Latest news with #Volgograd
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moscow accuses British NGO of subversive activities in universities
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused the UK-based Oxford Russia Fund of conducting a covert influence campaign in Russian universities aimed at undermining national security. The organization had already been declared 'undesirable' by Moscow, a designation that prohibits its activities and implies involvement in hostile propaganda efforts. The Oxford Russia Fund began operating in Russia in 2006 with the stated aim of supporting higher education in the humanities and social sciences. While it claimed to provide scholarships and academic resources, its work raised red flags for the authorities. In 2021, the Prosecutor General's Office banned the organization, citing threats to national sovereignty. According to the FSB, it nonetheless continued to operate subversively, maintaining covert ties with university staff and facilitating the spread of foreign narratives. In a statement issued on Thursday, the FSB said faculty members in the regions of Volgograd, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, and Tomsk worked with the banned organization to distribute materials promoting 'support for sexual minorities and LGBT values' – content considered incompatible with traditional Russian values. The NGO also allegedly collected sensitive data about the country's internal political and socioeconomic situation amid the Ukraine conflict. Fifteen Russian nationals have received official warnings under criminal statutes related to collaboration with foreign entities deemed a threat to national security. One professor has already been fined for involvement with a banned group. The FSB and Prosecutor's Office also issued a formal warning to one of the universities involved. The FSB claimed that British intelligence services have long targeted Russian academia as a channel for ideological influence. 'They seek to raise a 'new generation' of Russian citizens in a manner beneficial to London,' the statement said. Over the past decade, Russia has introduced stricter laws to shield society from LGBT propaganda. In 2013, LGBT content was banned for minors, and by 2022, the ban extended to all audiences. In 2023, the 'international LGBT movement' was designated as a terrorist organization. In its statement, the FSB announced that the British Council, the UK's primary cultural outreach institution, has also been declared 'undesirable'. The authorities accuse the NGO of serving as a vehicle for British intelligence, using cultural programming as cover to destabilize sovereign states. The UK has taken an increasingly hostile posture toward Russia, imposing sweeping sanctions while continuing to provide military support to Ukraine, despite the ongoing peace talks mediated by the US. Russia's ambassador in London, Andrey Kelin, recently denounced Britain's behavior as 'belligerent and irresponsible,' calling its support for Ukraine 'senseless' and 'reckless.'
Emirates 24/7
30-05-2025
- Health
- Emirates 24/7
A New Compound Capable of Halting the Progression of Epilepsy Has Been Synthesized
Scientists from Southern Federal University (SFU) and Volgograd State Medical University have synthesized a new compound capable of halting the progression of epilepsy and reducing the frequency of seizures. This was announced by the university's press service. "Researchers from Southern Federal University and Volgograd State Medical University have developed a promising compound that could become an effective treatment for epilepsy. The scientists synthesized a new compound based on benzimidazole derivatives – a class of substances known for their neuroprotective activity. Laboratory tests confirmed that the new molecule not only reduces the frequency of seizures but also protects neurons from damage," the statement said. It was noted that unlike many existing drugs, the new compound does not cause severe side effects or trigger a deterioration in condition after therapy is discontinued. "To assess the effectiveness of the compound, an experimental model was developed: using electrodes attached to the heads of laboratory animals, researchers induced controlled epileptic seizures similar to severe forms of the condition in humans," SFU added. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Russia Today
22-05-2025
- Russia Today
Body found inside the head of iconic WW2 monument
A body has been discovered inside the head of 'The Motherland calls', an iconic 85-meter statue in the city of Volgograd, according to Russia's Investigative Committee. Volgograd, which was known as Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961, saw one of the Second World War's deadliest and most pivotal battles. 'The Motherland Calls', by architect Evgeny Vuchetich, was erected in 1967 to commemorate the defenders of the city and remains the tallest statue of a woman globally. The local branch of Russia's Investigative Committee has told RIA Novosti on Thursday that a probe has been launched into the death of a man inside the statue, who they described as a tourist. A source cited by the news outlet later identified him as the principal of the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education, Nikolay news website reported that he had started to feel unwell during an excursion inside the statue and passed away before paramedics could reach him. Later in the day, the academy announced on its website that Chesnokov had passed away at the age of 68. Chesnokov was a former track and field athlete, a Doctor of Sciences in Pedagogy, a professor and a member of the expert council at the Russian Sports Ministry. He had been the principal of the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education since May 2023.
