Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Tuesday 05 April [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
61 attacks by nutcase dictator Putin yesterday on Ukraine. The figure jumps up again.
Update - Sadly 2 soldiers died, 10 wounded.

Weather -
+10 at 10.00. Hazy sunshine. Should be a nice day. High near 20.

Panama -
Even if Poroshenko has done nothing illegal, the press are going to have a field day. And it will be even harder to form a coalition now.
Populists like Liashko talking about "impeachment". Tymoshenko and Putin will be laughing also. Even though both of them are mentioned. The press are jumping all over Poroshenko.
In Russia Putin has complete control of the press, so he can simply deny everything. Almost no mention of Putin's billions, and others in his banda, in the Russian press.

Kyiv Post -
owner linked to Tymoshenko company with 10 billion dollar turnover.
Poroshenko opened an account - trust. No transactions. What do the Kyiv Post journalists write about??
Attack Poroshenko. All of them. Not one word about themselves.... control of the press - Kremlin style at the "Yulia Post".
But we now know why the Kyiv Post is NEVER EVER critical of Tymoshenko.
Zahoor, the owner, and Tymoshenko have financial links going back decades and decades.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2016/04/4/7104341/

The publication of material "offshore tax maneuver President of Ukraine" Anna and Vlad Lavrov Babynets aroused stormy debate in social networks................

===
As you would expect, mixed reaction.
Some people clearly out to make political capital.
Others saying that, as nothing was bought or sold - nothing illegal.

18:35 04.04.2016
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/335437.html
...."Companies in foreign jurisdictions are necessary and used for transfer to blind trust. These companies did not open bank accounts and they did not make any financial transactions. Therefore any allegations of tax evasion are groundless," .....

http://obozrevatel.com/crime/03985-vladelets-kyiv-post-popal-v-skandal-s-delom-lazarenko.htm
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Absolutely nothing about this in the Kyiv Post.
I guess it is a "no go" area for their "independent" minded "journalists".  Just like the Kremlin press and Putin's links.
What are the Kyiv Post journalists full of this morning? Attacking Poroshenko.
So much for independent journalism . ..
Poroshenko's account set up for a controlling trust - no transactions.
Tymoshenko's company linked to the Kyiv Post owner - 10 billion dollar TURNOVER a year.
10 billion. And not a word from the Kyiv Post writers.
Are we surprised? No. Kyiv Post was, and always will be the "Yulia Post".
Makes me sick. Scumballs.
But no wonder the Kyiv Post does all it can to support Tymoshenko. That is crystal clear now. Kuzio and the rest.
"Thank you, Mr Zahoor. I was not expecting such a big pay check. Yes - we all work together. Slava Yulia".
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This in the free press -
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Kyiv Post owner caught up in late 1990s scandal
http://projects.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/kyiv-post-owner-in-late-1990s-scandal/
....During Lazarenko’s term as Prime Minister, UESU became the largest importer of natural gas to Ukraine with an annual turnover reaching $10 billion. The investigators were suspicious of the company’s rapid success and of its founders, Tymoshenko; her husband Oleksandr Tymoshenko; and their family friend, Olexander Gravets. Investigators suspected they were helped by Lazarenko.

When in 1998 Ukrainian investigators learned that Tymoshenko and Lazarenko actively used BVI companies, they looked at thousands of companies from BVI which they thought might have been connected, including Zahoor’s.....

12:13
"People's Front" requires a vote of the Cabinet, the prime minister and the speaker of one packet (Charter'97)
https://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2016/4/5/198176/
====
Apparently a lot of talks - but - who is in the coalition?! BPP, Narodni Front, and..... ?!
And now they are saying that they have to wait until Poro returns from Japan!

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/5/7104462/
The power of the [British] Virgin Islands in 1998 gave a warrant to search the premises of Mossack Fonseca in search of documents related to Pavlo Lazarenko, Yulia Tymoshenko and the company Bassington Ltd.

[photo - all smiles - no wonder with a 10 billion dollar turnover - Tymoshenko with Lazarenko]



It is mentioned in the search warrant, which was among the documents released by Panamanian.
A warrant to search the premises Mossack Fonseca was discharged June 12, 1998, he conducted a search the same day.
In the order stated that the premises of Mossack Fonseca can store records, files, receipts and other documents and correspondence for information about transactions related to Bassington Ltd, Yulia Tymoshenko, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, Peter Kirichenko, Aleksandr players (documents Gravets - ed.), Pavlo Lazarenko and others.
This warrant was granted permission to search the local law enforcement by force if necessary. In the course of the search were seized documents related to activities Bassington Ltd.



