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NEWS

May 15, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


ITALY BLOCKS CYBERATTACKS BY PRO-RUSSIAN GROUPS DURING EUROVISION CONTEST


Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine poses after winning the 2022 Eurovision Song
Contest in Turin early on May 15.


The Italian police have thwarted hacking attacks by pro-Russian groups during
the May 10 semifinal and the May 14 final of the Eurovision Song Contest in
Turin, authorities say.

Police said on May 15 that during voting operations and contestants'
performances, police had mitigated several cyberattacks on network
infrastructure by the hacker group Killnet and its affiliate, Legion.

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of
May 15, with their entry Stefania.

SEE ALSO:

UKRAINIAN BAND WINS EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, many Western governments have
raised alert levels in anticipation of possible cyberattacks on IT systems and
infrastructure.

Last week, pro-Russian hackers targeted the websites of several Italian
institutions, including the Defense Ministry and the Senate.

The attacks had reportedly not compromised infrastructure but hindered access to
several websites, including the National Institute of Health.

Italian media said the pro-Kremlin group Killnet claimed the cyberattack.

In April, Killnet targeted Romanian government websites, citing Romania's
support for Ukraine in the war, according to the country's national
cybersecurity agency.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined a chorus of tributes for
Ukraine victory, calling it a "reflection" not just of talent, but "unwavering
support" for Ukraine's "fight for freedom.”

"Congratulations to Ukraine for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2022,"
Johnson tweeted on May 15. "It is a clear reflection of not just your talent,
but of the unwavering support for your fight for freedom."

Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra won in the early hours of May 15,
followed by Britain's Sam Ryder in second place.

Receiving the trophy, Kalush Orchestra said: "Thank you for supporting Ukraine.
This victory is for every Ukrainian. Slava Ukrayini!" (Glory to Ukraine!).

Russia was excluded this year from competing after its February 24 invasion of
Ukraine, a move organizers said was meant to keep politics out of a contest that
promotes diversity and friendship among nations.

WITH REPORTING BY DPA, AP, REUTERS, AND AFP

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ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS

May 23, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


MOSCOW ACCUSED OF 'SCORCHED-EARTH TACTICS' AS IT STEPS UP ASSAULTS IN EASTERN
UKRAINE


Smoke rises during Russian shelling in the city of Severodonetsk in eastern
Ukraine.


Russia has intensified its offensive in the eastern Luhansk region, the
Ukrainian military said on May 23, with the city of Severodonetsk under
"round-the-clock" indiscriminate bombardment as Russian troops attempt to
encircle the city.

The heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine has taken a severe toll on Russia's
military, British intelligence has said, estimating that during the first three
months of its war in Ukraine, Moscow has suffered a number of deaths similar to
that experienced by the Soviet Union during its nine-year war in Afghanistan.


LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Ukrainian defenders have repelled 11 enemy attacks in the last 24 hours as
Russian troops repeatedly tried to break through, stepping up their use of
aircraft to destroy infrastructure, Ukraine's General Staff of Ukraine's Armed
Forces said early on May 23.

In Severodonetsk, regional Governor Serhiy Hayday said Russian forces attempting
its encirclement were "using scorched-earth tactics, deliberately destroying"
the city.

Russians are said to have made limited advances toward the city, where it is
thought they are planning a new siege.

Hayday said Russia was concentrating forces brought from a vast area -- those
withdrawn from the Kharkiv region, others that had been involved in Mariupol's
siege, Moscow-backed separatist militias, and even troops freshly mobilized from
Siberia -- and concentrating their attacks on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

At least seven civilians were killed and eight wounded on May 22 across the
Donetsk region, according to the Ukrainian Army's Facebook page.

Russian shelling and missile strikes also kept pounding Ukraine's second-largest
city, Kharkiv, in the north, as well as Mykolayiv and Zaporizhzhya in the south,
Ukrainian officials said.

The British military, in its daily intelligence bulletin on May 23, said that
Russia's high casualty rate "continues to rise in the Donbas offensive" as a
result of converging factors such as poor low-level tactics, insufficient air
cover, poor flexibility, "and a command approach which is prepared to reinforce
failure and repeat mistakes."

The bulletin cautioned that a continuously rising death toll could spark public
discontent back home, where Russians in the past proved sensitive to losses
suffered during wars of choice.


Pro-Russian soldiers in the Donetsk region on May 22.

Ukrainian officials have said little since the start of the war about the extent
of their armed force’s casualties, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at a
news conference on May 22 that 50 to 100 Ukrainian fighters were being killed,
apparently each day, in the east.

Russia's war in Ukraine has also pushed the number of forcibly displaced people
around the world above 100 million for the first time ever, the United Nations
said on May 23.

"The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations
and persecution has now crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the
first time on record, propelled by the war in Ukraine and other deadly
conflicts," said the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency.

SEE ALSO:

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS MARTIAL LAW FOR 90 DAYS

In Ukraine, 8 million people are internally displaced, while another 6 million
have left the country, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

In Kyiv, a panel of judges will be ruling on May 23 in the conflict's first war
crimes trial.

Russian Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, 21, has admitted to killing a 62-year-old
civilian in the early stages of the invasion, but told the court he was
pressured into an act for which he was "truly sorry."

Prosecutors, who have asked for a life sentence, said he was "well aware" he was
executing a "criminal order."

WITH REPORTING BY AP, AFP, REUTERS, DPA, BBC, AND CNN

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May 23, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


ZELENSKIY SET FOR DAVOS OPENING SPEECH, SEEKS TO KEEP UKRAINE IN FOREFRONT WITH
WORLD LEADERS


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to give the opening speech at the
World Economic Forum in Davos, as the wartime leader seeks to keep his nation’s
plight in the spotlight as global leaders grapple with a slew of crises.

Zelenskiy is scheduled to hold a videoconference with delegates in the evening
on May 23 as he helps mark the opening of Ukraine House Davos, a forum
established for Kyiv and international backers.

The main street in the Swiss resort town has been decorated by Ukrainian artists
and transformed into a Russian War Crimes House, displaying images of
devastation and pain back at home.

Russian politicians, business executives, and academics -- who in the past
livened up events with glitzy champagne and caviar parties -- will not
participate this year.

Davos organizers in March announced they were cutting ties with Russian
companies and officials in light of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The influential four-day conference traditionally takes place in January, but
the forum postponed the in-person event until now because of the coronavirus
pandemic. It is expected to attract 2,500 political, business, and society
leaders to its idyllic setting in the Swiss Alps.

Zelenskiy has spoken to dozens of groups through video links since the beginning
of Russia’s February 24 invasion, talking to parliaments, conferences, and even
the Cannes Film Festival as he attempts to keep the world's attention on
Ukraine.

Participants at the conference are expected to discuss, among other things,
disruptions in global supply chains, food and energy security, and the
coronavirus pandemic.

German Economics Minister Robert Habeck plans to speak in a panel discussion on
how Berlin is seeking to reduce its reliance on Russian energy in the face of
supply uncertainties following the Kremlin decision to invade Ukraine.

