⚡️ Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's statement on Remembrance Day of Journalists who Perished in the Line of Duty (December 15, 2025)

💬 December 15 in Russia is dedicated to remembering journalists who lost their lives while performing their professional duties.

Established in 1991 at the initiative of the Russian Union of Journalists, this day pays tribute to the courage and professionalism of correspondents, reporters, photographers and camera operators whose lives were tragically cut short while carrying out editorial assignments – whether on the front line of armed conflict, while covering street unrest, at the epicentre of disasters and natural calamities, or as a result of terrorist attacks committed against them.

Journalism places high demands on those who choose to devote their lives to this profession. It consistently ranks among the most dangerous professions – both in wartime and in peacetime. The dedication, selflessness, courage, readiness to take risks and capacity for self-sacrifice shown by those for whom journalism has become a true calling command admiration and profound respect.

▪️ Sadly, 2025 has brought new and irreparable losses. Journalists Alexander Martemyanov, Alexander Fedorchak, Andrey Panov, Anna Prokofieva, Nikita Goldin and Ivan Zuev were killed in the line of duty at the hands of militants of the Kiev regime.

Other names will forever remain in our hearts – Igor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin, Andrey Stenin, Anatoly Klyan, Daria Dugina, Oleg Klokov, Maxim Fomin (Vladlen Tatarsky), Rostislav Zhuravlev, Boris Maksudov, Semyon Yeryomin, Valery Kozhin, Nikita Tsisagi, Yulia Kuznetsova, and many others.

As before, we are convinced that responsibility for the murders of journalists and war correspondents must be shared by the Kiev regime – emboldened by impunity – together with its Western patrons, as well as by various multilateral structures and human rights institutions that deliberately remain silent about these bloody crimes, thereby encouraging Ukrainian neo-Nazis to commit further atrocities.

❗️ Unlike the silent Western human rights organizations, we will not turn a blind eye to this vicious and immoral practice and will insist that authorized international officials fulfil their responsibilities in good faith. All those responsible for these crimes will be identified and held accountable.

Today, representatives of Russian media outlets risk their well-being, health and even their lives beyond combat zones, becoming targets of unprecedented pressure by the authorities of the “collective West” and its ideological satellites. To understand the scale and variety of forms of repression against Russian media professionals, we recommend consulting the regularly updated special section “Foreign reprisals against Russian journalists and media” on the MFA Russia website.

We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen media professionals who fulfilled their duty to the very end, and we mourn together with them. May their memory be eternal.

#InMemoriam

Даше Дугиной - 33 года.

Философ, публицист и общественный деятель, она была убита в результате теракта по прямому указанию киевского режима. Но Даша жива, поскольку живет ее дело. А преступную клику в Киеве настигнет неотвратимое возмездие.
Сегодня - День памяти журналистов, погибших при исполнении профессиональных обязанностей.

#ПамятиЖурналистов

Today is Dasha Dugina’s 33rd Birthday.

A philosopher, publicist, and public figure, she was killed in a terrorist attack on the direct orders of the Kiev regime. But Dasha lives on, because her work lives on. And the criminal clique in Kiev will face inevitable retribution.
Today is the Remembrance Day of Journalists who Perished in the Line of Duty.

#InMemoriam

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting media corporation (Moscow, December 15, 2025)

Read in full

Key points:

• Throughout history, Europe has repeatedly been a source of all evil and spawn of deepest crises. <...> Europe is now trying again to dictate to everyone its terms and wishes which seem to be connected with the Ukraine crisis.

• Europe is using it to assert itself, to throw sand in the wheels and scheme against the United States and all those who seek a just settlement.

• The theory and practices of Nazism are being resurrected in Europe, primarily in Brussels but also in Berlin, London, Paris, not to mention the Baltic States.

• Europe is waging a war with us once again with Ukrainians under a Nazi flag, <...> pumping Ukraine with increasingly more modern weapons.

• One of major purposes [of the new US National Security Strategy] is to make Europe know its place and to prevent it from imposing its liberal ways

• The United States wants to set up its policy for opposing China. <...> We are not against competition, however, it should be fair.

• Europeans have theft running in their blood, which we can see from the example of “frozen” Russian assets. By the way, Iranian assets are also partially frozen like Venezuelan assets and assets of many other countries.

• The West, including the United States, do not always has enough power to maintain its domination, and thus they have to resort to dirty, anti-democratic and anti-market methods.

• The West is planning and trying to split the group of the five Caspian states and impose decisions which will not get a consensus of the Caspian countries.

