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  • In unanimous court decision, South Korea’s president is ousted 
    by Anna Pratt on April 4, 2025 at 9:12 pm

    A large crowd of protesters erupted in cheers when the announcement came from South Korea's Constitutional Court. All eight of the judges on the court agreed that Yoon Suk-yeol had “violated the basic principles of a democratic state” and would be removed from office immediately. The country remains deeply divided politically. South Koreans will now vote for a new president in 60 days. The post In unanimous court decision, South Korea’s president is ousted  appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • Ukrainian military chaplains tend to soldiers and others at risk amid the ongoing fighting
    by Sara Hassan on April 4, 2025 at 8:24 pm

    Peace talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine appear to have stalled. But far away from the negotiation table, Russian aerial attacks continue — and Ukrainians still fear for their lives, including soldiers and military chaplains, who visit front-line areas for their work. The post Ukrainian military chaplains tend to soldiers and others at risk amid the ongoing fighting appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • Trump’s sweeping tariffs undermine decades-old global trade system
    by Lex Weaver on April 4, 2025 at 8:15 pm

    President Donald Trump's wide-ranging tariffs announced on Wednesday are designed to project strength, raise revenue for tax cuts and revive US manufacturing. But skeptics say the tariffs will pull the rug out from under a global trade system that — despite its flaws — has delivered prosperity for many global players for decades. Host Carolyn Beeler discusses the implications with Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, an international consulting firm. The post Trump’s sweeping tariffs undermine decades-old global trade system appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • How a deeply Buddhist Bhutan keeps religion and politics from mixing
    by Anna Pratt on April 4, 2025 at 8:01 pm

    Bhutan is officially a Buddhist kingdom. It's also a fledgling democracy trying to establish a balancing act to honor its Buddhist identity while maintaining a separation between religion and government. The compromise the country has settled on for now excludes clergy from political life.  The post How a deeply Buddhist Bhutan keeps religion and politics from mixing appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • Africa’s only Baha’i temple offers a rare respite in Uganda’s bustling capital
    by Anna Pratt on April 4, 2025 at 6:36 pm

    The Baha’i faith hasn't attracted many followers in Africa. But there is one Baha’i temple on the continent, located in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. It's one of the few green spaces in the city, and one of the quietest, too. The post Africa’s only Baha’i temple offers a rare respite in Uganda’s bustling capital appeared first on The World from PRX.

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  • Notorious ‘chessboard serial killer’ who brutally slaughtered 48 people poised to confess to 11 more murders
    by Annabel Bate on April 5, 2025 at 2:54 pm

