unian--2020-02-20--Nine dead in Germany's Hanau shooting – media

The motive for the attack remains unclear .
Nine people were killed in two shootings at shisha bars in the western German city of Hanau .
Several other people were also injured after a gunman opened fire at 22:00 local time on Wednesday , police said , according to the BBC .
The suspect was later found dead at his home , along with the body of a second person , according to police .
There appeared to be no other perpetrators , they added , and said the investigation was ongoing .
The motive for the attack is unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a German citizen with a firearms license , and that ammunition and gun magazines had been found in his car .
The first shooting was at Midnight shisha bar in the city center , while the second was at the Arena Bar and Cafe in Hanau 's Kesselstadt neighborhood .
The clientele were reported to have been predominantly Kurdish .
Hanau , in the state of Hessen , is about 25km east of Frankfurt .
This attack comes four days after another shooting in Berlin , near a Turkish comedy show at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one person .
Gun laws in Germany are among the most stringent in the world , and were tightened further in recent years after other mass shootings .

The motive for the attack remains unclear.
Nine people were killed in two shootings at shisha bars in the western German city of Hanau.
Several other people were also injured after a gunman opened fire at 22:00 local time on Wednesday, police said, according to the BBC.
The suspect was later found dead at his home, along with the body of a second person, according to police.
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There appeared to be no other perpetrators, they added, and said the investigation was ongoing.
The motive for the attack is unclear.
Bild newspaper reported that the suspect was a German citizen with a firearms license, and that ammunition and gun magazines had been found in his car.
The first shooting was at Midnight shisha bar in the city center, while the second was at the Arena Bar and Cafe in Hanau's Kesselstadt neighborhood.
The clientele were reported to have been predominantly Kurdish.
Hanau, in the state of Hessen, is about 25km east of Frankfurt.
Breaking: BILD is reporting that 8 people are dead following a mass shooting in Hanau, Germany. Reports indicate that the shooting(s) took place in the vicinity of at least one hookah bar. pic.twitter.com/tWG7yiqtTU — PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) February 19, 2020
Dude a guy in my little hometown Hanau Germany started shooting and already killed 7 people wtf is happening take care of each other guys!! #hanau#kesselstadt#amoklauf#mainkinzigkreispic.twitter.com/72V7s8LUgH — EmrePTV (@EmrePtv) February 19, 2020
This attack comes four days after another shooting in Berlin, near a Turkish comedy show at the Tempodrom concert venue, which killed one person.
Gun laws in Germany are among the most stringent in the world, and were tightened further in recent years after other mass shootings.


unian--2020-02-20--Ukraine's long jumper Bekh-Romanchuk wins gold at World Athletics Indoor Tour in France

This is the athlete 's fourth victory this season .
Ukraine 's long jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk has won the gold @ @ @ @ @ Indoor Tour meet in France 's Lievin .
Her result was 6.90 meters , which @ @ @ @ @ : Ese Brume from Nigeria was second with 6.82 meters and Nastassia Mironchuk from Belarus @ @ @ @ @ .
Read alsoBekh-Romanchuk wins second silver medal for Ukraine at World Athletics Championships in Doha @ @ @ @ @ Bekh-Romanchuk earlier won a tournament in Glasgow with a similar result on February 15 .
@ @ @ @ @ fourth victory this season .
She leads the overall World Athletics Indoor Tour ranking .
@ @ @ @ @ personal record during indoor competitions was 6.96 meters , which became the world 's record @ @ @ @ @ This record was set during a competition in Poland .

This is the athlete's fourth victory this season.
Ukraine's long jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk has won the gold medal at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meet in France's Lievin.
Her result was 6.90 meters, which left her rivals far behind: Ese Brume from Nigeria was second with 6.82 meters and Nastassia Mironchuk from Belarus came third with 6.59 meters.
Read alsoBekh-Romanchuk wins second silver medal for Ukraine at World Athletics Championships in Doha (Photo, video)
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Bekh-Romanchuk earlier won a tournament in Glasgow with a similar result on February 15. This is the athlete's fourth victory this season.
She leads the overall World Athletics Indoor Tour ranking.
The Ukrainian long jumper's personal record during indoor competitions was 6.96 meters, which became the world's record of the current season. This record was set during a competition in Poland.


unian--2020-02-20--Ukraine evacuation plane departs for Kyiv, leaves three Ukrainians, one foreigner in China

The chartered plane sent by Ukraine 's government to evacuate Ukrainians from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak , has departed for Kyiv , having left three citizens of Ukraine and one female foreigner behind .
`` We 're ready to handle the evacuees .
The plane has already departed .
All have passed the required checks .
People without symptoms of acute respiratory infection were allowed on board , '' the Ukrainian Health Ministry 's press service quoted Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko as saying .
`` At the stage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people on board the plane , three of them are Ukrainians and one is a foreigner .
After that , Ukrainian specialists , the doctors who are on this flight , conducted an additional final examination .
Seventy-three people were allowed on board .
On arrival , they will be placed under observation in a facility designated by the government .
Those who were not allowed to be evacuated are under Chinese doctors ' supervision and are in constant contact with the consular service , '' he said .
Read alsoPolice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan '' I ask everyone not to cause a panic , to rely on common sense and have understanding that in any situation you have to remain humans .
Every one of us or someone dear to us could be there .
We are evacuating the people who have already been through a difficult period .
Among the evacuated are a family with an eight-year-old son , a young couple , 20-year-old students , '' Liashko said .
`` Our duty is to bring them back and create the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This concerns not only the flight and their accommodation but also their reception by other Ukrainians .
Is there really no place in such a big country for fewer than a hundred citizens who have found themselves in a difficult situation ? ''
he asked .
As UNIAN reported , the flight is being carried out by SkyUp Airlines , the plane departed at 00:30 a.m. local time on February 20 and is scheduled to arrive in Ukraine at 07:45 a.m. Kyiv time on February 20 .
On board the plane are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Argentina , five from the Dominican Republic and Ecuador each , four from El Salvador , two from Kazakhstan and Costa Rica each , and one from Israel , Montenegro , and Panama each .
The two Kazakh citizens are expected to leave the plane amid a stopover in Almaty .
The evacuees who will arrive in Ukraine will be placed under observation in four locations , close to infectious diseases hospitals .
The exact whereabouts are not to be disclosed not to cause a panic .

Seventy-three people were allowed on board.
The chartered plane sent by Ukraine's government to evacuate Ukrainians from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has departed for Kyiv, having left three citizens of Ukraine and one female foreigner behind.
"We're ready to handle the evacuees. The plane has already departed. All have passed the required checks. People without symptoms of acute respiratory infection were allowed on board," the Ukrainian Health Ministry's press service quoted Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko as saying.
"At the stage of the checks, Chinese doctors did not let four people on board the plane, three of them are Ukrainians and one is a foreigner. After that, Ukrainian specialists, the doctors who are on this flight, conducted an additional final examination. Seventy-three people were allowed on board. On arrival, they will be placed under observation in a facility designated by the government. Those who were not allowed to be evacuated are under Chinese doctors' supervision and are in constant contact with the consular service," he said.
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Read alsoPolice to cordon off quarantine site set to host Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan
"I ask everyone not to cause a panic, to rely on common sense and have understanding that in any situation you have to remain humans. Every one of us or someone dear to us could be there. We are evacuating the people who have already been through a difficult period. Among the evacuated are a family with an eight-year-old son, a young couple, 20-year-old students," Liashko said.
"Our duty is to bring them back and create the most comfortable conditions," he said.
"This concerns not only the flight and their accommodation but also their reception by other Ukrainians. Is there really no place in such a big country for fewer than a hundred citizens who have found themselves in a difficult situation?" he asked.
As UNIAN reported, the flight is being carried out by SkyUp Airlines, the plane departed at 00:30 a.m. local time on February 20 and is scheduled to arrive in Ukraine at 07:45 a.m. Kyiv time on February 20.
On board the plane are also 29 foreigners, namely eight citizens of Argentina, five from the Dominican Republic and Ecuador each, four from El Salvador, two from Kazakhstan and Costa Rica each, and one from Israel, Montenegro, and Panama each. The two Kazakh citizens are expected to leave the plane amid a stopover in Almaty.
The evacuees who will arrive in Ukraine will be placed under observation in four locations, close to infectious diseases hospitals. The exact whereabouts are not to be disclosed not to cause a panic.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine may be granted Enhanced Opportunity Partner status in Oct – defense minister

The minister says that advisers and consultants working on behalf of NATO in Ukraine are happy with the pace of reforms in the country .
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk forecasts Ukraine may be granted Enhanced Opportunity Partner ( EOP ) status as early as in October 2020 .
`` The main results of the Munich [ Security Conference ] are : there is no decrease in attention paid to Ukraine at the level of experts and the Ministry of Defense – there is a lot of attention , there is a lot of support .
There is full support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our reforms , '' he said after a meeting of the parliament 's committee for national security , defense , and intelligence behind closed doors on February 19 , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
Read alsoUkraine 's Defense Minister : Over 25,000 Russian troops in occupied Donbas now He said he had met with over a dozen defense ministers from different countries .
`` In Brussels , the day before the Munich [ event ] , we had a meeting with the [ NATO ] Secretary General and his deputy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but an informal one .
And there were all the defense ministers of all NATO member states who arrived in Brussels , '' he said .
According to him , their advisers , consultants and observers are working in Ukraine , reporting on the progress of the reforms .
`` They are absolutely happy with the progress of the reforms , they see the pace we are moving at now , we may expect the promotion of our status with NATO to an Enhanced Opportunity Partner in October .
If the pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .

The minister says that advisers and consultants working on behalf of NATO in Ukraine are happy with the pace of reforms in the country.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk forecasts Ukraine may be granted Enhanced Opportunity Partner (EOP) status as early as in October 2020.
"The main results of the Munich [Security Conference] are: there is no decrease in attention paid to Ukraine at the level of experts and the Ministry of Defense – there is a lot of attention, there is a lot of support. There is full support for our reforms, they know about our reforms," he said after a meeting of the parliament's committee for national security, defense, and intelligence behind closed doors on February 19, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Read alsoUkraine's Defense Minister: Over 25,000 Russian troops in occupied Donbas now
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He said he had met with over a dozen defense ministers from different countries. "In Brussels, the day before the Munich [event], we had a meeting with the [NATO] Secretary General and his deputy. The meeting was actually like the Ukraine-NATO Commission, but an informal one. And there were all the defense ministers of all NATO member states who arrived in Brussels," he said.
According to him, their advisers, consultants and observers are working in Ukraine, reporting on the progress of the reforms. "They are absolutely happy with the progress of the reforms, they see the pace we are moving at now, we may expect the promotion of our status with NATO to an Enhanced Opportunity Partner in October. If the pace of reforms is maintained," he added.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukrainian political prisoner arrives in Kyiv after end of term in Crimea penal colony

He was detained by Russia-controlled occupying authorities in the middle of November 2016 .
Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksiy Stohniy has arrived in Kyiv after the end of his term served in a penal colony in the city of Kerch in Russia-occupied Crimea .
He was detained in the middle of November 2016 when leaving the peninsula towards mainland Ukraine ; Russia-controlled occupying authorities brought charges against him as part of the so-called `` Ukrainian saboteurs ' case . ''
`` For all these years , our citizen has been kept in unbearable conditions while serving a term in a prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has greatly affected his health , '' Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said on Facebook on February 19 .
Read alsoRussia claims another two Ukraine `` saboteurs '' in occupied Crimea detained '' I will urgently take appropriate measures to arrange highly qualified medical examinations and the necessary medical care for Oleksiy , '' she said .
She also wrote that she had been doing everything within her power to facilitate the return of 115 Ukrainian citizens , who are still illegally held by the aggressor country , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives of international human rights organizations and the diplomatic corps to use all levers of influence to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens who are still prisoners of the Kremlin are respected , '' she said .
Stohniy was detained on November 15 , 2016 , and charged with the illicit purchase and transfer of ammunition ( Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of Russia ) and the unlawful manufacture of firearms ( Part 1 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of Russia ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called `` Kyivsky district court of Simferopol '' sentenced him to three years and six months in prison .
According to NGO Association of Relatives of the Kremlin 's Political Prisoners , Stohniy was released in late January 2020 , but his family did not want to announce his release to avoid possible risks related with his departure from Russia-occupied Crimea .

He was detained by Russia-controlled occupying authorities in the middle of November 2016.
Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksiy Stohniy has arrived in Kyiv after the end of his term served in a penal colony in the city of Kerch in Russia-occupied Crimea.
He was detained in the middle of November 2016 when leaving the peninsula towards mainland Ukraine; Russia-controlled occupying authorities brought charges against him as part of the so-called "Ukrainian saboteurs' case."
"For all these years, our citizen has been kept in unbearable conditions while serving a term in a prison controlled by the occupying country, which has greatly affected his health," Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said on Facebook on February 19.
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Read alsoRussia claims another two Ukraine "saboteurs" in occupied Crimea detained
"I will urgently take appropriate measures to arrange highly qualified medical examinations and the necessary medical care for Oleksiy," she said.
She also wrote that she had been doing everything within her power to facilitate the return of 115 Ukrainian citizens, who are still illegally held by the aggressor country, the Russian Federation.
"I call on representatives of international human rights organizations and the diplomatic corps to use all levers of influence to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens who are still prisoners of the Kremlin are respected," she said.
Stohniy was detained on November 15, 2016, and charged with the illicit purchase and transfer of ammunition (Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of Russia) and the unlawful manufacture of firearms (Part 1 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of Russia). On July 17, 2017, the so-called "Kyivsky district court of Simferopol" sentenced him to three years and six months in prison.
According to NGO Association of Relatives of the Kremlin's Political Prisoners, Stohniy was released in late January 2020, but his family did not want to announce his release to avoid possible risks related with his departure from Russia-occupied Crimea.


unian--2020-02-19--Bloomberg: Trump ousts Pentagon policy chief linked to Ukraine-aid saga

A top Defense Department official who advised against cutting off U.S. military aid to Ukraine has resigned after President Donald Trump asked for his departure .
John Rood , the under secretary of defense for policy , said in a letter to the president dated Wednesday that he 'll step down February 28 `` as you requested , '' Bloomberg reported .
Rood , who had been in his post since January 2018 , did n't say why the president sought his ouster .
Read alsoWhite House to propose keeping Ukraine aid intact in new budget – media '' It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you requested my resignation from serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy , '' Rood said in his letter , which was confirmed by Pentagon officials .
`` I leave with the utmost admiration for the outstanding team with which I worked at the Defense Department . ''
Some senior national security officials had lost confidence in Rood 's ability to carry out Trump 's agenda , according to multiple officials who asked not to be identified discussing a personnel matter .
Rood drew attention because he was the official who certified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible to receive US $ 250 million in security assistance .
That aid was later temporarily blocked by the White House , a decision at the center of Trump ’ s impeachment .
The president had recently asked some associates whether Rood should be released , according to a person familiar with the matter .
Trump wished Rood well in a tweet .
CNN reported earlier this month that Rood warned Defense Secretary Mark Esper against withholding military aid to Ukraine in an email on July 25 , the same day Trump asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a phone call to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter .

Trump wished Rood well in a tweet.
A top Defense Department official who advised against cutting off U.S. military aid to Ukraine has resigned after President Donald Trump asked for his departure.
John Rood, the under secretary of defense for policy, said in a letter to the president dated Wednesday that he'll step down February 28 "as you requested," Bloomberg reported.
Rood, who had been in his post since January 2018, didn't say why the president sought his ouster.
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Read alsoWhite House to propose keeping Ukraine aid intact in new budget – media
"It's my understanding from Secretary Esper that you requested my resignation from serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy," Rood said in his letter, which was confirmed by Pentagon officials. "I leave with the utmost admiration for the outstanding team with which I worked at the Defense Department."
Some senior national security officials had lost confidence in Rood's ability to carry out Trump's agenda, according to multiple officials who asked not to be identified discussing a personnel matter.
Rood drew attention because he was the official who certified in May to Congress that Ukraine was eligible to receive US$250 million in security assistance. That aid was later temporarily blocked by the White House, a decision at the center of Trump’s impeachment.
The president had recently asked some associates whether Rood should be released, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump wished Rood well in a tweet.
CNN reported earlier this month that Rood warned Defense Secretary Mark Esper against withholding military aid to Ukraine in an email on July 25, the same day Trump asked the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a phone call to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine's Constitutional Court delegates to attend Moldovan peers' 25th anniversary, Russians also e

Ukraine's Constitutional Court delegates to attend Moldovan peers' 25th anniversary, Russians also expected

