🚀 The Space Age began on April 12, 1961. Sixty-two years ago, mankind managed to overcome terrestrial gravitation and orbited the planet. We are particularly proud to recall that Soviet citizen and the first Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin accomplished this great breakthrough.

🧑‍🚀 Although Gagarin was only 27 on the eve of his space mission, he had come a long way from flying with the Saratov air club to joining the first Soviet cosmonaut squad. On that memorable morning in April 1961, he blasted off into the great unknown. A photographer snapped an image of Gagarin shortly before liftoff; the cosmonaut’s face had no sign of fear and showed the famous smile of Gagarin.

Yuri Gagarin spent 108 minutes in outer space and completed a full orbit around the Earth. Almost no one knew that history was being made on that morning. TASS news agency did not break the news until 10:13 am.

On April 14, Gagarin was riding in a convertible through the streets of the Soviet Union. Jubilant crowds cheerfully greeted him and showered his limousine with flowers. Every Soviet citizen felt that he or she was somehow a part of this historical event.

Gagarin was a representative of a county that had risen from the ashes of World War II not long before, and that had already plunged into a tense Space Race rivalry with the United States. Nevertheless, his feat belonged to all of mankind, not just the Soviet people. It served as a prologue to the glorious era of international cooperation in exploring outer space.

🌏 In the next two years, Gagarin visited more than 30 countries where he was given a hero’s welcome. The Soviet cosmonaut’s foreign tour was unofficially called a peace mission – people everywhere sincerely greeted the first man in space, regardless of their political views.

👉 Every year, on #CosmonauticsDay, a countdown begins at 9.07 am Moscow Time until Yuri Gagarin’s safe return home.

#Gagarin #Gagarin1961 #FirstInSpace

Комментарий норвежским СМИ в связи с высылкой сотрудников Посольства

Подтверждаем информацию, опубликованную в пресс-релизе МИД Норвегии, об объявлении 15 сотрудников Посольства «персона нон грата».

Реакция очень негативная. Это - очередной крайне недружественный шаг, на который последуют ответные меры.

***

Kommentar til norske medier angående utvisning av ambassadeansatte

Vi bekrefter informasjonen publisert i UDs pressemelding om at 15 ambassadeansatte er erklært «persona non grata».
Reaksjonen er sterkt negativ. Dette er et nytt ekstremt uvenlig skritt, som følges opp med svartiltak.

12 апреля 2023 г. в честь Дня космонавтики российские соотечественники возложили цветы к памятнику первому космонавту Ю.А.Гагарину (г.Берген).

12. april 2023 i forbindelse med Den internasjonale romfartsdagen nedla russiske landsfolk blomster til minnesmerket for den første kosmonauten Jury Gagarin (Bergen).

⚡️Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the expulsion of Russian Embassy staff in Norway

On April 13, 2023, Norwegian officials took yet another provocative and unfriendly step towards our country by declaring 15 employees of the Russian Embassy in Norway persona non grata.  

☝️ We consider this decision an intentional escalation of hostile attitudes towards Russia. No specific complaints were presented to the Russian diplomats.

❗️Russia-Norway contacts have sustained a serious blow. Norway is reaffirming its status as a country hostile to Russia.

These actions will not go without a harsh response on our part.

📄 Excerpts from the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation

Regional tracks of the foreign policy of Russia: The Asia-Pacific region

☝️ Given the dynamically growing multifaceted potential of the Asia-Pacific region, Russia is going to focus on:

1) increasing economic, security, humanitarian and other cooperation with the states of the region and the #ASEAN Member States;

2) establishing a comprehensive, open, indivisible, transparent, multilateral and equitable architecture of security and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region based on a collective and non-aligned approaches as well as unleashing the region's potential aiming at the establishment of a Great Eurasian Partnership;

3) promoting constructive non-politicized dialog and interstate cooperation in various areas, including with the help of opportunities provided by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum;

4) countering attempts to undermine the regional system of multilateral security and development alliances on the basis of ASEAN, which rests upon the principles of consensus and equality of its participants;

5) developing a broad international cooperation to counter policies aimed at drawing dividing lines in the region.

👉 Read in full

📄 Excerpts from the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation

Regional tracks of the foreign policy of Russia: The Islamic world

☪️ The states of friendly Islamic civilization, which has great prospects for establishing itself as an independent centre of world development within a polycentric world, are increasingly in demand & more reliable partners of Russia in ensuring security & stability as well as in solving economic problems at the global & regional levels.

❗️ Russia seeks to strengthen the comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (#OIC), respecting their social & political systems & traditional spiritual & moral values.

In pursuing these aims, Russia is going to focus on:

1) developing the full-scale & trustful cooperation with Iran 🇮🇷, providing comprehensive support for Syria 🇸🇾, & deepening the multifaceted mutually beneficial partnerships with Türkiye 🇹🇷, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Egypt 🇪🇬 & the other Member States of the OIC, given the extent of their sovereignty & constructiveness of their policy toward Russia;

2) establishing a sustainable comprehensive regional security & cooperation architecture in the Middle East & North Africa;

3) promoting interfaith & intercultural dialog & understanding, consolidating efforts to protect traditional spiritual & moral values, & combating Islamophobia, including via the OIC;

4) reconciling differences & normalizing relations among the Member States of the OIC, as well as between these states & their neighbours, including within the efforts aimed at a comprehensive & lasting solution to the Palestinian question;

5) helping resolve & overcome consequences of armed conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, South, Southeast Asia & other regions where Member States of the OIC are located;

6) unleashing the economic potential of the Member States of the OIC with a view to establishing the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

👉 Read in full

Поздравляем всех наших соотечественников с Великим праздником Пасхи!

Vi gratulerer alle våre landsmenn med Den hellige Påskedagen!

📄 Excerpts from the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation

Regional tracks of the foreign policy of Russia: Africa

🇷🇺 Russia stands in solidarity with the African states in their desire for a more equitable polycentric world and elimination of social and economic inequality, which is growing due to the sophisticated neo-colonial policies of some developed states towards Africa.

☝️ Russia intends to support further the establishment of Africa as a distinctive and influential centre of world development, giving priority to:

1) supporting the sovereignty and independence of interested African states, including through security assistance, inter alia food and energy security, as well as military and military-technical cooperation;

2) assistance in resolving and overcoming the consequences of armed conflicts in Africa, especially inter-ethnic and ethnic ones, advocating the leading role of African states in these efforts, based on the principle "African problems – African solution";

3) strengthening and deepening Russian-African cooperation in various spheres on a bilateral and multilateral basis, primarily within the framework of the African Union and the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum;

4) increasing trade and investment with African states and African integration structures (primarily the African Continental Free Trade Area, the African Export-Import Bank and other leading subregional organizations), including through the #EAEU;

5) promoting and developing links in the humanitarian sphere, including scientific cooperation, training of national personnel, strengthening health systems, providing other assistance, promoting intercultural dialogue, protecting traditional spiritual and moral values, and the right to freedom of religion.

👉 Read in full

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s address to the readers of the monograph History of Ukraine

💬 Allow me to introduce the monograph History of Ukraine, prepared by a team of Russian historians and publicists. The authors touch upon an issue that seems quite topical in present-day conditions, and they assess the stages in the historical development of the area now comprising modern Ukraine.

☝️ It is no secret that years of efforts by Ukrainian radical nationalists and their Western handlers have created a multitude of historical myths and falsifications, and they continue to create them today.

False interpretations of history serve to form a mistaken public perception that Ukraine developed separately from Russia. 

❗️This is why we need to preserve and, if necessary, restore historical truth. It is intended that this monograph will make a contribution to these noble efforts.

Bulletin on protecting children's rights during a special military operation published

This is the first document that compiles information about the activities of Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Federation Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, in helping children in territories affected by military operations.

The Bulletin contains information about support measures for families with children and children's social institutions, minors in need of highly qualified medical care, neglected, orphaned and abandoned children.