=====
see also
How to return the foreign millions of Tymoshenko, Lazarenko to Ukraine
http://tymoshenko-vona.com/novosti/kak-vernut-ukraine-zarubezhnie-millioni-timoshenko-lazarenko

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/5/7104473/
At night in the area ATO 2 soldier killed, 10 wounded - Staff
Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 12:42
One day in the area of ​​counter-terrorist operations 2 military were killed and 10 injured.
This at a traditional briefing on Tuesday, spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO Andrei Lysenko.
"For the past day because of fighting, we lost two of our soldiers, another 10 were injured," - said the colonel.
When asked Colonel said that one military killed in Novozvanivtsi, the other - at the Putilov mine.
As reported, the last day the situation worsened in the zone ATO: Adventure doubled the number of attacks.
===
With all the political goings on, this is unlikely to even make the news this evening.

http://europe.newsweek.com/mohammad-zahoor-oligarch-kiev-63573?rm=eu
====
Some history on Zahoor, the Kyiv Post owner. Mega-rich.
Obviously has big big connections with the former Ukrainian leadership -
No word from the Kyiv Post on Zahoor's links with Tymoshenko and Lazarenko.
For the Kyiv Post, corruption is somebody else's doing. Don't look in the mirror...
===
incidentally, Sean Carr attended many of Zahoor's events in Kiev.
Carr - former son-in-law of ... Yulia Tymoshenko. Clearly the links between Zahoor and Tymoshenko are still there...
Will we read about them in the Kyiv Post ?? ( Just joking )) )

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53602#.VwOfCJyLRhF
...4 April 2016 – The two-year long conflict in eastern Ukraine has left around 1.5 million people hungry, including almost 300,000 people who are severely food insecure and in need of immediate food assistance, the United Nations food relief agency said today....
WFP aims to reach nearly 270,000 of the most vulnerable people with monthly food assistance over the first half of this year. ....
People living in the non-government controlled area of Luhansk and near the conflict line are the most affected by food insecurity...
====
Strangely, absolutely no mention of Donetsk at all in the report. Not even once. Trying to stay apolitical, one assumes.
No mention also of Putin's "humanitarian aid" convoys of missiles, shells and ammunition. Or of Akhmetov.
===
Also, at this site
Ukraine: UN experts urge accountability for human rights violations by foreign fighters
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53518#.VwOgVZyLRhE
...The Group's delegation expressed deep concern about allegations of mercenaries joining all sides to the conflict, which they stressed was clearly prohibited under international law....
Putin must roll with laughter when he reads stuff like this from the UN. "Allegations of mercenaries".... "deep concern"....
Meanwhile - 10,000 dead and counting.

www.bloomberg.com/energy/
Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME (EDT) 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 35.56 -0.14 -0.39% May 2016 7:11 AM
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 37.50 -0.19 -0.50% Jun 2016 7:12 AM
Crude Oil (Tokyo)
JPY/kl 24,550.00 -160.00 -0.65% Sep 2016 7:09 AM
Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 2.02 +0.02 +1.15% May 2016 7:11 AM
====
Good news for Ukraine. This will help control inflation. Prices should stay stable at the pumps.
And the gas price should fall further. Of course, a lot also depends upon the exchange rate.
Stability helps, and rates have been fairly stable now for a few months.

Virgin Islands authorities issued an order back in 1998 to search the offices of Mossack Fonseca to find the documents related to Pavlo Lazarenko, Yulia Tymoshenko and the Bassington Ltd., Ukrayinska Pravda reports Apr. 5.

Another search may throw light on transactions among Bassington Ltd., Yulia Tymoshenko, her husband Oleksandr Tymoshenko, Petro Kyrychenko, Oleksandr Gravets, Pavlo Lazarenko and other persons.

According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Lazarenko may have received kickbacks via Bassington Ltd. from the then Premier Yulia Tymoshenko for favoring the gas company she owned.

Tymoshenko’s spokesman rejected any links between his boss and Bassington and stressed that she had never sent illegal payments to Pavlo Lazarenko.

zik.ua

Anyone want to find out about a real crook, look into Tymoshenko's past. As dirty as they come, in Ukraine.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Lilianne Ploumen urged her fellow citizens to support the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine at the referendum.
Member of the 'Ukrainians in the Netherlads' NGO Alina Cherkas wrote on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

"One: GO and VOTE! Second: vote "YES"! I would also tell you WHY you should vote "yes". This agreement is good for Ukraine and good for the EU. You should vote "yes" because many-many young activists in Kyiv, in Ukraine, went to the Maidan Square to stand up for their rights and for the reform. All of them wanted the choice that they thought was the best for Ukraine!" Lilianne Ploumen said delivering a speech at the University of Groningen.

Read more: Yes vote in Dutch referendum won't let Putin fulfill his wish for corrupt and anti-European Ukraine, - Economist

"Here in the Netherlands we want to support the reform, we want to help them to fight corruption. And we also see many opportunities for the Dutch business and investments in Ukraine. So, it's good for Ukraine, it's good for the Netherlands and basically it's good for the free world that all of us want to live in!" the Minister for Foreign Trade added.

censor.net.ua   In Ukrainian/український

Residuals at the State Treasury of Ukraine rose 25.1% to UAH 21.1 bln as of April 1 from UAH 16.8 bln a month ago and UAH 26.7 bln as of April 1, 2015, Concorde Capital informed clients based on an April 1 report. Accumulations reached a record high at the start of December at UAH 48.0 bln (2.4% of GDP)..................

