Ex-Roscosmos CEO Says He Has Detailed Information on Weapon Used in Donetsk Attack

©Sputnik / Ekaterina Shtukina / Go to the mediabank

The former CEO of Russian space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, told Sputnik that satellite imagery had helped spot the howitzer from which he was attacked in Donetsk.

"Since I worked for four years in our state corporation Roscosmos, I have good friends, partners and comrades there. I had requested an accurate map, a picture that was taken that day, that evening, by one of our spacecraft. I believe that we have established exactly the weapon from which the shot was fired, which was at the optimal distance and position for shots. We continue to monitor this combat crew, which fired at us, and I hope, when I return, they will be found and destroyed," Rogozin said.

Servicemen from the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have managed to seize subscriber terminals of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communication system, which were used by the Ukrainian military, as trophies, Dmitry Rogozin said.

"Space communications are a special topic. We know what benefit... and harm the Starlink space communication systems used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine have brought to us, and these devices, the subscriber equipment itself. By the way, we have it trophied," Rogozin said.

Starlink has reportedly provided Ukraine with an estimated 22,000 devices since the start of Russia's special military operation in February of last year.

Russia has deployed satellite communication terminals to a military unit in the Donetsk People's Republic for testing, Rogozin said.

"We have created the first compact sets (of satcom equipment). They have been placed with an artillery brigade and are performing well," the former head of Roscosmos told Sputnik in an interview.

The military technology is based off civilian solutions marketed by Russian companies, Rogozin said. The former official, who is on a military advisory panel, said the tech was tailored for use "along the frontline when the enemy is jamming this sort of communication channels."

In December of last year, the hotel where Rogozin and a group of Russian military advisers were staying in Donetsk came under fire. The ex-space official was wounded in the spine by a shell fragment, while one of the military advisers was killed.

Since November 2022, the former Roscosmos CEO has been heading an inspection group of military advisers in the zone of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, which provides technical support to units in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

In December of last year, the hotel where Rogozin and a group of Russian military advisers were staying in Donetsk came under fire. The ex-space official was wounded in the spine by a shell fragment, while one of the military advisers was killed.

Since November 2022, the former Roscosmos CEO has been heading an inspection group of military advisers in the zone of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, which provides technical support to units in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Russian forces strike over 60 Ukrainian artillery units in past day, top brass reports

Russian combat aircraft, missile troops and artillery struck over 60 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"In the past 24 hours, operational-tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 63 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 97 areas," the spokesman said.

Russian artillery struck amassed manpower of two Ukrainian army brigades in the Kupyansk area, eliminating over 40 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk area, artillery of the Western Military District inflicted damage on amassed manpower of the Ukrainian army’s 14th and 92nd mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Dvurechnaya and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

The strikes "destroyed over 40 Ukrainian troops and one motor vehicle," the general said.

The Ukrainian military lost about 70 troops and two radars in the Krasny Liman area as a result of damage inflicted by Russian artillery and paratroopers over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman area, the fire delivered by artillery of the Central Military District and the Airborne Force inflicted damage on units of the Ukrainian army’s 80th and 95th air assault brigades in the area of the Serebryansky forestry. The enemy’s losses amounted to 70 personnel, four armored fighting vehicles and two US-made AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radars," the spokesman said.

Russian assault units supported by combat aircraft and missile troops liberated the community of Krasnopolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk area, volunteers of assault teams supported by operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Southern Military District liberated the community of Krasnopolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated over 60 Ukrainian troops, two armored vehicles and two howitzers in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, over 60 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, two howitzers (Msta-B and D-30) and also a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter battery radar were destroyed in that (Donetsk) area," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated about 30 Ukrainian troops and a Grad rocket system in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Zaporozhye area, up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles and also a Grad multiple rocket launcher were destroyed as a result of damage inflicted by troops of the Eastern Military District on the Ukrainian army units by combined firepower over the past 24 hours," the spokesman said.