• The second outrageous example is Palestine. Not only was the UN Security Council resolution violated in this case, but also a great number of resolutions of both the Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

• The last year’s developments around the Iranian nuclear programme, the absolutely outrageous illegitimate actions by Europeans, the attempts to put the blame on the Islamic Republic of Iran for the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (#JCPOA), <...> reaffirms that the entire world order is being subject to most severe tests.

• When Iran was attacked by Israel followed by the United States, we condemned those actions as having absolutely nothing to do with international legality. The key is that so far no one has offered any clear evidence that Iran has violated something, neither the IAEA, nor the Israelis, nor the Americans.

• Russia is firm in its commitment to ensuring the Islamic Republic of Iran its unconditional right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, just as any other country.

• Russia and Iran signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. We will always support Iran and promote its legitimate rights.

• Our bilateral plans [with Iran] are serious enough as are our plans of cooperation in the world arena. I mean in #BRICS, the #SCO and the #EAEU. This includes the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

• We are also engaged in investment cooperation. In addition to the North–South corridor, there is also such a flagship project as the Bushehr NPP – its construction is ongoing.

• There is a promising format that will help strengthen security in the [Middle East] – I am referring to the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (#GCC).

• There is the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, and we want to work with the Islamic Republic of Iran and with other neighbouring countries, including within this organisation’s framework.

• In recent months, the Islamist Republic has made it clear that it is not seeking war or new conflicts.

• In the United States and certain countries of Europe <...> there are people who have been speaking out in favour of reviving the arms limitation and control frameworks, including transparency measures. Iran and Russia have been proactive in backing this approach.

🎙 Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (Moscow, December 11, 2025)

🔹 #KievRegimeCrimes
🔹 Ukraine crisis
🔹 Russia-Africa Partnership Forum
🔹 Report on Russian citizens and compatriots abroad
🔹 Impact of anti-Russian restrictions on their authors
🔹 Thailand–Cambodia border situation
🔹 Detention of Russian scholar in Poland

📖 Read
📺 Watch

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#KievRegimeCrimes

The Kiev neo-Nazi regime continues to commit war crimes and acts of terrorism against Russia. In just the past week, attacks from Ukrainian artillery and UAVs have affected 65 civilians in our regions; seven of them were killed, with another 58 wounded, including one child.

<...>

Representatives of the Kiev junta, including Zelensky’s wife Yelena, use every international venue to promote the false narrative of “Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia,” describing “their suffering under occupation” and accusing Russia of “changing their identity.”

In reality, Zelensky himself and his wife, as well as the anti-people regime led by him, are the main enemy of Ukrainians of all ages, including minors.

The official authorities, teachers, caregivers, bloggers, and language activists target Russian-speaking children with impunity, calling them “wrong children” and demanding that they “set things right.” What is this if not an attempt to forcibly change their language identity?

#Thailand #Cambodia

Russia has maintained traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia.

In this context, the new escalation of the confrontation on the border between these two friendly nations of Russia involving the use of heavy weapons has become a matter of grave concern.

We call on both Sides to exercise restraint for avoiding civilian casualties, resume dialogue as quickly as possible in order to achieve a ceasefire and a complete settlement of this conflict.

Territorial disputes of this kind result from the West’s long-standing colonial policy. Today, amid the apparent deterioration in the global security environment, relying on ASEAN’s spirit of unity and solidarity has special importance for overcoming historical differences.

#UK #Skripals

On December 4, 2025, a 178-page report of “an independent public inquiry” into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in Amesbury in July 2018, allegedly from Novichok poisoning, has been presented to the British parliament.

Just as we expected, that pseudo-public inquiry was initiated and carried out by the British establishment to persuade the public to accept the unsubstantiated anti-Russian version of the events, according to which the death of Dawn Sturgess was directly connected with the alleged poisoning of the Skripals.

This is obviously yet another flagrant lie concocted by the British for none other than its own allies.

A politicised and non-transparent nature of that “public inquiry” clearly shows that London never wanted to conduct a just and objective investigation. Its security services and law enforcement agencies, as well as its politicians of all stripes, have long been using these incidents as evidential proof of the “Russian threat.” The British used them to launch the sanctions campaign and create new pretexts for accusing Russia of espionage, arson, and cyberattacks. It was obviously an orchestrated operation aimed at damaging the international prestige of Russia and its leaders.

#Poland #FreeButyagin

Reports have surfaced regarding the detention in Poland of a Russian scholar Alexander Butyagin.

Alexander Butyagin is an employee of the State Hermitage Museum. We consider the charges levelled against this distinguished Russian archaeologist – accusing him of “destroying cultural heritage” on Russian territory – to be utterly absurd.

