Russia

MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin on Monday condemned the blocking of Russian government-backed RT video channels by Facebook as "unprecedented and undisguised pressure on the Russian media."

"Unfortunately, many large companies that provide services in the field of social networks and in other, let's say, digital formats, are also used by the authorities of unfriendly countries as a tool to exert pressure on Russian media," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency.

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Moscow will consider retaliatory measures in response to new US anti-Russian sanctions, depending on the manner of those restrictive measures, Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday.

Speaking in the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin television program, Ushakov said that no prospects for better relations with Washington could be seen.

"In my opinion, things are bad enough and prospects [for better relations] cannot be expected. Let us see what the sanctions will be like and then we will decide how to respond," he said.

LONDON, February 18. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy in London has expressed its concern over the fate of Russian citizens under control of British intelligence agencies, a spokesperson of the embassy stated on Sunday evening, commenting on the publication in the Sunday Times daily on the deteriorating health of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal.

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Economic Development Ministry develops macroeconomic institutions to prevent sudden and deep economic crises, Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin said on Rossiya’24 television channel on Sunday.

Oreshkin added that there are no systemic prerequisites for an economic crisis in the Russian economy.

MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that the upcoming new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia will be senseless like previous ones.

"I did not warn. I just said that this is senseless. Nothing else. I said that the goal of this move is unclear. If they did not understand that the sanctions are not working, I feel sorry for them," Lavrov said in an interview with the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin." that aired on state TV channel Rossiya-1, when answering a question if Russia can counter new U.S. sanctions.

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. No people are reported to be trapped in the partially collapsed building of ITMO University in St. Petersburg, the Russian Emergencies Ministry told TASS on Saturday.

"According to prior reports, there is no one under the rubble," the spokesperson said.

MUNICH, February 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing at the turn of April 2019, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday.

"We are looking forward to the second Road and Belt Forum, where President Putin will participate," Lavrov said at the meeting with Yang Jiechi, head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of China's Communist Party.

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court has ordered a U.S. investment fund manager to be jailed for two months while facing fraud charges.

Michael Calvey, founder and senior partner at Baring Vostok equity firm, was detained Friday morning along with two other fund managers.

Prosecutors say Calvey is suspected of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ($37 million) from Vostochny Bank, where Baring Vostok has a controlling stake.

ISTANBUL, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The latest Syria summit among the Turkish, Russian and Iranian leaders has achieved no major progress as the priorities of the three countries diverge, while Ankara appears to have persuaded its partners to defer a looming military operation in Idlib, analysts told Xinhua.

"The Sochi summit has achieved no concrete results," said Cahit Armagan Dilek, director of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute, who argued that the leaders' statements revealed nothing new.

SOCHI, February 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the European countries do not wish to see the emergence of US missiles on their territory, but do not dare to argue with Washington.

"Do you think that any of the European countries wants US medium-range missiles to be deployed in Europe? Nobody wants this, but they prefer to keep quiet," he said. "Where is their sovereignty?"