The Ukrainian judges are not scheduled to meet with Russian counterparts .
Delegates of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( CCU ) , led by CCU Chairman Oleksandr Tupytskiy , will take part in an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova .
`` The delegation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine , led by Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Oleksandr Tupytskiy , ( composed of ) judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Kryvenko and head of the Secretariat of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Beschastny is going on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moldova today , '' the CCU 's media liaison and legal monitoring department said .
The Ukrainian delegates are scheduled to hold several working meetings on February 19 and to participate in an international conference on the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova on February 20 , a spokesperson for the CCU 's press service said .
`` Our delegation has scheduled a meeting with Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Țurcan and a number of other meetings , '' the CCU said .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service said it could not inform in detail about the planned meetings , but promised to elaborate on them later .
`` We ca n't give the details now ... We will inform media representatives about this working visit , '' the CCU said .
Asked whether the Ukrainian delegation plans to participate in events together with the delegation of the Constitutional Court of Russia during the visit to Moldova , the spokesman for the press service replied : `` I do not have information about the participation of the delegation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at least , our agenda does not have working meetings with representatives of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation . ''
Meanwhile , the head of the external relations department of the Constitutional Court of Moldova , Mihail Barbulat , told UNIAN that delegations from 14 countries , including that from Russia , would arrive to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova .
According to him , all delegations will take part in the international conference organized by the Constitutional Court of Moldova .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the rules of the protocol provided for such an event .
We would not have any new element ... , in any European country it would be held according to the same patterns , '' he said .
When asked whether the Ukrainian and Russian delegations would both participate in the event , Barbulat answered in the affirmative , adding : `` ... along with the Georgian one , with the delegations of European countries , because this ... is not a bilateral visit of any of the delegations , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to him , the Constitutional Court of Moldova has planned an official reception with the participation of delegations from all countries and Moldovan officials .
As UNIAN reported , the Prosecutor General 's Office of Ukraine in March 2018 reported the chairman and 18 judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation were suspected of involvement in the Russian occupation of Ukraine 's Crimea .
The then Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko said that the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation had been informed of suspicion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ukrainian Chief Military Prosecutor as part of criminal proceedings under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ( aiding in deliberate acts committed with the aim of changing the borders of the territory and state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine , representatives of the authorities , by prior conspiracy by a group of persons , entailing grave consequences ) .
UNIAN memo .
Russia annexed Ukraine 's Crimea in March 2014 after its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia .
De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77 % of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia .
On March 18 , 2014 , the so-called `` agreement '' on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin .
The following day , the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation unanimously declared the `` agreement '' between Russia and the so-called `` Republic of Crimea '' on its `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line with the Constitution of Russia .
The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced .
Ukraine 's parliament voted to designate February 20 , 2014 , as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began .
Judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation were denied participation in a number of events hosted by European institutions as the Russian judges were engaged in the legalization of Crimea 's annexation .
In particular , it became known in December 2016 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges of Russia 's Constitutional Court who `` legitimized '' Russia 's annexation of Crimea enter the country .
Russian judges were planning to go to the World Congress of Constitutional Courts in March 2017 .
However , as was proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania , that country 's Migration Department in November 2016 decided to add the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation to the stoplist .
`` The decision was made because in 2014 the Constitutional Court of Russia passed a court ruling that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a gross violation of generally recognized norms of international law , '' Kestutis Vaskelevičius , the press officer of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry , explained then .

The Ukrainian judges are not scheduled to meet with Russian counterparts.
Delegates of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU), led by CCU Chairman Oleksandr Tupytskiy, will take part in an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova.
"The delegation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, led by Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Oleksandr Tupytskiy, (composed of) judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Kryvenko and head of the Secretariat of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Beschastny is going on a two-day official visit to the Republic of Moldova today," the CCU's media liaison and legal monitoring department said.
Read alsoConstitutional Court votes to appoint new chief: source
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The Ukrainian delegates are scheduled to hold several working meetings on February 19 and to participate in an international conference on the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova on February 20, a spokesperson for the CCU's press service said.
"Our delegation has scheduled a meeting with Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Țurcan and a number of other meetings," the CCU said.
At the same time, the CCU's press service said it could not inform in detail about the planned meetings, but promised to elaborate on them later. "We can't give the details now ... We will inform media representatives about this working visit," the CCU said.
Asked whether the Ukrainian delegation plans to participate in events together with the delegation of the Constitutional Court of Russia during the visit to Moldova, the spokesman for the press service replied: "I do not have information about the participation of the delegation of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and, at least, our agenda does not have working meetings with representatives of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation."
Meanwhile, the head of the external relations department of the Constitutional Court of Moldova, Mihail Barbulat, told UNIAN that delegations from 14 countries, including that from Russia, would arrive to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova.
According to him, all delegations will take part in the international conference organized by the Constitutional Court of Moldova.
"This is a standard international conference organized according to all the rules of the protocol provided for such an event. We would not have any new element ..., in any European country it would be held according to the same patterns," he said.
Read alsoNew bill on lifting parliamentary immunity challenged in Constitutional Court
When asked whether the Ukrainian and Russian delegations would both participate in the event, Barbulat answered in the affirmative, adding: "... along with the Georgian one, with the delegations of European countries, because this ... is not a bilateral visit of any of the delegations, this is participation in an international conference."
According to him, the Constitutional Court of Moldova has planned an official reception with the participation of delegations from all countries and Moldovan officials.
As UNIAN reported, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine in March 2018 reported the chairman and 18 judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation were suspected of involvement in the Russian occupation of Ukraine's Crimea.
The then Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko said that the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation had been informed of suspicion in the wake of a probe conducted by the Ukrainian Chief Military Prosecutor as part of criminal proceedings under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding in deliberate acts committed with the aim of changing the borders of the territory and state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine, representatives of the authorities, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, entailing grave consequences).
UNIAN memo. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had invaded the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77% of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia.
On March 18, 2014, the so-called "agreement" on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin.
The following day, the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation unanimously declared the "agreement" between Russia and the so-called "Republic of Crimea" on its "admission" to the Russian Federation was in line with the Constitution of Russia.
The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced.
Ukraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began.
Judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation were denied participation in a number of events hosted by European institutions as the Russian judges were engaged in the legalization of Crimea's annexation.
In particular, it became known in December 2016 that Lithuania had decided not to let the judges of Russia's Constitutional Court who "legitimized" Russia's annexation of Crimea enter the country.
Russian judges were planning to go to the World Congress of Constitutional Courts in March 2017. However, as was proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, that country's Migration Department in November 2016 decided to add the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation to the stoplist.
"The decision was made because in 2014 the Constitutional Court of Russia passed a court ruling that formalized the annexation of Crimea, and this is a gross violation of generally recognized norms of international law," Kestutis Vaskelevičius, the press officer of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, explained then.


unian--2020-02-19--Zagorodnyuk: Ukraine's army retains positions in Donbas after Tuesday fight, yet loses observation p

Zagorodnyuk: Ukraine's army retains positions in Donbas after Tuesday fight, yet loses observation post

It was an observation post ahead of all the main positions .
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk says Ukraine 's army has lost one fortified post after a fight with Russia-led forces in Donbas on Tuesday , but has managed to retain all main positions .
When asked to comment on reports that the Ukrainian military had allegedly left one stronghold , the minister replied : `` According to our information , they have temporarily left it , but in general our positions have n't changed .
That is , that fortified site was ahead , so to speak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read alsoUkraine 's Defense Minister : Over 25,000 Russian troops in occupied Donbas now Speaking after a meeting of the parliamentary committee for national security , defense and intelligence behind closed doors on Wednesday , February 19 , he said it was an `` observation post , '' according to an UNIAN correspondent .
According to Chairman of the committee Oleksandr Zavytnevych , this is the so-called `` Banya '' post , Channel 24 reported .
Zagorodnyuk said that it was the enemy that had started the February 18 fight .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Staff is currently `` on the ground . ''
`` He will return and give details… Those representatives of the Defense Ministry who spoke at the committee meeting today – they were n't on the ground , '' the minister explained .
He said the fight ended on Tuesday morning and the situation was under control then .
`` It was under control even during the fight .
We control the line and control the situation , and there is no reason for any panic or questions , '' he assured , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break through our line , this attempt failed , we repulsed it . ''
Commenting on the work of Ukraine 's intelligence , the minister noted : `` We had known about the accumulation of [ enemy ] equipment even before it happened .
And that 's why we got prepared , and that 's why all the actions of our military had maintained the situation , the security policy that exists now . ''
The minister also did not rule out that the act of provocation could have been aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of forces and weapons along the contact line in Donbas .
At the same time , he believes , the situation should have an impact on an upcoming Normandy Four meeting .
As was reported , Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas near the settlements Novotoshkivske , Orikhove , Krymske , and Khutir Vilniy in Luhansk region in the early hours of Tuesday , February 18 .
They employed 152mm , 122mm 120mm mortars , large machine guns , tanks , and grenade launchers of various types .
Under fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active offensive , attempting to advance across the line of contact .
One Ukrainian military serviceman was killed in action and another six were wounded .
Five enemy troops were killed .
Chief of Ukraine 's General Staff Ruslan Khomchak said that the enemy attack was reportedly timed to coincide with the anniversary of the fierce battles near Debaltseve , where Ukrainian troops suffered major losses .

