Russia MFA to consider proposal for annulment of 1921 Treaty of Moscow with Turkey

February 10, 2016 By administrator

russia turkey 1921 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia will examine the State Duma MPs’ proposal to annul the friendship treaty with Turkey.

Russian MFA representative Maria Zakharova informed the aforesaid, according to RIA Novosti news agency of the country.

“The request will be examined as to what specifically is proposed,” Zakharova said at Wednesday’s briefing. “Accordingly, everything will be done in accordance with the specified procedure.”

As reported earlier, Russian State Duma members Valery Rashkin and Sergei Obukhov petitioned to President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and proposed to sever the brotherhood and friendship treaty (Treaty of Moscow), which the then Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (Bolshevist Russia) and Turkey had signed in 1921.

In their respective letter, the said Russian MPs point to the consistency in Turkey’s aggressive behavior.

Pursuant to the 1921 Treaty of Moscow, most of Kars Province, southern part of former Batumi Province, and Surmalu District—along with Mount Ararat—of Yerevan Province were given to Turkey.

EU ‘Should Ask Russia for Help Instead of Kneeling in Front of Ankara’

February 8, 2016 By administrator

gagrulenet illustration

Russia proved to be a key player in the resolution of the Syrian conflict. If Europe is going beg anyone for help, it should be Moscow, rather than the Turkish government, German newspaper Tagesspiegel wrote.

Europe does not realize that “falling on its knees” in front of Erdogan in a desperate attempt to resolve the current refugee crisis is absolutely useless, the article said.

“Today, Angela Merkel is once again talking to Ankara about refugees from Syria. But maybe Putin would be the right person to talk to instead,” the newspaper wrote.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss their assistance in the resolution of the refugee crisis for the third time this year.

While European states are “kissing Erdogan’s feet,” Turkey has a great opportunity to voice any conditions and requirements, which makes Europeans nervous.

Merkel’s visit to Turkey is nothing more than direct proof of her despair. The sad truth is, however, that neither Merkel, nor Erdogan and Davutoglu are able to resolve the current immigration crisis, given its scale, the newspaper wrote.

According to Tagesspiegel, Western countries were silently watching the events in Syria, convincing themselves that the conflict in the Middle East has nothing to do with them.

Now that the Syrian crisis has resulted in a huge wave of refugees, Merkel and other politicians are unable to cope with such a huge challenge.

A more effective solution for Europe would be a partnership with Russia, which has established itself as a key player in the Middle East region, the article said.

If Europe has to beg for help, maybe it should “fall on its knees in front of Vladimir Putin” rather than Erdogan who will prove useless in the resolution of the current crisis anyways, the newspaper concluded.

Russia mulls annulling 1921 Treaty of Brotherhood with Turkey

February 8, 2016 By administrator

205524 Members of Russia’s State Duma have sent a letter to the country’s leadership and the Foreign Ministry proposing to denounce the Moscow Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood, TASS reports citing Izvestia daily.

Valery Rashkin and Sergei Obukhov from the Communist Party faction propose annulling the treaty, signed on March 16, 1921, by the government of Soviet Russia (RSFSR) and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

“We should consider a legal review of all Russian-Turkish agreements that are unfavorable for our country and its allies. Ankara must understand what the escalation of conflict could be fraught with,” Obukhov told Izvestia.

Obukhov noted that “two of the three South Caucasian republics – Georgia and Armenia – did not recognize the treaty considering it unfair. We should realize that in 1921 the Bolshevik (Soviet) government was literally hanging by a single thread, with foreign intervention and civil war continuing. Under those circumstances, Soviet Russia could not impose more favorable terms of the treaty on Turkey,” the parliamentarian said.

The newspaper notes that under the treaty “the former Kars region and the southern part of the former Batumi region that were part of the Russian Empire since 1878 as well as former Surmalin district of Erivan Governorate that formed part of the Russian Empire since 1828 with Mount Ararat were ceded to Turkey.”

«Известия»: В Госдуме подготовили обращение о расторжении Московского договора о дружбе и братстве от 1921 года

TASS. Russian lawmakers suggest annulling 1921 treaty of friendship with Turkey

Saudi military intervention in Syria amounts to war: Russian deputy

February 5, 2016 By administrator

A Russian deputy has warned Saudi Arabia that any military ground operation in Syria without the Damascus government’s consent amounts to a declaration of war.

“Syria has to give official consent, to invite, otherwise it will be a war. The same applies to international law,” Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the State Duma committee, told Interfax on Friday.

Krasheninnikov said that by promising a ground operation in Syria Riyadh now “intends to send troops to the territory of a sovereign state essentially without declaring a war.”

Saudi Arabia on Thursday voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition allegedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby also welcomed the Saudi decision.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the so-called US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against what are claimed to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria without any authorization from the Syrian government or a UN mandate since September 2014.

The US-led strikes have on many occasions targeted infrastructures and left many civilians dead.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said during an interview in March 2015 that the US-led military campaign does not aim to “do away” with the terror group.

Washington and its regional allies, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have been backing militants fighting against the Syrian government and people. Since the Syria conflict started in 2011, they have been providing military and financial aid to the militants who are accused of widespread war crimes and crimes against civilians.

Lavrov: Russia won’t forgive Turkey’s “aiding and abetting terrorists”

February 4, 2016 By administrator

Moscow will not forgive Turkey’s aiding and abetting terrorists but will stay friendly towards the Turkish people, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Italy’s Limes magazine, the news agency TASS reports.
Turkey’s denial of observation flight hinders efforts to overcome crisis Russia insists on closing Turkish-Syrian border — FM Syrian Foreign Ministry says Turkish artillery shelled Latakia’s outskirt in Syria Turkey gave no proof of alleged violation of its airspace by Russian warplane — general Russia waiting for explanation from NATO over shelling of Syrian territory from Turkey “We will not forgive this aiding and abetting terrorists,” he said. “But we have never put an equal mark between some of the current ruling establishment that bear direct responsibility for the death of our servicemens in Syria, and our old and reliable friends among the Turkish people.” The Russian top diplomat stressed that anti-terrorism efforts, as well as Syrian settlement are of principal importance for Russia.
“That is why the attack of the Turkish air force on the Russian bomber cannot change our approaches,” he said.
“If Turkey’s provocation was meant to achieve this goal, its inventors have obviously failed.” According to the Russian diplomat, after Turkey’s attack on the Russian Su-24 bomber in November a moment of truth arrived in the fight against terrorism. “Ankara’s move was an unprecedented challenge for the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said. “It is evident that such actions could not but impact the Russian-Turkish relations, and the confidence for Turkey as a partner has been seriously shattered,” Lavrov said.

Turkish Nationalists, Syrian Turkmens, Russian Jets & the Battle for Bayırbucak

February 1, 2016 By administrator

Turkish Terrorist, Alparslan Çelik

By Christoph Germann,

Alleged killer of Russian pilot mourns MHP official killed by Russian airstrikes,

Within hours after the first Russian airstrikes in Syria, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Western journalists began to explain why Russia’s intervention “is doomed to fail.”[1][2] A few days later, Western media gleefully announced that Russia’s intervention has failed.[3]

But four months into Russia’s Syria campaign, it is now becoming increasingly difficult to deny that the Kremlin is actually pursuing a viable military strategy in Syria. Therefore, Western media has recently resorted to explaining why it is a bad thing that the Russian airstrikes are working.[4]

Especially in terms of the situation on the Syrian-Turkish border, Russia’s intervention has been a game-changer. Thanks to Russian air support, Syria is able to exert control over parts of its own border for the first time in years.

Whereas Syrian aircraft refrained from conducting airstrikes close to the Turkish border for fear of being shot down,[5] Russian aircraft have not been deterred by Turkey’s efforts to protect its proxies in northern Syria.

Last November, Ankara summoned the Russian Ambassador and warned Moscow that the continued bombing of Syrian Turkmens “could lead to serious consequences.”[6]

Shortly thereafter, just as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was meeting with high-level Turkish officials to discuss the issue,[7] Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian jet over Latakia’s Turkmen-populated Bayırbucak region.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated, it is doubtful that NATO member Turkey made this momentous decision on its own.[8]

The Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber aircraft was ambushed on its way to a target about five miles south of the important Yayladagi border crossing that has been used by the Turks to slip jihadists into Syria. The Syrian Turkmens who occupy this sparsely populated area in northwestern Syria are sympathetic to al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra and harbor Turkish-backed Chechen terrorists.[9]

True to form, the “moderate Turkmen rebels” did their best to kill the two Russian pilots after they managed to eject from their jet. Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov was shot dead while parachuting to the ground whereas Captain Konstantin Murakhtin could be rescued by special forces.[10]

Nevertheless, “Syrian rebel leader” Alparslan Çelik and his men boasted of killing both pilots.[11]

As Çelik’s interview went viral, it was quickly discovered that the Turkmen militia leader is actually a Turkish citizen with an ultranationalist background. His father Ramazan Çelik served as mayor for the far-right National Movement Party (MHP) in the eastern Turkish province of Elazig

and Alparslan himself is a member of the Grey Wolves, the paramilitary youth wing of the MHP.[12]

