Rich Russians top the Swiss charts too

Rich Russians top the Swiss charts too

Russian Viktor Vekselberg, owner of conglomerate Renova and head of science hub in waiting Skolkovo, is the richest Swiss resident, according to Swiss magazine Bilan.

Renova played a in scuttling the BP – Rosneft deal earlier this year, frustrating the British company’s hopes to delve the Arctic for oil, and its boss’s wealth adds up to 11 billion Swiss francs, Newsru.com cited the magazine as saying.

Gennady Timchenko, of Russian gas exporter Novatek, also makes it onto the Swiss list. His fortune is estimated at 4-5 billion Swiss francs.

Deputy prime minister backtracks over homosexuality rhetoric

Controversy is washing around a ban in some Russian cities on promoting homosexuality and pedophilia, as Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak says the press misunderstood him.

A bitterly disputed bill, equating homosexuality with pedophilia and banning “promoting” them around children must go national, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak told press on Friday. The law has passed its first reading in St. Petersburg and is already in place in Arkhangelsk and Ryazan.

Gay rights groups and human rights activists were up in arms over linking intercourse between consenting same-sex adults with intercourse with children. But Kozak says that he was misunderstood and that, despite the law’s most high-profile clause, he was only condemning the promotion of pedophilia.

Kozak told reporters in St. Petersburg on Friday that promoting sexual minorities was a “disgusting thing to do” and followed Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, in saying that they should consider banning it across the country.

Human rights activists and gay rights campaigners were subsequently in uproar. “It is essential to see the difference,” Tanya Lokshina, deputy director of Human Rights Watch Russia, told Interfax. “Pedophilia is a punishable crime, while the rights of sexual minorities are defended in the Russian constitution,”

But his press-secretary Ilya Dzhus said Kozak’s condemnatory words referred not to homosexuality but to pedophilia alone. “The question to Dmitry Nikolayevich Kozak was about his reaction to the ban on propaganda of pedophilia among minors,” Dzhus told .

“He called that disgusting and called for a ban on any attempts to promote pedophilia, alone,” Dhuks said.

But his colleagues in high places do not see the need to differentiate and made it clear their sights were set on gay people as much as on pedophiles.

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko said that a bill to ban promoting both homosexuality and pedophilia would “serve general public morals. There is nothing more disgusting than propaganda of these things,” has said.

Ptviyenko had earlier said that the ban would be put in place across the whole country and that ruling party United Russia, closely aligned with both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, was prepared to introduce a ban on promoting “the propaganda of homosexuality.”

The St. Petersburg ban would fine individuals between 1,000 and 3,000 rubles for infringing the ban and between 10,000 to 50,000 rubles for corporate entities.

Russia classified homosexuality as a mental illness until 1999 and decriminalized homosexuality between men in 1993, but homophobic attitudes remain.

Russia to face hosts Poland in Euro 2012

Russia will play co-hosts Poland, Greece and Czech Republic in Group A at Euro 2012. The draw has been kind to Russia as all the group opponents are lower-ranked, and it escaped the tournament’s stronger teams. The fans, however, will be upset that the games are not in Ukraine, where they need no visa and everyone speaks Russian.

Since 1992 Russia only lost two out of 14 games in total against Group A opponents Poland, Greece and Czech Republic, drawing five and winning seven, according to Opta stats. They scored an average of 1.6 goals per game, and failed to score only twice.

Russian midfielder Igor Semshov was pleased with the draw.

“We could only have dreamt about such a group,” he told Sovietsky Sport. “It was a lucky draw, the most optimal group. What happens in the games is a different issue, but the draw, you can say, favours Russia. Everything depends on us alone.”

“All four [coaches] are happy with the group, because everybody can beat each other. So, with that in mind, we're looking forward to the first game. It's the third consecutive time that Russia have been drawn with Greece in the group stage of the Euros, so we're familiar rivals.”

Group B has Germany and Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark. Group C has current European and World Champions Spain, Italy, Croatia and Republic of Ireland. Group D includes hosts Ukraine, England, Sweden and France.

Russia was hoping to play in Russian-speaking Ukraine where no visa is needed for the fans and any game would have practically turned into a home match. The team has also chosen a base in Kiev, but will now have to travel a thousand kilometers for games in Wroclaw in Western Poland and more than 700 kilometers to Warsaw.

