some, maybe all, to break free or to die from the fall. Humpty Dumpty isn’t too far from being another good analogy. In his chat with Nima today, Pepe Escobar said the Trump shark was eaten by the bigger Deep State shark. And then there was the long discussion about EU/NATO’s 2030 war plans. All more of the same tar. BRICS already knows what it must do—stand tall and together, while continuing to build their own new institutions to bypass those all jammed up with tar.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/importan ... from-spief
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Wed Jul 23, 2025 3:37 pm

Gone are the Sunny Days of Kyrgyz Liberal Leeches

A new article by Elena Romanova from VneshVrag
Zinderneuf
Jul 20, 2025
Cross-post from East’s Substack

A fresh article from VneshVrag about the demise of USAID and its influence on Kyrgyzstan! - Zinderneuf

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If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill […] I’ll never be hungry again.

Margaret Mitchell “Gone with the Wind”, 1936

With no more funding from USAID (undesirable in the RF) and the like, the Kyrgyz leeches fighting for “good” have experienced all the cruelties of capitalism firsthand. Their brandy, cigars and dreams of wads of dollar bills for spouting nonsense and conducting research on issues of questionable relevance, have been spoilt. Not by Rhett Butler though.

Similar to Scarlett O’Hara, what they want back again are the good “old days”. But theirs are the days characterized by the funding of large-scale events featuring talks on the establishment of a digital memory bank of perestroika activism in Kyrgyzstan, the colonial legacy in the artistic decolonization practices of Central Asia as well as the decolonial prospects of pasture management in the republic. These sunny days, however, are unlikely to ever come back.

Now truth-seekers of all kinds are encouraged to let their imagination run wild in their efforts to raise money to defend the much-cherished liberal values. Yet, they’re nowhere near as charming as Mitchell’s protagonist and can’t be expected to achieve the goal by, say, making a dress out of a curtain. That said, isn’t it the time to consider the worthwhileness of abandoning Kyrgyzstan’s national interests, its history and heritage? Isn’t it the time to wonder if democracy is the right path to a country’s development and prosperity? Could it be that that the model of democracy imposed by the West has nothing to do with social justice and the well-being of ordinary people? After all, the Greek term “demos" didn’t refer to the population in general, but rather to an elite group of those who had the right to make decisions. Needless to say, peasants, servants, merchants and women among others were not included in this group. Known as “ochlos”, they had no power to voice their opinions to masters.

If only Elmira Nogoibayeva, Head of Esimde, a platform concerned with analyzing historic events and curing the population’s “memory lapses” would give a bit of thought to where she could end up if such a democracy triumphed. Speaking at the World Forum for Democracy, the “SHE-moderator” and “SHE-director” (Editor’s Note: these terms have no feminine equivalents in Russian, but who cares?) plunged into a long and circumstantial narrative about the benefits of "forming objective views on the past, present and future of an independent Kyrgyz society". The looming prospects of accepting poverty the way most southerners in “Gone with the Wind” did, may set Elmira and her cronies thinking.

In the meantime, Esimde, with its hunger for funds is looking to the impoverished Kyrgyz people for support. But how can one expect them to contribute to such pointless projects as documentaries, revealing the “truth” behind the events that’ve led the republic to independence? Don’t the citizens have any other concerns apart from those associated with the “bloody USSR” or “aggressive” Russia allegedly trying to conquer them?

Now that Kyrgyzstan and US NGOs are no longer like candles “shielded from every wind”, the only ray of hope may shine from the EU where the plans to take up the torch in conducting liberal propaganda in Central Asia have not yet been abandoned. The only problem is that Europeans are generally frugal and not as well-off as their American counterparts. What follows is that the Kyrgyz leeches have no means whatsoever to attend international events involving the participation of Baltic and Polish experts among others, even if they promise to “eat like a bird”, both literally and figuratively.

While Scarlett didn’t entirely reject the Confederacy's defeat, her focus shifted to more pragmatic goals. The leeches, by contrast, are still determined to do away with everything Russian, which is evidenced by the demolition of the monument in Balykchy commemorating the Russian explorer Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. Sad but true.

VneshVrag

https://eastcalling.substack.com/cp/168818836

******

Wave of new protests in Armenia
July 22, 2025
Rybar

Image

“ just around the corner…”

While all attention in the public space of Armenia is focused on the situation around Nikol Pashinyan’s desire to get rid of the threat to himself in the form of the Armenian Apostolic Church , preparations for new anti-Russian actions have also begun in Gyumri .

More details about the planned provocations
Armenian pro-government channels have begun to spread calls for demonstrations against the Russian presence at the 102nd military base in Gyumri and the CSTO in particular. The event is planned for August 23, the day Armenia declared its independence.

According to preliminary information, opposition-minded citizens of Gyumri and politicians will unite with their supporters from Yerevan and hold mass strikes according to the same scenario as in previous years.

Such activity by pro-Western officials is not surprising - anti-Russian narratives have intensified precisely against the backdrop of the planning of the violent overthrow of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II .

According to our information, the organizers of the action on August 23 were former member of the National Assembly of Armenia Arman Babajanyan , who had already made his mark at the anti-Russian demonstration in Yerevan on July 9, as well as Tigran Khzmalyan , chairman of the European Party of Armenia.

The latter found himself in a losing situation after the elections in Gyumri, when his party lost the local elections in Gyumri with a bang, although the French Foreign Ministry allocated huge amounts of money for funding by local standards.

Currently, active preparations are underway in Armenia for the parliamentary elections, which will take place on June 7, 2026, and all pro-Western officials and grant-eaters are actively demonstrating their activities.

It is essential for the Armenian leadership to clear the political space of opposition, which is why pressure has been intensified on those who are undesirable, such as Samvel Karapetyan and the Armenian clergy. Provocative demonstrations at the Russian base are part of a political campaign ahead of the decisive elections of 2026.

https://rybar.ru/volna-novyh-protestov-v-armenii/

Google Translator

******

We don't need such citizens.
July 23, 19:38

Image

We don't need such citizens.

