The Central District Court of Sochi has arrested for two months the editor-in-chief of the BlogSochi publication, Alexander Valov, who is accused of extorting money from State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party Yuri Napso, lawyer Alexander Popkov . tweeted Valov was charged with extortion the night before. According to Popkov, his client is accused of extorting 300 thousand rubles from the deputy Napso for deleting articles about his swimming pool on the beach.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Non-Cartel Countries (OPEC+) has left unchanged the decision to extend the deal to reduce oil production until 2019, TASS reports . “The main conclusion of today’s meeting is that we reaffirm the need for and commitment to the agreements that were reached on November 29-30 for the entire period of 2018,” said Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak. The market, Novak noted, has not yet reached a balance between supply and demand for oil.

A citizen of Ukraine died as a result of a terrorist attack on the Intercontinental hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul on January 20, according to a representative of the Department of Consular Service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Vasily Kyrylych. “In Kabul, a citizen of Ukraine died as a result of a terrorist attack on a hotel. Consul of Ukraine flies to Kabul. Prompt and coordinated actions are needed at the scene of the tragedy,” he wrote.

The Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) has announced the names of the athletes who will represent Russia at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, . RIA Novosti reports In pair skating, Russia will represent: Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov, as well as Natalia Zabiyako and Alexander Enbert. Mikhail Kolyada and Dmitry Aliev will participate in the men's singles. In the women's singles - Evgenia Medvedeva, Alina Zagitova and Maria Sotskova.

The legalization of private military companies exempts the state from liability for the death of its citizens on a foreign land Photo: Photoxpress Peter Sarukhanov / "New Gazeta". Go to the artist's website On Tuesday January 23, a widely discussed draft law on legalization of private military companies (PMCs) will be sent to the government to obtain an expert opinion. The process can take several weeks.

How is the market for private military campaigns in the USA and France works: what is possible and what is impossible by law Photo: Eastnews USA America not only gave its citizens the right to weapons, but still willingly buy their services In the popularity of private military companies, their increased participation in modern armed conflicts, many accuse America. Say, she gave rise to a phenomenon that became a world phenomenon.

Why is the future of private military companies - including Russia: expert Photoxpress On Wednesday 17, two days after the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at a press conference announced the need to create a law that protects our citizens in force in private military companies, the first deputy chairman of the State Planning Committee of the Duma Emelyanov promised to submit such a law for consideration within a month.

The Soviet District Court of Makhachkala arrested Mayor Musa Musaev for 10 days in a case of abuse of power in the allocation of land, TASS reports . against Musaev A criminal case has been initiated on the fact of abuse of authority. According to investigators, in March 2016, Musaev illegally signed a decree on granting ASPK OJSC ownership of a land plot of about 17.5 thousand square meters. m for a fee of 1 million 100 thousand rubles.

Russian Alexander Vinnik, accused in the United States of laundering $4 billion through a cryptocurrency exchange, has asked for political asylum in Greece, reports . Interfax “We believe that if he is extradited to the United States, then he will not be treated according to European standards, we do not even rule out the use of torture against him,” said lawyer Ilias Spirliadis.

Tanks of the Turkish Armed Forces entered the Syrian Afrin, the NTV channel reports , citing military sources. According to the channel, it is occupied by representatives of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Türkiye considers them terrorist organizations.

For the first time in four years, a delegation from North Korea has arrived in South Korea, reports . Yonhap news agency The visit will last two days. A group from the DPRK, according to the agency, arrived in the city of Gangneung in the east of the country. Prior to this, the delegation visited the capital of South Korea, Seoul. The seven-person delegation is led by singer Hyun Sung-wol and she leads the Samjiyon Orchestra and the all-female musical group Moranbong.

Injured teacher Irina Ramenskaya said that a ninth grader who attacked students and a teacher at a school in Ulan-Ude with an ax could have done it because of a bad grade, Dora Khamaganova, spokeswoman for the Republican Clinical Emergency Hospital, wrote on . Facebook The teacher added that she did not know the real motives of the attacker, but suggested that this was due to the received deuce. “I would never have thought on A. that he could do such a thing. Quiet, normal-looking boy.

Navalny continues the counter cab, despite the pressure Photo: "New Gazeta" Alexei Navalny is not going to leave the agenda of the presidential campaign - this once again confirmed the launch of the opposition to his own sociological service. Searches continue at the opposition headquarters. At the beginning of the week, the Ministry of Justice demanded to liquidate the fund that ensures the work of the election headquarters of the politician.

Russian Figure Skating Council at the European Home Championship won medals in all types of program Evgenia Medvedev. Photo: RIA Novosti If the March World Forum in the Olympic year is considered a tournament to some extent comforting, then the championship of the continent is a final test of strength and a general rehearsal before the main start of the four years.

In Lithuania, the largest museum of Soviet sculptures in the open air operates outside Russia Photo: Maria Epifanova / "New Gazeta" The deputies of the Sejm of Lithuania before the onset of summer plan to consider the Law “On Decommunization”, which suggests, in particular, the dismantling of monuments related to Soviet ideology. There are already few of them on the streets of Lithuanian cities - mostly memorials to soldiers of the Second World War or busts of cultural figures.