themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Arctic Oil Spill: Nornickel Failures, Tank Flaws Caused Catastrophe – Report

Some 21,000 tons of oil poured into the surrounding ground and waterways after a diesel oil tank collapsed on May 29 , with fuel found in rivers and lakes up to 30 kilometers ( 19 miles ) away .
Environmentalists said it was the largest-ever oil spill in the Arctic .
The report is the work of consulting group Environmental Resources Management ( ERM ) , which Nornickel commissioned to investigate the causes behind the May oil spill at one of its sites near the city of Norilsk in Russia ’ s Siberian north .
A cocktail of design flaws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst oil spill in Russia ’ s modern history — and the most damaging ever inside the Arctic circle — “ inevitable , ” a report commissioned by Russian metals giant Nornickel has said .
In the report , a summary of which was published Thursday , ERM criticized Nornickel for not investigating potential warning signs in the years leading up to the disaster , and said the firm adopted a “ compliance mindset ” aimed at pleasing regulators and inspectors .
The scale of the spill was exacerbated by the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences of such a spill could be , and it shunned establishing safety systems which could have stemmed it , ERM said .
The report ’ s findings were presented to Nornickel ’ s board earlier this week .
In July , Russian authorities slapped Nornickel with a record 148 billion ruble ( $ 2 billion ) fine , a sum the company is currently contesting .
ERM said the immediate cause of the spill was “ increasing permafrost temperatures , ” which weakened the support structure under the tank .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been avoidable were it not for flaws in the tank ’ s installation , which only became known after the disaster .
Several reinforced concrete columns — “ piles ” — placed under the tank to act as its foundation were significantly shorter than they should have been , as outlined in the tank ’ s design documents .
This meant some of the columns were resting on permafrost rather than the more solid bedrock beneath as intended , leaving it more susceptible to warm weather .
“ If all piles had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this failure would not have happened , ” the report concluded .
In arguing that the tank could have withstood the thawing ice if it had been installed correctly , the report seems to support the view of Russian authorities , which rejected Nornickel ’ s previous claims that rising temperatures were the main cause of the disaster .
A ventilation system to keep the ice under the tank cold was also flawed , ERM found .
ERM laid significant blame on Nornickel ’ s management for failing to prevent the disaster and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Executives had an “ insufficient appreciation of the potential implications of failure , ” ERM said , criticizing the “ absence of a management system that allowed for the control and mitigation of such events.
” Nornickel paid “ insufficient attention ” to the potential risks of failure , adding : “ the levels of management and safeguarding are below that expected.
” The firm ’ s “ compliance mindset — rather than risk understanding and risk management — led to missed warning signs in 2018 , ” ERM added , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the base of the tank and its foundations two years before the catastrophe .
Instead , Nornickel relied on the fact that Russian inspectors had previously deemed the tank safe for use as a reason not to address the potential vulnerabilities .

