As Vladimir Putin seeks a fifth term at the head of Russia, this Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Russian troops are pushing further on the Ukrainian front. Many dissenting voices, notably that of Alexeï Navalny’s widow, were heard, notably describing the leader as ” liar “ and D’“assassin”.
Read also: Presidential election in Russia: Yulia Navalnaïa wrote “Navalny” on her ballot
Ukrainian authorities have also reported that “agents” from its own ranks had been arrested, suspected of preparing the assassination of Volodymyr Zelensky.
Arrest of two agents suspected of wanting to assassinate Zelensky
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the arrest of two “agents”. The latter are suspected of having wanted to assassinate the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky as well as other senior officials of the country, on orders from Moscow.
The two suspects are believed to be colonels working for the Ukrainian state service and provide security for senior state officials. Both individuals are accused of ” high treason “ and of “preparations for a terrorist attack” and risk life imprisonment, a Source told AFP.
The two men would have particularly wanted to recruit soldiers ” relatives “ of President Zelensky’s security service in order to “take him hostage and kill him”according to the SBU.
Oppositions, speeches: a look back at Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony
The inauguration ceremony of Vladimir Putin, who is seeking a fifth six-year term, took place late in the morning at the Grand Kremlin Golden Palace. The Russian president notably took the oath and then promised the Russians that they “will win together” the war against Ukraine.
Ruling Russia is “a great honor, a responsibility and a sacred duty”the leader first declared in his speech.
Just before the inauguration of Vladimir Putin, Alexeï Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaïa, judged the leader of “liar, thief, murderer” in a video posted on X.
“With him at the helm, our country will have no peace, no development, no freedom”she continues. “Ukraine sees no legal basis for recognizing him as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia”further declared the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release relayed by AFP.
Read also: POINT OF VIEW. Putin’s new mandate promises only toughening and war
French Ambassador to Russia: a summons for “intimidation”
Pierre Lévy, French ambassador to Russia, was among 2,500 guests, including the country’s political elite and soldiers fighting in Ukraine, invited to the swearing-in of the Russian head of state for his fifth term, despite of a summons the day before by the Russian authorities. On this occasion, Paris castigated a desire “bullying” from Moscow.
“France notes that diplomatic channels are once again being hijacked for the purposes of information manipulation and intimidation”said the press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Russia summoned French diplomat to denounce policy “provocative” of Paris regarding the conflict in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron again raised the possibility of sending Western troops there.
Read also: European intelligence fears ‘imminent’ acts of sabotage from Russia
Three men drown in Ukraine, possibly trying to flee the country
The bodies of three men, who were trying ” probably “ to leave Ukraine, were fished out of a river bordering Romania, Ukrainian border guards announced. At least two of them were therefore of fighting age, according to AFP. However, the Ukrainian authorities have not clearly confirmed that they were fleeing the mobilization.
Read also: War in Ukraine: why a new wave of mobilization seems irremediable
In Ukraine, men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, with few exceptions, under martial law. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, however, many men have left, illegally or legally, in order to avoid being conscripted into the army.
These fears are growing more and more ten days before the entry into force of a new law which should make it possible to mobilize more soldiers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping more consensual on the fate of Ukraine
On a state visit to France, Chinese President Xi Jinping spent the day with Emmanuel Macron in the Pyrenees. The opportunity for a more direct dialogue on the war in Ukraine in particular. The Chinese president thus showed himself to be more consensual towards Ukraine, reaffirming his desire to work towards a political solution.
He supported a “Olympic Truce” during the Paris Games this summer, also pushed by Emmanuel Macron. According to a French diplomatic Source, this truce could serve, with regard to Ukraine, to initiate a more political process after more than two years of conflict.
But Paris, which has insisted for a year that Beijing puts pressure on Russia to help end the war, wants to “lucid” on the limited chances of a rapid breakthrough, reports AFP. Especially since the Chinese president remains the main ally of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, whom he is due to receive soon.
“Freedom House” NGO banned in Russia
Russia declared US democracy promotion organization Freedom House “undesirable”a measure that prohibits its activities in the country, in the midst of tension with Washington and repression of civil society.
“One of the main activities of Freedom House is to promote the establishment of the so-called “dominant” role of the United States in the world”justified the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office in a press release, announcing this decision.
According to this Source, the NGO Freedom House, founded in 1941 and financed by Washington, “actively participated in promoting the policies of unfriendly states regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, including discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
On its website, the NGO for its part described the Russian political system led by President Vladimir Putin as“authoritarian”.