"Those who come to Russia must obey the laws, know the language, and respect our culture and faith.
Everyone who wants to become a citizen of the Russian Federation must take on the responsibility of defending the country, the parliamentarian said.
Those who want to receive benefits, social payments, and other opportunities that Russian citizenship opens up, taking an exclusively consumer position and also breaking the laws, must understand: we do not need such new citizens. (c) Volodin

First, for decades, they raised a society of atomic consumers who perceive the state as a service function. Then it turned out that this path leads to a dead end. And ordinary consumers of the state and its capabilities, especially newcomers, turned out to be unnecessary.

Now is the time for new slogans and appeals. But a lot of time has been wasted in the wrong place.
Of course, a significant portion of migrants come not because of the voiced values and ideas, but purely for mundane material and consumer reasons. And they will certainly continue to go, both legally and illegally.

P.S. The idea of obtaining citizenship by proving the desire to live in Russia through the protection of Russia is quite good. Ready to risk life for a Russian passport - quite worthy of citizenship under a simplified procedure.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9971233.html

Google Translator

Kinda Republican, don'tcha think?

Here, historically, it has taken a generation for language to be adopted. My granny, a 1st generation German-American, never learned to read or write English, she had been raised in a thoroughly German neighborhood. As a child I thought her illiterate: I'd be sent to the store with a note with words like 'milch' on it.

I was travelling in Panama back when the state of Arizona passed an 'English Only' law: I was refused service in several stores for not speaking Spanish. Good for the goose...

So I find this to be reactionary, and don't get me started about religion. People have a right to believe whatever metaphysics they want and I respect that, but not the belief itself which is hogwash.

OTOH, Russia has been subjected to real 'Islamic terrorism'(whatever it's ultimate origins...), so there is that to consider.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: Russia today

Post by blindpig » Thu Jul 24, 2025 3:27 pm

Russian Development Continues: Innoprom-2025 Industrial Exhibition.
Karl Sanchez
Jul 23, 2025

Image
Alexei Alikhanov. center, Minister of Industry and Trade

Today’s government meeting was to center on reports related to the various “Zemsky” development programs, but Putin wanted to first hear a report about the Innoprom-2025 industrial exhibition, which is an international industrial trade show where Russia shows off its newest innovations to generate both domestic and foreign sales. Sorry, but the Kremlin didn’t provide any photos from the show. Here’s one of the several types of humanoid robots displayed.

Image

And now for the discussion:
V. Putin: Dear colleagues, good afternoon!

Today, we are going to discuss issues related to the development of the Zemsky Teacher, Zemsky Doctor, Zemsky Paramedic, Zemsky Cultural Worker, and Zemsky Coach programmes. However, before we begin, I would like to convey a message from the Prime Minister. As you know, he is currently on a trip, and we recently spoke with him. Secondly, I would like to address some current issues, and the first one is the results of the Innoprom-2025 industrial exhibition.

Anton Andreevich (Addressing A. Alikhanov.), how was the event?

A. Alikhanov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!

This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Innoprom exhibition. It has attracted over 50,000 participants from 66 countries in Yekaterinburg. This year, our partner country is Saudi Arabia, which has presented a large national exhibition, along with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Innoprom continues to expand its presentation capabilities. The exhibition featured 390 booths, including 140 booths from foreign companies and collective exhibitions from 33 regions of Russia. The exhibition was further enhanced by the traditional 9th Russian-Chinese EXPO, which showcased the products of over 300 Chinese companies.

This year, we have chosen the goal of technological leadership set by you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, as the overarching theme for Innoprom. As a result, most of the Russian innovations presented are focused on solving the challenges outlined in the new national projects for technological leadership. I would like to highlight the industrial robots as a key focus of the national project "Means of Production and Automation." The console-portal universal robots have particularly attracted the attention of foreign guests. They can simultaneously distribute parts to multiple machines and processing centers, reducing the number of robotic systems required in production.

Equally important is the emergence of the latest Russian six-axis industrial and collaborative robot manipulators. Thanks to them, the accuracy and speed of welding, painting, and assembly operations are increased. They are highly sought after for automation in various sectors of transport engineering, primarily, of course, in the automotive industry.

In this industry, we continue to form our own component base. In particular, the exhibition featured a domestic anti-lock braking system and a stabilization system, known as ABS and ESC.

Our institute, NAMI, has shown its protected autonomous control complex, which is being tested on the Lada Vesta, and has presented a pre-series prototype of the Atom electric car. In fact, mass production is expected to begin by the end of this year. All of the Atom car's systems have been tested in the Arctic, where it was transported by the icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy.

At Innoprom, a model of rolling stock for high-speed railways was demonstrated in other sectoral blocks of the national project Promoting Transport Mobility. As I reported to you, the main components and systems of this train are currently being tested. In September, the first body will be laid in production, and in the summer of 2027, two lead trains will be transferred for certification and infrastructure testing.

For the urban environment, in addition to updating the bus fleet, we produce trams using composite and stainless materials, as well as modular trams with three to seven sections in a two-cab layout. This eliminates the need for turnaround rings.

In the aviation block of the exhibition, Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin inspected the Il-114 regional passenger aircraft. This year, we are completing its certification, and according to the plan, serial aircraft will be handed over to operators in August next year.

In the light aviation segment, a fully composite four-seater aircraft with a domestic engine developed last year was presented. It is designed for pilot training and tourist flights. This year, approximately nine pre-production models will be released.

Visitors were also able to see the PD-8 engine for the fully imported Superjet. It is expected to be certified by the end of this year. All certification tests are currently underway. Deliveries of the engine to production aircraft will begin next spring.

I would also like to mention the new domestic 110-horsepower engine, which was developed in Ufa at a company that is part of the UEC. Thanks to this engine, we hope to reduce our dependence on foreign manufacturers for our small aircraft. This engine can also be used in heavy civilian unmanned aerial systems [UAS], which we are developing as part of a national project.

In this category, speaking about UAS, the exhibition featured a serial helicopter-type drone that can deliver cargo weighing 100 kilograms over a distance of up to 600 kilometers, and a unique amphibious aircraft-type UAV with a payload capacity of 700 kilograms and a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. In August, we plan to produce a pilot batch, and we expect to start mass production in 2028.

