Forwarded from Генеральное консульство России в Эдинбурге
🗓 On December 2, 1763, Alexander Crichton, a distinguished physician and personal doctor to Emperor Alexander I and Empress Maria Feodorovna, was born in Edinburgh.
Crichton studied in the University of Edinburgh, then in several other European medical schools, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree. He then practiced medicine in London. In 1803, the Scotsman was invited to the Russian Empire, where he received the civil rank of Active State Councillor. For 15 years, he treated the imperial family and also worked on organizing the country's healthcare system. For his services, Crichton was awarded the Order of St. Anne, First Class, and St. Vladimir, Second Class. He also conducted successful scientific work. In particular, he was one of the first to describe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He became a Foreign Corresponding Member and then an Honorary Member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Crichton's interests were not limited to medicine. He also authored several works on geology, and his mineral collection largely consisted of specimens found in Russia. He was also fond of art, and in 1817, seven paintings from his collection were acquired by the Hermitage Museum.
Crichton studied in the University of Edinburgh, then in several other European medical schools, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree. He then practiced medicine in London. In 1803, the Scotsman was invited to the Russian Empire, where he received the civil rank of Active State Councillor. For 15 years, he treated the imperial family and also worked on organizing the country's healthcare system. For his services, Crichton was awarded the Order of St. Anne, First Class, and St. Vladimir, Second Class. He also conducted successful scientific work. In particular, he was one of the first to describe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He became a Foreign Corresponding Member and then an Honorary Member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Crichton's interests were not limited to medicine. He also authored several works on geology, and his mineral collection largely consisted of specimens found in Russia. He was also fond of art, and in 1817, seven paintings from his collection were acquired by the Hermitage Museum.
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🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's answers to media questions (Moscow, 2 December 2025)
💬 The Europeans are insulted by what they perceive as their exclusion from the negotiations [on Ukraine settlement]. However, no one has excluded them. They have excluded themselves.
We once maintained close contact with them. Then they abruptly cut off contact with Russia. That was their initiative.
Why did they do this? Because they embraced the concept of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and, by all appearances, continue to live under this illusion. Intellectually, they understand perfectly well that this possibility has long since vanished, that it was never feasible [...]
Now, seeing that the outcome does not please them either, they have begun to sabotage the efforts of the current United States administration and President Trump to achieve peace through negotiation. They themselves abandoned peace talks and are now impeding President Trump.
The Europeans have no peace agenda. They are on the side of war.
Even when they ostensibly attempt to introduce amendments to President Trump's proposals, it is clear that all their amendments are directed towards one single aim: to completely obstruct the peace process, to put forward demands that are utterly unacceptable to Russia, and thereby subsequently to place the blame for the collapse of the peace process on Russia.
Read in full
💬 The Europeans are insulted by what they perceive as their exclusion from the negotiations [on Ukraine settlement]. However, no one has excluded them. They have excluded themselves.
We once maintained close contact with them. Then they abruptly cut off contact with Russia. That was their initiative.
Why did they do this? Because they embraced the concept of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and, by all appearances, continue to live under this illusion. Intellectually, they understand perfectly well that this possibility has long since vanished, that it was never feasible [...]
Now, seeing that the outcome does not please them either, they have begun to sabotage the efforts of the current United States administration and President Trump to achieve peace through negotiation. They themselves abandoned peace talks and are now impeding President Trump.
The Europeans have no peace agenda. They are on the side of war.
Even when they ostensibly attempt to introduce amendments to President Trump's proposals, it is clear that all their amendments are directed towards one single aim: to completely obstruct the peace process, to put forward demands that are utterly unacceptable to Russia, and thereby subsequently to place the blame for the collapse of the peace process on Russia.
Read in full
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«Имя твоё неизвестно, подвиг твой бессмертен»
🕯 3 декабря в России отмечается День Неизвестного Cолдата.
Эта дата призвана увековечить память о подвигах и воинской доблести погибших в боевых действиях российских и советских военнослужащих, чьи имена так и не удалось установить.
В этот день советник-посланник Посольства России в Великобритании Василий Цыганов возложил цветы к Советскому военному мемориалу в Лондоне. Памятник был возведён в 1999 году в парке Джералдин Мэри Хармсворт в знак уважения к 27 миллионам гражданам СССР, погибшим в годы Второй мировой войны.