    THE notorious “chessboard serial killer” who heinously executed 28 people is posed to confess to a shocking 11 more murders. Evil Alexander Pichushkin, 50, targeted mostly the homeless, alcoholics, or the elderly before bludgeoning them with a hammer. AFP - GettyAlexander Pichushkin, the Bitsevsky Maniac, is escorted into the courtroom of the Moscow City Court in Moscow, 2007[/caption] AFP - GettyPichushkin sits in the bullet-proof defendents’ cage as photographers are reflected on the cage’s glass[/caption] Alexey Maishev; Izvestia; EAST2WEST NEWSPichushkin compared killing people to ‘an orgasm’[/caption] Pichushkin “declared his readiness to confess to having committed 11 murders of men and women”, Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said. The murders were committed around Bitsevsky Park in Moscow – like his other victims. The monster had a killing spree that spanned from 1992 to 2006 before getting tried and jailed in 2007. He got his name as the “chessboard killer” as he chillingly told detectives he had plotted to put a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard, representing each of his victims. Pichushkin is currently serving multiple life sentences in Russia’s bleak Polar Owl jail in the Russian Arctic, where he is known to receive love letters from Russian women. Today’s announcement comes as a surprise as the killer first confessed to additional executions in a video recording nearly two decades ago. At the time, he said there were 12 additional killings, but now will confess to 11 more. The taped confession was kept secret at the time, but emerged publicly in 2021. In it, the maniac – handcuffed and wearing a T-shirt – said: “The Bitsa Maniac, as they call me, it is me. In fact I committed 61 murders. “Sixty of them in Bitsa Park and one in the city [Moscow]. “Most of the bodies I drowned in sewage wells. Why did I kill? “I don’t know. There was no sense in life for me without this.” His 2006 confession came after he was tricked into thinking he was speaking live at a press conference. Police had set up the session after he said he would only confess live on TV. Later he admitted in an interview from his top-security jail – from which he will never be freed – that each killing “brought me colossal pleasure. “It is comparable to an orgasm.” It was also revealed in 2021 that a victim who was attacked and left for dead in a sewer by Pichushkin had given cops his name and address after he had killed 24 people. Maria Viricheva was 18 in February 2002 when Pichushkin saw her in tears after a row with her boyfriend and pretended to comfort her. Her persuaded her to go with him into the park. East2WestVictim Maria Viricheva giving evidence against Chessboard Killer Alexander Pichushkin in 2006[/caption] East2WestNotorious Russian maniac Alexander Pichushkin, 50, the Chessboard Killer[/caption] Alexey Maishev; Izvestia; EAST2WEST NEWSEvil mass murderer Alexander Pichushkin behind bars[/caption] As they walked, he told her his name and address, and she realised she lived close to him. But Pichushkin had only one aim, which was to brutally kill her. She said: “I saw an open sewage well. “[Pichushkin] grabbed my hair and started banging my head against the iron well cover. “I knew… he would kill me.” She then let herself fall and crash a whopping 25ft into the sewage well. By a miracle, many hours later she managed to lift a manhole cover and scream for help. Maria was taken to hospital where she gave a policeman her attacker’s name and address. But the lazy cop – named Kalashnikov – was not interested in probing the attack on her. He promised to tell her boyfriend she was safe, and get him to bring some clothes for her, but only if she pretended she had fallen into the well. The policeman was later jailed for incompetence. AFPPicture taken 13 August 2007 shows Alexander Pichushkin in the bullet-proof glass defendants’ cage[/caption]

  • Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks
    by Patrick Harrington on April 5, 2025 at 2:21 pm

    THOUSANDS of anti-tourism protesters flooded the streets of Spain today as ringleaders called for sabotage against holidaymakers. Protesters were even urged to superglue the locks of holiday rentals to render them unusable and cause a nuisance. SolarpixA thick crowd of protesters march in Mallorca, with a sign reading: ‘Mallorca is not for sale’[/caption] SolarpixThese were the first organised mass anti-tourism protests of the year[/caption] SolarpixThousands lined the streets ahead of what is expected to be another summer of rage[/caption] These were the first mass anti-tourist protests of the year, following on from a string of furious demonstrations last summer. Huge crowds across 40 different Spanish cities took to the streets to send a clear message that holidaymakers are not wanted. The main issue addressed today was soaring rents and a lack of affordable homes. Brits have been a particular target of the protests in the past, as they are amongst the most loyal visitors to sunny spots like Majorca and Malaga. Radical activists blared their grievances to the angry masses lining the streets. They took aim at the “touristification” of Costa resorts. Organisers say that the booming industry causes problems for locals – such as squeezing them out of the property market. Lucia Vazquez, 23, who marched in Seville, said: “We feel defenceless because of tourism. They should start to control it more.” A spokesman for the protest group Malaga Is For Living said: “Everything over the last few decades has been done to turn the centre of Malaga into a tourist amusement park that only benefits a few.” Marta Orosa, another protestor, said: “Malaga’s city model is designed exclusively for tourists. Us locals, the cleaners, waitresses and other low-wage workers sustain the Costa del Sol brand.” And tourist guide Lina Castillo, 23, said: “I can’t find a flat anywhere on the coast for less than €900 (£760) and we’re talking 50 square metres.” After 2024’s summer of rage, plans for further mass protests in Spain have been brewing for months – with vows to again occupy beaches and “intensify” the hostility. An open letter penned in March urged holidaymakers to stay away from Spain. The letter read: “ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem. DO NOT COME.” Pere Joan is the spokesman and organiser for the Mallorca activist group Menys Turisme Més Vida – meaning “Less Tourism, More Life”. He told the Mirror: “We hope to do the same and occupy the beaches in places that have a mass of tourists.” The campaigner added: “We are demanding from local government to put restrictions on outsiders buying housing. We want taxes on empty houses. EPAPeople protesting against tourists in the Canary Islands[/caption] AFPFlag-waving local residents beat drums and blew whistles as they wandered along the shoreline in Playa de las Americas[/caption] GettyThousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies in Tenerife[/caption] “We want control of illegal Airbnbs. One of our demands is to decrease the number of planes that come to Majorca.” Joana Maria Estrany Vallespir, a leading member of an organisation called SOS Residents which co-wrote the letter, said: “This is like a war.” Speaking to The Telegraph, the fuming anti-tourism campaigner said: “We wanted to open the consciousness of tourists. “We ask them not to come because we cannot trust our politicians. We are trying to be polite, not aggressive, but we thought we had to say what we think.” There is a particular focus on sabotaging rental apartments this year, as locals attempt to reclaim control of the market. A message on a campaign site reads: “Please vandalise all the locks you see. Go super glue mad.” Below the post is a photo of several key boxes outside an apartment block in the Costa del Sol capital of Malaga. Anti-tourist marches have been going on across Spain since last summer

