❗️On the human rights situation in the US (from Russia's MFA report)

Washington declares its commitment to upholding the principle of universality of fundamental human rights and freedom. In fact, the situation in the US is nowhere near the international standards:

🔻 A system-wide racism and police misconduct flourish;
🔻 National minorities find themselves victims of discrimination and social inequality;
🔻 The homeless issue remains outstanding;
🔻 Immigrants and prisoners, including those under age, face continuous oppression of their liberties;
🔻 Journalists do not feel safe and become victims of attacks;
🔻 The plans of the American Administration to close the Guantanamo special isolator remain unfulfilled.

Citizens' dissatisfaction with violations of voting rights only deepens the divide within American society. Alternative views are more often subject to censorship in mass and social media.

Numerous violations of human rights and freedoms remain in focus of the criticism coming from relevant international structures and non-governmental institutions.

The report of the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) published in November 2023 <...> notes the lack of positive moves in addressing significant deficiencies in the criminal legal system. There is a reference to serious violations of voting rights, of the rights to non-interference in private life, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assemblies and associations.

👉 No one has been held accountable for the systematic human rights abuses committed in the secret detention system run by the CIA, including enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment.

👉 The government's inability to protect people from constant gun violence continues to violate their rights, including the right to life, personal security and freedom from discrimination. In 2020, at least 44 thousand people died from gun violence.

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⚡️ Foreign Ministry statement on the Russian Armed Forces’ exercises held to practice for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons

💬 Regarding the upcoming Russian military exercises held to practice for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, we would like to point out that these drills should be viewed in the context of the recent militant statements made by Western officials and the highly destabilising actions taken by several NATO countries to increase military pressure on the Russian Federation <...>.

👉 The matter concerns above all the open declaration of support for and the provision of direct assistance to the terrorist attacks against Russia carried out by the Kiev regime with the use of increasingly more advanced Western weapons provided to it. <...>

Apart from the British and French long-range missiles, which have long been used in Ukraine, we have taken special note of the models of US-made ATACMS missiles, which have been recently sent to Ukraine and are capable of reaching targets inside Russia.

At the same time, attempting to build up multifaceted missile threats to Russia, the US has openly and manifestly launched the deployment of ground-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles, which were previously prohibited under the INF Treaty, around the world. <...>

❗️We hereby expressly declare that we reserve the right to respond in kind, no matter where US-made intermediate- and shorter-range missiles are deployed, which would amount to the termination of Russia’s unilateral moratorium on the deployment of these weapon systems. <...>

These and several other actions by NATO countries actually show that they are deliberately trying to escalate the Ukrainian crisis all the way to an open military confrontation between NATO countries and Russia within the framework of their hostile policy of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia.

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⚡️ Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the statements by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

💬 We have took note of the press release of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published on May 7 with the assessments of its head Volker Türk regarding the situation of journalists in Russia. The High Commissioner’s activity has long lacked objectivity and impartiality required by UN General Assembly Resolution 48/141, however this time the degree of his statements’ political bias is really outrageous and inappropriately arrogant.

In defiance of his mandate Volker Türk allowed himself utterly politicized, biased and lopsided interpretations of the situation in the media pluralism and free access to information in our country, and did not shy away from gross distortions, misrepresentations and unsubstantiated accusations. In his ill-concealed desire to follow in the wake of the Collective West’s anti-Russian rhetoric that international official broke out with a libel that has nothing to do with the real situation.

And at that the High Commissioner has never showed such zeal in dealing with mass evidence of oppressions against Russian and Russian-language media in the West, reprisals against undesirable reporters in the Baltic countries and Moldova, cruel crimes and terrorist acts by Kiev regime against Russian journalists, public figures and publicists.

We have yet to see a substantive response to any of our numerous appeals to Volker Türk regarding these gross violations, which just fuel our suspicions about the bias of his conduct and complete loss of basic ideas of good faith in implementing his mandate as the above UN General Assembly resolution requires.

❗️ We reject point blank the High Commissioner’s statements both in form and in substance. We insist on his strict compliance with all the requirements for an international official of such level, primarily in terms of impartiality and objectivity. We are calling on him to appropriately respond to all crimes and violations with respect to media and journalists regularly reported to him, including by the Russian side.

🎙️ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answer to a question during his remarks at the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Moscow, May 13, 2024)

❓ Question: Is the conference on Ukrainian issue convened by the West in Switzerland this June a potential threat to Russia’s foreign policy interests? What are our plans of opposing and counteracting the destructive plots of the Kiev regime and its foreign supervisors?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The “conference” has long been discussed by all those, who is trying to defeat Russia on the battlefield, without rejecting diplomatic methods, as they say. However, their diplomatic methods (the conference in Switzerland is not an exception but just a continuation of the process in Copenhagen format) boil down to formulating an ultimatum to Russia. <…>

The other day [Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Head] Ignazio Cassis said again that it was senseless to discuss anything without Russia. Why to convene it then? <...>

There were a lot of initiatives: offered by the China, South Africa, Brazil and the League of the Arab States (who came to us soon after the beginning of the special military operation). The Chinese one was most comprehensive, aimed at first considering the root causes and working on their removal. The other had an emphasis on humanitarian aspects (exchange of POWs, bodies, access for humanitarian organisations). Yet High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that they were getting ready for a conference in Geneva on the Zelensky formula and all other initiative vanished. He decided for everyone else again. <...>

❗️ Our readiness for talks is reaffirmed at the top level personally by President of Russia Vladimir Putin each time he deals with the Ukraine issue.

<...>

Our cause is just. If they want it on the battlefield then it will be so. Look how they are lamenting over a steady and extensive advance of our Armed Forces.

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💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

❗️ We strongly condemn this attack and wish a speedy recovery to the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico.

🇷🇺🇸🇰 We know him as a friend of Russia, who, in this dramatic and historic time, a turning point in the history of humanity, is not afraid to express his point of view, which often differs from the mainstream narrative of the "collective West”.

🎙️ Excerpts from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement at the press briefing following his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping:

📍 May 16, 2024, Beijing

🇷🇺🇨🇳 The current official visit takes place during the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our states. Our country was the first to recognize the People's Republic of China on October 2, 1949, the very next day after its proclamation. We provided extensive assistance in the early stages of development of its political system, state institutions and economy. Over the decades, our cooperation has only grown and advanced.

🤝 Our negotiations once again demonstrated that the approaches of Russia and China to many international and regional problems are either similar or coincide, and they also showed the great importance that both Moscow and Beijing place on the development and strengthening of the comprehensive Russian-Chinese partnership and strategic interaction. This partnership, undoubtedly, serves as a model for how relations between neighboring states should be built.

🌐 Both countries pursue independent and autonomous foreign policies. We work together in solidarity to create a more just and democratic multipolar world order, which should rely on the central role of the United Nations and its Security Council, international law, cultural and civilizational diversity, and a well-balanced consideration of the interests of all members of the global community.

❗️ Our countries advocate for the improvement of global economic governance, the reform and depoliticization of multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organ-ization, the G20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, bringing them in line with modern realities.

📖 FULL STATEMENT

🚀 16 мая в Женеве открылась выставка «Космос: дань уважения Гагарину», посвящённая 90-летнему юбилею великого советского космонавта.

👩🏻‍🎨 Семь русских художниц из числа наших соотечественников, проживающих в Германии, представили более 50 картин, вдохновлённых подвигом Юрия Алексеевича. Их творческой задачей стала попытка запечатлеть трансформацию человеческого сознания, вызванную первым полётом человека в космос, и отразить огромное влияние этого исторического события для всего человечества.

🖼️ Все желающие могут полюбоваться «космическими» картинами до 13 июня в частной галерее «TCarminе», открытой в сентябре 2022 г. швейцарским адвокатом Филиппом де Бокаром в память о своей супруге, российской художнице и искусствоведе из Санкт-Петербурга Татьяне Кармин.

⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

💬 We are closely monitoring the latest updates regarding the passengers of the third helicopter, which was carrying high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi.

We hope they are alive, and that their lives and health are not in danger.

Russia is ready to offer the necessary assistance in the search for the missing helicopter and in investigating the causes of the accident.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s condolences to the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

💬 We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death in the helicopter crash of President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and those who accompanied them.

▪️ We will always remember these outstanding political figures as genuine patriots of the Islamic Republic, who firmly upheld the interests of their country and gave their lives in selfless service to their Motherland. President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were known in Russia as real and reliable friends of our country. Their role in strengthening beneficial Russian-Iranian cooperation and trust-based partnership is invaluable.

🕯 We offer all those near and dear to the victims and the entire friendly people of Iran our sincere condolences. Our thoughts and hearts are with you in this hour of grief.

SERGEY LAVROV

🇷🇺🇮🇷 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov in his letter to H.E. Mr. Ali Bahreini, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN Office in Geneva:
 

▪️ Please accept my deepest condolences on the tragic loss of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a helicopter crash in Eastern Azerbaijan province.

▪️ These public officials were highly regarded in Russia for their substantial contributions to our bilateral relations and their shared commitment to fostering a just world based on mutual respect among nations. Upon receiving the terrible news, President Putin immediately ordered to assemble special rescue teams to assist in locating the crash site under deteriorating weather conditions. This action underscores our readiness to provide the best possible assistance to our Iranian friends during this time of crisis.

▪️ I kindly ask you to convey my sympathies to the families and colleagues of the victims, as well as to the people of Iran.