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

Ukraine imported 0.53 bcm of natural gas in March, the UNIAN news agency reported on April 1, citing the press service of gas transit monopoly Ukrtransgaz. Concorde Capital informed its clients that this implies Ukraine imported about 2.7 bcm of gas in 1Q16, which is 53% less yoy. No gas from Russia was imported in 1Q16 as all volumes were purchased from the EU.

In other news, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists that price of Russian gas for Ukraine will be “less than USD 180/tcm” in 2Q16, according to an Interfax report on April 1. Novak clarified that this is the price based on the methodology foreseen in the contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom. As soon as this price corresponds to current market levels, Russia won’t provide any discounts in the second quarter, Novak said. The price of Russian gas, including a tiny discount, was USD 212/tcm in 1Q16 and USD 227/tcm in 4Q15....................

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

[Nelson comment -
Concorde Capital informed its clients that this implies Ukraine imported about 2.7 bcm of gas in 1Q16, which is 53% less yoy
Based on this, I think the heading should read "Ukraine halves gas imports in 1st Q 2016", not 2015. yoy - year on year. ]

Behind the Dutch Terror Threat Video: The St. Petersburg “Troll Factory” Connection
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2016/04/03/azov-video/
....At 14:16 GMT on 18 January 2016 – 46 minutes after the video upload on the “Patriot” channel – a newly registered user named “Artur 32409” posted a link to the video and a message in Ukrainian supporting Azov’s alleged actions on the website politforums.net. 1

Starting four minutes later (14:20 GMT), two newly-registered accounts on the Russian social networking site VKontakte (VK) shared the video 30 times over a period of 24 minutes....
[Always "newly-registered". Classic troll disinformation source.]
....Upon close examination, it becomes clear that the screenshot was digitally manipulated to appear as if the last video posted on the channel “AZOV media” was the flag burning video. The white space was most likely clone-stamped over the actual last posted image, and a thumbnail of the “watched” video (with the text “Просмотрено,” or “Watched,” over the top of the video) was copied from a screenshot on the “PATRIOT” YouTube channel.
The pasting of the image was slightly imperfect: the space between the two last-watched videos is non-uniform in relation to the other squares on the screenshot, being about a pixel too wide. The thumbnail of the flag burning video is also a pixel lower than it should be in relation to the video to its right....
In short, there is a clear relationship between the very first appearance of the fake Azov Battalion video in which a Dutch flag is burned and the so-called “St. Petersburg Troll Factory.” The video was created and spread in an organized disinformation campaign, certainly in hopes of influencing the April 6th Ukraine-EU referendum...

Today consequently filed a director of the library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, Natalia Sharina new charges on the article "embezzlement".

"Today Sharina officially charged under Part. 4 Art. 160 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement). According to investigators, Sharina at a time when it was accused by the first library science (2011-2013 years) to spend on their defense funds intended for the payment of salary lawyers Library "- said to" Interfax "on Tuesday supernumerary lawyer Ivan Pavlov.

October 28 at the Library of Ukrainian literature were searched and then its director, 58-year-old Sharina was detained. In relation to her was a criminal case under article 282 of the Criminal Code (incitement of ethnic hatred and hostility, and humiliation of human dignity). Sharina pleaded not guilty.

The motion, according to the TFR, was distributed to visitors edition Library Dmitry Korchinskiy, which has been recognized by court extremist and banned for use.

The criminal case against Sharina was transferred to the Department for investigation of particularly important cases GUS TFR in the city of Moscow.

October 30 Tagansky Court of Moscow sanctioned the investigation at the request of house arrest Sharina until 27 December. In December, the court extended Sharina preventive measure until 28 January, then - until 28 April.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

The total direct and guaranteed state debt of Ukraine in January-February 2016 decreased by $ 1.1 billion, or 1.7%, and the end of February amounted to $ 64.3 billion. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, reducing the amount of debt due to the decrease of the total domestic debt by 5.3% - to $ 20.9 billion, while the total external debt (excluding state derivatives), the first two months, remained unchanged at $ 43.43 billion.

In the hryvnia terms, public debt increased by 10.8% or 169.2 billion UAH, - to 1 trillion 740.9 billion UAH.

The ministry also said that the debt in foreign currency increased by $ 600 million - to $ 29.7 billion, and in the national currency decreased by $ 1.7 billion -. To $ 17.8 billion for the currency change came only in debt, denominated in US dollars.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Representatives of the so-called "DNR" and "LC" in negotiations in Minsk Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Dana claim that "the creation of an armed international police force to ensure safety elections" provided by the Minsk Agreement and directly contradicts them. This is stated in a joint statement issued on separatist DAN website.

"Attempts to enter the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic international armed contingent, not only will not add stability, but on the contrary - will lead to large-scale clashes. Turn into a real war, which will be directly involved Western countries ", - said in a statement.

