Russia & CIS

Specialists have found the second flight data recorder at the crash site of the FlyDubai Boeing in Rostov-on-Don.

The Cyprus Consular General in Russia has left for Rostov-on-Don to assist in the identification of a Cypriot citizen among the victims of the FlyDubai Boeing crash.

A Boeing 737-800 aircraft belonging to the United Arab Emirates-based company FlyDubai crashed in the airport of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, the Meduza news agency reported early Saturday.

Azerbaijani Armed Forces will take all measures to prevent Armenia’s terrorist activities, a message of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said March 19.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Armenian armed forces violated the ceasefire with Azerbaijan 132 times in various directions of the frontline using large caliber machine guns, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.

A delegation led by Oklahoma National Guard commander, U.S. Brigadier General Hopper Smith is paying a visit to Azerbaijan, AzerTag reports.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has commented on proposal of the Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on strict observation of ceasefire on the upcoming Nowruz Bayram and Easter holidays.

Armenia’s criminal military and political leadership bears responsibility for the escalation of tensions on the contact line of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov said, the defense ministry told APA.

The FlyDubai Boeing 737-800 from Dubai crashed while landing in the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry announced.

The Venice Commission concluded that Russia should fulfill any decision made by the European Court of Human Rights, regardless of Russian legal norms. Europe wants Russia to change its own Constitution saying that it should be done on the basis of the Convention on Human Rights that Russia ratified in 1998 when joining the Council of Europe

Exchange rate of USD against manat for March 28 was set at AZN 1.5876, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan told APA-Economics.

The price of oil continues to rise in the world markets.

The soldiers carry assault rifles and stand guard, some of them wearing black balaclavas to protect their faces. No more than 100 meters and a bridge separate them from the nearest Ukrainian positions.

Turkey does not see the EU refugee crisis as a bargaining issue but as an opportunity to help Syrian refugees fleeing war and persecution back home, said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

On the second anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the EU has once again condemned Moscow's actions and called upon the countries of the UN to join in sanctions against Russia.

With characteristic deadpan delivery, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the sudden withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria earlier this week, declaring their campaign a success.  Before the day was through, Russian aircraft and crews were already departing from Hmeymim air base in Latakia.  Since this announcement, the media has been alight with speculation on the meaning of Russia’s sudden departure, its political and military implications, and the reasons for this seemingly unexpected move.  Much of the discussion has thus far missed the mark.  There is no Russian withdrawal from Syria, but rather a drawdown of the air contingent present in Latakia. Putin simply moved pieces on the board, without altering the equation.

This maneuver is more about political perceptions than military reality. It constitutes a political reframing of Russia’s intervention in order to normalize Moscow’s military presence in Syria, and make it permanent, while convincing Russians at home that the campaign is over. Putin’s statement is yet another successful effort to achieve a domestic and international publicity coup.

The “withdrawal” announcement is not about how Russia leaves, but about how it stays in Syria.

Click here to read the rest of the article, which is co-authored by myself and Michael Kofman.

Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on 17 March, conducted a monitoring exercise on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of his mandate, read the message posted March 18 on the OSCE’s website.

The United States is facing five global strategic challenges, while at home sequestration poses a great risk to the funding of critical investments, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told lawmakers on Thursday, according to U.S. Department of Defense.

The parliament of Azerbaijan has discussed amendments to article No 213-1.3 of the Criminal Code at the plenary meeting today.