A cocktail of design flaws, management failures and rising temperatures made the worst oil spill in Russia’s modern history — and the most damaging ever inside the Arctic circle — “inevitable,” a report commissioned by Russian metals giant Nornickel has said. The report is the work of consulting group Environmental Resources Management (ERM), which Nornickel commissioned to investigate the causes behind the May oil spill at one of its sites near the city of Norilsk in Russia’s Siberian north. Some 21,000 tons of oil poured into the surrounding ground and waterways after a diesel oil tank collapsed on May 29, with fuel found in rivers and lakes up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) away. Environmentalists said it was the largest-ever oil spill in the Arctic.
In the report, a summary of which was published Thursday, ERM criticized Nornickel for not investigating potential warning signs in the years leading up to the disaster, and said the firm adopted a “compliance mindset” aimed at pleasing regulators and inspectors. The scale of the spill was exacerbated by the company’s failure to understand how catastrophic the consequences of such a spill could be, and it shunned establishing safety systems which could have stemmed it, ERM said. The report’s findings were presented to Nornickel’s board earlier this week. In July, Russian authorities slapped Nornickel with a record 148 billion ruble ($2 billion) fine, a sum the company is currently contesting. Toxic failures ERM said the immediate cause of the spill was “increasing permafrost temperatures,” which weakened the support structure under the tank. However, it said the disaster would have been avoidable were it not for flaws in the tank’s installation, which only became known after the disaster. Several reinforced concrete columns — “piles” — placed under the tank to act as its foundation were significantly shorter than they should have been, as outlined in the tank’s design documents. This meant some of the columns were resting on permafrost rather than the more solid bedrock beneath as intended, leaving it more susceptible to warm weather. “If all piles had been installed as designed into the bedrock, this failure would not have happened,” the report concluded. In arguing that the tank could have withstood the thawing ice if it had been installed correctly, the report seems to support the view of Russian authorities, which rejected Nornickel’s previous claims that rising temperatures were the main cause of the disaster. A ventilation system to keep the ice under the tank cold was also flawed, ERM found. ‘Compliance mindset’ ERM laid significant blame on Nornickel’s management for failing to prevent the disaster and control the spill once it had occurred. Executives had an “insufficient appreciation of the potential implications of failure,” ERM said, criticizing the “absence of a management system that allowed for the control and mitigation of such events.” Nornickel paid “insufficient attention” to the potential risks of failure, adding: “the levels of management and safeguarding are below that expected.” The firm’s “compliance mindset — rather than risk understanding and risk management — led to missed warning signs in 2018,” ERM added, citing an inspection which found an unexpected gap between the base of the tank and its foundations two years before the catastrophe. Instead, Nornickel relied on the fact that Russian inspectors had previously deemed the tank safe for use as a reason not to address the potential vulnerabilities.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Siberian Coronavirus Patients Hospitalized in Dilapidated Ward

The Altai region ’ s health authorities said City Hospital No .
3 in Barnaul was forced to reopen a previously shuttered ward “ due to an urgent need ” after a patient shared video from inside the run-down building .
Coronavirus patients in southwestern Siberia have been placed in a dilapidated , out-of-use hospital ward with flaking paint and cracking walls due to severe bed shortages , regional health officials said Wednesday .
“ The hospital building will not be used in the future , ” the state-run TASS news agency quoted the regional health ministry as saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed from the list of Covid-19 hospitals as soon as the epidemiological situation improves , ” the ministry added , promising to shut down the ward as soon as the last patient is discharged .
The Altai region ’ s health ministry suspended non-coronavirus treatment and hospitalizations due to the surge in Covid-19 infections that started in late October .
As of Thursday , the region with a population of 2.3 million has confirmed more than 25,000 coronavirus cases and over 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths .
The second wave of Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-flung regions less equipped to handle the strain placed on their healthcare systems .
The Altai region ’ s health ministry estimates that around 600 out of 6,000 hospital beds are currently available .
“ The number of ambulance calls and patient visits to clinics indicate that the situation has stabilized , ” the ministry said in a statement Wednesday .
Despite this , authorities banned mass holiday gatherings across the region between Dec. 15-Jan. 15 .

The Altai region’s health authorities said City Hospital No. 3 in Barnaul was forced to reopen a previously shuttered ward “due to an urgent need” after a patient shared video from inside the run-down building.
Coronavirus patients in southwestern Siberia have been placed in a dilapidated, out-of-use hospital ward with flaking paint and cracking walls due to severe bed shortages, regional health officials said Wednesday.
“The hospital building will not be used in the future,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted the regional health ministry as saying.
“It will be the first to be removed from the list of Covid-19 hospitals as soon as the epidemiological situation improves,” the ministry added, promising to shut down the ward as soon as the last patient is discharged.
The Altai region’s health ministry suspended non-coronavirus treatment and hospitalizations due to the surge in Covid-19 infections that started in late October. As of Thursday, the region with a population of 2.3 million has confirmed more than 25,000 coronavirus cases and over 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
The second wave of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak has shifted from Moscow to far-flung regions less equipped to handle the strain placed on their healthcare systems.
The Altai region’s health ministry estimates that around 600 out of 6,000 hospital beds are currently available.
“The number of ambulance calls and patient visits to clinics indicate that the situation has stabilized,” the ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
Despite this, authorities banned mass holiday gatherings across the region between Dec. 15-Jan. 15.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Russia Sees Record Virus Infections, Deaths