For the raw materials independence of our country, a large number of developments are currently underway under the national project "New Materials and Chemistry". Of the most significant achievements noted at this exhibition, it is worth mentioning the technology of spraying metal powders to create high-precision parts by pressing. They are formed in just a minute. The main consumers of this solution are the automotive and oil and gas sectors. For oil and gas engineering, this is a very popular technology.

Another important project is the construction of the first sodium polyacrylate plant in our country. It is extremely necessary in the production of medical devices and personal care products.

Another critical substance that our chemical complex has mastered is silica gel for polymerization catalysts. This is a key raw material in the production of polypropylene and polyethylene, which are widely used in various industries.

In general, we prioritize the development of catalysts not only for the chemical and automotive industries, but also for the national project "New Nuclear and Energy Technologies." At Innoprom, we showcased two recent developments for this important sector: a centrifugal pump for continuous operation of nuclear power plants and a motorized mainline pump, which will eventually replace imported gas turbine-powered units in pipelines.

The exhibition featured a wide range of medical equipment, including laminar flow hoods for sterilization in laboratories and other confined spaces, as well as the latest anesthesia and respiratory equipment and portable devices for hearing testing in newborns. These products and many others will be used to achieve healthcare technical sovereignty as part of the national project "New Technologies for Health Conservation."

And another national project, for which the industry provides a technological base, concerns the development of tourism. Among the new types of machinery and equipment that are used in this sector, where there are niches that we need to fill, we actually presented two new products at Innoprom: the first Russian snowplough for ski resorts, which will be delivered to one of the resorts for experimental use this year, and we plan to start serial deliveries to our resorts next year, and a ten-seat passenger cabin for cable cars.

All of the things I have mentioned are Russian developments. However, we also have a number of areas where we work in cooperation with our Belarusian colleagues. This year, we held another Innoprom exhibition in Uzbekistan in April. We have decided to hold the first exhibition of this year in Belarus, which will take place in Minsk at the end of September. This exhibition will showcase the promising areas of industrial cooperation between our two countries.

That's all. Thank you. The presentation is over.

V. Putin: Okay. Thank you.

Combating cybercriminals remains an urgent task.

(Addressing M. Shadaev.) Maksut Igorevich, I know that you offer a number of new services to solve these problems. Please.

M. Shadaev: Good afternoon, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, and dear colleagues!

If I may, I will first tell you about Gosuslugi and the progress we have made in terms of providing digital services.

The last time I told you about the services available, it was more than two years ago. Since then, the popularity of electronic government services has increased even further, and Gosuslugi has become a full-fledged system for providing mass and, most importantly, continuous services to our citizens.

The number of registered Russian users on the portal is already more than 117 million, which is 95 percent of our citizens over the age of 14. You can only register on the portal after obtaining a passport. Additionally, 3.5 million migrants have registered on the portal. It is used by migrants to access various services.

More than 10 million people use the portal's services every day. Currently, Gosuslugi is the eighth most popular online service in Russia. The portal offers more than 200 digital services for the public, including federal and regional services. Last year, citizens used the portal's services, including various services, 750 million times, and paid fees and fines 170 million times. These numbers are truly impressive.

I would like to highlight several mass services that have recently been digitized. Together with the Ministry of Labor, the State Services portal has implemented the possibility of receiving a single allowance for children and pregnant women. More than 15 million such allowances have been issued through the portal. Now, mothers can view the entire history of their maternity capital in their personal account on the State Services portal. Last year, on your instructions, we implemented the possibility of receiving a payment through the State Services portal if the remaining amount on the maternity capital account is less than 10,000 rubles. Additionally, families with low incomes can apply for a monthly payment from the maternity capital funds on the State Services portal.

The State Services website also provides services for citizens who have been affected by various emergencies to receive payments quickly. 600,000 victims in 24 regions have already received this assistance. The most important thing is that assistance can be received within two to three days of making the relevant decision.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, last year, at the request of the Ministry of Defence, the Gosuslugi portal implemented a service for obtaining certificates of participation in the special military operation, and such a certificate is issued within a few seconds after the request. It is valid for one month and is used to confirm the right of a special military operation participant or their family members to receive various social support measures and benefits. We have a lot of them: tax support measures, suspension of enforcement proceedings, and in most regions, special military operation participants and their family members are entitled to compensation for utility expenses, free public transportation, and exemption from fees for kindergartens and after-school programs. In general, there are many available support measures.

The Ministry of Digital Development is ready to work with the regions to ensure a proactive approach to providing social support measures without the need for in-person visits to government agencies. This requires the involvement of relevant departments and regions. Over the past year, users of the State Services portal have successfully made appointments with doctors 60 million times. Most importantly, they now have access to medical documents, such as consultation protocols or laboratory test results. Since the beginning of this year alone, users have downloaded medical documents more than 100 million [times], and they are legally significant: they can be used to send them as part of receiving other services. Now, a certificate of birth of a child comes directly from the maternity hospital to the Gosuslug personal account, and the birth certificate can be issued without a full-time application to the registry office, the whole procedure is in electronic form. This year, we have issued 300,000 such birth certificates.

State services in the field of education are actively developing. Since September 1, 2022, two million children have enrolled in clubs and sections through the Gosuslugi portal, and there are more than 80,000 of them. This year, one million applications for first-grade enrollment have been submitted through Gosuslugi. Additionally, 650,000 applications have been submitted through the portal for children to enroll in summer camps.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, this year, for the first time, based on the assessment of children's academic performance, ninth-graders were invited to enroll in colleges through the portal. As a result, more than 400,000 people applied for college enrollment through the Gosuslugi portal.

The university admission campaign is currently in full swing. This year, one million applicants submitted their documents to universities through the State Services portal, which is three times more than in 2022, when we began piloting this service.

For people with disabilities, this is a very important social service. We have made it possible for them to apply for free parking in designated areas through the Gosuslugi portal. Additionally, the Gosuslugi portal allows users to send messages to car owners using their vehicle's license plate number if their car is blocking traffic or if their car has been accidentally hit while leaving the parking lot. We have sent over half a million such messages to vehicle owners.

Currently, approximately 20,000 traffic accidents are registered on the State Services website every month without the need to call the traffic police, and an electronic claim for compensation is sent directly to the insurance company. I would like to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for this work.

