themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--Russia Aims to Produce 'Millions' of Virus Doses by 2021

The country is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes and one prepared at the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development .
Russia said Monday it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine next month and turn out `` several million '' doses per month by next year .
`` We are very much counting on starting mass production in September , '' industry minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by the state-run TASS news agency .
`` We will be able to ensure production volumes of several hundred thousand a month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the start of next year , '' he said , adding that one developer is preparing production technology at three locations in central Russia .
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko on Saturday said the Gamaleya vaccine had `` completed clinical trials '' and that documents were being prepared to register it with the state .
Another vaccine , developed by Siberia-based Vektor lab , is currently undergoing clinical trials and two more will begin human testing within the next two months , Murashko said .
Health authorities are planning to roll out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Gamaleya 's vaccine is a so-called viral vector vaccine , meaning it employs another virus to carry the DNA encoding of the needed immune response into cells .
Gamaleya 's vaccine employs the adenovirus , a similar technology to the coronavirus vaccine prototype developed by China 's CanSino , currently in the advanced stage of clinical trials .
The Gamaleya institute came under fire after researchers and directors injected themselves with the prototype months ago , with specialists criticizing the move as an unorthodox and rushed way of starting human trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will struggle to adapt the vaccine to mass production because the country lacks raw materials , adequate facilities and experience , particularly with advanced technology like viral vector .
Some Russian officials have boasted that the country will be the first to come up with the vaccine , even comparing it to the space race to produce the first satellite in the Soviet era .
Moscow has dismissed allegations from the UK , the United States and Canada that a hacking group linked to Russian intelligence services tried to steal information about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia 's coronavirus caseload is currently fourth in the world after the United States , Brazil and India .

The country is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes and one trialled by the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development and is about to pass state registration, officials said.
Russia said Monday it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine next month and turn out "several million" doses per month by next year.
"We are very much counting on starting mass production in September," Industry Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by state news agency TASS.
"We will be able to ensure production volumes of several hundred thousand a month, with an eventual increase to several million by the start of next year," he said, adding that one developer is preparing production technology at three locations in central Russia.
The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which finances the trials, said he expects official registration of the vaccine to be complete "within 10 days."
"If this happens in the next 10 days, we will be ahead not just of the United States but other countries too, it will be the first registered coronavirus vaccine," RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev said in televised remarks.
Another vaccine, developed by Siberia-based Vektor lab, is currently undergoing clinical trials and two more will begin human testing within the next two months, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Saturday.
Gamaleya's vaccine is a so-called viral vector vaccine, meaning it employs another virus to carry the DNA encoding the needed immune response into cells.
Gamaleya's vaccine is based on the adenovirus, a similar technology to the coronavirus vaccine prototype developed by China's CanSino, currently in the advanced stage of clinical trials.
'Who will buy it?'
The state-run Gamaleya institute came under fire after researchers and its director injected themselves with the prototype several months ago, with specialists criticising the move as an unorthodox and rushed way of starting human trials.
Vitaly Zverev, laboratory chief at the Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, said it was too early to register a vaccine.
"I believe a vaccine that is not properly checked must not be registered, no matter in what country," he said.
"It is impossible to ensure the vaccine's safety in the time that has passed since the beginning of this pandemic," he told AFP.
"You can make anything, but who is going to buy it?"
Zverev added that the three firms named as future producers of Russia's vaccines are well-known pharmaceutical firms that do not normally make vaccines, let alone high-tech ones using DNA technology.
"No adenovirus-based vaccine has been proven effective before," he said. "How are they going to grow it? Nobody explains this."
Moscow has dismissed allegations from the UK, the United States and Canada that a hacking group linked to Russian intelligence services tried to steal information about a coronavirus vaccine from labs in the West.
At more than 850,000 infections, Russia's coronavirus caseload is currently fourth in the world after the United States, Brazil and India.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--Which Countries Are Open to Russians – and Vice Versa?