День Неизвестного Cолдата был установлен указом Президента Российской Федерации в 2014 году. Дата выбрана неслучайно — 3 декабря 1966 года в Александровском саду у стен Кремля был перезахоронен прах безымянного бойца, павшего в ходе Великой Отечественной войны. Позднее — 8 мая 1967 года — на месте захоронения был открыт мемориал «Могила Неизвестного солдата» и зажжён Вечный огонь.
🕯 3 декабря в России отмечается День Неизвестного Cолдата.
Эта дата призвана увековечить память о подвигах и воинской доблести погибших в боевых действиях российских и советских военнослужащих, чьи имена так и не удалось установить.
В этот день советник-посланник Посольства России в Великобритании Василий Цыганов возложил цветы к Советскому военному мемориалу в Лондоне. Памятник был возведён в 1999 году в парке Джералдин Мэри Хармсворт в знак уважения к 27 миллионам гражданам СССР, погибшим в годы Второй мировой войны.
День Неизвестного Cолдата был установлен указом Президента Российской Федерации в 2014 году. Дата выбрана неслучайно — 3 декабря 1966 года в Александровском саду у стен Кремля был перезахоронен прах безымянного бойца, павшего в ходе Великой Отечественной войны. Позднее — 8 мая 1967 года — на месте захоронения был открыт мемориал «Могила Неизвестного солдата» и зажжён Вечный огонь.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ Statement by Aide to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov on President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the Special Envoy of the US President Stephen Witkoff (December 3, 2025, Moscow)
💬 Yuri Ushakov: The conversation was very useful, constructive, substantive, and lasted five hours. This made it possible to thoroughly discuss prospects for further joint work aimed at achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Naturally, together with our American colleagues, we discussed the contents of the documents that the US had handed over to Moscow some time ago. We did not discuss specific wording or specific American proposals – we discussed the substance behind the proposals contained in these documents.
There were points with which we could agree, and the President confirmed this to his interlocutors; and there were points that drew criticism, and the President likewise did not conceal our critical, even negative, attitude to a number of proposals.
What matters most is that the discussion was very productive. And most importantly, I would stress once again that both Sides expressed readiness to continue joint work to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
Specific territorial issues were discussed, since without addressing them, we do not see a way to resolve the crisis. Of course, the enormous prospects for future economic cooperation between Russia and the US were also discussed. By the way, this has been raised repeatedly at earlier meetings. But today it was emphasized that if we genuinely want to cooperate – and the opportunities for this are immense – then real determination must now be shown, both in Moscow and in Washington.
Overall, it was a very useful, positive conversation. And, of course, the meeting began with the Trump representatives conveying greetings and best wishes from their President to Vladimir Putin. In turn, our President asked them to convey his friendly greetings to President Trump. Moreover, he passed on not only friendly greetings, but also a number of important political signals, which will be delivered to Washington.
Answers to media questions:
• It was agreed that at the level of aides and other representatives we will continue contacts with the US Side, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner who visited the Kremlin today. As for a possible meeting at the presidential level, this will depend on the progress we manage to achieve along this path as we work persistently and consistently through the channels of aides, foreign ministries, and other agencies.
• There was a document containing 27 points. It was handed to us, and we studied it. Although we did not work on the specific wording or engage in discussions with our American colleagues on that matter. Then we received several more documents – four documents, to be specific – which were also discussed today at the meeting . All of them concern a long-term peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. Initially there was one version; then that version was revised, and instead of one document, four appeared.
• A compromise version has not been found yet. However, some of the American ideas look more or less acceptable, but they require discussion. Some of the proposed wording does not suit us.
• We agreed with our US colleagues that we will not disclose the substance of the talks. This is perfectly reasonable. The talks were completely closed and confidential. Considerable work still lies ahead, both in Washington and in Moscow. This was agreed, and contacts will continue.
Read in full
💬 Yuri Ushakov: The conversation was very useful, constructive, substantive, and lasted five hours. This made it possible to thoroughly discuss prospects for further joint work aimed at achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Naturally, together with our American colleagues, we discussed the contents of the documents that the US had handed over to Moscow some time ago. We did not discuss specific wording or specific American proposals – we discussed the substance behind the proposals contained in these documents.
There were points with which we could agree, and the President confirmed this to his interlocutors; and there were points that drew criticism, and the President likewise did not conceal our critical, even negative, attitude to a number of proposals.