Russian forces struck the deployment site of the Ukrainian army’s 107th artillery brigade in the Dnieper area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Dnieper area, a ground-based high-precision weapon hit the temporary deployment site of the 107th rocket artillery brigade in the area of the settlement of Marganets in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system together with its crew in the Dnieper area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"An American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system was destroyed together with its crew as a result of the strike against an uncovered firing position," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense systems intercepted 14 HIMARS rockets over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities shot down three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Zhovtnevoye in the Kharkov Region. They also intercepted 14 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system in the areas of the city of Donetsk, the communities of Avdeyevka and Pilipchatino in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and also Chervonopopovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 376 Ukrainian warplanes, 203 helicopters, 2,934 unmanned aerial vehicles, 401 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,607 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 987 multiple rocket launchers, 3,893 field artillery guns and mortars and 8,153 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation, Konashenkov reported.

Moscow’s special op exposed Pentagon’s biolab scheme in Ukraine, says key Russian MP

Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Irina Yarovaya ©Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

The Pentagon's clandestine biological project was laid bare primarily thanks to Russia's special military operation and the work of the commission, Irina Yarovaya, co-chair of the parliamentary panel looking into the work of US biolabs in Ukraine and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, said on Monday.

"The disclosure of the Pentagon's secret and very hazardous biological project in Ukraine became possible first of all due to the special military operation and our investigation. And we see that this has sparked enormous interest, including public interest in the United States itself," she said at a meeting of the commission.

The task of the commission is to "set forth all the evidence that has been investigated in a reasoned, consistent and systematic way", which fully confirms the unsound military-biological project "run by the US in Ukraine as part of a larger, dangerous and aggressive plan for the military-biological colonization of the world," the senior legislator added.

In March 2022, Russia’s State Duma and Federation Council adopted a resolution to conduct a special parliamentary inquiry into the operation of biological labs in Ukraine and to create a special panel of 14 Duma members and 14 Federation Council members. Yarovaya and Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev are the commission’s co-chairs.

Yarovaya said earlier that the inquiry was to produce a factsheet to be dispatched to the Russian president, the government and international organizations. The memo will contain the necessary evidence and "expose the cause-and-effect relationships, the threats and challenges and all organizations, legal entities and officials involved."

Russian Biolab Commission to Invite US Representatives to Meeting: Senior Lawmaker

The Commission on the biological program in Ukraine intends to invite renowned economist and chairman of the Lancet COVID-19 Commission Jeffrey Sachs and former director of Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Kenneth Myers to its next meeting, deputy chairwoman of the Russian lower house Irina Yarovaya said on Monday.

"We propose to additionally invite Jeffrey Sachs, who just headed the Lancet commission on COVID. We propose to invite this scholar because we consider it fundamentally important, since the position of the Russian parliament is absolutely transparent, open, as is Russia's position regarding the provision of evaluation evidence, evidence, and we have repeatedly initiated the need for an international investigation into the dangerous activities of the Pentagon, the conclusions of German scholars on the artificial origin of COVID," Yarovaya said.

According to the lawmaker, the position of these scholars should be heard in order to correlate it with the materials of the parliamentary investigation, and the commission is also ready to transfer the materials to the academic community in the future, in order to assess the real scale of those "possibly dangerous actions that are being implemented by the United States all over the world."

"In addition, we believe that it would be right to invite former director of DTRA Kenneth Myers because the report that has become the subject of discussion in the United States... The invitation of Kenneth Myers would be an indicator in terms of how ready today for an open and public dialogue are those implementing a secret military biological project in Ukraine in other countries of the world are actually trying to disguise and hide this activity in every possible way on the territory of the United States," Yarovaya added.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, said that the next meeting of the Commission will take place on February 6, and both houses of parliament will discuss its report on March 15.

