MOSCOW

Lavrov tells West not to obstruct anti-terror operations

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday described militants in Syria’s last big rebel-held enclave of Idlib as a “festering abscess” that needed to be liquidated. Speaking after talks with his Saudi counterpart Adel Al Jubeir in Moscow, Lavrov said militants were using civilians as a human shield. Lavrov told reporters that there was a political understanding between Turkey andRead more

Russian speed skater An 'banned from Olympics for doping'

MOSCOW - Emiratesvoice

Russian short track speed skater Viktor Ahn, biathlete Anton Shipulin and cross-country skier Sergei Ustyugov are not on the list of athletes eligible for next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Games, a Russian Olympic Committee official said on Tuesday.The committee’s vice president, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, told RIA Novosti news agency the three had not been included in the pool from which Russian competitorsRead more

Kurds invited to join Syria peace

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russia said Monday it has invited Kurds to take part in an upcoming Syrian peace congress in Sochi despite a Turkish offensive against Kurdish militia in northern Syria."Kurdish representatives have been included on the list of Syrians invited to participate in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress which will take place in Sochi next week," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. TogetherRead more

Lavrov accuses US of encouraging separatism among Syrian Kurds

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Washington of stoking separatist sentiment among Syria's Kurds, as Turkey pressed an offensive against US-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria. "Washington has actively encouraged and continues to encourage separatist sentiments among Kurds," Lavrov told reporters. "This is either a lack of understanding of the situation or an absolutely conscious provocation."Read more

Kurds invited to join Syria peace congress in Sochi

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russia said Monday it had invited Kurds to take part in an upcoming Syrian peace congress in Sochi despite a Turkish offensive against Kurdish militia in northern Syria. "Kurdish representatives have been included on the list of Syrians invited to participate in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress which will take place in Sochi next week," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Read more

West's 'Russiaphobia' worse than

MOSCOW - Emiratesvoice

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said the West’s “unprecedented Russiaphobia” was worse than at the height of the Cold War. “This Russiaphobia is unprecedented. We never saw this during the Cold War,” Lavrov, fresh from a visit to New York on Thursday and Friday, said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant’s online edition. “Back then thereRead more

Russian FM says West's 'Russiaphobia' worse than during Cold War

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said the West's "unprecedented Russiaphobia" was worse than at the height of the Cold War. "This Russiaphobia is unprecedented. We never saw this during the Cold War," Lavrov, fresh from a visit to New York on Thursday and Friday, said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant.Read more

Russia-led Syria peace congress to be held Jan 30: negotiator

MOSCOW - Emiratesvoice

Russian-led peace talks on Syria will be held Jan. 30 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia's chief negotiator Aleksandr Lavrentyev said Saturday. Russia, a steadfast supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is set to co-host the summit with regime ally Iran and rebel backer Turkey with the aim of setting up a new constitution for post-war Syria. OrganizersRead more

Putin takes icy plunge as Orthodox believers mark Epiphany

Moscow - Emiratesvoice

Russian President Vladimir Putin along with millions of Orthodox believers braved freezing temperatures to take a barechested plunge into icy water in a traditional ritual marking the baptism of Jesus. Surrounded by Orthodox priests and glittering religious icons, and with the temperature hovering around minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), Putin lowered himself into waters of Lake Seliger some 350Read more