BAYRAMOV AND CHAVUSHOGLU TALKED BY PHONE
The second telephone conversation between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu took place this week, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The parties discussed the latest developments in the region, as well as a number of issues on the bilateral agenda.
ZELENSKY HELD CONSULTATION ABOUT SOLEDAR
Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a consultation regarding the developments in Soledar. Further steps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to keep the city were discussed. Zelensky noted that the Ukrainian side inflicts significant losses on the enemy.
According to Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Anna Malyar, the Russian military wants to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, capture Soledar and besiege all of Bakhmut. In order to achieve that goal, the Russian side deployed Wagner's detachments and regular troops of the Armed Forces. The Ukrainian side claims that they are not going to leave Soledar.
Earlier, the head of "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin once again announced that his forces captured Soledar. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv confirm his statement.
The US State Department has also expressed concern about the situation in Soledar and the activities of the private military company "Wagner". The American side informed that Washington is working towards the neutralization of the "Wagner" group, as it is trying to recruit mercenaries from Serbia and other countries.
UKRAINE STARTED EXERCISES ON THE BORDER WITH BELARUS
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have started exercises on the border with Belarus. The goal is to increase the combat capability of Ukrainian forces and, if necessary, repel any possible action by Belarus. Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that they do not see a real threat from Belarus yet, but they should be ready for any scenario.
DEMONSTRATION OF KURDS IN STOCKHOLM CAUSED UNREST IN ANKARA
The official representative of Recep Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, warned that Sweden's NATO membership process cannot go forward as long as Sweden supports terrorist organizations in Turkey.
This is how Kalin commented on the demonstrations of supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Stockholm, who demanded an end to Erdogan's regime. Due to the action, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament canceled the visit of his Swedish colleague Andreas Norlén to Ankara.
Kalin added that they condemn the actions of supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party against the Turkish president in Stockholm and have informed the Swedish authorities of Ankara's position.
MEMBERS OF NAZARBAEV'S FAMILY HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF IMMUNITY
After the repeal of the law on the "First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan", the members of the family of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev lost the right to inviolability of property and bank accounts, the Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan Azamat Eskarayev announced. He detailed that, unlike his family members, Nursultan Nazarbayev maintains his immunity.
According to the law, Nazarbayev had the status of the leader of the nation, as well as lifelong privileges and guarantees. On January 11, the country's Constitutional Court recognized that the law "On the First President of Kazakhstan" does not comply with the new Constitution.