Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 April 30 marks 5️⃣0️⃣ years since South Vietnam’s liberation. On this day in 1975, South Vietnam, a puppet regime, fell, unable to resist the offensive by the People’s Army of Vietnam and the popular uprising. It is celebrated annually as the Day of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification in Vietnam.
This signalled the end to many years of war, creating a path towards national unity, while also serving as a symbol of unbreakable courage and resilience of the people of Vietnam in their fight for their sovereignty and unity.
👉 Read in full
When Japan capitulated and World War II ended, Ho Chi Minh, who at the time led Viet Minh, a paramilitary and political organisation fighting for Vietnam’s independence from France and Japan, immediately proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) across the entire territory of Vietnam.
France refused to accept losing its former colony and sent an expeditionary force to Indochina. In the fall of 1945, these troops reinstituted the colonial administration in southern Vietnam.
🕯 Feeling their impotence, they resorted to killing civilians, torturing and raping people, destroying their homes and civilian infrastructure, and looting. Nevertheless, despite all these atrocities, Paris found itself in an untenable, if not hopeless situation by 1954. Signed in July 1954, the so-called Geneva Accords signalled the end of the eight-year war. The document provided for temporarily dividing Vietnam into two zones along the 17th parallel north, as well as holding elections.
The US refused to accept this outcome. It viewed what happened in Vietnam as part of an effort to promote communism in the region.
This is how the US started using toxic chemicals during the War in Vietnam. It happened on August 10, 1961. Operation Ranch Hand consisted of spraying defoliants and herbicides across South Vietnam.
On March 2, 1965, the US launched Operation Rolling Thunder by sending its air force to carpet bomb North Vietnam. These bombing attacks continued until October 31, 1968.
Unlike other precedents, these bombing attacks intentionally targeted civilians and non-military civilian infrastructure in the DRV.
During the war, the American troops dropped over 100 kilogrammes of bombs per person in Vietnam, both North and South, while also spraying the territory with 77 million litres of toxic chemicals which cause mutations. Over 14 percent of Vietnam’s territory was contaminated with these extremely toxic agents.
▪️ March 16, 1968, marked one of the most tragic episodes in the Vietnam war. On that day, the US Army committed a mass murder of unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai, Quang Ngai Province. After artillery shelling, US Army soldiers from C Company landed west of the village and opened indiscriminate fire at the peasants who were working on rice paddies. The Americans threw grenades at the huts and tortured and shot their residents. Overall, they brutally killed 567 civilians, including 173 children and 182 women, 17 of them pregnant women.
Despite Washington’s cruel attempts to snatch the initiative, the US Army continued to sustain heavy losses, which made the war increasingly more unpopular in the US.
In January 1969, the conflicting parties started negotiating an agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. The US finished the withdrawal of its troops from Vietnam on March 29, 1973.
Contrary to the sides’ agreement to hold free and democratic elections in South Vietnam under international control, that provision was not implemented and hostilities soon resumed with renewed vigour.
✊ On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces raised their flag over the Independence Palace in Saigon. The footage of Operation Frequent Wind, conducted by the US on April 29 and 30, 1975, to evacuate Americans from Saigon went down in history as a bright example of a shameful retreat.
That is how the disgraceful and pointless Vietnam war, with its numerous war crimes and massacres of civilians, ended for the US.
This signalled the end to many years of war, creating a path towards national unity, while also serving as a symbol of unbreakable courage and resilience of the people of Vietnam in their fight for their sovereignty and unity.
👉 Read in full
When Japan capitulated and World War II ended, Ho Chi Minh, who at the time led Viet Minh, a paramilitary and political organisation fighting for Vietnam’s independence from France and Japan, immediately proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) across the entire territory of Vietnam.
France refused to accept losing its former colony and sent an expeditionary force to Indochina. In the fall of 1945, these troops reinstituted the colonial administration in southern Vietnam.
🕯 Feeling their impotence, they resorted to killing civilians, torturing and raping people, destroying their homes and civilian infrastructure, and looting. Nevertheless, despite all these atrocities, Paris found itself in an untenable, if not hopeless situation by 1954. Signed in July 1954, the so-called Geneva Accords signalled the end of the eight-year war. The document provided for temporarily dividing Vietnam into two zones along the 17th parallel north, as well as holding elections.