Russia’s first game will be at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw against Czech Republic, while Poland will open the tournament with a match against Greece in Warsaw, on June, 8. Dick Advocaat’s men then travel to Warsaw where they will play Poland on June, 12 and Greece on June 16 at the National Stadium.

Top two teams in each group go through to the quarterfinals, and should Russia succeed, it will meet one of the survivors from the Group of Death - World Cup runners-up Netherlands, third-placed Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

Hosts Poland will play in front of the home crowd, and boast Arsenal goalkeeping duo Wojciech Szczesny and Łukasz Fabiański and Bundesliga champions with Borussia Dortmund Robert Lewandowski, Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Błaszczykowski. Poland is ranked 66^th in FIFA ratings, but such a low placing is deceptive, as they did not play any competitive matches in the last two years, having qualified for the tournament as hosts.

Greece, ranked 14^th, were surprising Euro 2004 Champions, and last played Russia in a friendly 1:1 draw in November. Greece topped their qualification group and while it does not have household names in the line-up, its game is based on organized defense. Russia was the only side to beat Greece at Euro 2004, in the group stage.

Czech Republic, ranked 33^rd, conceded on average one goal a game in the qualification campaign, and got to the finals by beating Montenegro in the play-offs, captained by Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky.

The tournament will run for three weeks from June, 8 to July, 1. Eight cities will host games: Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan in Poland; Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv in Ukraine.

The final will be played on July, 1 in Kiev at Olimpiisky Stadium.

Ukraine European Union Soup ‘Turns Toxic’

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Ukraine’s European integration process may be derailed if the authorities continue to keep opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko in jail, according to the European Policy Center, a Brussels-based think tank.

Ukraine and the European Union are due to hold a summit on December 19 in Kiev at which a political association and free trade agreement were supposed to be initialed.

“With just over three weeks until the EU-Ukraine Summit, the future of EU-Ukraine relations hangs in the balance,” Amanda Paul, an analyst at the European Policy Center, wrote for EU Observer.

“The trial and imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for abuse of power while in office has turned Ukraine’s EU soup toxic,” Paul said.

Ukraine has been a significant factor behind the EU’s progressively increased engagement in its eastern neighborhood, with Kiev repeatedly pushing the EU to bring more to the table.

While a clear EU membership perspective has been off the menu, Association Agreements, Deep and Comprehensive and Free Trade Areas (DCFTA) and visa liberalization have been proffered.

Indeed, all the other countries in the region have gained from Ukraine’s endeavors.

“Unfortunately, it would now seem there is a real possibility that while all the others (except Belarus) continue to have progressive relationships with the EU, Kiev's European integration process risks derailment,” Paul said.

Not only has it damaged Ukraine's image, it has given those that have always opposed Ukraine's further integration with the EU, ammunition to block Kiev.

The EU has always been adamant the Tymoshenko case is politically motivated and therefore linked signature of the Association Agreement to the case, signaling it expected Ukraine's President, Viktor Yanukovych, to find a way to release Tymoshenko and allow her to re-enter political life.

Yanukovych has claimed that if he pressures the judge he would directly violate independence of judiciary, although few believe in the independence of Ukrainian courts any way.

Moreover by doing this, the EU has contradicted itself by demanding independence of the judiciary while at the same time suggesting Yanukovych should intervene.

The Tymoshenko case is currently in the Court of Appeals.

While the court is due to give a verdict in December, it is unclear whether or not this will be before the December 19 summit.

Furthermore, it seems unlikely that Tymoshenko will be released, not least because of new charges brought against her for her involvement in the Scherban murder case.

However, in light of what is at stake in terms of the EU’s relationship with a key strategic partner, and more broadly for its entire Eastern Partnership policy, it seems that most member states are prepared to initial the agreement - signature will almost certainly not happen until after Ukraine's crucial Parliamentary elections in October 2012.

“However, while France is still wavering, Germany, which has recently been pushing for closer relations with Russia, is continuing to insist that Tymoshenko's release must be a pre-condition,” Paul said.

Moreover, the EU should take a look at the approach of its own institutions which often display an unprincipled approach, in particular in the European Parliament.

The European Peoples Party (EPP) seems to be demonstrating a policy of supporting its members.

“The EU will gain nothing from disengaging with Kiev other than helping to contribute to an increasingly unpredictable and unstable Ukraine, which will only serve to undermine its policy to increase democracy and freedoms in this region,” Paul said.