What matters most is that the discussion was very productive. And most importantly, I would stress once again that both Sides expressed readiness to continue joint work to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
Specific territorial issues were discussed, since without addressing them, we do not see a way to resolve the crisis. Of course, the enormous prospects for future economic cooperation between Russia and the US were also discussed. By the way, this has been raised repeatedly at earlier meetings. But today it was emphasized that if we genuinely want to cooperate – and the opportunities for this are immense – then real determination must now be shown, both in Moscow and in Washington.
Overall, it was a very useful, positive conversation. And, of course, the meeting began with the Trump representatives conveying greetings and best wishes from their President to Vladimir Putin. In turn, our President asked them to convey his friendly greetings to President Trump. Moreover, he passed on not only friendly greetings, but also a number of important political signals, which will be delivered to Washington.
Answers to media questions:
• It was agreed that at the level of aides and other representatives we will continue contacts with the US Side, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner who visited the Kremlin today. As for a possible meeting at the presidential level, this will depend on the progress we manage to achieve along this path as we work persistently and consistently through the channels of aides, foreign ministries, and other agencies.
• There was a document containing 27 points. It was handed to us, and we studied it. Although we did not work on the specific wording or engage in discussions with our American colleagues on that matter. Then we received several more documents – four documents, to be specific – which were also discussed today at the meeting . All of them concern a long-term peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. Initially there was one version; then that version was revised, and instead of one document, four appeared.
• A compromise version has not been found yet. However, some of the American ideas look more or less acceptable, but they require discussion. Some of the proposed wording does not suit us.
• We agreed with our US colleagues that we will not disclose the substance of the talks. This is perfectly reasonable. The talks were completely closed and confidential. Considerable work still lies ahead, both in Washington and in Moscow. This was agreed, and contacts will continue.
Read in full
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"Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal"
🕯 On 3 December Russia marks the Day of the Unknown Soldier, an occasion intended to honour the memory, sacrifice and valour of Russian and Soviet servicemen who fell in defence of their Motherland and whose names remain unknown.
On this day, Minister-Counsellor of the Russian Embassy to the UK Vasily Tsyganov laid flowers at the Soviet War Memorial in London. The monument, erected in 1999 in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, commemorates the 27 million citizens of the USSR who lost their lives during the Second World War.
The Day of the Unknown Soldier was established by the Presidential decree in 2014. The choice of date is symbolic: on 3 December 1966 the remains of an unidentified soldier who perished in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 were reinterred in the Alexander Garden beside the Kremlin wall. On 8 May 1967 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was unveiled and the Eternal Flame was lit on the site, which became one of Russia's central places of wartime remembrance.
🕯 On 3 December Russia marks the Day of the Unknown Soldier, an occasion intended to honour the memory, sacrifice and valour of Russian and Soviet servicemen who fell in defence of their Motherland and whose names remain unknown.
On this day, Minister-Counsellor of the Russian Embassy to the UK Vasily Tsyganov laid flowers at the Soviet War Memorial in London. The monument, erected in 1999 in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, commemorates the 27 million citizens of the USSR who lost their lives during the Second World War.
The Day of the Unknown Soldier was established by the Presidential decree in 2014. The choice of date is symbolic: on 3 December 1966 the remains of an unidentified soldier who perished in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 were reinterred in the Alexander Garden beside the Kremlin wall. On 8 May 1967 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was unveiled and the Eternal Flame was lit on the site, which became one of Russia's central places of wartime remembrance.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⛓️ December 2 marks the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
◼️ Slavery is one of the darkest and most tragic chapters in world history. A hideous crime against humanity, which went hand in hand with great numbers of forcibly displaced peoples in the colonial era of the modern period, stands behind this short word. The bitter legacy of the slave trade compounded by the aftermath of colonialism still shows itself today in deep economic inequality, persistent social discrimination, and profound cultural trauma in the countries that were victims of, primarily, European powers.
From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the slave trade perpetuated by Euro-Atlantic Powers extended across multiple regions and continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and North and South America.
Organised slave trading in new times was initiated by the Portuguese who began exploring Africa in the early 15th century. Initial interest in exporting gold and spices soon expanded to the widespread capture of slaves. Later, the forts established by the Portuguese on the West African coast became major slave markets.
The transatlantic slave trade followed the discovery of America. The exploitation of indigenous populations, the extermination of those who resisted, and diseases brought from Europe rapidly devastated local populations.
The drive for profit and benefits offered by mining and sugar and coffee production amid a shrinking labour force pushed Europeans to seek cheap labour. By the 16th century, Spanish authorities had begun issuing official permits for slave trading, thereby legalising this criminal and immoral way of gaining economic benefit.
