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Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to 5 years for corruption - The Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption and sentenced her to five years in prison Wednesday in the first of several corruption cases against her.

Suu Kyi, who was ousted by an army takeover last year, had denied the allegation that she had accepted gold and hundreds of thousands of dollars given her as a bribe by a top political colleague.

Her supporters and independent legal experts consider her prosecution an unjust move to discredit Suu Kyi and legitimize the military’s seizure of power while keeping the 76-year-old elected leader from returning to an active role in politics.

The daughter of Aung San, Myanmar’s founding father, Suu Kyi became a public figure in 1988 during a failed uprising against a previous military government when she helped found the National League for Democracy party. She spent 15 of the next 21 years under house arrest for leading a nonviolent struggle for democracy that earned her the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. When the army allowed an election in 2015, her party won a landslide victory and she became the de facto head of state. Her party won a greater majority in the 2020 polls.

She has already been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment in other cases and faces 10 more corruption charges. The maximum punishment under the Anti-Corruption Act is 15 years in prison and a fine. Convictions in the other cases could bring sentences of more than 100 years in prison in total.

“These charges will not have credibility other than in the eyes of the junta’s stacked courts (and the military’s supporters),” said Moe Thuzar, a fellow at the Yusof Ishak Institute, a Southeast Asian studies center in Singapore. “Even if there were any legitimate concerns or complaints about corruption by any member of an elected government, a coup and enforced military rule are certainly not the way to pursue such concerns.”

Myanmar

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News of Wednesday’s verdict came from a legal official who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to release such information. Suu Kyi’s trial in the capital, Naypyitaw, was closed to the media, diplomats and spectators, and her lawyers were barred from speaking to the press.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in the 2020 general election, but lawmakers were not allowed to take their seats when the army seized power on Feb. 1, 2021, arresting Suu Kyi and many senior colleagues in her party and government. The army claimed it acted because there had been massive electoral fraud, but independent election observers didn’t find any major irregularities.

The takeover was met with large nonviolent protests nationwide, which security forces quashed with lethal force that has so far led to the deaths of almost 1,800 civilians, according to a watchdog group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

As repression escalated, armed resistance against the military government grew, and some U.N. experts now characterize the country as being in a state of civil war.

Suu Kyi has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since she was detained and is being held in an undisclosed location. However, at last week’s final hearing in the case, she appeared to be in good health and asked her supporters to “stay united,” said a legal official familiar with the proceedings who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to release information.

In earlier cases, Suu Kyi was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on convictions of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions and sedition.

In the case decided Wednesday, she was accused of receiving $600,000 and seven gold bars in 2017-18 from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, the country’s biggest city and a senior member of her political party. Her lawyers, before they were served with gag orders late last year, said she rejected all his testimony against her as “absurd.”

The nine other cases currently being tried under the Anti-Corruption Act include several related to the purchase and rental of a helicopter by one of her former Cabinet ministers. Violations of the law carry a maximum penalty for each offense of 15 years in prison and a fine.

Suu Kyi is also charged with diverting money meant as charitable donations to build a residence, and with misusing her position to obtain rental properties at lower-than-market prices for a foundation named after her mother. The state Anti-Corruption Commission has declared that several of her alleged actions deprived the state of revenue it would otherwise have earned.

Another corruption charge alleging that she accepted a bribe has not yet gone to trial.

Suu Kyi is also being tried on a charge of violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, and on a charge alleging election fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.

“The days of Aung San Suu Kyi as a free woman are effectively over. Myanmar’s junta and the country’s kangaroo courts are walking in lockstep to put Aung San Suu Kyi away for what could ultimately be the equivalent of a life sentence, given her advanced age,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “Destroying popular democracy in Myanmar also means getting rid of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the junta is leaving nothing to chance.”

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Russia will shut off gas supplies to Poland, state-run company says - CNN

London (CNN Business)In a dramatic escalation of tensions with the West, Russian energy giant Gazprom informed Poland's state-run gas firm PGNiG said that it will "entirely suspend" gas supplies along the Yamal pipeline starting Wednesday morning, PGNiG said in a statement on Tuesday.

"On April 26, Gazprom informed PGNiG of its intention to entirely suspend deliveries under the Yamal contract at the beginning of the contract day on April 27," the statement read.

The news sent US natural gas futures up about 3% Tuesday.

Gazprom did not confirm that the supply of Russian gas to Poland had been stopped, Russian state news agency TASS reported Tuesday, citing the company's spokesperson Sergey Kupriyanov.

Kupriyanov, however, emphasized that Poland must pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles, a demand Warsaw has refused.

Russia delivered an ultimatum last month to "unfriendly" nations that they must pay for their energy in rubles starting April 1 or risk being cut off from vital supplies. But the flow of gas has continued.

The Kremlin said payments for gas being delivered at the time of its announcement would fall due toward the end of April or the beginning of May, which is why Russia didn't immediately shut off the flow of gas to Europe.

President Vladimir Putin's high-stakes threat has sent shockwaves through Europe, which cannot keep its economy running for long without Russian energy. Moscow sent a clear signal that it could at some point reduce natural gas flows — perhaps to deter or respond to even tougher Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

PGNiG said it's prepared to obtain gas from various directions, including through gas connections on its western and southern borders and the liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) in the northwest port city of Swinoujscie.

It also said its underground gas storage is almost 80% full.

"The balance sheet is supplemented by domestic gas production and fuel reserves accumulated in underground gas storage facilities. Currently, the warehouse filling level is around 80 percent and is significantly higher than in the corresponding period in previous years," it added.

The Polish gas firm said that currently all deliveries to customers are carried out in accordance with their needs, adding that the company is monitoring the situation and is prepared for various scenarios.

Poland's Climate Minister Anna Moskwa affirmed on Tuesday that there will be no shortage of gas in Poland despite the Russian halt of exports.

"Poland has the necessary gas reserves and sources of supply that protect our security - we have been effectively independent of Russia for years," she said in a tweet.

"There will be no shortage of gas in Polish homes," the minister wrote.

-- CNN's Anna Odzeniak and Uliana Pavlova contributed to this report

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Ukraine wants UN to oversee evacuations from Mariupol steel plant - Fox News

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Ukraine on Monday is calling for the United Nations to oversee any safe evacuation route from a steel factory in Mariupol where officials say up to 1,000 civilians are hiding. 

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk made the plea after rejecting that an agreement was made with Moscow to establish a humanitarian corridor out of the Azovstal steel plant, which continues to come under attack by the Russian military, Reuters reports. 

Ukraine wants the U.N. "to be the initiator and guarantor of the humanitarian corridor from Azovstal for civilians," Reuters quoted Vereshchuk as saying Monday. 

A Ukrainian solider from the Azov Battalion and civilians gather on Orthodox Easter Sunday in this handout image at the Azovstal steel plant where soldiers are holding out and civilians sheltering.  (Azov/Handout via Reuters)

RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Moscow. 

Mariupol and the ongoing situation at the Azovstal plant will be among the topics discussed, Russian state media is reporting, citing its foreign ministry. 

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage at the Azovstal factory in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Sunday, April 24.  (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Earlier Monday, Russia said it would open up a humanitarian corridor at 2 p.m. local time for those trapped in the steel factory – but Ukraine later came out and said no deal had been agreed upon. 

"It is important to understand that a humanitarian corridor opens by the agreement of both sides," Vereshchuk reportedly wrote on Telegram. "A corridor announced unilaterally does not provide security, and therefore is not a humanitarian corridor." 

The Azovstal Iron and Steel Works factory in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday, April 22. (REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)

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Separately, Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said Monday that he believes a cease-fire would allow Ukraine’s armed forces to regroup. 

"We don't think that a ceasefire is a good option right now," he said, according to Reuters, but added that it is "not up to me to decide." 

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Greenpeace activists tried to block a Russian oil tanker heading to Norway - CNN

London (CNN Business)Norwegian police arrested seven Greenpeace activists on Monday after they chained themselves to a Russian oil tanker to try to prevent it docking at a port in Norway operated by Exxon.

The Ust Luga — loaded with Russian jet fuel worth $116 million — was on its way to Slagentangen port, about 53 miles south of the capital Oslo, when activists chained themselves to its anchor, Aud Hegli Nordø, a spokesperson for Greenpeace Nordic, told CNN.

The Slagen oil terminal is owned by Esso, a subsidiary of US oil giant ExxonMobil (XOM).

In a bid to block the tanker from docking, seven Greenpeace activists set off in boats across the Oslo Fjord waters and chained themselves to the anchor, said Nordø.