The US refused to accept this outcome. It viewed what happened in Vietnam as part of an effort to promote communism in the region.
This is how the US started using toxic chemicals during the War in Vietnam. It happened on August 10, 1961. Operation Ranch Hand consisted of spraying defoliants and herbicides across South Vietnam.
On March 2, 1965, the US launched Operation Rolling Thunder by sending its air force to carpet bomb North Vietnam. These bombing attacks continued until October 31, 1968.
Unlike other precedents, these bombing attacks intentionally targeted civilians and non-military civilian infrastructure in the DRV.
During the war, the American troops dropped over 100 kilogrammes of bombs per person in Vietnam, both North and South, while also spraying the territory with 77 million litres of toxic chemicals which cause mutations. Over 14 percent of Vietnam’s territory was contaminated with these extremely toxic agents.
▪️ March 16, 1968, marked one of the most tragic episodes in the Vietnam war. On that day, the US Army committed a mass murder of unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai, Quang Ngai Province. After artillery shelling, US Army soldiers from C Company landed west of the village and opened indiscriminate fire at the peasants who were working on rice paddies. The Americans threw grenades at the huts and tortured and shot their residents. Overall, they brutally killed 567 civilians, including 173 children and 182 women, 17 of them pregnant women.
Despite Washington’s cruel attempts to snatch the initiative, the US Army continued to sustain heavy losses, which made the war increasingly more unpopular in the US.
In January 1969, the conflicting parties started negotiating an agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. The US finished the withdrawal of its troops from Vietnam on March 29, 1973.
Contrary to the sides’ agreement to hold free and democratic elections in South Vietnam under international control, that provision was not implemented and hostilities soon resumed with renewed vigour.
✊ On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces raised their flag over the Independence Palace in Saigon. The footage of Operation Frequent Wind, conducted by the US on April 29 and 30, 1975, to evacuate Americans from Saigon went down in history as a bright example of a shameful retreat.
That is how the disgraceful and pointless Vietnam war, with its numerous war crimes and massacres of civilians, ended for the US.
👍1
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 On April 28−29, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the Brazil-chaired meeting of #BRICS Foreign Ministers in Rio de Janeiro.
The event also included an expanded Ministerial session with the participation of representatives of BRICS partner states (Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan). The decision to establish this category of states was made at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
The Ministers held an in-depth exchange of views on a wide range of current international issues and on interaction at multilateral venues. They also discussed further cooperation under the BRICS auspices and preparations for the upcoming 17th BRICS Summit scheduled for July 6−7. They reaffirmed their countries’ intent to continue working in all three key strategic partnership areas: politics and security, the economy and finances, culture and the humanitarian ties.
🤝 The participants of the meeting unanimously called for strengthening multilateralism and preserving the UN’s central role in maintaining peace and security, ensuring sustainable development, and aligning efforts in the fight against climate change.
There were earnest discussions on the state of and prospects for a reform of the international system with an eye to ensuring a fair and equal security, sustainable development, and long-term economic growth for all states without exception.
The Russian Foreign Minister pointed to the relevance of joint efforts to ensure sustainable development of the Global South and East countries and reduce the conflict potential in various regions of the world. In this context, he stressed the importance of the concept of new equal and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia, put forward by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The event also included an expanded Ministerial session with the participation of representatives of BRICS partner states (Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan). The decision to establish this category of states was made at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
The Ministers held an in-depth exchange of views on a wide range of current international issues and on interaction at multilateral venues. They also discussed further cooperation under the BRICS auspices and preparations for the upcoming 17th BRICS Summit scheduled for July 6−7. They reaffirmed their countries’ intent to continue working in all three key strategic partnership areas: politics and security, the economy and finances, culture and the humanitarian ties.
🤝 The participants of the meeting unanimously called for strengthening multilateralism and preserving the UN’s central role in maintaining peace and security, ensuring sustainable development, and aligning efforts in the fight against climate change.
There were earnest discussions on the state of and prospects for a reform of the international system with an eye to ensuring a fair and equal security, sustainable development, and long-term economic growth for all states without exception.