The EU should not delay the Association Agreement which ideally should also include a reference to Article 49, allowing Ukraine to join the EU in the future.

Indeed, the EU should create a specific monitoring instrument to ensure Kiev’s commitment in this area which could also be presented at the December summit.

“When real incentives are put on the table, progress usually happens,” Paul said.

Ailing Tymoshenko Absent As Ukraine Hears Appeal

KIEV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian court on Thursday started hearing an appeal against the jailing of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for seven years but with the prisoner absent amid growing alarm over her state of health.

The Kiev court of appeal opened an initial hearing into the appeal lodged by her lawyers against the jailing of the 51-year-old opposition leader which has endangered Ukraine's chances of joining the European Union.

"The condemned was not brought to the tribunal. Yulia Volodymyrovna gave notice that she could not take part in the process for health reasons," said judge Olena Sitailo as she opened the hearing.

The defence immediately called for the judge to be replaced, saying she had been appointed to handle the case in an opaque manner and her objectivity could not be trusted.

However the motion was swiftly thrown out by the judge.

Tensions were high before the hearing got under way with pro-Tymoshenko MPs scuffling in the yard of the court with members of the elite Berkut anti-riot police who initially refused them entry.

They were eventually allowed in.

Media were kept out of the courtroom itself but were able to follow events in a live transfer laid on in a neighbouring hall.

The judge ruled that the appeal could carry on in Tymoshenko's absence and the defence also put in a new motion asking for her to be freed on health grounds.

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in jail on October 11 for abuse of authority for agreeing gas contracts with Russia in 2009, a verdict the EU said was politically motivated.

She has insisted that her prosecution was ordered by her arch-foe President Viktor Yanukovych, who defeated her and other leaders of the 2004 Orange Revolution in the 2010 presidential election.

Tymoshenko's lawyers have said she is suffering from severe back pain and is unable to walk.

They have also said there is reason to believe she has heart trouble.

After an intervention from Yanukovych, she was allowed a medical check at a clinic outside prison and the prison authorities have also transferred her to the medical wing of the prison for treatment.

Her former deputy prime minister and right-hand-man Olexander Turchinov told reporters that the medical results had been shown to doctors who believed they showed "she should be urgently hospitalised as her life is in danger."

"I am not a doctor," he added.

"But Yulia Tymoshenko has not got out of bed for four weeks and she cannot walk unassisted."

Tymoshenko's supporters initially hoped she could be free by the New Year amid EU calls for her release but these expectations have been drastically scaled back in the last weeks.

Ukraine has now charged Tymoshenko in a separate case with embezzlement and tax evasion while she headed energy firm United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) in the chaotic 1990s.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin has repeatedly said there is evidence implicating Tymoshenko in the notorious contract killing of Ukrainian deputy Yevgen Shcherban in 1996.

The furore coincides with the build-up to Ukraine's joint hosting with Poland of the Euro 2012 football championships, the biggest event it has held since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine will be in the spotlight at the draw for the event which is due to take place on Friday.

Yanukovych Set To Sacrifice European Future And Keep Tymoshenko In Prison

KIEV, Ukraine -- As the EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for December 19 approaches, the chances for concluding an association agreement decrease.

Although the two sides have completed their association and free trade talks, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s determination to keep in prison his bitter rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, makes the logical conclusion of the talks with the signing of the agreement and its further ratification by the legislatures of EU member states nearly impossible.

The efforts made in November by several EU leaders to persuade Yanukovych to change his mind on Tymoshenko proved futile.

Apparently, Yanukovych either believes that the EU will proceed with the association agreement despite Tymoshenko, as Ukraine is too important to lose to Russia, or keeping the most popular oppositionist incarcerated ahead of the October 2012 parliamentary elections is more important to him than relations with the EU.

On November 15, the Ukrainian parliament refused to decriminalize the abuse of power law upon which basis Tymoshenko was indicted in October.

Yanukovych’s Party of Regions insisted that the law would not be changed for the sake of one person.

Yanukovych had mentioned the possibility of decriminalization, while meeting EU leaders earlier this fall, so many hoped this would be the way to resolve the situation.

Meeting Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski, and German President, Christian Wulff, in Poland on November 15, Yanukovych admitted that there may be problems with ratifying the association agreement due to Tymoshenko’s imprisonment.

