themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Leading Russian Paper Vedomosti’s New Editor Bans Putin Criticism

The new chief editor of Russia ’ s leading business newspaper Vedomosti has banned employees from publishing articles that criticize President Vladimir Putin ’ s proposed constitutional changes , the paper ’ s media editor said Wednesday in the latest report of recent censorship at the publication .
Andrei Shmarov , who was named acting editor-in-chief by Vedomosti ’ s new owners in March , made news earlier this month for deleting a column critical of state-controlled oil giant Rosneft ’ s head , Igor Sechin .
Shmarov has now threatened to fire staffers if they write pieces critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain president until 2036 , Vedomosti ’ s media editor Kseniya Boletskaya wrote on Facebook .
The new chief editor also banned articles that cite surveys from Russia ’ s last remaining independent polling agency , the Levada Center , Boletskaya wrote , claiming that the orders came from the Kremlin .
“ Shmarov says that the presidential administration doesn ’ t want to see Levada surveys in Vedomosti and if the paper wants to survive , it should listen to the presidential administration , ” Boletskaya said .
Vedomosti , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often gets first access to the pollster ’ s latest studies .
“ He ’ s already tried to talk Vedomosti journalists out of using Levada , ” she wrote .
“ Now it ’ s a direct ban .
And strictly verbal.
” Shmarov previously founded the Kremlin-linked Expert magazine and served as CEO of the Snob news website and editor-in-chief of the Project 42 educational portal .
His hiring sparked backlash within Vedomosti ’ s ranks , and several of its editors have called on the owners to appoint a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s founder and the publisher of The Moscow Times , has expressed concern about the independent paper ’ s sale to publisher Konstantin Zyatkov and businessman Alexei Golubovich , which led to Shmarov ’ s hiring .

Update: An editorial has appeared on Vedomosti's website criticizing its acting editor-in-chief, Andrei Shmarov. The editorial warns that the paper risks becoming “another dependent and controlled media aiming to fulfill the interests and ambitions of its official and secret owners” unless they appoint a different chief editor. Earlier Thursday, the Kremlin denied involvement in the newspaper's editorial policy. The new chief editor of Russia’s leading business newspaper Vedomosti has banned employees from publishing articles that criticize President Vladimir Putin’s proposed constitutional changes, the paper’s media editor said Wednesday in the latest report of recent censorship at the publication. Andrei Shmarov, who was named acting editor-in-chief by Vedomosti’s new owners in March, made news earlier this month for deleting a column critical of state-controlled oil giant Rosneft’s head, Igor Sechin.
Vedomosti’s media editor Ksenia Boletskaya writes that the paper’s new editor-in-chief Andrei Shmarov has banned publishing polls from the independent Levada Center and writing critically about Putin’s proposed constitutional changes https://t.co/e8OD5Hhr6V — Evan Gershkovich (@evangershkovich) April 22, 2020
Shmarov has now threatened to fire staffers if they write pieces critical of the constitutional amendments that could allow Putin to remain president until 2036, Vedomosti’s media editor Kseniya Boletskaya wrote on Facebook. The new chief editor also banned articles that cite surveys from Russia’s last remaining independent polling agency, the Levada Center, Boletskaya wrote, claiming that the orders came from the Kremlin. “Shmarov says that the presidential administration doesn’t want to see Levada surveys in Vedomosti and if the paper wants to survive, it should listen to the presidential administration,” Boletskaya said. Vedomosti, a longtime partner of the Levada Center, often gets first access to the pollster’s latest studies.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Russia’s Coronavirus Outbreak Jeopardizes Care for Patients With Rare Diseases

The government ordered health officials to allocate up to 100,000 hospital beds for Covid-19 patients , the newspaper reported earlier this month .
Officials were ordered to free up capacity by repurposing hospitals and halting the treatment of other patients , with rare exceptions for cancer and cardiovascular patients .
The lives of thousands of Russian patients with rare diseases are in danger because the country ’ s hospitals are being repurposed to address the coronavirus outbreak , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday .
The Russian Patients ’ Association has warned the Health Ministry that patients with chronic hepatitis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among other diseases , are currently facing difficulties in receiving treatment , according to Kommersant .
“ We ’ re getting a lot of letters saying that patients are denied assistance , ” its co-chairman Yury Zhulev was quoted as saying .
He estimated that the new directives threaten the health of “ thousands.
” “ Patients with other diseases are often simply asked to wait because the regions don ’ t allocate other facilities for their treatment , ” Zhulev added .
Around 1,000 hepatitis patients alone require monthly treatment across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CEO of the United Against Hepatitis group , as saying .
“ Up to one-third of them may be in serious condition , where delaying medical care threatens death or serious complications , ” Kovalenko was quoted as saying .
Other health advocacy groups reported HIV patients facing difficulties undergoing tests as part of their antiretroviral therapy and cancer patients having their surgeries and radiation therapy rescheduled .
Russia confirmed 5,236 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 57,999 .