In a blog post ahead of the summit, International Monetary Fund Managing
Director Kristalina Georgieva and First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath
said that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has compounded the COVID-19 pandemic --
a crisis upon a crisis -- devastating lives, dragging down growth, and pushing
up inflation.”

“Yet our ability to respond is hampered by another consequence of the war in
Ukraine -- the sharply increased risk of geo-economic fragmentation.”

WITH REPORTING BY AFP AND DPA

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May 22, 2022


LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA MEET IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH


European Council President Charles Michel (left) and Armenian Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian in Brussels on May 22.


The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia met in Brussels to discuss a peace plan
for Nagorno-Karabakh, even as opponents in Yerevan accuse Prime Minister Nicol
Pashinian of what they say are unacceptable concessions made during negotiations
with Baku over the disputed region.

European Council President Charles Michel on May 22 held bilateral talks with
both Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev before a trilateral
meeting in which the Karabakh situation was discussed.

Azerbaijan said in a statement that Aliyev told Michel "that Azerbaijan had laid
out five principles based on international law for the normalization of
relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and for the signing of a peace
agreement."

Pashinian has publicly stated that the elements are acceptable to Yerevan in
principle, fueling Armenian opposition claims that he is ready to recognize
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.


Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (left) and European Council President Charles
Michel in Brussels on May 22.

In Yerevan, Armenian police have detained hundreds of protesters during
opposition-led demonstrations seeking to force Pashinian from office.

Pashinian has faced heavy criticism since he and Aliyev agreed last month in
Brussels to begin drafting a peace treaty to resolve the conflict and set up a
joint commission on demarcating their common border.

Armenia lost control over parts of the breakaway region in a 2020 war that ended
with a Russian-brokered cease-fire that an estimated 2,000 Russian troops have
been deployed to monitor.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been under ethnic Armenian control for nearly three
decades, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Pashinian, who said he had agreed to the 2020 cease-fire to avoid further
losses, said he would not sign any peace deal with Azerbaijan without consulting
ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

BASED ON REPORTING BY RFE/RL’S ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI SERVICES AND REUTERS.

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May 22, 2022


GERMANY'S SCHOLZ SEEKS TO PURSUE ENERGY PROJECTS WITH SENEGAL AMID RUSSIAN
SUPPLY UNCERTAINTIES


Senegal's President Macky Sall (right) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hold a
press conference at the presidential palace in Dakar on May 22.


German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country wants to “intensively” pursue gas
and renewable energy projects with West African nation Senegal amid
uncertainties with Russian supplies following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

"It is a matter worth pursuing intensively," Scholz said on May 22 at a news
conference with Senegalese President Macky Sall during his first trip as
chancellor to Africa.


LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Senegal, a country of some 16 million people, has billions of cubic meters of
gas reserves and is expected to become a major gas producer in the region.

Berlin is seeking to reduce its heavy reliance on Russia for gas following the
country’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz says his country has initiated talks with Senegal concerning gas
extraction and liquefied natural gas.

Prior to his arrival, a German government official said Germany could help
explore a gas field in Senegal.

Berlin has invited both Senegal, which currently holds the rotating chairmanship
of the African Union, and South Africa to attend the G7 summit in Germany in
June as guest nations.

Both countries abstained from voting on a UN resolution against Russia's
invasion of Ukraine.

Sall, speaking in his role as African Union chairman, said many African
countries did not want to take sides in the war.

"Very clearly, we want peace," he said. "We're working for a de-escalation.
We're working for a cease-fire, for dialogue.... That is the African position."

The war in Ukraine -- a major grains and food supplier for the world -- has
sparked supply disruptions that have pushed up food and energy prices in Africa.

Sall said he would travel to Russia and Ukraine soon on behalf of the African
Union.

BASED ON REPORTING BY REUTERS AND AFP

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May 22, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


IMPRISONED IRANIAN ACTIVIST TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOLLOWING HUNGER STRIKE, LAWYER
SAYS


Farhad Meysami (file photo)


Iranian activist Farhad Meysami has been taken to the hospital following a
two-week hunger strike protesting the threatened execution of Swedish-Iranian
doctor Ahmedreza Djalali, according to Meysami’s lawyer.

Lawyer Mohammad Moghimi wrote on Twitter on May 21 that Meysami’s condition was
worsening and that his life was in danger.

SEE ALSO:

AMNESTY SAYS SWEDISH-IRANIAN 'HOSTAGE' AT RISK OF RETALIATORY EXECUTION BY
TEHRAN

Meysami, a medical doctor, has been on a hunger strike to protest the possible
execution of Djalali, who was arrested in 2016 during an academic visit to
Tehran.

Djalali specializes in disaster relief and has taught at European universities.
Rights groups and the Swedish government have condemned his detention.

He was accused of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several
senior nuclear scientists.

Amnesty International and other groups say the threat to execute Djalali is tied
to the current trial in Stockholm of Hamid Nouri, a former prison official who
is accused of having a role in the mass execution and torture of political
prisoners at an Iranian prison in the 1980s.

Djalali was scheduled to be executed on May 21, but his wife said it did not
take place. There was no comment from Iranian authorities.

Iran has said the decision to execute Djalali was “final,” but it also said in
recent days the judiciary was studying a request by his lawyers to delay the
action.

Meysami was detained in July 2018 for supporting women protesting against the
hijab law that forces them to cover their hair and body in public.

He reportedly went on a hunger strike in August 2018 to protest the charges he
faced and also the lack of access to a lawyer of his choosing. He reportedly was
being held at the time in a medical clinic at Evin prison, where he was
force-fed intravenously.

He ended that hunger strike after 145 days.

WITH REPORTING BY RFE/RL'S RADIO FARDA

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May 22, 2022


RUSSIA-APPOINTED HEAD OF OCCUPIED UKRAINIAN TOWN REPORTEDLY HURT IN EXPLOSION


An exterior view of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (file photo)


The Kremlin-appointed head of an occupied Ukrainian town near Europe's largest
nuclear power plant was severely injured in an explosion, according to a
Ukrainian official and a Russian news agency.

Andrei Shevchik was in intensive care following the blast, Russia's RIA Novosti
news agency said on May 22, citing an emergency services source in the southern
Ukrainian city of Enerhodar.

Shevchik was named mayor of Enerhodar by Russia following its occupation of the
town.

Dmytro Orlov, who Ukraine still recognizes as the legitimate mayor of the town
that had a prewar population of about 50,000, reported the incident on the
Telegram messaging app.

"We have accurate confirmation that during the explosion, the self-proclaimed
head of the 'people's administration' Shevchik and his bodyguards were injured,"
Orlov wrote.

He said Shevchik had been taken to a hospital in the Russian-occupied city of
Melitopol to be treated.

One local report said the blast occurred around the porch of Shevchik’s
residence.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion or whether it was an
intentional act.

Many of Enerhodar’s residents had worked at two nearby power plants, one of
which is the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power
station.

BASED ON REPORTING BY REUTERS AND RIA NOVOSTI

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May 22, 2022


MEMBER OF IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE HIS HOME



A senior member of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has
been shot and killed outside his home east of Tehran, state media reported,
citing the IRGC.