The wealth of Britain, the Netherlands, France, and the United States originated back then and derived from extracting maximum profit from cheap slave labour at the cost of millions of human lives. Entire dynasties of slave traders emerged, buying titles and entering the ranks of the high nobility. The rise of capitalism was accompanied by the worst colonial practices.
❗️ The key role in decolonisation was played by the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples adopted largely at the initiative of the Soviet Union.
Decolonisation radically reshaped the established ideas about law and justice, and the historical and international legal responsibility of former colonial powers towards their colonies. However, by the second half of the 20th century, supranational integration processes had pushed issues of colonial legacy off the international agenda.
Today, the West still prefers to remain silent about the tragic events connected to four centuries of exploitation of the African continent and crimes against the indigenous peoples of Latin America, refusing to compensate for the damage.
⚡️ According to the UN, around 17 million people were taken from Africa during the slave trade. This figure includes only those who reached the New World; many more died en route. Experts note that the actual numbers were much higher. Cultural treasures were looted, and enormous damage was inflicted on the continent’s economic potential, which the African Reparations Commission has estimated at $777 trillion.
Despite the egregious historical injustice, African states today have established themselves as respected members of the international community and have achieved widely recognised success in economic and social development.
🇷🇺🌍 Russia stands in solidarity with the African states in their pursuit of a more just multipolar world and in addressing socioeconomic inequalities exacerbated by sophisticated neocolonial policies towards Africa pursued by the countries of the collective West that are already stained by the bloody crimes of the past.
#Colonialism #Neocolonialism
◼️ Slavery is one of the darkest and most tragic chapters in world history. A hideous crime against humanity, which went hand in hand with great numbers of forcibly displaced peoples in the colonial era of the modern period, stands behind this short word. The bitter legacy of the slave trade compounded by the aftermath of colonialism still shows itself today in deep economic inequality, persistent social discrimination, and profound cultural trauma in the countries that were victims of, primarily, European powers.
From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the slave trade perpetuated by Euro-Atlantic Powers extended across multiple regions and continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and North and South America.
Organised slave trading in new times was initiated by the Portuguese who began exploring Africa in the early 15th century. Initial interest in exporting gold and spices soon expanded to the widespread capture of slaves. Later, the forts established by the Portuguese on the West African coast became major slave markets.
The transatlantic slave trade followed the discovery of America. The exploitation of indigenous populations, the extermination of those who resisted, and diseases brought from Europe rapidly devastated local populations.
The drive for profit and benefits offered by mining and sugar and coffee production amid a shrinking labour force pushed Europeans to seek cheap labour. By the 16th century, Spanish authorities had begun issuing official permits for slave trading, thereby legalising this criminal and immoral way of gaining economic benefit.
The wealth of Britain, the Netherlands, France, and the United States originated back then and derived from extracting maximum profit from cheap slave labour at the cost of millions of human lives. Entire dynasties of slave traders emerged, buying titles and entering the ranks of the high nobility. The rise of capitalism was accompanied by the worst colonial practices.
❗️ The key role in decolonisation was played by the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples adopted largely at the initiative of the Soviet Union.
Decolonisation radically reshaped the established ideas about law and justice, and the historical and international legal responsibility of former colonial powers towards their colonies. However, by the second half of the 20th century, supranational integration processes had pushed issues of colonial legacy off the international agenda.
Today, the West still prefers to remain silent about the tragic events connected to four centuries of exploitation of the African continent and crimes against the indigenous peoples of Latin America, refusing to compensate for the damage.
⚡️ According to the UN, around 17 million people were taken from Africa during the slave trade. This figure includes only those who reached the New World; many more died en route. Experts note that the actual numbers were much higher. Cultural treasures were looted, and enormous damage was inflicted on the continent’s economic potential, which the African Reparations Commission has estimated at $777 trillion.
Despite the egregious historical injustice, African states today have established themselves as respected members of the international community and have achieved widely recognised success in economic and social development.
🇷🇺🌍 Russia stands in solidarity with the African states in their pursuit of a more just multipolar world and in addressing socioeconomic inequalities exacerbated by sophisticated neocolonial policies towards Africa pursued by the countries of the collective West that are already stained by the bloody crimes of the past.
#Colonialism #Neocolonialism
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Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🎙 Watch Ambassador Andrei Kelin's interview with IMI Chief International Anchor Hadley Gamble
Key talking points:
• We stand for diplomatic solution [to the Ukraine crisis]. But we do not want a puppet state created by Western governments on our border — one that would be entirely adversarial to us, based on an ideology of one people's supremacy over another, where the Russian language is discriminated against and where the Russian Orthodox Church has been ousted from the country.
