Diplomatic Bag :: Russia in the spotlight
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
23.08.2012 16:16
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Diplomatic Bag :: Russia in the spotlight
In this edition of Diplomatic Bag, we take a look at Russia - the country's entry to the WTO, as well as concerns arising from the recent sentencing of three members of the feminist punk group Pussy Riot.
Photo: PAP/EPA/Maxim Shipenkov
Presented by John Beauchamp
A three-hour verdict was read out loud sentencing three band members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot to two years in prison. The Russian women were guilty for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred." A punishment regarded as harsh and severe by many governments around the world, specificially by many politicians within the EU. Veronika Joy reports.
meanwhile, the European Union has welcomed Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation after 18 years of negotiaitons. The Russian Federation officially joined the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday, a month after Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a bill that paved the way to finish an 18-year-long process to join the global trade body. Both the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, and the upper house, the Federation Council, approved the accession last month. Danuta Isler reports.