The Russian Foreign Minister pointed to the relevance of joint efforts to ensure sustainable development of the Global South and East countries and reduce the conflict potential in various regions of the world. In this context, he stressed the importance of the concept of new equal and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia, put forward by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ The Agency for Strategic Initiatives, in accordance with the Decree №702 of August 19, 2024, issued by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin “On Providing Humanitarian Support to Persons Sharing Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values”, has published a guide for foreign citizens moving to Russia.
This decree grants foreign citizens and stateless persons the right to move to Russia and obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP) in a simplified manner — without considering the established quota and without undergoing testing for knowledge of the Russian language, history, and legislation.
🇷🇺 Russia is the largest country in the world. It borders 18 states and is washed by 12 seas. Russia has always been home to many peoples, and people of different faiths live side by side here. Today, more than 190 ethnic groups live in the country.
Today, Russia is the keeper and guardian of traditional spiritual and moral values and culture. The country is free, safe, and welcoming to its friends. Russia is a country where one wishes to live and work because of safety, a low crime rate, and social stability. It offers free education and healthcare, as well as excellent infrastructure.
The guide provides detailed information about the country’s geography, its ethnocultural diversity, traditions, and values.
Three stages on your way to Russia
1️⃣ Stage one. Before the move
• Learn more about Russia (1, 2);
• Gather documents to apply for a single-entry ordinary private 90‑day visa;
• Apply with the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy or to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation;
• Search the list of Russian embassies and consulates;
• Visa appointment through the system run by the Consular Department of the MFA of Russia;
• Be sure to review the information for those moving with children.
2️⃣ Stage two. The move
• Customs clearance;
• Housing arrangements (1, 2, 3).
3️⃣ Stage three. In Russia
• Get a registration document at the place of stay at a police office;
• Apply for a temporary residence permit (TRP) with the territorial authorities of the MIA of Russia;
• Employment in the Russian Federation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
👉 Read the guide in full (pdf version)
This decree grants foreign citizens and stateless persons the right to move to Russia and obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP) in a simplified manner — without considering the established quota and without undergoing testing for knowledge of the Russian language, history, and legislation.
🇷🇺 Russia is the largest country in the world. It borders 18 states and is washed by 12 seas. Russia has always been home to many peoples, and people of different faiths live side by side here. Today, more than 190 ethnic groups live in the country.
Today, Russia is the keeper and guardian of traditional spiritual and moral values and culture. The country is free, safe, and welcoming to its friends. Russia is a country where one wishes to live and work because of safety, a low crime rate, and social stability. It offers free education and healthcare, as well as excellent infrastructure.
The guide provides detailed information about the country’s geography, its ethnocultural diversity, traditions, and values.
Three stages on your way to Russia
1️⃣ Stage one. Before the move
• Learn more about Russia (1, 2);
• Gather documents to apply for a single-entry ordinary private 90‑day visa;
• Apply with the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy or to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation;
• Search the list of Russian embassies and consulates;
• Visa appointment through the system run by the Consular Department of the MFA of Russia;
• Be sure to review the information for those moving with children.
2️⃣ Stage two. The move
• Customs clearance;
• Housing arrangements (1, 2, 3).
3️⃣ Stage three. In Russia
• Get a registration document at the place of stay at a police office;
• Apply for a temporary residence permit (TRP) with the territorial authorities of the MIA of Russia;
• Employment in the Russian Federation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
👉 Read the guide in full (pdf version)
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following BRICS Ministerial Meeting, Rio de Janeiro (April 29, 2025)
💬 I would like to once again thank our Brazilian friends for their traditional hospitality and the excellent organisation of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting, as well as for holding the additional meeting between BRICS participants and their partner countries.
These countries were able to take part in today’s meeting following the Kazan Summit. Held as part of Russia’s chairmanship, it made a historical decision to create this partner category, which includes Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. <...>
🌐 We spoke out in favour of further enhancing the contribution by #BRICS and the countries of the Global Majority in general to addressing the key challenges the world is facing today. We noted that collective actions by our group can play an important role in achieving sustainable development goals, ensuring security and fostering economic growth.
At the meeting, we paid special attention to the need to continue our efforts to promote reform within international financial institutions, primarily by revising IMF quotas, which must reflect the role of the Global South and East in the global financial system and economy. <...>
There was quite a lengthy discussion on the latest regional and international developments, including the multiple crisis situations around the world. The deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and across the Middle East in general, as well as in many regions of the African continent is a matter of special concern. <...>
We reaffirmed our support for reforming the UN Security Council, including our support for India and Brazil becoming permanent members of the UN Security Council, while also addressing the issue of Africa’s representation.