In September, a consultative meeting of the states parties to the BTWC was held at Russia's initiative. In October, Moscow brought the issue of violations of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BTWC) by Ukraine and the United States to the UN Security Council.

The US, the United Kingdom and France voted against the resolution on the international investigation into the case, while Russia and China supported the document. Other countries, including India, Mexico and NATO member Norway, abstained from voting.

During its special military operation in Ukraine, Russia says it has discovered a network of more than 30 biological laboratories on Ukrainian territory. According to Moscow, Washington has spent over $200 million to develop biological weapons at the facilities.

Russia also said that the labs revealed in Ukraine constitute only a small part of a global network of over 300 similar facilities.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stresses that the US, along with the UK, is crossing red lines by threatening the assets of families of foreign politicians, which is a "perfect example" of their attitude toward democracy

Ukrainian intel agent nabbed in North Caucasus plotted terror attack against police — FSB

©FSB/TASS

The Russian national and Ukrainian intelligence agent apprehended in the North Caucasus plotted a terror act against police, according to the video of the suspect’s questioning released by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Monday.

"I was an agent of Ukrainian intelligence services with the call sign Alehandro. On their assignment, I was intended to come to the North Caucasian Federal District and commit a terror act against police personnel," the detainee said.

"I repent for the wrongdoing and admit the guilt," he said.

The FSB press office reported earlier on Monday that security forces had foiled a terror attack plotted by a Nazi ideology supporter on an assignment from Ukraine’s intelligence in the North Caucasus.

During the search of the suspect’s residence, FSB operatives seized means of terror ready for use, the press office said.

Investigators have opened a criminal case under part 1, article 30 and part 2, article 205 of Russia’s Criminal Code ("A Terror Act Plotted by a Group of Individuals on Conspiracy or by an Organized Group"), the FSB press office said.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled a terror attack plotted by a Nazi ideology supporter on an assignment from Ukraine’s intelligence in the North Caucasus, the FSB press office reported on Monday.

"In January this year, Russia’s Federal Security Service foiled an attempt by a Nazi ideology supporter and a Russian national to commit a terror-related crime on the territory of the North Caucasian Federal District, which he plotted on an assignment from the Ukrainian intelligence services," the press office said in a statement.

During the search of the suspect’s residence, FSB operatives seized means of terror ready for use, it said.

As the FSB press office reported, "during the questioning, the criminal confessed to his unlawful intentions."

Investigators have opened a criminal case under part 1, article 30 and part 2, article 205 of Russia’s Criminal Code ("A Terror Act Plotted by a Group of Individuals on Conspiracy or by an Organized Group"), the FSB press office said.

LIVE UPDATES - Russian Troops Advancing in All Areas of Donbass Front Line

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin
©Yegor Aleyev/TASS

Russian troops are advancing practically in all the areas of the front line in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), acting DPR Head Denis Pushilin said in a live broadcast on the Rossiya-24 television channel on Monday.

"(Russian forces) are advancing practically in all the areas of the front line," he said, replying to a corresponding question from the news presenter.

The DPR territorial defense headquarters reported earlier on Monday that Russian troops had liberated the communities of Krasnopolyevka and Dvurechye near Soledar.

DPR leader Pushilin said in an interview with TASS on December 7 that almost 340 communities had been liberated in the republic since February 2022.

The situation along the line of engagement in Donbass escalated on February 17 last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics for assistance he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine. The Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics launched an operation to liberate their territories under Kiev’s control.

Kremlin says partial call-up in Russia completed, decree still valid for other purposes

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree on the nationwide partial mobilization is still in effect because it stipulates not only a required number of reservists during the call-up stage, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"The call-up stage within the partial mobilization was conducted until the required number [of reservists] was drafted…, and this objective was achieved, meaning that the call-up of citizens was halted, that is, completed," he said in response to a question during his news briefing on why the presidential decree on the countrywide partial mobilization was still in force.

