On Thursday, Soylu condemned the closures as an attempt to meddle in campaigning for Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for 14 May. The Turkish interior minister and other officials also suggested that the Western states had issued the security warnings in order to pressure Turkey to tone down its criticism of the sacrilegious move and resolve the NATO dispute.

Video via ShanghaiEye魔都眼

Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for May 14 are fast approaching—angry rhetoric from the Erdogan regime, designed to nationalistically rouse its core vote, is no surprise. Nor are angry interventions from US politicians who dislike the unreliability of Turkey as a Nato ally, but at the same time stop short of anything that could irretrievably wreck relations with a country crucially located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

…

Brian Nelson, the US Treasury Department’s top sanctions official, visited Turkish government and private sector officials on February 2 to urge more cooperation in disrupting the flow of goods that Russia can put to use in persisting with its war on the Ukrainians.

In a speech to bankers, reported by Reuters, Nelson said a pronounced year-long rise in exports to Russia left Turkish entities ‘particularly vulnerable to reputational and sanctions risks‘, or lost access to G7 markets.

Graham Phillips: From Soledar to Sanctioned by the UK Government

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023 Ms. Cat

From Soledar to Sanctioned by the UK Government via Graham Phillips

Volodymyr Zelensky soon on stage at the Zenith?

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023 Ms. Cat

On Wednesday 18 January 2023, after the unfortunate helicopter crash near Kiev that killed at least fourteen people, including the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, that day Volodymyr Zelensky and his communications team sent out an official video clip for French taxpayers in an attempt to obtain a free transfer of Leclerc tanks to a song by the late Claude François.
Volodymyr Zelensky soon on stage at the Zenith?

Vladimir Putin visits Vera Obolensky’s memorial at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois on 1 November 2000. Wikipedia.

Content production company for RT’s sister channel ceases operations, citing crackdown on media freedom

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023 Ms. Cat

RT DE Productions – a German-based company that produces content for the RT DE TV channel and website in Moscow – has announced that it’s halting all its operations in the country. The company cited “the repressive state of media freedoms within the EU.”
Content production company for RT’s sister channel ceases operations, citing crackdown on media freedom

US inflicted huge losses on Syrian economy through war, sanctions: Syrian officials

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ms. Cat

The United States’ illegal military presence in Syria, accompanied by systematic looting of the nation’s natural resources and economic sanctions, have inflicted huge losses on the Arab country, Syrian officials say.
US inflicted huge losses on Syrian economy through war, sanctions: Syrian officials

CSIS advises US to prepare for possible redeployment of tactical nukes to S. Korea

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ms. Cat1 Comment

A Washington think tank is advising the US government to review military exercises in preparation for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. The think tank also advised the US to consider partial sanctions relief for North Korea on the condition that it ceases its nuclear weapons and missile tests.
CSIS advises US to prepare for possible redeployment of tactical nukes to S. Korea

H/T: WENT2THEBRIDGE.ORG

Why Is Victoria Nuland Coming to Sri Lanka, Second Time in a Year?

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ms. Cat

She maybe the highest ranking American official but most Americans do not even know her name. However, she is visiting Sri Lanka twice in one year & that should mean something. Why is she visiting Sri Lanka is however more important. She first visited Sri Lanka days before riots started resulted in the resignation of the former President. Naturally, all eyes are fixed on what is likely to emerge after her forthcoming visit. Over the years, there is no doubt the US has created local “agents” covering all spectrums of society.
Why Is Victoria Nuland Coming to Sri Lanka, Second Time in a Year?

H/T: WENT2THEBRIDGE.ORG

Debt Traps & Terrorism: The Roots of Sri Lanka’s Crisis

Russia’s “Sanction-Proof” Trade Corridor to India Frustrates the Neocons

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ms. Cat

by Conor Gallagher

Russia, Iran, and India are speeding up efforts to complete a new transport corridor that would largely cut Europe, its sanctions, and any other threats out of the picture. The International North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) is a land-and sea-based 7,200-km long network comprising rail, road and water routes that are aimed at reducing costs and travel time for freight transport in a bid to boost trade between Russia, Iran, Central Asia, India.
Russia’s “Sanction-Proof” Trade Corridor to India Frustrates the Neocons

H/T: Alex Christoforou