Russian Consulate in Cape Town

В Кейптауне прошел ежегодный Тотальный диктант Просветительская акция, посвященная русскому языку состоялась в столице Западного Кейпа уже в четвертый раз. В этом году в Тотальном диктанте, организованном активистами местного отделения КСОРС при поддержке Генерального консульства, приняли участие 20 человек, среди которых как носители русского языка, так и те, кто выучил его самостоятельно. Участники продемонстрировали отличные знания и внимательность, в том числе южноафриканец Викус ван Руйен, который, несмотря на то, что русский для него не является родным, с уверенностью справился с заданием. Автором текста для диктанта в 2025 году стала российская писательница Марина Москвина. Она является известным сценаристом, журналистом и автором книг для детей и взрослых. Выражаем благодарность всем участникам за интерес к акции и напоминаем, что результаты Тотального диктанта станут известны в ближайшие дни, после проверки всех работ. Ждем вас снова в следующем году!

2 апреля в кинотеатре «Labia» в Кейптауне состоялся показ российского фильма «Вызов», организованный Генеральным консульством Российской Федерации в Кейптауне в преддверии Дня космонавтики. В приветственном слове было отмечено: «Для России и наших соотечественников День космонавтики — особенно памятная дата, символ мощи нашего государства. 12 апреля – не просто день первого пилотируемого полета в космос, это день, когда миллиарды людей по всему миру поверили в невозможное. Когда человечество в один миг осознало, что его потенциал безграничен». Подчеркнута уникальность демонстрируемой картины: «Вызов не просто космическая драма,а уникальное событие в мировой киноиндустрии. Это первый художественный фильм, частично снятый в условиях невесомости на борту Международной космической станции. Работа над ним стала значимым шагом вперёд для популяризации достижений российской науки и космонавтики». День космонавтики - дата, отражающая вклад России в освоение космоса. Как сказал Министр иностранных дел Российской Федерации С.В. Лавров: «12 апреля 1961 года человечество сделало гигантский шаг в своём развитии. Полёт Юрия Гагарина ознаменовал собой начало новой космической эры, открыл дорогу к познанию и освоению бескрайних просторов Вселенной. Для миллиардов людей по всему миру Ю.А. Гагарин продолжает служить примером героизма и самоотверженности, вдохновляя на преодоление любых преград в достижении самых амбициозных и благородных целей».

🇷🇺🇿🇦Чрезвычайный и Полномочный Посол Российской Федерации в Южно-Африканской Республике Р.Е.Амбаров 27 марта 2025 года вручил верительные грамоты Президенту Южно-Африканской Республики С.Рамафозе Во время церемонии, прошедшей в г.Претории, Посол отметил важность сохранения прочных связей дружбы между правительствами и народами двух стран, чья история взаимоотношений насчитывает уже более 33 лет. Р.Е.Амбаров подчеркнул необходимость укрепления разнопланового взаимодействия на фоне усложнившегося геополитического и экономического контекста, отметив, что Россия привержена выстраиванию отношений с ЮАР на основе взаимного уваженияи совместного поиска решений актуальных международных и региональных вопросов. «Наши страны успешно сотрудничают друг с другом в Организации Объединенных Наций, БРИКС и Группе двадцати, а также на других международных платформах. Убежден, что это дружеское взаимодействие продолжится и в период моего пребывания в ЮАР. Моя задача – способствовать развитию нашего текущего сотрудничества в еще более крепкое и эффективное партнерство в будущем», заявил Р.Е.Амбаров. #РоссияАфрика#РоссияЮАР

