Among the most unpopular entries was Estonia’s Alika, who performed in occupied Crimea in 2015, and Czechia’s Vesna. Their entry is supposed to be a celebration of Slavic sisterhood, with a chorus sung in Ukrainian, but one of the group is a Russian citizen and the watch party was not impressed. “Having a Russian sing this feels like cultural appropriation to us,” Tymoshenko said.
Shot:
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday the country’s non-aligned position did not favour Russia over other states and reiterated its call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
His comments in a weekly presidential newsletter came on the heels of US allegations last week that weapons were loaded on to a Russian ship from a naval base in Cape Town late last year, which sparked a diplomatic row. South African officials swiftly rejected claims made by the US ambassador to South Africa.
“We do not accept that our non-aligned position favours Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries,” Reuters reports Ramaphosa said.
South Africa would continue to honour international agreements and treaties it is a signatory to and its approach to US allegations of arms shipment would abide by them, he added.
US ambassador Reuben Brigety was summoned on Friday to meet South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor and he apologised “unreservedly” to the government and the people of South Africa, a foreign ministry statement said.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor … and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks,” Brigety said in a tweet that did not confirm whether he had apologised.
Chaser:
Oof, this really bad news. Putin has the youth.
A teaser for the counter-offensive.
I’m slightly less than shocked that talking with a dozen self-selected right leaning (to say the least) well off Russians, about a subject that they realize criticizing will get you a long holiday in Siberia, came out favoring the authoritarian line.
Yah, fair point! Hardly a robust data set there.
The “movement of citizens” would be carried out following a presidential order. A separate clause stated that citizens may be subject to administrative detention for up to 30 days if they violate the prohibitions and restrictions established by the presidential order.
Martial law is in effect in four annexed regions: Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions
Speaking of Luhansk…
Short thread:
ETA:
Glad probably isn’t the right word, but it’s interesting to see the odious gammon phenotype is not confined to british shores…
