Page 99 - Russia

CBI busts network trafficking Indians to Russia-Ukraine conflict zone

The Central Bureau of Investigation has busted a major human trafficking network that took Indians to the Russia-Ukraine war zone in the garb of providing jobs abroad, officials said on Thursday. The agency is conducting searches at over 10 locations in seven cities, they said. The officials said the agency has registered an FIR against various visa consultancy firms and agents. Several individuals have been detained during the search and Rs 50 lakh has been seized, they added.

Putin's crackdown casts a wide net, ensnaring LGBTQ+ community, lawyers

It's not just opposition politicians who are targeted in the crackdown by Russian President Vladimir Putin's government in recent years. Also falling victim are independent voices as well as those who don't conform to what the state sees as the country's traditional values. Russia's once-thriving free press after the collapse of the Soviet Union has been largely reduced to either state-controlled media or independent journalists operating from abroad, with few critical outlets still working in the country. Prominent rights groups have been outlawed or classified as agents of foreigners. Lawyers who represented dissidents have been prosecuted. LGBTQ+ activists have been labelled "extremists. A look at those who have come under attack during Putin's 24-year rule that is likely to be extended by six more years in this month's presidential election: INDEPENDENT MEDIA Independent news sites largely have been blocked in Russia since the first weeks of the war in Ukraine. Many have moved

Hyderabad man, duped into working as 'helper' for Russian army, dies

A man from Hyderabad, who was among the Indians "duped" by agents on the promise of jobs and taken to Russia and forced to work as a "helper" for the Russian Army, has died. The Indian Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday confirmed the death of the man, identified as Mohammed Afsan, adding that they are in touch with the family here. "We have learnt about the tragic death of an Indian national Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities. Mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India," Indian embassy in Moscow said in a post on 'X'. When contacted, Afsan's brother Imran said the Indian embassy in Moscow informed the family about the 30-year-old's death. He requested the Central government to help them get back his brother's mortal remains. AIMIM sources said the party's chief Asaduddin Owaisi had contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow after Afsan's family approached him in this regard recently. An official from the Indian embassy in Mosco

Chess legend Garry Kasparov added in 'terrorist, extremist' list by Russia

Russian financial watchdog responsible for combatting money laundering and terror financing added chess grandmaster and vocal Putin critic Kasparov's name to the list of 'terrorists and extremists'

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny died of natural causes: Russian spymaster

Russia's spymaster said on Tuesday that opposition leader Alexei Navalny died of natural causes, a statement that appeared to reflect the Kremlin's efforts to assuage international outrage over the death of President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Sergei Naryshkin, the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, the top spy agency known under its Russian acronym SVR, made the statement in an interview broadcast by Russian state television. He didn't name the cause of Navalny's death in a remote Arctic penal colony or give any other details. Sooner or later life ends and people die, he said. Navalny has died of natural causes. Navalny died on February 16 at Penal Colony No. 3 in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometres northeast of Moscow where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. Russian authorities still haven't announced the cause of his death at age 47 and many Western leaders blamed it on Putin, an accusation the Kremlin ang

'Will not meddle in US presidential election,' Russia rejects accusations

President Vladimir Putin dropped a series of ironic remarks about the U.S. election, saying that he finds Joe Biden preferable as the next U.S. president to Donald Trump

Putin's 24-years rule: Crackdown on dissent solidifies his leadership

When charismatic opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down on a bridge near the Kremlin in February 2015, more than 50,000 Muscovites expressed their shock and outrage the next day at the brazen assassination. Police stood aside as they rallied and chanted anti-government slogans. Nine years later, stunned and angry Russians streamed into the streets on the night of Feb 16, when they heard that popular opposition politician Alexei Navalny had died in prison. But this time, those laying flowers at impromptu memorials in major cities were met by riot police, who arrested and dragged hundreds of them away. In those intervening years, Vladimir Putin's Russia evolved from a country that tolerated some dissent to one that ruthlessly suppresses it. Arrests, trials and long prison terms once rare are commonplace, especially after Moscow invaded Ukraine. Alongside its political opponents, the Kremlin now also targets rights groups, independent media and other members of civil-society