Health officials reported 25,487 new infections , bringing the national total to 2,187,990 cases since the beginning of the pandemic — the fifth-highest caseload in the world .
Russia on Thursday registered record numbers for daily infections and deaths from the coronavirus for the second time in less than a week .
Health authorities also reported 524 deaths , raising Russia 's total fatalities from Covid-19 to 38,062 .
It was the second time since Saturday that the country had registered record increases for both cases and deaths .
Despite the surge — which President Vladimir Putin last week described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not imposed the kind of lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe .
Authorities in many regions have required mask-wearing in public spaces and limited the number of in-office workers , but have not reintroduced the strict stay-at-home order put in place in the spring .
Russia has registered a much lower virus fatality rate than other badly hit countries , raising concerns that authorities are downplaying the severity of the health crisis .
Russia 's federal statistics service has released data showing excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be much higher .
While Moscow saw the most new cases on Thursday , the second wave is hitting the country 's poorly funded regions the hardest .
Russia is pinning its hopes for controlling the pandemic on home-made vaccines , including the Sputnik V vaccine that researchers said Tuesday was 95 % effective .
The jab will be provided free to Russian citizens and Moscow is looking to secure major international orders in the global race to supply vaccines .
Last month Putin announced that Russia had registered a second vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday said that Russian manufacturers would begin mass producing vaccines in December or January .

Health officials reported 25,487 new infections, bringing the national total to 2,187,990 cases since the beginning of the pandemic — the fifth-highest caseload in the world.
Russia on Thursday registered record numbers for daily infections and deaths from the coronavirus for the second time in less than a week.
Health authorities also reported 524 deaths, raising Russia's total fatalities from Covid-19 to 38,062.
It was the second time since Saturday that the country had registered record increases for both cases and deaths.
Despite the surge — which President Vladimir Putin last week described as "alarming" — Russia has not imposed the kind of lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe.
Authorities in many regions have required mask-wearing in public spaces and limited the number of in-office workers, but have not reintroduced the strict stay-at-home order put in place in the spring.
Russia has registered a much lower virus fatality rate than other badly hit countries, raising concerns that authorities are downplaying the severity of the health crisis.
Russia's federal statistics service has released data showing excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, indicating that virus fatalities could be much higher.
While Moscow saw the most new cases on Thursday, the second wave is hitting the country's poorly funded regions the hardest.
Russia is pinning its hopes for controlling the pandemic on home-made vaccines, including the Sputnik V vaccine that researchers said Tuesday was 95% effective.
The jab will be provided free to Russian citizens and Moscow is looking to secure major international orders in the global race to supply vaccines.
Last month Putin announced that Russia had registered a second vaccine, EpiVacCorona.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko on Thursday said that Russian manufacturers would begin mass producing vaccines in December or January.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Facebook Pays Russia $50K Fine For Not Localizing User Data

Facebook has paid Russian authorities a 4 million ruble ( $ 53,000 ) fine over its refusal to comply with controversial data localization laws .
Under laws which came into force in 2016 , Russia requires all foreign technology companies to store data related to their Russian customers and users on servers located inside Russia .
Campaigners saw the law as an attempt by Russia to exert more control over the country ’ s relatively free online space .
A Moscow court said Thursday that Facebook had paid the fine , which was levied in February , and that proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped , Russian state-run news agencies reported .
Russian authorities started proceedings against both Facebook and Twitter in 2018 .
The companies responded by questioning the regulations and were separately fined a symbolic 3,000 rubles ( $ 40 ) for failing to comply with rules on sharing user data with law enforcement .
Taken alongside rules which require Russian technology companies to share encryption data with the FSB and orders for mobile phone operators to keep records of user calls and text messages , civil society groups have raised concerns about Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to Russians ’ personal data which could then be used to harass critics and opponents .
Apple and Google have complied with the data localization laws .
The 4 million ruble fine represents less than 90 seconds ’ worth of profit for Facebook , which has set new record highs for earnings this year on the back of coronavirus lockdowns around the world .