It was an observation post ahead of all the main positions.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk says Ukraine's army has lost one fortified post after a fight with Russia-led forces in Donbas on Tuesday, but has managed to retain all main positions.
When asked to comment on reports that the Ukrainian military had allegedly left one stronghold, the minister replied: "According to our information, they have temporarily left it, but in general our positions haven't changed. That is, that fortified site was ahead, so to speak, of all our main positions."
Read alsoUkraine's Defense Minister: Over 25,000 Russian troops in occupied Donbas now
Видео дня
Speaking after a meeting of the parliamentary committee for national security, defense and intelligence behind closed doors on Wednesday, February 19, he said it was an "observation post," according to an UNIAN correspondent.
According to Chairman of the committee Oleksandr Zavytnevych, this is the so-called "Banya" post, Channel 24 reported.
Zagorodnyuk said that it was the enemy that had started the February 18 fight.
According to him, the chief of Ukraine's General Staff is currently "on the ground."
"He will return and give details… Those representatives of the Defense Ministry who spoke at the committee meeting today – they weren't on the ground," the minister explained.
He said the fight ended on Tuesday morning and the situation was under control then.
"It was under control even during the fight. We control the line and control the situation, and there is no reason for any panic or questions," he assured, adding that "there was an attempt to break through our line, this attempt failed, we repulsed it."
Commenting on the work of Ukraine's intelligence, the minister noted: "We had known about the accumulation of [enemy] equipment even before it happened. And that's why we got prepared, and that's why all the actions of our military had maintained the situation, the security policy that exists now."
The minister also did not rule out that the act of provocation could have been aimed at disrupting the process of the further disengagement of forces and weapons along the contact line in Donbas. At the same time, he believes, the situation should have an impact on an upcoming Normandy Four meeting.
As was reported, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas near the settlements Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilniy in Luhansk region in the early hours of Tuesday, February 18. They employed 152mm, 122mm 120mm mortars, large machine guns, tanks, and grenade launchers of various types. Under fire cover, the enemy moved to an active offensive, attempting to advance across the line of contact. One Ukrainian military serviceman was killed in action and another six were wounded. Five enemy troops were killed.
Chief of Ukraine's General Staff Ruslan Khomchak said that the enemy attack was reportedly timed to coincide with the anniversary of the fierce battles near Debaltseve, where Ukrainian troops suffered major losses.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine's Defense Minister: Over 25,000 Russian troops in occupied Donbas now

The minister says the situation is constantly changing .
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk says that over 25,000 Russian troops @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The situation is changing ... We see that there are more than 25,000 @ @ @ @ @ for sure , '' he told reporters after a parliamentary committee meeting when asked how @ @ @ @ @ eastern Ukraine today , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
The parliamentary committee on national @ @ @ @ @ gathered behind closed doors on Wednesday , February 19 .
As UNIAN reported earlier , @ @ @ @ @ to build military bases in line with NATO standards in Mariupol and Sievierodonetsk in Donbas @ @ @ @ @ One of the priorities of the new team at Ukraine 's Defense Ministry is to @ @ @ @ @ plan to build several high-quality infrastructure facilities so that everyone knows that we can also @ @ @ @ @ with NATO standards , '' Zagorodnyuk said .

The minister says the situation is constantly changing.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk says that over 25,000 Russian troops are now in occupied Donbas.
"The situation is changing... We see that there are more than 25,000 [Russian troops], for sure," he told reporters after a parliamentary committee meeting when asked how many Russian troops are in eastern Ukraine today, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Read alsoZagorodnyuk: Disengagement along entire contact line in Donbas contradicts Minsk agreements
Видео дня
The parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence gathered behind closed doors on Wednesday, February 19.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry plans to build military bases in line with NATO standards in Mariupol and Sievierodonetsk in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "One of the priorities of the new team at Ukraine's Defense Ministry is to develop infrastructure construction. We plan to build several high-quality infrastructure facilities so that everyone knows that we can also have military bases in line with NATO standards," Zagorodnyuk said.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine's aircraft lands in China's Wuhan to evacuate 48 Ukrainians, 29 foreigners

In Ukraine , they will be placed under quarantine for at least 14 days .
A Ukrainian aircraft chartered by the Ukrainian government to evacuate 48 Ukrainians and 29 foreigners has already landed in the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak .
`` The Ukrainian plane has just landed in Wuhan , the province of Hubei ; it will bring back 48 Ukrainians and 29 foreign citizens , '' Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on Facebook on February 19 .
According to Danilov , a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane .
Read alsoPolice to cordon off quarantine site set to host Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan '' I 'm sure the [ return ] flight will be comfortable and calm .
We look forward to seeing [ the evacuees ] on our native land , '' Danilov said .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the outbreak was first reported late in December 2019 .
In China , the death toll from the coronavirus climbed above 2,000 , but the tally of newly reported cases fell for a second day to the lowest since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.5 million , or nearly US $ 184,120 , from the national budget 's reserve fund for the evacuation of Ukrainians from China .
They will be placed under quarantine for at least 14 days .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry said that only those who do not have symptoms of acute respiratory infection are subject to evacuation .
Nationals of other countries seeking help , namely from Norway , Israel , Belarus , Spain , Montenegro , Argentina , the Dominican Republic , Ecuador , Costa Rica , Panama and others , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charter flight .

In Ukraine, they will be placed under quarantine for at least 14 days.
A Ukrainian aircraft chartered by the Ukrainian government to evacuate 48 Ukrainians and 29 foreigners has already landed in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
"The Ukrainian plane has just landed in Wuhan, the province of Hubei; it will bring back 48 Ukrainians and 29 foreign citizens," Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on Facebook on February 19.
According to Danilov, a team of experienced doctors are on board the plane.
Видео дня
Read alsoPolice to cordon off quarantine site set to host Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan
"I'm sure the [return] flight will be comfortable and calm. We look forward to seeing [the evacuees] on our native land," Danilov said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the outbreak was first reported late in December 2019. In China, the death toll from the coronavirus climbed above 2,000, but the tally of newly reported cases fell for a second day to the lowest since January.
Ukraine's government allocated UAH 4.5 million, or nearly US$184,120, from the national budget's reserve fund for the evacuation of Ukrainians from China. They will be placed under quarantine for at least 14 days.
Ukraine's Health Ministry said that only those who do not have symptoms of acute respiratory infection are subject to evacuation.
Nationals of other countries seeking help, namely from Norway, Israel, Belarus, Spain, Montenegro, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama and others, will also be brought to Ukraine by the charter flight.


unian--2020-02-19--Police to cordon off quarantine site set to host Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan

Foot and highway patrol will be operating in the area , while a checkpoint and a CCTV surveillance system will be installed .
The Communications Department of Ukraine 's Internal Affairs Ministry says premises set to host for a two-week quarantine a group of Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan , a Chinese city in the epicenter of COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic , will be taken under tight control with 30 police and 17 National Guard officers on 24/7 duty .
A plane has been sent to the Chinese city of Wuhan today to evacuate Ukrainian citizens and national of other countries seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus , Spain , Montenegro , Argentina , Dominican Republic , Ecuador , Costa Rica , Panama and other countries , the Department told UNIAN on February 19 .
Read alsoUkrainians evacuated from China to be subject to two-week quarantine An emergency operational center has been established in Ukraine to ensure that no infected citizens are on board and to prevent the spread of acute respiratory disease caused by coronavirus .
In addition , temporary restrictions and special conditions have been set up for those who was in the PRC .
They will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The premises with the evacuees will be taken under tight control to provide security and disinfection .
Forty seven officers will be guarding the area .
Foot and highway patrol will be operating in the area , while a checkpoint and a CCTV surveillance system will be installed .
The State Emergency Service is ready to transport citizens , assigning seven buses and deploying 33 rescuers .

Foot and highway patrol will be operating in the area, while a checkpoint and a CCTV surveillance system will be installed.
The Communications Department of Ukraine's Internal Affairs Ministry says premises set to host for a two-week quarantine a group of Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan, a Chinese city in the epicenter of COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, will be taken under tight control with 30 police and 17 National Guard officers on 24/7 duty.
A plane has been sent to the Chinese city of Wuhan today to evacuate Ukrainian citizens and national of other countries seeking help, namely Norway, Israel, Belarus, Spain, Montenegro, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries, the Department told UNIAN on February 19.
Read alsoUkrainians evacuated from China to be subject to two-week quarantine
Видео дня
An emergency operational center has been established in Ukraine to ensure that no infected citizens are on board and to prevent the spread of acute respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.
In addition, temporary restrictions and special conditions have been set up for those who was in the PRC. They will be quarantined for up to 14 days.
The premises with the evacuees will be taken under tight control to provide security and disinfection. Forty seven officers will be guarding the area. Foot and highway patrol will be operating in the area, while a checkpoint and a CCTV surveillance system will be installed.
The State Emergency Service is ready to transport citizens, assigning seven buses and deploying 33 rescuers.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine's economy minister invites government to announce competition for new Naftogaz head

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unian--2020-02-19--About 6,000 farmers demand NABU chief's resignation, accuse him of pressure on Ukrainian business

