Ukraine News. Thursday 15 March. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
Volker received a package of sanctions proposals against Russia.  "Crimea is Ukraine," - US State Department's response to Putin’s remarks.  MP Savchenko plotted terrorist attack on parliament.  US Ministry of Finance has imposed sanctions on Prigogine and Russian "troll factory".  Lavrov fell to his knees before a lecture on Russia's possibilities.  NATO trusts British estimates and knows that substance of neuro-paralytic action was made in Russia.  British Foreign Ministry: New sanctions can touch on Putin's "corrupt" allies. I have no doubt that Savchenko was preparing terrorist attacks with his friend Ruban. In Russia, with the approaching March 18, pressure on opponents of the election is increasing.  "The Bandera Provokator!" - "I'll have a jaw, beotch, I'll break, abomination" - two Communists staged a fight on the televised debates of presidential candidates. Lutsenko has submitted to the Council a submission to prosecute, arrest and arrest Savchenko. The response to London's action will be very soon. We will act like polite people, - Lavrov. I'm afraid that the evidence that it was Russia is undeniable - Johnson on the Violinist Poisoning.

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A meeting of the UN Security Council on the Crimea will signal Russia that the world does not agree with the occupation of the peninsula. Moscow should not hope that in a few years the Western community will accept this fact.

This was stated during the forum "Europe-Ukraine" in Polish Ryashev, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Bartosz Cichotsky, according to Tsensor. NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"The debate in the UN, also thanks to Poland, will give another signal that we are against this (the occupation of the Crimea - Ed.), We do not agree. It will not be that which will take place four more years and we will agree with it. We will not agree to this. , Russia will feel the consequences of violation of international treaties signed, violations of the basic international principles", - said Tsichotsky.

He noted that Poland is actively involved in the international process of improving sanctions policy against Russia. In this context, he noted that the Polish side recently sent a special offer to the Special Representative of the US Department of State Kurt Volker, who was on a visit to Warsaw.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Heather Nauert responded to the claims of the President Vladimir Putin of Russia that the Crimean peninsula was allegedly unlawfully passed to Ukraine in the Soviet era.

"Four years ago this week, Russia held an illegitimate, fabricated "referendum" in Ukraine in a futile attempt to legitimize its purported annexation of Ukrainian territory. Crimean residents were compelled to vote under scrutiny by heavily armed Russian troops. Russia’s claim that Ukrainians made a free choice in that sham "referendum" has always lacked credibility," Nauert said in her statement on March 14, Censor.NET reports.

"In his campaign rally in Crimea today, President Putin reiterated Russia’s false claims to Ukrainian territory in another open admission that the Russian government disdains the international order and disrespects the territorial integrity of sovereign nations," she stressed.

"In light of Putin’s remarks, it is important to call attention to the illegitimacy of the staged "referendum," but also to the tremendous human costs the Russian government has imposed on the people of Crimea. Over the past four years, Russia has engaged in a campaign of coercion and violence, targeting anyone opposed to its attempted annexation. Russian occupation authorities have subjected Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, pro-Ukrainian activists, civil society members, and independent journalists to politically motivated prosecution and ongoing repression, while methodically suppressing nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets," the spokesperson said.

"We stand behind those courageous individuals who continue to speak out about these abuses and we call on Russia to cease its attempts to quell fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and religion or belief. We reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Crimea is part of Ukraine and our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine," Nauert said.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko said the Prosecutor General’s Office filed a motion to receive the parliament’s consent on Nadia Savchenko’s detention to bringing her to criminal responsibility.

As reported by a parliamentary correspondent for Censor.NET, the parliament was also requested to strip Savchenko of immunity.

Addressing the parliament, Lutsenko noted that Savchenko had apparently already come to the Prosecutor General’s Office and was giving testimony. According to him, the law enforcers have evidence that Savchenko was plotting a terrorist attack inside the building of the Verkhovna Rada.

"A member of Ukrainian Parliament Nadia Savchenko personally planned [a terrorist attack], personally recruited, personally gave instructions on how to commit an act of terrorism right here in this very hall," Ukraine’s top prosecutor said.

He said that Savchenko intended to use grenades against lawmakers and officials in the parliament’s session hall, use mortars to collapse the dome of the Verkhovna Rada and assault rifles to finish off those who survived.

"We have irrefutable evidence," Lutsenko said.



ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States has extended sanctions against Russia. The decision was approved by the US Treasury Department.

It is reported by Tsensor.NET with a link to the site of the American department.

The United States has put on the list of sanctions (a list of established persons whose accounts are subject to blocking) 14 Russians and the Internet Research Agency (the factory of trolls) businessman Yevgeny Prigozhina.

The list includes 12 people that the American authorities associate with the work of the "factory trolls" and two employees of the Main Intelligence Agency (GRU).

The list was primarily made up of people who had previously been charged by the US Department of Justice with an interference with the 2016 US election.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, fell on the stage during the forum "Russia is a country of opportunity."

As reported by Tsensor.NET, Lavrov interrupted and fell to his knees.



ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The North Atlantic Alliance fully trusts the estimates of the incident with the poisoning of Sergey Skripal, a former GRU ex-officer, made in the UK.

As Tsensor.NET informs with reference to Interfax-Ukraine , this statement was made during a press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday.

"We have no reason to doubt the estimates made by Great Britain," he said, answering the question, if he was confident in the organization that the poisonous substance was developed in Russia.

"We know that this substance of neuro-paralytic action was made in Russia, and therefore we trust the estimates made by Britain," he added.

E. Stoltenberg also said that the North Atlantic Alliance was prepared to provide support to the United Kingdom in investigating the attack on C. Scratch.

