Russia

Hundreds of people attended Exeter vigil for the people of Ukraine

A VIGIL for the people of Ukraine organised by Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk and held in Bedford Square, Exeter, saw hundreds of people attend earlier today, Sunday February 27.

Cllr Bialyk, who has family in Ukraine, said he organised the "Exeter Stands with Ukraine" vigil on a personal basis as a non-political event to show solidarity with those facing a humanitarian crisis.

Cllr Bialyk made a plea for Russia to stop its war against Ukraine.

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw also spoke at the vigil, making impassioned pleas to Russian President Putin to stop his...

Russian Christmas Fayre

Event Date: 
09/12/2017 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Venue: 
The Guildhall, High Street, Exeter, Devon

The annual Russian Christmas Fayre organised by the Exeter Yaroslavl Twinning Association (EYTA) will take place in the Guildhall, High Street, Exeter on the morning of Saturday, 9th December from 10am to 1pm. Each year a two-way exchange visit takes place between the two cities.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to purchase some interesting Christmas gifts, to relax in the café and, if you wish, to find out more about Exeter's links with its twin Russian city of Yaroslavl, situated to the north of Moscow.

There will be the following stalls: Russian goods, home produce,...

Arctic 30 return from Russia

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Sat, 12/28/2013 - 6:10am

Five British members of the Arctic 30 are to return from Russia today after three months of imprisonment.

Three of those returning- Kieron Bryan, Iain Rogers and Alex Harris- are originally from Devon and were granted amnesty alongside several prominent political prisoners including members of the band Pussy Riot. Before departing Alex Harris, 27, a communications officer for Greenpeace said: “We’re leaving Russia, it’s over, we’re finally truly free.

“It feels like the moment I’ve been waiting for, and my family too, but also for millions of people around the world who...

Arctic 30 cannot return home for Christmas

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Fri, 12/13/2013 - 11:57am

The Arctic 30 have been told they cannot leave Russia and return home for Christmas despite a ruling by an international court ordering their release.

The environmental charity Greenpeace has revealed that Russia investigative committee has written to one of its activists- Anne Mie Jensen from Denmark - indicating that they are not free to leave the country.

The charity’s lawyers have said that they expect this to be the case for all of the non-Russian members of the Arctic 30, including six Britons.

Three from Devon, Alexandra Harris, Iain Rogers and Kieron Bryan...

Russia to build the worlds most powerful financial centre

The billionaire capital of the world, Moscow, Europe’s largest city, wants to establish itself as a financial hub, despite loud calls that Russia is a ‘bad investment.’ Much attention is paid to Moscow’s billionaires as financial circles watch with intrigue as football clubs, Greek islands, and New York penthouses are bought up by Russia’s new class of wealth. Hedge funds first arrived in Moscow alongside the explosion of the Russian stock market in 2005-06, but the Western-managed firms, without specific exposure to the local market, didn’t emerge as hedge funds, but rather extra-big...

Russian court begins remand hearing on Greenpeace piracy

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:01pm

A Russian court has begun remand hearings for the Greenpeace activists held on piracy charges today. The activists crewing The Arctic Sunrise- including 6 Britons- were arrested by Russian Coastguard on suspicion of piracy during a protest against oil drilling. The hearing will determine if the activists will remain in custody before a preliminary trial hearing. Two Russian nationals, a Frenchman, a Pole, a New Zealander and a Canadian were all ordered to be held pending the inquiry into the alleged "piracy". A further 24 activists from across the globe including Iain Rogers, 37 and Alex...

Russians hold Devon Greenpeace activists for piracy

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 09/24/2013 - 11:31am

Russia’s investigative committee has announced they are to prosecute around 29 Greenpeace activists, who were arrested last Thursday (19 September) following an attempt to climb the Prirazlomnaya oil-drilling platform off the Russian coast. Two Greenpeace activists from the international crew of the Arctic Sunrise were detained during this attempt on the 18 September, with the remaining activists arrested the following day. Among the six British Nationals on the Arctic Sunrise are Iain Rogers, 37 and Alex Harris, 27 from Devon. Alex Harris’s mother Linda has said she fears for her daughter...