Russia

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/: NATO’s activity near Russia’s borders cannot be ignored by the Russian military, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, speaking about the participation of the Baltic Fleet’s warships in naval maneuvers.

"These actions and NATO’s increased activities near our borders cannot be ignored by our military, which is responsible for the security of our country," the Russian presidential spokesman pointed out.

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/: The Bank of Russia made the decision not to purchase foreign currency on the domestic part within the fiscal rule mechanism implementation framework, the regulator said on Monday.

"The Bank of Russia decided not to buy foreign currency on the domestic market within the framework of fiscal rule mechanism implementation from 15.00 pm Moscow time of January 24, 2022. This decision was made for purposes of increasing predictability in actions of monetary authorities and reduction of financial markets volatility," the Central Bank said.

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/: A Bloomberg report about Chinese President Xi Jinping allegedly asking Russian leader Vladimir Putin not to attack Ukraine during the Beijing Olympics is spectacular fake news, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Ekho Moskvy (or Echo of Moscow) radio station on Monday.

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/: Gas reserves in underground gas storages (UGS) of Europe and Ukraine are record low, Gazprom said on Monday.

"The level of reserves in European UGS moved to the area of record minimums since January 11, 2002, throughout long-term observations. Reserves were 1.85 bln cubic meters lower than the minimal indicator as of this date on January 22," Gazprom said.

MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 Russian warships and supporting vessels have entered the designated areas of the Baltic Sea to conduct exercises, Russia's Western Military District said in a statement on Monday.

The ships from the Russian Baltic Fleet, forming in several tactical groups, will carry out anti-submarine, air defense and mine-sweeping tasks, the statement said.

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/: Armenia’s foreign policy, including its relations with Russia, are unlikely to change following President Armen Sarkissian’s resignation, a Russian lawmaker told TASS on Sunday.

"Armenia’s foreign policy will not change after the president’s resignation," Viktor Volodatsky, first deputy chairman of the committee for the CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and ties with compatriots of the Russian State Duma (lower parliament house), said, adding that Armenia’s relations with Russia will remain unchanged.

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/: Moscow has called on the UK’s Foreign Office to stop engaging in provocations. This is how the Russian Foreign Ministry reacted to a recent statement of the British colleagues about plans Moscow is allegedly making regarding Ukraine.

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/: The Russian side at the Geneva talks furnished the United States with explanations concerning all the outstanding questions on security guarantees and continues to wait for a written response to its initiatives, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 cases surged by 63,205 in the last 24 hours to 11,108,191, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday.

In relative terms, the COVID-19 incidence climbed by 0.57%.

As many as 6,211 COVID-19 patients were rushed to hospitals over the past day, which is 37.3% fewer than the previous day. At the same time, the number of hospitalizations rose in 12 regions, according to the crisis center.

MOSCOW, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian tendered his resignation on Sunday, saying he believes the country's constitution does not give him sufficient powers to influence events.

Sarkissian, president since 2018, was in a standoff with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last year over a number of issues, including the dismissal of the head of the armed forces.

The role of prime minister is seen as more powerful than that of president.