Sayyad Khodaei “was assassinated during a gun attack carried out by two
motorcyclists in Tehran's Mohahedin-e Eslam Street," state-run IRNA reported on
May 22.

IRNA described him as a "defender of the shrine," which the IRGC uses to
indicate he had fought in Syria or Iraq on behalf of Iran as part of the IRGC’s
elite Quds Force.

Iran backs Shi’ite militia groups in the two Middle East nations.

There was no claim of responsibility.

On its website, the IRGC identified Khodaei as a colonel and denounced the
killing as a "terrorist act," blaming "elements linked to global arrogance" -- a
reference to the United States and its allies.

BASED ON REPORTING BY AFP AND AP

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May 22, 2022


FRANCE'S EUROPEAN MINISTER: A UKRAINE EU BID WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 15-20 YEARS


French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune (file photo)


France’s European affairs minister said that any bid for Ukraine to join the
European Union would take at least 15 to 20 years to complete, putting a damper
on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hopes of gaining a quick entry into
the bloc.

"We have to be honest. If you say Ukraine is going to join the EU in six months,
or a year or two, you're lying," Clement Beaune told France’s Radio J on May 22.
"It's probably in 15 or 20 years -- it takes a long time."

"I don't want to offer Ukrainians any illusions or lies," he added.

The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Ukraine
be invited to join some form of “associated” political community with the EU.

“We don’t need such compromises,” Zelenskiy said in Kyiv during a joint news
conference with visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on May 21,
“because, believe me, it will not be a compromise with Ukraine in Europe. It
will be another compromise between Europe and Russia.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda, who visited Kyiv on May 22, has been a vocal
supporter of Ukraine’s bid to join the EU in the face of opposition by some
other bloc members.

BASED ON REPORTING BY AFP AND DPA

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May 22, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS MARTIAL LAW FOR 90 DAYS


Martial law was first imposed on February 24 following the beginning of Russia’s
full-scale military assault.


KYIV -- The Ukrainian parliament has extended martial law for another 90 days as
the country continues to battle against the unprovoked invasion of Russian
forces.

The Verkhovna Rada said in a statement on May 22 that the decision to extend
martial law until at least August 23 came at the request of President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy submitted the bill to the parliament on May 18 seeking an extension of
martial law, which was first imposed on February 24 following the beginning of
Russia’s full-scale military assault.

“We are imposing martial law throughout our country,” Zelenskiy said at the time
while urging citizens to “please stay at home” amid the military actions and go
on “without panic.”

Following its failure to capture the capital, Kyiv, or other major cities in the
north and west of the country, Russia has turned its focus to Ukraine’s eastern
and southern regions, seeking to link up those areas with Crimea -- which it
illegally annexed in 2014 -- and areas held by Kremlin-backed separatists in the
east.

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May 22, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


UKRAINE AGAIN RULES OUT CONCESSIONS AS POLISH PRESIDENT ARRIVES TO OFFER SUPPORT


Polish President Andrzej Duda addresses lawmakers during a session of the
Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv on May 22.


Ukraine continued to rule out any "concessions" to Russia despite the intensive
onslaught by Kremlin forces and as Polish President Andrzej Duda, in a surprise
visit, urged Kyiv not to give in to the demands of Russian President Vladimir
Putin.

"The war must end with the complete restoration of Ukraine's territorial
integrity and sovereignty," Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak
said in a Twitter post on May 22.

"That is, our victory. Our common victory with the civilized world. After all,
today [Ukraine] is defending not only itself," he said, adding that it was
defending all of Europe.


LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Yermak's tweet, consistent with previous Ukrainian remarks, came as Duda became
the first foreign head of state to address Ukraine’s parliament since Russia
invaded Ukraine on February 24 as he sought to bolster resolve and offer support
for the country's EU hopes.

In his speech to the Verkhovna Rada, Duda said that "worrying voices have
appeared, saying that Ukraine should give in to Putin's demands. Only Ukraine
has the right to decide about its future."

He added that surrendering any Ukrainian territory would be a blow to the entire
West and repeated Poland’s firm support for Ukraine’s membership in the European
Union.

Shortly after his address, and another one by Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy, air-raid sirens were heard across the capital, a sign that dangers
remain there, although the front lines have shift to the east and south of Kyiv.

In April, Duda visited Kyiv for talks with Zelenskiy as part of a delegation
with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

During this trip, Duda offered strong support for Ukraine's bid to join the EU,
despite reluctance to move quickly by some major powers, including France and
Germany.

Duda said those who "shed their blood" in the fight to belong to Europe must be
respected -- "even if the situation is complicated, even if there are doubts."

"I have no doubt that the European Union will make such a gesture," he said.

He pointed to a European Council decision on Kyiv’s candidate status set for
June 24, saying it would be "extremely important, above all psychologically and
politically."

Zelenskiy on May 21 rejected a suggestion by French President Emmanuel Macron
that Ukraine be invited to join some form of “associated” political community
with the EU.

“We don’t need such compromises,” Zelenskiy said in Kyiv during a joint press
conference with visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. “Because,
believe me, it will not be a compromise with Ukraine in Europe. It will be
another compromise between Europe and Russia.”


An elderly woman stands outside her heavily damaged house after it was hit by a
Russian missile in the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukrane on May 22.

On May 22, France’s European affairs minister told French radio that any bid by
Ukraine to join the EU would likely take at least 15 to 20 years to finalize.

"We have to be honest. If you say Ukraine is going to join the EU in six months,
or a year or two, you're lying," Clement Beaune told France’s Radio J. "It's
probably in 15 or 20 years -- it takes a long time."

Duda’s visit came as Russian forces stepped up offensive operations across broad
swathes of eastern Ukraine. There was heavy shelling around the northeastern
cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, Ukraine’s military said.

Ukraine’s lead negotiator, presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak, told Reuters on
May 21 that Kyiv had ruled out any cease-fire agreement with Russia that
included ceding any Ukrainian territory.

“The war would not stop,” he said, in the event of such an agreement. “It would
just be put on pause for a time. They’ll start a new offensive, even more bloody
and large-scale.”

WATCH: Burned-out armored vehicles, notebook doodles, shattered weapons, and the
wreckage of a fighter jet are among items belonging to the Russian military to
go on display at Ukraine's National Military History Museum in Kyiv.

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DESTROYED RUSSIAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT ON DISPLAY IN NEW UKRAINIAN MUSEUM EXHIBIT

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Zelenskiy said in a video address to the nation the same day that the war “will
only definitively end through diplomacy.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and newly appointed French
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna have agreed on the importance of continuing
“steadfast support” for Ukraine, the State Department said.

The two also discussed the importance of “maintaining significant costs” on
Russian President Vladimir Putin “for his war of choice,” a statement released
on May 22 said.

The two diplomats also discussed steps Washington and Paris could take to best
support Finland and Sweden’s recently announced bids to join NATO, decisions
that have angered Putin, who said he invaded Ukraine in part to prevent the
expansion of the Western military alliance.

“Both agreed on the need to respond to the urgent food security and nutrition
needs of millions of people in vulnerable situations around the world, which
have been exacerbated by Russia’s continued brutal war in Ukraine,” the
statement said.