"The Allies offered practical support, and we are ready to provide it upon request from the UK, if it will be", - he said during a press conference.

At the same time, the secretary general noted that "while the request for such practical assistance was not received".

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that the investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the tenth day. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Britain's sanctions in response to the poisoning of the ex-agent of the GRU of Russia Sergei Skrypala and his daughter may touch on Russian President Vladimir Putin's suspects who are suspected of corruption, the British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said on March 15.

It is reported by Tsensor.NET with reference to Crimea. Realia. As Johnson told the BBC, the National Counter-Terrorism Agency is considering a large number of potential black-list contributors. He noted that it was about the corruptors who owed their position to Putin and those who got rich due to ties with him. These people will be under the special attention of the British police.

Other details Johnson did not give.

The Foreign Minister of Britain also said that the attack was "a way to show what happens to the people who are rising" against the regime in Russia.

Johnson said that a sample of nerve-paralytic substance, which, according to British investigators, was used to poison the violinist and his daughter, sent to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for analysis.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that the investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the tenth day. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Nadezhda Savchenko was expelled from the National Security Committee for her anti-Ukrainian statements and appeals to the United States and Europe not to give Ukraine arms during the war with Russia.

This was stated in a comment to journalists by the chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defense, a representative of the People's Front Sergei Pashynsky, informs Tsensor.NET.

"When Nadiya Savchenko became a people's deputy, she made a tour of Europe and the United States and said that Ukraine could not give up arms. This decision, which we voted today, was based on her appeals, sorry, but when someone tells us that During the war with Russia, we do not need to give a weapon, it's an enemy. It does not matter how he is.. As a result, we decided a year ago, and today we simply implemented it, "Pashinsky said.

"Another issue is the Security Service of Ukraine and the GPU are preparing a submission to Savchenko for the preparation of the terrorist attacks, and we saw with your own eyes the weapons carried by her closest friend Ruban. We know that this was not the first party, and everything else I think will be in the session hall, when the Prosecutor General will voice his presentation on Savchenko and on the regular committee, you will analyze everything yourself. I have no doubt that this person was preparing terrorist acts, the more it does not go against its public statements, "Sergei Pashinsky said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

On the eve of the presidential election on March 18, the prosecution of activists, in particular those who advocated a boycott of voting, has intensified in Russia, according to a statement from the international human rights organization Amnesty International March 15.

It is reported by Tsensor.NET with reference to Crimea. Realia.

"Based on the draconian law on public events, the authorities deliberately persecute activists for boycotting the elections, while authorities not only completely prevent public supporters from boycotting, during the onslaught of opposition to arbitrary arrests detain many venerable boycotts," the statement said.

Human rights activists also point out that over the past few years, the authorities in Russia have seriously expanded their "repressive arsenal" in the fight against demonstrators.

"The intention of the Kremlin is absolutely obvious - at the final stage of the election campaign to clear the streets from the most promising protesters and supporters of the boycott," said Denis Kryvosheyev, deputy director of Amnesty International in Europe and Central Asia.

One of Russia's opposition politicians, Alexei Navalny, was promoted to boycott the election, who refused to register as a presidential candidate. Supporters of Navalny have recently been actively detained by Russian security forces. Among them were head of the Naval headquarters Leonid Volkov, coordinator of his headquarters in St. Petersburg Denis Mikhailov, coordinator of the Open Russia movement Andriy Pivovarov and others.

The presidential elections in Russia are scheduled to be held on March 18, 2018, on the anniversary of the Crimean occupation.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The presidential candidate from the "Communists of Russia" Maxim Suayikin and the creditor of the Communist Party candidate Pavlo Grudinin, Maxim Shevchenko, fought during the televised debates on RosTv.

According to Tsensor.NET, the conflict arose after Shevchenko's request to Suraykin to leave while his trustee acts. During a verbal ploy, the candidate from the Communists of Russia rushed to a representative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.



ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Head of the GPU Yuriy Lutsenko filed a petition with the Verkhovna Rada on consenting to the prosecution, detention and arrest of the People's Deputy of Ukraine Nadezhda Savchenko.

As informs Tsensor.NET, this was written on his page in Facebook by the press secretary of the Prosecutor General Larysa Sargan in microblogging and laid out a photocopy of Yuriy Lutsenko's address to the head of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiya.

"The text of the submissions to the People's Deputy Savchenko is filed with the Verkhovna Rada," she wrote.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russia's response to Moscow's take on Moscow will be very soon.

According to Tsensor.NET, referring to TASS , Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, speaking at the forum "Russia is a country of opportunity".

"The answer will be very soon, I assure you," - he said, answering the relevant question.

"This answer, as polite people, will first be brought to our British colleagues", - added the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that the investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the tenth day. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the British Foreign Office, Boris Johnson, has dubbed undeniable evidence of Russia's involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal's ex-colonel and his daughter Julia.

"I'm afraid that the evidence that it was Russia is indisputable," the minister said on Thursday, broadcasting the BBC Breakfast, Centsor.NET, reports referring to Interfax-Ukraine.

B.Johnson also said that, in his opinion, Russia's indisputable fault is indicated by her selfish and sarcastic reaction to the poisoning in Salisbury.

According to Sky News, he added that the United Kingdom will continue to engage in dialogue with other countries regarding Russia's confrontation. "We will continue to prove to our friends and allies that, as an international community, we must confront Russia," said B. Johnson.

The Foreign Minister also said that he is not yet aware of Russia's likely response to the British decision to send 23 Russian diplomats, the TV channel said. "We believe that what we did is comparable to what we saw on the streets of Salisbury," said B. Johnson, adding that C. Skripal and his daughter are still in critical condition.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that the investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the tenth day. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український