Russia has said it is “invariably committed” to its principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, including that of Bangladesh. “States like Bangladesh, which shape their foreign and internal policy to serve their own national interests instead of following the lead of external powers, take the similar approach,” the Russian Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement today. Read more: Media pursues diplomats to speak on Bangladesh’s internal affairs: Momen The embassy said Russia fully supports the aspiration of countries to independently determine the ways of their further development and constitute a system not subject to neo-colonial methods. According to the UN Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the Protection of their Independence and Sovereignty, dated 1965: “No State has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other state.” Unfortunately, the statement said, in recent years (especially, after the Cold War ended), the issue of violating the principle of non-interference has become particularly relevant – as many believe that they can infringe on said principle for the sake of their own interests. “The hegemonic ambitions are most vividly displayed by the countries, which identify themselves as developed democracies,” said the Russian embassy. Not only they indulge in intervening in internal affairs of sovereign UN member states, but also resort to blatant blackmailing, illegal restrictions, etc., reads the statement. Read more: Diplomats’ interference in country’s internal affairs not acceptable: Agri minister The sovereignty of many countries is exposed to unprecedented risk, the Russian embassy said, adding: “There are various ways of interfering in domestic affairs, as evidenced by the Ad Hoc Commission on Protecting State Sovereignty of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in its 2017 report.” Such measures are manifold and include establishing or supporting controlled non-commercial organizations, working with educational institutions, use of media and social networks to shape public opinion, inciting protests and meddling in federal or regional elections, according to the statement. There are other instruments, which come in handy to counter the countries maintaining strategic independence and sovereign vision of a fair world order, it reads. Under the pretext of protecting “democratic values”, work is underway to interfere in the internal affairs of those who are out of favour with the states that consider themselves “rulers of the world,” said the Russian Embassy. “Such policy evidently results in undermining sustainability of the world order, brings chaos and havoc. The incomplete list includes Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan,” the statement reads.

Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday said there is no need for volunteers from Bangladesh to join the special military operation, noting that the operation is going according to the plan. The Embassy of Russia in Bangladesh has been receiving numerous letters from the Bangladeshi citizens who express their willingness to contribute on an "unpaid basis" to the "liberation movement" in Ukraine and Donbas. "We appreciate this noble urge of the Bangladeshi people. However, the special military operation is going according to the plan, with the Russian Armed Forces successfully achieving set goals and objectives," said the Embassy. Also read: Bangladesh to supply potato to Russia, says Russian Embassy With the aim to help friendly Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic, as well as to protect the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine, on February 24, 2022 Moscow launched the "special military operation". On March 11, Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, approved the initiative proposed by Sergey Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, to assist foreign volunteers who wish to join the operation on the Russian side to move to the combat zone, said the Russian Embassy. Also read: Don’t get trapped by traffickers, warns Embassy after deaths in Italy

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation has removed previously imposed restrictions and resumed the import of potato from Bangladesh, says the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Monday. The decision has been made based on the information provided by the competent Bangladeshi authorities responsible for quarantine and protection of plants, about the measures taken to prevent violations of the phytosanitary requirements of the Russian Federation and the Eurasian Economic Union member states. Also read: Bangladesh, UAE to boost cooperation during PM's visit The issues were discussed during the meetings of Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy with Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi as well as Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque concerning the expansion of the Bangladeshi export range of products, said the Embassy. Also read: Hadisur’s body kept in Ukraine, 5 youths still in detention centre: FM

Scores of school children discussed the consequences of war at an event at the Russian cultural centre in Dhaka on the occasion of International Day of Peace on Tuesday. The programme -- Why do we need peace --was organised by Russian House (Russian Centre of Science and Culture) in collaboration with Russian compatriots association Motherland, and online children and youth forum Dove of Peace. Apart from the local school children, their parents and teachers also took part in the programme. Read:UN awards 110 Bangladesh Navy members for peacekeeping

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said a letter is being sent to Russia to get Covid-19 vaccine.