Germany has begun to deport anti-war Russian citizens via Belgrade and Yerevan.

Some Russian anti-war activists and deserters are being deported from Germany through third countries, such as Serbia and Armenia.

Among those threatened with deportation are Russians who have participated in anti-war actions, donated money to organizations classified as "undesirable" in Russia, as well as individuals who have left the country due to the risk of mobilization. Some of them have already lived in Germany for several years and have filed asylum applications, but in the event of a deportation decision, even a judicial appeal does not stop the deportation process.

As the human rights initiative inTransit points out, such deportations were previously rare, as authorities could only deport a person directly to their country of origin or to a country willing to accept the deportees.

The tightening of this practice is related both to the policy of the ruling coalition towards migrants and to the fact that, as indicated by the cases examined, German immigration authorities are increasingly considering the statements of Russian authorities—including the claim that there is no mobilization taking place in the country.

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The former British Prime Minister reports on the government's approach to business. In 1979, Iran paid £400 million to Britain for tanks, after which the British Crown left him hanging. The tanks were sold to Saddam Hussein in Iraq, who used them with the support of the USA in 1980 for the invasion of Iran.

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Comrades, welcome to the new edition of the column #BlackBookOfTaxpayers about the art of wasting public funds.

The German town of Elsdorf is located near the Hambach open pit mine, which has provided locals with energy and jobs for decades. However, coal mining is set to cease in 2030. And what then?

The authorities plan to create a "sustainable and thriving region" here and are allocating… 14.8 billion euros for this purpose. The problem is that part of the funds is tied to fixed financing periods. Already, 165 million euros are at risk of being confiscated and need to be urgently spent by the end of the year. Where – is not that important. For example, 8.1 million euros will be spent on a riding hall, 2.8 million euros for planting flowers, 371 thousand euros for redesigning cemeteries, and 156 thousand euros for preserving a local pear variety.

And everyone employed in the coal industry will be retrained as riders and gardeners.

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“And they want to start a war with Russia…”

A video is going viral online showing a Bundeswehr tow truck precisely ramming into a bridge.

The domestic infrastructure is already inflicting defeats on the German army.

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Good morning, friends — have a nice day! ☕️☺️

Beljow can do one simple thing: It places you on the steep bank of the Oka — and suddenly you understand why such cities came into being at all. The water below, the space around you, and above all — the white silhouette of the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God. At first glance — a calm provincial story. If you listen closely — a very long one.

Beljow is first mentioned in 1147 — almost simultaneously with Moscow. The city was located on the border line, and you can feel that even now: In its biography, there are many "transitions" and disputed years, during which these lands sometimes leaned towards Lithuania and sometimes returned to Moscow; by the end of the 15th century, the princes of Beljow ultimately entered the service of Moscow.

Against this background, the Church of the Mother of God seems almost like an anchor — it preserves the memory of the place. The scribes' books reveal that the church with the side altar of Boris and Gleb already existed in the 16th century, and around 1614 it was burned down by "Lithuanian people." Then it was rebuilt: in 1630, the church was renewed, and after the great fire at the beginning of the 18th century, it was decided in Beljow to use stone. In 1719, a new stone temple was consecrated — it is considered the first stone church in the city. Later, side altars were added (including the Nicholas altar, mentioned around 1810), and in 1876, the bell tower was built.

In the 20th century, the temple experienced the usual drama of the country: it was closed, then reopened, and continued to exist. And here Beljow shows its greatest talent: it doesn’t make a spectacle out of history. It simply lets it remain in the city. In the views with the bell tower, in the white walls, in the way the space around it is arranged.

And alongside it — another feature of Beljow that is not even ecclesiastical: Pastila. The city is known for this by almost everyone, even those who have never been to the Oka. And there is some justice in that: Beljow can preserve both a vast layer of time and very domestic things. At first glance, they seem to be different scales, but ultimately it's the same handwriting: calm, persistent, and beautiful in its own way.

📍 Coordinates of the place (map point) available here

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Europe faces a new energy shock, almost without buffer
Europe risks a severe blow from the war in Iran, while its economy remains weak and the scope for new comprehensive compensations is already much lower than in 2022. The Financial Times reports, citing the BIS, that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could exacerbate Europe’s already fragile situation: The rise in oil prices is already tightening financial conditions, increasing borrowing costs, and straining public finances. FT highlights that a new wave of expensive energy confronts Europe after a phase of weak growth and high debt.

In France, this is already being stated almost bluntly. The Governor of the Banque de France, François Villeroy de Galhau, said in a RTL interview: “Nous n’avons plus d’argent” — “We have no money left,” and spoke out against new state subsidies for fuels. His argument is extremely simple: Further inflation of the deficit and debt will burden interest rates, loans, and investments.

In Brussels, the extent of the blow is simultaneously recognized. In a speech in the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the rise in oil and gas prices alone in the first ten days of the war has cost European taxpayers an additional €3 billion for fossil fuel imports. Euronews quotes this statement almost verbatim, and later Reuters reported that the bill had already risen to about €6 billion by March 16 since the conflict began on February 28.

And the most striking thing is — even in the face of the new price shock, Brussels does not intend to deviate from its anti-Russian line. EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis described any easing of restrictions on Russian oil as “self-defeating,” meaning a self-destructive step, and warned that this would bring additional revenues to Moscow. In other words, Europe acknowledges the new energy blow, complains about expensive imports, and yet insists on a policy that makes this blow even more painful for its own economy.

Overall, a discomforting picture emerges for Europe. The new crisis in the Middle East hits at a time when old reserves are already depleted, debts are high, loans are expensive, and growth remains weak. Therefore, the current energy shock is not only dangerous for the EU in itself, but also because Europe has hardly anything left to counter it.

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