  • Sad truth behind bruised pic of Virginia Giuffre as she leads reclusive life after bitter split cut her off from kids
    by Annabel Bate on April 5, 2025 at 12:55 pm

    THE sad truth behind the bruised picture of Virginia Giuffre has been revealed as she leads a reclusive life following a bitter split from her husband that cut her off from her kids. The Prince Andrew accuser, 41, claimed she had “four days to live” after a horror 110kmph bus smash in Perth, Western Australia, and begged to see her kids “one last time”. instagramVirginia Giuffre claimed she has ‘four days to live’[/caption] Instagram/virginiarobertsrising11Virginia pictured with her husband Robert[/caption] instagramVirginia pictured with her children[/caption] Virginia’s family released a statement on Tuesday, appearing to confirm the horror smash and show support for her. The statement read: “Virginia thanks everyone for the outpouring of love and support. “She is overwhelmed with gratitude. Today she remains in serious condition while receiving medical care.” But doubt was first shared by cops on Virginia’s story when they revealed the collision was logged as a minor traffic incident, and that no injuries were reported. No charges were brought against either driver, they said, and the incident was only reported to cops the following day by the bus driver. This past week, various opposing accounts on what happened to Virginia have swirled, with the accuser even cruelly accused of being a “fantasist” by a pal of Prince Andrew. The parents of the kids on the bus involved in the crash have also spoken out, as well as the bus driver, suggesting that Virginia’s injuries couldn’t have been from the collision. And the driver of Virginia’s car, Cheryl Sassela, 71, also revealed her hopes that the Prince Andrew accuser would “clear it all up”. But now the sad truth behind the photo has been suggested to be linked to the breakdown of Virginia’s 22-year marriage to Robert Giuffre. Virginia used to credit her husband for saving her life and giving her the happy life that she had always wanted. An investigation by the Mail revealed that the couple’s toxic split – as well as her ongoing separation from her three children – has led to Virginia teetering on the edge of crisis. And, with Virginia now living thousands of miles away in Australia, her family in the US are deeply concerned over her welfare. A source told the paper: “She is so ashamed that she was able to bring down Epstein and Maxwell and yet was unable to find the strength to leave her unhappy marriage.” One of Virginia’s neighbour’s told the Mail: “She is not very friendly. If you don’t make yourself known here then it can be very lonely and she hasn’t really joined the community.” Meanwhile in the US, Virginia’s loving dad Sky Roberts has expressed fear over his daughter being “very depressed” and “in really bad shape”. He said: “There’s everything else she’s been going through with the divorce and not being able to see her kids. I’m hoping she can hang on. “She’s only 41. She’s got a lot of life to live.” And Virginia’s uncle, Jet Roberts, told the Mail that the family “are worried about her” and “care for her a great deal”. Another revealed that she is battling the ongoing crisis in her life, adding that there’s “a lot” going on. Before the car accident, Virginia was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order just days before the crash. PAPrince Andrew and Virginia in 2001[/caption] AFP or licensorsConvicted sex offender Epstein avoided justice after being found dead in his cell in 2019[/caption] AFPVirginia was sex trafficked as young girl by paedo Jeffrey Epstein[/caption] She entered no plea at the Joondalup Magistrates Court for the alleged breach on March 14 – ten days before the crash. She is due to appear in court again on April 9 for the next hearing, with a source close to her telling the newspaper that she “looks forward to defending herself against his malicious claim”. Her husband Robert Giuffre has also been charged with inadequate storage of guns in February of this year, as well as reckless driving for exceeding the speed limit by 27mph in September last year. The couple married after just ten days of knowing each other in 2002 but separated at the beginning of the year. Robert and Virginia’s three children are in the family home in Perth’s beachside Ocean Reef suburb. Meanwhile Virginia is living around a whopping 60km away in a rented country house which the family has visited in the past few years. In the couple’s last post together on Instagram, Virginia said Robert “rescued me from Epstein and Maxwell’s clutches”. Just a few weeks ago, Virginia took to social media to post pictures of her three children, adding the heartbreaking caption: “My beautiful babies have no clue how much I love them and they’re being poisoned with lies. “I miss them so very