👉 Much has been said about the Ukraine situation. Once again, we offered a detailed insight into our principled approaches to settling this conflict by addressing its root causes.
Excerpts from the Q&A session:
• Our proposal, which President Vladimir Putin has made public, is to initiate direct talks without any preconditions. In the current situation, a ceasefire is a preliminary condition that will be used to provide assistance to the Kiev regime and reinforce its combat capabilities.
• Certainly, it is imperative that all parties have a clear understanding of the evolving dynamics between Moscow and Washington. <...> We advocate for an honest and equal dialogue aimed at building a balance of interests. The United States has reciprocated with similar signals. Russia and the US are working together across multiple domains. In fact, they continue to cooperate literally as we speak.
• National currencies account for over 65% of trade between BRICS countries, while the share of the US dollar has diminished to one third. Other tasks stipulate the creation of payment instruments and platforms, including discussing the possibility of creating a cross-border payment system and an electronic depository and clearance system (BRICS Clear), and a unified mechanism for exchanging trade and economic information.
• The International Criminal Court has completely discredited itself. It is being steered by Western countries. It protects some countries from criticism even though they openly violate international law, and adopts measures aimed at punishing other countries, up to and including arrest warrants, in the absence of factual proof.
Read in full
💬 I would like to once again thank our Brazilian friends for their traditional hospitality and the excellent organisation of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting, as well as for holding the additional meeting between BRICS participants and their partner countries.
These countries were able to take part in today’s meeting following the Kazan Summit. Held as part of Russia’s chairmanship, it made a historical decision to create this partner category, which includes Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. <...>
🌐 We spoke out in favour of further enhancing the contribution by #BRICS and the countries of the Global Majority in general to addressing the key challenges the world is facing today. We noted that collective actions by our group can play an important role in achieving sustainable development goals, ensuring security and fostering economic growth.
At the meeting, we paid special attention to the need to continue our efforts to promote reform within international financial institutions, primarily by revising IMF quotas, which must reflect the role of the Global South and East in the global financial system and economy. <...>
There was quite a lengthy discussion on the latest regional and international developments, including the multiple crisis situations around the world. The deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and across the Middle East in general, as well as in many regions of the African continent is a matter of special concern. <...>
We reaffirmed our support for reforming the UN Security Council, including our support for India and Brazil becoming permanent members of the UN Security Council, while also addressing the issue of Africa’s representation.
👉 Much has been said about the Ukraine situation. Once again, we offered a detailed insight into our principled approaches to settling this conflict by addressing its root causes.
Excerpts from the Q&A session:
• Our proposal, which President Vladimir Putin has made public, is to initiate direct talks without any preconditions. In the current situation, a ceasefire is a preliminary condition that will be used to provide assistance to the Kiev regime and reinforce its combat capabilities.
• Certainly, it is imperative that all parties have a clear understanding of the evolving dynamics between Moscow and Washington. <...> We advocate for an honest and equal dialogue aimed at building a balance of interests. The United States has reciprocated with similar signals. Russia and the US are working together across multiple domains. In fact, they continue to cooperate literally as we speak.
• National currencies account for over 65% of trade between BRICS countries, while the share of the US dollar has diminished to one third. Other tasks stipulate the creation of payment instruments and platforms, including discussing the possibility of creating a cross-border payment system and an electronic depository and clearance system (BRICS Clear), and a unified mechanism for exchanging trade and economic information.
• The International Criminal Court has completely discredited itself. It is being steered by Western countries. It protects some countries from criticism even though they openly violate international law, and adopts measures aimed at punishing other countries, up to and including arrest warrants, in the absence of factual proof.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#CrimesOfTheKievRegime
📄 On April 28, the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Centre hosted a presentation of a new report by the International Public Tribunal on the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis: “Atrocities of the Kiev Regime in the City of Kurakhovo.”
Following the retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the International Public Tribunal conducted a survey among civilians in the city of Kurakhovo (DPR).
Residents recalled how, since 2014, Ukrainian terror against the Russian-speaking population had been escalating. In line with the established practices of the Kiev regime, crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis against civilians were met with total impunity.