Russian authorities could resume all international flights with countries that grant reciprocity as early as Aug. 11 , the state-run @ @ @ @ @ industry sources as saying Saturday .
Most flights to and from Russia have been grounded @ @ @ @ @ effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
Russia also closed its borders @ @ @ @ @ with exceptions for diplomats , relatives of deceased people , high-demand workers and other categories @ @ @ @ @ to international travel , here ’ s a look at where it ’ s currently @ @ @ @ @ from Russia : These places are open to Russian citizens with a mandatory two-week quarantine @ @ @ @ @ are open to Russian citizens with no quarantine requirement : Russia is open to visitors @ @ @ @ @ a negative coronavirus test :

Russian authorities could resume all international flights with countries that grant reciprocity as early as Aug. 11, the state-run TASS news agency cited aviation industry sources as saying Saturday.
Most flights to and from Russia have been grounded since March 27 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Russia also closed its borders to most foreign citizens, with exceptions for diplomats, relatives of deceased people, high-demand workers and other categories.
As Russia eyes reopening to international travel, here’s a look at where it’s currently possible to travel to and from Russia:
These places are open to Russian citizens with a mandatory two-week quarantine upon arrival:
— Britain
These places are open to Russian citizens with no quarantine requirement:
— Turkey
— Tanzania
— Switzerland (from Aug. 15)
— Montenegro (from Aug. 7)
— The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia
Russia is open to visitors from these countries who present a negative coronavirus test:
— Britain
— Turkey
— Tanzania
— Switzerland (from Aug. 15)
— The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia


themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--Russian Mercenaries in Belarus Say They Were ‘On Their Way to See Hagia Sophia’ – Investigators

The men gave conflicting testimonies during questioning , with “ less than half ” saying the group planned to fly from Minsk to Istanbul and the rest naming “ completely different destinations , ” Ivan Noskevich told Lukashenko in the meeting broadcast on the Belarus 1 television channel Saturday .
Belarus authorities detained the men last week for allegedly plotting to destabilize the country ahead of the country ’ s Aug. 9 presidential election .
The Kremlin on Friday said the Russian men were `` employees of a private security company '' who were staying temporarily in Belarus before traveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33 Russian mercenaries detained in Belarus told investigators they were on their way to Istanbul to see the Hagia Sophia , the head of Belarus ’ Investigative Committee told President Alexander Lukashenko .
Those who named Turkey as their destination cited a number of different reasons for going there , Noskevich said .
Some said they were planning to vacation , some said they were going to work as guards and some said they planned to see Istanbul ’ s iconic Hagia Sophia cathedral .
In 2018 , two suspects in the attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain told Russian state television they were only visiting the city of Salisbury to see its “ world famous ” cathedral .
Noskevich said that while the group had purchased flight tickets to Istanbul , they never went to the airport .
“ There was no [ plan for ] Istanbul and could not be , ” Lukashenko said in response .
“ It is clear that this group had other goals.
” Russians have used Belarus as a transit point to other countries since their own country grounded nearly all international flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko is facing the toughest re-election bid of his 26 years in power in the Aug. 9 vote .
Protests swept the country after his main election rivals were jailed or barred from running , with people rallying behind the wife of a jailed opposition candidate .