Representatives of the "DNI / LC" noted that "law enforcement people's republics of Donbass prepared to guarantee complete safety of international observers, representatives of the world media during the elections."

"That election was held, it is not necessary to look for a pretext for military intervention in the Donbass, and enter the agreed contact amend the Constitution of Ukraine and the law on the special status, as well as jointly develop a law on elections," - say the militants.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/335630.html
The leader of the Batkivschyna party's faction in Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Yulia Tymoshenko has announced a withdrawal of her political force from talks on the formation of a new coalition and into the opposition....
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She wants to be President.
Perhaps everybody should move into Opposition. And then invite Yanukovich back?!
Nobody taking responsibility. They can only criticise.
Here in Ukrainian -
Тимошенко заявила про перехід ВО "Батьківщина" до опозиції
http://day.kyiv.ua/uk/news/050416-tymoshenko-zayavyla-pro-perehid-vo-batkivshchyna-do-opozyciyi

Former First Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin sure that ex-Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin would be in the dock. He said this in an interview with "Commander in Chief" .

According to him, a number of serious crimes, the commission of which he is suspected - is "stupid."

"I suspect the GPU and former investigator Sergei Voichenko that we" incited the judge to the imposition of knowingly unjust decisions on the arrest of Yuri Lutsenko, "the case of the perpetration of corruption offenses. And we judge instigated by "the submission to the court about the arrest." That's all the charges, "- said Kuzmin.

He said that his lawyers were working very efficiently, "totally smashed all the arguments of the prosecution and convicted the public prosecutor and his investigators of crimes against me." "For this reason, the GPU was trying to remove a lawyer from my protection. They rigged a criminal case in court and tried to limit his freedom. To the court of honor, justice is done, and the case against the lawyer was discontinued. Then, near the courthouse "unknown" set fire to his car ... I am sure that we will see Shokina the dock. And not just him, "- said Kuzmin.

He also said that "due to unlawful criminal prosecution" has filed a lawsuit with the ECHR and intends to win this thing.

According to Kuzmin, Interpol has refused to seek out and to cooperate with Ukraine in this case in connection with the "obvious political motivation of the charges." "A well-known Swiss organization Organized Crime Observatory (OCO), who has studied corruption in Ukraine and published a report in Ukraine 04.27.2015" Ukraine-EU: Overcoming criminal operation on the road to modern democracy ", called" abuse "of my criminal prosecution for the professional activity "- said the former first deputy prosecutor general.

Recall Kuzmin, who was the first deputy Viktor Pshonka from November 2010 to October 2013, and then served as deputy secretary of the National Security Council, is now in the public wanted. He is suspected of abuse of power in the organization of the detention of Yuri Lutsenko in 2010, and at the instigation of the judge Kiev Pechersk district court to the arrest of the former Minister of Internal Affairs.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

https://informnapalm.org/en/russia-opens-visas-terrorists-operating-ukraine/
[Another good report - recommended reading. Conclusion - ]
....
The analysis of the message from the hacked mailbox showed the following:

There are foreign fighters in the Ghost brigade, mostly left-wing radicals advocating a forcible change of the constitutional order of Ukraine. They are mostly members of fringe social groups, not able to fulfill themselves in the homeland, coming to Donbas either for financial gain or for ideological reasons.

The Union of Donbass Volunteers is an organization established in Moscow, for the control, coordination, and recruitment of mercenaries.

Four of the six subjects of the investigation are war criminals. The presence of one of them in Luhansk has been confirmed by documents of a congress of communist parties.
The Union of Donbass Volunteers and Olga Kulygina personally assisted in obtaining and extending visas to foreign mercenaries through the Russian Federal Migration Service without personal presence of the applicants, which means that the process was spurred by the Russian intelligence agencies.
The mercenaries come to the occupied territory of Ukraine bypassing the border control of the Russian Federation, since, according to their documents, they did not leave Russia. Here, too, we can reasonably suspect a hand of the Russian intelligence agencies......

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/51635
President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
Mr Artizov, the materials in your agency’s possession are of particular value for the country, and it is for this reason that we have decided to bring the Federal Archive Agency under direct subordination to the President. I wanted therefore to meet with you to hear your views on the current situation and the tasks ahead, and perhaps on any problems too. Please, the floor is yours.

Head of the Federal Archive Agency Andrei Artizov:
Thank you for this decision, Mr President....
====
"Thank you"... !!!
What a farce. It simply makes life easier for Putin when "rewriting history". My opinion. Putin - mega-control. Makes Stalin almost seem sane, by comparison.

A few hours ago the transfer bribes was arrested Acting First Deputy Head of Zaporizhzhya customs. This was announced by Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine - Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoly Matios.

Detention officers conducted a Security Service of Ukraine together with the military prosecutor's office.






glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

http://time.com/4280169/russia-nuclear-security-summit/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter
....For Russia, the Cold War had never simply disappeared. It had resulted in defeat and the loss of empire, leaving Russia’s rival of more than 40 years to dictate the terms of peace in Europe. By the time Putin took power in 2000, the only vestige of his country’s superpower status was its nuclear arsenal, which was still the biggest in the world. So he began to use it as a crutch....
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For Putin, the die-hard psycho KGB man from East Germany, the Cold War never ended. And he still believes he is fighting it.
In reality, in my opinion, he is destroying Russia, slowly, but surely.

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/502177
Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature Sharina accused of embezzlement
According to investigators, Sharina spend on her [legal] defence funds intended for the payment of salaries at the library.
"Today Sharina officially charged under Part 4 of Article 160 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement). According to the investigation, Sharina at a time when it was accused by the first library science (2011-2013) spent money on her [legal] defense funds intended for the payment of salaries at the Library "- said the" Interfax "on Tuesday supernumerary lawyer Ivan Pavlov.
====
100% another stitch up. Another show trial for the "Shaun Walker" journalists and Corbyn sidekick Seamus Milne to attend.
Russia has gone back 50 years' or more! It's like the Stalin era. 1930s... 80 years backwards?

Russian President Vladimir Putin understands that Russia has suffered a military defeat in the fight for the "Russian world" in eastern Ukraine.

Such an opinion was expressed by the famous Soviet and Russian writer and dissident Vladimir Voinovich in an interview Forum.Daily .

"After the military failure in Ukraine, Russia can not afford to fight with Turkey, it will lose this war and Putin himself understands And he only needed a victory and at the same light as in the Crimea.....", - Says the writer.

According to him, annexing Crimea, "Putin wanted to pass for a great general, to enter into the history of a collector of Russian lands, the unifier of the" Russian world "and how tempting it all began:. Took the Crimea without a single shot It looked like a miracle that even (to Alexander. ) Suvorov was not possible. so all fell down. "

"On the TV analysts, presidential any strategic assets to convince people that after two hours Kiev will be ours. But it did not happen and could not happen. Putin did not expect such resistance of the Ukrainian people. He quickly realized that the war was lost. And lost. Passed and "New Russia" and "Russian world" with her. Putin is not only Ukraine meant, as part of the "Russian world", but also Belarus and Kazakhstan. but it did not come. Even in eastern Ukraine, Russia has suffered a military defeat in the fight . for the "Russian world" Moreover, it soon became very clear that the "Russian world" in no hurry into the arms of Russia or Ukraine or anywhere else ", -. Voinovich said.

He also reiterated that Putin had to stop the military aggression in the Donbas thanks to the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people.

"Ukrainians turned out to be much more passionarnym people than the Russians Putin has realized that he does not even have a chance to take over the Donbas, the Ukrainians will be fiercely resisted on each segment of their land I think we are on the threshold of great disappointment following questions arise:... For what died For many people what purpose Hangover already comes "-? a Russian writer.

obozrevatel.com In Russian/русский

Within the “Patriots’ Protection” humanitarian initiative by the Ukrainians World Congress, Ukraine army servicemen were donated 21,000 high-quality first aid kits, UWC president Eugene Czolij said, addressing his audience in Lviv, ZIK reports Apr. 5.

The initiative was launched after the bloody massacre of protesters on Kyiv Maidan and before the intervention of the Russian troops, he said.

The goal of this program is the introduction in Ukraine of tactical medicine, supply of advanced first aid kits to Ukrainian servicemen, and training in giving first aid to the wounded.

To promote the tactical medicine in Ukraine, UWC organized two international conferences in Kyiv attended by international experts from USA, Canada and NATO, Eu. Czolij said.

This humanitarian initiative is also involved in trainings and seminars in psychological treatment, supplies of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment and attracting western doctors to perform surgeries, the UWC president said.

zik.ua

Outside the State Duma building in Moscow, the police detained the participants of one-man pickets, who demanded the impeachment of Russia's President Vladimir Putin over the recent offshore scandal.

One of detained activists Nikolay Lyaskin wrote on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

According to him, activists Darya Yatsenko, Ilya Pakhomov, Denis Styazhkin, Roman Rubanov, as well as a passerby, who had photographed a placard, were also detained.





censor.net.ua   In Ukrainian/український

6,000 Russian servicemen and 40,000 Russian-backed separatist forces are currently stationed in Donbas region, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated in an interview with Fox News.

'Today, there are nearly 6,000 regular Russian forces in the occupied territory of my country and over 50,000 militants in Crimea,' he said..............

To read further go to this link:  uatoday.tv

Kursk deputy Olga Li has had two criminal prosecutions brought against her just weeks after she publicly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of bringing the country to ruin, of propaganda of violence on Russian government-controlled television and of ‘a criminal conspiracy against his own people’. She also reported that in the Kursk region Putin’s popularity rating is in fact 25%. Russia’s Investigative Committee makes no mention of the Putin address, but does come perilously close to asserting that allegations of corruption are ‘extremist’ and incite the population to hate a ‘social group (as in the authorities!).