About 6,000 employees of UkrLandFarming and Avangard agricultural holdings demand resignation of Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( NABU ) Artem Sytnyk , accusing him of putting pressure on the Ukrainian business , which gives 27,000 jobs to people in the village areas .
The protesters have gathered outside the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine , where they called on the government to stop pressure from law enforcement agencies on enterprises and expedite the dismissal of Sytnyk , who had been put in the national register of corrupt officials , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since enterprises are operating in 600 settlements of 22 regions of the country .
The farmers handed over a written appeal with their demands to representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers , who came out to talks with the protesters at their request .
The employees also prepared a box of eggs , on which the slogan `` Sytnyk , go away ! ''
was written , however , both NABU and the Cabinet refused to accept the gift .
Earlier this morning , the protesters came to the NABU office , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands .
According to UkrLandFarming Operations Director Halyna Kovtok , the company 's work has been destabilized as of today .
NABU detectives carry out searches and interrogate employees who have no idea how their work is related to Sytnyk 's personal motives to impede a successful business .
According to her , people are afraid that they will be deprived of jobs at home and forced to emigrate to work in neighboring countries .
`` Our company is the pride of Ukraine , annually paying UAH 2.5 billion ( US $ 102.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the country 's GDP , and it must be heard .
Sytnyk did not come to us today and closed the doors to our employees .
These people are fighting for their families , love Ukraine and want to work here , and they will not allow one person 's ambitions to destroy it all .
You can not hold a corrupt official in such a position , therefore we call on the prime minister : bring the matter to an end , '' she said , handing over the farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Later , the protesters moved to the Verkhovna Rada 's building , where they repeated their demands to expedite the dismissal of Sytnyk from the post of NABU director .
Several lawmakers spoke in their support .
MP from the European Solidarity parliamentary Oleksiy Honcharenko said half of the Verkhovna Rada supports Sytnyk 's resignation .
`` You want to protect your salaries , your families and your jobs to continue to feed the whole country and the whole world – that 's right , and we will all work together on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the MPs gathered 216 votes for dismissing a corrupt official – this is the majority in the Verkhovna Rada .
This issue should be brought to an end , Sytnyk should be dismissed ! ''
he shouted from the stage .
Prior to this , the employees of UkrLandFarming and Avangard gathered about 30,000 signatures of farmers and ordinary people demanding resignation of Sytnyk and handed them to President Volodymyr Zelensky .
According to Kovtok , the company is still awaiting a response .
Earlier , businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk , the owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called illegal the raids on his company in the case of embezzlement of a stabilization loan from VAB Bank , where he was main shareholder .
He also said the cases opened against him and the company had been personal revenge of NABU Director Sytnyk .
The latter was found guilty of corruption by the court over the elite vacation at someone else 's expense , and was put in the register of corrupt officials , therefore he could lose his job .
The adviser to Bakhmatyuk 's sister was the main witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the largest Ukrainian agro-industrial holding , which manages the country 's largest bank of fertile black soil , namely 500,000 hectares , which is engaged in the cultivation of crops and seeds , sugar production , animal husbandry and distribution of agricultural machinery .
It includes the Avangard agricultural group , whose companies specialize in the production of chicken eggs ( with a design capacity of 1.6 billion eggs per year ) and egg products , which are exported to about 40 countries .

About 6,000 employees of UkrLandFarming and Avangard agricultural holdings demand resignation of Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Artem Sytnyk, accusing him of putting pressure on the Ukrainian business, which gives 27,000 jobs to people in the village areas.
The protesters have gathered outside the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, where they called on the government to stop pressure from law enforcement agencies on enterprises and expedite the dismissal of Sytnyk, who had been put in the national register of corrupt officials, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
People came from almost all over Ukraine, since enterprises are operating in 600 settlements of 22 regions of the country.
Видео дня
The farmers handed over a written appeal with their demands to representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, who came out to talks with the protesters at their request. The employees also prepared a box of eggs, on which the slogan "Sytnyk, go away!" was written, however, both NABU and the Cabinet refused to accept the gift.
Earlier this morning, the protesters came to the NABU office, but no one came out to hear their demands.
According to UkrLandFarming Operations Director Halyna Kovtok, the company's work has been destabilized as of today. NABU detectives carry out searches and interrogate employees who have no idea how their work is related to Sytnyk's personal motives to impede a successful business.
According to her, people are afraid that they will be deprived of jobs at home and forced to emigrate to work in neighboring countries.
"Our company is the pride of Ukraine, annually paying UAH 2.5 billion (US$102.3 million) in taxes and creating 1% of the country's GDP, and it must be heard. Sytnyk did not come to us today and closed the doors to our employees. These people are fighting for their families, love Ukraine and want to work here, and they will not allow one person's ambitions to destroy it all. You cannot hold a corrupt official in such a position, therefore we call on the prime minister: bring the matter to an end," she said, handing over the farmers' demands to the Cabinet of Ministers.
Later, the protesters moved to the Verkhovna Rada's building, where they repeated their demands to expedite the dismissal of Sytnyk from the post of NABU director. Several lawmakers spoke in their support.
MP from the European Solidarity parliamentary Oleksiy Honcharenko said half of the Verkhovna Rada supports Sytnyk's resignation.
"You want to protect your salaries, your families and your jobs to continue to feed the whole country and the whole world – that's right, and we will all work together on this. After your previous rally, the MPs gathered 216 votes for dismissing a corrupt official – this is the majority in the Verkhovna Rada. This issue should be brought to an end, Sytnyk should be dismissed!" he shouted from the stage.
Prior to this, the employees of UkrLandFarming and Avangard gathered about 30,000 signatures of farmers and ordinary people demanding resignation of Sytnyk and handed them to President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Kovtok, the company is still awaiting a response.
Earlier, businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk, the owner of UkrLandFarming and Avangard group of companies, called illegal the raids on his company in the case of embezzlement of a stabilization loan from VAB Bank, where he was main shareholder.
He also said the cases opened against him and the company had been personal revenge of NABU Director Sytnyk. The latter was found guilty of corruption by the court over the elite vacation at someone else's expense, and was put in the register of corrupt officials, therefore he could lose his job. The adviser to Bakhmatyuk's sister was the main witness for prosecution.
UNIAN memo. UkrLandFarming is the largest Ukrainian agro-industrial holding, which manages the country's largest bank of fertile black soil, namely 500,000 hectares, which is engaged in the cultivation of crops and seeds, sugar production, animal husbandry and distribution of agricultural machinery. It includes the Avangard agricultural group, whose companies specialize in the production of chicken eggs (with a design capacity of 1.6 billion eggs per year) and egg products, which are exported to about 40 countries.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine's Defense Ministry to store ammo in concrete depots, learning from past mistakes

New depots will have 24/7 video surveillance and tighter security along the perimeter .
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Oleksiy Martsenyuk @ @ @ @ @ building concrete depots for safer storage of munitions and avoiding emergency situations .
In an @ @ @ @ @ service , the defense official said the ministry `` learned the lessons of the past @ @ @ @ @ system is being improved , with the introduction of centralized monitoring of all military depots @ @ @ @ @ by Russian intelligence to blow up ammo depot in Ukraine Martsenyuk added that the security @ @ @ @ @ have 24/7 video surveillance with towers , guards , and patrols .
`` We also @ @ @ @ @ unified monitoring center , from where we can conduct round-the-clock centralized monitoring of all facilities @ @ @ @ @ system has already been launched in test mode for part of ammunition depots , '' @ @ @

New depots will have 24/7 video surveillance and tighter security along the perimeter.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Oleksiy Martsenyuk has said the ministry is building concrete depots for safer storage of munitions and avoiding emergency situations.
In an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian service, the defense official said the ministry "learned the lessons of the past," therefore the security system is being improved, with the introduction of centralized monitoring of all military depots.
Read alsoSBU foils plot by Russian intelligence to blow up ammo depot in Ukraine
Видео дня
Martsenyuk added that the security perimeter of ammunition depots should have 24/7 video surveillance with towers, guards, and patrols.
"We also pin great hope on our unified monitoring center, from where we can conduct round-the-clock centralized monitoring of all facilities. Now the centralized monitoring system has already been launched in test mode for part of ammunition depots," he added.


unian--2020-02-19--Enemy offensive in Donbas hits Zelensky's peace policy – media

The attack was carried out just a few miles from a disengagement zone .
Russian-backed forces tried on Tuesday to break through the trench line in the stalemated war in eastern Ukraine , killing one government soldier and wounding four others , the Ukrainian military said .
In the Ukrainian capital , Kyiv , the attack was seen more as a diplomatic feint than a military assault , an effort to gain leverage during talks to end the war .
In response , Ukraine 's president , Volodymyr Zelensky , convened an emergency meeting of his national security council .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to The New York Times .
After a phase of widespread violence in 2014 and 2015 , the war settled into a dreary back-and-forth along a frontier consisting of about 270 miles of trenches .
Despite a negotiated cease-fire , skirmishes break out daily , most of them with long-distance artillery .
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported nearly 300,000 cease-fire violations by both sides last year , counting every explosion or burst of gunfire its monitors hear along the front .
The attack on Tuesday , in Luhansk region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the armed forces tried to overrun a Ukrainian trench line and seize additional territory .
It was the first such attack in two years , the military said .
Mr. Zelensky called the action an `` attempt to disrupt the peace process '' but did not directly blame the Russian government .
Read alsoChief of staff Yermak : Ukraine wants peace , simultaneously increases spending on army '' Our course , our commitment to end the war and to international agreements remains unchanged , '' he wrote in a social media post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repel any manifestation of armed aggression against Ukraine . ''
In a conference call with journalists , the Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov expressed condolences for the dead but said that `` it would be wrong to say that the Kremlin is responsible for whatever happens there . ''
The fighting broke out in a remote area of farmland and villages carved by a network of trenches that has been a hot spot in the conflict for years .
The Ukrainian Army said it began with an artillery barrage near the village of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overrun its trenches , but the military provided no further details .
The fighting killed one enemy troop and wounded five others .
The attack , carried out just a few miles from a `` disengagement zone '' where Ukrainian troops had pulled back from the front , seemed to have been calculated to create political problems for Mr. Zelensky .
Creating these sites has been a signature policy of the Ukrainian president , who won an election last year promising to negotiate an end to the war .
But the voluntary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
The escalation near the disengagement zone in the town of Zolote was intended to `` force Zelensky into talks in an unfavorable position '' at home politically , said Yevhen Mahda , an analyst in Kyiv .
Read alsoUkraine 's envoy at UNSC : Kremlin continues strategy of escalation in Donbas '' Unfortunately , the Kremlin feels the weakness of Ukraine 's leadership in its unwillingness to raise the stakes , '' Mr. Mahda said .
`` Zelensky came to power on a program of peace , and the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday came three days after Mr. Zelensky 's government rejected a 12-point plan to reduce tensions , a proposal promoted by former Russian , European and American government officials at a security conference in Munich .
That plan was seen as echoing pro-Russian positions , such as promoting a partial rollback of Western economic sanctions on Russia before a final peace deal and encouraging Ukraine to sign a trade deal with Russia .
It also suggested that Ukraine should engage in a national debate about `` themes of history and national memory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian perspectives , something also sure to enrage the nationalist opposition .