French President Emmanuel Macron on May 20 named Colonna -- Paris’s current
ambassador to Britain -- as foreign minister following his reelection as French
leader. She replaced veteran Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

WITH REPORTING BY AP AND REUTERS

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May 22, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


AMID RUSSIAN CALLS FOR 'TRIBUNALS,' CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER FATE OF AZOVSTAL
DEFENDERS


A Ukrainian soldier stands inside the ruined Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol on
May 16.


Concerns have been expressed over the fate of Ukrainian soldiers taken prisoner
by Russian forces after abandoning the Azovstal steel-mill complex in the Azov
Sea port city of Mariupol.

Prominent Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Liberal Democratic
Party of Russia’s faction in the State Duma and chairman of the Duma’s
International Affairs Committee, said on May 22 that the fate of the captured
soldiers, many of whom are members of the ultra-nationalist Azov Regiment,
“should be determined by a tribunal.”


LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

“My opinion remains unchanged: There must be no exchange of members of the Azov
[Regiment], which is outlawed in Russia,” Slutsky wrote on his Telegram channel.

Ukrainian officials and relatives of the soldiers have urged Moscow to treat the
men as prisoners of war. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshuk said on
May 21 that Kyiv “will fight for the return” of every one of them.

The Russian Defense Ministry on May 20 asserted its forces had complete control
of the massive factory following weeks of intense fighting in the city that has
left thousands feared dead.

Ukraine has described the withdrawal from Azovstal as an authorized
“evacuation,” rather than a surrender.

Russia has said some 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers have been taken into custody at
the plant. Denis Pushilin, the head of a Russia-backed separatist group in
Ukraine’s Donetsk region, said he thought the prisoners would face a “tribunal.”

The Kremlin has misleadingly portrayed its invasion of Ukraine as an effort to
root out “Nazis” and other extremists.

The Azov Regiment is a far-right, volunteer group that is part of Ukraine’s
National Guard. Formerly known as the Azov Battalion, it espouses an
ultra-nationalist ideology that U.S. law enforcement authorities have linked
with neo-Nazi extremism. But supporters see it as a patriotic and effective part
of the country’s defense forces.

SEE ALSO:

THIS IS NOT JUST 'PUTIN'S WAR' AND RUSSIANS SHOULD '100 PERCENT' FEEL GUILTY: A
VETERAN RUSSIAN ANALYST PULLS NO PUNCHES

The Russian state news agency Interfax earlier reported that Moscow was
considering exchanging Azovstal prisoners for pro-Russian Ukrainian politician
Viktor Medvedchuk, who is facing criminal charges in Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry on May 21 released video purportedly showing
Russian troops taking Serhiy Volynskiy, commander of the Ukrainian Navy’s 36th
Special Marine Brigade, into custody.

An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in Mariupol and are facing a major health
and sanitation catastrophe, officials say. Local officials have accused Russia
of concealing atrocities -- including the bombings of a maternity hospital and a
theater in which hundreds of civilians were sheltering -- by burying slain
civilians in shallow mass graves. Satellite images released in April seemed to
show possible mass graves on the outskirts of Mariupol.

“The city is on the verge of an outbreak of infectious diseases,” Mariupol Mayor
Vadym Boychenko posted on Telegram.

WITH REPORTING BY INTERFAX, AP, AND REUTERS

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May 21, 2022


RUSSIA BANS 963 PROMINENT AMERICANS FROM ENTERING RUSSIA


The list includes actor Morgan Freeman, who is accused by Moscow of having
recorded a video in 2017 in which he claimed Russia was plotting against the
United States.


Russia has published a list of 963 government officials and leading Americans
who are banned from entering the country in retaliation for similar moves by
Washington since the offensive in Ukraine.

The list, published on May 21, includes U.S. President Joe Biden, business
leaders such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Jamie Fly, president of
RFE/RL, along with several current or former members of the board that oversees
RFE/RL.

The largely symbolic move names several top officials from the Biden
administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Transportation Secretary
Pete Buttigieg.

The list also includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat-California), Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York), and the president's son,
Hunter Biden.

Fly said on Twitter that he was “proud to be included on this list. RFE/RL being
attacked by authoritarians is nothing new. We know that history is on the side
of the Russian people. We’ll continue to expand our reporting for Russian
audiences at this critical moment.”

Moscow had already announced sanctions targeting many of those on the list.

One exception is Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman, who had not previously been
cited by Russian authorities. He is now accused by Moscow of having recorded a
video in 2017 in which he claimed Russia was plotting against the United States.

Russia also banned three former senators who are deceased: John McCain
(Republican-Arizona), Harry Reid (Democrat-Nevada), and Orrin Hatch
(Republican-Utah).

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement the move was in response to
"the constantly imposed anti-Russian sanctions" and said it aimed "to constrain
the U.S. which is trying to impose a neocolonial 'world order' on the rest of
the planet...to change its position and recognize new geopolitical realities."

It added that Moscow remained open to "honest dialogue" and drew a distinction
between the people of the United States and authorities who it said have been
"inciting Russophobia."

The ministry also said it also banned 26 more Canadians, including Sophie
Trudeau, the wife of the Canadian prime minister.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS, AFP, AND THE WASHINGTON POST

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May 21, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


TURKEY SETS CONDITIONS FOR BACKING SWEDISH, FINNISH NATO MEMBERSHIP


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference following
a NATO summit in Brussels on March 24.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has set out his conditions for Sweden and
Finland to earn his backing for their NATO membership bids, saying they must
abandon financial and political support for "terrorist" groups threatening
Turkey's national security.

Erdogan spoke by phone separately on May 21 with Swedish Prime Minister
Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, telling Andersson that
Stockholm must stop its "political, financial, and military support" for
terrorist groups, according to Erdogan's office.

Longtime NATO member Turkey has been especially critical of Sweden for showing
leniency toward the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey and its Western
allies list as a terrorist group, and the followers of Islamic cleric Fethullah
Gulen, whom Ankara holds responsible for an attempted coup in 2016.

Erdogan has pressed for his concerns to be addressed as Sweden and Finland
pursue membership in NATO, which requires the consent of all 30 current member
states.

Turkey expects Sweden to "take concrete and serious steps" that show it shares
Ankara's concerns over the PKK and its Iraqi and Syrian offshoots, Erdogan told
Andersson, according to the presidency.

Erdogan also told Andersson to "lift restrictions imposed on Turkey in the
defense industry," referring to an arms embargo in place since Sweden and
Finland joined other countries in imposing restrictions after a Turkish military
offensive in 2019 against the Kurdish militia People's Defense Units (YPG).

Addressing these areas would show that Stockholm shares Ankara's security
concerns, Erdogan said, according to the statement.

Andersson said she appreciated the call and Sweden hoped to strengthen bilateral
relations with Turkey.

"I emphasized that Sweden welcomes the possibility of cooperation in the fight
against international terrorism and emphasized that Sweden clearly supports the
fight against terrorism and the terrorist listing of the PKK," she said in a
statement.

