About: covert action
Biden suggests ‘autocrat’ Putin’s Russia might be weaker than it seems
US President Joe Biden said that "autocrat" Vladimir Putin was right to say that relations were at their lowest point though he suggested that Russia might be weaker than it seemed and that Moscow had overreached in the Middle East.
Putin says wants to find ways with Biden to improve ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday (4 June) he hoped to improve deeply damaged relations with the United States when he holds his first summit with US counterpart Joe Biden later this month.
Why the EU should punish Russian ‘Kremligarchs’ for Ryanair hijacking
While EU sanctions against Belarusian officials are welcome, Russia’s role should not be ignored by Brussels, argues Ilya Zaslavskiy. But targeting Kremlin cronies, rather than the Russian people, would be much fairer and far cheaper than putting an extra NATO brigade in Eastern Europe.
Russian ambassador: Moscow and EU need to pull themselves out of ‘this mess’
The Russian Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, discussed the current tensions against the background of purported covert operations by Russian military intelligence GRU on EU soil, jailed dissident Alexei Navalny, the Sputnik vaccine, and the upcoming Economic Forum in St Petersburg.
Russia expels seven EU diplomats over ‘solidarity’ with Czechs
Moscow on Wednesday (28 April) expelled seven European diplomats after their countries ordered Russian diplomats to leave in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is engulfed in a diplomatic row with Russia.
Bulgaria investigates four arms depot blasts for Russian covert action
The Bulgarian prosecution announced on Wednesday (28 April) it suspects sabotage carried out by Russian intelligence as the probable reason behind four blasts in Bulgarian military depots. The blasts appear similar to the one in the Czech Republic, which recently led to a major diplomatic scandal with Russia.
Bellingcat connects the dots between Czech explosion and Bulgaria poisoning
Vladimir Putin dismissed as "absurd" Prague's accusations against Moscow after Czech authorities accused the Russian secret services of being behind a deadly arms depot blast in 2014. But the investigative website Bellingcat connected the dots back to Russia.
Romania to expel Russian diplomat in solidarity with Prague
Romania said Monday (26 April) it will expel a Russian diplomat, the latest European country to do so in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is involved in a spat with Moscow.
EU calls face-to-face 25 May summit on virus, climate and Russia
European Union leaders will hold a face-to-face summit in Brussels on 25 May to discuss the coronavirus crisis, the battle against climate change and tensions with Russia, a spokesman said.
Czechs order Russia to pull out most embassy staff in worsening spy row
The Czech Republic on Thursday (22 April) ordered Russia to remove most of its remaining diplomatic staff from Prague in an escalation of the worst dispute between the two countries in decades.
Czechs urge allies to expel Russian intelligence officers in act of solidarity
The Czech Republic will ask European Union and NATO allies to take action in solidarity with Prague in its row with Moscow, including expelling Russian intelligence officers from their countries, acting Foreign Minister Jan Hamáček said on Tuesday (20 April).
Russia moves Navalny to prison hospital under Western pressure
Ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been transferred to a prison hospital as the EU warned it would hold Moscow responsible for the state of his health.
Czechs say Russian retaliation stronger than expected, seeks EU solidarity
The Czech Republic said on Monday (19 April) Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government would consider further steps.
New evidence in Ukraine journalist’s murder
Police in Ukraine have received new evidence that may help identify those who ordered the murder of award-winning investigative journalist Pavel Sheremet in 2016.
Navalny says he pranked secret agent into confirming his murder plot
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Monday (21 December) he had tricked a Russian secret agent into disclosing details of the botched plot to kill him and had been told that poison had been placed in his underpants.
EU urges restraint after killing of Iranian nuclear scientist
The spokesperson of EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell urged all sides on Saturday (28 November) to show restraint after the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist and avoid escalating tensions that could derail any talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
Austria to file charges against Turkish spy
Austria will file charges against a person who has confessed to spying for Turkey's secret service, and authorities are investigating more suspected espionage activities, its interior minister said, warning Turkey this would not be tolerated.
‘Bulgarian connection’ investigated in Navalny poisoning
German medical specialists are investigating similarities between the attempted poisoning of a Bulgarian businessman and his son in 2015 and the recent poisoning of Russian opposition frontman Alexei Navalny, who is being treated in a Berlin hospital.
Friends again: Belarus hands 32 detained ‘mercenaries’ over to Russia
Russia on Friday (14 August) announced the safe return of 32 of its citizens after Belarus detained them saying they were mercenaries sent to destabilise the country ahead of Sunday's presidential election.
Slovakia expels three Russian diplomats, link to Berlin murder reported
Slovakia said on Monday (10 August) it has expelled three staff at the Russian embassy in Bratislava whilst citing an abuse of Slovak visas, which local media said was linked with a murder of a Georgian man in Berlin last year.
Belarus leader claims opposition ‘massacre’ plot ahead of vote
Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday (4 August) accused the opposition and Russia of planning violent unrest and vowed to defend his regime as early voting began in presidential elections.
Russia and Belarus at odds over arrest of suspected mercenaries
A dispute between Moscow and Minsk over the detention of more than 30 men who Belarus accused of being Russian mercenaries is dragging on, as the two sides contradicted each other about the group’s plans.
German prosecutors accuse Russia of ordering murder in Berlin
German federal prosecutors accused Russia on Thursday (18 June) of ordering the killing of a former Chechen rebel in Berlin last summer and indicted a Russian man for the murder, which has severely strained diplomatic ties.