Also, on Gosuslugi, users can now immediately receive all materials from the bailiff regarding the enforcement proceedings that are being conducted against them. Since June 2024, 1.3 million such requests have been sent.

Owners of real estate objects now have access to a free online extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities with an electronic signature of the Federal Registration Service. Instead of the three working days that we had before, we are now able to do this within a few seconds. More than 19 million people have received such statements since the launch.

Through Gosuslugi, which is closer to the topic, 800,000 users have banned real estate transactions without in-person presence, and since March 1, 13.5 million citizens have banned the digital issuance of loans and mortgages through Gosuslugi to ensure that their rights are not violated.

Since April 1, all users of the State Services have received information about their mobile phone numbers in their personal accounts, which number approximately 150 million. I would like to remind you that by November 1, citizens must decide and cancel [unused SIM cards]: now, according to the law, citizens have the right to have no more than 20 SIM cards.

I would like to draw your attention to the following: As a result of this work, we have identified 56 individuals who have 1.2 million active SIM cards. We believe that law enforcement agencies should pay attention to this, as it is likely that these individuals are involved in various activities.

On the Gosuslugi portal itself, we have also launched a powerful anti-fraud system that uses machine learning technology to freeze the provision of sensitive services and financial information, such as credit report extracts, for 72 hours in the event of identified risks.

The portal itself is actively developing services for digital certified copies of personal documents. On Gosuslugi, digital certificates for large families, compulsory medical insurance policies, motor third-party liability insurance, driver's licenses, digital student cards are already available, and more than 25 million citizens are already using free electronic signatures to regularly sign documents.

We also introduced a digital assistant on Gosuslugi last year, which uses artificial intelligence technology to successfully process two million requests per day in order to help users who face various difficulties when choosing a service or when registering for a service. In 80 percent of cases, it provides the necessary answers very accurately and quickly, solving the user's problem.

As part of your instructions, Vladimir Vladimirovich, the first package of measures to combat cyber fraud was adopted by the Government on April 1. Many of these measures are already being implemented. However, the scale of digital crimes requires us to introduce new solutions. For example, we have decided to consider the use of deepfakes as an aggravating circumstance in criminal cases. A second package of measures to combat cyber fraud has been prepared. Some of the proposals from the second package were adopted by the State Duma in its third reading yesterday. There are two particularly controversial regulations that raise questions among our citizens. I will try to comment on them very briefly.

It is proposed to introduce fines for the transfer of SIM cards and accounts to third parties, which can uniquely identify a person as a user of a digital service. Naturally, the rule on SIM cards will not apply to family members, close relatives, or in the case of a short-term transfer of a SIM card for personal purposes. Similarly, there is no punishment for accounts if they are transferred for legitimate use and on behalf of the owner. These rules are intended to prevent the illegal circulation of SIM cards and stolen accounts.

The bill also introduces a fine of three to five thousand rubles for intentional access to extremist materials from the register maintained by the Ministry of Justice. Currently, there are 5,500 materials on the register, which have been included based on court decisions. However, it should be noted that foreign digital platforms refuse to remove such materials upon Roskomnadzor's request. Currently, there are over 20,000 such requests pending, and the platforms have not removed these materials.

Ordinary citizens who specifically, I emphasize, specifically search for banned extremist materials, knowing that they are generally extremist and included in the register, will not be fined even if they use a VPN. I specifically wanted to clarify this point.

The bill was passed in the third reading, and we are now waiting for it to be considered by the Federation Council.

Thank you. I finished my report.

V.Putin: The law that was adopted by the State Duma is about the search for extremist information. How do you think it should function in practice?

M. Shadaev: In practice, law enforcement agencies will have to prove that there was intent and that the user knew in advance that these were extremist materials and that they were included in the register. In this sense, ordinary users need not worry.

There is a lot of discussion about this, and it is necessary to learn [a list of] 5,500 materials that are included in the register, so that you never open them. However, we do not see any risks in this regard, because if the user did not know that the material was extremist, there will be no liability.

At the same time, we understand that these materials are specifically sought out by adherents of the relevant ideologies and organizers of extremist communities, so ordinary citizens can feel safe here.

V. Putin: Okay. Thank you.

Dear colleagues, we have had a special economic zone mechanism in place since July 2005, which is 20 years ago.

(Addressing M. Reshetnikov.) Maxim Gennadievich, I would like to ask you to say a few words about how this system works and what results it produces.

M.Reshetnikov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich! Dear colleagues!

Indeed, Vladimir Vladimirovich, you mentioned that 20 years ago, on your instructions, the Law on Special Economic Zones was adopted to create new growth points in the regions and stimulate investment.

The mechanism has proven to be effective. Currently, there are 59 special economic zones in the country. More than 1,300 residents have invested 2.7 trillion rubles and created 110,000 jobs in various industries, from manufacturing and science to logistics and tourism.

Investors are attracted by ready-made infrastructure for projects, benefits such as land, property, and tax incentives, as well as stable conditions, including a guarantee that tax legislation will not change during the project's implementation, and simplified customs procedures, which are also important for importing equipment.

In other words, special economic zones respond to the most important business needs. This became especially evident during the pandemic and sanctions period, when there was a sharp increase in economic zones. Since 2020, more than half of all SEZs have been created, that is, in the last, in fact, four years. A record number of residents arrived. They have launched the production of products that are necessary for our country, including replacing imported analogues. Last year, Tatarstan opened a production facility for trailer equipment, Tula Region opened a production facility for metal medical furniture, Lipetsk Region opened a production facility for pet food, Novgorod Region opened a production facility for air filters for trucks and polymer pipes for utility networks. There are many such examples.

For regions, economic zones are a mechanism for diversifying the economy. For example, the tourism special economic zone established in the Kuzbass this year is intended to reduce the region's dependence on coal.

In addition, this is a mechanism for creating highly qualified jobs and a way to increase wages. Typically, employees working in special economic zones earn 30-50 percent more than the regional average. This is a way to compete for talent and keep it in the regions. This is why we see so many initiatives to create and expand these zones.

