Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Japan's obligations to its allies are an important topic in talks with Russia over four disputed Pacific islands, the Kremlin said on Friday. Japan's Asahi newspaper reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Putin the United States would not put troops on the islands if they are handed over to Japan. "The subject of Japan's obligations to its allies is quite important in the context of discussing the problem of the peace treaty," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He did not elaborate on what Abe told Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Singapore. (Reporting by Thomas Balmforth; Writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) … [Read more...] about Kremlin says Japan’s obligations to allies important in Pacific island talks

By Gilbert Reilhac and Andrew OsbornSTRASBOURG/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that Russia's repeated arrests and detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were politically-motivated and breached his human rights, a decision certain to displease the Kremlin. The court, based in Strasbourg, said Navalny had been subject to seven such arrests in 2012 and in 2014 and that at least two of those arrests had been designed to suppress political pluralism.gi "The Court found that there was 'converging contextual evidence' that the authorities were becoming increasingly severe towards Mr Navalny and that his allegation of being a particular target appeared coherent in the context of a general move to bring the opposition under control," it said in a statement.It ordered Russia to pay around 64,000 euros in damages and costs to Navalny. Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, was barred from running against Vladimir Putin in a presidential … [Read more...] about European court says Kremlin critic Navalny was a political prisoner

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was allowed to fly out of Russia on Wednesday to attend the finale of a case he filed at Europe's top human rights court, a day after border guards stopped him leaving the country.Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, wants to be in Strasbourg on Thursday when the European Court of Human Rights is due to rule on whether his numerous detentions by police in Russia have been politically-motivated or not.gi He was prevented from flying out of Moscow on Tuesday over an unpaid court fine, which he said had been suddenly and illegally enforced as a pretext to stop him travelling abroad.The Federal Bailiffs Service, which blocked his exit, did not respond to a request for comment regarding Navalny's allegations that its actions were illegal.However, it told the TASS news agency on Tuesday evening that it had rescinded the travel ban after Navalny had paid the fine. The 42-year-old lawyer posted a photograph on social media of … [Read more...] about Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny flies out of Russia after exit ban lifted

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was stopped from leaving Russia on Tuesday, a move he said was designed to prevent him from attending the finale of a legal case he filed at Europe's top human rights court. Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, said border guards had detained him as he tried to pass through passport control at Moscow's Domodedovo airport and told him he could not leave because of a ruling by the Federal Bailiffs Service. Russians can be barred from leaving the country if they have unpaid fines or debts. Navalny wrote in his online blog that he was certain he had no such outstanding financial obligations. A copy of the exit ban given to Navalny by border guards which he published online did not give a detailed reason for his ban or cite a date for the original decision. It was unclear how long the ban remained in force. Navalny was trying to fly to Frankfurt en route to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg where judges are due … [Read more...] about Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny barred from leaving Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Monday dismissed an allegation from Finnish Prime Minster Juha Sipila that Russia may have intentionally disrupted Finland's GPS signal during NATO war games in the Nordic countries over the past few weeks. Sipila made the allegations on Sunday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call he had no information that Russia could have been responsible and said his country was regularly accused of all kinds of crimes, most of which were groundless. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Andrew Osborn) … [Read more...] about Kremlin dismisses Finnish allegation it may have disrupted GPS signal