Ukraine News in brief. Tuesday 31 October. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Facebook: in 2 years, Russian political advertising could reach 126 million Americans.  Gazprom spent almost $ 1 million on lobbyists in the United States.  Putin drove into the corner, and time is playing against him: Ukraine pointed to the important results of Volker's visit to Kiev.  In Russia today there are 117 political prisoners. Lavrov about Manafort: "Ukrainian should be investigated, probably, it is possible only through Ukraine".  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that Russia does not impose its policies on other states.  EU will assist Ukraine in restoring the Donbas after the reintegration of the occupied territorie.  The head of "Bank of Putin" came to a party in a Stalin suit.  Lavrov: Volker's statements directly contradict the efforts of the "Norman Four".

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Social network Facebook updated data on the coverage of Russian political advertising by US users.

This was reported by Reuters, which saw the company documents prepared for testimony before Congress.

For two years, Russians have published about 80,000 political messages and about 126 million Americans (representing more than half the voters) could see these posts.

Such updated Facebook data is far beyond its previous estimates.

The social network Twitter has reported that it detected 2352 accounts associated with Russian operators. While Google said that $ 4,700 was spent on advertising related to Russia during the US presidential election in 2016.

Three of these companies are planning to report to Congress this week about Russian attempts to spread misinformation before and after the US presidential election.

Previously, it was reported that Facebook, Twitter and Google executives were questioned about Russia's interference with the US election.

Earlier, the head of Facebook said that by no means did he admit that the social network could be used for political purposes.

On September 18, Facebook provided the US Attorney General with account information on advertising with the Russian Federation. She was watched by more than 10 million people .

On September 29th, it was reported that Twitter blocked more than 200 accounts in connection with an investigation into Russia's interference with the US election.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The Swiss company Nord Stream 2, which plans to build the North Stream 2 pipeline, spent at least $ 880,000 in July-September on lobbying Washington for its interests.

It is about realization of the project in the conditions of new American sanctions, informs RBC.

The Nord Stream 2, which is 100% owned by Gazprom, turned to three lobbying firms, contracts that were concluded in July, before US President Donald Trump signed a new CAATSA sanction law.

Capitol Counsel received $ 150,000 from Gazprom, $ 80,000 for the Hawksbill Group and $ 650,000 for Roberti Global. This is stated in the database on lobbying activities of the US Senate. The Nord Stream 2 Roberti Global contract was the second most expensive in the third quarter after the Covington & Burling Qualcomm chip manufacturer agreement. The contract with Capitol Counsel was terminated.

Nord Stream 2 has given firms the task of lobbying for "issues related to the US position on the North Stream 2 pipeline, including potential financial sanctions for the project."

Roberti Global lobbies North Stream-2's interests in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States, and has hired a subcontractor, SMW Partners, to lobby for the administration of the US president.

-Prior to the North Stream 2 project with a value of almost 10 billion euros, Gazprom and its partners intend to proceed in April 2018.

-It is assumed that the 1200-kilometer gas pipeline will be laid through the Baltic Sea and will connect Russia and Germany, bypassing Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic States.

-On August 3, the European Commission provided a proposal for a mandate from EU member states to negotiate with Russia on North Stream 2 project.

-On October 6, European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kisa Itkonen reported that North Stream 2 is not in line with EU interests.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Before the presidential election in the Russian Federation remains about six months, and the time is running against the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin.

This was told by the editor-in-chief of the site "Information Resistance", military columnist Yuriy Karin, commenting on the recent visit of the Special Representative of the State Department of the United States, Kurt Volcker to Ukraine.

"The latest revelations of the Russian" hybrid "in relation to other countries reduce the level of its" multi-engineers "to the trivial bloodshed in separate regions, which he literally pays with weapons. Political affairs unions with him are, more likely, impossible because of the" toxicity "of the president of the Russian Federation" , - he said.

According to Karin, in Moscow they understand that there is virtually no room for maneuver, and in the United States all trump cards are in the hands of, in particular, increased sanctions, the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine, and so on.

"It is no wonder that on the day of Volker's visit to Ukraine, the US State Department has been promulgated by Russian companies, candidates for inclusion in the list of sanctions, which is practically all defense enterprises of the Russian Federation. According to the State Department's suggestion, businessmen who invest in the economy of the aggressor country may be affected," he stressed. expert

Karin added that the fact that Volker calls what is happening in the Donbas, by their names and adheres to the pro-Ukrainian scenario of the termination of Russian aggression, is also pleasing.

"According to the logic of things, another Kyiv guest, the head of the Pentagon James Mattheys managed to personally assess what is happening to determine the size of the military assistance needed by Ukraine. And now there may be discussions about the types and amount of lethal defense weapons for our army. , to provide or not to provide, is no longer worthless, which, of course, causes panic in the Kremlin, "he said.

The expert stressed that in this case, the price of Russian aggression will increase at times for the current leadership of the Russian Federation, which before the elections in March 2018 does not intend to go to the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the Donbas.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Russian Human Rights Center "Memorial" has updated the list of political prisoners in Russia. To date, in Russia, 117 people are deprived of their liberty.

This is stated on the website of the "Memorial".

"A year ago, there were 102 people in them (lists - ed.). The real number of political prisoners and those deprived of their liberty for political reasons, in today's Russia, undoubtedly, is substantially more ", - human rights activists report.

Over the past year, 28 political prisoners have left their freedom, but during the same period, the list of RF political prisoners has been replenished with 45 more names.