The Investigative Committee’s grounds for charging Li under Article 282 § 1 of the Criminal Code [incitement to enmity and denigration of dignity] are truly incredible. They claim that a ‘linguistic assessment’ found that statements on the social network VKontakte “are aimed at denigrating the dignity of a group of people through their membership of the social group of representatives of the authorities, including employees of the law enforcement bodies and judiciary. Assertions contained in the suspect’s addresses are linked with accusations against staff of the prosecutor’s office and judges of having committed grave crimes. The information circulated is aimed at inciting hatred and enmity to the activity of all officials of the above-mentioned institutions of state power as criminal and harmful for society and the state.”

She had already been charged under Article 298 § 1 (defamation of a judge, prosecutor, investigator, etc.). The cases have now been combined into one, with 182 § 1 carrying a possible sentence of

Both as the only independent deputy on the Kursk Regional Council and through her People’s Journalist newspaper which investigates allegations of corruption and miscarriages of justice, Li encounters grave abuses by the authorities on a daily basis. She says that innocent people end up sentenced to terms of imprisonment because the judges do what the prosecutor wants, and all is controlled by the governor of the Kursk region Alexander Filimonov. Since he was appointed by Putin, Li wrote to the President outlining the corruption and lawlessness in Kursk under Filimonov. She received a fob-off reply, and that was when she decided to tape an open address.

It was shortly afterwards that the first criminal proceedings were initiated. It should be stressed that Olga Li may make general statements, but they are based on specific allegations against particular people. If these are false, then those individuals need only bring a defamation suit against her and prove that they are untrue. Instead of this, or proper investigations into the allegations, Russia’s Investigative Committee has brought criminal charges against her for purportedly trying to ‘incite’ people to hate all judges or all prosecutors.

The following is just one of the examples of corruption which were doubtless set out in her written report to Putin. The city authorities moved people from old and dangerous buildings in the centre of Kursk. The buildings were to be knocked down and the much sought-after land sold on the open market, with the money going to the city coffers. Instead, however, the city administration gave the land to their own people, and no money was received. Li and her colleagues at People’s Journalist managed to force the initiation of a criminal investigation over this. That was terminated, supposedly because the land had been returned to the city, but this in fact did not happen. The prosecutor’s office has simply not reacted to such lawlessness, she says, adding that she believes that they are providing cover for the city administration’s dodgy activities.................

To read further go to this link:  khpg.org

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the cessation of fighting in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh and called on the parties to avoid a new escalation of the conflict. This is stated in a statement.

"I urge the parties to respect the ceasefire, exercise restraint and avoid a new escalation," - said in a statement.

Stoltenberg said that NATO supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"The parties must return to the negotiating table and find a comprehensive settlement," - said the NATO secretary general.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Mikheil Saakashvili spoke about the meeting with the President of Ukraine

Odessa-Kiev. April, 4. UNN. The Head of Odessa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili joined the protesters under the building in Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office and spoke about yesterday's meeting with Petro Poroshenko, reports UNN.

"Yesterday I met with the President of Ukraine, I handed him the petition of a great perturbation of the local community, because the appointed prosecutor (Odessa region, - ed.) Person with a lot of real estate, which are subject to business tribute, which is a known blackmailer, is a partner of the famous mafia Markov, and that helped him in his time and closed against him production. I handed him everything that happens on the part of the Security Service and the sabotage of customs reform, President I listened carefully this morning, he departed on an official visit, and when he returned, promised publicly to react and to take a decision ", - he said.

It should be noted, before the performance of Saakashvili protesters under the Prosecutor's Office of Odessa region stated that the Prosecutor General's Office filed a statement of "the crime of ex-Prosecutor General Viktor Shokina" under Art. 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - "arbitrariness".

"Nikolay Stoyanov was appointed prosecutor in violation of the law" On the cleansing power ", that is a criminal offense", - the activist S.Sarafanyuk said.

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It is known that heads of regional prosecutor's offices including Nikolaev have addressed the Prosecutor General Victor Shokin with collective letter, in which have expressed concern about attempts of the Deputy Prosecutor General David Sakvarelidze to discredit bodies of prosecutor's office of Ukraine. According to David Sakvarelidze, The State Office of Public Prosecutor has dismissed 7 investigators and 4 prosecutors making threat for Shokin's system.

We will note, Suslov's people's deputy I have joined to «to persecution»  Deputy Prosecutor General Sakvarelidze–demands to recognize his appointment illegal. Also, odious Kivalov and other Odessa people's deputies - ex- «regionals » demand from Shokin to dismiss Sakvarelidze.

We will remind also that earlier it was reported that Nikolay Stoyanov has addressed with the complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, demanding execution of decision of the courts of Ukraine about restoration him as the prosecutor of Odessa region.

Reference: Nikolay Stoyanov was born in Odessa, has graduated from law department of the Odessa state university of Mechnikov in 1993, worked at various positions in prosecutor's office of Odessa region.In 2003-2005 m, and also 2010-2011-m years I held a post of the prosecutor of the Nikolaev area. I worked in the Prosecutor General's Office. Since May 21, 2014 I held a post of the prosecutor of Odessa region.

In January, 2004 during trials on violations during elections, Stoyanov has been transferred to the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Ukraine with disciplinary punishment. It is again appointed the prosecutor of the Nikolaev area the order of the Attorney-General of Ukraine of June 17, 2005. State councilor of justice 3 classes. Nikolay Stoyanov, in due time,I was considered as a creature three times of the Attorney-General Svyatoslav Piskun.................

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President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in interview with Fox News, said that in the world there is no alternative to the North Atlantic Alliance as an instrument of security.

"I think that NATO - the only unique mechanism that is effective and is still running. And we have to date of alternatives. With NATO's world is much safer than those without, "- he said.

Earlier, President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili said that the Georgian government does not have any questions concerning the future of the country - its authorities see in the European Union and NATO.

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The Norwegian authorities have allowed to increase the volume of gas production from its largest field to compete with the US and Russia, reports Bloomberg referring to the Norwegian company Statoil ASA. This is the Troll field, where it is planned to increase gas production by 10% at once, since October 2016.

The agency notes that the increase in production at the Troll allows Norway significantly oust Russia in the European gas market. Russian "Gazprom" has previously stated that he intends to beat your previous record of gas export to Europe, which was established in 2013. The agency notes that Russia and Norway - countries that its facilities can not tolerate the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to Europe with the help of an aggressive pricing policy.

In this context, the United States may abandon the LNG supply to Europe for the markets of Brazil and India.

"This is exactly what Norway intended to do - to defend its market share", - notes the analyst of Societe Generale Thierry Bros.

Production volumes in the Troll field with the help of recent engineering works increased to 33 billion cubic meters per year, which is equivalent to the annual gas needs of France country's level of the agency said.

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The European Parliament hosted a presentation of the report of the Russian war crimes in eastern Ukraine. This is stated in the message fraction of European conservatives and reformers in the microblogging on Twitter.

Big thnx to everyone who took part in today's event on #Russia.n war crimes in eastern #Ukraine & Kremlin's hostages pic.twitter.com/6SUcHGXAyk

— OpenDialogFoundation (@ODFoundation) April 5, 2016

It heard two reports, "Russian war crimes in the East of Ukraine" and "28 hostages of the Kremlin", reports "Radio Liberty" .

It is reported that tell us about the situation in the Donbass region in Brussels to come not only human rights, but also the victims.

"By itself, the report is shocking. It's about torture, about murders, about the abuse of human beings. The woman, who testified here tonight would not be here if it were not photographed two British journalists. They thus saved her life, "- said the deputy of the European Parliament Marc Demesmaker.

According to him, these crimes can not remain unpunished. Demesmaker suggests that the reports became the basis for the initiation of an investigation by the International Criminal Court.

The report "28 hostages of the Kremlin" human rights activists gathered stories ukraintsey that for political reasons, were made in Russia, and annexed the Crimea.

It is noted that in addition to Ukrainian citizen Hope Savchenko, in Russian prisons are dozens of other Ukrainian citizens.

"Their only fault - they were in the wrong place at the wrong time", - quotes the edition of the chairman of the fund "Open Dialogue" Lyudmila Kozlovskaya - One of the prisoners - 74-year-old man, who spoke with his family from Ukraine. It was only his fault. But he was sent to the so-called "new Gulag."

Human rights activists noted that the prisoners of Ukrainian citizens use torture, often do not give access to health care and advocacy support. They also do not allow you to talk with relatives.

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Flash Conflict profitable Russian President Vladimir Putin, because in this way he promotes himself as a peacemaker. This was stated by the director of military programs Razumkov Center Nicholas Sungurovsky, transfers "UNN" .

"It's hard to say who was the initiator of another outbreak of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as a large-scale war is not beneficial to anyone. That is, if it starts, the winner will not necessarily be the end in favor of the Kremlin "- Sungurovsky said.

According to him, such outbreaks or defrost conflict is beneficial to Putin.

"I'm not saying it's Putin's filing. But they are beneficial to him that so he promotes himself as a peacemaker ", - he said.

The expert noted that in all the frozen conflicts in the post-Soviet territory, Russia has always serves as a director and, in particular, the role of peacemaker and negotiator.

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Dutch Parliament ratified the agreement on association between Ukraine and the EU in April last year. But, despite this, evropessimisty in this country do not lose hope to review the decision of the authorities. Using adopted in 2015 the law on the consultative referendum, the Dutch social activists and populist politicians launched a campaign against Ukraine's rapprochement with the European Union. Among the initiators of the anti-Ukrainian referendum - online campaign satirical blog GeenStijl, group Burgercomite EU citizens ( "the Committee of EU citizens") and Euroskeptic think tank "Forum for Democracy." Together, they were able to gather necessary for the plebiscite 300 thousand signatures.