This year, six economic zones have already been established. In the science city of Serpukhov near Moscow, a medical and innovation cluster will be formed; in the Chelyabinsk region, a machine-building cluster; in the Vologda region, a metal and woodworking cluster; and in the Novosibirsk region, a special economic zone in the format of a "dry port" is being created. This is a powerful logistics hub near the Trans-Siberian Railway, an airport, and an industrial and logistics park.

Five special economic zones have been expanded in the Sverdlovsk, Moscow, Orenburg regions, and the capital. Applications are being considered for the creation of a special tourist zone in the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the expansion of existing zones in eight regions.

Economic zones have also proven to be effective for the state: the costs of benefits and infrastructure for residents have been recouped by the growth of the tax base. As of today, the budgetary effect is a plus of 122 billion rubles, meaning that taxes exceed the costs.

In addition, economic zones help to solve the state's strategic tasks, such as the special zone "Ust-Luga" in the Leningrad Region, where one of the world's largest complexes for deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials is being built. We also have a special economic zone there, because a lot of products and equipment are imported and need to be cleared through customs. This is a powerful economic hub.

Special economic zones are increasingly being integrated into the process of achieving national goals, primarily by ensuring technological sovereignty and developing the economy of supply, including tourism.

Most of the major tourism projects are being implemented in special economic zones, and these are already popular growth points, such as Arkhyz and Elbrus in the North Caucasus, and Sheregesh in the Kuzbass. This year, there has been a significant increase in the construction of infrastructure facilities in Zavidovo, Tver Region, and the construction of powerful hotels, which is also a special economic zone. Additionally, there are resorts under construction, such as the Caspian Cluster in Dagestan, which is part of the Five Seas and Lake Baikal project, and Mamison, a new ski resort in Ossetia, among others.

We regularly adjust the mechanism to meet the needs of businesses and regions. Over the past two years, we have simplified the entry process for investors, reduced the amount of application documentation by a factor of ten, halved the registration time for residents, and provided preferential access to tax monitoring and additional guarantees against changes in industry regulations.

We will continue to fine-tune the SEZ mechanisms. The agenda includes the inclusion of water areas in tourist zones for the development of yacht marinas, including river tourism, not only maritime tourism, and the automatic transfer of forest lands to recreational lands when creating tourist sites.

We are encouraging the regions to focus more on the development of infrastructure in these zones, as well as other support measures, such as the write-off of budget loans and new treasury infrastructure loans. Currently, there is a selection process for the next three years. There are many applications, and they are good. The regions are indeed paying attention to these special zones in terms of their economic development.

Two years ago, we started reimbursing the regions for infrastructure costs at the expense of tax and customs revenues from residents to the federal budget. That is, the regions invest their [funds], build infrastructure, enter enterprises, pay money to the federal budget, and we return part of this money to compensate the regions for their costs for engineering infrastructure, energy, and so on. According to the results of two years, St. Petersburg, the Moscow region, Ivanovo, Lipetsk reimbursed 5.5 billion rubles. For this year, the Tula, Samara, and Sverdlovsk regions have reported almost four billion [rubles] in expenses from which taxes have been collected. Therefore, we encourage the regions to use this mechanism more actively.

We also expect the regional teams to actively attract foreign investors. We currently have more than 100 foreign residents from 34 countries. It is important that both existing and new investors receive not only benefits and ready-made infrastructure, but also support.

In many regions, we have formed very strong teams that know how to work with both Russian and foreign businesses. We are actively encouraging them to enter foreign markets, promote their special economic zones, and establish partnerships with special zones in other countries.

Some people export their management experience to colleagues abroad. In Uzbekistan, for example, colleagues from Tatarstan are really engaged in managing special zones and promoting them very well.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, the institute of special economic zones has generally been established as an effective mechanism for economic development, primarily due to the work of the regions and their teams, the constant improvement of legislation, and the attention of the deputies and senators, as well as, of course, your attention and support for this topic. We will continue to work on this, and we understand the challenges.

Thanks for attention.

V. Putin: Okay. Thank you very much.

Irina Andreevna, does the Ministry of Finance confirm the amount of reimbursement to the regions for infrastructure?

I. Okladnikova: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!

Yes, we confirm this. Indeed, we have such a support measure, and it has been in place for two years. We provide the volumes based on the forecast provided by the entities to the Ministry of Economic Development and the confirmed taxable base. Therefore, we believe that the mechanism is working quite well, and we will continue to implement it.

Thank you.

V. Putin: Good. But how do you calculate in advance the approximate volume, how much the Ministry of Finance loses, or does not receive?

I. Okladnikova: Yes, Vladimir Vladimirovich. We don't really think that we're missing out on anything. We believe that these are new taxes. This is the paradigm we used to develop this mechanism, similar to industrial parks. We take the passports of special economic zones, check each resident, obtain data from the Federal Tax Service and the Federal Customs Service, compare it with the Ministry of Economic Development, and forecast it in the Budget Law. As part of the adjustment, we will certainly adjust either up or down, depending on the situation.

V. Putin: Excellent. Thank you very much.

Please, Tatiana Alekseevna, about the Zemsky Teacher program and so on.

T.Golikova: Good afternoon, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, dear colleagues!

As of today, there are 558,000 doctors working in the country, 9% of them in rural areas, and 1,200,000 medical professionals with secondary vocational education, 14.6% of them in rural areas.

Thanks to the implementation of the Healthcare National Project and the Zemsky Doctor and Zemsky Paramedic programs, the number of doctors has increased by more than 16,000 over the past two years. During the same period, we have significantly reduced the outflow of mid-level medical personnel, which was observed at the beginning of the Healthcare National Project.

As for rural areas, over the period of 2022-2024, we have seen an increase of 1,400 doctors and 1,300 mid-level medical personnel in rural areas. This was facilitated by the decisions you have made. I would like to remind you that since January 1, 2023, we have introduced special social benefits for medical professionals, especially those working in primary healthcare in rural areas and small towns. Over the entire period, we have allocated 329 billion rubles for these purposes and supported 1.2 million healthcare workers.

