Russia deploys more troops and equipment to Baltic Area

(June 7) Russia's Western Military District has announced that it will deploy more troops along with motorized units into the western region as the US and NATO troops are deployed in the Baltic and other areas that border Russia.

Troops said to be deployed to defend Russia
The movement of Russian troops places more Russian forces near where NATO has stationed troops and carried out operations. The announcement said the deployed troops are meant to “perform tasks on ensuring the defense of the Russian Federation in the Western Strategic direction.” With the Russian buildup the way is being paved for more tit-for-tat challenges and further buildups on both sides.

Russia complained about US and NATO activity

The Russian deployment came just days after Colonel General Sergei Rudskoj of the Russian General Staff had complained about "anti-Russian' operations carried out by the US and NATO members adjacent to Russia's borders. The largest deployment of US troops in a quarter century had been scaled down because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic but the US still was able to step up its presence through other maneuvers.
However, the timing is a bit odd as the US is removing 9,500 troops from Germany who are allegedly designed to confront Russia although Germany is not right at the Russian border. Perhaps the two sides will be able to reach some kind of balance and avoid a continual buildup. Neither side presumably seeks a Russian US NATO war as a result of the mutual buildups.

Statement by US Navy official

Navy Vice Admiral Lisa Frachetti said in a press conference: "In these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we maintain our steady drumbeat of operations across the European theater while taking prudent measures to protect the health of our force. We remain committed to promoting regional security and stability, while building trust and reinforcing a foundation of Arctic readiness."
The exercises by NATO and the US include aerial activity over Sweden and Norway in northern Europe but also over the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East as well as over the Ukraine where the Russians are supporting an insurgency in the east. There are even joint operations with the UK in Antarctica in the Barents sea where the two countries are holding missile defense drills.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Russia and China suggest the UN lift some sanctions from North Korea

(December 19, 2019) Last Monday both China and Russia proposed to the UN Security Council that it lift a ban the prevents North Korea from exporting seafood, textiles and statues and also ease restrictions on infrastructure projects as well as North Koreans working overseas.

China's UN ambassador Jhang Jun told reporters:“With regard to the sanctions, that’s also something DPRK has concerns (with) and their concerns are legitimate.If you want them to do something you need to accommodate their concerns. That’s the logic behind China and Russia’s initiative.” The DPRK refers to North Korea or the Democratic Republic of Korea.

Zhang said the resolution will be put to a vote when it is felt the motion has strong support. However, the US could very well use its veto power in the Council against the resolution even though it does end up receiving majority support.

US unlikely to support the resolution

A recent article notes: "A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass."

Another article reports that the US is opposed to removing any sanctions before North Korean denuclearizes: "A U.S. State Department official said on Monday that now was not the time to consider lifting U.N. sanctions on North Korea as the country was “threatening to conduct an escalated provocation, refusing to meet to discuss denuclearization, and continuing to maintain and advance its prohibited weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.”

Although North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Singapore with Trump in June 2018 and twice more since, there has been no significant steps taken by the North towards denuclearization. A North Korean envoy claimed this month that the nuclearization issue was off the table. Kim Jong-un has given Trump until the end of this year to show flexibility.

France and the UK support the US position on sanctions

The US joined by the UK and France have insisted that no UN sanctions should be lifted unti North Korea takes concrete steps to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The UN has imposed sanctions on the North on account of these programs since 2006.

Lifting key sanctions could provide the North with cash

Lifting the sanctions suggested by China and Russia would generate millions of dollars for the North, The sanctions were put in place in 2016 and 2017 precisely to try to cut off funds for the North's nuclear and missile programs.

However Zhang defended lifting the sanctions:“What we are going to do is not to further split the Security Council, but to pursue a united approach in obtaining peace and security there, The core goal is to send a constructive, positive message to the parties concerned that we do not want a deteriorated situation, we do not want a confrontation, we do encourage them to go forward instead."

However, given the position of the US and its allies France and the UK as well as the North's position that nuclearization is off the table the prospect for any talks at all taking place let alone a breakthrough seems very dim.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Only 5.7 percent of Americans think Israel is top meddler in US actions according to a poll

Mainstream news coverage of foreign government influence on US elections has been extensive since information first came to light about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race.

Poll on the top meddler in US elections

Not surprisingly given all the media coverage of Russian intervention a recent poll shows a 60 percent majority of Americans think Russia is the top meddler in US elections. Russia is followed by China at 16.4 percent and the UK at 7.1 percent. 5.7 percent think Israel is the biggest meddler in US politics.

Israel meddling in US elections

This February, the New Yorker reported on how the Israeli private intelligence company Psy-Group pitched clandestine services to boost the 2016 Trump campaign plus other campaigns. Business Insider discussed the report in a an article from earlier this year: "Psy-Group, a defunct private intelligence agency staffed with former Israeli spies, attempted to influence at least one local US election and other domestic affairs, according to a report from The New Yorker's Adam Entous and Ronan Farrow. The company even courted President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign..."

Noam Chomsky Russia versus Israeli meddling

Well known activist Noam Chomsky said that media fascination with Russian interference was a joke compared to the influence Israel has on US politics. In a recent interview with Democracy Now, Chomsky said: "First of all, if you're interested in foreign interference in our elections, whatever the Russians may have done barely weighs in the balance as compared with what another state does, openly, brazenly, and with enormous support. Israeli intervention in U.S. elections vastly overwhelms anything the Russians may have done.

"Netanyahu goes directly to Congress without even informing the president, and speaks to Congress with overwhelming applause, to try to undermine the president's policies. Did Putin come to give an address to the joint sessions of Congress, trying to call on them to reverse U.S. policy, without even informing the president? And that's just a tiny bit of this overwhelming interest."

Israeli lobbying is part of what Chomsky has termed earlier in his activism as "manufacturing consent". The mainstream media is mostly positive about Israel and it is always emphasized that Israel is a firm ally of the US. Most US politicians are pro-Israel as is President Trump.

Why some Americans may see Israel as meddling

Given the lack of hardly any critical coverage of Israeli influence in US elections, why are even 5.7 percent of Americans of the opinion that Israel is the biggest meddler in US elections? It may be that more Americans are becoming aware of the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). AIPAC does not register as a foreign lobby group because it claims that it is only trying to strengthen US-Israel relations but is not lobbying directly for the government of Israel

AIPAC has never welcomed public attention. A recent article from the blog Antiwar.com points out: "AIPAC has many reasons to want to stay out of the limelight. Among them are its founder’s longstanding ties to and employment by the Israeli government and his startup funding from Israel... the 1962 Kennedy administration umbrella order that AIPAC register as the foreign agent of Israel under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and three separate espionage-related inquiries into the group. AIPAC never complied with the 1962 order."

A Google poll by the Institute for Research Middle Eastern Policy shows that almost half of respondents see no difference between the kind of lobbying AIPAC does in the name of promoting Israel's relationship with the US and direct lobbying on behalf of the Israeli government. There is considerable interest in AIPAC according to search charts.

State legislation against BDS supporters

Another reminder of Israeli influence in US politics is the number of US states that have attempted to ban contracts with those supporting the BDS movement. The BDS movement is described as follows: "The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (also known as BDS) is a Palestinian-led campaign promoting various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets what the campaign describes as Israel's obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and "respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties". The campaign is organized and coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee."

Texas is one state that has passed anti-BDS laws that prohibits government contractors from supporting BDS. Federal District Judge Robert Pitman declared the bill unconstitutional saying, “At the heart of the First Amendment lies the principle that each person should decide for him or herself the ideas and beliefs deserving of expression, consideration and adherence. Our political system and cultural life rest upon this ideal."

Pitman added that the purpose behind the US Bill of Rights and the First Amendment was to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation, and their ideas from being suppressed by an intolerant society.

It is astonishing that so many states can pass such repressive legislation at the behest of another country. Imagine the outcry if there were such legislation against boycotts of Russia or China! Yet there is no visible public outcry and the issue is virtually off the radar of mainstream media.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Huawei signs 5G development deal with MTS Russia's largest mobile operator

(June 6) The gloom surrounding the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei was somewhat dispelled this week as the company has signed a 5G development deal with MTS Russia's largest mobile operator.

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US policies towards Huawei helps to cement relations between Russia and China

Deal comes as President XI Jinping makes a three-day visit to Moscow. Huawei has just recently been blacklisted by the US. The deal signals closer relationships between Russia and China helped by the US trade war with China. The Huawei ban could be a tactic in the trade war with China as suggested in this article but it no doubt will hurt many US corporations that have lucrative license agreements with Huawei. The deal with MTS unites two main companies within China and Russia

Huawei selling undersea cable business and cutting orders

Huawei has been trying to raise funds after lost revenue. It is planning to sell it undersea cable business. Huawei has also reduced smartphone orders with Foxconn as it has lost its access to Android apps and services. Huawei before shipped its Android phones with preloaded Android proprietary software.

Huawei fails to gain Japan 5G contract

In Japan SoftBank has chosen Nokia and Ericcson to provide their 5G equipment even though Huawei had provided their 4G network. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei in February boasted: “If the lights go out in the West, the East will still shine [...] America doesn’t represent the world. America only represents a portion of the world.”

The Huawei ban is a lose lose tactic by the US

A recent BBC article notes how both sides are hurt by the Huawei ban: "It will hurt Huawei, which is also the world's second largest smartphone maker, as it gets half of the chips it uses from US suppliers. Meanwhile, US companies could lose a key customer and the development of 5G could suffer given Huawei is such an important player in its development, analysts say. Washington's moves against Huawei are viewed by some as part of a broader strategy to curb China's growing importance in the world. China and the US have also been fighting a trade war over the past year, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars of one another's goods."

Instead of a smooth globalisation process as many US and other global companies would like without political issues creating problems we may end up with feuding trading blocs and more attempts for large countries to become independent of global supply chains except with countries their political systems approve. This is already happening with the US. Will globalised US companies agree or will they push back and demand that the US change course? If US companies agree to drop Chinese markets and not use their technology it may become an also ran against China which is already developing its own phone operating system and with Huawei has an arguably superior 5G system.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Russia develops drone with a shotgun to shoot down other drones

The Russians have developed a drone with a shotgun mounted on its frame designed to shoot down other drones. The drone appears to have begun development in 2016 by a group of students at Moscow Aviation Institute.

Development of the drone

One big problem with mounting shotguns on drones is that the recoil can have disastrous effects on the drone's operation making the drone an impractical weapons platform. However, the students seem to have been able to develop stabilizing mechanisms to offset the recoil and improve the accuracy of the weapon.

Almaz-Antey a Russian arms manufacturer now has a patent for the design and created the prototype of the drone.