Although the referendum to be held tomorrow (April 6), is advisory in nature, its possible consequences are alarming and in the Netherlands and Ukraine. In our country we are concerned about the results of public opinion polls, which until recently showed superiority of eurosceptics, as well as the general passivity of the Dutch, less than half of them are going to come and vote. According to the latest opinion polls, which has a "Commander", about 37% of the population of tulips are ready to say "no" to an agreement on Ukraine's association with the EU, and only 30% intend to say "yes". However, turnout, despite the pessimistic forecasts, it is expected a fairly high - 55%, as the higher is the number of those who are undecided - 30%.

Meanwhile, local politicians (remember, the parliament and the government support the Association) fear the consequences of a plebiscite, as he held on the eve of the start of the next election campaign. Parliamentary elections in the Netherlands are scheduled for 2017. Do not take into account the results of the referendum will not be, but also to change its decision on the negative for Ukraine, the current composition of Parliament is unlikely to agree. "I believe in the wisdom of the Netherlanders," - said recently, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, publicly supported the association only in the last weeks of the campaign.

Dutch journalist Laura old-fashioned way since the beginning of the Maidan is closely following the developments in Ukraine and in the confrontation with Russia. In the 80's she studied at Leningrad during perestroika worked as a journalist in Moscow and knows firsthand about Russia. Ms. old-fashioned even wrote several books about this country and the former republics gained their independence from the communist empire. Among the latter - the book "The Battle for Ukraine" on the Maidan, the war in the Donbas and tomorrow's referendum. In an interview with "Commander in Chief" Laura explains why the majority of Dutch people will ignore the referendum, reason for the residents of the Netherlands, Syria, the problem is much more important Ukrainian, whom the Dutch believe the culprit crash Malaysian MH17, and that is why most people in the country, despite all the tragic events that do not want to rupture of relations with Russia.

April 6 in the Netherlands held a referendum on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. What are the latest classifications, which are inclined to most of the residents of your country?

Hard to say. Most people know little about what is actually happening in Ukraine, they will not be very interesting. Last summer, our Parliament passed a law that makes it possible to organize a referendum on introducing voting issues such as, for example, support to the Association Agreement between the EU and other countries. The agreement on association with Ukraine - this was the first case of application of the referendum law.

So, there is a group of people who wanted to take advantage of this new democratic way to bring the issue of association with the EU to the vote. And that Ukraine was the first country completely by accident, which became the object of this decision. The initiators of the referendum first even openly said that Ukraine does not interest them, that they organized a referendum because it is very critical of the EU. They fear that the association with the EU would be the first step for your country on the path to EU membership, which do not want any. These people are on the contrary, want the European Union fell apart. That is, the referendum initiative is linked with a greater evroskepsisom than with Ukraine.

In recent weeks, the campaign gained momentum. Now, of course, the topic of Ukraine more interested in people than in the past. But we see that the situation is actually quite difficult to you. Reforms stalled, are all now know that the Ukraine - it is a very corrupt country, there is concern that it is better not to mess with you.

One of the latest public opinion polls EenVandaag testified that the majority of the Dutch are set to vote against ratification. At the same time, Ukraine's Ambassador to the Netherlands Oleksandr Horin in an interview with "Commander in Chief" referring to research non-governmental organization Stem voor Nederland ( «Choose the Netherlands") talked about reducing the number of opponents of Ukraine and the EU Association with 62% last December to 55% in January this year. Do you have any more recent and accurate data, most people are "for" or "against"?

With regard to the opinion of the majority, we did not know it. Just because most people will not participate in the referendum. Most of those who in principle supports this agreement, consider this referendum stupid, so do not want to participate in it. Foolishly believe because they do not like the organizers of the referendum, eurosceptics. And among the eurosceptics have a populist, and normal people, economists, who simply have an opinion that in the case of the signing of this agreement will be bad. Of course, normal people to the Euro-skeptics are suspicious and believe that (the association of the EU and Ukraine) is not a topic for referendum. This is the non-participation of such people is just an issue of the campaign, which is conducted for the signing of the contract.

Over the last week, we see that the balance of those who are "for" and "against", a little change in the direction of "yes". But I honestly do not think that "yes" the majority vote. Perhaps the difference is not so big. If you read the newspapers, then you can see that the majority of politicians, analysts, in general, support the treaty. But this does not mean that the campaign advocating the signing of the agreement will prevail. You see, it is always easier to vote against. People love to talk rulers "no." That is why these people find it easier to recruit, so to speak.

The result of the referendum, in principle, is not binding, but are not the government will take into account the opinion of its citizens?.............................

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Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine together with the prosecution exposed bribery inspector road supervision department of Lviv region Yavoriv police. It is reported by the press center of the Security Council of Ukraine.

Captain demanded from a local resident for six thousand hryvnia avoid administrative responsibility for violation of traffic rules. Employees of security services detained a policeman in his office while receiving money.

In an open criminal proceedings in h. 3 tbsp. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine solve the issue of declaring the captain suspected of committing a crime.

Continue pressing operational and investigative measures to determine other possible evidence the police of extortion of money from drivers.

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