Выражаем благодарность сотрудникам коммунальной службы "Barentshallene KF" за проделанную работу по реставрации мемориала советским воинам в п. Нейден. Благодаря труду и бережному отношению к истории Приграничья удалось сохранить важную часть нашего культурного наследия.

Vi er takknemlige for arbeidet som de ansatte i Barentshallene KF har utført med renoveringen av minnesmerket til sovjestiske soldater i Neiden. Takket være innsatsen og respekten for historien i Grenseområdet har vi klart å bevare en viktig del av vårt felles kulturarv.

📰 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation Igor Krasnov's article for RBC newspaper (April 8, 2026)

“Legal Gravity”

✍️ In recent years, major business players have often found themselves weighing which jurisdiction to choose for resolving complex commercial disputes. Many lawyers still remember the time when it was considered “fashionable” to designate London or New York in cross-border contracts as the venue for possible litigation.

In today’s world, however, this dilemma has long ceased to be a matter of “prestige”. It is now, rather, a question of predictability, risk management and the legal gravity into which the disputed assets may be drawn.

☝️ I will try to answer the question of why Russian jurisdiction is today the best venue for securing fair and impartial justice.

Speaking of its advantages, the first point to note is the high degree to which domestic legislation has been developed and the clarity of judicial procedure. A dispute does not “drift” between doctrines, as often happens in Anglo-Saxon legal systems, but proceeds within a strictly delineated corridor.

The second advantage – the high degree of predictability of case law grounded in statute. Through the resolutions of the Plenum and Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, clear legal positions are formulated without excessive casuistry. There is a well-known expression: “Law exists not in norms, but in their application”. The Russian system gives this idea particularly consistent effect through the unification of law-enforcement approaches.

Russian courts examine cases far more quickly than many of their foreign counterparts. In international arbitration, dispute resolution takes on average between one and a half and three years, whereas domestic commercial courts usually do so within three months, and the overall duration of proceedings, including appeal and cassation review, generally ranges from six to twelve months.

As for the cost of access to justice, the gap between Russia and foreign countries is not merely noticeable – it is fundamental. Court expenses, including state duty and legal representation, are incomparably lower in Russia than in many foreign jurisdictions. This changes the very nature of a dispute, because the defence of one’s rights ceases to be the privilege of major players alone. In our country, law performs its basic function – to be an instrument, not a luxury.

Another advantage of Russian jurisdiction is the fairly high degree of efficiency in granting interim relief – attachment of property, bans on registration actions, and other protective measures. In circumstances where assets may be instantly redistributed or concealed, this is of critical importance.

Russian commercial courts also demonstrate a clear appellate structure. In international arbitration, awards are generally final and not subject to review on the merits. The only available control mechanism is an application to set aside the award before the court at the seat of arbitration, and even then the grounds are strictly limited by complex procedural requirements.

***

👉 The recommendation to choose Russian jurisdiction for litigation is not an advertisement for its universal appeal, or a competition with London or New York. It reflects an objective reality characterised by adherence to the law and fairness in decision-making, and all reforms in the domestic judicial system are aimed at achieving this particular outcome.

In any case, unlike foreign jurisdictions, justice in Russia remains more impartial and predictable. Most importantly, it is accessible to all economic agents regardless of the country of origin or the colour of the claimant’s or defendant’s passport.

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#Announcement

🌍 International Youth Festival – 2026

On September 11–17, #Yekaterinburg will serve as a global platform for dialogue and collaboration among young people at #IYF2026.

The capital of the Urals is set to welcome 10,000 participants from approximately 190 countries, aged between 14 and 35.

💡 The Festival will bring together those shaping the agenda of the future. Science and technology, entrepreneurship, media, creative industries, IT, sport, and public administration – future specialists and representatives from these crucial fields will engage in the event.

Participants can anticipate an extensive programme:

📌 Over 50 formats – from discussions to practical sessions;
📌 7 key tracks – people, technology, culture, urban environment, logistics and communications, health, and quality of life;
📌 More than 150 Russian and international experts.

💬 Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the Festival presentation:

Young people from all corners of the earth genuinely wish to visit our country, to meet their peers, to seek something new for themselves, and perhaps even to determine their future path. The Festival’s extensive programme fully meets the objectives of establishing friendly contacts, strengthening trust, and fostering mutual understanding.

#IYF2026 is a space for the exchange of ideas, the launch of joint projects, and the formation of a new generation of global leaders.

✅ Registration is open until April 30.

🎙 Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the General Debate of the session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (New York, 9 April 2026)

Key points:

• The current session of the Commission is taking place against the background of unprecedented developments in the world, indicating profound changes in the present system of international relations. Among them are the military operation and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the armed invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its legitimate President N.Maduro, the energy blockade of Cuba, unprovoked attacks against Iran with the aim to change legitimate authority under the pretext of supposed concern for non-proliferation.

• Ignoring the fundamental pillars of international law (IL) in order to achieve geopolitical objectives, refusing to recognize and take into account the core interests of other states, attempts to attain indisputable military superiority at all costs create a fundamentally new reality in the field of international security.

• Acting on the principle of “who is stronger is right” can undermine the foundations of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs – key principles on which the present world order, established after the end of the Second World War, was built.