As for the Zemsky Doctor programme, I would like to remind you that it was launched in 2012, and in 2018 it was extended to include mid-level medical staff. Over the course of its implementation, almost 72,000 medical professionals have been recruited in rural areas and small towns. We have allocated almost 73 billion rubles for this purpose. As of July 1, 2025, 1,500 people have already taken advantage of this programme, including both doctors and mid-level medical staff. We expect that almost 33 billion rubles will be allocated to support the program in 2025-2030.

Since 2012, we have been fine-tuning the program on an annual basis based on feedback. In 2012, the program only included doctors under the age of 35, and employment was only possible in rural areas. The payment amount was fixed at one million rubles. However, in recent years, we have expanded the program to include paramedics, midwives, and nurses. We have also removed the age restrictions, making employment possible in rural areas, urban-type settlements, and cities with a population of up to 50,000. Since 2023, the program has been implemented in the new regions of the Russian Federation, and the amount of payments has been increased to two million rubles for doctors and one million rubles for mid-level medical personnel in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Far North, and equivalent areas in the Arctic zone, as well as in the new regions of the Russian Federation. For hard-to-reach and remote territories, which are determined by the regions themselves, we have differentiated payments, with doctors receiving 1.5 million rubles and mid-level medical personnel receiving 750,000 rubles. The allocation of funds is not limited. Medical workers have the right to use them as they see fit: for housing, for settling in a new place of residence, or for other purposes. The main condition is to work for five years.

We have also introduced a new right for medical workers: they can change their place of work within the same region once every five years. However, the program's conditions remain unchanged, including the five-year commitment and payments.

As of the end of 2024, all regions have met their targets. The leading regions throughout the implementation period are the Krasnodar Territory, the Moscow and Leningrad Regions, and the Republics of Bashkortostan and Dagestan.

We are also monitoring the effectiveness of this program. The monitoring of the program's effectiveness shows the following. I will provide examples from 2019 and 2024, as they coincide with the implementation of the Healthcare national project.

A total of 37,500 medical professionals participated in the program, of which 17.3% terminated their contracts, meaning they did not complete their five-year contracts, 0.5% completed their five-year contracts but did not continue working in rural areas and small towns, and 82.2% remained employed beyond the five-year period.

Over the entire period of implementation, starting in 2012, the average length of service in the areas covered by the program is eight and a half years. We believe that this is a good indicator, considering that the program has been continuously adjusted and that we have not changed the financial parameters. If a medical professional terminates their contract, the funds should be returned in proportion to the time not worked.

I would also like to talk about the profile of a participant in this program. We have created this profile based on the Krasnodar Territory, which is the leader in attracting participants. We see that the majority of participants in this program are women under the age of 40, both as doctors and as medical staff. This indicates that the program has a demographic potential that could be utilized in conjunction with other support measures.

Information about vacant positions that can be applied for in the program, as well as additional regional support measures, is currently available on the "Work in Russia" portal, on the official websites of regional authorities and medical organizations. We are currently working to connect the data of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the administrative data of these people who have participated in the program, with the administrative data of the Social Fund, in order to have a clear understanding of who is actually working in which positions. This is because the data we currently have is based on regional data provided by regional government systems. But we believe that the administrative system of the Social Fund will also provide additional opportunities, including those mentioned by Maksut Igorevich [Shadaev], in terms of using the services of the public services portal.

I would also like to say that last week, together with the Governor of the Kaluga Region, Vladislav Valeryevich Shapsha, who is also the head of the State Council Commission on Personnel, we held an all-Russian conference in Kaluga on the elimination of staff shortages in healthcare, where we discussed the issue of staffing in general, including the Zemsky Doctor and Zemsky Medical Assistant programs. In principle, all regions have confirmed the effectiveness of these programs and the need to continue them in conjunction with other support measures that are currently in place at both the federal and regional levels. First of all, of course, we are talking about all the tools we use to provide housing.

I will say a few more words about the Zemstvo Cultural Worker, and then Dmitry Nikolaevich [Chernyshenko] will tell us about other Zemstvos.

"Zemsky Kultury Rabotnik" was introduced as a support measure on January 1, 2025, as per your instructions in the Address to the Federal Assembly. This means that we have been implementing this program for the first year. As of July 1, 2025, according to the data provided by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, we have 268,000 cultural workers in rural areas and small towns, with 15,000 positions currently vacant.

As I have already said, the program has been implemented since this year. This year, the budget provides for 1.1 billion rubles for the start-up, and then 2.5 billion rubles annually until 2030. We expect to cover nine thousand vacant positions through this program.

87 out of 89 regions participate in the program. It is clear that Moscow and St. Petersburg do not participate.

For cultural workers who have moved to villages and small towns with a population of less than 50,000, as well as in the new regions and the Far East, payments under the previous program have been increased to two million. For the remaining regions, the payment has been set at one million. Today, this is a competitive selection process. All regions of the Russian Federation have adopted both the criteria and their own regulatory documents. Currently, a competitive selection process is underway. It involves 2,500 cultural organizations and over 4,700 vacant positions. These are mainly cultural and leisure institutions and art schools. We plan to attract 1,138 specialists this year, but as of July 15, 52 regions have already completed the competitive procedures. Lists are being formed, and the winners are being determined. 34 [regions] are conducting the application campaign, and the Donetsk People's Republic will start the competitive selection process in August.

As I have already said, the program is being implemented for the first year. Therefore, based on how it will be implemented in the first year, we will determine the mechanisms for its fine-tuning.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the experience of implementing the Zemsky Doctor and Zemsky Paramedic programs shows that in order to increase the effectiveness of not only these programs, but also others that my colleague will discuss, it is necessary for the regions to create the necessary conditions. I have already said that it is very important that this support measure, plus the social benefits that we pay, plus the other support measures that we implement in relevant national projects, such as "Human Resources," "Long and Active Life," and "Family," are linked to regional support measures and other activities in the national projects, so that the effect will be greater. This is because the reason for terminating the contract is usually the lack of housing and the inability of another family member, such as a spouse, to find employment. However, many regions have a positive experience, which is why they have good implementation rates for this program.

In addition to the measures I have mentioned, the most popular regional measures include priority access to kindergartens for children, relocation payments, compensation for public transportation to and from work, one-time settlement payments, and, of course, additional payments for highly sought-after specialists in addition to the payments made by the Russian Federation.

