Russia Wanted To Load Riot Gear On Venezuela-Bound Warship In Malta

[TomSea]

Little Malta blocked these supplies which Senator Rubio tweeted about this morning. This is a very good thing that nation did.

Russia Wanted To Load Riot Gear On Venezuela-Bound Warship In Malta
By Tsvetana Paraskova - Apr 18, 2019, 4:00 PM CDT

Russian diplomats have tried to buy riot gear in Malta and allegedly load it on a warship en route to Venezuela, in a move that raises concerns in the EU and the U.S. that Russia wants to increase its military presence in Venezuela, BuzzFeed News reported on Thursday, citing officials.

Russia has also asked Malta for permission to dock the Russian anti-submarine ship, the Severomorsk, in Malta for several days at the end of this month, BuzzFeed News Europe Editor Alberto Nardelli reports, quoting a senior government official from Malta. On Tuesday this week, Russia withdrew the request for the ship to dock on the Mediterranean island, but Malta would have denied the request anyway, according to BuzzFeed News’ sources. 

This is not the first report of Russia trying to boost its military presence in Venezuela, where Moscow is the staunchest supporter and ally of Nicolas Maduro’s regime in the political power struggle in the Latin American country sitting on top of the world’s largest oil reserves.

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Russia-Wanted-To-Load-Riot-Gear-On-Venezuela-Bound-Warship-In-Malta.html

A few places report this, even if it's using buzzfeed reporters.

[TomSea]

US applauds Malta’s blocking of Russian aircraft: 'It takes courage to stand up to dictators'
The US State Department urged countries to follow Malta’s example to stop the Kremlin’s support for Venezuelan 'dictator Maduro'

The US State Department has applauded the Maltese government for refusing a request by the Russian government for military aircraft to fly through its airspace.

The story was originally reported by Buzzfeed news, which quoted senior government officials saying that Malta had turned down two requests by the Russian government for Malta to grant permission for military aircraft travelling from Syria to Venezuela to fly over Maltese airspace.

The same website also reported, three days later, that Malta had also refused to allow a Russian warship to stop over in Malta, after the security services were alerted to the fact that Russian individuals were known to be in Malta trying to procure riot gear and tear gas.

Read more at: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/94498/us_applauds_maltas_blocking_of_russian_aircraft_it_takes_courage_to_stand_up_to_dictators#.XMM_othOkdX