themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Russia to Adopt Moscow’s Digital Pass System for Coronavirus Lockdown

At least 21 Russian regions have requested digital travel passes a week after coronavirus-hit Moscow enacted its system to enforce lockdown measures and slow the deadly outbreak , the Communications and Press Ministry said Wednesday .
Their introduction beyond Moscow comes as health officials warn that the regions lag behind the Russian capital in new infection rates by two to three weeks on average .
The city of 12.5 million currently accounts for more than half of Russia ’ s 57,999 coronavirus cases and 547 deaths .
The rest of Russia needs digital passes “ so that we could see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelers , ” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin , who also leads the Russian government ’ s coronavirus task force , said .
“ I believe [ the system ] can be extended… to control the movement of air , rail and intercity and inter-regional bus transport , ” Interfax quoted Sobyanin as saying .
Seven regions immediately surrounding Moscow will become the first to connect to the digital pass system , the communications ministry said .
Fourteen other regions further afield , including in the North Caucasus , Siberia and the Far East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The technology will be based on a smartphone app used by the Moscow region .
The region ’ s pilot program has issued almost 1 million multiple-use passes and hands out around 400,000 single-use passes daily .
Sobyanin warned that the regions ’ hospitals risk running out of beds within three to four weeks at current rates of infection .
Critics have derided the passes , which control most movement with the exception of foot travel ( Muscovites are banned from walking anywhere outside grocery shops , pharmacies or to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes ) , as unconstitutional mass surveillance that could remain in place after the coronavirus outbreak .
Moscow 's system was also heavily criticized last week when footage showed large crowds of people queued outside metro station entrances as they waited to have their passes checked .
Russia confirmed 5,236 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 57,999 .

At least 21 Russian regions have requested digital travel passes a week after coronavirus-hit Moscow enacted its system to enforce lockdown measures and slow the deadly outbreak, the Communications and Press Ministry said Wednesday. Their introduction beyond Moscow comes as health officials warn that the regions lag behind the Russian capital in new infection rates by two to three weeks on average. The city of 12.5 million currently accounts for more than half of Russia’s 57,999 coronavirus cases and 547 deaths.
The rest of Russia needs digital passes “so that we could see the traffic, its volume and the travelers,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who also leads the Russian government’s coronavirus task force, said. “I believe [the system] can be extended… to control the movement of air, rail and intercity and inter-regional bus transport,” Interfax quoted Sobyanin as saying. Seven regions immediately surrounding Moscow will become the first to connect to the digital pass system, the communications ministry said. Fourteen other regions further afield, including in the North Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East, will introduce digital travel passes next week. The technology will be based on a smartphone app used by the Moscow region. The region’s pilot program has issued almost 1 million multiple-use passes and hands out around 400,000 single-use passes daily.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--For Russians, Humble Dacha Provides Refuge From Coronavirus