Eyewitness testimonies presented in the report fully expose the Kiev regime's systemic and targeted killings of Russian-speaking residents of the city — including women and the elderly — carried out with small arms and lethal unmanned aerial vehicles. These include both kamikaze drones and UAVs used to drop various explosive devices. The report also documents the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, which constitutes war crimes with #NoStatuteOfLimitations.
Full Report: “Atrocities of the Kiev Regime in the City of Kurakhovo”
📄 On April 28, the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Centre hosted a presentation of a new report by the International Public Tribunal on the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis: “Atrocities of the Kiev Regime in the City of Kurakhovo.”
Following the retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the International Public Tribunal conducted a survey among civilians in the city of Kurakhovo (DPR).
Residents recalled how, since 2014, Ukrainian terror against the Russian-speaking population had been escalating. In line with the established practices of the Kiev regime, crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis against civilians were met with total impunity.
Eyewitness testimonies presented in the report fully expose the Kiev regime's systemic and targeted killings of Russian-speaking residents of the city — including women and the elderly — carried out with small arms and lethal unmanned aerial vehicles. These include both kamikaze drones and UAVs used to drop various explosive devices. The report also documents the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, which constitutes war crimes with #NoStatuteOfLimitations.
Full Report: “Atrocities of the Kiev Regime in the City of Kurakhovo”
Forwarded from Russian Delegation to UNESCO
🎷The International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April.
Since 2022, Moscow has been hosting the biggest jazz festival in Russia and one of the largest jazz festivals in the world — the Moscow Jazz Festival.
In 2025, the main programme of the Moscow Jazz Festival will be held in the capital of Russia from 9 to 15 June.
⚡️Igor Butman, the Festival's Artistic Director and Founder, as well as a famous promoter of Jazz art in Russia, will perform an exclusive concert at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 6 June 2025 as part of the celebration of Russian Language Day.
Since 2022, Moscow has been hosting the biggest jazz festival in Russia and one of the largest jazz festivals in the world — the Moscow Jazz Festival.
In 2025, the main programme of the Moscow Jazz Festival will be held in the capital of Russia from 9 to 15 June.
⚡️Igor Butman, the Festival's Artistic Director and Founder, as well as a famous promoter of Jazz art in Russia, will perform an exclusive concert at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 6 June 2025 as part of the celebration of Russian Language Day.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Oral statement by the Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maxim Musikhin at the International Court of Justice, (The Hague, April 30, 2025)
💬 Today, we confront a crisis of legality and humanity in light of systematic undermining of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by Israel and its negligence towards the overall obligations under international law <...> Gaza balances on the brink of famine, hospitals lie in ruins, and millions of Palestinians in the Strip as well as in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, face existential despair.
Key points:
▪️In 2004, this Court affirmed that Israel’s construction of the Wall violated international humanitarian law (IHL). In 2024, it reaffirmed Israel’s status as an Occupying Power in the Palestinian Territory, including the Gaza Strip. These Opinions constitute a solid foundation for facilitating peace in the region and ensuring the rights of Palestinians to self-determination, as well as providing for the legal qualification of Israeli actions.
▪️Today, we address a new dimension: Israel’s October 2024 laws banning UNRWA’s operations, which in our view directly contravene the norms of IHL, the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
▪️Established in 1949 by General Assembly Resolution 302, UNRWA was created to address the catastrophic displacement of 750,000 Palestinians. Today, it serves 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
▪️In Gaza, as mentioned in the UNSC Press Statement of 30 October 2024, UNRWA remains the backbone of all humanitarian response and no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA`s capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
▪️To this effect Russia has been consistently advocating for an unconditional and sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages and detainees, safe and unhindered humanitarian access as well as the restart of the peace process on a universally recognized international legal basis with two-state solution formula at the center.
▪️ Israel claims its laws on UNRWA are necessary for national security. <...> Even so, these security concerns do not absolve Israel from other norms of international law including the norms on privileges and immunities of international organizations.
▪️ Israel’s Laws on the prohibition of the work of UNRWA will undoubtedly worsen the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and will make the population in the said Territory “inadequately supplied”, the language used in Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
❗️ Israel’s legislation is not merely unlawful — it is an attack on the UN’s foundational principles. If tolerated, it sets a very dangerous precedent for states to dismantle any UN entity they deem inconvenient.