📄 Joint Statement by #BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (Brasília, March 28, 2025) READ IN FULL BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met on March 28, 2025, in Brasília, Brazil, to exchange views on the current situation in the region. They: • Reiterated their serious concern over continued conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which threaten regional stability and have a negative impact on international peace and security; • Reasserted the primary role of the UNSC in maintaining international peace and security, in regular interaction with the General Assembly; • Stressed that peace and stability in the MENA region require developmental cooperation and integration; • Agreed to strongly condemn terrorism and confront extremism, in all its forms and manifestations; • Expressed their commitment to the promotion of the principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and the adoption of measures to jointly address hate speech, racism, gender discrimination and extremism; • Expressed grave concern at the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, marked by the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, following the Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and as a result of the Israeli military offensive that led to more than 50'000 deaths among Palestinians, mostly women and children; • Recalled that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory; • Reaffirmed that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means and depends on the fulfillment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination; • Reiterated their unwavering commitment to the two-state solution, based on international law; • Condemned the provocative statement regarding plans for the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank and the intensification of settlement activity in the West Bank, as well as with demolitions of Palestinian residences and structures, including in East Jerusalem; • Reasserted their firm support for Lebanon’s stability, security, sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity; • Welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and called on all parties to strictly adhere to its terms and to fully implement UNSC Resolution 1701; • Reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria and called for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned UN-facilitated political process, based on the principles of Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015); • Reasserted their support for Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as for a peaceful, comprehensive, and inclusive political settlement to the Yemeni crisis; • Reiterated their strong commitment to Iraq’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as expressed their continuous support and engagement to promote stability and economic development in Iraq; • Noted the latest developments regarding nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the recent imposition of new unilateral sanctions against Iran, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement remains the only viable and practical option in this regard; • Rejected recent threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for the de-escalation of the situation, which has the potential to undermine international peace and security; • Expressed grave concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan and reiterated their call for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sanswer to a media question, Moscow, April 1, 2025 (Moscow, April 1, 2025) ❓ I have a question about strikes on energy infrastructure. We keep hearing mixed messages coming from Kiev. One day they are ready to sit down and talk, and next thing you know they keep attacking our facilities. Could you provide an update on where things stand with regard to the moratorium? Is it being observed, if so, to what extent, and is it still in force for us and the other party? 💬 Sergey Lavrov: At the very beginning of today’s meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and before taking up the main issue of combatting terrorist threats, President Vladimir Putin asked Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and me to provide an update on the status of our relations with the United States on the Ukrainian dossier. Andrey Belousov spoke precisely about the moratorium that was agreed upon at the suggestion of President Trump on March 18 during the telephone call between the President of Russia and the President of the United States. ❗️ The moratorium is not being observed. All this time, the energy facilities of the Russian Federation have been coming under attacks with occasional short breaks of one to two days between them. Defence Minister Belousov listed the facilities targeted by Ukrainian drones over the period under review, including last night. My update went along the same lines. The Russian army is observing the moratorium that President Putin ordered to strictly comply with on March 18 during a telephone conversation with President Trump. Remember, President Putin said seven drones were on their way to attack targets in Ukraine as they were having this telephone conversation. The drones were destroyed by our air defence forces and a jet fighter on duty that was up in the air at the time. Since then, we have been 100 percent compliant with that agreement with President Trump. We passed the list of violations cited by Defence Minister Andrey Belousov at the Security Council meeting to US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. I forwarded this list to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our representatives at the UN and the OSCE for them to use these concrete facts in their work and let everyone know the real worth of the words uttered by the current Ukrainian authorities, if “this” can even be called authorities. In addition to this topic, President Putin asked me to provide an update on other areas of work with the Americans, including matters that were discussed on March 24 in Riyadh, when experts from Russia and the United States met to discuss the revivification, resumption, and resuscitation of the grain Black Sea Initiative. During the talks in Riyadh, we highly appreciated - President Putin supported this assessment - the United States’ willingness to help eliminate obstacles created by illegal unilateral sanctions imposed on Russian grain and fertiliser exports. They created tensions on global markets and difficulties for the developing countries, which faced limited access to food and fertiliser. We supported the US willingness to act in that regard which was laid out on paper after the March 24 meeting, and added specific proposals on how this could be done in practice. <...> The third topic of our interaction with the Americans is about eliminating “irritants” that seriously impede the work of our Embassy in Washington D.C. and the US Embassy in Moscow. Clearly, we did not initiate these obstacles. The Obama Administration did quite a lot in that regard. We only responded under the diplomatic law of reciprocity, which no one has torn up yet. There was a meeting in Istanbul. Preparations are underway to hold a second one. There are contacts by phone and videoconference calls. I’d rather not make any predictions, but we can see signs of progress and our US partners’ willingness to lift these obstacles to normal work of diplomats in our respective capitals that are absolutely unacceptable from the point of view of diplomatic practice. 📄 Read in full