The attack was carried out just a few miles from a disengagement zone.
Russian-backed forces tried on Tuesday to break through the trench line in the stalemated war in eastern Ukraine, killing one government soldier and wounding four others, the Ukrainian military said.
In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the attack was seen more as a diplomatic feint than a military assault, an effort to gain leverage during talks to end the war. In response, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, convened an emergency meeting of his national security council. The Kremlin denied any involvement, according to The New York Times.
After a phase of widespread violence in 2014 and 2015, the war settled into a dreary back-and-forth along a frontier consisting of about 270 miles of trenches.
Видео дня
Despite a negotiated cease-fire, skirmishes break out daily, most of them with long-distance artillery. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported nearly 300,000 cease-fire violations by both sides last year, counting every explosion or burst of gunfire its monitors hear along the front.
The attack on Tuesday, in Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, was unusual in that the armed forces tried to overrun a Ukrainian trench line and seize additional territory. It was the first such attack in two years, the military said.
Mr. Zelensky called the action an "attempt to disrupt the peace process" but did not directly blame the Russian government.
Read alsoChief of staff Yermak: Ukraine wants peace, simultaneously increases spending on army
"Our course, our commitment to end the war and to international agreements remains unchanged," he wrote in a social media post. "As does our determination to repel any manifestation of armed aggression against Ukraine."
In a conference call with journalists, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov expressed condolences for the dead but said that "it would be wrong to say that the Kremlin is responsible for whatever happens there."
The fighting broke out in a remote area of farmland and villages carved by a network of trenches that has been a hot spot in the conflict for years.
The Ukrainian Army said it began with an artillery barrage near the village of Krymske, followed by the unsuccessful attempt to overrun its trenches, but the military provided no further details. The fighting killed one enemy troop and wounded five others.
The attack, carried out just a few miles from a "disengagement zone" where Ukrainian troops had pulled back from the front, seemed to have been calculated to create political problems for Mr. Zelensky.
Creating these sites has been a signature policy of the Ukrainian president, who won an election last year promising to negotiate an end to the war. But the voluntary pullbacks have incensed his Ukrainian nationalist opposition at home.
The escalation near the disengagement zone in the town of Zolote was intended to "force Zelensky into talks in an unfavorable position" at home politically, said Yevhen Mahda, an analyst in Kyiv.
Read alsoUkraine's envoy at UNSC: Kremlin continues strategy of escalation in Donbas
"Unfortunately, the Kremlin feels the weakness of Ukraine's leadership in its unwillingness to raise the stakes," Mr. Mahda said. "Zelensky came to power on a program of peace, and the Kremlin understands this."
The fighting on Tuesday came three days after Mr. Zelensky's government rejected a 12-point plan to reduce tensions, a proposal promoted by former Russian, European and American government officials at a security conference in Munich.
That plan was seen as echoing pro-Russian positions, such as promoting a partial rollback of Western economic sanctions on Russia before a final peace deal and encouraging Ukraine to sign a trade deal with Russia.
It also suggested that Ukraine should engage in a national debate about "themes of history and national memory, language" and identity that would include Russian perspectives, something also sure to enrage the nationalist opposition.


unian--2020-02-19--Ukraine must not end Donbas war at expense of territories or sovereignty, top security official says

Danilov said Ukraine was not giving away a single meter of its land .
War in Donbas can not be @ @ @ @ @ its territories or sovereignty , says Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council ( @ @ @ @ @ Oleksiy Danilov .
`` The cessation of war can not take place at the expense @ @ @ @ @ sovereignty , '' he told Ukraine 24 TV channel .
Read alsoFive EU members of @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine amid Donbas escalation Danilov said Ukraine was not giving away a single meter @ @ @ @ @ We must do everything so that our border guards get to the Ukrainian border , @ @ @ @ @ according to Ukrainian laws , so that elections [ in occupied Donbas ] take place @ @ @ @ @ on Ukrainian territory , so that the war that has lasted for more than six @ @ @ @ @ said .

Danilov said Ukraine was not giving away a single meter of its land.
War in Donbas cannot be settled at the expense of its territories or sovereignty, says Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov.
"The cessation of war cannot take place at the expense of losing our territory or sovereignty," he told Ukraine 24 TV channel.
Read alsoFive EU members of UNSC issue statement in support of Ukraine amid Donbas escalation
Видео дня
Danilov said Ukraine was not giving away a single meter of its land.
"We must do everything so that our border guards get to the Ukrainian border, so that elections take place according to Ukrainian laws, so that elections [in occupied Donbas] take place in line with Ukrainian laws on Ukrainian territory, so that the war that has lasted for more than six years ends," he said.


unian--2020-02-21--U.S. calls on Russia to allow OSCE, UN monitors' access to occupied Crimea

The U.S. diplomat says her country will continue to press for UN attention and the international spotlight on Russia 's aggression against Ukraine .
Permanent Representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations , Ambassador Kelly Craft is calling on the Russian Federation to allow international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) and the United Nations to monitor the situation in occupied Crimea .
`` We call on Russia to allow OSCE and UN monitors ' access to all of Ukraine 's territory , including Crimea , to document the realities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a UN General Assembly briefing on the situation in Ukraine in New York City on February 20 .
`` We note that six years of ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people , displaced 1.4 million , and left 3.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance .
At the same time , Russia continues to ignore the call for a comprehensive ceasefire and stalls agreement on additional disengagement areas and crossing points along the Line of Contact , '' she said .
`` These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagrant violations of international norms , are the greatest threat to European security since the Balkan Wars of the 1990s . ''
The U.S. diplomat says her country will continue to press for UN attention and the international spotlight on Russia 's aggression against Ukraine .
`` In November , we co-sponsored the Third Committee resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea .
In December , we supported UN resolutions condemning Russian abuses and the military buildup in Russian-occupied Crimea .
The fact that both resolutions were adopted by this very body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggression in Ukraine , '' she said .

The U.S. diplomat says her country will continue to press for UN attention and the international spotlight on Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Permanent Representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Kelly Craft is calling on the Russian Federation to allow international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations (UN) to monitor the situation in occupied Crimea.
"We call on Russia to allow OSCE and UN monitors' access to all of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, to document the realities of life in these areas," she said at a UN General Assembly briefing on the situation in Ukraine in New York City on February 20.
Read alsoUkraine's envoy calls on EU to make Russia stop aggression
Видео дня
"We note that six years of ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people, displaced 1.4 million, and left 3.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, Russia continues to ignore the call for a comprehensive ceasefire and stalls agreement on additional disengagement areas and crossing points along the Line of Contact," she said. "These actions, and Russia's aggression are flagrant violations of international norms, are the greatest threat to European security since the Balkan Wars of the 1990s."
The U.S. diplomat says her country will continue to press for UN attention and the international spotlight on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. "In November, we co-sponsored the Third Committee resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea. In December, we supported UN resolutions condemning Russian abuses and the military buildup in Russian-occupied Crimea. The fact that both resolutions were adopted by this very body confirms broad international community support condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine," she said.


unian--2020-02-20--Ukraine's envoy calls on EU to make Russia stop aggression

He warns concessions to Russia will cost Europe too much .
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium , Representative of Ukraine to the European Union and European Atomic Energy Community Mykola Tochytskyi calls on the European Union to force the Russian Federation to stop aggression .
`` What we lack now is the political will from the Russian Federation to stop its aggression against Ukraine .
What we need is the consolidation of international unity and pressure , '' he said in his op-ed posted by EURACTIV on February 20 .
`` The only thing the Kremlin respects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's strength lies in its unity and solidarity , in its readiness to protect the cornerstones of democracy , in its consistency and persistence until the result is achieved .
Strength means not making concessions to an aggressor in the hope that it will become your friend , strength is to make the aggressor change his behavior , '' he said .
Read alsoUkraine demands that Russia start fulfilling int ' l obligations , ensure immediate ceasefire in Donbas In this connection , the ambassador things that unity , solidarity and negotiations from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win .
`` Negotiations by sacrificing the foundations – respect for international law , European values and human lives – is the way to nowhere , '' he said .
`` We need unity , strength and consistency to stop Russian aggression and return the Kremlin to the tenets of international law , '' he added .