It is completely obvious to us that this is nothing more than a political provocation, lacking any legal merit.

We will persist in demanding the immediate release of Alexander Butyagin.

✉️ Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to participants in the event dedicated to inaugurating Kazan as Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2026 (December 15, 2025)

💬 Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends,

I am delighted to welcome the ambassadors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representatives of the federal authorities, members of the delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan, the leaders of religious associations, and all other guests.

Russia as the largest Eurasian power and a civilisational state has traditionally maintained honest relations with Islamic countries based on mutual trust.

An absolute majority of Muslim countries are our long-time friends and partners. We are united by our strong commitment to building a more just multipolar world on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, interconnection and as a whole, and on the values of equal and indivisible security.

☝️ We are firmly committed to respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of nations, and their natural right to freely choose their development paths.

In this connection, we regard the decision of the 13th Conference of the Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World, organised by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO), to declare Kazan as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2026 as recognition of our multinational and multifaith country’s achievements in the preservation of the rich historical heritage of our peoples.

The choice of the capital of Tatarstan was well-deserved. Kazan is a vibrant and distinctive city standing at the crossroads of cultures and religions. People of different nationalities and confessions have lived here in peace and harmony for centuries. I am confident that this model of harmonious coexistence can set a good example for many other countries.

Taken together, this makes Kazan a unique venue for demonstrating Russia’s diversity, developing an inter-civilisational and interfaith dialogue, and promoting the values of peace, mutual understanding and tolerance.

I have no doubt that the events planned for the large-scale programme in 2026 will help promote the best achievements of Russia’s culture and strengthen humanitarian ties between Russia and the Islamic world, and friendship and trust between our nations.

🤝 I look forward to seeing you in hospitable Kazan.

SERGEY LAVROV

🇰🇿 On December 16, #Kazakhstan celebrates #IndependenceDay.

This national holiday in the country symbolises the nation’s unity and represents the spirit of patriotism and freedom.

Since declaring independence, Kazakhstan has achieved impressive social and economic success. Thanks to its leadership’s wisdom and competence, the Republic is today a powerful, influential and highly respectable actor, with an important constructive role in international affairs.

Our countries and peoples are bound by similar cultural, spiritual and moral values, centuries-old friendship and shared experience of living in the same state, with shared achievements and victories.

Kazakhstan and Russia are closest partners, friends and reliable allies. The relations between Moscow and Astana constitute a strategic partnership and alliance built on long-standing historical ties of friendship, mutual trust and respect for each other’s interests.

🇷🇺🤝🇰🇿 Learn more about the development of Russia-Kazakhstan cooperation in our in-depth feature on the 33rd Anniversary of the diplomatic relations between our countries

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Russia and Kazakhstan maintain an intensive and substantive bilateral political dialogue at the high and highest levels. Our Leaders, who have forged a close and warm personal relationship over the years of working together, hold meetings and telephone conversations on a regular basis, 'compare notes' on the topical bilateral agenda, as well as regional and global issues.

In October 2024, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Kazakhstan. On November 11-12, 2025, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was in our country with the state visit as well.

Following the talks between the two Leaders in Moscow and Astana, a substantive package of documents, significantly supplementing the architecture of our multifaceted bilateral cooperation, was signed. One of the documents is the the Declaration on the Transition of Interstate Relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Alliance (November 12, 2025).

📈 Russia is a leading trade, economic and investment partner for Kazakhstan. As of 2024, our bilateral trade reached a historic high, exceeding $28.7 billion. This level has been maintained, with $20 billion over the nine months of this year in turnover.

There are more than 17'000 enterprises with Russian assets in Kazakhstan. The Republic’s economy has accumulated a sizable volume of Russian investment. Over 60 major joint Russia-Kazakhstani projects cover all key sectors of the national economy. Thanks to our mutual efforts, the bilateral transactions are almost fully performed in national currencies. Interregional links are also developing dynamically.

Moscow and Astana extensively cooperate throughout international platforms. To a certain extent, our countries were initiators of the integration across the post-Soviet state, standing at the Founding-Fathers of the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU) and enjoying a fruitful cooperation within #CIS, #CSTO and #SCO. Kazakhstan supports Russia’s initiative on building an architecture of equal and indivisible security in #Eurasia.

🌐 #MultipolarWorld: Russia and Kazakhstan are at the forefront of promoting a more just multipolar international order, speaking from similar positions when it comes to the key role of international law in international relations and considering the interests of all countries in global security issues.

🎊 We extend our cordial and heartfelt congratulations to our Kazakhstani colleagues and friends on their national holiday! We wish you success and prosperity!

#RussiaKazakhstan