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview for the No Statute of Limitations: The Front without a Frontline film project(Moscow, March 30, 2025) ❓Mr Lavrov, could you please explain why there are attempts today to downplay or even completely deny the role of the Red Army and the Soviet people in the victory over Nazism? 💬Sergey Lavrov: It is a traditional position of the West to seek to weaken its competitors. Europeans dominated for about 500 years, primarily because they sought to conquer as much land as possible and enslave as many people as possible. Essentially, all of humanity’s tragedies that occurred before 1939, including World War II, were triggered by Europeans. From colonialism, slavery, and the Turkish wars, to the First and Second World Wars, these were all attempts by various powers in Europe to suppress their competitors. In fact, there is nothing new about competition. People and states have always competed with each other. But the methods used by Europe to suppress its competitors were horrendous. These instincts are deeply ingrained in today's European society, particularly in the elites currently in power in most EU and NATO countries. Although there is growing opposition against such actions, these policies still persist. The instincts of the ruling class in Europe are clearly evident in what is happening in Ukraine – the war that the West has unleashed against the Russian Federation, using the Kiev regime as its proxy and paving the way for its juggernaut with the bodies of Ukrainians. Just like Napoleon mobilised almost all of Europe during the Patriotic War of 1812, and Hitler, after conquering most of Europe, put the French, Spaniards, and a large part of the continent’s countries under arms, this is also happening now. The French conducted punitive operations, and the Spanish participated in the blockade of Leningrad. This is a well-known fact. Therefore, we can see even today that almost all of Western Europe has been mobilised to try to prolong the existence of the Nazi Zelensky regime. Just like during Hitler’s era, this is being done under Nazi flags, with SS Totenkopf chevrons, etc, and so on. <...> The Baltic States, Poland and a number of other EU countries have long displayed the trend of rewriting history, equating criminals – those labelled as such by the Nuremberg Tribunal – with the liberators of Europe. This trend must be fought against decisively. Among the examples is the closure of the Russian exhibition at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This has been happening for several years now. We are not allowed to update our display or even speak there. We are simply not invited. It is astonishing that this year, the ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation of this concentration camp, was attended by those who turned it into a death camp, while those who liberated it were nowhere to be seen. ❓ What additional efforts is Russia making to preserve historical memory and counter the information war being waged against us? Are the current legal proceedings recognising the actions of Nazi invaders in the occupied territories as genocide part of the effort to restore historical justice? 💬Sergey Lavrov: Absolutely. This is one of our key priorities. Such legal proceedings are taking place in the Russian Federation and in its constituent entities, particularly in the regions that suffered the most severe human and material losses during the war. <...> I am convinced that formal recognition of these crimes as genocide against the peoples of the USSR will not happen quickly because the resistance is immense. Acknowledging this reality would call into question the entire ideological foundation of most modern Western elites in Europe. However, this work will inevitably lead to recognition at the international level in the future. 📄Read in full

#HistoryOfDiplomacy 📅 March 31, 1872, is the birthday of Alexandra Kollontai, a brilliant statesperson and the first female ambassador in our country (2nd in world history). Alexandra Kollontai was born into a wealthy noble family. Her father, Mikhail Kollontai, was Major General of the General Headquarters of the Russian Army. Alexandra received extraordinary home schooling and was fluent in French, German, English and Finnish since childhood. She became passionate about social and political issues at a young age, eagerly reading works by Nikolay Chernyshevsky, Alexander Herzen and Western socialists. After the October Revolution in 1917, by then prominent revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai was appointed People’s Commissar for Social Welfare of the RSFSR, and became the world’s first female cabinet minister. ☝️ Kollontai was a champion of women’s rights, advocating for women’s economic independence, access to education for women, and equality in marriage. Her activism resulted in pregnant women and mothers becoming entitled to maternity leave from work, and the launch of daycare facilities. Alexandra Kollontai’s appointment as the Minister Plenipotentiary of Soviet Russia to Norway in 1922 became an international sensation. No other European country had previously given a woman an opportunity to hold such a high diplomatic post. While serving in Norway, Alexandra Kollontai secured recognition of the Soviet state by Oslo. The Soviet Union and Norway signed a trade agreement and organised supply of 400,000 tonnes of Norwegian herring to the USSR. Kollontai’s successful diplomatic career continued in Sweden. As a Soviet Minister Plenipotentiary, she facilitated the improvement of USSR-Sweden relations in 1930-1945. ❗️ In September 1944, at the age of 72, Kollontai received an assignment to ensure that Finland withdraw from the war. Alexandra Kollontai was to play a key role in the talks. The Soviet diplomat’s professional competence and personal contacts led to Finland closing the Moscow Armistice with the Soviet Union on September 19, 1944. Finland broke off its alliance with Germany. Alexandra Kollontai’s diplomatic strategies were guided by deep understanding of people and their motives rather than strict protocols. She was known for her humanism, flexibility and ability to reach compromise even in highly tense situations. Thanks to her talent of persuasion and ability to find common ground with people of all walks of life, she succeeded in changing the Western world’s view of the Soviet Union, and in showcasing the achievements of the new Soviet society. Alexandra Kollontai was a testament to the fact that a woman can be a successful diplomat even in a conservative international environment. She symbolised the change in women’s social status around the world, and became a role model for many future female diplomats.