Russia mulls putting nuclear power plant on moon with China: Report

Borisov, a former deputy defence minister, said that Russia and China had been jointly working on a lunar programme and that Moscow was able to contribute with its expertise on "nuclear space energy"

Vladimir Putin's pre-election promises may cost Russia $130 billion

An analysis by Dmitry Polevoy, investment director at Astra Asset Management, shows such projects could cost Russia as much as 2 trillion rubles per year, or more than $130 billion over six years

Oil prices steadies after expected Opec+ voluntary output cut extension

Brent futures were up 19 cents to $83.74 a barrel at 1422 GMT after rising 2.4% last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 6 cents to $80.03 a barrel following a 4.6% gain last week

Reduced refining capacity, sanctions force Russia to cut crude oil output

Russia has declared plans to cut its oil output and exports by an additional 471,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April-June in coordination with some OPEC+ participating countries

End repression of independent voices in Russia: UN after Navalny's death

The UN human rights chief called on Monday for a quick end to the repression of independent voices in Russia and expressed concerns about the persecution" of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month. Volker Turk, in a wide-ranging speech, also lamented dozens of conflicts around the world, widespread violations of human rights law that have impacted millions, and displacements caused by war, which could escalate in places like the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Sudan. Rarely has humanity faced so many rapidly spiralling crises," he told the Human Rights Council. Alluding to some countries among the dozens holding national elections this year, Turk denounced increasing restrictions" on rights defenders, journalists and perceived critics in India. He urged US authorities to ensure that voting is universal, alluding to discriminatory policies that restricted the right to vote for people of African descent. In the run-up to Russia's presidential elections f

Russia says to deepen crude oil output cuts while easing export limits

An industry source said that Russia is being forced to reduce production by the new sanctions, adding: 'There is no need to produce more than Russia can sell'

OPEC+ member countries agree to extend voluntary cuts to Q2: Report

OPEC+ in November agreed to voluntary cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first quarter, led by Saudi Arabia rolling over its own voluntary cut

New US sanctions may curb Indian imports of Russian coal, say traders

The latest US sanctions also include Russia's payment system, financial institutions and energy production

Russia's Putin hints at higher taxes for wealthy individuals, companies

Businessmen who invest in Russia should have their assets and property rights protected, Putin said, and taxes for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia should be reduced

Putin promises $110 bn in state support ahead of general elections

The costliest pledge concerned 4.5 trillion roubles for modernising public infrastructure and 1 trillion roubles on the construction, repair and equipping of hospitals

Putin warns of nuclear war risk, says Moscow can strike Western targets

Visibly angry, Putin suggested Western politicians recall the fate of those like Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler and France's Napoleon Bonaparte who had unsuccessfully invaded Russia in the past

Russian oil imports rise in Feb, expected to slow in coming months: Report

Discounts on Russian oil, which have already declined to around $3.5-$4 per barrel, are also expected to fall further as sanctions are seen as driving up freight costs

Air leak at ISS poses no danger to its crew, say Russian space officials

Russian space officials on Wednesday acknowledged a continuing air leak from the Russian segment of the International Space Station, but said it poses no danger to its crew. The Roscosmos state corporation said that specialists were monitoring the leak and the crew regularly conducts work to locate and fix possible spots of the leak." There is no threat to the crew or the station itself, it said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. Roscosmos' statement followed comments by Joel Montalbano, NASA's station project manager, who noted Wednesday that the leak in the Russian segment has increased but emphasized that it remains small and poses no threat to the crew's safety or vehicle operations. As the space outpost is aging, the crew has to spend more time to repair and maintain it, Roscosmos said.. Russian space officials first reported a leak in the Zvezda module in August 2020 and later that year Russian crew members located what they believed was its source and tried to