In his call with Niinisto, Erdogan said turning a blind eye to "terror"
organizations posing a threat to a NATO ally was "incompatible with the spirit
of friendship and alliance."

Erdogan also said it was Turkey's natural right to expect respect and support
for its "legitimate and determined struggle against a clear threat to its
national security and people," the presidency said.

Niinisto said he held "open and direct" talks with Erdogan and agreed to
continue close dialogue.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February has shifted political opinion in both
Nordic countries in favor of joining NATO.

The two countries shed their longtime neutrality this week by formally
submitting applications to join the alliance, and Andersson and Niinisto were
welcomed to the White House on May 19 by U.S. President Joe Biden, who strongly
backed their bids.

SEE ALSO:

BIDEN HAILS 'MOMENTOUS' APPLICATIONS OF SWEDEN, FINLAND TO JOIN NATO

Erdogan also spoke with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on May 21, telling him that
Ankara will not look positively on Swedish and Finnish membership unless the two
countries clearly show cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other
issues.

Erdogan said in a statement after the call with Stoltenberg that he supported
NATO's open-door policy.

Stoltenberg said on Twitter that he and Erdogan "agree that the security
concerns of all Allies must be taken into account and talks need to continue to
find a solution."

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS, DPA, AND AFP

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May 21, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


EU JUSTICE OFFICIAL SAYS WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE 'WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED'


European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders (file photo)


EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has vowed that war crimes in Ukraine
will be criminally prosecuted and that atrocities committed during the Russian
invasion "will not go unpunished."

Reynders told the Italian daily La Stampa on May 21 that 11 EU member states
were investigating war crimes in Ukraine with more than 600 suspects identified
so far.

Reynders said investigations were proceeding in Ukraine but also in various
other European countries with testimony from people who fled the violence.

He cautioned that evidence of war crimes must be collected correctly or else,
"if you were to include false information or fake news, it would be a disaster."

Ukraine has accused Russia of committing atrocities during its unprovoked
invasion and said it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes.

SEE ALSO:

'I DID NOT WANT TO KILL,' RUSSIAN SOLDIER TELLS WAR CRIMES TRIAL

Despite ample, concrete evidence of Russian attacks on civilian areas documented
by reporters, including RFE/RL correspondents on the ground, Moscow denies
targeting civilian areas. Russia also claims that evidence of atrocities
presented by Ukraine was staged.

On May 19, prosecutors in Kyiv asked a court for a life sentence for the first
Russian soldier to stand trial on accusations of committing a war crime in
Ukraine.

WITH REPORTING BY DPA

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May 21, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


BRITAIN'S TRUSS SAYS MOLDOVA SHOULD BE 'EQUIPPED TO NATO STANDARD'


British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (file photo)


British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says Moldova should be "equipped to NATO
standard" to protect itself against potential Russian aggression.

In an interview with The Telegraph published on May 21, Truss said talks were
under way with allies about how to help smaller countries defend themselves,
given Russian President Vladimir Putin's "ambitions to create a Greater Russia."

She said the aim was to ensure Ukraine is "permanently able to defend itself,"
and this also applies to other "vulnerable states" such as Moldova, which is
also not a member of the NATO alliance.

"What we’re working on at the moment is a joint commission with Ukraine and
Poland on upgrading Ukrainian defenses to NATO standard," Truss told The
Telegraph.

Pressed on whether she wants to see Western weaponry and intelligence provided
to Moldova, Truss said: "I would want to see Moldova equipped to NATO standard.
This is a discussion we're having with our allies."

Asked if this is because Russia poses a security threat to Moldova, she said:
"Absolutely. I mean, Putin has been clear about his ambitions to create a
Greater Russia."

The Telegraph quoted an aide as saying "NATO standard" would involve members of
the alliance supplying modern equipment to replace gear from the Soviet era, and
providing training in how to use it.

Moldova and its tiny breakaway region of Transdniester share a roughly
1,200-kilometer border with Ukraine and fears of a spillover have intensified
since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in late February.

Earlier this month, European Council President Charles Michel promised to boost
military aid to Moldova, whose Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester
has reported several incidents that led to accusations Russia is seeking to
destabilize the former Soviet republic and possibly involve it in its war
against Ukraine.

SEE ALSO:

TRANSDNIESTER SEPARATISTS SAY FUEL DEPOT, CONSCRIPTION CENTER 'TARGETED' IN
TIRASPOL

Russia still maintains some 1,500 soldiers in Transdniester who are said to be
guarding a huge Soviet-era arms depot.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS AND DPA

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May 21, 2022


U.S., OTHERS REPORTEDLY WALK OUT OF APEC TALKS OVER RUSSIA'S UKRAINE INVASION




Representatives of the United States and several other countries have walked out
of an Asia-Pacific trade ministers meeting in Bangkok to protest Russia's
invasion of Ukraine, officials and diplomats say.

Representatives from Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and Australia joined the
Americans in walking out of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting
on May 21, two Thai officials and two international diplomats said.

The walkout took place while the Russian representative was delivering remarks
at the opening of the two-day meeting of the group of 21 economies.

Another diplomat told Reuters the five countries that staged the protest wanted
"stronger language on Russia's war" in the group's final statement to be issued
on May 22.

World leaders have strongly condemned Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine that
was launched on February 24.

In past weeks, the European Union, the United States, and several other Western
allies have also slapped sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, the
Russian economy, and many of the country's billionaires.

BASED ON REPORTING BY REUTERS

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May 21, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


UKRAINE EXPECTS POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM WEST TO REQUEST FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED
WEAPONS


A Russian soldier stands in the Mariupol Drama Theater, which was bombed by
Russian forces on March 16 with civilians sheltering inside, with estimates of
the resulting casualties reaching into the hundreds.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he has "high expectations" for a
second round of meetings scheduled for next week of the partner countries
supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy told reporters on May 21 that he expects positive responses to his
requests for multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and U.S. jets at the
meetings, scheduled to take place on May 23 online in a follow-up to a meeting
of about 40 ministers from countries backing Ukraine militarily held last month
at the U.S. air base at Ramstein, Germany.


LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"To be honest, we have high expectations. I would call it a long-awaited
process. We are grateful for the great military support provided by various
states. We expect a positive [response] on the supply of MLRS," Zelenskiy was
quoted as saying in response to questions from reporters following talks with
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Kyiv.

"I have no secrets, we appeal to all countries -- from the United States to
every European country on MLRS,"

He said the MLRS "just stand still" in other countries but would be "key" to
Ukraine's ability to take the initiative and liberate its territory.

Zelenskiy also addressed reservations expressed by some countries that Kyiv will
use rocket systems to attack Russia, saying those who have such concerns should
consider that the war continues on Ukrainian territory, including the Donbas
area.

"These are our territories, and we are going step by step to liberate them. We
cannot pay the price of tens, hundreds of thousands of people. So please help
us," he said.

Costa became the latest Western leader to visit Kyiv. In addition to meeting
Zelenskiy, the Portuguese leader met Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and signed an
agreement for unspecified financial support.