Read in full
💬 Today, we confront a crisis of legality and humanity in light of systematic undermining of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by Israel and its negligence towards the overall obligations under international law <...> Gaza balances on the brink of famine, hospitals lie in ruins, and millions of Palestinians in the Strip as well as in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, face existential despair.
Key points:
▪️In 2004, this Court affirmed that Israel’s construction of the Wall violated international humanitarian law (IHL). In 2024, it reaffirmed Israel’s status as an Occupying Power in the Palestinian Territory, including the Gaza Strip. These Opinions constitute a solid foundation for facilitating peace in the region and ensuring the rights of Palestinians to self-determination, as well as providing for the legal qualification of Israeli actions.
▪️Today, we address a new dimension: Israel’s October 2024 laws banning UNRWA’s operations, which in our view directly contravene the norms of IHL, the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
▪️Established in 1949 by General Assembly Resolution 302, UNRWA was created to address the catastrophic displacement of 750,000 Palestinians. Today, it serves 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
▪️In Gaza, as mentioned in the UNSC Press Statement of 30 October 2024, UNRWA remains the backbone of all humanitarian response and no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA`s capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
▪️To this effect Russia has been consistently advocating for an unconditional and sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages and detainees, safe and unhindered humanitarian access as well as the restart of the peace process on a universally recognized international legal basis with two-state solution formula at the center.
▪️ Israel claims its laws on UNRWA are necessary for national security. <...> Even so, these security concerns do not absolve Israel from other norms of international law including the norms on privileges and immunities of international organizations.
▪️ Israel’s Laws on the prohibition of the work of UNRWA will undoubtedly worsen the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and will make the population in the said Territory “inadequately supplied”, the language used in Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
❗️ Israel’s legislation is not merely unlawful — it is an attack on the UN’s foundational principles. If tolerated, it sets a very dangerous precedent for states to dismantle any UN entity they deem inconvenient.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📆 8️⃣0️⃣ years ago — on April 30, 1945, the forces of the 2nd Belorussian Front of the Red Army under the command of Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky liberated prisoners of the largest women's concentration camp in Nazi Germany — Ravensbrück.
More than 132'000 women and children were #Ravensbrück prisoners during #WWII, of whom about 100'000 were killed by the Nazis or died from horrendous and inhumane conditions of confinement. The Germans brought prisoners there from all over Europe, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. Soviet women were the second (!) largest group of Ravensbrück prisoners.
During WWII, among the camp's prisoners there were niece of French President Charles de Gaulle Geneviève de Gaulle-Antonioz, Polish film director Wanda Jakubowska, Soviet intelligence officer and Hero of the Soviet Union Maria Bayda, spouse of a prominent figure of the German communist movement Ernst Thalmann Rosa Thalmann and others.
▪️Women of various ages died in the camp of starvation, exhausting labour, and physical abuse by the guards. Since 1942, Ravensbrück was used by the Nazis as a 'death camp', where people were purposefully exterminated. The Nazis killed their victims in gas chambers and burned the bodies in a crematorium.
Cruel and inhuman medical experiments were conducted on concentration camp inmates, mass sterilisation of female prisoners was carried out.
German torturers deliberately inflicted serious injuries on women, amputated healthy limbs, infected the prisoners with gangrene, and injected infectious agents (staphylococcus, tetanus, various types of bacteria) in order to conduct experiments in wound healing and transplantation.
***
⚔️ On April 30, 1945, the 492nd Rifle Regiment of the 199th Rifle Division of the 49th Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front of the Red Army after the fierce fighting against the Nazis completely liberated Ravensbrück.
Soviet liberators were welcomed by 3'000 prisoners. Among those rescued there were 700 Soviet citizens, including prominent activists of the communist movement. On the liberation day, the former prisoners of the camp took an oath:
💬 “In the name of many thousands of tortured victims, in the name of mothers and sisters turned to ashes, in the name of all victims of fascism, we swear! Never to forget the black night of Ravensbrück. To the children of children to tell all about it.”
On April 27, due to the rapid advancement of the Soviet forces to Ravensbrück, the Nazis evacuated a significant number of the camp's prisoners. They drove up to 30,000 people to the 'death march' to the west, leaving in place only helpless, exhausted people who were unable to move. They were in an exceptionally bad condition, without food, or any medical help.