But Russians like the Chernyshyovs have another option : escaping to their dachas , small countryside homes that were parcelled out to city workers in Soviet times .
With half the world on some form of lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic , millions of city dwellers are stuck inside , with only the occasional trip out to relieve their isolation .
`` It 's good here .
We 'll grow carrots and strawberries and maybe even some potatoes , '' the 78-year-old says , while his wife Lyudmila trims rose bushes in the garden of their country home outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russia 's Northern Fleet , Ivan Chernyshyov is having no problem adjusting to life on coronavirus lockdown — especially as , like many Russians , the retired sailor can escape to the countryside .
Generations of Muscovites have spent their weekends and summer breaks in dacha settlements , usually an hour or two outside the city , made up of rows of humble brick or wooden houses and vegetable patches .
And with the number of coronavirus cases on the rise — Russia had registered some 58,000 as of Wednesday — dachas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's the great outdoors , we can walk in nature without wearing a mask , '' says Arina Bannikova , a 26-year-old architect who is at her dacha in Sokolniki , a small settlement an hour 's drive northwest from Moscow , with her mother , sister , another family of four , a dog and two cats .
Barrelling past on his scooter , 11-year-old Maxime could n't be happier .
`` Here I 've got all the space I want , '' he shouts .
Nearly half of Russia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so when authorities began imposing lockdown measures on Moscow last month , thousands streamed out of the city .
Online searches for dacha rentals also soared , with nearly five times as many requests as usual in the first two weeks of April , according to figures from real estate portal Cian.ru .
`` It 's interesting because these last 10 years were marked by a serious crisis for the dacha , '' says Mikhail Alekseevsky , a Russian anthropologist who has made a study of the country homes .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have a dacha and starting urgent repairs -- with the priority the installation of a good internet connection . ''
Dachas had been hugely popular in Soviet times and after the 1991 collapse of the USSR , when many used their vegetable patches to make up for food shortages .
But as Russia 's economy grew in the 2000s and early 2010s , many abandoned their countryside getaways to spend weekends at new restaurants and cinemas in the city , or to travel abroad .
Notorious weekend traffic jams to dacha country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians with a dacha has been falling , with pollster VTsIOM saying it dropped from 46 % in 2014 to 42 % last year .
`` In the USSR , the dacha was a way to escape Soviet reality .
But in a globalised world there are sometimes more interesting things to do than work in a vegetable patch , '' Alekseevsky says .
With the coronavirus , the other entertainment options are no longer available .
And dacha residents say being in the countryside makes it easier to follow isolation rules .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely sheltered ( from the virus ) .
But I feel 90 % safe here , '' says Nataliya Sapiga , a 53-year-old school teacher , at her dacha in Sokolniki .
`` There are fewer people here , so we can follow all the recommended safety rules . ''
Alekseevsky says Russians have a deep affinity for their dachas , and that having a patch of land and a vegetable garden `` has a very strong significance '' in the country .
`` And with this epidemic , the idea of having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength , '' he predicts .
`` Like we say here , it 's always better to have an emergency landing strip . ''

But Russians like the Chernyshyovs have another option: escaping to their dachas, small countryside homes that were parcelled out to city workers in Soviet times.
With half the world on some form of lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of city dwellers are stuck inside, with only the occasional trip out to relieve their isolation.
"It's good here. We'll grow carrots and strawberries and maybe even some potatoes," the 78-year-old says, while his wife Lyudmila trims rose bushes in the garden of their country home outside Moscow.
After years spent on submarines with Russia's Northern Fleet, Ivan Chernyshyov is having no problem adjusting to life on coronavirus lockdown — especially as, like many Russians, the retired sailor can escape to the countryside.
Generations of Muscovites have spent their weekends and summer breaks in dacha settlements, usually an hour or two outside the city, made up of rows of humble brick or wooden houses and vegetable patches.
And with the number of coronavirus cases on the rise — Russia had registered some 58,000 as of Wednesday — dachas have become a welcome refuge.
"It's the great outdoors, we can walk in nature without wearing a mask," says Arina Bannikova, a 26-year-old architect who is at her dacha in Sokolniki, a small settlement an hour's drive northwest from Moscow, with her mother, sister, another family of four, a dog and two cats.
Barrelling past on his scooter, 11-year-old Maxime couldn't be happier.
"Here I've got all the space I want," he shouts.
Nearly half of Russia's population is estimated to have a dacha, so when authorities began imposing lockdown measures on Moscow last month, thousands streamed out of the city.
Online searches for dacha rentals also soared, with nearly five times as many requests as usual in the first two weeks of April, according to figures from real estate portal Cian.ru.
A comeback for countryside?
"It's interesting because these last 10 years were marked by a serious crisis for the dacha," says Mikhail Alekseevsky, a Russian anthropologist who has made a study of the country homes.
"A lot of people are suddenly remembering that they have a dacha and starting urgent repairs -- with the priority the installation of a good internet connection."
Dachas had been hugely popular in Soviet times and after the 1991 collapse of the USSR, when many used their vegetable patches to make up for food shortages.
But as Russia's economy grew in the 2000s and early 2010s, many abandoned their countryside getaways to spend weekends at new restaurants and cinemas in the city, or to travel abroad. Notorious weekend traffic jams to dacha country didn't help.
The proportion of Russians with a dacha has been falling, with pollster VTsIOM saying it dropped from 46% in 2014 to 42% last year.
"In the USSR, the dacha was a way to escape Soviet reality. But in a globalised world there are sometimes more interesting things to do than work in a vegetable patch," Alekseevsky says.
With the coronavirus, the other entertainment options are no longer available. And dacha residents say being in the countryside makes it easier to follow isolation rules.
"I can't say we are completely sheltered (from the virus). But I feel 90% safe here," says Nataliya Sapiga, a 53-year-old school teacher, at her dacha in Sokolniki.
"There are fewer people here, so we can follow all the recommended safety rules."
Alekseevsky says Russians have a deep affinity for their dachas, and that having a patch of land and a vegetable garden "has a very strong significance" in the country.
"And with this epidemic, the idea of having a dacha in good condition will gain strength," he predicts. "Like we say here, it's always better to have an emergency landing strip."