Both the MHP and the Grey Wolves have close ties to Turkish and U.S.-NATO intelligence going back to the days of Operation Gladio.[13]

The increasing involvement of Turkish nationalist and Islamist organizations in supporting “Turkmen rebels” in Syria has been extensively documented [14] but the crucial role played by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and agents like Heysem Topalca is often being omitted.[15]

Despite all Turkish efforts, Turkmen militias have now lost control of most of Latakia’s Bayırbucak region,[16] prompting a few hundred Turkmen refugees to cross into Turkey via the contested Yayladagi border post.[17]

Much to dismay of the Turkish authorities, the downing of the Su-24 didn’t stop Russia from striking targets close to the Turkish border, quite the contrary.[18] This has enabled Syrian government forces to make significant progress on the ground.

To make matters worse for Ankara, Turkmen sources told Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Şafak that Russia is preparing to deploy S-400 anti-aircraft missiles in the former “rebel” stronghold Salma on Turkmen Mountain.[19]

The strategic town was captured by government forces in mid-January “thanks to the support of the friendly Russian aviation” after having been under opposition control since 2012.[20]

Although the battle for Bayırbucak has already taken a heavy toll on all sides, the Turkish government is not willing to back down.

On 27 January, Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) reaffirmed its support for “the Turkmens in Northwestern Syria who are being targeted by the Russian airstrikes.”[21]

On the very same day, hundreds of people gathered at Istanbul’s Fatih Mosque to attend the funeral of MHP official Ibrahim Küçük. The former deputy chairman of the MHP’s Fatih district office was recently killed by Russian airstrikes while fighting in Latakia.

As Küçük’s hearse left for the cemetery, many people raised their hands making the grey wolf sign and some shouted: “Killer Russia, get off of Turkmen Mountain.”

Among the funeral’s attendees were not only many leading MHP figures but also Turkmen militia leader Alparslan Çelik who described Küçük as a friend and told reporters that they had been

fighting together in the Bayırbucak region. Çelik emphasized that he can move freely between Turkey and Syria and that he will return to the battlefield very soon.[22]

One day after the funeral, Çelik gave an interview to Doğan News Agency, in which he criticized the Turkish government for not doing enough to support the Turkmens and insisted that he is not afraid of the Russians who are reportedly looking for revenge.[23]

At the end of last year, Moscow called on Turkey to arrest Çelik after the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet had published a similar interview.[24] As the battle for Bayırbucak continues, this looks highly unlikely but Çelik would be well advised to stay away from both Syria and Istanbul for the future.[25]

# # # #

Christoph Germann- BFP Contributing Author & Analyst Christoph Germann is an independent analyst and researcher based in Germany, where he is currently studying political science. His work focuses on the New Great Game in Central Asia and the Caucasus region. You can visit his website here

Notes

[1] “Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Carter in the Pentagon Briefing Room,” U.S. Department of Defense, 30 September 2015: http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/621301/department-of-defense-press-briefing-by-secretary-carter-in-the-pentagon-briefi.

[2] Max Fisher, “Why Putin is doomed to fail in Syria,” Vox, 1 October 2015: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/1/9431773/putin-russia-syria-doomed.

[3] Louisa Loveluck, “Russia ‘reducing air strikes against Syrian rebels’ as intervention fails,” The Telegraph, 16 October 2015: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11934564/Russia-reducing-air-strikes-against-Syrian-rebels-as-intervention-fails.html.

[4] Liz Sly, “Russian airstrikes are working in Syria – enough to put peace talks in doubt,” The Washington Post, 19 January 2016: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-airstrikes-are-working-in-syria–enough-to-put-peace-talks-in-doubt/2016/01/19/64127084-beb2-11e5-98c8-7fab78677d51_story.html.

[5] “Turkey downs Syria military jet ‘in airspace violation,’” BBC, 23 March 2014: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26706417.

[6] Ercan Gurses, Daren Butler, Richard Balmforth and David Dolan, “Turkey summons Russian envoy over bombing of Turkmens in Syria: PM,” Reuters, 20 November 2015: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-russia-idUSKCN0T91MO20151120.

[7] “US air force Gen Selva visits Ankara to discuss terror, Syria,” Daily Sabah, 23 November 2015: http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/11/23/us-air-force-gen-selva-visits-ankara-to-discuss-terror-syria.

[8] Rose Troup Buchanan, “Vladimir Putin claims US ‘leaked’ to Turkey the flight path of downed Russian jet,” The Independent, 27 November 2015: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/putin-claims-us-leaked-flight-path-of-downed-russian-jet-to-turkey-a6750966.html.

