This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/586517-russia-hamas-terrorist-organization/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russian prosecutor refuses to designate Hamas as ‘terrorists’ – media | Russian prosecutor refuses to designate Hamas as ‘terrorists’ – media |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Officials reportedly explained that there is no legal basis for such a designation | Officials reportedly explained that there is no legal basis for such a designation |
| Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has refused to designate Palestinian militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization, according to the Mash Telegram. Officials had been asked to take measures against the movement due to its actions in Israel. | Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has refused to designate Palestinian militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization, according to the Mash Telegram. Officials had been asked to take measures against the movement due to its actions in Israel. |
| According to Mash, the Prosecutor General’s Office explained its decision by noting that there has never been a criminal case launched on Russian territory against any member of Hamas. | According to Mash, the Prosecutor General’s Office explained its decision by noting that there has never been a criminal case launched on Russian territory against any member of Hamas. |
| “This means that it would be wrong to recognize the Palestinian movement as terrorist,” officials reportedly told the Telegram channel. | “This means that it would be wrong to recognize the Palestinian movement as terrorist,” officials reportedly told the Telegram channel. |
| The response came after Ivan Melnikov, vice president of the Russian branch of the International Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, sent a formal appeal to Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, demanding that Hamas be designated as a terrorist organization. Melnikov cited the killing of “at least 900 civilians” by Hamas, including Russians, and the taking of large numbers of hostages of all ages. | |
| Despite not officially designating Hamas as a terrorist movement, Russia has condemned the militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel, which left some 1,400 Israelis dead. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” | Despite not officially designating Hamas as a terrorist movement, Russia has condemned the militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel, which left some 1,400 Israelis dead. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” |
| At the same time, Moscow has been critical of Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, which have so far killed some 9,000 people, according to Palestinian officials. | At the same time, Moscow has been critical of Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, which have so far killed some 9,000 people, according to Palestinian officials. |
| Last week, Putin stressed that the “horrible events currently unfolding in Gaza... cannot be justified by anything,” while arguing that Israel’s actions in the Palestinian enclave are inflaming the conflict. | |
| Moscow has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and has emphasized the importance of maintaining contact with both sides in the hope of finding a fair and peaceful solution to the decades-long issue. | Moscow has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and has emphasized the importance of maintaining contact with both sides in the hope of finding a fair and peaceful solution to the decades-long issue. |
| Putin is also among those to have consistently backed a two-state solution based on the decisions of the UN Security Council. | Putin is also among those to have consistently backed a two-state solution based on the decisions of the UN Security Council. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, has stressed that instability in the region cannot be resolved “without the creation of a Palestinian state through negotiations.” Until then, there will always be a threat to Israel, he added. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, has stressed that instability in the region cannot be resolved “without the creation of a Palestinian state through negotiations.” Until then, there will always be a threat to Israel, he added. |