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Russia Suspends Deportations During Coronavirus Pandemic

President Vladimir Putin signed an order this weekend banning authorities from deporting migrants and denying them refugee and temporary asylum status between March 15 and June 15 .
The act also automatically extends visas and other temporary residence permits that expire after March 15 to June 15 as Covid-19 disrupted international travel and left migrants stranded in Russia .
Russia will temporarily suspend deportations of foreigners over the next two months due to the coronavirus outbreak , the Interior Ministry said Thursday .
“ During this period , no decisions will be made regarding deportations , expulsions or declaring foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valentina Kazakova , the Interior Ministry ’ s chief of migration .
“ Documents that they have in their possession will also not be canceled , ” Kazakova told the ministry ’ s news website .
Employers are allowed to hire migrants from visa-free countries , a list comprised mostly by former Soviet republics , without the needed paperwork .
For nationals of other countries , the employers will need previously obtained work permits .
Kazakova estimated that more than 320,000 migrants have already extended their visas , work permits or migration statuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of Covid-19 .
Last month , Russia banned foreign nationals from entering the country until May 1 in a move to slow the spread of the virus .
The Interior Ministry on Thursday published data showing that crimes committed against and by foreigners in Russia have increased since the start of 2020 .
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 62,773 and 555 deaths .

President Vladimir Putin signed an order this weekend banning authorities from deporting migrants and denying them refugee and temporary asylum status between March 15 and June 15. The act also automatically extends visas and other temporary residence permits that expire after March 15 to June 15 as Covid-19 disrupted international travel and left migrants stranded in Russia.
Russia will temporarily suspend deportations of foreigners over the next two months due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.
“During this period, no decisions will be made regarding deportations, expulsions or declaring foreign citizens’ stay undesirable,” said Valentina Kazakova, the Interior Ministry’s chief of migration.
“Documents that they have in their possession will also not be canceled,” Kazakova told the ministry’s news website.
Employers are allowed to hire migrants from visa-free countries, a list comprised mostly by former Soviet republics, without the needed paperwork. For nationals of other countries, the employers will need previously obtained work permits.
Kazakova estimated that more than 320,000 migrants have already extended their visas, work permits or migration statuses during the lockdown period imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19. Last month, Russia banned foreign nationals from entering the country until May 1 in a move to slow the spread of the virus.
The Interior Ministry on Thursday published data showing that crimes committed against and by foreigners in Russia have increased since the start of 2020.
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 62,773 and 555 deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Russia’s Nursing, Psychiatric Homes to Enter Coronavirus Quarantine

A total of 457 people have “ inevitably ” been infected with Covid-19 at 16 facilities in seven Russian regions so far , deputy minister Olga Batalina was cited as saying .
She said the disease spreads at these facilities either through staffers who get infected outside or patients who bring the virus from hospitals .
Russia ’ s Labor Ministry has ordered mental health facilities and nursing homes to quarantine residents and employees for two weeks in a move to fight the coronavirus outbreak , the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday .
“ We sent a telegram to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations together with their employees , ” Batalina said as quoted by TASS .
“ The process is currently underway , 14-day shift teams are being formed out of these organizations ’ employees , ” she said .
Batalina said nursing homes in most Russian regions “ where we see a serious increase in the coronavirus epidemic threshold ” have already been either fully or partially shut down .
Twenty-three other regions are preparing for similar closures , the official said .
Authorities banned unauthorized access to psychiatric facilities and orphanages to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 62,773 and 555 deaths .

A total of 457 people have “inevitably” been infected with Covid-19 at 16 facilities in seven Russian regions so far, deputy minister Olga Batalina was cited as saying. She said the disease spreads at these facilities either through staffers who get infected outside or patients who bring the virus from hospitals.
Russia’s Labor Ministry has ordered mental health facilities and nursing homes to quarantine residents and employees for two weeks in a move to fight the coronavirus outbreak, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday.
“We sent a telegram to all regions recommending to quarantine inpatient care organizations together with their employees,” Batalina said as quoted by TASS.
“The process is currently underway, 14-day shift teams are being formed out of these organizations’ employees,” she said.
Batalina said nursing homes in most Russian regions “where we see a serious increase in the coronavirus epidemic threshold” have already been either fully or partially shut down. Twenty-three other regions are preparing for similar closures, the official said.
Authorities banned unauthorized access to psychiatric facilities and orphanages to prevent the spread of Covid-19 earlier in April.
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 62,773 and 555 deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-24--Putin’s Rumored Confessor Denies Contracting Coronavirus

Earlier in the day , the outlet cited religious scholar Sergei Chapnin as saying that Father Tikhon , 61 , had allegedly been suffering from Covid-19 for several days .
Father Tikhon ’ s association with Putin has been scrutinized since the late 1990s , when the president met him at a Moscow monastery frequented by FSB security service agents ( Putin headed the FSB in 1998-99 ) .
“ Why lie to people ?
I ’ m in good health , thank God , ” MBKh Media later quoted Shevkunov , who currently presides over the Pskov-Caves Monastery in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as saying .
The uncorroborated report follows the death of a senior priest at a central Moscow cathedral at the age of 49 this week .
Another 45-year-old senior church official tested positive for Covid-19 , the Orthodox Church ’ s coronavirus task force said Friday .
The Russian Orthodox Church launched comprehensive Covid-19 tests among Moscow ’ s 2,000 male and female clergy on April 10 after eight priests contracted the virus and three others showed symptoms .
The Church ’ s department of external relations earlier in April criticized priests who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus ” instead of observing its health guidelines .

Earlier in the day, the outlet cited religious scholar Sergei Chapnin as saying that Father Tikhon, 61, had allegedly been suffering from Covid-19 for several days. Father Tikhon’s association with Putin has been scrutinized since the late 1990s, when the president met him at a Moscow monastery frequented by FSB security service agents (Putin headed the FSB in 1998-99).
“Why lie to people? I’m in good health, thank God,” MBKh Media later quoted Shevkunov, who currently presides over the Pskov-Caves Monastery in northeast Russia where he was baptized, as saying.
The uncorroborated report follows the death of a senior priest at a central Moscow cathedral at the age of 49 this week. Another 45-year-old senior church official tested positive for Covid-19, the Orthodox Church’s coronavirus task force said Friday.
The Russian Orthodox Church launched comprehensive Covid-19 tests among Moscow’s 2,000 male and female clergy on April 10 after eight priests contracted the virus and three others showed symptoms.
The Church’s department of external relations earlier in April criticized priests who “demonstrated their fearlessness in the face of the virus” instead of observing its health guidelines.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-24--Russia’s Central Bank Cuts Rates and Warns of Deep Recession

The decision — widely expected by the markets — to cut rates from 6 % to 5.5 % is the first shift in monetary policy from governor Elvira Nabiullina since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic .
Russia ’ s Central Bank has cut interest rates to their lowest level since 2012 , and warned Russia is on course for a deep recession this year .
The Bank warned Russia should brace for a hard economic shock as a result of both the economic lockdown at home and the collapse in global demand for energy which has sent oil prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank predicted GDP will fall by between 4-6 % in 2020 , in the first public forecast of the economic damage of the coronavirus published by the Russian authorities .
A fall of that size would effectively wipe out the last four years of economic growth following the 2015 crisis , when Russia ’ s GDP dropped by almost 8 % .
The prediction is in line with others made by groups such as the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , although some economists warn the picture is deteriorating rapidly and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % crash .
The Bank said it stands ready to cut rates further should the situation develop in line with its forecast .
The ruble gained slightly on the announcement , climbing 0.5 % to 74.4 against the U.S. dollar .

Russia’s Central Bank has cut interest rates to their lowest levels since 2012, and warned the Russian economy could shrink by 6% this year.
The decision — widely expected by the markets — to cut the key interest rate to 5.5% from 6% is the first shift in monetary policy from governor Elvira Nabiullina since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. She said further rate cuts were not off the table.
The Central Bank warned that Russia should brace for a hard economic shock as a result of both the economic lockdown at home and the collapse in global demand for energy, which has sent oil prices down 70% this year. It predicted that GDP will fall by 4-6% in 2020, in the first public forecast of the economic damage from the coronavirus published by the Russian authorities.
A fall of that size would effectively wipe out all Russia’s economic growth since the 2015 crisis. The prediction is in line with others made by groups such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), although some economists warn the picture is deteriorating rapidly and that Russia could be in for a crash of at least 10%.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-24--Libya Blames Chemical Attack on Kremlin-Linked Wagner Mercenary Group

Libya ’ s UN-backed government has accused Kremlin-linked private military contractors for an alleged chemical attack in southern Tripoli , according to Arab and Turkish media .
Interior minister Fathi Bashaga ’ s charges turn the spotlight back on Russia ’ s Wagner mercenaries , who are reported to be unofficially helping eastern commander Khalifa Haftar ’ s year-long offensive to seize the Libyan capital .
The Wagner Group is a private army linked to President Vladimir Putin through catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin .
“ In [ southern Tripoli ’ s ] Salah al-Din axis , our fighters were exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces , and were paralyzed and then sniped , ” the pan-Arab outlet The New Arab quoted Bashaga as saying Wednesday .
“ This deed can only be carried out by Wagner , ” Bashaga claimed .
Egyptian-Canadian photojournalist Amru Salahuddien said that he witnessed Libyan government fighters “ shaking and unable to breathe normally ” after the Haftar forces ’ bombing run on Salah al-Din on Wednesday .
The attack allegedly followed him witnessing shaking and vomiting Government of National Accord ( GNA ) fighters over the weekend in what he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other confirmation of the attack followed .
Libya 's UN-recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) is working “ in strong cooperation with Turkey , U.S. and UK to ensure security , ” Turkey ’ s state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Bashaga as saying Wednesday .
President Vladimir Putin said this year that Russian nationals in Libya do not represent the Russian state and are not paid by it .
Russia denies that it uses mercenaries abroad .
Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 uprising against its ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proxy war between foreign powers .

Libya’s UN-backed government has accused Kremlin-linked private military contractors for an alleged chemical attack in southern Tripoli, according to Arab and Turkish media. Interior minister Fathi Bashaga’s charges turn the spotlight back on Russia’s Wagner mercenaries, who are reported to be unofficially helping eastern commander Khalifa Haftar’s year-long offensive to seize the Libyan capital. The Wagner Group is a private army linked to President Vladimir Putin through catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“In [southern Tripoli’s] Salah al-Din axis, our fighters were exposed to nerve gas from Haftar’s forces, and were paralyzed and then sniped,” the pan-Arab outlet The New Arab quoted Bashaga as saying Wednesday. “This deed can only be carried out by Wagner,” Bashaga claimed. Egyptian-Canadian photojournalist Amru Salahuddien said that he witnessed Libyan government fighters “shaking and unable to breathe normally” after the Haftar forces’ bombing run on Salah al-Din on Wednesday. The attack allegedly followed him witnessing shaking and vomiting Government of National Accord (GNA) fighters over the weekend in what he said was a nerve gas attack.
After a regular #LNA bombing at Salahuddien frontline this afternoon, several #GNA fighters fell on the ground slightly shaking and unable to breathe normally. #libya #tripoli — Amru Salahuddien (@AmruSalahuddien) April 22, 2020