[9] Andrew Cockburn, “Mountain Ambush,” Harper’s Magazine, 4 December 2015: http://harpers.org/blog/2015/12/mountain-ambush/.

[10] Neil MacFarquhar, “Navigator of Downed Russian Plane Says There Was No Warning,” The New York Times, 25 November 2015: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/26/world/europe/turkey-russia-jet.html.

[11] Adam Withnall, “Syrian rebels ‘shot dead Russian pilots as they descended in parachutes,’” The Independent, 24 November 2015: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-rebels-shot-dead-russian-pilots-as-they-descended-in-parachutes-a6746981.html.

[12] Johnlee Varghese, “Syria: Photos of Alparslan Celik, rebel leader from Turkey who shot Russian pilot, go viral,” International Business Times, 27 November 2015: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/syria-photos-alparslan-celik-rebel-leader-turkey-who-shot-russian-pilot-go-viral-656993.

[13] Desmond Fernandes and Iskender Ozden (2001), “United States and NATO inspired ‘psychological warfare operations’ against the ‘Kurdish communist threat’ in Turkey,” Variant, 2(12), pp. 10-16: http://www.variant.org.uk/pdfs/issue12/Fernandes.pdf.

[14] Sam Heller and S.G. Grimaldi, “A cause for all Turks: Turkey and Syria’s Turkmen rebels,” War on the Rocks, 21 January 2015: http://warontherocks.com/2016/01/a-cause-for-all-turks-turkey-and-syrias-turkmen-rebels/.

[15] Fehim Taştekin, “Wiretaps reveal Turkey’s attacks on Syrian regime positions,” Al-Monitor, 18 February 2015: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/02/turkey-syria-weapons-civil-war-kessab-armenian.html#.

[16] “Syrian Turkmen control only 3 of 73 villages in Bayır-Bucak,” Yeni Şafak, 27 January 2016: http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/syrian-turkmen-control-only-3-of-73-villages-in-bayir-bucak-2396707.

[17] Humeyra Pamuk, “Syrian Turkmens cross to Turkey, fleeing advances of pro-Assad forces,” Reuters, 29 January 2016: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkmens-idUSKCN0V720O.

[18] Kathrin Hille, Noam Raydan and Josh Noble, “Russia vows to continue Syria air strikes close to Turkish border,” Financial Times, 25 November 2015: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6bb618c8-9355-11e5-94e6-c5413829caa5.html.

[19] “Russia set to deploy S-400 missile system on Turkmen Mountain,” Yeni Şafak,” 28 January 2016: http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/russia-set-to-deploy-s-400-missile-systems-on-turkmen-mountain-2398288.

[20] Vladimir Isachenkov, “Syrian government thanks Russia for help capturing key town,” 22 January 2016: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-government-thanks-russia-help-capturing-key-town-131542247.html.

[21] “Turkey will continue to support Turkmens under Russian attacks in Syria: National Security Council,” Daily Sabah, 27 January 2016: http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/01/27/turkey-will-continue-to-support-turkmens-under-russian-attacks-in-syria-national-security-council.

[22] “Turkish fighter who allegedly killed Russian pilot in Syria attends funeral in Istanbul,” Today’s Zaman, 28 January 2016: http://www.todayszaman.com/national_turkish-fighter-who-allegedly-killed-russian-pilot-in-syria-attends-funeral-in-i-stanbul_410830.html.

[23] Haluk Turgut, “I have no fear of the Russians, says alleged killer of Russian pilot,” Doğan News Agency, 28 January 2016: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/i-have-no-fear-of-the-russians-says-alleged-turkmen-killer-of-russian-pilot.aspx?pageID=238&nID=94474&NewsCatID=352.

[24] “Russia demands arrest of Su-24 pilot’s murderer who gave interview to Turkish media,” Russia Today, 30 December 2015: https://www.rt.com/news/327494-russia-turkey-downed-jet/.

[25] Shaun Walker, “Murder in Istanbul: Kremlin’s hand suspected in shooting of Chechen,” The Guardian, 10 January 2016: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/murder-istanbul-chechen-kremlin-russia-abdulvakhid-edelgireyev.

‘Erdogan’s Worst Nightmare’: Russia and Syrian Kurds Working Together

February 1, 2016 By administrator

Fighters from the Kurdish People Protection Unit (YPG) monitor the horizon in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh

Fighters from the Kurdish People Protection Unit (YPG) monitor the horizon in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah

Russia’s engagement in Syria has ruined Erdogan’s regional aspirations and dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East, Germany’s public broadcasting radio station Deutschlandfunk asserted.

The media outlet referred to the Moscow-led counterterrorism campaign as a “game changer,” as well as a “major blow” to Ankara.