Facebook has paid Russian authorities a 4 million ruble ($53,000) fine over its refusal to comply with controversial data localization laws.
Under laws which came into force in 2016, Russia requires all foreign technology companies to store data related to their Russian customers and users on servers located inside Russia. Campaigners saw the law as an attempt by Russia to exert more control over the country’s relatively free online space.
Authorities previously blocked Microsoft-owned LinkedIn for refusing to comply.
A Moscow court said Thursday that Facebook had paid the fine, which was levied in February, and that proceedings against the U.S. technology giant have been dropped, Russian state-run news agencies reported. Russian authorities started proceedings against both Facebook and Twitter in 2018. The companies responded by questioning the regulations and were separately fined a symbolic 3,000 rubles ($40) for failing to comply with rules on sharing user data with law enforcement.
Taken alongside rules which require Russian technology companies to share encryption data with the FSB and orders for mobile phone operators to keep records of user calls and text messages, civil society groups have raised concerns about Russia’s feared security apparatus gaining unfettered back-door access to Russians’ personal data which could then be used to harass critics and opponents.
Apple and Google have complied with the data localization laws.
The 4 million ruble fine represents less than 90 seconds’ worth of profit for Facebook, which has set new record highs for earnings this year on the back of coronavirus lockdowns around the world.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--China-Bound Flight From Moscow Canceled Over 200 Identical Coronavirus Tests

Pegas Fly grounded the Moscow-Zhengzhou flight Wednesday when the embassy uncovered more than 190 “ completely identical ” serology tests , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted the embassy as saying .
China reportedly ordered negative serologic in addition to nucleic acid test results for inbound flights due to the recent global surge in imported Covid-19 infections .
A Russian airline has canceled a China-bound flight from Moscow after nearly 200 passengers provided identical negative coronavirus test results , the Chinese Embassy in Moscow said Thursday .
“ There ’ s no way to guarantee the accuracy of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were unable to receive a ‘ health code ’ to board the plane , ” the Chinese diplomatic mission said .
Neither the Krasnoyarsk-based Ikar Airlines , which operates as Pegas Fly , nor the organization that conducted the test “ could provide a reasonable explanation for the exact same test results , ” the Chinese Embassy said .
It asked the airline to arrange for new tests and to accommodate the stranded passengers .
Over the summer , the Chinese Embassy in Moscow warned that some of its citizens had been forging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Russia .
Russia temporarily banned Chinese nationals from entry in February to prevent the spread of Covid-19 inside its borders .
China mirrored this move in November , suspending entry for Russians with valid visas and residence permits as infections surged in its northern neighbor .
Since then , Russia has confirmed nearly 2.2 million coronavirus cases , the fourth-highest in the world with record-breaking deaths and new infection rates in recent weeks .
China , where the virus originated one year ago , has reported 86,490 cases .