Kyiv also got another huge boost of aid from the United States when U.S.
President Joe Biden signed a bill to provide nearly $40 billion in military,
economic, and humanitarian aid to the country.

"Look forward to new, powerful defense assistance. Today it is needed more than
ever," Zelenskiy said on Twitter.

SEE ALSO:

'PUTIN ONLY UNDERSTANDS FORCE,' SAYS UKRAINIAN EX-PRESIDENT IN CALL FOR UNITED
RESPONSE AGAINST RUSSIA

Zelenskiy said earlier on Ukrainian television that his country could be
victorious on the battlefield -- but that things could only come to a conclusive
halt "at the negotiating table."

He warned that there will be more fighting but the conflict "will only
definitively end through diplomacy.”

The developments in Kyiv came as Russia moved nearer to taking control over
Ukraine's Donbas region, claiming victory in the monthslong battle for
Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant while launching a major offensive in the eastern
Luhansk region.

The last Ukrainian forces holed up in the Azovstal steelworks surrendered on May
20, Russia's Defense Ministry said.

It came after a devastating siege that has left Mariupol in complete ruins, with
some 20,000 feared dead.

"The underground facilities of the enterprise, where the militants were hiding,
came under the full control of the Russian armed forces," the ministry said in a
statement.

It said 531 people were in the group that gave up most recently and that brought
to 2,439 the total number of defenders who had surrendered in the past few days.

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MOTHER OF UKRAINIAN SOLDIER MISSING IN AZOVSTAL STEEL PLANT SHARES HIS MESSAGES

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There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine, but Zelenskiy said earlier
than the Azovstal defenders got a clear signal from military command that they
could get out and save their lives.

Zelensky said in the television interview that the Ukrainian Army had inflicted
serious damage on Russia's armed forces despite the fall of Mariupol, which
Russia sought to capture to complete a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula,
which it annexed in 2014.

Concern mounted for the fate of the Ukrainian defenders who held out at the
steelworks for weeks and now are prisoners in Russian hands.

Denis Pushilin, the head of a Moscow-backed separatist group in the Donetsk
region, said on May 21 that the Ukrainians were sure to face a tribunal.

"I believe that justice must be restored. There is a request for this from
ordinary people, society, and, probably, the sane part of the world community,"
Russian state news agency TASS quoted Pushilin as saying.

He said on Russian state TV that some foreign nationals are among those who
surrendered but did not provide further details.





Family members of the fighters who held out in the steelworks have pleaded for
them to be given rights as prisoners of war (POWs) and eventually returned to
Ukraine. The International Committee of the Red Cross said on May 20 it was
registering them as POWs.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said again on May 21 that
authorities “will fight for the return of every soldier” captured from the
Azovstal steelworks.

Meanwhile, Russia also launched what appeared to be a major assault to seize the
last remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the Luhansk region.

"The Russian Army has started very intensive destruction of the town of
Severodonetsk, the intensity of shelling doubled, they are shelling residential
quarters, destroying house by house," Luhansk Governor Serhiy Hayday said on his
Telegram channel.

In early hours of May 21, air-raid sirens were going off in much of Ukraine,
including in the Kyiv region and the southern port of Odesa.

Ukraine's military General Staff said it had pushed back an offensive on
Severodonetsk, part of what it described as major Russian operations along a
stretch of the front line.

Russia had sought control of Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, to
complete a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and
to free up troops to join the battle for control of the Donbas region.

Zelenskiy said Russia should be made to pay for every home, school, hospital and
business it destroys. He called on Ukraine's partners to seize Russian funds and
property under their jurisdiction and use them to create a fund to compensate
those who suffered.

Russia "would feel the true weight of every missile, every bomb, every shell
that it has fired at us," he said in his nightly video address.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS, AP, AND AFP

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May 21, 2022


RUSSIA ADDS CHESS CHAMPION KASPAROV, FORMER TYCOON KHODORKOVSKY TO 'FOREIGN
AGENTS' REGISTRY


At a forum in Vilnius on May 20, Garry Kasparov told reporters that the Russian
public does not yet understand that the war is heading toward defeat and
"Putin's dictatorship will not survive." (file photo)


The Russian Justice Ministry has added Kremlin critics Garry Kasparov, a former
world chess champion, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon, to its
registry of "foreign agents."

The two prominent critics of the Russian government, both of whom live abroad,
were labeled "foreign agents" for their connections to Ukraine, the ministry
said on May 20.

The ministry said that Khodorkovsky, 58, and Kasparov, 59, had "sources" in
Ukraine to finance their activities. Kasparov's ties to a U.S. human rights
organization were also cited as a reason.

Those on the "foreign agents" registry must meet several requirements, including
financial reporting and an obligation to label all posts on social media with a
disclaimer. Violations are subject to administrative and criminal liability.

Russia has used the "foreign agents" label extensively against opponents,
journalists, and human rights activists accused of conducting foreign-funded
political activities.

SEE ALSO:

RUSSIA ADDS EKHO MOSKVY EDITOR, NAVALNY ALLY, OTHERS TO 'FOREIGN AGENTS' LIST

Kasparov has lived in the United States for almost a decade. Khodorkovsky was
one of Russia's most powerful businessmen in the 1990s before clashing with the
Kremlin when President Vladimir Putin came to power. He spent 10 years in prison
on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging Putin politically
and then moved to London.

For years, he helped to finance the Russian opposition organization Open Russia,
which dissolved itself in May 2021 in the face of growing repression.


Mikhail Khodorkovsky speaks in Vilnius at a forum in August 2021.

In addition, two online publications, Open Media and the MBKh news sites, and a
legal aid group, Human Rights Postcards, backed by Khodorkovsky ceased
operations in August after the sites were blocked by the Russian authorities.

Kasparov and Khodorkovsky, who actively oppose Putin and the war in Ukraine,
participated in a conference organized by the Free Russia Forum on May 20 in
Vilnius to discuss the consequences of the Kremlin's war in Ukraine for Russia
and Europe.

Kasparov told reporters after a meeting with Lithuanian parliament speaker
Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen that the Russian public does not yet understand that
the war is heading toward defeat and "Putin's dictatorship will not survive."

According to the Baltic Times, Kasparov said sanctions against Russia should
remain in place until it compensates Ukraine for war damage and those guilty of
war crimes are brought to justice.

"Even if someone says the sanctions are not working, this is going to take time
because the sanctions are actually stifling the Russian economy, and no Russian
government can survive if the sanctions continue," he said.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS, AFP, AND THE BALTIC TIMES

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


RUSSIA STOPS GAS FLOW TO FINLAND OVER REFUSAL TO PAY IN RUBLES


The move follows Finland and Sweden's decision earlier this week to apply to
join NATO.


Russia's Gazprom has halted natural-gas exports to neighboring Finland, Finnish
state-owned energy company Gasum said, the latest escalation of an energy
payments dispute with Western countries.

Gazprom Export has demanded that European countries pay for Russian gas supplies
in rubles because of sanctions imposed over Moscow's unprovoked invasion of
Ukraine, but Finland has refused to do so.

"Gas imports through Imatra entry point have been stopped," Gasgrid Finland said
in a statement.

