Latest news with #Russophobic
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russia makes new protest to Italy in dispute over cancelled Gergiev concert
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia said on Thursday it had made a new protest to Italy in a dispute over the cancellation of a concert in Italy where Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor with a record of support for President Vladimir Putin, had been due to perform. The concert near Naples was scrapped last month following a storm of criticism, including from the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who called Gergiev an "accomplice" of Putin. Italy's culture minister had said the event risked becoming a "sounding board for Russian propaganda". Moscow registered an initial protest on July 23, accusing Italy of discrimination, cancel culture and caving in to anti-Russian lobbying. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires two days ago to complain about an "ongoing anti-Russian campaign" in Italy that it said was aggravating a crisis in bilateral relations. The ministry said Italy had reacted disproportionately to what it called Moscow's rejection of "some odious statements by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government directed against Russia." It added, without providing examples, that Italian media had published false stories and carried out "Russophobic attacks with the full support of Italian ruling circles". The case highlights Russia's fury at the shunning by the West of some of its leading artists in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Gergiev has conducted orchestras at the world's leading concert halls but found himself unwelcome in the West after the start of the war. Milan's La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and New York's Carnegie Hall were among those to sever ties with him over his failure to condemn it. He is now head of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Gergiev has drawn strong criticism from opponents of Putin for performing over the years at events with political overtones, including in 2016 at a concert in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria after Russia intervened in Syria's civil war on the side of Syria's then-president, Bashar al-Assad. REUTERS
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Russia fights edict Canberra embassy a security threat
Russia claims the cancellation of an embassy lease is illegal as lawyers for the Australian government argue in the nation's highest court it poses a security risk. Diplomatic tensions between Australia and Russia are playing out in the High Court after the Albanese government rushed laws through parliament in 2023 to cancel Russia's lease on a plot of land where it planned to build a new embassy. Russia rejected the cancellation as "Russophobic hysteria" and an official even squatted on the land after the decision to frustrate any Australian effort to reclaim the plot. Like any piece of real estate it's all about location, location, location, with the proposed Russian embassy plot only hundreds of metres away from Parliament House in Canberra. Russia entered a 99-year lease in 2008 to build a new embassy in Canberra but didn't complete any developments on the plot. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited advice from national security agencies about the proposed embassy's proximity to parliament when justifying the action, but the intelligence was not aired in court. Russia is arguing the case on two fronts: that the laws are unconstitutional because no evidence of a national security threat was put forward and, failing any reinstatement, it is entitled to compensation. A Russian supporter waved the nation's tri-coloured flag for hours outside the court while top silk Bret Walker SC flew the flag for Russia inside the courtroom on Wednesday. Mr Walker told the court it was "offensive" to assume people would willingly give up their property without compensation because national security grounds were invoked. He cited an army barracks as an example, saying the Commonwealth would be within its rights to acquire land around the structure to protect security but would be expected to pay compensation to the owners. Failing to do so meant it was "a compelled gift for the government", he argued, referring to a clause in the constitution requiring reasonable compensation to be paid by the Commonwealth if it takes a person's property. Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue argued the Commonwealth had the power and authority to make laws stripping the Russians of their lease. Compensation should not be paid to a nation "for problems they cause themselves", he told the High Court. But Mr Walker branded the notion of taking land on pre-emptive national security grounds where no explicit threat had been proven without compensation "really disturbing". Such a precedent would mean "everyone is to be regarded, until proven otherwise, a terrorist threat", he said. "That's absurd." The High Court reserved its decision. Five Russian officials attended the hearing, with ambassador-at-large Sergey Makarov declining to comment until the decision is handed down. International law expert Don Rothwell doubted the strength of the Russian argument about the constitutional validity of the law. "I don't believe the Russian case is very strong on that point," he told AAP. But the professor said the case could set a precedent for the Commonwealth taking over embassy sites. However, Russia's case had two major distinctions, Professor Rothwell said. One was that because the Russian embassy hadn't been built, the argument for compensation was more fraught compared to established premises foreign governments had already paid to construct, he said. Additionally, foreign governments would be able to construct new embassies to a modern standard, meaning there were security concerns about the inclusion of more advanced technology that could be used for espionage, he added.