🎙Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(Moscow, March 20, 2025) 🔹 FM Sergey Lavrov's schedule 🔹Murder of Russian media representatives 🔹 Kiev regime crimes 🔹 Third anniversary of the Bucha provocation 🔹 The West's lies regarding Minsk Agreements 🔹 France’s plans to build another naval base on the island of Mayotte 🔹 On the situation with an Italian journalist Andrea Lucidi in Estonia 🔹VI International Arctic Forum "The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" 🔹 Artek’s upcoming centenary 📰Read 📺Watch *** #CrimesAgainstJournalists On March 24, Izvestiya’s frontline correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, Zvezda TV channel cameraman Andrey Panov, and Alexander Sirkeli, the crew’s driver, were killed in the Lugansk People’s Republic following a targeted artillery strike carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On the same day, TASS correspondent Mikhail Skuratov was on an editorial assignment in the Kursk Region’s Sudzha District where the Ukrainian Banderites wounded him. On March 26, 2025, Channel One’s car with a camera crew in it ran up against a landmine planted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Belgorod Region. This terrorist attack claimed the life of Anna Prokofyeva, who was a young talented journalist, while cameraman Dmitry Volkov suffered severe wounds. #KievRegimeCrimes The Investigative Committee of Russia reports that 167 peaceful residents were killed and 500 more injured in the Kursk Region from 2022 until 2025. The crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have impacted 43'000 people. Several thousand civilian infrastructure facilities have been destroyed and damaged. According to the Russia's Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador at large Rodion Miroshnik, in the past seven days, from March 17 to 23, 16 Russian civilians were killed in the zone of contact, and 134 more injured, including 4 minors, following attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On March 25-26, Ukrainian UAVs hitenergy facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. An attempted attack on a gas reservoir was thwarted in Crimea. #BuchaHoax April 3 marks the third anniversary of the day when Zelensky’s regime and its Western curators staged a bloody provocation in Bucha and the world was shown "evidence" of the alleged murders of innocent civilians, aimed at denigrating the Russian Armed Forces in the eyes of the international community. The main goal of the war party campaign was clear: to torpedo the understandings reached during the negotiations in Istanbul, aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Russia has provided multiple refutations of numerous fakes about Bucha. We constantly recall that while this settlement was controlled by the Russian military, the civilians were allowed to move around freely, use mobile communications, and receive humanitarian aid. Our units left Bucha on March 30, 2022. We know that the Kiev regime is preparing an international conference on Bucha this May with the assistance of Great Britain. We are certain that this provocation is yet another attempt to dust off old narratives and repackage false claims about the alleged involvement of the Russian Armed Forces in the events in Bucha. The goal remains the same: to torpedo efforts for a peaceful settlement. #France#Mayotte#Colonialism We have taken note of the statement made by French Minister of the Overseas Manuel Valls in the National Assembly on March 12 regarding the plans to submit a draft law to Parliament on the construction of a second French naval base on the island of Mayotte. Russia has consistently opposed the unjustified militarisation of any territories, recognising the dangerous consequences this poses for peace and security in certain regions. We believe that the existing military base in Dzaoudzi on the island of Mayotte is intended not as much for defence against hypothetical external threats (as Paris tries to convince everyone), but rather for control over the illegally held overseas territory – one of the last remnants of the colonial era.

⚡️In the past 24 hours, the Kiev regime has continued attacks against energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation. ▫️On 28 March, at about 5:30 in the morning, in Belgorod region, as a result of a Ukrainian attack by UAVs against a facility of the Belgorodenergo (Rosseti Centre's branch) and a cable breakage, the 35kV Aydar-Bely Kolodez high-voltage line was powered off. ▫️At 10:34, in Belgorod region, it was reported on an attack by a UAV against the 110kV Krasnaya Yaruga substation of the Belgorodenergo (Rosseti Centre's branch). As a result, a transformer was significantly damaged. ▫️At 13:45, in Belgorod region, as a result of a Ukrainian UAV attack and damage caused to the transformer, there was shutdown of a complete transformer substation of the Belgorodenergo (Rosseti Centre's branch), the energy facility stopped working and there was a power cut. ▫️At 17:03, in Belgorod region, as a result of a Ukrainian attack by UAVs against a facility of the Belgorodenergo (Rosseti Centre's branch), there was a power cut of 10kV high-voltage line. Thus, over 1,100 civilian consumers were blacked out in Grayvoronsky District. ▫️At 18:07, in Belgorod region, as a result of an attack by a Ukrainian UAV, a 110 kV high-voltage line Borisovka-Krasnaya Yaruga of Belgorodenergo (Rosseti Centre's branch), was powered off. More than 8,000 civil consumers were cu t off electricity in Borisovsky District. ▫️Moreover, as earlier reported before, on 28 March at around 10:20, the Kiev regime inflicted a strike using HIMARS MLRS projectiles against the Sudzha gas metering station, which caused a heavy fire. The Sudzha gas metering station has been actually destroyed as an energy facility. Thus, regardless of all Zelensky's statements on the Kiev regime’sallegedcessationof attacks against Russian energy facilities, the AFU have only increased the number of attacks targetingthe energy infrastructure in Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation. 🔹Russian Defence Ministry

🏅 On March 29, 1942, during the harshest period of the Siege of Leningrad, the first partisan convoy carrying food supplies reached the besieged city. Braving enemy lines, the partisans managed to break through the front and deliver 42 tonnes of life-saving provisions to those starving in Leningrad. The blockade had been sealed in September 1941, trapping more than 2.5 million people inside the city, including 400'000 children inside. They endured horrific hunger, relentless bombings took a heavy toll, and the harsh winter added to their suffering. The Road of Life had yet to be established. The situation was also dire in the occupied Pskov and Novgorod regions, where Nazi forces carried out mass executions and deportations to labour camps. Yet, resistance never ceased. Deep behind enemy lines, the Soviet people formed the first partisan stronghold of the Great Patriotic War — the Partisan Land. Upon learning of the desperate conditions in Leningrad, the partisans resolved to help the starving and freezing residents of the city. In early March, they assembled a supply convoy carrying 28 tonnes of flour and over 14 tonnes of other essential provisions. To reach the city, the partisans had to break through two heavily fortified German defensive lines: first, the encirclement around the Partisan Land, and then the main frontline. The convoy travelled only at night, hiding their sleds and horses in the forests during the day to avoid detection. After covering over 100 kilometres behind enemy lines, the convoy successfully delivered vital food supplies to Leningrad. These 42 tonnes of supplies saved countless lives at a time when thousands of people were dying each day. ✉️ Along with the provisions, a letter to the city’s residents was included: “We stand with you, dear friends, comrades in arms... Greetings to you, our hero-city, our mighty Leningrad!” 🕯 The Partisan Land ceased to exist in September 1942. The Nazis burned villages to the ground and massacred the civilians who had lived there. Nearly all the heroes who had risked their lives to bring food to Leningrad perished. To honour their sacrifice, March 29 is commemorated in the Leningrad region as Partisan Glory Day. #Victory80#WeRemember

