themoscowtimes--2020-04-20--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Rise By Over 4,000

Russia ’ s officially reported numbers — which are still relatively lower than those in European countries — have sparked suspicion .
Experts warn that Russia 's testing capacity is hampered by bureaucracy , while officials warn that the real number of cases is likely much higher .
The majority of Russia 's cases are in Moscow .
Since March 30 , all of Moscow 's 12 million residents have been ordered to stay in their homes with few exceptions .
Moscow Deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova has warned the city `` will face difficult weeks '' ahead .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next two to three weeks , '' she said in a video released on social media Friday .
Under confinement rules that Muscovites have to observe until at least May 1 , they are only allowed to leave their homes to go to work , walk their dogs , take out trash or visit their nearest shop .
This week city authorities tightened the lockdown by introducing a digital permit system , requiring that anyone travelling by car or public transport obtain a pass .
Russia has carried out more than 1.7 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about their reliability .
Worldwide , the virus has infected over 2 million people .

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--2020-04-20--Coronavirus Hits Russian Psychiatric Hospital

Dozens of patients and staff have been infected with the coronavirus at a psychiatric hospital in Russia ’ s northwestern @ @ @ @ @ a sharp rise in local cases , Interfax reported Sunday , citing regional authorities .
@ @ @ @ @ hospital was placed under quarantine Saturday when one of its employees was found to be @ @ @ @ @ to be a nurse who had recently returned from Moscow , Russia ’ s Meduza @ @ @ @ @ employee as saying .
At least 70 patients and employees have since tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ regional crisis center as saying Sunday .

Dozens of patients and staff have been infected with the coronavirus at a psychiatric hospital in Russia’s northwestern Arkhangelsk region, leading to a sharp rise in local cases, Interfax reported Sunday, citing regional authorities.
The Arkhangelsk state clinical psychiatric hospital was placed under quarantine Saturday when one of its employees was found to be infected. She is believed to be a nurse who had recently returned from Moscow, Russia’s Meduza news website quoted an unnamed employee as saying.
At least 70 patients and employees have since tested positive for Covid-19, Interfax cited the regional crisis center as saying Sunday.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-20--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Millions of Russians celebrated Orthodox Easter amid the coronavirus pandemic that has infected almost 43,000 people , making Russia the world ’ s 10th most-affected country .
In and around Moscow , where most Russian virus cases are concentrated , churches held services behind closed doors , while they remained open in many other regions of Russia .
Russian Patriarch Kirill , who leads 150 million believers , held a service in Moscow 's Christ the Savior Church without worshippers .
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not go to a service as usual but visited a chapel at his country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other temporary residence permits for foreigners from March 15 to June 15 during the coronavirus pandemic that has shut national borders around the world .
Putin ’ s act bans authorities from canceling visas and work permits , as well as from deporting and denying people refugee and temporary asylum status until June 15 .
HIV infections and deaths from HIV-related causes fell by 7 % and 8 % between 2019 and 2018 , according to preliminary data collected by experts and shared with the RBC news website .
The decline , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , marks the first time since 2015 that HIV infection rates have declined in Russia .
Three members of the Baltic Avantgarde of Russian Resistance ( BARS ) group that advocates secession from Russia and membership of the EU for the western enclave of Kaliningrad have been sentenced to between six and eight years in jail on extremism charges .
The fourth member of the self-described “ nationalist ” and “ monarchist ” organization was released after receiving a three-year sentence on weapons charges .
Police in Moscow have reportedly fined a homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him not having a permanent residence .
“ They told me that it ’ s not their problem and that I should rent a place , after which they put me in a police van and took me to the station , ” said the man , identified by the first name Eduard .

Pandemic Easter Millions of Russians celebrated Orthodox Easter amid the coronavirus pandemic that has infected almost 43,000 people, making Russia the world’s 10th most-affected country. In and around Moscow, where most Russian virus cases are concentrated, churches held services behind closed doors, while they remained open in many other regions of Russia. Russian Patriarch Kirill, who leads 150 million believers, held a service in Moscow's Christ the Savior Church without worshippers. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not go to a service as usual but visited a chapel at his country residence.
Churches held services behind closed doors. Sergei Vlasov / patriarchia.ru
Visa grace Russia has extended visas and other temporary residence permits for foreigners from March 15 to June 15 during the coronavirus pandemic that has shut national borders around the world. Putin’s act bans authorities from canceling visas and work permits, as well as from deporting and denying people refugee and temporary asylum status until June 15. HIV epidemic HIV infections and deaths from HIV-related causes fell by 7% and 8% between 2019 and 2018, according to preliminary data collected by experts and shared with the RBC news website. The decline, including in regions most affected by the epidemic, marks the first time since 2015 that HIV infection rates have declined in Russia.
HIV cases have fallen. Yegor Aleyev / TASS
BARS case Three members of the Baltic Avantgarde of Russian Resistance (BARS) group that advocates secession from Russia and membership of the EU for the western enclave of Kaliningrad have been sentenced to between six and eight years in jail on extremism charges. The fourth member of the self-described “nationalist” and “monarchist” organization was released after receiving a three-year sentence on weapons charges.
Police reportedly arrested a homeless man. Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency


themoscowtimes--2020-04-20--Moscow Court Cuts Jail Term for Activist Kotov

The Moscow City Court has ruled to reduce activist Konstantin Kotov ’ s four-year jail sentence for “ multiple beaches @ @ @ @ @ protest law to 18 months , while also ruling that the guilty verdict was lawful @ @ @ @ @ reported Monday , citing the court ’ s press-service .
The hearing was reportedly conducted @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus distancing rules .
The 35-year-old computer programmer was arrested last year after repeated @ @ @ @ @ Moscow ’ s parliamentary election .
Kotov , who was declared a prisoner of conscience @ @ @ @ @ the second person in Russia to be prosecuted for breaking the protest lawl .
President @ @ @ @ @ he would look at Kotov ’ s case and instructed federal prosecutors a month later @ @ @ @ @ .
Kotov ’ s defense team has demanded that his sentence is annulled and he @ @ @ @

The Moscow City Court has ruled to reduce activist Konstantin Kotov’s four-year jail sentence for “multiple breaches” of Russia’s protest law to 18 months, while also ruling that the guilty verdict was lawful, the RBC news website reported Monday, citing the court’s press-service.
The hearing was reportedly conducted without visitors and journalists because of coronavirus distancing rules.
The 35-year-old computer programmer was arrested last year after repeated participation in summer protests over Moscow’s parliamentary election.
Kotov, who was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was the second person in Russia to be prosecuted for breaking the protest law.
President Vladimir Putin said in December he would look at Kotov’s case and instructed federal prosecutors a month later to review his prison sentence.
Kotov’s defense team has demanded that his sentence is annulled and he is immediately released.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-20--1 in 5 Russians Advocate ‘Eliminating’ LGBT Community – Poll

Almost one in five Russians believe that LGBT people should be “ eliminated , ” according to the results of @ @ @ @ @ poll .
The figures showed 18 % of respondents giving the response , marking a @ @ @ @ @ members of the LGBT community since 2015 , when 21 % advocated their “ elimination.
@ @ @ @ @ said this year that gays and lesbians should be “ isolated from society , ” @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
“ The stigmatization of socially vulnerable people has decreased over the past @ @ @ @ @ that require helping and not isolating from them have expanded , ” Levada sociologist Karina @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
Positive attitudes have also improved over the past five years , with 9 @ @ @ @ @ helping the LGBT community , up from 6 % , and 32 % saying they @ @ @ @ @ , ” up from 24 % .

Almost one in five Russians believe that LGBT people should be “eliminated,” according to the results of a new independent Levada Center poll.
The figures showed 18% of respondents giving the response, marking a slight softening in attitudes toward members of the LGBT community since 2015, when 21% advocated their “elimination.” Similarly, 32% said this year that gays and lesbians should be “isolated from society,” down from 37% five years ago.
“The stigmatization of socially vulnerable people has decreased over the past 30 years, and norms that require helping and not isolating from them have expanded,” Levada sociologist Karina Pipiya told the Kommersant newspaper Sunday.
Positive attitudes have also improved over the past five years, with 9% of the respondents favoring helping the LGBT community, up from 6%, and 32% saying they should be “left alone,” up from 24%.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-20--Russia to Quarantine Troops Rehearsing for Postponed WWII Parade on Coronavirus Concerns

The Russian military will quarantine everyone involved in rehearsals for Russia ’ s postponed Victory Day Parade , the Defense Ministry said Monday following reports that some participants have tested positive for the coronavirus .
President Vladimir Putin postponed the landmark parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II until later in 2020 as Russia struggles to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry confirmed Friday that dozens of cadets , some of whom were reportedly involved in parade rehearsals , tested positive for Covid-19 in Moscow .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to home bases in accordance with the decision to postpone the military parade on Red Square , ” Russia ’ s state-run TASS news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying .
“ Upon arrival , all military personnel who took part in rehearsals will be placed in two-week quarantine , ” it added .
The military said that all equipment that was used in the rehearsals will be disinfected , according to TASS .
Preparations for the military parade had been underway since February .
Around 15,000 troops and 400 pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take part in the 2020 parade .
Unconfirmed social media footage of recent parade rehearsals outside Moscow showed crowds of troops in apparent violation of social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus .

The Russian military will quarantine everyone involved in rehearsals for Russia’s postponed Victory Day Parade, the Defense Ministry said Monday following reports that some participants have tested positive for the coronavirus.
President Vladimir Putin postponed the landmark parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II until later in 2020 as Russia struggles to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed Friday that dozens of cadets, some of whom were reportedly involved in parade rehearsals, tested positive for Covid-19 in Moscow.
“The military teams have been ordered to return to home bases in accordance with the decision to postpone the military parade on Red Square,” Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying.
“Upon arrival, all military personnel who took part in rehearsals will be placed in two-week quarantine,” it added.
The military said that all equipment that was used in the rehearsals will be disinfected, according to TASS.
Preparations for the military parade had been underway since February. Around 15,000 troops and 400 pieces of equipment were estimated to be preparing to take part in the 2020 parade.
Unconfirmed social media footage of recent parade rehearsals outside Moscow showed crowds of troops in apparent violation of social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.