much. I have been through hell and back in my 41 years but this is incredibly hurting me worse than anything else. “Hurt me, abuse me but don’t take my babies. My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens.” Virginia accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17 while she travelled with Andrew’s paedo pals Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Three years ago, the disgraced Duke paid millions to the mum-of-three in an out-of-court settlement, while denying sexual assault accusations. Prince Andrew speaks during a television interview at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, in 2021 Facebook/Cheryl SassellaCheryl Sassela is the caretaker on Giuffre’s farm and was driving the car during the crash[/caption] Ross Munns was the driver of the school busRoss Munns was the driver of the school bus[/caption] Andrew was spared a humiliating court battle over claims he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. The settlement marked the first time he had shown contrition over his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell. He had previously defended his friendship with the paedo as having “seriously beneficial outcomes” away from the rape allegations. Virginia first sued Andrew in August 2021. It was the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011. She claims she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Andrew for the first time at Maxwell’s house in London after a night out at the club Tramp. Virginia also claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on at least two further occasions by Maxwell and Epstein. Her legal team argued she was a “frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her” when she was allegedly abused by Andrew, saying “no person, whether President or Prince, is above the law”. Virginia was seeking unknown amounts of compensation and punitive damages over the allegations.  She claims she feared for her life when she was allegedly forced to have sex with Andrew, who is accused of having been aware of her age and status as a “sex-trafficking victim”. The Duke has ignored repeated calls to tell US authorities what he knows about paedo Epstein’s criminal behaviour. In his notorious Newsnight interview five years ago, Andrew vowed to help the probe into Epstein and his warped madam Maxwell. It is hoped Andrew could unknowingly hold information that could lead investigators to the “last piece of the jigsaw” to expose the full extent of the couple’s twisted “sexual pyramid scheme“. But the royal has remained silent – and claimed he knew nothing of Epstein’s vile crimes despite their friendship. It’s understood he’s too scared to visit the US again amid fresh calls for an FBI probe. A lawyer who represented victims of Epstein told The Sun it would have been “impossible” for Andrew to not have known about his abuse. Spencer Kuvin said one of his clients said she saw the shamed Duke at a party that was flooded with underage girls. Mr Kuvin said the Duke has “absolutely no care for what the victims went through”. He added: “His quote, unquote, admitted friendship with a pedophile is despicable. “He’s someone not only do I not respect, but someone I think, quite frankly, should be shunned by society in general. “Not only because of how he’s acted in the past, but even until the present day. He doesn’t act with integrity.” In his infamous Newsnight interview, Andrew claimed he severed ties with Epstein in December 2010. He said he didn’t see or speak to Epstein after they were pictured strolling through Central Park in New York City shortly after the paedo was released from jail for child sex offences. But new emails between the pair emerged earlier this year from February 2011, two months after Andrew claimed they had ceased contact. In one, Andrew wrote: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon.” Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and has denied allegations made against him. Epstein took his own life in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors. Who is Virginia Giuffre? VIRGINIA Roberts - now Virginia Giuffre, 41, is an American-Australian campaigner and a prominent victim of the sex trafficking ring of Jeffrey Epstein. She has made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lover. Giuffre alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 63, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein. She released a manuscript just hours before Epstein’s death, which added to more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit pending against the former financier and his pals. The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times. In 2019, Virginia Roberts has claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club. On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit – sparing him a humiliating court battle.