However, Peskov continued, "besides the call-up of citizens for military service, the partial mobilization included other measures as well, which are necessary to meet the objectives of the armed forces. It all concerns the implementation of duties of military servicemen," as well as the implementation of a classified provision of the decree on the partial mobilization and so forth.

"We have some work to do in this sphere," Peskov added having refused to dwell on details of the classified provision on the Russian president’s decree on the partial mobilization.

Artur Gaiduk, a lawmaker with the Pskov Region’s Council, earlier turned to the Russian Presidential Administration and then published a response claiming that the presidential order on the partial mobilization was still in force although it should have ended on October 28, 2022.

Addressing a news briefing last Friday regarding the presidential decree of the partial mobilization, Peskov said: "The most important thing is that I call on you once again to be guided by the relevant statements made by President Putin."

On September 21, 2022, President Vladimir Putin declared a partial mobilization throughout Russia. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu clarified that 300,000 reservists would be called up, who would undergo training before being sent to the special military operation zone.

The partial mobilization would not involve students and conscripts. Only citizens who had prior combat experience and military specializations needed for the operation would be mobilized. The defense chief emphasized that the call-up was carried out first and foremost for control over the territories liberated during the special military operation.

On October 28, 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President Putin that the partial mobilization campaign, which had kicked off on September 21, 2022, was over. According to Shoigu, 300,000 people were called up and there are no plans for additional tasks in terms of the partial mobilization.

Special operation, January 22. The main thing:

The Russian military carried out offensive operations in the Zaporozhye direction and occupied more advantageous positions and lines there, destroying up to 85 Ukrainian servicemen and 6 pieces of equipment, the RF Ministry of Defense reported; font-style: italic;">

Russian military and volunteers inflicted fire damage on enemy units in the areas of four settlements in the DPR, destroying more than 80 Ukrainian military;

In the Kupyansky and Krasnolimansky directions, Kyiv lost more than 130 people in a day, the RF Ministry of Defense reported;

Residential houses of the civilian population of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region came under shelling by Ukrainian troops, rescue operations are underway, the administration of Nova Kakhovka said;

One woman died and one was injured due to the shelling of Kakhovka by Ukrainian troops;

State Duma Speaker Volodin said that the supply of offensive weapons by the West to Kyiv will lead to a global catastrophe and retaliatory measures by the Russian Federation using more powerful weapons;

The leader of the French movement "Patriots" Filippo called a shameful farce the situation in which Zelensky demands supplies of weapons from France, and wished that this "farce" would stop;

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy Tajani said that the total volume of Italian military assistance to Ukraine amounted to about a billion euros, adding that the assistance would be continued;

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell told the media that Germany is a country that in many ways does not allow the EU to make decisions on the supply of tanks to Ukraine.

Langka Kelahiran Jepang- Kishida Sekarang Atau Tidak Pernah Sama Sekali Tingkatkan Populasi

Perdana Menteri Jepang Fumio Kishida terlihat di monitor kamera TV ketika dia menyampaikan pidato kebijakannya pada hari pertama sesi biasa di majelis rendah parlemen di Tokyo, Jepang 23 Januari 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Perdana Menteri Jepang Fumio Kishida berjanji pada hari Senin untuk mengambil langkah-langkah mendesak untuk mengatasi tingkat kelahiran yang menurun di negara itu, dengan mengatakan itu "sekarang atau tidak sama sekali" untuk masyarakat tertua di dunia.

"Bangsa kita berada di titik puncak apakah dapat mempertahankan fungsi sosialnya," kata Kishida dalam pidato kebijakan pada pembukaan sesi parlemen tahun ini.

"Sekarang atau tidak sama sekali ketika menyangkut kebijakan tentang kelahiran dan membesarkan anak - ini adalah masalah yang tidak bisa menunggu lebih lama lagi," tambahnya.

