On the role of special services in Russia - Mikhail Trepashkin, Sergey Grigoryants, Sergey Brovchenko On the eve of the Day of the State Security Worker of the Russian Federation ("Chekist's Day") - the role and place of special services in the history of the USSR and Russia, in the management of the state and civil society, in historical events and everyday life of "Soviet" and Russians are discussed by human rights activist, journalist, literary critic, chairman of the Grigoryants , lawyers,

So Khodorkovsky commented on Vladimir Putin's answers to the questions of journalists during a large press conference of the president Mikhail Khodorkovsky called the representatives of the elite of President Putin "emigrants in parallel reality." They form a special estate, which does not apply to the constitution and laws. “In fact, they live in a separate state, which is not the Russian Federation, but something else,” the ex-head of Yukos on Facebook wrote.

Already many times, Russian opposition and Western analysts indicated that in the power in Russia there is actually a "Chekist clan" - immigrants from the former KGB who gained access to the country's main resources. In one of his recent articles, Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov noted that in the light of the last revelations of Alexei Navalny and the "report of the Spanish prosecutors", the connection of the "old" Russian security forces with the mafia also became obvious.

EU and Ukraine flags The head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker emphasized that both Ukraine and Georgia fulfilled all the EU conditions to liberalize the visa regime The European Commission supported the abolition of the visa regime for citizens of Ukraine and Georgia.

Drum is accused of the case, which is also held by the journalist of RBC Alexander Sokolov The Khamovnican Court of Moscow on Friday authorized the arrest of activist Kirill Barabash, detained as part of the case against the journalist of RBC Alexander Sokolov. In relation to the drum, a preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen. He was charged with organizing the activities of an extremist organization, the press secretary of the court Olga Mysoelova told RAPSI.

UN Security Council We are talking about a document in support of the ceasefire and a two -year plan for creating a government of national unity Five regular members of the UN Security Council agreed on the text of the draft resolution on Syria . We are talking about a document in support of the ceasefire and a two -year plan for creating a government of national unity. Negotiations between the Syrian authorities and the opposition are planned to begin in January 2016.

The head of the European Council Donald Tusk (Brussels, December 18, 2015) The head of the European Council believes that the project violates European rules on diversification of energy sources; German Chancellor considers it as a "private economic" project The head of the European Council Donald Tusk said that the Northern Stream 2 does not comply with the EU rules.

Sergei Melnik claims to witness falsifications in the Crimea elections The former assistant to the current State Duma deputy asked for asylum in Germany. As Sergey Melnik explained in an interview with RS, he was given attention to this step from the investigative committee, whose representatives began to call Melnik to interrogation in the fabricated, according to him, the case.

When it comes to Putin’s speeches, the venerable audience cannot decide in any way: she seems to be bored, but there is no other topic for conversation. As a result, the second day of discussion of the next press conference will soon go. Sergey Markov: Putin. The main thing in the press - Putin’s conferences, this is the press itself - a conference. This is a very strong and very modern format.

NPO check card in Russia The main areas of the Panorama activity, according to the center of the Center, are research of political, public and interethnic phenomena in Russia and the CIS countries The Ministry of Justice of Russia on Friday included the Panorama information and research center in the register of the so-called "foreign agents". This was reported on the website of the department . The ministry also claims that the decision was made during the planned documentary verification.

The State Duma of Russia on Friday in the first reading will consider the government bill on phased - up to 65 years - raising the retirement age to officials. The discussion will be held with the participation of non -parliamentary parties, RIA Novosti reports. The bill provides for a gradual increase in the minimum length of service of the civil service, which gives the right to a pension for length of service, as well as an increase from 60 to 65 years of age of age in public service.

Kirill Shamalov RBC reported that 33-year-old businessman Kirill Shamalov, who, according to a number of sources, is the wife of daughter Vladimir Putin, owns a large package of shares of the Sibur holding The publication of RBC conducted an investigation into a business of 33-year-old entrepreneur Kirill Shamalov, who, according to Reuters, is the spouse of the alleged daughter of Vladimir Putin Katerina Tikhonova.

UN headquarters in New York In parallel at the UN headquarters in New York, five regular members of the Security Council are discussing a draft resolution on Syria World powers are preparing to present the UN plan for political settlement in Syria. The meeting in New York discusses the ways of achieving a truce and negotiations between the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and an armed opposition.

The deadline for repayment of the debt occurs on December 20; After that, Russia has the right to recover funds in court Ukraine introduced a moratorium on the payment of $ 3.5 billion on Russian debts - before the adoption of Kyiv’s proposals for their restructuring or to the appropriate court decision. This was announced on Friday by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk.