Russian-Led Bloc To Act Against ‘Chaos’ In Member States

Russian-Led Bloc To Act Against ‘Chaos’ In Member States

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will intervene to restore “law and order” if one of its members, including Armenia, is beset by serious unrest, the secretary general of Russian-led alliance of seven ex-Soviet states confirmed on Tuesday. “This is an agreement that was reached by the presidents at their informal summit in Astana [last August,]” Nikolay Bordyuzha told journalists in a live video link from Moscow.

Political unrest nearing Russia's southern border

Political unrest nearing Russia's southern border - February, 2012

Couple of Washington's several propaganda organs operating in Armenia are jointly reporting that Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha has publicly stated that the CSTO will help Armenia in "domestic emergencies" and "critical situations".

I think we all know what "domestic emergencies" mean. Moscow is getting ready to react to any Western-instigated uprising in Armenia during Armenia's upcoming presidential elections. Currently, Western activists throughout Armenian society are actively seeding Armenia for political unrest and some activists are even going as far as claiming that "Arab Spring" type demonstrations are being organized in Armenia. Being that Armenia plays a vital geostrategic role for senior officials in Russia, Moscow is not going to leave anything to chance, nor is it going to blindly rely on Armenians to confront this potentially serious problem. Therefore, I think we can all expect Moscow to take more drastic measures as Western-instigated wars and political unrest reach Russian borders.

The escalating unrest and "critical situations" in regions adjacent to Russia's vulnerable underbelly is elevating the importance of the already very important geostrategic significance of the Caucasus for Moscow. As Western-instigated wars and political unrests encroach on Russian interests in the region, Moscow is beginning to take on a more aggressive political posture. Libya was the pawn Moscow reluctantly gave up in its desperate effort to protect its bishops, Syria and Iran. Realizing now that its presence in the strategic region are directly threatened by the Anglo-American-Zionist alliance and friends, Moscow has finally decided to do away with diplomatic niceties and draw a firm line in the sand.

There are no worries with regards to Armenia's and Artsakh's territorial integrity. I can confidently state that Moscow will protect the embattled little republic in the Caucasus as if it is a part of Russia itself. For centuries Armenia has been protecting Russia's southern gate and it has been an effective hedge against regional Turks and Muslims. The geostrategic significance of Armenia today is as important for Russian officials as it was for Czarist officials, if not more. In a region that is saturated with powerful Turkic and Islamic influences, Armenia's national independence and its alliance with Moscow will be zealously protected by Russian officials. If Moscow was ready to go to war when Armenia was threatened by Turkey in the early 1990s, in a time when Moscow was literally on its knees, I think the reader can use his/her imagination as to what Moscow would be willing to do today if outside forces threatened Armenia. Let me put it this way. If Moscow is willing to forcefully standup to the West and the rest over Syria and Iran, we can safely expect Moscow to activate its nuclear arsenal if Armenia is in any way threatened.

Russia’s top secret bases

Russia’s top secret bases

Over 400 modern ground- and sea-based ICBMs, 8 ballistic missile submarines, about 20 general purpose attack submarines, over 50 surface ships and some 100 military-purpose spacecraft, over 600 modern aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters, more than a thousand helicopters, 28 regimental sets of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, 38 division sets of Vityaz air defense systems, 10 brigade sets of Iskander-M tactical missile systems, more than 2,300 modern tanks, some 2,000 self-propelled artillery systems and guns, and more than 17,000 military vehicles. These are the figures of the massive rearmament program announced by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin in an article published on February 20 by state-owned newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Cold War Spreads Over Arctic - Russia to Field First Arctic Brigade in 2015

Russia to Field First Arctic Brigade in 2015

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said in July 2011 that two arctic brigades would be established in “Murmansk or Arkhangelsk or some other place.” The first motorized rifle arctic brigade will be deployed in 2015, Russian Ground Forces Chief Col Gen Alexander Postnikov said on Tuesday. President Dmitry Medvedev has called for “extra measures” to protect Russian interests and reinforce its borders in the Arctic. Russia is to deploy a combined-arms force to protect its political and economic interests in the Arctic by 2020, including military, border and coastal guard units to guarantee Russia's military security in diverse military and political circumstances.