• For quite a prolonged period of time European countries have not worked for peace. The UK, France and Germany stand for the continuation of fighting [...] because their defence industry continues to work. This is very beneficial for their feeble economies.
• [Future European security] cannot be based on NATO because it is a group of countries that disregard the security of others. Security should be equal and indivisible [...] providing favorable conditions for all European countries, including Russia. If Europeans are still afraid of something, we are prepared [to address their concerns] in agreements and guarantees, [confirming that] we have no plans, intentions or reasons to attack European nations.
• The Zelensky government is illegal due to a breach of constitutional law. They should have had presidential elections [in Ukraine] a year ago.
• We are preparing a very serious legal and financial response [to the potential confiscation of frozen Russian funds]. If this happens, many Europeans could lose their own money invested in Russia. Europe would also lose its [international] credibility as a [reliable] partner.
Watch the interview on our YouTube channel
Key talking points:
• We stand for diplomatic solution [to the Ukraine crisis]. But we do not want a puppet state created by Western governments on our border — one that would be entirely adversarial to us, based on an ideology of one people's supremacy over another, where the Russian language is discriminated against and where the Russian Orthodox Church has been ousted from the country.
• For quite a prolonged period of time European countries have not worked for peace. The UK, France and Germany stand for the continuation of fighting [...] because their defence industry continues to work. This is very beneficial for their feeble economies.
• [Future European security] cannot be based on NATO because it is a group of countries that disregard the security of others. Security should be equal and indivisible [...] providing favorable conditions for all European countries, including Russia. If Europeans are still afraid of something, we are prepared [to address their concerns] in agreements and guarantees, [confirming that] we have no plans, intentions or reasons to attack European nations.
• The Zelensky government is illegal due to a breach of constitutional law. They should have had presidential elections [in Ukraine] a year ago.
• We are preparing a very serious legal and financial response [to the potential confiscation of frozen Russian funds]. If this happens, many Europeans could lose their own money invested in Russia. Europe would also lose its [international] credibility as a [reliable] partner.
Watch the interview on our YouTube channel
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❌ 4 декабря опубликован итоговый доклад публичного расследования гибели британской подданной Д.Стерджесс, который вновь пытается возложить ответственность за химическую провокацию в Солсбери на нашу страну.
Посол России Андрей Келин посетил МИД Соединенного Королевства, где категорически отверг безосновательные и бессмысленные обвинения, в том числе направленные против Президента Российской Федерации.
До сих пор нет вразумительных ответов на ключевые вопросы в связи с «делом Скрипалей». Один из них – где находятся сами Сергей и Юлия Скрипали, в каком они состоянии. Мы вновь потребовали информацию на этот счёт и запросили консульский доступ к нашим гражданам.
В связи с объявленными одновременно очередными нелегитимными ограничительными мерами против нашей страны было указано, что Россия оставляет за собой право на ответные действия.
☝️ Совершенно ясно, какие цели преследуют в данном случае британские власти. Налицо явное стремление сорвать набирающий обороты переговорный процесс по мирному урегулированию конфликта вокруг Украины. Публикация доклада расследования совпала с ухудшением положения Киева и провалами ВСУ на фронте.
Своим новым антироссийским поступком Лондон ещё дальше отстраняет себя от ключевого политического процесса.
Посол России Андрей Келин посетил МИД Соединенного Королевства, где категорически отверг безосновательные и бессмысленные обвинения, в том числе направленные против Президента Российской Федерации.
До сих пор нет вразумительных ответов на ключевые вопросы в связи с «делом Скрипалей». Один из них – где находятся сами Сергей и Юлия Скрипали, в каком они состоянии. Мы вновь потребовали информацию на этот счёт и запросили консульский доступ к нашим гражданам.
В связи с объявленными одновременно очередными нелегитимными ограничительными мерами против нашей страны было указано, что Россия оставляет за собой право на ответные действия.
☝️ Совершенно ясно, какие цели преследуют в данном случае британские власти. Налицо явное стремление сорвать набирающий обороты переговорный процесс по мирному урегулированию конфликта вокруг Украины. Публикация доклада расследования совпала с ухудшением положения Киева и провалами ВСУ на фронте.
Своим новым антироссийским поступком Лондон ещё дальше отстраняет себя от ключевого политического процесса.
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