Pegas Fly grounded the Moscow-Zhengzhou flight Wednesday when the embassy uncovered more than 190 “completely identical” serology tests, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted the embassy as saying. China reportedly ordered negative serologic in addition to nucleic acid test results for inbound flights due to the recent global surge in imported Covid-19 infections.
A Russian airline has canceled a China-bound flight from Moscow after nearly 200 passengers provided identical negative coronavirus test results, the Chinese Embassy in Moscow said Thursday.
“There’s no way to guarantee the accuracy of these tests and as a result the passengers were unable to receive a ‘health code’ to board the plane,” the Chinese diplomatic mission said.
Neither the Krasnoyarsk-based Ikar Airlines, which operates as Pegas Fly, nor the organization that conducted the test “could provide a reasonable explanation for the exact same test results,” the Chinese Embassy said. It asked the airline to arrange for new tests and to accommodate the stranded passengers.
Over the summer, the Chinese Embassy in Moscow warned that some of its citizens had been forging negative coronavirus test results to fly home from Russia.
Russia temporarily banned Chinese nationals from entry in February to prevent the spread of Covid-19 inside its borders. China mirrored this move in November, suspending entry for Russians with valid visas and residence permits as infections surged in its northern neighbor.
Since then, Russia has confirmed nearly 2.2 million coronavirus cases, the fourth-highest in the world with record-breaking deaths and new infection rates in recent weeks. China, where the virus originated one year ago, has reported 86,490 cases.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Russia to Upgrade Flamethrower Systems – Izvestia

Up to 100 TOS-1 “ Buratino ” and TOS-1A “ Solntsepyok ” models of the Russian Armed Forces ’ Nuclear , Biological and Chemical Protection Troops will reportedly receive the upgrades “ due to the growing range and changing tasks for heavy flamethrowers.
” Russia plans dramatic upgrades of its TOS-1 heavy flamethrower systems with longer-range “ scorching ” rockets and real-time targeting capabilities , the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday .
According to Izvestia , Russia will upgrade its approx 100 TOS-1 and TOS-1A thermobaric MLRS with new rockets with a 15km range , digital communications systems , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to integrate them into the Reconnaissance Fire Contour .
https : //t.co/G4XwWxub61 pic.twitter.com/8EKEvAZZCl Citing unnamed military sources , Izvestia reported that the upgrades will more than double the flamethrower systems ’ missile range to 15 kilometers able to “ scorch ” up to 40,000 square meters of enemy areas .
Additionally , Izvestia reports the TOS-1 and TOS-1A systems will improve firepower through digital communication and closed data transmission known as the “ military internet , ” integrating them to an artillery command and control mechanism known as the Reconnaissance and Fire Contour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The upgraded systems will receive real-time target coordinates , combat tasks and march routes , the outlet reported .
“ The automated guidance system will eliminate errors caused by the human factor , ” Izvestia quoted military expert Viktor Murakhovsky as saying .
The Russian military has reportedly already tested the upgraded TOS-1As and the new thermobaric warheads at recent war games .
Russia is undergoing a $ 340 billion state armament program seeking to overhaul 70 % of Soviet-era hardware by 2027 .

Up to 100 TOS-1 “Buratino” and TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” models of the Russian Armed Forces’ Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops will reportedly receive the upgrades “due to the growing range and changing tasks for heavy flamethrowers.”
Russia plans dramatic upgrades of its TOS-1 heavy flamethrower systems with longer-range “scorching” rockets and real-time targeting capabilities, the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday.
According to Izvestia, Russia will upgrade its approx 100 TOS-1 and TOS-1A thermobaric MLRS with new rockets with a 15km range, digital communications systems, and access to the "military internet" to integrate them into the Reconnaissance Fire Contour. https://t.co/G4XwWxub61 pic.twitter.com/8EKEvAZZCl
Citing unnamed military sources, Izvestia reported that the upgrades will more than double the flamethrower systems’ missile range to 15 kilometers able to “scorch” up to 40,000 square meters of enemy areas.
Additionally, Izvestia reports the TOS-1 and TOS-1A systems will improve firepower through digital communication and closed data transmission known as the “military internet,” integrating them to an artillery command and control mechanism known as the Reconnaissance and Fire Contour and tactical automated fire control systems.
The upgraded systems will receive real-time target coordinates, combat tasks and march routes, the outlet reported.
“The automated guidance system will eliminate errors caused by the human factor,” Izvestia quoted military expert Viktor Murakhovsky as saying.
The Russian military has reportedly already tested the upgraded TOS-1As and the new thermobaric warheads at recent war games.
Russia is undergoing a $340 billion state armament program seeking to overhaul 70% of Soviet-era hardware by 2027.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-26--Azerbaijan Lawmakers Urge French Removal From Karabakh Mediation