"25 people were among those persecuted in connection with the exercise of the right to freedom of religion. For the most part, these are Muslims, in particular those accused of participating in Hizb ut-Tahrir, "added the Memorial.

Ukrainian colonies also hold Ukrainians, including Oleg Sentsov and Olekandr Kolchenko.

In August 2015, the court in Russia ruled Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko guilty of creating a terrorist organization in Crimea, committing two terrorist attacks and preparing another one, as well as attempting to purchase explosive devices and illegal possession of weapons.

Sentsov sentenced to 20 years of the colony, Kolchenko - up to 10 years imprisonment.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The case of former head of Donald Trump Paul Manaforte's election headquarters is to be investigated through Ukraine.

This October 31 press conference in Moscow, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reports Tsenzor.NET referring to " Interfax ".

"It's a Ukrainian trace to Mr. Manaforth and his colleagues who have found Ukraine, perhaps it's possible only through Ukraine, they also have something to tell about the position they occupied during the presidential election campaign," he said.

"Homosexual accusations do not honor those who made this porridge and, in my opinion, do not know how to get out of it," added Lavrov.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that Russia does not impose its policies on other states.

According to Tsensor.NET , Lavrov said this at a conference on the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

He said that Russia "has consistently strengthened its position on the international scene."


Video: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

"Our country does not impose anything on anyone, does not teach anyone life. We proceed from the fact that the peoples of the world have the right and must themselves manage their fate," said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Lavrov believes that in the world there is a "foolish information war" against the RF and noted that the representatives of the n diaspora "defend the historical truth."

"Russkiy Mir" has an inexhaustible creative potential ... Not everyone likes such unity. There are attempts to smear and split into their lava. And in many states, in particular in Ukraine and in the Baltic countries, their direct discrimination is not stopped", - added Lavrov.

Recall, earlier Lavrov justified the military aggression in Ukraine as a threat to the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine, which allegedly arose after the events of 2013-2014.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The European Union will be ready to help Ukraine after the reintegration of uncontrolled areas of the Donbas, says deputy minister for temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons Georgy Tuka.

"As a person who constantly communicates with representatives of the European community who are engaged in real politics, I am convinced that such assistance will be", - said G. Tuka during the discussion "Return of the occupied territories of Donbass, the Ukrainian plan" in Kiev on Tuesday, speaking about the possible Aid for the restoration of the region, reports Tsensor. NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine .

He also stressed that such assistance does not relieve the responsibility of Ukrainian taxpayers, whose funds from the state budget will be restored to Donbas.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

President of the Russian Bank VTB Andriy Kostin came to the reception dedicated to the end of the investment forum "Russia Calls!" in a costume that resembled the clothes of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The corresponding photo was published by Max Seedon's correspondent on Twitter.

Top manager of VTB Yuriy Solovyov at the party was in the form of another Soviet leader - Nikita Khrushchev. The motto of the evening was the phrase "Investors of all countries, unite".



At the same time, the representative of the bank noted that Kostin and Solovyov were dressed in typical costumes of the 1950s. Thus, the Kremlin bankers organized a party in honor of the centennial of the October Revolution of 1917.

"The plots and performances of the solemn events were humorous, they were in line with the spirit of the 1950's. But, apparently, with a different sense of humor in all the guests," they said there.

Previously, VTB tried to sell its subsidiaries in Ukraine. The "apostrophe" was sorted out why this happened in the "Putin's Bank" in Ukraine without buyers: what is behind it.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that recent statements by the Special Representative of the United States Department of State on Ukraine Kurt Volcker directly contradict the efforts of the "Norman format" to resolve the situation in the Donbas.

According to Tsensor.NET , referring to "Interfax-Ukraine" , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at a briefing by the Association of European Businesses.

"I very much hope that the statements of Mr. Volker, which directly contradict what Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine do in the" Normandy format ", will not hinder the preparation of this roadmap (regarding the settlement)," Lavrov said.

Also read: Resolving the conflict on the Donbass only by the states-participants "Norman format" is impossible - Peskov

The Russian minister reminded that during his last stay in Kyiv, Volker made several "sign" statements, which made it clear that "an alternative to the Russian project on a security mission in the Donbas is being prepared by the United States."

According to him, the US special envoy actually called for the "occupation" of the peacekeepers of the Donbas.

"Mr. Volcker stated that, firstly, it was necessary for the peacekeepers to be occupied (he used a different word, but his meaning was" occupied ") of the entire Donbas, took him in a ring, and only then the United States would support the actions of President Petro Poroshenko on execution all his obligations ", - said Lavrov.

"It is absolutely clear to us that, as soon as the occupying forces take the whole Donbass, Poroshenko will not move his finger to do anything that he promised," he said.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry also criticized Volcker's words that Europe, Ukraine and Russia should deal with the crisis in the eastern part of Ukraine without the participation of the Donbas.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The United States has banned natural and legal persons in their jurisdiction to deal with Russian companies in deep-sea, arctic and shale energy projects.

As Censor.NET informs , the relevant document is published on the website of the United States Department of the Treasury.

"The following actions are prohibited without a license or other permission of the office for the control of foreign assets: delivery, export, re-export (direct or indirect), providing technologies for exploration or production of deep-water, arctic or slate projects," the Finance Ministry said.

The directive states that the ban applies to all individuals and entities in Russia that the US has already or can enter into the list of sanctions.

The new order applies to projects starting on January 29, 2018 or later.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою