themoscowtimes--2020-04-12--Majority of China's New Coronavirus Cases Imported From Russia

The news comes as China — the country where the virus originated — now seeks to stave off a renewed outbreak caused by the virus entering the country from outside its borders .
Health experts and officials have warned that Russia 's number of cases could be much higher than the country has reported due to unreliable testing .
More than half of China 's coronavirus infections reported on Sunday originated from a Russian flight to Shanghai the day before , a potential sign of the severity of Russia 's outbreak , Bloomberg reported , citing Shanghai ’ s Municipal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Municipal Health Commission , 51 of 52 imported cases on Saturday were of Chinese nationals who were diagnosed with Covid-19 after their flight landed .
They made up more than half of 97 overall imported infections China reported Sunday morning .
No other information was provided about the flight .
So far this month , China ’ s northeastern Heilongjiang province has reported more than 100 infections imported from Russia through its land borders .
Russia , which has suspended most international flights and closed its borders to foreign nationals to slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen a spike in new cases over the past week with a 31 % increase in new cases from Saturday to Sunday .
The country now has 15,770 cases , nearly two-thirds of which are in Moscow .

The news comes as China — the country where the virus originated — now seeks to stave off a renewed outbreak caused by the virus entering the country from outside its borders. Health experts and officials have warned that Russia's number of cases could be much higher than the country has reported due to unreliable testing .
More than half of China's coronavirus infections reported on Sunday originated from a Russian flight to Shanghai the day before, a potential sign of the severity of Russia's outbreak, Bloomberg reported , citing Shanghai’s Municipal Health Commission.
According to Shanghai’s Municipal Health Commission, 51 of 52 imported cases on Saturday were of Chinese nationals who were diagnosed with Covid-19 after their flight landed. They made up more than half of 97 overall imported infections China reported Sunday morning. No other information was provided about the flight.
So far this month, China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province has reported more than 100 infections imported from Russia through its land borders.
Russia, which has suspended most international flights and closed its borders to foreign nationals to slow the spread of the coronavirus, has seen a spike in new cases over the past week with a 31% increase in new cases from Saturday to Sunday. The country now has 15,770 cases, nearly two-thirds of which are in Moscow.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-11--Russia Space Chief Spars With Elon Musk Over Launch Pricing

The head of Russia 's space agency on Saturday accused Elon Musk 's SpaceX of predatory pricing for space launches , which is pushing Russia to cut its own prices .
`` Instead of honest competition on the market for space launches , they are lobbying for sanctions against us and use price dumping with impunity , '' Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter .
Rogozin , who is often outspoken on Twitter and previously engaged in online banter with Elon Musk , on Friday raised the issue during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower prices by more than 30 percent on launch services to increase our share on the international markets . ''
`` This is our answer to dumping by American companies financed by the US budget , '' he said .
The market price of a SpaceX launch is $ 60 million , but NASA pays up to four times that amount , he said .
Musk responded to the criticism Saturday by saying on Twitter : `` SpaceX rockets are 80 % reusable , theirs are 0 % .
This is the actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astronauts to the International Space Station next month for the first time on board its Falcon 9 , a rocket that can be reused , lowering the cost of missions .
Musk also announced last month that SpaceX 's Crew Dragon capsules will start transporting tourists to the ISS next year .

The head of Russia's space agency on Saturday accused Elon Musk's SpaceX of predatory pricing for space launches, which is pushing Russia to cut its own prices.
"Instead of honest competition on the market for space launches, they are lobbying for sanctions against us and use price dumping with impunity," Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter.
Rogozin, who is often outspoken on Twitter and previously engaged in online banter with Elon Musk, on Friday raised the issue during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
He said the Roscosmos space agency "is working to lower prices by more than 30 percent on launch services to increase our share on the international markets."
"This is our answer to dumping by American companies financed by the US budget," he said.
The market price of a SpaceX launch is $60 million, but NASA pays up to four times that amount, he said.
Musk responded to the criticism Saturday by saying on Twitter: "SpaceX rockets are 80% reusable, theirs are 0%. This is the actual problem."
SpaceX plans to send astronauts to the International Space Station next month for the first time on board its Falcon 9, a rocket that can be reused, lowering the cost of missions.
Musk also announced last month that SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsules will start transporting tourists to the ISS next year.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-11--Inmate Found Dead After Siberian Prison Riot: Official

An inmate was found dead Saturday after a riot and a blaze swept through a Russian prison under a coronavirus lockdown in eastern Siberia , authorities said .
Trouble erupted at penal colony No 15 in Angarsk on Thursday with authorities blaming prisoners , while human rights activists said inmates self-harmed en masse to protest systematic mistreatment .
On Friday , the work yard of the colony was engulfed in flames as riot police cordoned off roads leading to the prison , turning away independent observers .
The fire was extinguished by Saturday morning .
`` When they cleared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inmate , '' said Irkutsk region rights ombudsman Viktor Ignatenko , quoted by Interfax news agency .
`` It was a violent death . ''
The regional penal service issued a statement late Friday saying the situation is `` under control '' and investigators are on site after `` inmates set several buildings in the work yard on fire . ''
It confirmed several inmates self-harmed using glass from broken surveillance cameras .
Independent rights monitors called the clashes a `` riot '' which broke out after a guard beat an inmate @

An inmate was found dead Saturday after a riot and a blaze swept through a Russian prison under a coronavirus lockdown in eastern Siberia, authorities said.
Trouble erupted at penal colony No 15 in Angarsk on Thursday with authorities blaming prisoners, while human rights activists said inmates self-harmed en masse to protest systematic mistreatment.
On Friday, the work yard of the colony was engulfed in flames as riot police cordoned off roads leading to the prison, turning away independent observers. The fire was extinguished by Saturday morning.
"When they cleared the debris, they found the body of an inmate," said Irkutsk region rights ombudsman Viktor Ignatenko, quoted by Interfax news agency. "It was a violent death."
The regional penal service issued a statement late Friday saying the situation is "under control" and investigators are on site after "inmates set several buildings in the work yard on fire."
It confirmed several inmates self-harmed using glass from broken surveillance cameras.
Independent rights monitors called the clashes a "riot" which broke out after a guard beat an inmate.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Riot, Fire Break Out at Siberian Prison

Riot, Fire Break Out at Siberian Prison

A prison in Siberia reported disturbances at a high-security penal colony Friday , while local campaigners called the incident a full-blown riot and posted images of fire on the premises .
Russia 's penal service said inmates at the No 15 penal colony in Angarsk `` attacked a guard '' while others cut themselves with glass from broken surveillance cameras .
The service said the guard was hospitalised and the mutiny , which broke out on Thursday , was under control , while investigators opened a probe on charges of disrupting prison work .
Human rights activists however called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beating of an inmate by guards , and said the incident was far from over .
Rights group For Human Rights on Thursday published a video link on its website of the inmate with bloody gauze around his arm , who says he was choked and beaten , and cut his veins in protest .
An activist with anti-torture group Siberia Without Torture Svyatoslav Khromenkov told AFP that riot police encircled the colony and was turning passing cars around , while a fire was raging on colony grounds .
In videos seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by prisoners to his organisation , inmates are seen standing in the work yard of the prison , part of which is on fire .
`` They are killing us , '' the man filming says of the guards , as other men shout `` Help us !
`` , show their arms with knife marks , and claim that two inmates were killed .
Khromenkov said it was n't clear whether the riot was related to stricter quarantine measures prison authorities have enforced in Russia .

A prison in Siberia reported disturbances at a high-security penal colony Friday, while local campaigners called the incident a full-blown riot and posted images of fire on the premises.
Russia's penal service said inmates at the No 15 penal colony in Angarsk "attacked a guard" while others cut themselves with glass from broken surveillance cameras.
The service said the guard was hospitalised and the mutiny, which broke out on Thursday, was under control, while investigators opened a probe on charges of disrupting prison work.
Human rights activists however called the incident a "riot" sparked by a beating of an inmate by guards, and said the incident was far from over.
Rights group For Human Rights on Thursday published a video link on its website of the inmate with bloody gauze around his arm, who says he was choked and beaten, and cut his veins in protest.
An activist with anti-torture group Siberia Without Torture Svyatoslav Khromenkov told AFP that riot police encircled the colony and was turning passing cars around, while a fire was raging on colony grounds.
In videos seen by AFP that Khromenkov said were sent by prisoners to his organisation, inmates are seen standing in the work yard of the prison, part of which is on fire.
"They are killing us," the man filming says of the guards, as other men shout "Help us!", show their arms with knife marks, and claim that two inmates were killed.
Khromenkov said it wasn't clear whether the riot was related to stricter quarantine measures prison authorities have enforced in Russia.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Putin Speaks With Trump on Coronavirus, Oil

Russia 's President Vladimir Putin on Friday spoke with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump for the third time in two weeks @ @ @ @ @ and global oil prices .
Putin earlier told the U.S.-Russian crew aboard the International Space @ @ @ @ @ `` an example of an effective partnership of our countries '' as the world fights @ @ @ @ @ leaders spoke on March 30 , after which Russia sent a plane of medical equipment @ @ @ @ @ Thursday night , they discussed oil prices together with the King of Saudi Arabia .

Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Friday spoke with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump for the third time in two weeks, discussing the coronavirus pandemic and global oil prices.
Putin earlier told the U.S.-Russian crew aboard the International Space Station that the ISS is "an example of an effective partnership of our countries" as the world fights the pandemic.
The two leaders spoke on March 30, after which Russia sent a plane of medical equipment to New York. On Thursday night, they discussed oil prices together with the King of Saudi Arabia.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Russia Opens Probe After Prague Removes Soviet Statue

The bronze statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev was taken down last week to make way for a World War II memorial , prompting the Russian embassy to protest .
Russia said it would launch a criminal investigation on Friday after Czech officials removed a statue of a Soviet-era general in Prague .
City officials in the Czech capital said the statue would be moved to another site .
Removal of Soviet statues by Western-leaning countries once loyal to Moscow often sparks outrage in Russia as a visible sign of its waning influence .
On Thursday , Defense Minister Sergei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Metnar asking him to hand over the statue to Russia .
The Czech minister responded this was not possible because the figure belongs to the city .
Russia 's Investigative Committee , which examines serious crimes , said it had opened a probe into `` defiling symbols of Russia 's military glory , '' a charge punishable by a fine or community service .
Although the move is largely symbolic , the issue could affect diplomatic relations between the two countries .
Marshal Ivan Konev is seen as a hero by many in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression by many Czechs .
He led Red Army troops that liberated Prague from the Nazis in 1945 but he was also in charge of Operation Whirlwind , which crushed the anti-Soviet Hungarian Uprising of 1956 .
Prague district 6 mayor Ondrej Kolar told the Czech CTK news agency that Konev 's statue would be placed in a `` museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century in Czechoslovakia . ''
Pro-Russian Czech President Milos Zeman echoed Russian outrage over the move as `` an abuse of the state of emergency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus .
The statue was first put up in 1980 , seven years after Konev 's death .

The bronze statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev was taken down last week to make way for a World War II memorial, prompting the Russian embassy to protest.
Russia said it would launch a criminal investigation on Friday after Czech officials removed a statue of a Soviet-era general in Prague.
City officials in the Czech capital said the statue would be moved to another site.
Removal of Soviet statues by Western-leaning countries once loyal to Moscow often sparks outrage in Russia as a visible sign of its waning influence.
On Thursday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu wrote to his Czech counterpart Lubomir Metnar asking him to hand over the statue to Russia.
The Czech minister responded this was not possible because the figure belongs to the city.
Russia's Investigative Committee, which examines serious crimes, said it had opened a probe into "defiling symbols of Russia's military glory," a charge punishable by a fine or community service.
Although the move is largely symbolic, the issue could affect diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Marshal Ivan Konev is seen as a hero by many in Russia but as a symbol of Soviet-era repression by many Czechs.
He led Red Army troops that liberated Prague from the Nazis in 1945 but he was also in charge of Operation Whirlwind, which crushed the anti-Soviet Hungarian Uprising of 1956.
Prague district 6 mayor Ondrej Kolar told the Czech CTK news agency that Konev's statue would be placed in a "museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century in Czechoslovakia."
Pro-Russian Czech President Milos Zeman echoed Russian outrage over the move as "an abuse of the state of emergency," referring to a government-imposed lockdown due to the coronavirus.
The statue was first put up in 1980, seven years after Konev's death.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Moscow to Announce Virus Quarantine Passes ‘Soon’ – RBC

The Russian capital was widely reported to be planning a system of scannable QR code passes to allow residents to leave their homes during the lockdown that ’ s currently scheduled to end on May 1 .
Authorities have put off the decision , noting that they were satisfied with current rates of self-isolation .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin will soon announce a digital pass system to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules as soaring hospitalizations strained the city ’ s healthcare system , the RBC news website reported Friday .
Update : In a statement Friday , Sobyanin confirmed that Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enforce lockdown rules starting April 14 .
The first stage will introduce passes for trips to work , the second stage will introduce them for other trips and the third stage will introduce them for trips within the region .
An unnamed source close to City Hall told RBC that Sobyanin will announce the “ digital passes ” in the near future , but did not specify when .
The Kommersant FM radio station reported that he will issue the announcement “ within an hour.
” The mayor and his deputies previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown rules if they stopped following self-isolation orders .
The Yandex tech giant ’ s recently developed self-isolation tracking system has noted an uptick in quarantine violations in recent days .
Moscow ’ s IT chief said last week that any pass system would start working as soon as city authorities pass a legal act .
Under Moscow ’ s stay-at-home order , its 12 million residents are only allowed to go outside for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy , to take out the trash , to walk their pets or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who violate these rules are subject to fines .
Russia became the world ’ s 17th most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases Friday .
Moscow accounts for two-thirds of the country 's cases with 7,822 infections and 50 of its 94 deaths .
Sobyanin said Friday that “ we ’ re far from the peak ” of coronavirus infections .
This story is being updated .