The French upper house on Wednesday adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognize the ethnic Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan as an independent state .
Azerbaijani lawmakers on Thursday called for France to be expelled from a group mediating in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute after the French Senate backed the breakaway region 's independence claim .
The move came after Armenia agreed to a peace deal earlier this month that ended weeks of fresh fighting over Karabakh , which broke from Baku 's control during a war in the early 1990s .
France along with Russia and the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led talks seeking a solution to the conflict for decades but has failed to achieve a lasting agreement .
In a resolution adopted on Thursday , Azerbaijani lawmakers urged the government to appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) — which oversees the Minsk Group — to expel France from its presidency .
They also urged Baku to revise its `` political ... and economic relations '' with France .
Parliament speaker Sahiba Gafarova said a `` dirty political campaign against Azerbaijan '' had been organized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to respond .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had praised the French resolution as `` historic . ''
Under the Moscow-brokered peace agreement — which leaves Karabakh 's future political status in limbo — Armenia is losing control of parts of the enclave 's territory as well as seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan it held since the 1990s .
The Armenian separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh 's territory and some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have deployed along frontline areas and to protect a land link connecting Karabakh with Armenia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been recognized by any country , including Armenia , which strongly backs its separatist authorities .

The French upper house on Wednesday adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognize the ethnic Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan as an independent state.
Azerbaijani lawmakers on Thursday called for France to be expelled from a group mediating in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute after the French Senate backed the breakaway region's independence claim.
The move came after Armenia agreed to a peace deal earlier this month that ended weeks of fresh fighting over Karabakh, which broke from Baku's control during a war in the early 1990s.
France along with Russia and the United States co-chairs the Minsk Group, which has led talks seeking a solution to the conflict for decades but has failed to achieve a lasting agreement.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday, Azerbaijani lawmakers urged the government to appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) — which oversees the Minsk Group — to expel France from its presidency.
They also urged Baku to revise its "political... and economic relations" with France.
Parliament speaker Sahiba Gafarova said a "dirty political campaign against Azerbaijan" had been organized in the French Senate and that Azerbaijani lawmakers had to respond.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had praised the French resolution as "historic."
Under the Moscow-brokered peace agreement — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenia is losing control of parts of the enclave's territory as well as seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan it held since the 1990s.
The Armenian separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's territory and some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have deployed along frontline areas and to protect a land link connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
Nagorno-Karabakh's declaration of independence from Azerbaijan has not been recognized by any country, including Armenia, which strongly backs its separatist authorities.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-27--Navalny Urges EU to Target Putin's Oligarch Backers

`` There is no sense in sanctioning colonels or generals or some people who are definitely not traveling a lot , '' Navalny told MEPs by videolink .
Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny urged the EU on Friday to put targeted economic sanctions on the oligarchs surrounding President Vladimir Putin .
Addressing the European Parliament 's foreign affairs committee , Navalny , who is recovering in Germany after a poisoning allegedly ordered by the Kremlin , argued for a new strategy .
He said the Russian officials and military officers who are traditionally targeted `` definitely do not have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe . ''
Instead , he argued , Brussels should go after what he said was Putin 's true inner circle of wealthy moguls with yachts and investments in the EU .
Western governments have concluded that Navalny was poisoned by Novichok , a military-grade poison that would be hard for non-state assassins to procure .
He is recovering after treatment in a Berlin hospital , but his case has increased tensions between Moscow and European capitals , especially Berlin .
The EU has imposed entry bans and bank account freezes on six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of Russia 's FSB intelligence agency .
But Navalny said it was a mistake to look for a political motive in Moscow 's actions , arguing that the Moscow elite is simply interested in money .
`` The Russian state must be treated like a bunch of criminals who have temporarily seized power , '' he said , urging Europe to support the Russian people .
He warned Brussels to reject the result of next year 's Russian parliamentary elections which he said would certainly be rigged .

