Latest Russian Developments: Propaganda Influencing Congress, Espionage in Europe, Withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh

Propaganda Influencing Congress: The United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committee Chairmen have both said recently that Russian propaganda is influencing fellow Republican Representatives, particularly against military aid for Ukraine to defend it against Russian aggression. Other GOP Representatives have said that some of their Republican caucus members are in favor of Russia and its leader, ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin, who seeks to restore the Soviet Union, including conquering the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine. The House GOP majority delayed passage until yesterday of the Ukrainian aid bill, which was opposed by presumptive nominee Donald Trump, until the end of this week and most voted against it. I shall post an update after that bill and other key security bills are enacted. Espionage in Europe: The Czech Republic and Belgium last week accused Russia of paying far-right Members of the European Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union, to spread pro-Russian propaganda. Russia sometimes funds parties on the extereme right or left that are sympathetic to it. Meanwhile, Austria is in the midst of a Russian espionage scandal, as the neutral central European State has long been vulnerable to spies. Also, Germany arrested Russian spies based in America who intended to disrupt the flow of materiel to Ukraine. Withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh: Russian troops have begun to withdraw from the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. They were supposed to serve as peacekeepers, but failed to prevent the Azeris from seizing the breakaway territory that had been controlled by Armenian separatists since in independence in 1991 and supported by neighboring Armenia through a series of wars and military conflicts. All but 10% of the 120,000 Armenians, who are Christians, residing in the enclave fled to Armenia instead of living under a predominantly Azeri dictatorship. Armenia, which feels threatened by the fellow former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, has shifted its allegiance from Russia toward the West after the betrayal by the Russians. The shift comes as other former Soviet Republics that are members of organizations led by Russia have been re-evaluating their relationship with Russia after its aggression against Ukraine.