The drone characteristics

An endgadget article describes the drone: "No, this isn't an April Fool's joke: A Russian defense contractor has patented a drone that uses a shotgun to blast other drones out of the sky. It comes from Almaz Antey, a Russian defense contractor that manufactures the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile that caused a rift between Turkey and the US. The tail-sitting drone takes off on the spot but flies like an airplane for greater efficiency, giving it a 40-minute range while packing a fully-automatic Vepr-12 shotgun with a 10-round magazine."

Drone counter defenses

Militaries around the world are already using drones in war to attack terrorists, or drop explosives on enemy forces or for surveillance purposes. They can even be used for propaganda purposes showing the results of attacks. This has resulted in a search for counter-defenses and a market for any defenses developed. The Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College found that there were at least 235 counter drone defenses already on the market or being developed.

The most common defenses are jamming mechanisms. Other methods considered are more exotic such as microwave cannon, nets, and even birds of prey. The shotgun drones seem a direct way to counter the threat. Also, it does not require specialized launch facilities or equipment and could hunt down enemy drones quickly at least theoretically.

Sam Bendett of CNA a defense research and analysis organization says that the development of the system appears to be a result of Russia's concern with the use of drones by rebels in Syria. He says that Russia has used many types of electronic systems to counter the drones including stationary, portable, and mobile devices to counter the drones. The shot gun drone will just be one more weapon in their growing arsenal of counter drone weapons.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Russia favors trade with all countries using national currencies not US dollar

Russia said last Monday that it favors bilateral trade with all countries using their national currencies rather than the US dollar. However, Russian authorities say the idea needed more work before it could be implemented

There has already been several moves by Russia to use currencies other than the dollar in international trade. Back in June Russia and China came to an agreement: "Moscow and Beijing have agreed to raise the share of ruble-yuan trade settlements, in a joint agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping..The document envisages “further strengthening of the Russian-Chinese cooperation in the financial sector, promoting increase of the share of national currencies in trade payments, investments and financing, expanding collaboration in such fields as payment systems and insurance.” " The move is partly in response to US sanctions.

Turkey also to use national currencies in trade

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also announced just recently that the country was preparing to conduct trade through national currencies with China, Russia, and Ukraine. The move comes amid increasing tariffs and sanctions by the US against Turkey. The moves have resulted in a huge drop in the value of the Turkish lira.

The Turkish lira sank to a fresh to low of 7.24 to the dollar in early Asia Pacific trade last Monday. Investors are worried over the state of the Turkish economy and deteriorating ties with the United States. The lira has dropped over 40 percent against the US dollar so far this year. There is a deepening diplomatic row over a jailed American pastor. President Erdogan has described the lira's fall as the consequence of a plot not economic fundamentals. He also described spreading false news about the economy as treason and recent U.S. actions as a stab in the back against Turkey.

Spokesperson for the Russian government Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was pushing for this type of arrangement with all countries and that the issue had been raised on several occasions during bilateral talks with Turkey and Russia.

For decades the world's currency of record has been the US dollar. Even countries that don't use the dollar as their currency nevertheless conduct business in the US dollar in a roundabout way. Increasing sanctions against Russia make the use of local currencies much more convenient as access to US dollars becomes more difficult or in the case of trade with countries such as Iran almost impossible.

Previously published in Digital Journal

Russian researchers caught trying to mine cryptocoins with state computers

Russian scientists employed at the secret Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov have been arrested for trying to use the powerful research computers to make themselves some extra money by mining cryptocurrencies.

Sarov

Sarov is one of a number of closed cities that were created in the former Soviet Union(USSR) where nuclear research was carried out. The cities are off-limits to travellers and are not included in Russian maps.

Culprits discovered before any mining happened

Tatiana Zalesskaya, a spokesperson for the Sarov facility said that several researchers were detained after attempting to use the facilities' computer facilities for personal ends including "so-called mining", saying: “Their activities were stopped in time. The bungling miners have been detained by the competent authorities. As far as I know, a criminal case has been opened regarding them.”

Some reports are suggesting the group was attempting to use the supercomputer to mine bitcoin. Mining cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin require huge amounts of power and the supercomputer would have plenty for the purpose. It is common for computer power to be hijacked for mining purposes. As noted in a recent Digital Journal article some porn sites are actually using the power of viewers' computers to mine cryptocoins.

How culprits were discovered

The researchers tried to connect some computers that were kept permanently offline in order to keep them safe from hackers. When the scientists tried to connect them to the internet to mine this caused an alert picked up by the facility's security team who immediately contacted Russia's Federal Security Service.

Zalesskava warned that any similar attempts in future would be dealt with severely and were punishable as crimes.

Bitcoin mining

Bitcoin mining is a process by which transactions on the bitcoin blockchain are verified and blocks added to the public ledger. It is also the means by which new bitcoin is released.

Recent transactions are compiled into blocks and computational puzzles must be solved. The miner who solves the puzzle first gets to put the next block on the block chain and also claim the rewards. The rewards are not only the transactions fees linked to the block but also newly released bitcoin. The process is described briefly in the video below.

Mining bitcoin can use huge amounts of power as noted on the appended video claiming to be of the largest bitcoin mining operation (farm) in Russia.

Russian president Putin issued five orders to regulate cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology

Russian president Vladimir Putin has just released five presidential orders that all relate to regulation of both cryptocurrencies and the the associated blockchain technology.