The government ordered health officials to allocate up to 100,000 hospital beds for Covid-19 patients, the newspaper reported earlier this month. Officials were ordered to free up capacity by repurposing hospitals and halting the treatment of other patients, with rare exceptions for cancer and cardiovascular patients.
The lives of thousands of Russian patients with rare diseases are in danger because the country’s hospitals are being repurposed to address the coronavirus outbreak, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.
The Russian Patients’ Association has warned the Health Ministry that patients with chronic hepatitis, primary immunodeficiency and cystic fibrosis, among other diseases, are currently facing difficulties in receiving treatment, according to Kommersant.
“We’re getting a lot of letters saying that patients are denied assistance,” its co-chairman Yury Zhulev was quoted as saying.
He estimated that the new directives threaten the health of “thousands.”
“Patients with other diseases are often simply asked to wait because the regions don’t allocate other facilities for their treatment,” Zhulev added.
Around 1,000 hepatitis patients alone require monthly treatment across the country, Kommersant cited Nikita Kovalenko, the CEO of the United Against Hepatitis group, as saying.
“Up to one-third of them may be in serious condition, where delaying medical care threatens death or serious complications,” Kovalenko was quoted as saying.
Other health advocacy groups reported HIV patients facing difficulties undergoing tests as part of their antiretroviral therapy and cancer patients having their surgeries and radiation therapy rescheduled.
Russia confirmed 5,236 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 57,999.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Russian Communists Celebrate Lenin’s Birthday on Red Square Despite Lockdown

Coronavirus who ?
Members of Russia 's Communist Party ignored Moscow 's lockdown rules and staged a parade through Red @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Lenin 's 150th birthday in front of his mausoleum .
Lenin , on the @ @ @ @ @ following self-isolation regulations as his tomb is currently barred to the public .

Coronavirus who? Members of Russia's Communist Party ignored Moscow's lockdown rules and staged a parade through Red Square to celebrate Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin's 150th birthday in front of his mausoleum.
Lenin, on the other hand, is dutifully following self-isolation regulations as his tomb is currently barred to the public.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Russia Bans ‘Discussions’ of Fake Coronavirus News

Facing public mistrust toward the country ’ s relatively low infection numbers at the time , Russia made spreading false information about Covid-19 punishable by up to five years in jail starting April 1 .
Russia ’ s Supreme Court has ruled it illegal to discuss “ fake news ” about the deadly coronavirus pandemic in public in addition to publishing it .
In an explanatory note published Tuesday , the Supreme Court said the punishments extend to individuals who “ not only use mass media and telecommunication networks , but also speak at meetings , rallies , distribute leaflets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not apply if the questionable information was published or discussed publicly before April 1 , the court explained .
Russian prosecutors said they have uncovered more than 300 pieces of “ fake news ” about Covid-19 since February .
More than 260 websites were either blocked or have deleted the false information , the Prosecutor General ’ s Office was quoted as saying Wednesday .
Authorities requested Russia ’ s media watchdog to block 80 websites for spreading “ false information of public significance that threatened people ’ s health and lives.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also punishes people for breaking coronavirus quarantine rules by up to seven years in prison .
Putin has previously said that fake news reports about the coronavirus were being sent to Russia from abroad to spread panic .
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 62,773 .

Facing public mistrust toward the country’s relatively low infection numbers at the time, Russia made spreading false information about Covid-19 punishable by up to five years in jail starting April 1.
Russia’s Supreme Court has ruled it illegal to discuss “fake news” about the deadly coronavirus pandemic in public in addition to publishing it.
In an explanatory note published Tuesday, the Supreme Court said the punishments extend to individuals who “not only use mass media and telecommunication networks, but also speak at meetings, rallies, distribute leaflets and hang posters.”
The law does not apply if the questionable information was published or discussed publicly before April 1, the court explained.
Russian prosecutors said they have uncovered more than 300 pieces of “fake news” about Covid-19 since February.
More than 260 websites were either blocked or have deleted the false information, the Prosecutor General’s Office was quoted as saying Wednesday. Authorities requested Russia’s media watchdog to block 80 websites for spreading “false information of public significance that threatened people’s health and lives.”
The legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin also punishes people for breaking coronavirus quarantine rules by up to seven years in prison.
Putin has previously said that fake news reports about the coronavirus were being sent to Russia from abroad to spread panic.
Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 62,773.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Leading Russian Paper Vedomosti’s New Editor Bans Putin Criticism