JAMnews
28-07-2025
- Politics
- JAMnews
Russia asks the Georgian government to respond to 'Russophobic incidents' against fencers
Against Russian athletes in Georgia The Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia published a statement on Facebook saying they had 'taken note of Russophobic incidents' against Russian athletes participating in the ongoing Fencing World Championship in Tbilisi and expect the Georgian authorities to 'take necessary measures.' What happened On July 22, the Fencing World Championship opened in Tbilisi, with Russian athletes holding military ranks also participating. It was also reported that among them are two athletes who served as authorized representatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin during elections. A group of Georgian activists staged a protest outside the hotel where the Russian athletes are staying, setting off firecrackers and displaying a banner reading: 'Russian pigs, you are not welcome here! Today it's fireworks, tomorrow it will be Grads.' A protest also took place in front of the Sports Palace where the competitions are being held – activists burned a Russian flag there. News in Georgia
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Medvedev names Russias true enemy
The EU has become a militarized Russophobic organization, the former Russian president has said The European Union has emerged as a hostile force to Moscow, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed, accusing the bloc of arming the "neo-Nazi Kiev regime" to attack Russia. In a Telegram post on Wednesday, Medvedev stated that the old EU as an economic union has "essentially ceased to exist," and in its current "perverted form is no less of a threat" to Russia than NATO. "Brussels today is Russia's true enemy," he wrote. "Slowly but surely, the EU is transforming into a self-sustaining military bloc that will gradually come to compete with NATO..." The ex-president accused "Brusselian cockroaches and narrow-minded leaders of EU countries" of advancing their militarization strategy based on an imaginary "Russia threat," ushering in a new "era of rearmament." According to Medvedev, the EU's goal is to arm the Kiev regime to the point where it becomes invulnerable to Russia, claiming Brussels is ramping up its military-industrial output and building military factories on Ukrainian soil. The EU, he said, is also sending personnel to train Ukrainian militants "so that they can kill our citizens and carry out terrorist attacks." He also accused Brussels of "brazenly" using profits from Russia's frozen assets to finance its "vile activities." "The EU, stuffed with weapons, rainbow freaks, and yapping bitches in Brussels, constitutes a direct threat to Russia," Medvedev wrote. "This, of course, should not hinder our bilateral cooperation with individual European states." Ukraine's potential EU membership - which Russia had not objected to in the past - would now constitute a "danger" for Moscow. While Kiev's NATO ambitions were always seen as a red line for Russia, Medvedev indicated the EU had now adopted a similar confrontational posture. Ukraine made EU and NATO membership official national goals by amending its constitution in 2019. It applied to join the bloc in February 2022 and was granted candidate status later that year. Admission requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. While some members voiced objections, Brussels has backed Kiev's bid. The European Commission suggested Ukraine could join by 2029 if it made sufficient progress in areas such as political and judicial reforms, as well as in combating organized crime and corruption. In his post, Medvedev proposed two outcomes for Ukraine: "Either the EU itself realizes that it doesn't need the Kiev quasi-state at all, or, better, there is no state left to join the EU."
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Yapping bitches in Brussels a direct threat to Russia Medvedev
The EU has become a militarized Russophobic organization, the former Russian president has said The European Union has emerged as a hostile force to Moscow, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed, accusing the bloc of arming the "neo-Nazi Kiev regime" to attack Russia. In a Telegram post on Wednesday, Medvedev stated that the old EU as an economic union has "essentially ceased to exist," and in its current "perverted form is no less of a threat" to Russia than NATO. "Brussels today is Russia's true enemy," he wrote. "Slowly but surely, the EU is transforming into a self-sustaining military bloc that will gradually come to compete with NATO..." The ex-president accused "Brusselian cockroaches and narrow-minded leaders of EU countries" of advancing their militarization strategy based on an imaginary "Russia threat," ushering in a new "era of rearmament." According to Medvedev, the EU's goal is to arm the Kiev regime to the point where it becomes invulnerable to Russia, claiming Brussels is ramping up its military-industrial output and building military factories on Ukrainian soil. The EU, he said, is also sending personnel to train Ukrainian militants "so that they can kill our citizens and carry out terrorist attacks." He also accused Brussels of "brazenly" using profits from Russia's frozen assets to finance its "vile activities." "The EU, stuffed with weapons, rainbow freaks, and yapping bitches in Brussels, constitutes a direct threat to Russia," Medvedev wrote. "This, of course, should not hinder our bilateral cooperation with individual European states." Ukraine's potential EU membership - which Russia had not objected to in the past - would now constitute a "danger" for Moscow. While Kiev's NATO ambitions were always seen as a red line for Russia, Medvedev indicated the EU had now adopted a similar confrontational posture. Ukraine made EU and NATO membership official national goals by amending its constitution in 2019. It applied to join the bloc in February 2022 and was granted candidate status later that year. Admission requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. While some members voiced objections, Brussels has backed Kiev's bid. The European Commission suggested Ukraine could join by 2029 if it made sufficient progress in areas such as political and judicial reforms, as well as in combating organized crime and corruption. In his post, Medvedev proposed two outcomes for Ukraine: "Either the EU itself realizes that it doesn't need the Kiev quasi-state at all, or, better, there is no state left to join the EU."