I would also like to point out that it is very important for the regions to analyze the structure of the program participants, the reasons for early termination of contracts, and make the most balanced decisions in order to retain people who have chosen to work in rural areas and small towns.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that the countryside still has a higher demographic potential. Despite the fact that the number of rural residents is lower than the number of urban residents, the total birth rate in the countryside is 1.6 in 2024, compared to 1.4 in the city. Therefore, creating conditions and developing the rural environment, as well as providing comprehensive support to rural areas through the Ministry of Agriculture, is a crucial issue that requires our utmost attention.

Thank you.

V. Putin: Thank you very much, Tatyana Alekseevna.

(Addressing D. Chernyshenko.) Dmitry Nikolaevich, do you have anything to add about the effectiveness of these programs?

D. Chernyshenko: Yes, of course.

Good afternoon, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!

Thank you very much for noting the latest successes of our schoolchildren – the winners of the International Mathematical Olympiad. These are the children from St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk and Moscow regions, Primorsky Krai and Moscow.

As I recently reported to you with two ministers, in 2024, our students won 42 medals, including 31 gold medals, as a result of eight Olympiads. This year, they have already earned 16 medals, including 13 gold medals, as a result of just three Olympiads. This shows that the systematic work of our teachers is yielding results.

Returning to the topic of the Zemstvo Teacher, in continuation of what Tatyana Alekseevna said, we have been implementing this program since 2020, as per your instructions, which helps to meet the demand for personnel in settlements with a population of less than 50,000 people.

According to official statistics, there are 1,068,000 teachers in the education system, including 368,000 teachers in rural areas, and there are 6,000 vacancies, or approximately 1.8 percent of the total number of teachers in rural areas.

This program is designed to ensure equal access to quality education throughout the country. More than 6,300 teachers have already moved as part of this program. The most popular subjects taught by these teachers are Russian language, literature, mathematics, geometry, history, social studies, and geography.

The one-time payment, on your behalf, is two million rubles for the Far East and the new territories, and one million for those who move to other regions. It is very important that you do not have to pay taxes on this amount, and you can use it for any purpose, as Tatyana Alekseevna [Golikova] said, including the purchase or rental of housing. In total, 5 billion 800 million rubles were allocated from the federal budget for this program in 2020-2024. This year, on your instructions, it has been extended until 2030 as part of the national project "Youth and Children." Potentially, more than 7,500 teachers can participate, which should cover the demand.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, in the education strategy that we are preparing on your behalf, we envisage a number of additional measures to attract teachers to rural areas. These include unified approaches to remuneration, which is currently being effectively implemented by Tatiana Alekseevna, the pilot, as well as, of course, working conditions. I would like to support the idea expressed by Tatiana Alekseevna that regional support measures and coordination are crucial. We are monitoring the regions where, in addition to federal support measures, there is a high level of job vacancies and a low percentage of contract termination. I will highlight the best ones: these are the Leningrad and Nizhny Novgorod regions, where the teaching staff in rural schools is 99.8 percent staffed, and the Novosibirsk region, where the staffing rate is 98.9 percent. By the way, in the Leningrad region, there are no terminated contracts, while in Khabarovsk, there are 2.3 percent, and in the Perm region, there are 5.2 percent. Overall, the country's "Zemsky Teacher" program has a staffing rate of 11 percent.

In addition, of course, we also pay attention to the quality, not just the quantity, so that the teachers we hire are qualified for their subject, and there are no cases where a physical education teacher is forced to teach mathematics, for example.

The main regional support measures are probably the most effective, and we absolutely agree with Tatiana Alekseevna that they include providing employees with office housing, compensating for living expenses, utilities, and one-time payments. Additionally, assistance with relocation, compensation for flights, and placement of children in kindergartens and schools are also important.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, this program is extremely important. The Government will continue to implement it on your instructions. If you support us, we plan to raise the lump sum payment for border areas starting from 2027. This is similar to the situation in the Far East and the reunited [regions], that is, from one million to two million rubles. We also propose to fix the duty of the regions to provide teachers who have arrived with official housing.

Now, as for the Zemsky Trenyor programme. This is a young programme, it was launched as a result of your instructions at the Council on sports in October last year, which was held in Ufa. Today, the involvement of citizens in sports is regular, on average across the country – 63.3 percent, but by 2030, according to your instructions, it should be at least 70. In rural areas, this is only 52 percent. Here, of course, there is a lag behind the national average. This is mainly due to the different levels of infrastructure development and staffing.

The current need for trainers and specialists in rural areas is about three thousand, but this figure is based on a survey. Unlike teachers, where the data is verified, we are collecting this data.

If you support this, the Ministry of Economic Development, together with the relevant agencies, will provide for the collection of primary data on relevant vacancies as part of the federal statistical observation, so that we can also receive data on all other areas.

The program is being implemented in a pilot mode this year, which means that 28 regions, including border regions, will receive subsidies. Starting next year, all regions will be involved in the program, including the new territories. The amount of the payments will be two million rubles for those who have moved to rural areas, the regions of the Far East, and the reunified regions, and one million rubles for those who have moved to other regions of Russia.

The amount of funding required from the federal budget to cover this deficit is approximately 2.8 billion rubles.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, if you agree, we will work with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Sports to provide the necessary funding.

By the way, payments to a zemstvo teacher, doctor, and cultural worker are exempt from taxation. Therefore, I ask you to support a similar measure for a zemstvo coach starting from 2025.

Thank you. The additions and the report are over.

V. Putin: Thank you.

I agree with you, this is what needs to be done, and I agree with your suggestions, including drawing the attention of our colleagues in the regions. I think it is absolutely fair, as we have already said many times, that our colleagues in the regions should support these programs. In fact, this is what is being done for the regions-the purchase of housing for specialists. This is exactly perfect, and it should be done.

(Addressing M. Kuznetsov.) Mikhail Mikhailovich, how does the All-Russian People's Front assess the events taking place when analyzing the work of these programs?

M. Kuznetsov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!

In preparation for the meeting, we surveyed two thousand active participants in this program in various categories. It is worth noting that our zemstvo programs are highly effective, as 79% of the participants we surveyed reported that the payment motivated them to move to rural areas, and 85% said they would recommend their colleagues to use this program.