The men gave conflicting testimonies during questioning, with “less than half” saying the group planned to fly from Minsk to Istanbul and the rest naming “completely different destinations,” Ivan Noskevich told Lukashenko in the meeting broadcast on the Belarus 1 television channel Saturday.
Belarus authorities detained the men last week for allegedly plotting to destabilize the country ahead of the country’s Aug. 9 presidential election. The Kremlin on Friday said the Russian men were "employees of a private security company" who were staying temporarily in Belarus before traveling onward to Istanbul.
Some of the 33 Russian mercenaries detained in Belarus told investigators they were on their way to Istanbul to see the Hagia Sophia, the head of Belarus’ Investigative Committee told President Alexander Lukashenko.
Those who named Turkey as their destination cited a number of different reasons for going there, Noskevich said. Some said they were planning to vacation, some said they were going to work as guards and some said they planned to see Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia cathedral.
In 2018, two suspects in the attempted poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal in Britain told Russian state television they were only visiting the city of Salisbury to see its “world famous” cathedral.
Noskevich said that while the group had purchased flight tickets to Istanbul, they never went to the airport.
“There was no [plan for] Istanbul and could not be,” Lukashenko said in response. “It is clear that this group had other goals.”
Russians have used Belarus as a transit point to other countries since their own country grounded nearly all international flights in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lukashenko is facing the toughest re-election bid of his 26 years in power in the Aug. 9 vote. Protests swept the country after his main election rivals were jailed or barred from running, with people rallying behind the wife of a jailed opposition candidate.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--Russia Records Almost 5,400 New Coronavirus Cases

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow , the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the @ @ @ @ @ rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow could @ @ @ @ @ authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military @ @ @ @ @ nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power @ @ @ @ @ were initially postponed due the epidemic .
Moscow plans to open cinemas and theaters on @ @ @ @ @ capital , masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the @ @ @ @ @ Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine .
Last week the Russian Defense Ministry said @ @ @ @ @ safe '' vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers .
The trials are @ @ @ @ @ Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks .

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Thousands of people braved the rain in the far-eastern city of Khabarovsk on Saturday to attend another huge protest march @ @ @ @ @ region 's popular governor .
For a fourth weekend , demonstrators marched through the streets @ @ @ @ @ support of ex-governor Sergei Furgal , who was arrested and taken to Moscow last month @ @ @ @ @ murders 15 years ago .
Russia paid tribute to its military parachutists with Paratroopers ’ @ @ @ @ @ celebrate their professional holiday with marches , followed by heavy drinking and jumping in public @ @ @ @ @ four people after a brawl broke out between former paratroopers and riot police officers in @ @ @ @ @ .
The fight reportedly started after officers asked the paratroopers “ to behave more modestly @ @ @ @ @ Airborne Forces flag , as it was disturbing others . ''

Fourth weekend of protest
Thousands of people braved the rain in the far-eastern city of Khabarovsk on Saturday to attend another huge protest march against the arrest of the region's popular governor.
For a fourth weekend, demonstrators marched through the streets chanting anti-Kremlin slogans and in support of ex-governor Sergei Furgal, who was arrested and taken to Moscow last month to face charges of masterminding murders 15 years ago.
Rowdy paratroopers
Russia paid tribute to its military parachutists with Paratroopers’ Day on Sunday. Paratroopers celebrate their professional holiday with marches, followed by heavy drinking and jumping in public fountains.
Moscow police detained four people after a brawl broke out between former paratroopers and riot police officers in Gorky Park, Interfax reported. The fight reportedly started after officers asked the paratroopers “to behave more modestly and not to wave the Airborne Forces flag, as it was disturbing others."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-03--French Trial Ordered for Alleged Russian Bitcoin Fraudster

A judge in Paris has ordered a French trial for Alexander Vinnik , a Russian suspected of money laundering on @ @ @ @ @ also wanted by Washington and Moscow , his lawyer and other sources told AFP .
@ @ @ @ @ in January from Greece , where he had been arrested on an American warrant in @ @ @ @ @ the BTC-e exchange until his arrest at the northern Greek tourist resort of Halkidiki , @ @ @ @ @ extradition tussle between the United States , France and Russia .
A U.S. indictment accuses @ @ @ @ @ from identity theft and facilitating drug trafficking to money laundering .
French authorities , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 people in six cities between 2016 and 2018 .