• These events provoked the profound crisis of confidence in intergovernmental institutions and formats, including the UN. The principles and parameters of ensuring security stipulated in treaties and agreements are no longer perceived as inviolable, while international structures demonstrate their helplessness in the face of a new reality.

• Aggression against Iran and bombing of its peaceful nuclear facilities placed under IAEA safeguards have become a direct attack on the NPT and a major blow to its regime. This Treaty and the non-proliferation rhetoric were used as an excuse to solve problems unrelated to non-proliferation.

• We are extremely concerned by the revealed information about London and Paris considering the idea of covertly transferring elements of nuclear weapons or a “dirty bomb” to the Kiev regime. This is not only a direct threat to Russia’s national security, but also a flagrant violation of Articles I and II of the NPT, according to which nuclear-weapon states undertake not to transfer nuclear weapons, as well as not to encourage anyone to acquire them, and non-nuclear-weapon states – not in any way to acquire such weapons.

• The actions of the current US administration, specifically President Trump’s order as of October 2025 regarding the resumption of nuclear testing, create serious doubts about the prospects of the CTBT’s entry into force.

• We still consider the #UNDC to be an optimal forum to discuss the issue of new technologies in the context of international security due to its specialized and inclusive nature, as well as the proven effectiveness of the decisions taken.

• Current international landscape demands more than ever cooperation and dialogue aimed at de-escalation, reducing tensions, restoring trust, as well as reaffirming commitment to existing agreements in the field of ACDN.

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⚡️ Russia's Foreign Ministry Statement on the developments in the Middle East (April 10, 2026)

A window of opportunity is emerging to resolve the complex situation in the Persian Gulf region. The majority of countries support this effort, placing their hopes on the success of the negotiations between the United States and Iran, which are set to begin in Islamabad with the mediation of our Pakistani partners.

Regrettably, however, certain forces are impeding progress toward peace, whether intentionally or not, by creating obstacles along the way. In particular, those who initiated aggression against Iran and now hold it responsible for issues related to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz should not obscure the actual sequence of events, including the fact that this vital waterway operated without disruption until February 28.

At this stage, the core objective is to address the root causes of the destructive conflict in the region, namely by bringing a complete end to the war initiated by the United States and Israel. Among its consequences are the damage sustained by the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as military activity in the Lebanese-Israeli border area and missile and air strikes on Lebanon, which must cease immediately.

In this context, we advocate resolving existing disagreements among the countries of the region through political and diplomatic means. We remain committed to close cooperation with our partners in order to advance constructive peace efforts and ensure the stabilisation of the situation in the Middle East.

❗️ We call on all participants in the forthcoming talks in Pakistan to act responsibly and refrain from any steps that could jeopardise this opportunity.

We also reaffirm the relevance of Russia’s well-known initiative to develop a security framework for the Persian Gulf region through dialogue among all littoral states – the Arab countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran – with the involvement and support of external actors capable of genuinely contributing to a fair and sustainable balance of interests.

🚀 This year marks the 65th anniversary of humanity’s first journey into space, when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made history with the very first manned space flight!

🌎You can learn more about this amazing achievement of the Soviet scientists, as well as about contemporary Russian space industry in an educational film "The Space History of Russia", which chronicles the major achievements of the USSR and the Russian Federation in space exploration, including artificial satellites, exploration of the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and manned spaceflight. It features unique photographs and videos provided by the Russian State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation.

More educational videos about space 👉 https://is.gd/Zjszsd

#FirstInSpace #RussiaInSpace #RussianSpaceWeek2026

📆 On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin conducted the first manned space flight, opening a new chapter of space exploration for humankind.

🚀 On this day, 6️⃣5️⃣ years ago, at 9:07 AM Moscow time "Vostok-1" spaceship with Yuri Gagarin on board was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and deployed into the low Earth orbit. This flight became possible due to efforts of a huge number of Soviet scientists and engineers, led by Sergei Korolev, marking the triumph of Soviet space program.

👨‍🚀 Yury Gagarin spent 108 minutes in outer space, orbited the Earth and successfully landed near the village of Smelovka in the Saratov Region.
While in orbit, he maintained radio contact with Earth, conducted observations through a porthole, controlled the operation of the spacecraft’s systems and made a few experiments.

📰 The media widely announced Yury Gagarin’s mission 55 minutes after the Vostok rocket lifted off. It became the most quoted news story worldwide. Instantly, a Soviet pilot & cosmonaut became the most famous person on Earth.

Two days later, the residents of the Soviet capital took to the streets, carrying flowers and posters that welcomed Gagarin who had arrived in Moscow. In late April, the first man in space went on a global tour to share his impressions with people all over the world.

🌐 In the next two years following this history-making event, Yury Gagarin visited over 30 countries where he was given a hero’s welcome. His tour was unofficially named the Peace Mission. Despite his immense popularity, Gagarin remained his own usual self and continued to engage in what he liked most – aviation and cosmonautics – for the rest of his life.

🛰The commemorative Day of Cosmonautics was established in the Soviet Union on 9 April 1962, while on April 7, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight.

#FirstInSpace #RussiaInSpace #RussianSpaceWeek2026 #Gagarin65