He warns concessions to Russia will cost Europe too much.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium, Representative of Ukraine to the European Union and European Atomic Energy Community Mykola Tochytskyi calls on the European Union to force the Russian Federation to stop aggression.
"What we lack now is the political will from the Russian Federation to stop its aggression against Ukraine. What we need is the consolidation of international unity and pressure," he said in his op-ed posted by EURACTIV on February 20.
"The only thing the Kremlin respects is strength. I believe that Europe's strength lies in its unity and solidarity, in its readiness to protect the cornerstones of democracy, in its consistency and persistence until the result is achieved. Strength means not making concessions to an aggressor in the hope that it will become your friend, strength is to make the aggressor change his behavior," he said.
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Read alsoUkraine demands that Russia start fulfilling int'l obligations, ensure immediate ceasefire in Donbas
In this connection, the ambassador things that unity, solidarity and negotiations from the position of strength is the way to win. "Negotiations by sacrificing the foundations – respect for international law, European values and human lives – is the way to nowhere," he said.
"We need unity, strength and consistency to stop Russian aggression and return the Kremlin to the tenets of international law," he added.


unian--2020-02-20--Over 10 police officers badly injured in clashes with protesters in Novi Sanzhary – interior ministe

Over 10 police officers badly injured in clashes with protesters in Novi Sanzhary – interior minister

He thanked the police for their professionalism .
Over 10 police officers have been badly injured amid clashes with local residents in the town of Novi Sanzhary , Poltava region , who were protesting against the arrival of evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak .
`` Disappointment in people , in that moral system .
It 's a shame before the whole world !
People [ the evacuees ] spent 22 hours on their way [ home ] and got such a reception ... Let everyone think about it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novi Sanzhary on Thursday , February 20 , after those who were evacuated from China had been accommodated in a local health center .
Read alsoEvacuees from China arriving in Novi Sanzhary , police dispersing protesters to unblock roads ( Live stream ) '' Then drunk people [ those who took part in the protest ] tried to misuse the notion of patriotism .
People do n't think much about social values .
I am ashamed of many things that have happened today .
They may say that the authorities are bad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but people must always remain humans deep down in their heart , '' he said .
He thanked the police for their professionalism and called the events in Novi Sanzhary one of the biggest disappointments in his life .
As UNIAN reported , chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard 's medical center in Novi Sanzhary .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 foreigners and crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime .

He thanked the police for their professionalism.
Over 10 police officers have been badly injured amid clashes with local residents in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, who were protesting against the arrival of evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
"Disappointment in people, in that moral system. It's a shame before the whole world! People [the evacuees] spent 22 hours on their way [home] and got such a reception... Let everyone think about it," he told journalists during a briefing in Novi Sanzhary on Thursday, February 20, after those who were evacuated from China had been accommodated in a local health center.
Read alsoEvacuees from China arriving in Novi Sanzhary, police dispersing protesters to unblock roads (Live stream)
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"Then drunk people [those who took part in the protest] tried to misuse the notion of patriotism. People don't think much about social values. I am ashamed of many things that have happened today. They may say that the authorities are bad, they may not trust the authorities, but people must always remain humans deep down in their heart," he said.
He thanked the police for their professionalism and called the events in Novi Sanzhary one of the biggest disappointments in his life.
As UNIAN reported, chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary. Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane. They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.


unian--2020-02-20--MFA Prystaiko: Ukraine in wait for next prisoner swap with Russia

Up to 200 Ukrainians may return home as a result of the exchange .
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) Vadym Prystaiko says Ukraine is waiting for the next prisoner swap with the Russian Federation in the near future .
`` We are going to complete this process in the near-term outlook .
We would n't like to disclose the exact number [ of prisoners ] , but we say that up to 200 Ukrainians will be able to return home , '' he said at a briefing in New York City after a debate at a meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topic : `` The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine . ''
`` This is a great achievement and great expectation on our side , '' he added .
The minister said he could not give more details .
`` The exchange process is very sensitive , but we say that if we manage to get to the point when we can handle the exchange , then up to 200 Ukrainians will return home , to their families , and thus we will be able to get very close to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can close this chapter of the hostage exchange negotiations , '' he said .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the latest swap of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia-controlled Donbas took place on December 29 , 2019 , when 76 Ukrainians were freed in exchange for 124 people listed by the self-proclaimed Donbas republics , the `` Donetsk People 's Republic '' ( `` DPR '' ) and the `` Luhansk People 's Republic '' ( `` LPR '' ) .

Up to 200 Ukrainians may return home as a result of the exchange.
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Vadym Prystaiko says Ukraine is waiting for the next prisoner swap with the Russian Federation in the near future.
"We are going to complete this process in the near-term outlook. We wouldn't like to disclose the exact number [of prisoners], but we say that up to 200 Ukrainians will be able to return home," he said at a briefing in New York City after a debate at a meeting of the UN General Assembly on the topic: "The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine."
Read alsoWomen held in occupied Donbas prisons describe "inhumane conditions" – media
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"This is a great achievement and great expectation on our side," he added.
The minister said he could not give more details.
"The exchange process is very sensitive, but we say that if we manage to get to the point when we can handle the exchange, then up to 200 Ukrainians will return home, to their families, and thus we will be able to get very close to the implementation of the 'all-for-all' swap so that we can close this chapter of the hostage exchange negotiations," he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the latest swap of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia-controlled Donbas took place on December 29, 2019, when 76 Ukrainians were freed in exchange for 124 people listed by the self-proclaimed Donbas republics, the "Donetsk People's Republic"("DPR") and the "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR").


unian--2020-02-20--Russia's Constitutional Court becomes accomplice in international crime by legitimizing Crimea annex

Russia's Constitutional Court becomes accomplice in international crime by legitimizing Crimea annexation – Lithuanian expert

The delegations of Lithuania and Georgia had no intention of attending the event .
President of Lithuania 's Constitutional Court Dainius Zalimas says Russia 's Constitutional Court became an accomplice in an international crime and aggression against Ukraine when it legitimized the accession of occupied Crimea to Russia .
Speaking in a comment to UNIAN , Zalimas said he on Thursday took part in an international conference on the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova .
Representatives of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation also participated in the event , he said .
According to Zalimas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that in established democracies , the court is an independent body that defends the Constitution , does not follow public opinion , is not guided by the results of opinion polls and can not serve the interests of the president or supreme ruler .
`` There are cases when the court must make unpopular decisions , since the Constitution is a balance between the rule of the majority and the need to protect the legitimate interests of minorities and protect human rights , '' he said .
In this regard , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission is to protect every person , especially `` no matter what – when it comes to the weak strata of the population . ''
In his words , by recognizing the `` legality '' of the so-called agreement on the `` accession '' of the captured Crimea to Russia , the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation was guided not by the Constitution , but by the interests of the power elite and Russian public opinion , which became hostage to misinformation .
`` I said that , unfortunately , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name it judicial populism when court decisions are made precisely from the point of view of public opinion or from the point of view of the ruling regime , which is identified with this public opinion , '' he added .
`` I said that the annexation of Crimea where the court clearly took the lead from the ruling regime was the saddest example of such judicial populism , and sometimes such populism translates into the situation when the court commits a crime , '' he said .
In his opinion , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Russian court triggered tragic consequences , including , an armed conflict in Donbas , as a result of which 14,000 people have already been killed .
`` I just said that exactly what the Russian judges did when allowing the annexation of Crimea is an international crime , for which , in fact , there are criminal prosecution and criminal liability , '' Zalimas said .
He noted that any country 's constitution does not allow aggression against another state .
`` If the court had made the decision being guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution ... then he could then have stopped the annexation of Crimea .
Most likely , nothing [ bad ] would then have happened then , '' he said .
At the same time , Zalimas emphasized that `` never in its existence , any constitutional court has made a decision in which it was a participant in an international crime and aggression . ''
Speaking about the agenda of the events in which delegations of the constitutional courts of certain countries , including Ukraine and the Russian Federation , took part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an international conference and other events was scheduled to mark the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova .
However , he stressed , the delegations of Lithuania and Georgia had no intention of attending the event , as Russian judges would be present there .
`` I have been holding the position for six years as head [ of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania ] – I have never shaken hands with the Russian judges who made the decision on Crimea overnight , '' Zalimas said .
UNIAN was unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Ukraine on whether delegates from Kyiv will participate in the reception along with the Russian side .
As UNIAN reported , delegations of constitutional courts of 14 countries , including Ukraine and Russia , on February 19-20 were participating in events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova .

The delegations of Lithuania and Georgia had no intention of attending the event.
President of Lithuania's Constitutional Court Dainius Zalimas says Russia's Constitutional Court became an accomplice in an international crime and aggression against Ukraine when it legitimized the accession of occupied Crimea to Russia.
Speaking in a comment to UNIAN, Zalimas said he on Thursday took part in an international conference on the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova. Representatives of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation also participated in the event, he said.
According to Zalimas, during his speech he focused on the fact that in established democracies, the court is an independent body that defends the Constitution, does not follow public opinion, is not guided by the results of opinion polls and cannot serve the interests of the president or supreme ruler.
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"There are cases when the court must make unpopular decisions, since the Constitution is a balance between the rule of the majority and the need to protect the legitimate interests of minorities and protect human rights," he said.
Read alsoUkraine's Constitutional Court delegates to attend Moldovan peers' 25th anniversary, Russians also expected
In this regard, the Lithuanian official emphasized that the court's mission is to protect every person, especially "no matter what – when it comes to the weak strata of the population."
In his words, by recognizing the "legality" of the so-called agreement on the "accession" of the captured Crimea to Russia, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation was guided not by the Constitution, but by the interests of the power elite and Russian public opinion, which became hostage to misinformation. "I said that, unfortunately, there are cases of judicial populism, and I name it judicial populism when court decisions are made precisely from the point of view of public opinion or from the point of view of the ruling regime, which is identified with this public opinion," he added.
"I said that the annexation of Crimea where the court clearly took the lead from the ruling regime was the saddest example of such judicial populism, and sometimes such populism translates into the situation when the court commits a crime," he said.
In his opinion, as a cause-and-effect chain, such a decision by the Russian court triggered tragic consequences, including, an armed conflict in Donbas, as a result of which 14,000 people have already been killed.
"I just said that exactly what the Russian judges did when allowing the annexation of Crimea is an international crime, for which, in fact, there are criminal prosecution and criminal liability," Zalimas said.
He noted that any country's constitution does not allow aggression against another state. "If the court had made the decision being guided only by law and only by the Constitution ... then he could then have stopped the annexation of Crimea. Most likely, nothing [bad] would then have happened then," he said.
At the same time, Zalimas emphasized that "never in its existence, any constitutional court has made a decision in which it was a participant in an international crime and aggression."
Speaking about the agenda of the events in which delegations of the constitutional courts of certain countries, including Ukraine and the Russian Federation, took part, Zalimas noted that an evening reception along with an international conference and other events was scheduled to mark the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova. However, he stressed, the delegations of Lithuania and Georgia had no intention of attending the event, as Russian judges would be present there.
"I have been holding the position for six years as head [of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania] – I have never shaken hands with the Russian judges who made the decision on Crimea overnight," Zalimas said.
UNIAN was unable to get a comment from the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on whether delegates from Kyiv will participate in the reception along with the Russian side.
As UNIAN reported, delegations of constitutional courts of 14 countries, including Ukraine and Russia, on February 19-20 were participating in events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Moldova.


unian--2020-02-20--Ukraine imports nuclear fuel worth almost US$400 mln in 2019 – statistics

Russia was the major supplier of nuclear fuel to Ukraine .
Ukraine in 2019 imported fuel assemblies for its nuclear power plants to the tune of US $ 396.889 million .
Over the period under review , Russia supplied 263 tonnes of nuclear fuel worth US $ 240.91 million ( 60.6 % in the total structure of procurement ) and Sweden sold 211.43 tonnes worth US $ 155.98 million ( 39.3 % ) , according to the State Statistics Service .
As UNIAN reported earlier , to diversify sources of nuclear fuel supplies for its nuclear power plants and reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Russia 's TVEL , Ukraine 's state-owned Energoatom in April 2014 signed a contract with Westinghouse , which produces fuel at its plant in Sweden .
In late January 2018 , Energoatom and Westinghouse extended the contract until 2025 .
Swedish fuel is currently used at Zaporizhia and Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plants .
In 2018 , some 335.2 tonnes of nuclear fuel worth US $ 374.2 million arrived from Russia ( 71.6 % in the total structure of procurements ) and 211.4 tonnes worth US $ 148.5 million from Sweden ( 28.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statistics Service .
In 2017 , nuclear fuel worth US $ 368.9 million was purchased in Russia ( 69.2 % in the total structure of procurement ) , while Ukraine bought fuel worth US $ 164.5 million in Sweden ( 30.8 % ) .
UNIAN memo .
Energoatom is Ukraine 's largest electricity producer , accounting for about 50 % of the country 's overall power output .
Energoatom is responsible for the safe operation of the country 's nuclear power plants .
Ukraine ranks seventh globally in terms of the installed capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Energoatom operates four nuclear power plants across Ukraine with a total of 15 power generating units , all with VVER-type reactors .
Zaporizhia nuclear power plant , operating six power units with a total capacity of 6 GW , is Europe 's largest .

Ukraine imports nuclear fuel worth almost US$400 mln in 2019 – statistics
20:15, 20.02.20 318
Russia was the major supplier of nuclear fuel to Ukraine.
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unian--2020-02-20--Evacuees from China arriving in Novi Sanzhary, police dispersing protesters to unblock roads

Local residents are rallying against the arrival of the evacuees from Wuhan .
Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak , are arriving in the town of Novi Sanzhary , Ukraine 's Poltava region , while police are dispersing protesters to unblock roads .
The evacuees will be accommodated at the National Guard 's medical center in Novi Sanzhary .
Local residents have blocked roads in protest against the arrival of the evacuees from Wuhan .
Earlier , a truck blocked the entrance to the medical center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people did not clear the way , then the evacuated Ukrainians would walk from the buses to the center .
At 18:50 Kyiv time , police started pushing protesters away from the road to let the buses with the evacuees pass .
According to a UNIAN correspondent , residents of Novi Sanzhary are trying to resist , but are outnumbered by the police .
Clashes have begun .
Meanwhile , the protesters have been pushed back from the main road to the side .
Law enforcement authorities have cleared the road .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been detained by the police .
Residents of Novi Sanzhary are shouting : `` Shame ! ''
At 19:40 Kyiv time , residents in Novi Sanzhary started burning tires , firewood and began throwing stones at the police .
According to a UNIAN correspondent , the police tried to detain the violators .
Clashes began again .
However , then the police were ordered to retreat , and fire engines started extinguishing the fire .
One of the men felt ill and protesters blamed the police , claiming they had killed the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drive through because of the clashes .
Doctors had to walk to get to the victim and provide medical aid to him .
At 19:50 Kyiv time , the buses arrived at the destination .
According to a UNIAN correspondent , residents of Novi Sanzhary tried not to let them get to the medical center and even started throwing stones at the buses .
The residents were also shouting protest slogans .
As many as seven buses arrived .
Their drivers were wearing protective suits , and the passengers had protective masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters back .
They started detaining those who had thrown stones at the buses , which was followed by clashes .
The drivers drove into the center 's territory .
The local protesters continued arguing with the police .
Read alsoPolice to act under law to unblock roads amid coronavirus evacuation protests in Novi Sanzhary – interior ministry ( Photo ) As UNIAN reported , chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were taken to the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 foreigners and crew members , including three doctors , on board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety .

Local residents are rallying against the arrival of the evacuees from Wuhan.
Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, are arriving in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Ukraine's Poltava region, while police are dispersing protesters to unblock roads.
The evacuees will be accommodated at the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary.
Local residents have blocked roads in protest against the arrival of the evacuees from Wuhan.
Earlier, a truck blocked the entrance to the medical center. Poltava region's governor said that if people did not clear the way, then the evacuated Ukrainians would walk from the buses to the center.
At 18:50 Kyiv time, police started pushing protesters away from the road to let the buses with the evacuees pass.
According to a UNIAN correspondent, residents of Novi Sanzhary are trying to resist, but are outnumbered by the police. Clashes have begun. Meanwhile, the protesters have been pushed back from the main road to the side. Law enforcement authorities have cleared the road.
The most active protesters in the rallies have been detained by the police. Residents of Novi Sanzhary are shouting: "Shame!"
At 19:40 Kyiv time, residents in Novi Sanzhary started burning tires, firewood and began throwing stones at the police.
According to a UNIAN correspondent, the police tried to detain the violators. Clashes began again. However, then the police were ordered to retreat, and fire engines started extinguishing the fire. One of the men felt ill and protesters blamed the police, claiming they had killed the man.
Yet, an ambulance was unable to drive through because of the clashes. Doctors had to walk to get to the victim and provide medical aid to him.
At 19:50 Kyiv time, the buses arrived at the destination.
According to a UNIAN correspondent, residents of Novi Sanzhary tried not to let them get to the medical center and even started throwing stones at the buses. The residents were also shouting protest slogans.
As many as seven buses arrived. Their drivers were wearing protective suits, and the passengers had protective masks on them. The police pushed the protesters back. They started detaining those who had thrown stones at the buses, which was followed by clashes. The drivers drove into the center's territory. The local protesters continued arguing with the police.
Read alsoPolice to act under law to unblock roads amid coronavirus evacuation protests in Novi Sanzhary – interior ministry (Photo)
As UNIAN reported, chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were taken to the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary.
Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane.
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety.