⚡️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.

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📄 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.

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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.

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🎙 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.

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⚡️ 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.

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#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.

On the consequences of supplying depleted uranium shells to Ukraine

Question: You recently said that Britain’s delivery of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine is a sign that London wants to turn the country into a scorched and deserted land. At the same time, President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would be forced to respond if Kiev receives these munitions. Have there been any preventive actions taken against sending depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine?

Maria Zakharova: The United Kingdom’s statements on their intent, desire and readiness to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium munitions are a serious threat, including for the people of Ukraine whom London is allegedly trying to help. We are still concerned about it. Despite several warnings, London has not abandon its plans, which we consider malicious. Maybe they hope they will get away with this crime again, like in Yugoslavia, Iraq and other countries.

No. They should not hope for that. This time, they will answer for this crime.

The Russian party continues to actively use all platforms and resources at its disposal to draw international attention to this problem. We are sounding the alarm; this is the only way to do it. The main thing is that the world community understands that it won’t be spared from this problem. No, this problem will concern everyone.

One recent example is what happened with the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Back then, due to man-made causes, a disaster occurred there and part of radioactive materials polluted the water, which soon reached other continents. To this day, the aftermath has not been eliminated. Nobody should have any illusions that, after polluting the soil at one site (both the soil and the atmosphere),t it will not affect indirectly, or maybe directly, other countries and peoples.

We have repeatedly spoken at the UN Security Council and the OSCE Forum on Security Cooperation about the unacceptability of delivering depleted uranium munitions to Kiev.

The use of such controversial weapons in Ukraine will lead to the further destabilising of the situation, the prolonging of the conflict and the increased suffering of civilians, including from radioactive pollution.

We believe that London should keep what remains of any rational thinking. Maybe it can prevent these reckless, irresponsible criminal plans from happening. And if not – you quoted the Russian leaders correctly – Russia will act based on the situation.

Question: In its statement on Finland of April 4 of this year, the Foreign Ministry focused on the political problems of relations with the country after its accession to NATO. What can you expect in other areas of bilateral ties with your neighbour, which was neutral at one time?

Maria Zakharova: Russia has consistently and sincerely pursued a policy of developing friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Finland. By tradition, this was rooted in strong trade and economic relations and comprehensive ties that had been developed over decades. Finnish leadership destroyed all this by choosing a confrontational course towards our country in the wake of general Western anti-Russia propaganda and military psychosis. The prospects for normalising bilateral relations must be correlated with Finland’s actions. We have said this more than once as well.

This was not our choice. We warned that all this would deal a blow to bilateral ties.

As recorded in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, the key conditions for restoring interaction are as follows: the realisation by the states of Europe that there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial equal cooperation with Russia, an increase in the level of their foreign policy independence and a transition to a policy of neighbourliness with the Russian Federation. This fully applies to bilateral ties with Finland. This is exactly the case. This newly adopted document conceptually formulates all of these principles.

We will use them comprehensively and apply them to all cases and elements of our foreign policy.

Excerpt from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, April 12, 2023

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

Regional tracks of the foreign policy of Russia: European region

❗️Most European states pursue an aggressive policy toward Russia aimed at creating threats to the security & sovereignty of Russia, gaining unilateral economic advantages, undermining domestic political stability & eroding traditional Russian spiritual & moral values, & creating obstacles to Russia's cooperation with allies & partners.

☝️Russia intends to consistently defend its national interests by giving priority attention to:

1) reducing & neutralizing threats to security, territorial integrity, sovereignty, traditional spiritual & moral values, & socio-economic development of Russia, its allies & partners from unfriendly European states, #NATO, the EU & the Council of Europe

2) creating conditions for the cessation of unfriendly actions by European states & their associations <...> & for their transition to a long-term policy of good-neighbourliness & mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia

3) the formation of a new model of coexistence by European states to ensure the safe, sovereign & progressive development of Russia, its allies & partners, & durable peace in the European part of Eurasia, taking into account the potential of multilateral formats, including the #OSCE.

Objective prerequisites for the formation of a new model of coexistence with European states are geographical proximity, historically developed deep cultural, humanitarian & economic ties of the peoples & states of the European part of Eurasia. The main factor complicating the normalization of relations between Russia & European states is the strategic course of the USA & their individual allies to draw & deepen dividing lines in the European region.

❗️The realization by the states of Europe that there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence & mutually beneficial equal cooperation with Russia <...> will have a positive effect on the security & welfare of the European region.

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