  • Andrew Tate’s ex girlfriend Bri Stern says influencer made chilling threats on the night he ‘choked her during sex’
    by Annabel Bate on April 5, 2025 at 10:28 am

    ANDREW Tate’s ex-girlfriend Bri Stern has said the toxic influencer made chilling threats on the night he had “choked her during sex”. The model, 29, claims that as well as Tate physically abusing her, he also sickeningly insulted her and threatened to “ruin my life, rape me, and kill me” if she betrayed him, her recent lawsuit says. X/ @thebristernBri Stern displayed bruises and reddening allegedly inflicted by Tate[/caption] X / @thebristernBri and Tate met in the summer of 2024 and began a relationship[/caption] Texts that Tate allegedly sent to Bri Tate, 38, is accused of choking Bri and failing to stop even when she begged him to during rough sex on March 11. The abuse is alleged to have happened at a Beverly Hills hotel, where Bri then walked out on him for good. A medical report seen by TMZ seems to show she was diagnosed with “post-concussive syndrome”. Brave Bri revealed that Tate told her to “shut the f*** up b****” and “you are my property” after the alleged choking among other vile messages. These include: “You will give me a child this year b****. “What’s the point in having you if I don’t beat and impregnate you.” She also revealed screenshots of texts vile Tate sent her where he said he enjoyed beating Bri because he found the alleged sickening act “relaxing”. According to the complaint, Tate also once wrote to her: “You have an attitude because you’re not hot enough”. She explained that “something just clicked” and she “realised the gravity of the situation” – so plucked up the courage to leave. Bri had posted pictures and videos to social media showing injuries allegedly inflicted by Tate during violent sex – claims he denies. She claimed Tate got more violent as she pleaded with him and described feeling like she was slipping out of consciousness during the alleged assault. A video shows bruises and swelling on the side of a tearful Bri’s face, reportedly taken in the bathroom directly after the alleged violence. A separate picture shows the model with a misshapen face and reddened skin. Tate’s lawyer described the allegation as “fake news” and vehemently denied the claims. After leaving the hotel, Bri is said to have gone to New York City where she went to hospital. The police report was then filed after Tate and his brother Tristan flew back to Romania to answer questions over their ongoing legal case in the country. Bri said she only filed the report after knowing Tate had left the US. In her statement, Bri said she met Tate in the summer of 2024 and had a relationship with him for “almost a year”. BackGridDiscolouration can be seen to the side of her face[/caption] BackGridBri says the footage was taken in the bathroom after Tate went to sleep[/caption] APTate is facing existing charges of human trafficking in Romania as well as rape in the UK[/caption] They got to know each other because he “needed models for his crypto coin” and she “needed lessons on crypto”, she said. Bri also revealed that the last week has been “very difficult and extremely scary”. She said: “I am an emotional wreck and constantly looking over my shoulder. I’m not the person I was before.” Andrew’s lawyer Joseph McBride has strenuously denied the claims and promised to sue for defamation. McBride told The Sun: “It’s fake news, an unequivocally false story. “This is an attention grab by one of many people trying to hurt Andrew for one reason or another. “It’s sad and disappointing but it’s unequivocally untrue and defamatory and we look forward to clearing Andrew’s name in court. “Without doubt we will sue for defamation. “Who in their right mind after clearing himself of human trafficking claims in Romania would come to the other side of the world and commit a crime like that? It makes no sense whatsoever. “There’s not a scintilla of truth to it and we will do what we have to do to protect Andrew’s interests in court.” TATE ARREST TIMELINE BY Henry Holloway ANDREW and Tristan Tate were arrested in December 2022 and later charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. Here is a timeline of everything that’s happened since they were nicked: DECEMBER 29, 2022: The brothers are detained in Romania for 30 days, along with two women, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group. JANUARY 3, 2023: Romanian authorities seize Andrew’s luxury car collection. JAN 8, 2023: A cryptic tweet is posted to Andrew Tate’s account which reads: “The Matrix has attacked me. But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill.” JAN 10, 2023: Andrew appears in court in Bucharest to appeal his detention but the judge rules against him. MARCH 31, 2023: The Bucharest Court of Appeal rules against a judge’s decision to extend Andrew’s incarceration for a fourth time; Andrew is placed on house arrest. JUNE 20, 2023: The brothers are formally charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. JULY 13, 2023: The Tates launch a $5million lawsuit against a Florida woman who they say falsely accused them of imprisoning her in Romania – which led to their arrest there on human trafficking charges. AUGUST 4, 2023: Andrew wins an appeal to be released from house arrest in Romania as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking. DECEMBER 11, 2023: A judge denies the Tate brothers’ appeals to have £10million worth of assets returned to them. JANUARY 8, 2024: The Bucharest Court of Appeal overturns the decision; the brothers are to have their assets returned to them. MARCH 12, 2024: Both brothers are arrested in Romania over allegations of sexual aggression in the UK that date back to 2012 and 2015. They deny the allegations. MARCH 22, 2024: The brothers lost their appeal to get back £10million worth of assets seized by cops. APRIL 26, 2024: A Romanian court rules that Andrew and Tristan will face trail over ongoing probe into rape and human trafficking. JULY 5, 2024: Courts rule that Andrew and Tristan can leave Romania – but must stay in the EU. JANUARY 14, 2025: Brothers freed from house arrest. FEBRUARY 27, 2025: Andrew and Tristan flee Romania on a private jet for Florida. MARCH 21, 2025: Tates arrive back in Bucharest as investigations continue. X / @thebristernBri Stern met Tate when he needed models for his crypto coin[/caption]

  • Meet Putin attack dog who fired 1st shot of Ukraine war & was jailed for disaster invasion…now he’s fronting peace talks
    by James Halpin on April 5, 2025 at 9:10 am

