Source: Red Hat Is Discontinuing Sales and Services In Russia and Belarus – Slashdot
Monthly Archives: March 2022
Dual U.S. / Russian National Charged With Acting Illegally As A Russian Agent In The United States | USAO-SDNY | Department of Justice
“As alleged, Elena Branson, a dual U.S. / Russian national, actively subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States in order to promote Russian policies and ideology. The Russian government at its highest levels, up to and including President Vladimir Putin, have made known that aggressive propaganda and recruitment of the Russian diaspora around the world is a Russian priority. In connection with this pursuit, Branson is alleged to have corresponded with Putin himself and met with a high-ranking Russia minister before founding a Russian propaganda center here in New York City, the Russian Center New York. Branson’s promotional outreach, including an ‘I Love Russia’ campaign aimed at American youths, exemplifies her attempts to act at the behest of the Russian government to illegally promote its interests in the United States. All the while, Branson knew she was supposed to register as an agent of the Russian government but chose not to do so and, instead, instructed others regarding how to illegally avoid the same. Particularly given current global events, the need to detect and hinder attempts at foreign influence is of critical importance, and the Southern District of New York is proud to do its part in the fight against tyranny.” Source: Dual U.S. / Russian National Charged With Acting Illegally As A Russian Agent In The United States | USAO-SDNY | Department of Justice
Russia has already greatly surpassed the Nazi Third Reich by insidiously launching missile and bomb attacks on Ukraine
And now, in the 21st century, Russia launches a massive missile and bomb strikes on Ukraine, surpassing the Nazi Third Reich during the World War II in cruelty and blasphemy. Russian troops cunningly engulfed Ukraine’s territory from three sides under the guise of military exercises and launched an offensive on the front, which is about a third longer than the Wehrmacht’s invasion front on June 22, 1941. Meanwhile, Russian officials (including the Minister of Foreign Affairs), on the eve of the Russian invasion, rebutted the assumption that Russia intended to commit military aggression against Ukraine, thereby demonstrating the pinnacle of deceit, meanness, perfidy, blasphemy and cynicism.
For many times, Russian officials bragged about successful liberation of the prisoners of the Nazi death camps in 1945 by the Soviet army. However, they were silent (and actually continue to be silent) about the fact that it was precisely Soviet cooperation and friendship with the Nazi regime in 1939-1941. These factors had a significant impact on strengthening and enhancing the military capacity of the Third Reich to such a level that it occupied and subjugated almost all of Europe. An important emphasis is that it was during the operation of the Nazi-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Borders, with the help, assistance and support from the USSR, Nazi troops had occupied and subjugated almost all European states and part of North Africa. This actually allowed the meticulous and systematic creation and operation of Nazi death camps, which ultimately had fatal consequences in a form of Holocaust.
In light of the above, how do Russian judges and lawyers react to the Russian attack on Ukraine? They are silent.
Ukrainian refugees in Hungary describe their escape | openDemocracy
As those affected by war escape Ukraine, the country’s western border checkpoints have become the first bottlenecks on the way to safety. Olga Kolesnikova, who spent 60 hours travelling to the Chop-Záhony crossing from Berdyansk in south-eastern Ukraine, recalls the despair at the border.
“Many women just take children into their arms, leave their cars and walk because it is quicker to cross on foot,” she tells me. Another Alla, from Kyiv – who entered Hungary on 28 February through a checkpoint near Koson’, 30km south of Chop – echoes Olga’s words. “The situation at the border is overwhelming,” she says. “The queue was around 2.5km long. We were let in because we have three children.”
By 7 March, passenger traffic across checkpoints was challenging, but steady, according to Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service. As queues at some crossings like Tysa, Luzhanka and Vylok reach 100 cars, others remain relatively free.
Meanwhile, Budapest’s main train stations have quickly become mini-humanitarian hubs, where a web of NGOs operates alongside individual volunteers distributing essentials, matching families with accommodation and arranging transport.

Refugees from Ukraine queue outside a Budapest train station
More than 180,000 displaced people had arrived in Hungary by 6 March, making Hungary the second largest recipient of Ukrainian refugees after Poland. This number is expected to top 250,000, according to UN estimates.
Budapest’s local government and non-profit sector actively extend welcomes to those fleeing Ukraine. Decentralised support networks appear on- and offline to provide help for the capital’s involuntary guests. Anti-war demonstrations gather ever larger crowds.
At the same time, Viktor Orban’s governing Fidesz party is trying to balance humanitarian assistance with distancing itself politically from the war. On 24 February, the prime minister condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but reiterated the country’s position of non-involvement in the military conflict. On 7 March Orban allowed more NATO troops into Hungary, but forbade the flow of lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Hungary’s leader is trying to avoid being dragged into a neighbour’s war, but his policy of “strategic calmness” is failing to strike a chord with some. Standing among demonstrators at the Russian embassy, Marina – an Uzhhorod-born Ukrainian who lives and works in Budapest – told me: “If [Orban] does not want the war to reach Hungary, he should help Ukraine now.”
Source: Ukrainian refugees in Hungary describe their escape | openDemocracy
I was arrested at an anti-war protest in Moscow. Here’s what happened next | openDemocracy
I read on Telegram that a group of protesters is standing near the journalism faculty building of Moscow State University – it is across the street from the blocked-off Manezhnaya Square. On my way there I find myself near the Marx statue. There are no more protesters left. Two policemen come up to me, ask to see my documents and demand that I proceed to a van “for delivery to the police department and a database check”.
It is useless to argue in this situation. I go with the officers to their minibus.
I was detained very quickly, without the use of force. But, according to police detention monitoring service OVD-Info, at least 34 protesters in different cities were severely beaten by Russian police on 6 March. The demonstrators were punched, kicked, beaten with truncheons and tasered. The police department in Brateevo, on the outskirts of Moscow, was especially distinguished in this regard. There, police officers threw water on feminist activists, hitting and insulting them. Protest participant Alexandra Kaluzhskikh managed to discreetly record her interrogation and torture by police officers.
“Putin is on our side. You are the enemies of Russia. You are the enemy of the people. Now we’ll fuck you up here and that’s it. It’s a done deal. We will also get a bonus for this,” a policeman shouted at her.
In these conditions, few people decide to join a protest again.
The first time you are detained at a rally, you can face a fine of up to 15,000 roubles. If you get detained again within a year, you can face up to 30 days of administrative arrest or a fine of up to 300,000 roubles. If you receive more than two administrative detentions in six months, you can face a criminal case with a real prospect of landing behind bars.
Source: I was arrested at an anti-war protest in Moscow. Here’s what happened next | openDemocracy
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