However, Yanukovych reiterated that he would not interfere with the courts and that Tymoshenko was not an opposition leader but prime minister when she exceeded her authority in preparing gas contracts with Russia’s Gazprom in 2009.

Yanukovych repeats this in all his meetings with visitors from the EU.

On November 22, it was Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite’s turn to try to persuade Yanukovych to change his mind.

She told him in Kiev that the results of the summit would depend on the resolution of the situation around Tymoshenko, adding that this was a message that the EU authorized her to convey to Yanukovych.

The court’s decision to imprison Tymoshenko for seven years shocked the EU, as it is believed that the aim was to politically neutralize Tymoshenko, said Grybauskaite.

The only positive outcome of Grybauskaite’s plea for Tymoshenko was that Yanukovych after meeting her instructed the health ministry to ensure that Tymoshenko, who has had spinal problems, be properly examined in a hospital.

At the same time, Yanukovych threatened that Kiev would take a pause with the EU “if certain politicians and countries think that Ukraine does not match” EU criteria.

The Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, and his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, paid an enigmatic visit to Yanukovych’s stronghold of Donetsk on November 23, to meet Ukraine’s richest businessman and Yanukovych’s old ally Rinat Akhmetov; who is viewed by many as pro-European.

No details about the meeting have emerged, but the Ukrainian weekly Zerkalo Nedeli suggested on November 26 that Sikorski and Bildt overestimated Akhmetov’s influence on Yanukovych, as far as his attitude to Tymoshenko is concerned.

At the same time, a report by Interfax on November 23 suggested that Yanukovych would ignore the summit on December 19 and visit Moscow on that day instead.

On November 24, the business daily Kommersant-Ukraine cited its sources as saying that the report in Interfax was aimed by Yanukovych’s team at testing the EU’s reaction.

However, visiting Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski, made it clear on November 28 that the EU was firm in its belief that by keeping Tymoshenko behind bars Kiev demonstrated that it did not meet the EU’s criteria for treatment of the opposition.

Komorowski reiterated that Tymoshenko’s imprisonment would slow the process of ratification of the EU-Ukraine association agreement.

He added that he had hoped that Tymoshenko’s offenses would be decriminalized.

For his part, Yanukovych only promised Komorowski to improve the conditions of Tymoshenko’s incarceration, while Prosecutor-General Viktor Pshonka insisted in a TV interview that politics had nothing to do with Tymoshenko’s imprisonment.

Meanwhile, it has become obvious that the association agreement will not even be initialed on December 19.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, said on November 23 that Kiev had intended to only complete the talks by the summit, while the association agreement could be signed later.

European Commission representative in Kiev, Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira confirmed that the agreement would not be initialed at the summit.

Diplomats are explaining this by referring to technical problems, but it is clear from statements by EU leaders that the main problem is Tymoshenko’s imprisonment.

Yanukovych’s argument that he may not interfere with the courts is ambiguous.

Second, Yanukovych could have asked his party caucus, which dominates parliament, to approve decriminalization of the articles under which Tymoshenko was convicted, but he chose not to.

Ukraine's Chornobyl Veterans Continue Hunger Strike

KIEV, Ukraine -- Nineteen veterans of the post-Chornobyl nuclear disaster cleanup have continued their hunger strike in front of the Ukrainian government building in Kiev.

he hunger strikers are from various parts of Ukraine and have white bands inscribed "Hunger Strike" on their hats. Police and security officers are monitoring the site.

The veterans of the cleanup after the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster and Afghan war veterans have been rallying in Kyiv and other cities for more than a month.

The latest big protest in Kiev was on November 29, when some 3,000 protesters picketed the government building to demand the annulment of all legislative amendments scaling back pensions and social allowances.

They also demanded a moratorium on further amendments to laws related to social programs.

The protesters also demanded justice for retired miner Hennadiy Konoplyov, 70, who died of a heart attack on November 27 in the eastern city of Donetsk while police forcibly removed a large tent used by Chornobyl veterans who had been on hunger strike there since November 15.

Twenty-two Chornobyl cleanup veterans are still on a hunger strike in Donetsk, which is President Viktor Yanukovych's hometown.

The government decided in September to cut the pensions of Chornobyl cleanup and Afghan war veterans and of elderly people who used to receive additional financial allowances for either having fought or worked as children during World War II.

The decision has triggered protests across Ukraine.