All were taken into police custody, in addition to several activists from climate action group Extinction Rebellion who joined the blockade, a spokesperson for Greenpeace confirmed to CNN. The ER activists were later released.

The Ust Luga is now docked in Slagen, according to tracking site Marine Traffic.

"The fact that our government still allows the import of Russian fossil fuels in the current situation is unfathomable," Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, said in a statement to CNN.

"I am shocked that Norway operates as a free port for Russian oil, which we know finances [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's warfare."

The Ust Luga tanker is registered in Hong Kong, according to Marine Traffic.

The vessel is operated by Russian gas producer Novatek, according to shipping data provider Lloyd's List Intelligence. Novatek's CEO and major shareholder is the oligarch Leonid Mikhelson, who CNN has previously reported as having close ties to Putin.

A police boat at the scene as members of Greenpeace stage a protest against the Ust Luga on Monday, April 25.

"The transport of oil from Russia is not itself a violation of the sanctions that currently apply in the EU or in Norway," Ane Haavardsdatter Lunde, a communications adviser for Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN in a statement. "The Norwegian authorities therefore have no legal basis to stop a delivery such as this."

"In areas outside the scope of the sanctions, it is the Government's view that each company must independently decide which actions it will take beyond those that comply with the existing legislation," she added.

Greenpeace is also demanding Esso cancel its contracts with Russia.

A spokesperson for ExxonMobil told CNN in a statement that deliveries of Russian fuel to Norway "are fulfilling contracts that were in place prior to the invasion."

"We have not made any new purchases of Russian products since the invasion, and there are no plans for future purchases," she said.

"We are fully complying with all sanctions, and we support the internationally coordinated efforts to bring Russia's unprovoked attack to an end," the spokesperson added.

A raft of energy companies exited Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in late February. BP (BP), Shell (SHLX) and Norwegian state oil company Equinor have stopped trading Russian oil or entering into new contracts.

Exxon, which had been operating in Russia for more than 25 years, pledged to pull out of its Sakhalin-1 venture — a vast oil and natural gas project located off Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East.

— Mark Thompson contributed to this report.

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US Officials Debate Sanctioning Putin's Gymnast Girlfriend: WSJ - The Daily Beast

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1. US Officials Debate Sanctioning Putin's Gymnast Girlfriend: WSJ  The Daily Beast
2. U.S. Withholds Sanctions on a Very Close Putin Associate: His Reputed Girlfriend  The Wall Street Journal
3. WSJ: US government is holding off on sanctioning Putin's rumored girlfriend  CNN
4. Calls mount for U.S. to sanction Vladimir Putin's rumored girlfriend Alina Kabaeva, Russia's "Secret First Lady"  CBS News
5. The US initially held back on sanctioning Putin's rumored girlfriend as it would be seen as too personal an escalation, report says  Yahoo News
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Biden to tap Bridget Brink as US ambassador to Ukraine -- two months after invasion - New York Post

President Biden plans to tap Bridget Brink to serve as the US ambassador to Ukraine, two months after Russia launched its brutal invasion of the nation, the White House announced Monday.

Brink, a veteran and US diplomat, currently serves as the ambassador to the Slovak Republic and has a long history of working in European and Eurasian Affairs. 

Her nomination was first indicated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over the weekend in a secretive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

If confirmed, Brink would be the first ambassador to Ukraine since Marie Yovanovitch was removed by former President Donald Trump in 2019. 

She has served in various positions with the US State Department including working as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs as well as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassies in Uzbekistan and Georgia. 

Brink, who hails from Michigan, holds Master’s degrees in International Relations and Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.

Bridget Brink’s nomination was first indicated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over the weekend in meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US Department of Defense Handout via EPA

Bridget Brink was reportedly President Biden’s pick in January, however, the administration was waiting on Ukraine’s approval.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Brink was reportedly Biden’s pick in January, ahead of the Feb. 24 invasion, however, the administration was waiting on Ukraine’s approval of his pick, according to CNN.

The nomination comes as the Administration expects to start the return of American diplomats to Ukraine this week. 

“The increased U.S. presence demonstrates our support for Ukraine and is part of the U.S. commitment to return our diplomats to our Embassy in Kyiv as soon as possible. This action will strengthen the Department’s ongoing commitment to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts and the delivery of assistance to the Government of Ukraine, while providing enhanced support to U.S. citizens,” the State Department said in a statement.   

A damaged Church in Lukashivka, near the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.

Petros Giannakouris/AP

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