Japan registered fewer than 800,000 births in 2022, with the figure dropping below that threshold eight years earlier than expected. (Photo by Wataru Ito)

Populasi Jepang turun 0,43% pada tahun 2022 karenanya Kishida bersumpah untuk membendung penurunan

Total populasi Jepang menyusut sebesar 0,43% atau sekitar 538.000 pada tahun 2022, perkiraan resmi menunjukkan, sekali lagi menyoroti tantangan demografis yang dihadapi ekonomi terbesar ketiga di dunia itu.

Perdana Menteri Fumio Kishida telah berjanji untuk menangani masalah kependudukan tahun ini, dengan kebijakan untuk meningkatkan kelahiran diharapkan menjadi agenda utama saat Diet bersidang minggu depan.

Menurut angka sementara yang dikeluarkan Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Komunikasi pada Jumat, total populasi negara itu adalah 124,77 juta pada 1 Januari, dibandingkan 125,308 juta pada hari yang sama pada 2022. Laju penurunan sedikit berkurang dari 2021, ketika populasi turun 0,6%.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to address Japan's population issue this year. (Photo by Wataru Ito)

Ada sekitar 36,21 juta orang berusia 65 tahun atau lebih dalam hitungan terakhir, yang merupakan 29% dari total.

Sementara itu, 14,45 juta anak dalam kelompok usia 0-14 hanya menyumbang 11,6% dari populasi.

Penuaan yang cepat di negara ini menyebabkan beban keuangan yang lebih besar pada sistem jaminan medis dan sosial, sementara populasi muda yang menurun menimbulkan masalah bagi angkatan kerja.

Populasi Jepang memuncak pada tahun 2008 di lebih dari 128 juta. Bahkan sebelum puncaknya, pemerintah berusaha mengatasi rendahnya angka kelahiran dengan berbagai langkah dukungan, namun jumlah bayi baru lahir terus menurun.

Perkiraan terbaru yang dirilis Jumat menunjukkan populasi anak usia 0-4 tahun adalah 4,22 juta. Itu sekitar dua pertiga dari jumlah orang dalam kelompok usia 20-24, yaitu 6,24 juta.

Angka terbaru datang beberapa hari setelah China melaporkan penurunan populasi pertamanya dalam enam dekade, yang semakin menggarisbawahi ancaman demografis Asia Timur.

Ketika Jepang memulai sesi parlemen biasa pada hari Senin, Kishida dijadwalkan menyampaikan pidato kebijakan yang kemungkinan akan menekankan langkah-langkah untuk mempromosikan pengasuhan anak.

Mengatasi penurunan kelahiran adalah "tantangan besar tahun ini," kata Kishida dalam konferensi pers Tahun Baru pada 4 Januari, mencatat bahwa kelahiran turun di bawah 800.000 pada tahun 2022 - delapan tahun lebih awal dari Institut Penelitian Kependudukan dan Jaminan Sosial Nasional. mengharapkan.

Kishida telah berjanji untuk menciptakan "ekonomi dan masyarakat yang mengutamakan anak-anak" untuk membalikkan tren tersebut.

Perdana Menteri Fumio Kishida mengatakan pada hari Senin bahwa Jepang menghadapi lingkungan keamanan yang paling parah di kawasan itu sejak akhir Perang Dunia II dan berjanji untuk mendorong pembangunan militer di bawah strategi keamanan yang baru diadopsi selama lima tahun ke depan dan seterusnya serta menangani kelahiran yang menurun dengan cepat. sehingga negara dapat mempertahankan kekuatan nasional.

Pemerintah Kishida pada bulan Desember mengadopsi reformasi keamanan dan pertahanan utama, termasuk kemampuan serangan balik yang membuat terobosan dari prinsip negara pascaperang yang hanya membela diri secara eksklusif. Jepang mengatakan penyebaran pencegat rudal saat ini tidak cukup untuk mempertahankannya dari kemajuan senjata yang cepat di China dan Korea Utara.

