Russia has threatened to forbid visa-free travel for Japanese officials to the disputed Kurile Islands if Tokyo goes on making statements assuming ownership of the islands. “If for some reason Japanese politicians cannot refrain from making public statements on the subject of the islands after a visit to Russian territory, we reserve the right to limit their participation in such trips,” the Russian... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin, traditionally sharp-tongued and prickly, spoke about Syria, gay rights, and democracy at the Valdai Club political forum. During the two hour discussion, the leader said he has “not ruled out” running for a fourth presidential term. Putin addressed a wide range of topics at the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday, where over... 

The community of Russian experts responded negatively to Republican Senator John McCain’s article Russians deserve better than Putin. And that’s not because of the criticism that McCain used against the Russian President, because on this point everything was predictable: the senator is loyal to himself. But the American politician just couldn’t say anything essential in the response... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in the Novgorod Region. Vladimir Putin has told an influential political forum that Russia needs to strengthen its national identity based on traditional values, and vowed to continue the opposition to the unipolar international political system. National idea as vital priority in global competition Addressing... 

The Yamal large landing craft The Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea will be boosted by another military vessel till the end of September, according to the country’s Black Sea Fleet command. The large landing ship, Yamal, is set to depart from the port of Sevastopol, Ukraine by the end of the month to join the 10 vessels Russia already has in Mediterranean waters. “The Yamal’s crew... 

A new report prepared by the Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) circulating in the Kremlin today states that Comet C/2012 S1 has made a number of “unexplained orbital adjustments” around the planet Mars seemingly to better align itself with the Red planets strange moon Phobos. According to this report, Comet C/2012 S1 was first discovered on 21 September 2012 by Russian amateur astronomers Vitali... 

Guided missile destroyer ‘Smetlivy’ leaving Sevastopol harbour. The Russian Navy intends to build its presence in the Mediterranean Sea – particularly in the area close to Syrian shores – to up to 10 battleships, announced Admiral of the Fleet Viktor Chirkov. “The task is crystal clear: to avoid a slightest threat to the security of the state. This is a general practice of all fleets... 

A very frightening report prepared by the Office of the President (OoP) on the machinations behind the United States rapid retreat from using military action against Syria states that President Obama was “strongly dissuaded” from attacking this Middle Eastern nation after President Putin threatened that should America strike, “Armageddon would be unleashed.” According to this report, Putin... 

Missile cruiser “Moskva” Russia’s Moskva missile cruiser, dubbed a “carrier-killer” by NATO, has passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and is now heading toward the eastern Mediterranean to assume command of the Russian naval force there. The Russian Navy said in a statement that the Moskva cruiser passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on September 10. Interfax news agency added... 

The Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will discuss military-technological cooperation with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. The Iranian and Russian presidents plan to hold a bilateral meeting in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on September 13 on the upcoming sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation... 

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem Syria said it would sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, following Russia’s proposal that it hands over its chemical weapons to international supervisors. Damascus pledged to open its storage sites and provide full disclosure of its stocks immediately. “We fully support Russia’s initiative concerning chemical weapons in Syria, and we are ready to cooperate.... 

Syria has welcomed Russia’s initiative to put its chemical weapons stockpile under international control in a bid to avert US military intervention. The offer was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday during talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow. Muallem said he welcomed the proposal, which calls on Syria to hand over control of its chemical weapons to the... 

McClatchy website published information saying that Russia handed over a large 100-page report to the United Nations in July. The report supposedly proved that it was the Syrian rebels who used sarin gas in Aleppo in March. The announcement of this, according to the website, was published Wednesday on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. UN spokesman Farhan Haq confirmed the receipt of the... 

The alleged chemical weapons use in Syria is a provocation carried out by the rebels to attract a foreign-led strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the G20 summit. There was no 50/50 split of opinion on the notion of a military strike against the Syrian President Bashar Assad, Putin stressed refuting earlier assumptions. Only Turkey, Canada, Saudi Arabia and France joined the US push for... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his country will help the Syrian government in the event of a foreign military intervention. Putin made the remarks on Friday at a news conference on the final day of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg. The Russian president, however, did not elaborate on how Moscow would help Damascus. It was not clear if Moscow planned to defend Syria and increase military...