Putin's actions come just two weeks are after a high-ranking Russian bank authority had hinted that cryptocurrency exchanges would be banned. According to a CNBC report, Sergei Shvetsov, the first deputy director of Russia's central bank said at a conference that the government would block cryptocurrency exchanges. Instead Putin has released wide-ranging orders dealing with a number of aspects of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Putin has asked the Russian government to determine how cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, and technology such as that involved in smart contracts, as well as initial coin offerings (ICOs) fit into the broader Russian financial regulatory framework. The government is to report back by next July.

Putin also asks that a framework for registering cryptocurrency miners. Since the miners are earning from the mining, Putin wants to tax those earnings.

Putin has tasked the Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev, and Elvira Nabiullina the head of the central bank with determining how to regulate token sales during ICOs in the same way as securities are regulated during initial public share offerings.

Putin is also calling for "sandbox regulations" of the type already used in the UK, so that blockchain developers can demonstrate new technologies or applications to the Central Bank of Russia in order that they be regulated. The UK regulation allows businesses to test innovative products, services and business models as well as delivery mechanisms in the market with actual consumers. Putin asked for a report on this by the end of the year.

Putin's final order demands that by next March "formation of a single payment space for the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union with the use of new financial technologies, including the technology of distributed registries". Russia is already said to be planning its own cryptocurrency, the CryptoRuble and Kazakhstan too has just announced it plans to create its own cryptocurrency.

There will be no miners in the CryptoRuble system. There will be a 13 percent tax on transactions using the coin. The breakaway province of Georgia, Abkhazia is also planning its own cryptocurrency that it hopes will eventually become legal tender. Abkhazia will not tax transactions using the coin.

In June, Putin is said to have told Vitalik Buterin creator of Ethereum that he supported the idea of establishing ties with possible Russian partners. In September the Russian finance minister said that it was pointless to prohibit cryptocurrencies but vowed to create a regulatory framework by the end of this year.

The Putin orders clarify the situation after several authorities suggested a more negative reception of the currencies including banning bitcoin as a payment option in Russia. Putin's announcement follows upon a wave of regulatory crackdowns in the cryptosphere. Russia already has its own WhopperCoin released by Burger King in Russia.

Why Russia used veto on UN motion regarding Syria chemical attack

On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a resolution condemning the chemical attack in northern Syria that killed over 80 people. The resolution was sponsored by France, the UK and the US all of whom have claimed that Bashar Assad is responsible for the attack.

Earlier versions of the resolution had explicitly blamed Assad for the attack. This one does not explicitly do so but by its terms suggests that he was. The UN account of the Security Council meeting noted that the Russian representative Vladimir Safronkov said that the Russian delegation voted against the draft because of its "erroneous" contents, noting that his countries concerns and priorities were set aside. Safronkov said that the troika of the UK, France, and the US had already named a perpetrator before a proper investigation had been conducted. He said that by presenting a doomed resolution that they had undermined the unity of the Council. Council members agree that there should be an investigation and also agree to condemn any gas attack but they cannot agree on the words of a resolution.

Safronkov said the parties should have agreed upon a document that ensured the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) could conduct an impartial investigation. While the OPCW can go ahead and investigate without further guidance from the UN the west is clearly trying to steer the direction of the investigation towards an ultimate punishment of Assad. Safronikov noted that some countries expessed an anti-regime slant and were reluctant to allow a truly impartial investigation.

The motion found 10 votes in favor and 2 against, Bolivia and the Russian Federation. China, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan abstained. Prior to the vote Safronkov said that during recent negotiations between US Secretary of State Tillerson and his Russian Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Federation suggested a joint communication asking the OPCW Director-General to put together an international mission to visit the town where the incident took place Khan Shaykhun and the Shayrat air base from which the Syrian planes are said to have come. He said that Tillerson was considering the proposal and the issue would be discussed on the 13th of April in The Haque. There is as yet no report on the issue. Safronkov said there would be no purpose in putting the draft forward for a vote. Of course there is, the US and others can blame Russia for blocking progress on an investigation while at the same time demanding one. The Russian demand is that there be a resolution that everyone will agree to. The US, UK, and France knew full well that the motion would be vetoed.

The representative from Bolivia Sacha Llorentty Soliz condemned the use of chemical weapons and emphasized the need for an independent investigation into the incident:Bolivia had voted against the draft because the Council should not be used as a sounding board for war-related propaganda and interventionism, he said. Noting that some Council members had been excluded from negotiations on the text, he said the vote’s outcome had been known in advance. What was the point of the exercise? he asked, questioning whether the Council was a pawn in the negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States. Were the sponsors acting for the benefit of the Syrian people or for their own political and military ends?This is in my opinion the most perceptive response to the situation. The US, France, and the UK are trying to steer the investigation towards blaming Assad and even putting in clauses that would see him punished for non-compliance with the terms whereas the rebels are subject to no such provisions.

While the resolution did not explicitly blame Assad for the attack its provisions are ludicrously weighted towards imposing demands on the Syrian government. The text said that inspectors chosen by the UN and the OPCW must be given prompt and unrestricted access to "any and all sites they choose." They must be provided with flight plans and logs they request , and given the names of military officers "in command of any aircraft" they probe. The Syrian government would be required to arrange meetings requested, including with generals or other officers, within no more than five days of such a meeting being requested. If the Syrian regime is not in compliance with its terms it could be exposed to military action mandated by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The rebels controlling Khan Shaykhun are asked only to "provide delay-free and safe access' to the site of the reported incident." There is nothing about subjecting them to UN military action even though the rebels who control the area are rebranded Nusra Front rebels I understand. The best that one can hope for is that Tillerson agrees to the Russian proposal in discussions at the Hague today.