Maritime jurisdiction and boundaries in the arctic region (PDF)
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (PDF)

Cold War Spreads Over Arctic

Northern Fleet warships guard Arctic resources

Down to recent times the Arctic militarization issue has been absolutely theoretical by climatic reasons. Because of ice pack in the Arctic Ocean and extreme environmental conditions, activities of Russian armed forces in Arctic were either hampered or impossible at all. By the way, with the end of cold war, even those rare troops deployed in the Arctic were reduced or disbanded.

Things have changed in recent years when the ice began extensively melt and large hydrocarbon deposits were discovered on the Arctic shelf. Possible disappearance of ice cover creates conditions for year-round navigation of merchant vessels and warships along the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage, seasonal traffic in polar latitudes and shelf hydrocarbon production. Take note, the Northern Sea Route from Europe to Asia is almost 5,000 km shorter than the way through Suez Canal, and the Northwest Passage is 9,000 km shorter than the course via Panama Canal.

New Russian Tank to Appear in 2013 ..(based on object 195?)

New Russian Tank to Appear in 2013

Russia will complete the first prototype of the new Armata main battle tank by 2013 and begin production and deliveries to the Russian Armed Forces in 2015, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and the CEO of tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod Oleg Sienko told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Lenta.ru news portal reported.  Uralvagonzavod and the military are testing the main components of the new tank. No other details were reported. “The Russian armed forces will have a new main tank with fundamentally new characteristics, fully automated loading and separate crew compartment by 2015,” Lieutenant-General Yuri Kovalenko, former First Deputy Head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Automotive Armor Directorate said last April. Kovalenko said work from other projects, including Object 195 and Black Eagle, will be incorporated in Armata's design.

Syrian opposition agrees to Russian mediation

The opposition Syrian National Council does not object to Russia coordinating the talks with the Syrian government.

"The Syrian opposition needs all the help there is. Considering the good relations between the Russian and Syrian nations, Russia has a good chance of playing this part," George Sabra, a senior member of the council, told Interfax news agency on Tuesday.  

20 million yr old Antarctic lake 'drilled'

After 30 years spent drilling through a four-kilometer-thick ice crust, researchers have finally broken through to a unique subglacial lake. Scientists are set to reveal its 20-million-year-old secrets, and imitate a quest to discover ET life.

Τhe main inspiration for the project – the Russian scientist who posited the lake’s existence – died just six months before the moment of contact with the lake’s surface.

The Situation in Transdniestria Is Like a Carefully Orchestrated Campaign

The Situation in Transdniestria Is Like a Carefully Orchestrated Campaign

Another protest action organized by the Moldovan side took place at the peacekeeping post No. 9 on the bridge over the Dniester River. A group of Moldovan citizens attacked the peacekeeping post, having pulled out the road signs installed at the post and broken the bar. 

Notwithstanding that chairman of the Dubossary district of Moldova, Gregory Polichinsky, who spearheaded the campaign, called on the audience to a peaceful protest, the protesters made a brawl with each other, quarreled because some protesters from Kishinev called to ?push the matter through?. The fight was stopped through the intervention of Moldovan policemen in place. 

Russian Black Sea fleet ship to take part in joint naval drills with Italy

The Smetlivy anti-submarine ship of Russia'sBlack Sea Fleet will leave its home port of Sevastopol later on Sunday and head to the Mediterranean Sea to prepare for the Ioniex 2011 Russian-Italian naval exercise, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.
The drill will take place in early November, he said.  The Ioniex exercise is held every two years as part of the cooperation program between the Russianand Italian navies.
The Smetlivy, a Kashin class guided missile destroyer, was built in the 1960s and modernized in the mid-1990s. The ship is equipped with (SS-N-25 Switchblade, Harpoonski) short-range surface-to-surface cruise missiles and MNK-300 sonar. Russia’s rescue ship Epron will also be involved in the drill, the spokesman added. In 2010, the Ladny frigate and Shakhtyor rescue tug of the Black Sea Fleet participated in the Ioniex exercise.

