joze44 + 39 HM June 15, 2020 A Russian court on Monday sentenced an American security executive to 16 years in prison on spying charges, a verdict that drew an angry response from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced the man’s treatment by Russian authorities as “appalling.” The Moscow City Court read out the conviction of Paul Whelan on charges of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security prison. The trial was held behind closed doors because authorities said that was needed for the trial to consider sensitive data. Whelan has insisted on his innocence, saying he was set up. The 50-year-old corporate security executive and Marine Corps veteran from Novi, Michigan, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 while he was in Russia to attend a friend’s wedding. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 June 15, 2020 We jail their citizens left and right. What did we expect... Predictable tit-for-tat. Most likely will get exchanged in prisoners swap. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BALBOA + 37 BR June 15, 2020 This should be treated as a warning to all companies doing business with Russia. What will be our answer... friendly handshake with Putin's regime. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notsonice + 1,062 DM June 15, 2020 Payback sucks , the last major sanction imposed by Trump must of sent the Russians off the deep end. When Trump decided to try to stop Nordstream the gloves came off. President Donald Trump has signed a law that will impose sanctions on any firm that helps Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, finish a pipeline into the European Union. The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany. The US considers the project a security risk to Europe. Both Russia and the EU have strongly condemned the US sanctions. Congress voted through the measures as part of a defence bill last week and the legislation, which described the pipeline as a "tool of coercion", was signed off by Mr Trump on Friday. Why is the US against the pipeline? The almost $11bn (£8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. Skateboarding protesters occupy gas pipeline in Germany EU agrees tighter rules for Russian pipeline President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, could turn Germany into a "hostage of Russia". The US sanctions have angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. Earlier this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "opposed to extraterritorial sanctions" against the Nord Stream 2 project. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea has divided Europe and infuriated the US German foreign minister Heiko Maas struck a more combative tone, saying the sanctions amounted to "interference in autonomous decisions taken in Europe". Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions. The US sanctions also target TurkStream, a Russia-Turkey pipeline, and include asset freezes and revocation of US visas for the contractors. How have Russia and the EU reacted? On Saturday, the EU voiced its clear opposition to the US sanctions. "As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business," a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an "ideology" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. It said: "Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible." Why is Nord Stream 2 so controversial? For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUZNV + 1,197 June 15, 2020 Mainstream & Dem impeachment was about Russia interfered the 2016 elections and Trump were accused for acting on Russia's behave. Should Putin change his interference this year to the other side? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradleyPNW + 282 ES June 15, 2020 The end result of the last several years will be aggressive Magnitsky Act sanctions throughout the advanced economies and many middle income countries that put human rights violating despots and their enablers in a difficult spot. Biden's administration will make Magnitsky a key foreign policy position as of January 20th, 2021. Putin will kidnap every American citizen he can to hold for ransom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnitsky_Act Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 June 15, 2020 10 hours ago, 50 shades of black said: We jail their citizens left and right. What did we expect... Predictable tit-for-tat. Most likely will get exchanged in prisoners swap. When we jail their "citizens" they're invariably Russian mobsters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 June 15, 2020 8 hours ago, notsonice said: Payback sucks , the last major sanction imposed by Trump must of sent the Russians off the deep end. When Trump decided to try to stop Nordstream the gloves came off. President Donald Trump has signed a law that will impose sanctions on any firm that helps Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, finish a pipeline into the European Union. The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany. The US considers the project a security risk to Europe. Both Russia and the EU have strongly condemned the US sanctions. Congress voted through the measures as part of a defence bill last week and the legislation, which described the pipeline as a "tool of coercion", was signed off by Mr Trump on Friday. Why is the US against the pipeline? The almost $11bn (£8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. Skateboarding protesters occupy gas pipeline in Germany EU agrees tighter rules for Russian pipeline President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, could turn Germany into a "hostage of Russia". The US sanctions have angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. Earlier this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "opposed to extraterritorial sanctions" against the Nord Stream 2 project. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea has divided Europe and infuriated the US German foreign minister Heiko Maas struck a more combative tone, saying the sanctions amounted to "interference in autonomous decisions taken in Europe". Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions. The US sanctions also target TurkStream, a Russia-Turkey pipeline, and include asset freezes and revocation of US visas for the contractors. How have Russia and the EU reacted? On Saturday, the EU voiced its clear opposition to the US sanctions. "As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business," a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an "ideology" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. It said: "Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible." Why is Nord Stream 2 so controversial? For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Yup, Trump is such a stooge of the RUSSIANS that he brilliantly bothers the crap out of them, because no one would see that coming, considering our betters in the MSM have been telling us for years that Putin has Trump in his pocket! I'm always amazed when liberals' heads don't simply explode with all the contradictory thoughts they simultaneously contain. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notsonice + 1,062 DM June 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Ward Smith said: Yup, Trump is such a stooge of the RUSSIANS that he brilliantly bothers the crap out of them, because no one would see that coming, considering our betters in the MSM have been telling us for years that Putin has Trump in his pocket! I'm always amazed when liberals' heads don't simply explode with all the contradictory thoughts they simultaneously contain. Yet Nordstream 2 is going forward, and an American got 16 years in prison. Score another win for Trump? Your head must be spinning and about ready to explode. Exporting LNG to Europe these days? good luck 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoshiro Kamamura + 274 YK June 16, 2020 3 hours ago, Ward Smith said: When we jail their "citizens" they're invariably Russian mobsters. Simple world for simple people. Make America simple again! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 June 16, 2020 3 hours ago, notsonice said: Yet Nordstream 2 is going forward, and an American got 16 years in prison. Score another win for Trump? Your head must be spinning and about ready to explode. Exporting LNG to Europe these days? good luck Already forgot the Russia Probe? You know, that boondoggle that took 3 years and was an utter failure? Got three old people for faulty memory, good thing no one interviews Joe Biden. Should I link to the thousands of times the morons in the MSM accused Trump of being the Manchurian candidate for Russia? Your head would be spinning, if your head could hold a coherent thought. 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 June 17, 2020 Well, foreign spies are arrested and sentenced to prison all over the world. All you have to do is catch the real Russian spy and replace him with Whelan. I see that some have easily forgotten how harm was done to activist Maria Butina. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 June 17, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, Tomasz said: Well, foreign spies are arrested and sentenced to prison all over the world. All you have to do is catch the real Russian spy and replace him with Whelan. I see that some have easily forgotten how harm was done to activist Maria Butina. I haven't forgotten anything. She was yet another victim of the Russia Hoax. These criminals will watch America burn, fake the election, and assassinate Trump rather than face the music. There's a good reason the Demoncrats are pulling out all the stops right now. They know they're guilty and they need to get back into command to bury the evidence and the investigations into their wrongdoing. This is the real reason they've been fomenting demonstrations so much since Trump got elected. Distract, dissemble and deny. Edited June 17, 2020 by Ward Smith auto correct garbage removed 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 June 17, 2020 (edited) Yes, only correct that I do not know if Mr. Whelan is really a spy but look at least that he served in the Marines for many years and has 4 citizenship, I suspect he may be. I will only add to anyone interested in the further fate of Mr. Whelan that I read that there are behind-the-scenes talks about the replacement of Mr. Whelan for Russians Bout and Yaroszenko sitting in an American prison on which the Russians care. Source https://twitter.com/Mike_Eckel/status/1273255170609164290 Edited June 17, 2020 by Tomasz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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