Moscow court rules to release anti-govt protester
AP, Moscow
A Moscow court on Wednesday ruled to release a protester, who was facing years in prison for assaulting police, following a mounting public campaign in support of anti-government activists and even bystanders caught up in an opposition rally.
Following their own pleas to keep the man in jail, prosecutors at a hearing on Wednesday asked the court to release Aidar Gubaidulin on recognizance and review the case to clarify the charges. The court ruled in favor, and the man was allowed out of the glass cage in the courtroom that defendants are kept in. Gubaidulin was one of a dozen Russians facing a prison sentence for his role in the July 27 opposition protest.
Pompeo heads to Saudi Arabia after US blames Iran
AFP, Washington
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo departed for Saudi Arabia Tuesday to discuss possible retaliation after Washington said it had proof that attacks on Saudi oil installations originated in Iran.
Vice President Mike Pence announced that Pompeo was on his way to the kingdom to “discuss our response.”
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Putin, Saudi Crown Prince discuss oil refineries attacks
Reuters, Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed weekend attacks on Saudi Aramco’s oil infrastructure by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.
Putin and the crown prince expressed their commitment to bilateral cooperation on stabilising global oil prices and the Russian leader called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the attacks in Saudi Arabia, the Kremlin said.
US sues Snowden for proceeds from his memoir
Reuters, Washington
The United States filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who in 2013 leaked secret documents about U.S. telephone and Internet surveillance, saying his new book violates non-disclosure agreements.
The Justice Department said Snowden published his memoir, “Permanent Record,” without submitting it to intelligence agencies for review, adding that speeches given by Snowden also violated nondisclosure agreements.
9 suspected militants killed in Cairo
AP, Cairo
Egypt’s Interior Ministry says police have killed nine suspected members of a militant group with links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in two separate Cairo shootouts.
Wednesday’s statement says the militants were members of the Revolution Brigade, a breakaway faction of the Muslim Brotherhood group that has targeted security forces in militant attacks.
It says the gunfire exchange took place at their hideouts in the northeastern district of Obour, and the southern May 15th City, as police were trying to arrest them.
It added that rifles and ammunition were found at the scene.