A judge in Paris has ordered a French trial for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian suspected of money laundering on the bitcoin exchange BTC-e, also wanted by Washington and Moscow, his lawyer and other sources told AFP.
Vinnik was extradited to France in January from Greece, where he had been arrested on an American warrant in 2017.
Vinnik allegedly operated the BTC-e exchange until his arrest at the northern Greek tourist resort of Halkidiki, which set off a three-way extradition tussle between the United States, France and Russia.
A U.S. indictment accuses him of 21 charges ranging from identity theft and facilitating drug trafficking to money laundering.
French authorities, meanwhile, accuse him of defrauding more than 100 people in six cities between 2016 and 2018.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--WHO Urges Russia to Follow Guidelines on Virus Vaccine

Russia said Monday it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine in September and turn out `` several million '' doses per month by next year .
The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines after Moscow announced plans to start swiftly producing COVID-19 jabs .
Russia is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes .
Officials claimed that one trialed by the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development and is about to pass state registration .
`` We are very much counting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industry Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by state news agency TASS .
Asked about the developments in Russia , the WHO stressed that all vaccine candidates should go through the full stages of testing before being rolled out .
`` There are established practices and there are guidelines out , '' WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters at the United Nations in Geneva .
`` Any vaccine ... ( or medicine ) for this purpose should be , of course , going through all the various trials and tests before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Sometimes individual researchers claim they have found something , which is of course , as such , great news .
`` But between finding or having a clue of maybe having a vaccine that works , and having gone through all the stages , is a big difference . ''
The pandemic has seen an unprecedented mobilization of funding and research to rush through a vaccine that can protect billions of people worldwide .
Scientists in the West have raised concerns about the speed of development of Russian vaccines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver .
The WHO 's overview of COVID-19 candidate vaccines , published on Friday , lists 26 candidates in clinical evaluation — of which six have progressed as far as wider Phase 3 levels of testing .
The Gamaleya candidate , which is among the 26 being tested on humans , is listed as being in Phase 1 .
A further 139 candidates worldwide were listed as being in pre-clinical evaluation .
Lindmeier said the WHO had not been officially notified of any Russian vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If there was anything official , then our colleagues in the European office would definitely look into this , '' the spokesman said .
`` In general terms , there are a set of guidances and regulations , rules , how to deal with safe development of a vaccine .
`` These should be definitely followed in order to make sure that we know what the vaccine is working against , who it can help and , of course , also if it has any negative side effects . ''

Russia said Monday it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine in September and turn out "several million" doses per month by next year.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines after Moscow announced plans to start swiftly producing COVID-19 jabs.
Russia is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes. Officials claimed that one trialed by the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development and is about to pass state registration.
"We are very much counting on starting mass production in September," Industry Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by state news agency TASS.
Asked about the developments in Russia, the WHO stressed that all vaccine candidates should go through the full stages of testing before being rolled out.
"There are established practices and there are guidelines out," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters at the United Nations in Geneva.
"Any vaccine...(or medicine) for this purpose should be, of course, going through all the various trials and tests before being licensed for roll-out," he said.
"Sometimes individual researchers claim they have found something, which is of course, as such, great news.
"But between finding or having a clue of maybe having a vaccine that works, and having gone through all the stages, is a big difference."
Race for vaccine
The pandemic has seen an unprecedented mobilization of funding and research to rush through a vaccine that can protect billions of people worldwide.
Scientists in the West have raised concerns about the speed of development of Russian vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver.
The WHO's overview of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, published on Friday, lists 26 candidates in clinical evaluation — of which six have progressed as far as wider Phase 3 levels of testing.
The Gamaleya candidate, which is among the 26 being tested on humans, is listed as being in Phase 1.
A further 139 candidates worldwide were listed as being in pre-clinical evaluation.
Lindmeier said the WHO had not been officially notified of any Russian vaccine on the verge of being deployed.
"If there was anything official, then our colleagues in the European office would definitely look into this," the spokesman said.
"In general terms, there are a set of guidances and regulations, rules, how to deal with safe development of a vaccine.
"These should be definitely followed in order to make sure that we know what the vaccine is working against, who it can help and, of course, also if it has any negative side effects."