Update : An editorial has appeared on Vedomosti 's website criticizing its acting editor-in-chief , Andrei Shmarov .
The editorial warns that the paper risks becoming “ another dependent and controlled media aiming to fulfill the interests and ambitions of its official and secret owners ” unless they appoint a different chief editor .
Earlier Thursday , the Kremlin denied involvement in the newspaper 's editorial policy .
The new chief editor of Russia ’ s leading business newspaper Vedomosti has banned employees from publishing articles that criticize President Vladimir Putin ’ s proposed constitutional changes , the paper ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest report of recent censorship at the publication .
Andrei Shmarov , who was named acting editor-in-chief by Vedomosti ’ s new owners in March , made news earlier this month for deleting a column critical of state-controlled oil giant Rosneft ’ s head , Igor Sechin .
Shmarov has now threatened to fire staffers if they write pieces critical of the constitutional amendments that could allow Putin to remain president until 2036 , Vedomosti ’ s media editor Kseniya Boletskaya wrote on Facebook .
The new chief editor also banned articles that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining independent polling agency , the Levada Center , Boletskaya wrote , claiming that the orders came from the Kremlin .
“ Shmarov says that the presidential administration doesn ’ t want to see Levada surveys in Vedomosti and if the paper wants to survive , it should listen to the presidential administration , ” Boletskaya said .
Vedomosti , a longtime partner of the Levada Center , often gets first access to the pollster ’ s latest studies .
“ He ’ s already tried to talk Vedomosti journalists out of using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now it ’ s a direct ban .
And strictly verbal.
” Shmarov previously founded the Kremlin-linked Expert magazine and served as CEO of the Snob news website and editor-in-chief of the Project 42 educational portal .
His hiring sparked backlash within Vedomosti ’ s ranks , and several of its editors have called on the owners to appoint a different chief editor .
Derk Sauer , Vedomosti ’ s founder and the publisher of The Moscow Times , has expressed concern about the independent paper ’ s sale to publisher Konstantin Zyatkov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Shmarov ’ s hiring .


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Moscow Halts Abortions During Coronavirus Outbreak: Activists

Only three out of the Russian capital ’ s 44 clinics have said they would continue to provide abortions through the national compulsory medical insurance program , the group said on its website Monday .
The other 41 clinics told Nasiliyu.net that the procedure is unavailable “ unless you ’ re brought in an ambulance.
” More than 100,000 pregnant women will be unable to undergo medical abortions in Moscow because of restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak , the women ’ s rights organization Nasiliyu.net ( “ No to Violence ” ) Center has said .
Women 's rights activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that dozens of Moscow clinics have stopped performing abortions due to corona .
She estimates it 'll affect more than 100,000 unwanted pregnancies .
https : //t.co/7p7jyyU9lf Between 100,000 and 150,000 women are at risk of unwanted pregnancies or botched abortions during lockdown measures imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Moscow , its head Anna Rivina told the independent Dozhd news channel Wednesday .
“ Statistics around the world confirm that , when legal abortion is impossible , mortality increases among women who do it the wrong way as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as saying .
The health department at Moscow mayor ’ s office denied that only three clinics provide abortions , the Takie Dela news website reported .
It said that only one facility , a maternity ward repurposed for Covid-19 patients , has discontinued abortions .
Russia legalized abortion in 1955 and has the second-highest abortion rate in the world after China .
Moscow , which has a population of 12.5 million , currently accounts for more than half of Russia ’ s 62,773 coronavirus cases and 555 deaths .

Only three out of the Russian capital’s 44 clinics have said they would continue to provide abortions through the national compulsory medical insurance program, the group said on its website Monday. The other 41 clinics told Nasiliyu.net that the procedure is unavailable “unless you’re brought in an ambulance.”
More than 100,000 pregnant women will be unable to undergo medical abortions in Moscow because of restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak, the women’s rights organization Nasiliyu.net (“No to Violence”) Center has said .
Women's rights activist @anna_rivina sounds the alarm after finding that dozens of Moscow clinics have stopped performing abortions due to corona. She estimates it'll affect more than 100,000 unwanted pregnancies. https://t.co/7p7jyyU9lf
Between 100,000 and 150,000 women are at risk of unwanted pregnancies or botched abortions during lockdown measures imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Moscow, its head Anna Rivina told the independent Dozhd news channel Wednesday.
“Statistics around the world confirm that, when legal abortion is impossible, mortality increases among women who do it the wrong way as well as among children,” Rivina was quoted as saying.
The health department at Moscow mayor’s office denied that only three clinics provide abortions, the Takie Dela news website reported. It said that only one facility, a maternity ward repurposed for Covid-19 patients, has discontinued abortions.
Russia legalized abortion in 1955 and has the second-highest abortion rate in the world after China.
Moscow, which has a population of 12.5 million, currently accounts for more than half of Russia’s 62,773 coronavirus cases and 555 deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-23--Sick Russian Nurses in Storage Room Spark Outrage

This video of sick nurses hooked up to IV drips in the storage room of a hospital in the republic @ @ @ @ @ Russian social media .
While officials said the women were not ill with coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ in the hospital was fired after the video appeared online .
The nurses have since @ @ @ @ @ hospital ward to be treated .

This video of sick nurses hooked up to IV drips in the storage room of a hospital in the republic of Dagestan sparked outrage on Russian social media.
While officials said the women were not ill with coronavirus, the head of infectious diseases in the hospital was fired after the video appeared online.
The nurses have since been moved to a real hospital ward to be treated.