At the same time, during the last discussion with Leonid Mikhailovich Roshal on healthcare, we found out that the Ministry of Labor, Rosstat, the Ministry of Health, and the Accounts Chamber provide different figures for the number of healthcare vacancies. Sometimes, the figures differ significantly, as mentioned by Tatyana Alekseevna. It is clear that we need to establish a clear methodology.

According to our estimates, the Zemstvo programs cover about a quarter of the total amount of needs. However, if we were to solve this problem arithmetically, it is unlikely that we would be able to fully cover the amount of needs in four years, because, as Tatiana Alekseevna mentioned, 17 percent of employees leave their positions, and according to our surveys, 30 percent of respondents said that they do not plan to stay in their current positions after five years, and 20 percent expressed doubts. This means that there is still a category that can be targeted.

We suggest that, firstly, we should decide on a unified method of calculation, and secondly, of course, we should work with additional incentives for those who have already moved. This is easier than finding people who will move again.

30 percent of respondents complain about the lack of support during adaptation. Colleagues listed all these problems: these include kindergartens, and very often it is the transportation of property, that is, in order to move from Central Russia to the Far East, hundreds of thousands [rubles] are needed for cargo transportation. If you start spending a special zemstvo payment on this, then a fairly tangible amount of funds.

At the same time, additional management decisions and support from the regions, which my colleagues have already mentioned, increase efficiency. For example, in Primorsky Krai, in Dalnegorsk, a branch of the Vladivostok Medical College was established, and 70 percent of students studying for the professions of paramedic and nurse are between the ages of 35 and 58. This means that the upper age limit was raised, and local residents are eager to pursue these professions in order to stay and work in these areas.

In many regions, there is a housing subsidy, which is also very important.

By the way, there is also a role for business, Vladimir Vladimirovich. There are examples when businesses pay extra monthly salaries to paramedics and solve issues with renting and purchasing housing. Colleagues in the regions where they are present also help participants in the Zemstvo programs.

For 60 percent of the respondents, housing is a determining factor. At the same time, in those regions and municipalities where housing is available, the number of people who want to leave immediately decreases by half. This means that even the availability of housing on the market is a factor that allows people to stay and work.

One of the tools for consolidation could be the expansion of rural mortgages wherever zemstvo programs are operating, and the priority right to receive them by zemstvo specialists, because there is a certain regulatory framework that does not always allow them to take out a rural mortgage.

For the new regions, the Arctic, the Far East, and the Far North, there are indeed increased payments of two million, as mentioned. However, we see that there are vacancies that have not been filled for years, as even these relatively high funds are not sufficient to fully meet the demand. We propose that the regions be given the opportunity to differentiate, such as Chukotka and Yakutia, where the working conditions are particularly difficult. Within the existing limits, we can differentiate and possibly increase the amount slightly to ensure that people do not have to live for a year without a paramedic in their village.

Participants in the Zemstvo programs note the excessive requirements for documents, the need for notarization, the long processing times, which sometimes take up to four months, and the mandatory in-person submission. A Zemstvo teacher from the Komi Republic wrote to us: "All documents had to be notarized at a fee, and there were several copies, as they were submitted in different places, and each region had different deadlines and rules." We suggest considering the possibility of submitting applications digitally, as Makshut Igrichovich reported on the expansion of "Gosuslugi," which I believe is a feasible task. And fix the deadlines, make a single register of zemstvo vacancies, following the example of the Ministry of Education. They have a very convenient website: you go in and select any region, look at the volume of vacancies and apply there, do the same for the other categories.

And one last point. Doctors participate in zemstvo programs without age restrictions, while teachers and cultural workers must be no older than 55 years. In addition, unlike doctors, they cannot return home and work at home under the zemstvo program. Here is an example of a call to the Direct Line from Irkutsk: "Good afternoon! My wife and I have worked as teachers in a city school all our lives. We wanted to take part in the Zemsky Teacher program and go to work in a rural school, but there is a 55-year age limit. We are 65 years old, and we are professionals in our field. In rural schools, geography teachers teach mathematics, and young people don't want to do it. We would like to go and work for another ten years." We propose that if a position is not filled by young professionals for more than a year, the age limit should be lifted after a personal interview with the candidate. Additionally, we suggest providing opportunities for returning home and working in rural areas through Zemsky programs. This will allow you to close the issue in difficult and challenging situations.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, thank you very much. The report is over.

V. Putin: Thank you.

(Addressing M. Oreshkin.) Maxim Stanislavovich, I would like to ask you to summarize everything that Mikhail Mikhailovich has said, and that our colleagues have also recorded in their speeches, to summarize some things and formalize them as instructions, so that our programs can continue and work on their improvement can continue. I hope that they will work even more effectively.

In general, the work is effective. But we see that there are things that should be paid attention to. I would like to ask you to record this. Work with your colleagues from the Government.

M. Oreshkin: We will work it out. We will do it.

V. Putin: Thank you.
The law on accessing extremist materials seems wrong, and then there’s the issue of foreign entities not cooperating because they abet that sort of crime to destabilize Russia. The SEZs becoming beyond popular after being around for 16 years is rather interesting and IMO results from the sanctions regime and import substitution. The supply side economy goal is all about producing enough domestically to overcome domestic demand and thus reduce the inflationary pressure. That the SEZs are helping to finally get domestic supply to overcome demand is great, which will now produce an exportable surplus. Then there’s the outreach from regions to other allied nations that’s generating synergy which is what the entire goal. The Saudis were heavily involved in Innoprom, making it difficult to judge where they are on the fence. That Belarus is doing its own show is also an indicator of progress. That China and Russia have collaborated on this and other shows in Russia and China is another. BRICS and ASEAN could also combine as could other regional combinations.

The various Zemstvo programs are also showing their results, that they were good ideas being made better through feedback and experience. One point that is very hard to quantify is the proportion of Russians who are motivated by all these and other efforts to better Russia, themselves and their locales. Team Putin seems convinced that the efforts made so far are producing the sorts of results envisioned. I’m sure many readers will ask themselves, why can’t we have something similar here?

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/russian- ... s-innoprom
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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