The Soviet command issued an instruction to take urgent measures to save the people left in the camp. A military hospital was opened, where the best Soviet doctors fought for the lives of the liberated prisoners. Food was provided, and disinfection was carried out throughout the camp. Water supply and sewerage were rebuilt, and the necessary medicines were delivered.
🌟 In 1959, a museum and a memorial complex were opened in Ravensbrück in memory of the camp’s victims and Soviet liberators.
#WeRemember #NoStatuteOfLimitations
More than 132'000 women and children were #Ravensbrück prisoners during #WWII, of whom about 100'000 were killed by the Nazis or died from horrendous and inhumane conditions of confinement. The Germans brought prisoners there from all over Europe, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. Soviet women were the second (!) largest group of Ravensbrück prisoners.
During WWII, among the camp's prisoners there were niece of French President Charles de Gaulle Geneviève de Gaulle-Antonioz, Polish film director Wanda Jakubowska, Soviet intelligence officer and Hero of the Soviet Union Maria Bayda, spouse of a prominent figure of the German communist movement Ernst Thalmann Rosa Thalmann and others.
▪️Women of various ages died in the camp of starvation, exhausting labour, and physical abuse by the guards. Since 1942, Ravensbrück was used by the Nazis as a 'death camp', where people were purposefully exterminated. The Nazis killed their victims in gas chambers and burned the bodies in a crematorium.
Cruel and inhuman medical experiments were conducted on concentration camp inmates, mass sterilisation of female prisoners was carried out.
German torturers deliberately inflicted serious injuries on women, amputated healthy limbs, infected the prisoners with gangrene, and injected infectious agents (staphylococcus, tetanus, various types of bacteria) in order to conduct experiments in wound healing and transplantation.
***
⚔️ On April 30, 1945, the 492nd Rifle Regiment of the 199th Rifle Division of the 49th Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front of the Red Army after the fierce fighting against the Nazis completely liberated Ravensbrück.
Soviet liberators were welcomed by 3'000 prisoners. Among those rescued there were 700 Soviet citizens, including prominent activists of the communist movement. On the liberation day, the former prisoners of the camp took an oath:
💬 “In the name of many thousands of tortured victims, in the name of mothers and sisters turned to ashes, in the name of all victims of fascism, we swear! Never to forget the black night of Ravensbrück. To the children of children to tell all about it.”
On April 27, due to the rapid advancement of the Soviet forces to Ravensbrück, the Nazis evacuated a significant number of the camp's prisoners. They drove up to 30,000 people to the 'death march' to the west, leaving in place only helpless, exhausted people who were unable to move. They were in an exceptionally bad condition, without food, or any medical help.
The Soviet command issued an instruction to take urgent measures to save the people left in the camp. A military hospital was opened, where the best Soviet doctors fought for the lives of the liberated prisoners. Food was provided, and disinfection was carried out throughout the camp. Water supply and sewerage were rebuilt, and the necessary medicines were delivered.
#WeRemember #NoStatuteOfLimitations
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🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez following talks (Santo Domingo, April 30, 2025)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Ladies and gentlemen,
I believe the talks that Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez and I just had were very productive, and were held in an atmosphere of mutual trust.
We discussed in detail bilateral, regional, and international issues, including our interaction at the UN.
🇷🇺🇩🇴 We noted that this is the first visit by the Russian Foreign Minister to the Dominican Republic in the history of our relations, which will turn 80 soon. This visit is timed to coincide with the opening of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Santo Domingo.
Our Ambassador Alexey Seredin and his small, but tight-knit and efficient staff have been working here for several weeks now. <...> We will help them in every way we can for the Embassy to start functioning in its own premises as soon as possible and to focus on promoting our relations with the Dominican Republic across all areas.