    VLADIMIR Putin’s attack dog – who fired the first shot of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – is leading his peace talks. Sergei Beseda, 70, is cleaning up his mess after the former KGB agent was imprisoned by his boss for bungling the hostile takeover. Sergei Beseda is Putin’s man in peace talks in Saudi Arabia Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service HandoutBeseda (left) at talks in Riyadh with Russia’s other negotiators[/caption] Russian soldiers on the armoured personnel carrier move through Crimea towards Ukraine the day after the invasion Known as The Baron, the once-powerful spy was in charge of the FSB unit telling the tyrant Ukraine was weak and would crumble when tanks rolled over the border. But Vlad’s invasion has turned into three years of humiliation for the Russians at the hands of the valiant Ukrainians instead of a quick “three-day” war. Andrei Soldatov, a Russian investigative journalist, revealed that Beseda had been imprisoned in 2022 through his FSB sources. Bad intelligence for his master had sent Beseda to a jail used in Stalin-era purges for mass executions. Beseda was freed soon after and is now walking through the gilded halls of the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the ceasefire talks. He’s attempting to salvage his reputation and help Vlad rebuild the Soviet Empire – a dream the allies share. Soldatov told The Sun the spy being brought in from the cold was evidence of a chilling tactic used by Putin – humiliating his allies to keep them under control. Soldatov said: “For Putin, it is very, very important when dealing with an ambitious guy, to have him insulted and humiliated to keep him loyal.” Vlad notoriously embarrassed the head of his foreign intelligence service in 2022 in front of cameras by making him fluster and telling him to “speak directly”. But Soldatov, a non-resident senior fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, said that humiliation had made Beseda the ideal person for Putin to lead Russian ceasefire talks. Beseda is extremely loyal to Vlad, an expert on America from his time in the FSB, and a villain in the eyes of Ukraine. The Colonel-General is extremely experienced and has held the general rank for 25 years. He served inside the Kremlin and the Putin’s administration in the early 2000s, making him a key ally. Soldatov said: “He’s from this old guard of the FSB/ KGB, people, and that’s that is his reputation. APMoscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison where Beseda was held[/caption] Sergei Beseda, who is now an assistant to the director of the FSB “But there is something else here, and I think the FSB chose him because they wanted to play quite a nasty game with the Ukrainians.” Putin’s believes Ukraine’s government is illegitimate – and Beseda is the manifestation of that belief in a person. The spy was at the side of Ukraine’s former president Viktor Yanukovych during the Maidan bloodbath when cops shot at protesters. Soldatov said Vlad was effectively saying with his inclusion: “‘Look we have always been interfering in your political situation because we do not treat you as a proper, independent country. “‘See that guy? He’s been doing that for his well for decades, and we still use him’.” Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov said of Beseda in 2023: “He is a very problematic person. He has done a lot of evil for Ukraine.” Soldatov said that Beseda’s importance in the talks shows how important spies are now for Russia’s foreign policy. Hostage snatching, of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich for example, is now an important part of Russia’s conduct with foreign countries. In a twist of fate, Beseda was sent to the notorious Lefortovo prison in Moscow which was used during Josef Stalin’s Great Purge for mass executions and where Gershkovich was held. Officially, Beseda was arrested for “the theft of funds allocated for subversive and intelligence work in Ukraine, as well as deliberately false information about the political situation in Ukraine.” After his humiliation Beseda could be brought back to working for Putin as, in the Kremlin’s version of events, the invasion had been a triumph. So, there was no reason to punish anyone – let alone the most powerful people in Russia’s FSB and supporters of Putin. But Beseda was brought back to an undefined role – the assistant to the FSB director. Soldatov said: “You don’t really have any any powers or responsibilities. You just a guy who’s extremely close to director and up to director to decide what you’re gonna do next morning.” Beseda could walk away from his involvement with politics, but he has another motivation, Soldatov has revealed. The FSB General has a son, Alexander, working high inside Russian national security. The Russian delegation also includes Grigory Karasin, 75, a Russian senator and career diplomat. Who is Sergei Beseda? Beseda headed the Fifth Service within the FSB – the secretive unit in charge of spying on ex-Soviet countries. The powerful force is Putin’s baby, having been founded by Vlad when he was the head of the FSB in the late 1990s. Its job is to promote the Kremlin’s interests in important countries and also oversee connections with foreign partners, including the US. He reportedly spent a lot of time abroad from Russia in his youth in Latin America and as such speaks Spanish. As such, it was Beseda’s job to organise the crushing of the colour revolutions that sought to expel Moscow’s influence through the 2000s and 2010s. His agents were caught in countries like Belarus, Moldova, and Abkhazia, a breakaway region in Georgia, the Center for European Policy Analysis says. Beseda himself was in Kyiv during the bloodiest days of the Maidan Revolution and Ukrainian authorities sought to arrest him for crimes against protesters.