How #Russia's Gazprom has stumbled, and what it tells us about Putin's vulnerabilities http://t.co/qukcXADPYs via @BloombergNews
— Jonathan Eyal (@JEyal_RUSI) April 3, 2014
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
Ukrainian forces carry out war games in Desna, Chernihiv region - PHOTOS http://t.co/x8vv6tR24J pic.twitter.com/bCRmhjI3lK
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 3, 2014
A spokesman for the prosecutor-general said today that investigations continue into the killings of more than 100 people on Kyiv's Independence Square, most of whom were shot by snipers.
Ukraine's acting Attorney General Oleh Makhnitskyy said yesterday that the detained officers were members of a specialized Berkut squad called the "Black Unit."
According to Makhntitskyy, preliminary investigations revealed that the Berkut officers opened fire at the demonstrators on the order of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by the protesters two days after the shootings.
A special commission is due to hear the results of a preliminary investigation into the deaths at the Maidan protests later today.
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills. He has also called for a "de-escalation" of rhetoric concerning Ukraine.Lavrov also says Moscow expects answers from NATO on the alliance's activity in Eastern Europe
#Ukraine Interior Minister @AvakovArsen to give presser in Kyiv today. Likely we'll learn more about snipers and arrests then.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
English speakers, here is @EuromaidanPR's translation of @LIGAnet's report on snipers http://t.co/VEvbskMtbw
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
Detained sniper suspects are members of Berkut special "black company." Leader of squad among detainees. Further arrests to come, says PGO.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
FIFA Should Expel #Russia From Soccer World Cup, U.S. Senator Says http://t.co/pQFj3y2MhJ #news
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) April 3, 2014
9 riot-police snipers arrested for mass murder of #Euromaidan protesters in February - Ukraine Attorney General pic.twitter.com/2BguJF5BvB
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 3, 2014