Strange Dutch sculpture creature a big hit in Russia

Margriet van Breevoort who created the sculpture of an odd creature at the Leiden University Medical Center was surprised when her creation won the hearts of Russian Internet users.

The sculpture has been at the Leiden University Medical Center since Spring last year. Breevort called the sculpture "Homunculus Loxodontus" but when the photo of the creature spread to Russia it became known as "Zhdun" or "somebody waiting for something".

Breevoort told Sputnik:"I wanted to give it a scientific name, like a new species. Homunculus means 'little guy' in Latin, or 'artificially created human.' And Loxodontus is the scientific name for African elephant, referring to the snout." Zdhun is featured in the appended video. It is in Russian as are most videos of Dhun. No text is needed though! As you can see Zdhun definitely has a distinctive appearance. It has a big snout but also large kind eyes and is quite fat.

Breevort explained what motivated her:"I had to make something inspired by the LUMC, the medical center in Leiden, and I didn't want to create something about medicine or illness, but rather about the patients themselves. The way they just have to await their fate in the waiting rooms. About hoping for the best. I wanted it to be a kind of lovable companion, something or someone that gives comfort, but also makes you laugh. In this building, there is also a lot of medical and genetic research going on. So the way the sculpture looks is a bit of a joke towards this research. It's like a failed experiment or product of this research that is hoping and waiting to get better. Like a big, cute, partly human and huggable lump of flesh."

So the statue just sat there for about a year attracting no special foreign interest. Just this January a Russian woman who visited the hospital took a photo of the statue. She published the photo on Pikabu which is the Russian version of Reddit. The statue quickly became a sensation and a meme. Pictures of Zhdun went viral on Russian media and he was made a star in news stories and featured in famous paintings as shown on the appended video. Zhdun is even shown at the Yalta Conference along with Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. There are also photos with Russian President Putin. Members of Tumblr have named Zhdun Snorp. According to this site "snorp" can mean many things. According to another site:On January 31st, 2017, Tumblr user hellyesbro[7] reblogged a picture of Zhdun sitting in a political meeting with the caption “adjusts microphone/ Snorp” (shown below). The post gained over 35,000 notes and led to the character being spread around Tumblr by the name Snorp.

Zhdun's Russian fans soon outnumbered Dutch fans. Breevort said: "I have been told it is so popular in Russia because they recognize themselves… They share the same mentality, always waiting. It was indeed a big surprise! I never saw it coming!" Breevort created a profile on VK.com and an official public community for Zhdun fans. She said that she spends most of her time at her laptop answering messages but says that she may have better prospects in the future as an artist because of Zhdun's success. According to one site: Homunculus has now taken up residence in a children’s hospital in the Netherlands, tasked with brightening up the lives of young patients.

Russian President Putin replaces long-time chief of staff

Anton Vaino, a former diplomat, has replaced long time member of Putin's inner circle Sergei Ivanov, as chief of staff. A statement from the Kremlin said that Putin had "decreed to relieve Ivanov of his duties" but gave no reason.

However, at a meeting both Putin and Ivanov claim that he was stepping down at his own request. This does not prevent headlines appearing such as the BBC that says " Russia's Putin sacks chief of staff Sergei Ivanov". Ivanov was appointed Putin's special representative for the environment and transportation. He will also retain his seat on the Security Council a consultative group of military and intelligence chiefs that provides advice to president Putin.

A meeting between Putin and Ivanov showed no disagreements between the two. Putin said: “We have worked for many years together with great success. I understand your wish to take on work in other areas. I very much hope that you use your knowledge and experience for effective work in your new role." Ivanov thanked Putin for the high assessment of his work of 17 years. Ivanov is said to have recommended his deputy since 2012, Anton Vaino as his successor.

Vaino was born in Estonia in 1972. On being appointed Vaino said to Putin: "Thank you for your trust. I think the administration's most important task is to support your activity as head of state in terms of drafting laws and control over how your instructions are implemented." The BBC speculates on the move that it claims mystifies Moscow:But despite the smiles for the cameras, few here are convinced - especially now, just before parliamentary elections. So is this the fall-out from some kind of power struggle? No-one knows yet. But the official claim - that a man once touted as a potential president, suddenly wanted to run Russia's environmental policy - has been met with great scepticism.Notice that no specific or identifiable figures are cited as skeptics. While the official explanation could indeed be a cover up for some disagreement obviously there is not much in the way even of rumors suggesting what might be the real reason behind the action. What could be mystifying is that an official explanation may be basically correct.

A Bloomberg article also suggests that Ivanov was dismissed giving as a reason that Putin is replacing long time allies with younger blood with Vaino just 44 while Ivanov was 63. However, 63 is hardly that old for a politician. Igor Bunin, director of the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies said by phone: “Putin is czar so he needs a team of younger people that are 100 percent his, that haven’t had any authority in their lives other than him. Ivanov knows not only Putin but knew Leonid Brezhnev as well and is a broad-minded person. And this created some discomfort for Putin.” Nevertheless, Vaino has had authority and as a deputy of Ivanov.

Putin has dismissed several long-time allies lately including Vladimir Yakunin 68 who headed Russian Railways for a decade, and Vladimir Dmitriev 62, who oversaw the indebted state development bank, Vnesheconobank. In both cases he installed younger managers who are technocrats, but loyal to him, in order to help improve the performance of the companies during a long recession.

Russian city wants to elect cat as mayor

The Russian city of Barnaul is to get a new mayor next week. The city with about 650,000 residents is about 2,900 kilometers or 1,800 miles to the east of Moscow.

The mayor is to be picked not by vote but the city council together the regional governor will make the choice from six candidates. However, in a poll in which a cat named Barsik ran against the six official candidates, Barsik was the choice of more than 90 percent of those who voted. The cat naturally is somewhat of a media sensation. Residents are fed up with the corrupt city government. As the regional governor, Alexander Karlin, put it: "Through the image of Barsik the cat, our people are sending definite wishes to the future head of Barnaul." Ivan Karpov, a local Communist Party official said more bluntly: "The conclusion has been made that there's absolutely no trust among voters for any of the candidates."

Barsik, a blue-eyed Siamese cat, is probably more photogenic than the six human competitors. In spite of his Siamese background, the Russian social media website Vk's added Barsik to the mayoralty ticket. More than 2,000 people voted in the poll on the website which turned out to be a landslide for Barsik. However, no doubt Kim Jong-Un could easily beat the cat in North Korea. Petr Frisen is at present the mayor after his predecessor was fired for corruption.

The administrator of the poll, who goes by the pseudonym Altai Farmer has launched a crowd-funding initiative that will be used to have a billboard put up in the city center depicting Barsik with the slogan: "Only mice don't vote for Barsik". Barsik can be seen as a kitten here.

The Russians are far behind the Americans in the race to elect a cat as a mayor. Sixteen years ago the unincorporated village of Talkeetna in Alaska elected their feline Mayor Stubbs. Stubbs has managed to survive several events that might have ended his career as described on the appended video. Perhaps if the Russian authorities refuse to recognize Barsik as mayor of Barnauf, Barsik could be shipped to Talkeetna to take over from Stubbs who is due to retire soon. Stubbs appears in good health with clean paws in the appended video.

Russia Syria negotiations fail to reach agreement

The Russian mediator thought that he had an agreement on principles for a political settlement to the Syria conflict but some opposition representatives refused support because there was no movement to build mutual trust such as prisoner releases.

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The Russian negotiator, Vitaly Naumkin, said that the parties had reached an agreement upon principles, including condemnation of foreign support for terrorist groups, ensuring the preservation of state institutions, and lifting of economic sanctions. Naumkin, who is head of the Institute for Eastern Studies in Moscow, thought that difficulties could have been ironed out if the discussions had lasted longer:"If we spent another week here, we would probably reach agreement on other issues,They sat at the table together, they didn't go into a fistfight, they listened to each other. It's good..We didn't have any excessive expectations, we didn't expect the meeting to settle the Syrian crisis,".Moscow had hosted an earlier round of talks in January of this year. There are no immediate plans in the works for another round of meetings. Russia has been a loyal supporter of the Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. The civil war is in its fifth year. More than 220,000 have been killed and there are more than 4 million refugees.

Analysts claim that the meeting is intended to boost Russia's image as a peace maker in the region. The talks did not include any representatives of the Syrian National Coalition, the western-backed group based in Istanbul. The Islamic Front group of rebels, the more radical Nusra Front, and the Islamic State have consistently spurned any peace talks. The Syrian National Coalition accused Russia of using the talks to bolster Assad. Most opposition groups take the position that Assad must step down before there can be any peace agreement.

In spite of the failure of the talks in the end, Bashar Jaafari, the Syrian envoy to the US who had been representing Syria in the negotiations managed to spin the results as a success: "The government and the opposition managed to reach common ground on a number of important issues." Samir Aita, one of the representatives of the opposition said that the government had stonewalled demands for release of prisoners and that the document did not create hope but destroyed it. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov had met with negotiators on Thursday and urged them to reach a compromise to help stop the spread of the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria saying: "You need to save the country and its people, or there will be no one left to build a renewed, united and sovereign Syria." Lavrov claimed that the US-led air campaign was not achieving its goals while US plans to train rebels would only exacerbate the conflict.

Eurasian Economic Union comes into force at beginning of 2015

On January 1, the Eurasian Economic Union(EEU) came into force, linking Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and now Armenia as well.

In part the Eurasian Economic Union is meant as a counterbalance to the European Union. So far members consist of Russia and some former members of the USSR who are now independent. Armenia officially joined on Friday. However, in a deal signed back in October, Armenia will have limited representation in the EEU until the end of 2015. Another former Soviet republic, Kyrgyzstan, will join on May 1 this year.

 Unlike Ukraine, the Armenian government decided against closer ties to the EU back in 2013 and opted instead to join the Customs Union created by Russia which was a precursor to the EEU. The Customs Union was formed on January 1 2010 and consisted of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Trade economist Alexander Knobel claims that Armenia chose to join the Union after Russia offered a bargain price of $170 to $180 per thousand cubic meters of natural gas. 

Russia has the largest foreign investment in Armenia and is the largest trading partner as well. Since Ukraine has turned to the west, Putin is looking to use the EEU to create a larger economic unit that will see Russia as the dominant member. Analyst, Lilit Gevorgyan of IHS Global Insight said: "Having lost Ukraine, Central Asia will be much more sought after by Moscow in striking its integration plans" 

The Kazakhstan president, Nazarbayev, has been a big supporter of the increased economic integration involving Russia although he has also been clear that Kazakhstan will remain independent politically. Aidos Sarym, a political analyst based in Almaty, Kazakhstan said: "In our region, we have Kazakhstan, we have China and we have 7,000 kilometers of common border with Russia, so naturally you will not find a single sober-minded person in this country saying that he will not cooperate with Russia. The question is — how to do it and on what terms." The Kazakhstan president has pursued what he terms a "multi-vector foreign policy" that attempts to develop positive economic relations with Russia, China, and the West as well. He does not see the EEU as Russia extending its empire but as being similar to the EU.

