Politics of Russia

The EU announced on Saturday that it widens its sanctions list against Russia to include Russian chiefs of intelligence services. 

The list was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

"Industrial scale evidence tampering"

CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday that he saw "industrial scale evidence tampering"at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines MH17.

It is part of an apparent cover-up attempt, he was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

The EU is ready to toughen sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine plane disaster, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday, indicating that it could target whole sectors of the economy including goods with possible military uses.
      

Putin warns against "mercenary political goals"

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin has appealed on the warring sides in Ukraine to secure conditions for a full investigation of the crash of a Malaysian Airlines plane.

Rescuers found 251 bodies and 86 fragments of bodies by late on July 21 at the crash site of a Malaysian airliner and a second train with refrigerator wagons to take the remains away has arrived, a Ukrainian government committee said.

"U.S. sanctions represent conspiracy against Europe"

MOSCOW -- Russia is "not afraid" of either the new or the previous sanctions that the United States introduced against it.

This is according to statements made by those connected with the authorities, from the circles of the president himself, to advisers in Russian ministries.

The United States and Europe strengthened sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine Wednesday, with President Barack Obama taking his first direct swipes in the finance, military and energy sectors of the Russian economy.
      

Russia denies considering strikes

MOSCOW -- The Kremlin denied on Monday a report that Moscow was considering targeted strikes against Ukraine, AFP said.

The report in the daily Kommersant suggested that this option was on the table after shells landed across the border and killed a Russian civilian.

MOSCOW - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic continues his two-day visit to Moscow where he will confer with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

Putin and Vucic will discuss the prospects of further strengthening of the political dialogue between Russia and Serbia, the Kremlin stated in a release.

PM in Moscow: I always feel good in Russia

MOSCOW -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday received his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić, who is on a two-day working visit to the Russian Federation.

The prime ministers are meeting in Gorky, near Moscow, and will later be joined by their delegations.