NBC News isn't revealing her last name because she still has family in parts of the Zaporizhzhia region under Russian rule and she fears repercussions. It is very scary for them to work," Alyona, 37, told NBC News on Tuesday from the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is still under Ukrainian control. In response, Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as Latvia's "xenophobia" over the resolution, Reuters reported, citing ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.Īs Ukraine and Russia trade blame for shelling around Europe's largest nuclear power plant, one former employee said the consequences could be catastrophic and that she is terrified for her former colleagues at the facility in the town of Enerhodar. Latvia's public broadcaster LSM wrote that "the Saeima acknowledges Russia's violence against civilians, which is being pursued for political purposes, as terrorism and Russia as a country supporting terrorism, and calls on other similar-thinking countries to express such an opinion." It added: "In Ukraine, Russia has chosen a similar, cruel, immoral, and illegal tactic, using imprecise and internationally banned weapons and ammunition, targeting disproportionate brutality against civilians and public places." In a statement, the parliament said: "Russia has been providing support and financing for terrorist regimes and organizations for many years, directly and indirectly, as the largest arms supplier for the Assad regime in Syria and as an implementer, such as the poisoning of the Skripal family or the shooting of the MH-17 aircraft." Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, designated Russia as a terrorist-supporting state and urged the EU to ban the entry of Russian citizens for tourism. "In recent months, the belief that this would support a small but important sense of normalcy has grown stronger." "We've spoken extensively to our employees who have expressed a strong desire to return to work and see our restaurants in Ukraine reopen, where it is safe and responsible to do so," Paul Pomroy, the corporate senior vice president of international operated markets, said in the message posted online. The chain declined to comment on how many restaurants will be opening as part of its plan to resume operations in the country. Before that, McDonald's had 109 restaurants in Ukraine. McDonald's had announced in February that it would pause its operations in Ukraine after Russia's invasion of the country. The fast-food company said in a message posted to its website that it will work over the next few months to get product back to the restaurants, bring back employees and physically prepare its locations in Kyiv and western Ukraine to start serving customers again. McDonald's is planning a phased reopening of some of its restaurants in Ukraine, where the company noted other businesses are safely operating. In March, Ovsyannikova appeared behind the anchor of an evening Channel One news broadcast holding a poster that said "Stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here." She quit her job at the channel, was charged with disparaging the Russian military and fined 30,000 rubles ($270 at the time). In the courtroom on Thursday, Ovsyannikova held up a poster saying "Let the murdered children come to you in your dreams at night." She first made international headlines on March 14, when she staged an on-air protest against Moscow's war in Ukraine. The law was enacted shortly after Russian troops moved into Ukraine. If convicted, Ovsyannikova faces up to 10 years in prison under a new law that penalizes statements against the military. How many more children should die for you to stop?" 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). Marina Ovsyannikova was charged over a street protest last month, when she held up a banner that said, "Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists.
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A court in Russia ordered a former state TV journalist placed under house arrest for nearly two months pending an investigation and potential trial on charges of spreading false information about Russia's armed forces.