Russia boasts world's largest leech farm

Although there are more than 300 species of leeches it is only varieties of the hirudo medicinalis, or medicinal leech, that are used in hirudotherapy and administered to humans.

According to an article in Al Jazeera: ".. this freshwater parasite preys on large mammals and has 10 eyes and stomachs, six hearts, and a sucker equipped with three jaws. The jaws sport 90 teeth that can penetrate human skin within seconds and leave a bite that resembles a tiny Mercedes Benz logo." While the bite is rather painful it also releases many proteins and enzymes that have beneficial effects. According to Yelena Titova, who heads a production laboratory at the world's largest leech farm at Udelnaya near Moscow, the bite releases drugs that stimulate blood circulation, metabolism, generation of blood cells, lower cholesterol, and aid people with heart conditions, glaucoma, diabetes and infertility. There may be some marketing hype in these claims but even the US FDA since 2004 has allowed the marketing of leeches as "medical devices" when it approved an application by a French company. Leeches were already widely used in the US and companies that raised and sold them have been allowed to continue doing so but a law passed in 1976 required new companies to receive approval from the FDA. The FDA reports that leeches are helpful in healing skin grafts by removing blood pooled under the skin after grafts. They also can restore lost circulation in blocked veins by removing pooled blood. Being classified as "medical devices" has probably contributed to a comeback of hirudotherapy in mainstream western medicine.

 The use of leeches dates back to ancient times: Leeching, or hirudotherapy, was widely used in ancient Egypt, India and China since at least 1500 BC. The bloodsucking worm became such a ubiquitous staple of medieval European medicine that the very word "leech" originates from Anglo-Saxon "laece", or doctor. European doctors believed that leeching drains "bad blood" and helps balance patients' bodily fluids. Hirudotherapy does not always work as in the notorious case of Lord Byron the poet in 1824: On Apr. 9, while out riding, he was drenched to the skin by a sudden rainstorm and took chill. Within two hours he complained of fever and rheumatic pains. Though he opposed the use of leeches, he finally relented, and they took a pound of blood from his body. He became weaker, but he was bled twice more, fainting each time. His brain was inflamed, but doctors decided that strong stimulants, Peruvian bark and wine, were his only hope. Who knows perhaps it was the Peruvian bark and wine that ultimately did him in. He fell asleep and did not wake up.

The three story laboratory in Udelnaya was built during the Stalin era It raises up to three million bloodsuckers annually. They hatch from fuzzy white cocoons and are fed on cow's blood, and are allowed to grow for about a year before being sold to health clinics. However, some are killed and powdered and turned into creams, shampoos, and lotions, some quite expensive. Natalia Lepyoshkina smiles as she displays a handful of leeches and says: "See how beautiful they are?" Here is an image of some of leeches at the farm. Lepyoshkina is one of about two dozen leech growers at the farm. She has worked there for 30 years and talks of the leeches as if they are her children: "We have to nurture them, nurse them, raise them like our own children." Not all doctors are enthusiastic about the use of leeches. Doctor Yelena Malysheva who has a very popular TV show on national Channel One claims that leech therapy is "outdated" and "miserable".

Certainly in the west, the practice has been in decline compared to the 19th century or ancient Greece:In ancient Greece and 19th-century Europe, leeches were the predominant medical device for bloodletting, a procedure by which practitioners sought to help balance the body's "humors" (phlegm, blood and bile) by simply allowing the subject to bleed for a bit. Bloodletting was prescribed to treat a variety of conditions, from a black eye, headache and fever to obesity and melancholia, and in 1883, French medical professionals imported more than 40 million leeches for this purpose [sources: Rubin, Mestel]. Nevertheless, as with many other traditional medical remedies, modern medicine is discovering that ancient practices and remedies do often have proven value.

Russia and Abkhazia sign extensive agreement on military and defense policies

Russia and Abkhazia have signed an extensive agreement on military issues and Abkhazia agreed to harmonize its foreign and defence policies with those of Russia. A Russian commander will lead a new joint force of Russian and Abkhazian troops.

The leaders of both countries, Vladimir Putin and Raul Khadzhimba, lauded the agreement: “I’m sure cooperation, unity and strategic partnerships between Russia and Abkhazia will continue to strengthen. Ties with Russia offer us full security guarantees.” Abkhazia regards itself as an independent state, The Republic of Abkhazia, but aside from Russia, only Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru recognize the state. Abkhazia is also recognized by the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations: South Ossetia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Abkhazia are post-Soviet "frozen conflict" zones...These four unrecognized states maintain friendly relations with each other and form the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations. Georgia itself regards Abkhazia as an autonomous republic within Georgia with the government in exile in Tbilsi the capital. 

Russian troops have been Abkhazia for more than 20 years, ever since Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in a bloody war for separation in 1992-93. The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili tried to retake South Ossetia in 2008 causing Russian intervention. While most of the fighting was in South Ossetia the Russians occupied other parts of Georgia briefly and after the conflict recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Georgia last summer signed a cooperation deal with the EU. Putin's recent move may be a response to this move. 