As soon as Russian planes flew on their first anti-Daesh missions, the Turkish leadership understood that their plans for Syria are no longer viable. “Establishing a no-fly zone in northern Syria is impossible. There will be no 120-kilometer-long and up to 20-kilometer-deep security zone on Turkey’s border” with the war-torn Arab country, Deutschlandfunk noted.

Moscow’s decision to launch a counterterrorism campaign following a formal request from Damascus “has rendered Erdogan’s policy in Syria largely ineffective,” the media outlet noted.

Russia’s contacts with the Syrian Kurds make the situation even worse: for Ankara this amounts to “a nightmare followed by a nightmare.”

The Turkish leadership views all Kurds as a threat to Turkey’s security and stability. This reasoning has been behind what Ankara calls a counterterrorism operation in the country’s southeastern regions, populated mostly by the Kurds. The ongoing military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has been condemned as a civil war and even a massacre.

Erdogan launched the operation after a two-year-long ceasefire collapsed in 2015 to pursue his own political agenda. He succeeded to an extent. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), founded by Erdogan, scored a major victory in the snap parliamentary elections held in November. But this policy could backfire since many view the operation against PKK militants as a “was against the Kurds,” the media outlet noted.

Russia launched its successful counterterrorism campaign in late September, while Turkey has been part of the US-led anti-Daesh coalition. However, Ankara has mostly focused its efforts on supporting rebels, who are fighting against forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and tackling the Kurds.

In addition, the Turkish leadership has failed to secure its porous border with Syria, which Daesh has used to smuggle fighters, weapons and supplies to the battlefield. This has prompted many to question Ankara’s stated commitment to fighting Daesh.

Source: sputniknews.com

Azerbaijan angered by Russian TV channel report on Karabakh

January 30, 2016 By administrator

A Russian military TV channel’s documentary dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh has spurred a wave of anger in Azerbaijan which disapproved of a wording describing the country as an independent state.
The docuemtnary was broadcast by the TV Channel Zvezda on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.
A corresponding footage, which was posted on the TV Channel’s website, featured the presidents of the two Armenian republics heading to the Military Pantheon Yerablur on January 28.
According to the Azerbaijani news agency APA, the country was particularly angered by the fact that Bako Sahakyan was referred as the president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

TURKEY The alleged murderer of Russian pilot says not to fear Moscow

January 29, 2016 By administrator

arton121518-471x450 The Turkish national accused by Moscow of killing a Russian military pilot said Friday in Istanbul do not be afraid of being targeted by Russian forces during his first public appearance since the beginning of the crisis between the two countries.
The Turkish press has released pictures Thursday of Alparslan Çelik attending the funeral in Istanbul Ibrahim Kucuk, a nationalist killed fighting alongside the rebels in Syria Turkmen.
It was the first public appearance

Life After Sanctions: Will Iranian Goods ‘Conquer’ Russian Market?

January 21, 2016 By administrator

While the Russian embargo on the food and other imports from Turkey is in place, Iranian producers are ready to replace Turkish products and export them to Russia.

Director of the Organization of Industry, Trade and Mines in the Iranian province of Mazandaran, Mohammad Mohammadpour, said that Iran can replace Turkey and become Russia’s key partner in the food and agricultural sector.

“Our climate enables farming all year around. That is confirmed by the figures: today Iran is among the ten largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world,” the economist said in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Persian.

According to him, Iran is holding leading positions in the production of pistachios, dates and saffron.

“We are proud of the fact that our potential has not been exhausted,” Mohammadpour said.

In his opinion, Iran and Russia are not only friends, but real allies: the countries created a coalition on the basis of their strategic interests.

According to the economist, Iranian economic and business circles maintain constant contact with Russian top officials and look forward to a broad economic cooperation between the two countries.

The current political situation, namely Russia’s deteriorating relations with Turkey, plays a significant role in the rapprochement between the two countries. However, Mohammadpour argued, it is not a decisive factor for Iran’s willingness to expand cooperation with Russia.

“Those who say Iran is solely using the current political environment and seeking to conquer the Russian market in this way, are wrong. The history of relations between our peoples goes back to the distant past. We are geographically separated, but economically united by the Caspian Sea,” the economist argued.

Earlier, in an interview with Sputnik Persian, Hedayat Asghari, the executive director of the Iranian Trade Association, outlined the prospects of replacing Turkish fruit, meat and fish with Iranian produce in the Russian market.

Hedayat Asghari said that an Iranian delegation had already clinched a preliminary agreement with a Moscow-based wholesale company on the supply of Iranian fruits and vegetables to the Russian capital.