Verdicts
Tuesday 9 July 2019
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The U.S. does not control SWIFT. U.S. authorities have tried to pressure SWIFT at different times, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
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“Rusty tanks and the U.S. flag on Mars: how the parade in Washington went.”
The two M1A1 Abrams tanks and two Bradley Fighting Vehicles brought to Washington, DC for display during the July 4 U.S. Independence Day celebration were battle worn but showed no signs of corrosion. -
"We really have a very smooth relationship with members of the LGBT community – really calm, perfectly unbiased.”
After Elton John criticized him for his attitude towards LGBT people, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russia has a “neutral” attitude toward sexual minorities. However, from courts to rights groups, systemic discrimination against the LGBT community has been documented in Russia. -
“Return the diplomatic property, which was seized not only in violation of the Vienna Convention, but in violation of private rights.”
In withdrawing its consent for the Russian mission and other premises, the U.S. acted in accordance with the Vienna Convention. -
“Today, we can say the S-400 is perhaps the best air defense system in the world.”
With India and Turkey opting to buy the Russian-made S-400 air defense system despite U.S. objections, the former vice chief of the Indian Air Force claims the S-400 is top-flight. Whether or not it is peerless, the S-400 arguably stacks up well against the world’s best air defense systems. -
"A video from the site of an explosion in Cyprus that occurred as a result of the impact of an unidentified object has appeared on the web."
The object was a Russian-made S-200 surface-to-air missile launched by the Syrian military in response to an Israeli airstrike. RIA Novosti continued to call it an "unidentified object" in its headline. -
“The Ukrainian side not only refused to utilize the procedures for release (of the sailors) that already exist in Russian law, but, in principle, even to discuss this issue. Kyiv does not need these sailors; Kyiv needs the uproar surrounding the sailors.”
In reality, Moscow did not offer to free the Ukrainian sailors and vessels immediately, as ordered by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, but simply to allow Kyiv to participate in Russia’s criminal investigation into the sailors’ alleged violation of its maritime borders. -
“If we take the period from 1999 to 2008, the average annual growth rate for this decade was 6.9%. This is a normal rate for doubling GDP in 10 years, and we were growing at this rate. But, over the past six years, our GDP has grown by only 3% -- that is, less than 1% per year. That was affected by sanctions, and oil prices fell.”
Russia’s economy grew “less than 1% per year,” as Kudrin noted in his interview. In the 2000s, Russia's economic growth was 1.5-2 times higher than the world average. -
"On the Internet, projects of the American special services, such as … Metal Gear and RuNet Echo, are being implemented, aimed at direct manipulation of public consciousness and especially young people.”
The Metal Gear series was created by video game designer Hideo Kojima in Japan in 1987. It is published by the Japanese company Konami. The games’ themes are often critical of various governments, including that of the U.S. -
“Russia has no intention of becoming similar [to some other countries] imposing their stance by using illegitimate sanctions.”
After targeting Georgian wine exports and announcing a flight ban following anti-Moscow protests in Tbilisi, the Kremlin claimed no "illegal" sanctions are being employed. However, the so-called "restrictions" from the Russian side are clearly designed to hit Georgia's bottom line. -
"Ukraine today is not yet ready, from the point of view of changes to the existing legislation, to ensure the conclusion of the contract on terms used in Europe. In fact, the easiest option is to extend the existing contract, which was offered to the Ukrainian side."
Moscow’s claim that Ukraine is not ready for a new gas transmission agreement on European terms is only a pretext for rejecting a long-term commitment to using the Ukrainian gas transit route. Russia also wants lower tariffs, debt settling, and role for Gazprom in operating Ukrainian gas network. -
“Russia never ducks its responsibilities, when it shoulders the responsibility. But what we have seen, what has been presented as evidence, we find absolutely unacceptable. We believe, there is absolutely no proof. What was presented doesn’t prove anything. Where is the absolute evidence that it was the rebels who fired (the missile) or somebody else? There are many questions, but they don’t answer them. They have already made up their mind who is guilty, once and for all. We cannot accept such an approach to an investigation. ”
After his annual call-in show on June 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists there was no proof Russia is to blame for the 2014 downing of MH17 over eastern Ukraine. However, the evidence presented by investigators showing the Kremlin's culpability in the tragedy is undeniable.