The new agreement with Abkhazia will give Abkhazian residents pensions and social benefits equal to those of Russian citizens. Many Abkhazians have Russian passports. Georgia also issues what is called a neutral passport :In the summer of 2011 the Parliament of Georgia adopted a package of legislative amendments providing for the issuance of neutral identification and travel documents to residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The document allows travelling abroad as well as enjoying social benefits existing in Georgia. The new neutral identification and travel documents were called "neutral passports". Russia condemned the passports because they contained Georgian codes and they were issued by the Georgian Interior Ministry. A number of states recognize the passports including Japan, Czech Republic, US, Bulgaria, Poland, Israel,and Romania among others.

 The present Georgian government that won over Saakashvili's party in 2012 is regarded as friendly toward Russia and has been attempting to repair ties. However, there were large demonstrations in the capital Tbilsi against the present treaty. Saakashvili has criticized the present Georgian government for doing whatever Russia wants. His party leader David Bakradze said: “The Georgian government has done practically nothing.” Bakradze urged Georgia to join western sanctions against Russia and walk out of political talks with Russia.

 The Russian agreement with Abkhazia may be designed to ensure that if Georgia takes a pro-western turn, Abkhazia will be defended against any renewed attempt to re-incorporate it into Georgia. The agreement specifically guarantees “protection of the state border of the Republic of Abkhazia with Georgia.”

Russia ratifies Eurasian Economic Union with Kazakhstan and Belarus

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, signed a law that commits the country to the Eurasian Economic Union. The agreement comes into force on the first of January 2015 creating an economic union among Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Belarus and Kazakhstan are expected to ratify the treaty within a few days. The process of forming the union has been going on for some time with a customs union already being in place. The union will create a common market serving 170 million people. Although each country will keep its own currency, the ruble will be the union's de facto currency. The three countries will cooperate in the areas of energy, transport,, industry, and also agriculture. Union headquarters will be in Moscow with courts in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Almaty, Kazakhstan will be the site of the financial regulatory agency. Citizens of the three countries will be able to work in any of the member states without a work permit.
In just the last three years trade within the three countries, who had a customs union, increased by nearly 50 percent to $66.2 billion at the end of 2013. Only the EU and China have greater trade with Russia than the Customs Union members. Presidents of all three countries are scheduled to meet in Minsk to exchange ratification documents on October 10. Armenia is also planning to join the union soon. Negotiations and agreements for closer economic ties between a number of ex-Soviet republics have been ongoing since at least 1995.
The Customs union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus came into effect back in January 1, 2010. The agreement eliminated any tariffs between the three countries, created a common external tariff policy and also did away with non-tariff barriers to trade. The Eurasian Economic Union agreement was negotiated on May 29 this year. The presidents of Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan were also present at the original signing. At the time President Putin said: "Today we are creating a powerful, attractive center of economic development, a big regional market that unites more than 170 million people." Both Armenia and Kyrgyzstan plan to join by signing an accession treaty by the end of this year. Tajikistan has also expressed interest in joining.

Vietnam renews adoptions with US but Russia still bans US adoptions

The United States and Vietnam will resume adoptions, ending a six-year ban. The ban was imposed after reports of babies being sold and some children offered without parental consent.

The new system will allow Americans to adopt children who have special needs or are over five years old. The adoptions will begin again after the Vietnam decides which US adoption service groups will be authorized to represent parents in the US. Nguyen Van Binh, director of the adoption agency at the Vietnamese Justice Ministry said that two agencies would be issued licenses next week.
 The US government also announced the renewal of adoptions: Beginning September 16, 2014, USCIS will accept and adjudicate Form I-800 petitions filed on behalf of children from Vietnam who meet the specific criteria of a Special Adoption Program under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). The announcement said that Vietnam has taken a number of steps since 2012 to improve its implementation of the Hague Convention, particularly with respect to adoption of children with special needs and older children. The US government statement went on to say that the US Department of State could now issue Hague Adoption Certificates on a case-by-case basis.
 Before the ban in 2008, Vietnam was popular as a source of children for adoption. The allegations that led to the ban on adoptions from Vietnam were confirmed by a UN report in 2009. It found that cash payments were made by adoption agencies to orphanages. This led to orphanages seeking out children to be adopted without proper checks on family circumstances or their background. The resumption of these limited types of adoptions may be a prelude to allowing all adoptions according to a delegation of US senators who visited Vietnam last year.
 Russia has banned adoptions by Americans since January 1, 2013. The most popular country for US adoptions were China, Ethiopia, and then Russia at the time of the ban. Supporters of the Russian bill claimed that some US adoptive parents had been abusive, and that there had been 19 deaths of adopted Russian children since the 1990's. The Russian law might have been partly in retaliation for the US passage of the Magnitsky Act.
 However, there was also a very negative reaction in Russia to a case where a seven-year-old adopted by an American nurse was sent back to Russia with a note saying that she no longer wanted him: Little Artem Saveliev was last year taken from a grim orphanage and given a new life in Tennessee last year. But his adoptive mother Torry-Ann Hansen, a 34-year-old nurse, yesterday put him on a ten-hour flight as an unaccompanied minor with a note 'to whom it may concern' saying: 'I no longer wish to parent this child'. Given the present tense relations between Russia and the US, adoptions from Russia may not resume soon.
The ban halted pending adoption of 259 Russian children to about 230 US families. A year after the ban many of the families were looking to adopt elsewhere but some were still hoping the ban would be lifted. Many of the families had already traveled to Russia and bonded with the children they were to adopt.