Staunton, October 16 – Citing the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty (click here) between Moscow and Helsinki,
Russia took control of a 1.78 hectare undeveloped parcel of land in
Finland’s Aaland Islands in 2009 and transferred it to Vladimir Putin’s
office, according to Jarmo Ratia, a former Finnish official who said he
was talking now because of “changes in the international situation.”
Ratia’s statement was reported October 15 by Finnish television, which added that in 2009, the Russian consul in Marienham approached Finnish officials about this. Finnish officials did not challenge that claim but handed over the parcel — although they did not publicize their action....
January 9, 2015
Kommersant
By Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
There has been a horrific discovery in Stavropol,(click here) less than 300km from Sochi. Kommersant reports that 6 people (the BBC says 5) have been found shot to death in 5 cars, and an improvised explosive device has gone off near one of the cars. The BBC adds that authorities have already identified some suspects, and those men have ties to Islamic terrorism:
The occupation began under Yanukovych. The people of these lands are reporting genocide of ethnicities. When these facts are confirmed it places Russia and it's rebels in the path of human rights abuses and the World Court.
The attacks near Sochi appears to be an attempt to impress on Russia the dissent of those aggrieved.
The events in the Maidan become more and more clear with the discovery of the history of Russian aggression in these circumstances.
The conflict is less about economics with Europe, although I am sure it is important; it is saving their own lives.
May 24, 2014
By Paul Goble
Staunton, May 14 – In another case of blow-back from Moscow’s actions (click here) in Ukraine, activists in Karelia are seeking international recognition of the occupation of their republic and the holding of a referendum on independence, a step they say will end the genocide the Russian authorities have inflicted on the region and restore historical justice.
On their own site, “Stop the Occupation of Karelia,” and in a petition on the site of the US White House, the Karelian activists appeal to the international community to “help return the territory of the Ukhta Democratic Republic into the legal field and to recognize the fact of its occupation”.
In their appeal and petition, the activists also call for an end to “the genocide of the indigenous population of Karelia which has been organized by the authorities of Russia” via the imposition of “unbearable conditions” on the places of “the historic settlement of Karels, Finns, Wepsy and Saami peoples.”
And they also call on all residents of Karelia to view as “illegitimate” the Moscow-imposed authorities in the republic and to set elections for a new president and council of ministers and to support a referendum on restoring the existence and sovereignty of the Ukhta Democratic Republic....
Ratia’s statement was reported October 15 by Finnish television, which added that in 2009, the Russian consul in Marienham approached Finnish officials about this. Finnish officials did not challenge that claim but handed over the parcel — although they did not publicize their action....
January 9, 2015
Kommersant
By Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
There has been a horrific discovery in Stavropol,(click here) less than 300km from Sochi. Kommersant reports that 6 people (the BBC says 5) have been found shot to death in 5 cars, and an improvised explosive device has gone off near one of the cars. The BBC adds that authorities have already identified some suspects, and those men have ties to Islamic terrorism:
According to the Russian news website Life News, which has close links to the security forces, three suspects from the neighbouring region of Kabardino-Balkaria are being sought by police.Kommersant reports that vehicles entering the territory will now be inspected....
Two of the men named are already on a Russian federal wanted list for the murder of a hunter last year. and are said to be members of an Islamist militant group.
The occupation began under Yanukovych. The people of these lands are reporting genocide of ethnicities. When these facts are confirmed it places Russia and it's rebels in the path of human rights abuses and the World Court.
The attacks near Sochi appears to be an attempt to impress on Russia the dissent of those aggrieved.
The events in the Maidan become more and more clear with the discovery of the history of Russian aggression in these circumstances.
The conflict is less about economics with Europe, although I am sure it is important; it is saving their own lives.
May 24, 2014
By Paul Goble
Staunton, May 14 – In another case of blow-back from Moscow’s actions (click here) in Ukraine, activists in Karelia are seeking international recognition of the occupation of their republic and the holding of a referendum on independence, a step they say will end the genocide the Russian authorities have inflicted on the region and restore historical justice.
On their own site, “Stop the Occupation of Karelia,” and in a petition on the site of the US White House, the Karelian activists appeal to the international community to “help return the territory of the Ukhta Democratic Republic into the legal field and to recognize the fact of its occupation”.
In their appeal and petition, the activists also call for an end to “the genocide of the indigenous population of Karelia which has been organized by the authorities of Russia” via the imposition of “unbearable conditions” on the places of “the historic settlement of Karels, Finns, Wepsy and Saami peoples.”
And they also call on all residents of Karelia to view as “illegitimate” the Moscow-imposed authorities in the republic and to set elections for a new president and council of ministers and to support a referendum on restoring the existence and sovereignty of the Ukhta Democratic Republic....