Dalam pidato kebijakannya yang membuka sesi parlemen tahun ini, Kishida mengatakan diplomasi aktif harus diprioritaskan, tetapi membutuhkan “kekuatan pertahanan untuk mendukungnya.” Dia mengatakan strategi keamanan baru Jepang didasarkan pada simulasi realistis “saat kita menghadapi lingkungan keamanan yang paling parah dan kompleks sejak akhir Perang Dunia II dan pertanyaan apakah kita dapat melindungi nyawa orang dalam keadaan darurat.”

Strategi ini berupaya untuk mengendalikan ambisi teritorial China yang semakin tegas, tetapi juga menjadi masalah sensitif bagi banyak negara di Asia yang menjadi korban agresi masa perang Jepang. Kishida mengatakan ini adalah "perubahan haluan drastis" dari kebijakan keamanan Jepang, tetapi masih dalam batasan konstitusi pasifis dan hukum internasionalnya.

“Saya tegaskan bahwa tidak akan ada perubahan sedikit pun dari prinsip non-nuklir dan hanya pertahanan diri Jepang dan langkah kami sebagai negara yang cinta damai,” kata Kishida.

Bulan ini, Kishida melakukan tur ke lima negara, termasuk Washington, untuk menjelaskan rencana pertahanan baru Jepang dan mengembangkan lebih jauh hubungan pertahanan dengan sekutunya, Amerika Serikat.

Russian Orthodox Church labels Quran burning in Sweden as ‘unacceptable vandalism’

Head of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Relations between the Church, Society and the Media Vladimir Legoyda
© Vitaly Smolnikov/TASS

Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Society and Mass Media Relations Vladimir Legoyda on Sunday criticized the recent burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden.

"The Quran burning near the Turkish embassy in Sweden is an act of unacceptable vandalism," he said on Telegram. "One shouldn’t spit at something that’s sacred for another person. One shouldn’t as part of political struggle cross the boundaries of humaneness and desecrate holy things."

The Saturday’s burning of the holy book was carried out by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the far-right political party Hard Line. Paludan also criticized NATO, Turkey and its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Russian Muslim community earlier also condemned the burning.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey condemn burning of holy Quran copy in Sweden

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned and denounced the burning of a copy of the holy Quran in front of the Turkey embassy in Stockholm by an extremist, which was allowed by the Swedish authorities.

In a statement, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Kingdom's position of promoting values such as dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and rejecting extremism and hatred.

Meanwhile, Turkish officials also condemned the Quran-burning protest and Swedish authorities for allowing it.

“Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ is completely unacceptable. This is an outright hate crime,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara after the leader of the far-right Danish party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Rasmus Paludan, burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish embassy building in Stockholm.

The Stockholm Police Department said Paludan had been permitted to hold a demonstration near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.

In response to the Swedish authorities' act of granting permission for protests in Stockholm, Turkey also announced the cancellation of the Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's visit to Ankara, which was scheduled to take place on January 27th.

Sweden criticizes Quran burning in Stockholm, but defends granting permission

Sweden has criticized the burning of a copy of the Quran by a Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist in Stockholm, but defended its decision to allow the planned act to go ahead.

In a Twitter post on late Saturday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate."

“Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today,” he said.

Likewise, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Twitter: “Islamophobic provocations are appalling. Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish Government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.”

The leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line), was granted permission by the Swedish government to burn the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.

In response to Sweden's permission, Ankara canceled Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's upcoming visit to Türkiye.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Swedish Ambassador to Ankara Staffan Herrstrom, who was told that Türkiye "strongly condemns this provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime, that Sweden's attitude is unacceptable, that Ankara expects the act not to be allowed, and insults to sacred values cannot be defended under the guise of democratic rights."

No Reaction From Vatican to the burning of Quran in Sweden

Since the first time until yesterday then the burning of Quran by Paludan, there has been no statement at all from the Pope of the Vatican