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☆ Senior Republicans urge Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine hitting targets deep inside Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A group of key House Republicans have written to President Joe Biden urging him to lift the restrictions on the use of US-provided long-range weapons systems and allow Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russia. The UK is also considering whether to allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. “No change to policy,” one senior administration official said, adding that there is currently no openness to lifting restrictions. Last month, senior Ukrainians presented US officials with targets they would like to strike in Russia during a visit to Washington. But the Ukrainians say there are weapons productions facilities that would be within reach of the ATACMS inside Russia that are worthy military targets, a source familiar with the Ukrainians position told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken’s, Biden, Blinken, David Lammy, Keir Starmer, “, Michael McCaul, Michael Turner, Mike Rogers, Ken Calvert, Thomas Kean, Richard Hudson, “ Biden, Harris, Donald Trump, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ”, ” Blinken, “ It’s, Zelensky, ” John Kirby, It’s, CNN’s MJ Lee Organizations: CNN, Republicans, British, UK, House Foreign, House Intelligence, House Armed Services, House, Helsinki, Republican, Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Ukraine “, Ukraine, Russian, US National Security Council Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Washington, London, U.S, Germany, Russia’s Kursk, Iranian, Crimea

The staff member, Kyle Parker, is the senior Senate adviser for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Commission. The commission is led by members of Congress and staffed by congressional aides. It is influential on matters of democracy and security and has been vocal in supporting Ukraine. A confidential report by the commission’s director and general counsel, which The New York Times reviewed, said that the equipment transfer could make Mr. Parker an unregistered foreign agent. It said that Mr. Parker had traveled Ukraine’s front lines wearing camouflage and Ukrainian military insignia and had hired a Ukrainian official for a U.S. government fellowship over the objections of congressional ethics and security officials.

Persons: Kyle Parker, Parker Organizations: Capitol Hill, U.S . Commission, Security, Cooperation, Helsinki Commission, New York Times Locations: Russia, Europe, Helsinki, Ukraine

☆ UBS says reports of DOJ probe into Russia sanctions evasion are wrong
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“The recent reporting on an alleged probe by the US Department of Justice into sanctions-related compliance failures at Credit Suisse and UBS is inaccurate. We’re not aware of such a probe,” UBS told CNN in a statement. “UBS and CS have significantly and proactively reduced their Russia-related exposure.”According to a person familiar with the matter, UBS has been in touch with the DOJ regarding the reported probe. The bank’s reaction comes on the heels of a Bloomberg report, which cited anonymous people familiar with the matter and asserted the Justice Department had briefed lawyers for UBS (UBS) about Credit Suisse’s alleged involvement in sanctions violations. CNN reached out to the Justice Department for comment but has not received a response.

Persons: “, Suisse’s, Drew Sullivan, ”, ” Sen, Ben Cardin Organizations: CNN, UBS, US Department of Justice, Credit Suisse, “ UBS, CS, DOJ, Bloomberg, Department, Justice Department, Swiss Bankers Association, Security, Cooperation, US, US Helsinki Commission, “, Swiss Stock Exchange Locations: Swiss, Russia, Europe, US Helsinki, Ukraine, Maryland, Switzerland

☆ Factbox: Why is Georgia in turmoil over a "foreign agents" law?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jake Cordell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

TBILISI, March 9 (Reuters) - Ruling lawmakers in the South Caucasus country of Georgia on Thursday scrapped plans to introduce what critics called a Russian-inspired "foreign agents" law after two days of intense street protests in the capital Tbilisi. Here is a guide to what's going on:WHAT IS THE PROPOSED 'FOREIGN AGENTS' LAW? - Swathes of Georgian civil society, including election monitors, corruption watchdogs and independent media outlets would have been covered by the law. - Rights groups say the "foreign agent" tag is a designed to make it easier for the government to discredit its opponents. - It says it is modelled on the U.S. 1938 "Foreign Agents Registration Act", which primarily covers lobbyists and organisations directly working for or under the control of foreign governments.

☆ Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi after violent clashes with police
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jake Cordell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ruling Georgian Dream party say it is modelled on U.S. legislation dating from the 1930s. In violent clashes on Tuesday evening, protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police, who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. Critics say Georgian Dream is too close to Russia and has taken the country in a more repressive direction in recent years. Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze defended the bill again on Wednesday, saying it would help root out those working against the interests of the country and the powerful Georgian Orthodox Church. He criticised Georgia's "radical opposition" for stirring up protesters to commit "unprecedented violence" during Tuesday's rallies, according to Georgian news agencies.

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