Chinese state councilor leaves for Russia to attend strategic security talks

English.news.cn   2011-01-23 14:36:07

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo left here Sunday for Russia to attend the fifth round of China-Russia strategic security talks. As guest of Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Dai will visit Russia from Sunday to Tuesday.The mechanism of China-Russia strategic security talks, an important channel for both parties to exchange views on international affairs and bilateral relations, was initiated by leaders of the two countries in 2005.

Third Bastion missile system has been delivered to Black Sea Fleet

19.01.2011

Text: World Arms Trade Analytic Center
Photo: Bastion-P launcher. skeiz

Third mobile coastal defense missile system Bastion-P was delivered to Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) late in 2010, reported RIA Novosti referring to a source in defense industry.


According to the source, "all systems were attached to BSF 11th Coastal Defense Missile Brigade located near Anapa, Krasnodar region".


First two systems were delivered to BSF early in 2010, informs RIA Novosti.


Mobile coastal defense missile system K-300P Bastion-P is one of the world's most advanced ones. It constitutes a mobile missile system armed with standard supersonic antiship missile K-310 Yakhont. The system is designed for destruction of various surface ships from enemy's landing squadrons, convoys, carrier strike groups, as well as single vessels and land-based radiocontrast targets in conditions of intensive fire and electronic countermeasures. Effective range of the system is up to 300 km. Bastion missile system is capable to protect over 600 km of coast line from enemy landing operations.


Standard configuration of the system consists of four self-propelled launchers K-340P with two antiship missiles Yakhontlaunching containers (as for some reports – up to three), one or two command trucks K380R, combat alert vehicle, and four transporter loaders. Support equipment includes maintenance facilities and training aids. Number of launchers, transporter loaders, and command trucks varies depending on a customer's wishes.


Having designed the missile and software, NPO Mashinostroyenia integrated all systems. The antiship missile is produced by PO Strela (Orenburg); Belorussian company Tekhnosoyuzproekt is responsible for development and manufacturing of self-propelled frame for launchers and transporter loaders.


Deployment time of Bastion missile system does not exceed 5 minutes; afterwards, the battery is ready to launch 8 antiship missiles. Fire position can be located at the distance up to 200 km from coastline. After deployment, the battery can remain standby from 3 to 5 days depending on fuel reserve.

about Khodorkovsky ...

Russia's once richest man Khodorkovsky has been found guilty of stealing 218 million tons of oil from his own company, Yukos, and laundering the proceeds, worth around $100 million.

02:12   10/01/2011  

© RIA Novosti. Grigory Sisoev

The European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights will discuss on Monday the verdict to Russian ex-oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev.

France wins tender to build MISTRAL for Russia 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy over the phone that France has won a tender to build amphibious assault ships for Russia The winner is a consortium comprised of French DCNS and Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), the Kremlin press service said.  At the initial stage, two Mistral-class helicopter carriers will be built jointly by France and Russia with another two to be constructed later in Russia. Russia will perform 20% of the construction work at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, USC spokesman Igor Ryabov said.

Prosecutor General’s Office opens criminal case against Timoshenko

KIEV, December 15 (Itar-Tass) --The Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case against former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko for misusing budget funds disbursed under the Kyoto Protocol.She was questioned at the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday, December 15. I have just found out from the investigators that a criminal case has been opened against me for allegedly having used environmental money for pensions during the crisis,” Timoshenko said. he investigators wanted to bring official changes against Timoshenko but did not do it due to the absence of her layer, the former prime minister said.

Russia to pull out of Kyoto deal

Russia to pull out of Kyoto deal

16:15 10/12/2010

© AFP/ Joel Saget

Russia opposes the renewal of the Kyoto protocol and will not sign an extension to the climate treaty, Russian envoy Alexander Bedritsky said on Friday. "Russia will not participate in the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol," he told the UN climate change conference in Cancun.The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement restricting carbon emissions that expires in 2012. A new global climate deal is needed to continue efforts beyond 2012.Bedritsky - president of the World Meteorological Organization and adviser to the Russian president - said there had been "no basic changes in the negotiating process."Russian President Dmitry Medvedev previously said the country would pull out of the Kyoto agreement if a compromise could not be found concerning the reduction of carbon emissions.Russia's announcement follows a statement from Japan that it would not sign an extension of Kyoto. Canada is also expected to oppose extending the Kyoto agreement.Russia believes that climate change should be tackled by modern technology, not cuts in carbon emissions stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol.

Russian Prime Minister to visit Arkhangelsk shipyards

09.12.2010

Text: RusNavy.com
Photo: Vladimir Putin. dailymail.co.uk

Sevmash shipyard will officially finish works on launching secondBorei class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Alexander Nevsky on Dec 13. In the same day JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Centerwill perform moving of SSBNNovomoskovsk out of the covered slipway which was initially scheduled on Dec 11. That was said to the Central Navy Portal by a source in defense industry.


It is expected that both events will be attended by the governmental delegation headed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who will visit Arkhangelsk region in that time.
After that the premier will conduct a conference on development of Russian defense industry. Withdrawal of SSBN Alexander Nevsky from the covered slipway was supposed to be held on Nov 30; however, the ship's moving was postponed due to technical difficulties caused by frosty weather. According to unofficial sources, the submarine left the slipway and was placed in floating dock Sukhona. However, this information has not been officially confirmed.

US embassy knew Georgians “moved forces” to South Ossetian border - WikiLeaks

US embassy knew Georgians “moved forces” to South Ossetian border - WikiLeaks

US diplomats in Georgia knew Tbilisi concentrated military force prior to the war over South Ossetia in 2008, the classified documents exposed by WikiLeaks show.Part of the new portion of materials published by Wikileaks were dedicated to the 2008 conflict over South Ossetia. The cables sent by the US embassy in Georgia to Washington show signs of intensifying military confrontation between Georgians and South Ossetians in the conflict zone in the run-up to the full-scale war.The US ambassador to Tbilisi John Tefft reportedly urged the Georgian Foreign Minister and the Deputy Minister of Defense “to remain calm, not overreact, and to de-escalate the situation,” the document reads. According to the embassy’s cable to Washington, Georgians explained their moves since August 6, 2008, by South Ossetia’s “shelling” of Georgian villages in the conflict zone.Meanwhile, foreign military observers in the region issued “numerous reports that the Georgians are moving military equipment and forces toward the north.” According to the cable of the US embassy in Georgia, “OSCE observers indicated that Georgian forces along with GRAD artillery are on the move, either as part of a show of force or readiness, or both.

GLONASS as social service

Forming of Russia's Glonass satellite navigation system to complete on Sunday A Russian Proton-M   carrier rocket will deliver three Glonass-M satellites into the orbit on Sunday, completing the forming of the global navigation system, a representative of Russian space agency Roscosmos has said. The rocket will blast off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan at 03:25pm local time (10:25 GMT), he said.Glonass is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters.  Russia currently has a total of 26 Glonass satellites in orbit, but three of them are not operational. The three Glonass-M satellites to be put into orbit on Sunday will allow Russia to operate a complete Glonass network of 24 operational satellites and have several satellites in reserve. The three satellites are planned to be put into operation in about 6 weeks.

'Russians enthusiastic about 2018 World Cup'

Tags: News, World Cup 2018, Sports, Russia

Dec 3, 2010 10:00 Moscow Time

Photo: RIA Novosti

“Millions of Russians are enthusiastic about their country being chosen to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup”,  Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during a press-conference in Zurich. He said that the Cold War stereotypes about Russia were still strong in some countries but stressed that Russia was on the rise and would become even stronger by 2018. Mr. Putin promised that security would be tight throughout the championship.  

No more barriers in the way of Russia’s joining WTO Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel. Photo: RIA Novosti Russia may join the World Trade Organization as early as in 2011, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a news conference in Berlin following his talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Almost all issues have been generally agreed, he said. Before that, Putin told German businessmen during a meeting that Russia had covered its part of the path and had agreed all basic problems with the European Union in practical terms. Russia has been pressing for WTO membership for 17 years now,