🤝 The Dominican Republic is our promising partner in Latin America and the Caribbean. We appreciate the traditional friendly ties between us that are based on mutual respect and balance of interests. <...>
Both sides have noted the availability of significant opportunities for deepening our trade and economic cooperation. We covered promising areas of interaction, primarily, tourism. Tourist exchanges are further promoted by the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Dominican Republic on the terms and conditions for waiving visa formalities for mutual travel of the citizens of the Russian Federation and the citizens of the Dominican Republic. That is, travel for citizens of the two countries is visa-free. <...>
We agreed to promote the establishment of direct contacts between business circles and support them every step of the way. There are initiatives from both sides, including the initiative of the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Russian Federation, who, in conjunction with our Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is preparing a business forum to present the opportunities offered by the Dominican Republic. Russian regions will be invited to participate. This is a promising approach which we will promote in every possible way. <...>
Both sides are interested in expanding cultural, humanitarian, and educational ties, including training professional staff. We provide government scholarships - and will continue to do so - to Dominican students studying at Russian universities. <...>
We discussed our interaction at the UN. We noted that in most cases our positions overlap. We are grateful to the Dominican Republic for supporting a number of Russian initiatives, including resolutions on unacceptability of glorifying Nazism, the importance of preventing militarisation of outer space, and a number of other initiatives, including a recently adopted resolution - for the first time ever - on the importance of countering the revival of colonialism in any form.
We also focused on discussions about the UN reform and the multipolar world order trends. In this regard, at the request of my colleague, I provided a detailed account of the discussions and final decisions of the BRICS Ministerial Council meeting and the meeting of #BRICS members with partner states, which took place in Rio de Janeiro on April 28-29.
I see that conceptually and substantively we can coordinate our actions, because the Russian Federation has an observer status with the Association of Caribbean States. We hope that it will soon acquire the same status with the Central American Integration System.
🤝 I would like to once again say thank you to our Dominican friends for the excellent hospitality and organisation of the events, and warm weather, too.
#RussiaDominicanRepublic
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Ladies and gentlemen,
I believe the talks that Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez and I just had were very productive, and were held in an atmosphere of mutual trust.
We discussed in detail bilateral, regional, and international issues, including our interaction at the UN.
🇷🇺🇩🇴 We noted that this is the first visit by the Russian Foreign Minister to the Dominican Republic in the history of our relations, which will turn 80 soon. This visit is timed to coincide with the opening of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Santo Domingo.
Our Ambassador Alexey Seredin and his small, but tight-knit and efficient staff have been working here for several weeks now. <...> We will help them in every way we can for the Embassy to start functioning in its own premises as soon as possible and to focus on promoting our relations with the Dominican Republic across all areas.
🤝 The Dominican Republic is our promising partner in Latin America and the Caribbean. We appreciate the traditional friendly ties between us that are based on mutual respect and balance of interests. <...>
Both sides have noted the availability of significant opportunities for deepening our trade and economic cooperation. We covered promising areas of interaction, primarily, tourism. Tourist exchanges are further promoted by the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Dominican Republic on the terms and conditions for waiving visa formalities for mutual travel of the citizens of the Russian Federation and the citizens of the Dominican Republic. That is, travel for citizens of the two countries is visa-free. <...>
We agreed to promote the establishment of direct contacts between business circles and support them every step of the way. There are initiatives from both sides, including the initiative of the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Russian Federation, who, in conjunction with our Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is preparing a business forum to present the opportunities offered by the Dominican Republic. Russian regions will be invited to participate. This is a promising approach which we will promote in every possible way. <...>
Both sides are interested in expanding cultural, humanitarian, and educational ties, including training professional staff. We provide government scholarships - and will continue to do so - to Dominican students studying at Russian universities. <...>
We discussed our interaction at the UN. We noted that in most cases our positions overlap. We are grateful to the Dominican Republic for supporting a number of Russian initiatives, including resolutions on unacceptability of glorifying Nazism, the importance of preventing militarisation of outer space, and a number of other initiatives, including a recently adopted resolution - for the first time ever - on the importance of countering the revival of colonialism in any form.
We also focused on discussions about the UN reform and the multipolar world order trends. In this regard, at the request of my colleague, I provided a detailed account of the discussions and final decisions of the BRICS Ministerial Council meeting and the meeting of #BRICS members with partner states, which took place in Rio de Janeiro on April 28-29.
I see that conceptually and substantively we can coordinate our actions, because the Russian Federation has an observer status with the Association of Caribbean States. We hope that it will soon acquire the same status with the Central American Integration System.
🤝 I would like to once again say thank you to our Dominican friends for the excellent hospitality and organisation of the events, and warm weather, too.
#RussiaDominicanRepublic