It also devotes considerable attention to the work of the Presidential Commissioner in reuniting families separated by military action and exposing misinformation. The document will be updated as new findings emerge. The Bulletin is published in the «Working Papers» section.

http://deti.gov.ru/detigray/upload/documents/April2023/QYQjD1VHtlNu74bQuDAF.pdf

📄 Excerpts from the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation

Regional tracks of the foreign policy of Russia: Latin America and the Caribbean

☝️ Given the progressive strengthening of the sovereignty and multifaceted potential of Latin American and Caribbean states, Russia intends to develop relations with them on a pragmatic, de ideologized and mutually beneficial basis, giving priority attention to:

1) supporting interested Latin American states under pressure from the United States and its allies in securing sovereignty and independence, including through the promotion and expansion of security, military and military-technical cooperation;

2) strengthening friendship, mutual understanding and deepening multifaceted mutually beneficial partnership with Brazil 🇧🇷, Cuba 🇨🇺, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, Venezuela 🇻🇪, developing relations with other Latin American states, taking into account the degree of independence and constructiveness of their policy towards the Russian Federation;

3) increasing mutual trade and investment with Latin American and Caribbean States, including through cooperation with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (#CELAC), the Common Market of the South (#MERCOSUR), the Central American Integration System (#SICA), the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (#ALBA), the Pacific Alliance, and the Caribbean Community (#CARICOM);

4) expanding cultural, scientific, educational, sports, tourism and other humanitarian ties with the states of the region.

👉 Read in full

⚡️ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has issued a report «The Human Rights Situation in Ukraine». The situation in this country seriously deteriorated in 2022.

This is confirmed by the many cases on record of grave human rights violations in all spheres of public life, as well as the unwillingness to take action to improve the situation on the part of those who call themselves the country's leaders.

A number of researchers have rightly noted that the Kiev regime underwent a political mutation in 2022. The environment that it created in the wake of the martial law allowed it to build an authoritarian rule in that country which can be described as:

• an absolute monopoly on power,
• out-of-court reprisals,
• tough censorship,
• liquidation of almost all independent media and the destruction of political opposition,
• total state propaganda,
• an active search for traitors and fictional Russian spies and saboteurs.

Having adopted the ideology and practices of the Ukrainian national radicals, the current regime has, in fact, degenerated into a neo-Nazi dictatorship.

👉 The rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Russian-speaking people and representatives of ethnic minorities, of whom there are many among the IDPs, have been restricted.

👉 Kiev’s campaign against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church has reached a new level in terms of cynicism and hypocrisy.

👉 Numerous violations of citizens' rights to a fair trial continue to occur, especially in criminal cases related to the conflict in Donbass.

👉 With the tacit permission of the Kiev authorities, right-wing radical combat units use civilians as a human shield.

👉 Russian servicemen that have been taken hostage are being held in terrible conditions and subjected to torture and other forms of inhuman and cruel treatment.

❗️The Ukrainian authorities discarded the very thought of bringing perpetrators of these grave crimes to justice.

📂 Read in full

#HumanRightsInUkraine

2️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ years ago, on April 19, 1783, Empress Catherine the Great published a Manifesto on the accession of the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian Empire. This document gave Russia reliable access to the Black Sea and ensured the security of its southern regions for centuries ahead.

📈 After the accession, the Russian authorities banned slave trade, which had existed in the region for centuries, and built new cities, including Sevastopol. The economy and culture received a powerful impetus for development. Domestic trade duties were cancelled, which facilitated the progress of Crimean agriculture, industry and trade and a rapid growth of Crimean cities.

🗝 The Manifesto, which was written by Catherine the Great and General-Field Marshal Grigory Potemkin, was kept in great secrecy in a wooden box upholstered with iron. The Empress had apprehensions about a new war with Turkey and interference by European countries. The Manifesto was published only after the residents of Crimea swore allegiance to Russia by signing oath sheets.

☝️ Grigory Potemkin, who was appointed by Catherine the Great Governor-General of Novorossiya, played a key role in the accession and development of Crimea. His contemporaries noted that he managed to turn the steppes of the Crimean Khanate into a promising and flourishing region of the Russian Empire in a short span of time.