"There is no sense in sanctioning colonels or generals or some people who are definitely not traveling a lot," Navalny told MEPs by videolink.
Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny urged the EU on Friday to put targeted economic sanctions on the oligarchs surrounding President Vladimir Putin.
Addressing the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Navalny, who is recovering in Germany after a poisoning allegedly ordered by the Kremlin, argued for a new strategy.
He said the Russian officials and military officers who are traditionally targeted "definitely do not have a lot of estate or bank accounts in Europe."
Instead, he argued, Brussels should go after what he said was Putin's true inner circle of wealthy moguls with yachts and investments in the EU.
Western governments have concluded that Navalny was poisoned by Novichok, a military-grade poison that would be hard for non-state assassins to procure.
He is recovering after treatment in a Berlin hospital, but his case has increased tensions between Moscow and European capitals, especially Berlin.
The EU has imposed entry bans and bank account freezes on six people suspected of being responsible, including the head of Russia's FSB intelligence agency.
But Navalny said it was a mistake to look for a political motive in Moscow's actions, arguing that the Moscow elite is simply interested in money.
"The Russian state must be treated like a bunch of criminals who have temporarily seized power," he said, urging Europe to support the Russian people.
He warned Brussels to reject the result of next year's Russian parliamentary elections which he said would certainly be rigged.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-27--Russia to Close Down Barents Region's Biggest Air Polluter

Tens of thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide and other hazardous gases have annually been emitted from the chimneys of Nornickel ’ s factory in the town named after the metal produced there .
Damage to human health , the environment and cross-border relations with Norway have made the town of Nikel in the Murmansk region infamous much further than its acid rain has damaged the fragile taiga forest on the Kola Peninsula and northern Scandinavia .
Now , it is all set to come to an end .
By Dec. 25 , the last workers involved in smelting production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After that , according to the company ’ s human resources and social policy director Anna Krygina , the remaining workers will work in customer service and taking apart equipment .
This work is scheduled to continue to the end of 2021 .
In an interview with the Nornickel-sponsored TV21 television channel , Krygina said many of the workers will retire , while many others will fill vacancies at Nornickel ’ s subsidiary Kola Mining and Metallurgical Combine .
The company operates mines in Zapolyarny while the production now shutting down in Nikel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factory complex in Monchegorsk .
“ Today we are talking about plans for the workers .
Now , the documentation and implementation of all these plans are starting .
So we still have two months of hard work , ” Krygina said in the interview .
Oligarch and Nornickel CEO Vladimir Potanin first announced the closure of the plant last fall , a move affecting about 800 workers .
With just six weeks before the shutdown , only two workers have not chosen any of the options offered by the company .

Tens of thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide and other hazardous gases have annually been emitted from the chimneys of Nornickel’s factory in the town named after the metal produced there.
Damage to human health, the environment and cross-border relations with Norway have made the town of Nikel in the Murmansk region infamous much further than its acid rain has damaged the fragile taiga forest on the Kola Peninsula and northern Scandinavia.
Now, it is all set to come to an end.
By Dec. 25, the last workers involved in smelting production will be transferred to new jobs. After that, according to the company’s human resources and social policy director Anna Krygina, the remaining workers will work in customer service and taking apart equipment. This work is scheduled to continue to the end of 2021.
In an interview with the Nornickel-sponsored TV21 television channel, Krygina said many of the workers will retire, while many others will fill vacancies at Nornickel’s subsidiary Kola Mining and Metallurgical Combine. The company operates mines in Zapolyarny while the production now shutting down in Nikel will partly be transferred to the larger factory complex in Monchegorsk.
“Today we are talking about plans for the workers. Now, the documentation and implementation of all these plans are starting. So we still have two months of hard work,” Krygina said in the interview.
Oligarch and Nornickel CEO Vladimir Potanin first announced the closure of the plant last fall, a move affecting about 800 workers. With just six weeks before the shutdown, only two workers have not chosen any of the options offered by the company.