Imatra is the entry point for Russian gas into Finland.

Gazprom confirmed it had "completely stopped gas deliveries," as it had not
received ruble payments from Finland's Gasum "by the end of the working day on
May 20."

Gasum added that gas would instead be supplied from other sources through the
Balticconnector pipeline, which connects Finland to Estonia.

The move follows Finland's decision earlier this week to apply to join NATO as
it seeks to bolster its security in light of Russia's aggression against
Ukraine.

SEE ALSO:

BIDEN HAILS 'MOMENTOUS' APPLICATIONS OF SWEDEN, FINLAND TO JOIN NATO

Matti Vanhanen, the former Finnish prime minister and current speaker of
parliament, said the effect of Moscow's decision to cut off gas after nearly 50
years since the first deliveries from the Soviet Union began was above all
symbolic.

In a May 21 interview with the Finnish public broadcaster YLE, Vanhanen said the
decision marked the end of "a hugely important period between Finland, the
Soviet Union, and Russia, not only in energy terms but symbolically."

"That pipeline is unlikely to ever open again," Vanhanen told YLE, referring to
the two parallel Russia-Finland gas pipelines that were launched in 1974.

Moscow has already cut off gas to other countries, including Bulgaria and
Poland, after they refused to comply with the new payment terms.

The majority of gas used in Finland comes from Russia, but gas only accounts for
about 5 percent of its annual energy consumption.

Finland also agreed on May 20 to charter a storage and regasification vessel
from a U.S company to help replace Russian supplies. The vessel turns
supercooled liquefied natural gas back into gas.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS AND AFP

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


WIMBLEDON STRIPPED OF RANKING POINTS OVER BAN ON RUSSIAN, BELARUSIAN PLAYERS


Wimbledon said it was left with "no viable alternative" when it decided in April
to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year's tournament.


The women's and men’s professional tennis associations will not award ranking
points for Wimbledon this year because of its ban on players from Russia and
Belarus.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association
(WTA) announced their decisions on May 20, one month after the organization that
runs Wimbledon, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), decided to ban Russian
and Belarusian players in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making it
the first major tennis tournament to do so.

The ATP said in a statement that the ban undermined its fundamental principle
that players of any nationality may enter tournaments "based on merit, and
without discrimination."

The WTA said that while it holds solidarity with the people of Ukraine and
reiterated its condemnation of Russia's attack, the organization was "founded on
the fundamental principle that all players have an equal opportunity to compete
based on merit and without discrimination."

A statement from WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said, "The stance we are
taking is about protecting the equal opportunities that WTA players should have
to compete as individuals."

The AELTC said it was a "deep disappointment" that the ATP and WTA stripped the
tournament of ranking points. The decisions, it said, were "disproportionate in
the context of the exceptional and extreme circumstances of this situation."

In April the club defended the ban as necessary given the tournament's high
profile, the importance of not allowing sport to be used to promote the Russian
regime, and concerns for public and player safety.

It would be unacceptable for Russia "to derive any benefits from the involvement
of Russian or Belarusian players” since launching its “unjustified and
unprecedented military aggression," the AELTC said at the time.

SEE ALSO:

RUSSIAN, BELARUSIAN TENNIS PLAYERS BANNED FROM WIMBLEDON

It drew immediate criticism from the ATP and WTA and some prominent players,
including defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Numerous Russian and Belarusian sports teams have been barred from global
competitions over opposition to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Russia also has
been stripped of hosting various tournaments over its invasion of Ukraine.

The International Tennis Federation, however, still allows individual Russian
and Belarusian players to play in tournaments, though without national flags.

Russian player Daniil Medvedev said earlier he would not sue Wimbledon over the
tournament's ban.

"If I can't play, I'm not going to go to court for this one," Medvedev told
reporters on May 20 ahead of the French Open in Paris, which begins on May 22.

In addition to Medvedev, the Wimbledon ban affects Russia’s other top player on
the men’s side, Andrey Rublev, ranked eighth, and Belarusian women’s players
Viktoria Azarenka, ranked 15th, and Aryna Sabalenka, ranked seventh.

WITH REPORTING BY REUTERS AND AFP

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Russian Service


FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR RESIGNS FROM BOARD OF RUSSIAN OIL GIANT ROSNEFT


Gerhard Schroeder (left) hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin at the opening of
the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow in June 2018.


Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German businessman Matthias
Warnig have announced their resignations from the board of directors of Russian
state-owned oil giant Rosneft, the company said.

Schroeder, chairman of Rosneft's board since 2007, and Warnig said it was
impossible for them to extend their mandates on the board, Rosneft said in a
statement, giving no further details.

A longtime friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Schroeder has come under
increasing international pressure since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine
in February.

Schroeder, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was German chancellor
from 1998 to 2005. He has faced fierce criticism in Germany for years over his
work for state-controlled Russian energy companies.

Schroeder also has worked for Gazprom and holds leading positions in the Nord
Stream and Nord Stream 2 natural gas Baltic Sea pipelines for the delivery of
Russian gas.

Warnig is also managing director of Nord Stream 2, which has been completed but
its operations were switched off following Moscow's invasion. He was included on
the U.S. sanctions list after the invasion.

Schroder's decision to step down from the board of Rosneft comes after he had
his right to an office at the German parliament in Berlin removed. He is also
facing calls to be sanctioned from the European Parliament.

Germany's current chancellor, Olaf Scholz of the SPD, has urged Schroeder to
leave the party.

Scholz on May 20 backed the German parliament decision to shut down Schroeder's
office and renewed a call for the ex-chancellor to give up all his Russian
energy posts.

BASED ON REPORTING BY AP AND DPA

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Radio Farda


HRW SAYS TEHRAN AGAIN TRYING TO STIFLE CIVIL GROUPS AMID GROWING PROTESTS


Security forces attack a protester in Tehran.


Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the Iranian government has once again resorted to
suppressing dissent and detaining protesters as it looks to quell discontent
over rising prices and workers' rights and low wages.

The rights watchdog said in a statement on May 20 that Iranian authorities have
arrested several prominent activists since the protests broke out two weeks ago,
including a prominent sociologist and four labor rights defenders.

"The arrests of prominent members of civil society in Iran on baseless
accusations of malicious foreign interference is another desperate attempt to
silence support for growing popular social movements in the country," said Tara
Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at HRW.

"Instead of looking to civil society for help in understanding and responding to
social problems, Iran's government treats them as an inherent threat," she
added.

Even though many Iranians are struggling to make ends meet amid a poor economy
crushed by U.S. sanctions and years of mismanagement, President Ebrahim Raisi
announced earlier this month a series of economic measures, including cutting
subsidies and increasing the prices of several staples such as flour and cooking
oil.

The move sparked protests in several cities across the country, with security
forces arresting dozens of people. Reports say at least five demonstrators have
died during the unrest.

Meanwhile, bus drivers and other employees of the Tehran Bus Company have held
strikes since May 16, fueling a transportation crisis that has led the city to
use police buses and drivers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a
powerful branch of the military, to keep routes open.