#Arctic4You 🎙Remarks by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin at a plenary session of the VI International Arctic Forum "The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue". 💬Vladimir Putin:Russia is the largest Arctic power. We have consistently advocated for equitable cooperation in the region, encompassing scientific research, biodiversity protection, climate issues, emergencies response, and, of course, the economic and industrial development of the Arctic. We are prepared to collaborate not only with Arctic states but with all who, like us, share responsibility for ensuring a stable and sustainable future for the planet and are capable of adopting balanced decisions for decades to come. <...> The role and importance of the Arctic for Russia and for the entire world are obviously growing. Regrettably, the geopolitical competition and fighting for positions in this region are also escalating. <...> As to Greenland, this is an issue that concerns two specific nations and has nothing to do with us. But at the same time, of course, we are concerned about the fact that NATO countries are increasingly often designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflictsandare practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including by their “new recruits” – Finland and Sweden, with whom, incidentally, until recently we had no problems at all. <...> Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic. However, we are closely monitoring developments in the region, formulating an appropriate response strategy, enhancing the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces, and modernising military infrastructure facilities. ☝️We will not tolerate any encroachments on our country’s sovereignty and will steadfastly safeguard our national interests. By upholding peace and stability in the Arctic region, we will ensure its long-term socio-economic development, improve the quality of life for its residents, and preserve its unique natural environment. Key points: • Over the past decade, cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route – spanning from the Kara Gates Strait to the Bering Strait – has substantially increased. In 2014, a mere four million tonnes of cargo were transported via this corridor. By last year, that figure had risen to nearly 38 million tonnes – five times the Soviet-era record. • The Northern Sea Route is poised to become a pivotal segment of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, stretching from St Petersburg through Murmansk to Vladivostok. • Cargo shipments along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor are set to increase on the back of growing minerals production and the advancedprocessing of these resources right here in the Arctic, and due to rising international transits. • Russia already operates the world’s biggest icebreaker fleet. We must consolidate our leadership in this sector by building new-generation icebreakers, including nuclear icebreakers. Today, only Russia has them – no other country has a nuclear icebreaker fleet. • Plans are in place to increase the capacity and turnover of our northern ports through the introduction of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, including unmanned and automated cargo handling equipment. <...> I would like to add that our partners from Belarus, China, the United Arab Emirates and other countries are showing keen interest in [the Murmansk transport hub] and in the development of the Arctic transport infrastructure in general. • The regions of Siberia, the Urals, and Russia’s North-West will receive direct access to the North, to the Arctic ports, which will lessen the load on the Trans-Siberian Railway and promote effective use of sea transport. In addition, there will be new points of access to the Arctic from the North-South corridor, which connects us with Central Asia and the Gulf states. Read in full

#ПреступленияКолониализма ⛓️ 28 марта 1658 года голландский корабль «Амерсфорт» доставил на Капский полуостров первую крупную партию рабов – 174 человека. Это событие довершило процесс распространения европейскими колонизаторами рабства вАфрике, принесло эту позорную практику на юг континента. Капская колония, основанная Голландской Ост-Индской компанией (VOC) в 1652 году под руководством Яна ван Рибека, служила важным транзитно-логистическим узлом на пути торговых судов из Европы в Азию и обратно. Нехватка рабочей силы для сельского хозяйства и строительства требовала, с точки зрения колонистов, искать «альтернативные» источники труда. По пути к мысу Доброй Надежды торговое судно «Амерсфорт» Голландской Ост-Индской компании захватило 250 рабов со следовавшего из Анголы португальского корабля. Некоторых из них, тех, кого колонизаторы сочли слишком больными и непригодными для транспортировки, бросали умирать на берегу. Большинство рабов, привезённых на «Амерсфорте», были несовершеннолетними... Настоящий «размах» торговля рабами приобрела с открытием Нового Света, для освоения которого европейцам потребовалась многочисленная рабочая сила. До середины XVII века ведущую роль в атлантической работорговле играла Португалия, затем к ним со рвением и упоением подключились Великобритания, Нидерланды, Франция и другие западноевропейские государства. По данным ООН, всего за историю существования работорговли из Африки было вывезено около 17 млн человек (ещё как минимум столько же погибло при транспортировке) — крупнейший акт депортации в истории. ☝️Наша страна была одной из немногих развитых держав своего времени, никогда не участвовавших в разделе Африки и не занимавшихся работорговлей.