The Austrian authorities promised to approve sanctions against Russia only after Ukraine removes Raiffeisen Bank from the list of “international war sponsors.” This was reported by Reuters , citing sources. The list is maintained by the Ukrainian Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP). Its website notes that inclusion there only implies reputational damage for the participants.

The European Council, which includes the heads of EU member states, decided to begin negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the union and give Georgia candidate status. This was announced by the head of the council, Charles Michel. In early November, these plans were approved by the European Commission.

cinema The Pasaka in Vilnius canceled the meeting with film critic Anton Dolin scheduled for December 14. The event was moved to the hall of the Vilnius Technopark, but it was canceled again a few hours before the start. At the meeting, Dolin planned to discuss the results of the year with the audience. According to the film critic, all tickets for the event were sold out.

Interior Minister Marie Rantanen said that the government has decided to completely close the land border with Russia, reports . Yle Finland opened its border today. According to the country's authorities, at least 62 asylum seekers arrived from Russian territory, including citizens of Somalia and Syria. Checkpoints on the Russian border have been closed since November 18 due to a large influx of asylum seekers.

Director Ivan Vyrypaev, who left Russia, was asked to sentence him in absentia to 10 years in a general regime colony because of his speeches about the war in Ukraine. This was reported correspondent by a SOTA from the debate in the Basmanny District Court of Moscow. The playwright is accused of spreading “fake news” about the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine (clause “d” of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code).

Another criminal case was opened against the 25-year-old singer Charlotte (Eduard Charlotte), this time under the article on damage to a document (Article 325 of the Criminal Code). this without specifying sources was the first to report The Mash telegram channel , then the information was confirmed by RIA Novosti with reference to an unnamed interlocutor.

At the Finnish checkpoint Niirala, 24 people asked for asylum during the day, reports the country’s border service . Two more asylum seekers arrived at the Vaalimaa checkpoint, Yle . told Finnish Border Guard Captain Jussi Vainikka Citizens of which countries apply to border guards for asylum in Finland are unknown. The department reports that it will take the necessary measures to accept applications.

The Tver bookstore "Abraknigabra" canceled a meeting with scientific journalist Asya Kazantseva, which was supposed to take place on December 16. about this Kazantseva wrote in her Telegram channel. The bookstore itself said that the event was “postponed indefinitely.” The reason for this decision is unknown. Kazantseva promised to “definitely come up with something” and hold a meeting after the New Year.

Vladimir Putin, during a live conference combined with a direct line, answered a question from a New York Times journalist about the exchange of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia. “If his detention was extended, it was done by court decision. So to say that this is without trial is incorrect. As for the possible extradition of these citizens to their homeland. You say why don't they return to their homeland.

The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced from 16 to 22 years in a maximum security colony to six defendants in the case of preparing to blow up the FSB building on Lubyanka. this from the courtroom reports correspondent A Business FM . Gadzhimurad Gasanaliev from Dagestan was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Citizen of Tajikistan Manuchehr Buriev was sentenced to 22 years in a maximum security colony, and his brother Rajabali was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The Moscow City Court overturned the decision of the court of first instance in the case of Memorial co-chairman Oleg Orlov and returned the materials to the pre-trial stage - to the prosecutor's office. This was reported by a Mediazona correspondent from the courtroom. The judge canceled the previously imposed fine. As a preventive measure, Orlov was given a written undertaking not to leave.

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Novosibirsk arrested barber Evgeny Ryapolov on suspicion of attempting to blow up a military registration and enlistment office. This was reported by the press service of the court. A criminal case was opened against the Siberian for illegal possession of explosives (Part 1 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code) and attempted terrorist attack (Part 1 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code using Article 30 of the Criminal Code).

More than 70 current and former deputies from Russian regions signed an open letter addressed to Vladimir Putin, the Prosecutor General's Office and the Human Rights Council with a request to provide medical assistance to Moscow municipal deputy Alexei Gorinov. The letter was published by Moscow City Duma deputy Evgeny Stupin. Gorinov is in correctional colony No. 2 in the Vladimir region.

Finland opened the Vaalimaa and Niirala checkpoints on the border with Russia; By the time work began, dozens of cars had accumulated at the border. this . reports agency Yle On the Russian side, these are the Torfyanovka checkpoint in the Leningrad region and Vyartsilya in Karelia, respectively. According to Yle, the main flow at the Vaalimaa checkpoint is moving towards Russia. Most border crossers have dual citizenship or residence permits.

During the consideration of the appeal in the case of Memorial co-chairman Oleg Orlov in the Moscow City Court, the state prosecution asked to overturn the verdict of the trial court and return the case to the prosecutor's office. This was reported by a Mediazona correspondent from the courtroom.