The bus employees, angered by the government's failure to deliver fully on a
promised wage hike and undeterred by the arrest of their union leader as well as
12 strikers, have vowed to continue their protests until municipal authorities
pay up.

The bus strike is widely seen as separate from the street protests over the
country's worsening economic situation, some of whom have chanted for the end of
the clerical regime.

But observers have suggested that Tehran is eager to prevent the two protests
from merging, and have questioned the veracity of the city's announcement on May
17 that it was closing schools and government offices due to high air-pollution
levels.

Authorities have also cut Internet services in many areas to try and keep the
protests from spreading further.

"Iranian authorities have long sought to criminalize solidarity among members of
civil society groups inside and outside the country," Sepehri Far said.

"The intention is to prevent accountability and scrutiny of state actions that
civil society provides."

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


G7 TO PROVIDE $9.5 BILLION IN NEW AID TO SUPPORT UKRAINE'S ECONOMY


German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (file photo)


The Group of Seven (G7) leading economies have agreed to provide $9.5 billion in
new economic aid to Ukraine to help Kyiv pay public-employee salaries and ensure
the government can continue to function as it defends itself from Russia's
invasion.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters on May 20 that with the
addition of the $9.5 billion pledged during a meeting of the G7 finance
ministers and central bank governors in Germany this week, the support for
Ukraine so far this year totals $19.8 billion.



LIVE BRIEFING: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE



RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's
invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western
reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"We agreed that Ukraine's financial situation must have no influence on
Ukraine's ability to defend itself successfully," Lindner said. "We need to do
our utmost to end this war."

The new pledges include $7.5 billion in grants from the United States and $1
billion in grants from Germany. The remaining $1 billion will be provided by the
other G7 countries in the form of guarantees and loans, the German Finance
Ministry said.

"We will continue to stand by Ukraine throughout this war and beyond and are
prepared to do more as needed," the G7 ministers said in a communique at the end
of the two-day meeting in Koenigswinter, a town outside Bonn.

Russia's invasion touched on almost every topic covered during the meeting of
finance ministers and central-bank governors from Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"Russia's war of aggression is causing global economic disruptions, impacting
the security of global energy supply, food production and exports of food and
agricultural commodities, as well as the functioning of global supply chains in
general," the statement says.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other leaders spoke earlier about the
need for allies to provide enough additional aid to help Ukraine "get through"
the Russian invasion.

"All of us pledged to do what's necessary to fill the gap," Yellen said on May
19 after the first day of the meeting. "We're going to put together the
resources that they need."

The International Monetary Fund's latest world economic outlook says Ukraine’s
economy is projected to shrink by 35 percent this year and next.

WITH REPORTING BY AP AND REUTERS

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL


CANADA SLAPS NEW SANCTIONS ON RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS, INCLUDING FORMULA ONE DRIVER
MAZEPIN


Nikita Mazepin (left) and Dmitry Mazepin (2nd left) speak with Russian President
Vladimir Putin (right) at the 2018 Formula One Russian Grand Prix final day
events at the Sochi Autodrom racing circuit in September 2018.


Canada has announced new sanctions on 14 Russians -- including Formula One
race-car driver Nikita Mazepin -- and a ban on the importing and exporting of
certain luxury goods from Russia in response to what it called President
Vladimir Putin's "continued aggression" against Ukraine.

"These new measures impose restrictions on 14 individuals including Russian
oligarchs, their family members, and close associates of the Putin regime,"
Canada's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on May 20.

"These individuals have directly enabled Vladimir Putin's senseless war in
Ukraine and bear responsibility for the pain and suffering of the people of
Ukraine," it added.

Mazepin and his billionaire father, Dmitry Mazepin, a long-standing associate of
Putin, headline the list of those hit with sanctions.

Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Nikita Mazepin and his father, a
prominent racing-team sponsor with close ties to Vladimir Putin, were pushed out
of Formula One, while governments around the world have been seizing the
family's assets, including a villa in Italy estimated to be worth more than $110
million.

Yelena Timchenko, the wife of billionaire oligarch Gennady Timchenko, Ksenia
Frank and Natalya Browning, Timchenko's daughter, and oil and gas magnate
Farkhad Akhmedov, are also on the new list, among others.

The news measures also ban the importing of Russian goods including alcoholic
beverages, seafood, and nonindustrial diamonds, while the export ban targets
luxury goods such as footwear, luxury clothing, and jewelry.

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May 20, 2022
 * By RFE/RL's Armenian Service


DETENTION OF KHACHATUROV'S SON UPHELD ON ASSAULT CHARGE DURING YEREVAN PROTESTS


Yuri Khachaturov attends a conference in Moscow in 2018.


YEREVAN -- A court in Yerevan has upheld the detention of Igor Khachaturov, the
son of the former chief of Armenia's armed forces, Yuri Khachaturov, after he
was charged with assaulting a policeman during opposition protests this week
seeking to force Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian from office.

"Based on the sufficient evidence obtained, Igor Khachaturov was charged
with...violence against a government official and a motion was submitted to the
court to detain him as a measure of restraint. This motion has been upheld," the
Investigative Committee's Serious Crimes Investigation Division said on May 20.

Khachaturov, whose father is also the former secretary-general of the
Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, was taken into custody on
May 17 after he allegedly struck a policeman, knocking him out.

Khachaturov has denied the allegation, while opposition leaders have accused
police of arresting demonstrators "on false, fabricated charges" to deter people
from protesting.

Hundreds have been detained this week during demonstrations organized by the
opposition over what they say are unacceptable concessions made by Pashinian
during negotiations with Azerbaijan over the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Opposition supporters continued their demonstrations on May 20, starting in
front of the presidential palace, where the Armenian president was meeting his
Lithuanian counterpart.

Another group of protesters gathered outside the venue where Armenian officials
and Western diplomats were attending a democracy forum.

Pashinian has faced heavy criticism since he and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev agreed last month in Brussels to begin drafting a peace treaty to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and set up a joint commission on demarcating their
common border.

Azerbaijan wants the peace deal to be based on five elements, including the
mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity.

Pashinian has publicly stated that the elements are acceptable to Yerevan in
principle, fueling Armenian opposition claims that he is ready to recognize
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia lost control over parts of the region in a 2020 war with Azerbaijan that
ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire that an estimated 2,000 Russian troops
have been deployed to monitor.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been under ethnic Armenian control for nearly three
decades, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Pashinian, who said he had agreed to the 2020 cease-fire to avoid further
losses, said he would not sign any peace deal with Azerbaijan without consulting
ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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Load more


EDITORS' PICKS

 * FAMILY IN BURYATIA GRIEVES OVER SON KILLED IN UKRAINE WAR: 'IF WE STOP NOW,
   WHAT HAS IT BEEN FOR?'

 * UKRAINIAN TEACHERS BALK AS MOSCOW SEEKS TO IMPOSE 'RUSSIAN STANDARDS' IN
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 * BUZZING, BUT NOT WITH TOURISTS: CRIMEA SUFFERS AS RUSSIANS AVOID REGION OVER
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 * LIVING UNDER THE CROSS: A NEW ARCHITECTURAL TRADITION RISES IN THE TBILISI
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