The Russian capital was widely reported to be planning a system of scannable QR code passes to allow residents to leave their homes during the lockdown that’s currently scheduled to end on May 1. Authorities have put off the decision, noting that they were satisfied with current rates of self-isolation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin will soon announce a digital pass system to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules as soaring hospitalizations strained the city’s healthcare system, the RBC news website reported Friday.
Update: In a statement Friday, Sobyanin confirmed that Moscow will gradually introduce a digital pass system to enforce lockdown rules starting April 14. The first stage will introduce passes for trips to work, the second stage will introduce them for other trips and the third stage will introduce them for trips within the region.
An unnamed source close to City Hall told RBC that Sobyanin will announce the “digital passes” in the near future, but did not specify when. The Kommersant FM radio station reported that he will issue the announcement “within an hour.”
The mayor and his deputies previously warned residents that they would face tighter lockdown rules if they stopped following self-isolation orders. The Yandex tech giant’s recently developed self-isolation tracking system has noted an uptick in quarantine violations in recent days.
The digital pass system won't involve QR codes, a source told the Vedomosti business daily.
Moscow’s IT chief said last week that any pass system would start working as soon as city authorities pass a legal act.
Under Moscow’s stay-at-home order, its 12 million residents are only allowed to go outside for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, to take out the trash, to walk their pets or to seek emergency medical care. Those who violate these rules are subject to fines.
Russia became the world’s 17th most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases Friday. Moscow accounts for two-thirds of the country's cases with 7,822 infections and 50 of its 94 deaths.
Sobyanin said Friday that “we’re far from the peak” of coronavirus infections.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Poland Marks 2010 Air Crash in Russia That Killed President

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for a show of unity similar to that which brought the country together in 2010 to help get through the pandemic .
Poland held a scaled-back memorial on Friday for the air crash that killed president Lech Kaczynski and dozens of others in Russia a decade ago , amid a lockdown to control coronavirus .
Only Jaroslaw Kaczynski , brother of the late president and today head of the ruling conservative party ( PiS ) , Morawiecki and a handful of senior officials laid wreaths at the Warsaw monument for those who lost their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short prayer followed but with commemorations severely curtailed there were no speeches .
President Andrzej Duda laid flowers on Kaczynski 's tomb at the Wawel royal castle in Krakow .
`` It was a moment when time stopped , '' the prime minister tweeted .
`` The cry that went up then still resonates .
We got through this tragedy as a community .
Today , in different circumstances , we also need to show unity . ''
By Friday morning Poland , under lockdown , had registered 5,742 novel coronavirus cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Kaczynski and a senior delegation were heading to Smolensk to mark the murder of thousands of Poles by Soviet secret police at Katyn near Smolensk , in 1940 .
Polish investigators blamed the crash on human error during bad weather , but some conservatives have not accepted the findings .
Duda told a reporter it was `` difficult today to predict if the question would be resolved or not . ''
`` We lack evidence .
The wreck , although it belongs to Poland , and the black boxes , are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Duda asked .
Debate over the cause of the crash has divided Poles with conservatives accusing Donald Tusk 's liberal government of negligence in preparations for the presidential visit to Katyn and shortcomings in the investigation .
Warsaw announced it would not send an official delegation to Smolensk this year and accused Moscow of failing to answer questions that made it `` impossible to organize the visit in line with security procedures . ''
Moscow denied the charge .

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for a show of unity similar to that which brought the country together in 2010 to help get through the pandemic.
Poland held a scaled-back memorial on Friday for the air crash that killed president Lech Kaczynski and dozens of others in Russia a decade ago, amid a lockdown to control coronavirus.
Only Jaroslaw Kaczynski, brother of the late president and today head of the ruling conservative party (PiS), Morawiecki and a handful of senior officials laid wreaths at the Warsaw monument for those who lost their lives on April 10, 2010.
A short prayer followed but with commemorations severely curtailed there were no speeches.
President Andrzej Duda laid flowers on Kaczynski's tomb at the Wawel royal castle in Krakow.
"It was a moment when time stopped," the prime minister tweeted.
"The cry that went up then still resonates. We got through this tragedy as a community. Today, in different circumstances, we also need to show unity."
By Friday morning Poland, under lockdown, had registered 5,742 novel coronavirus cases, including 175 dead.
In 2010, President Kaczynski and a senior delegation were heading to Smolensk to mark the murder of thousands of Poles by Soviet secret police at Katyn near Smolensk, in 1940.
Polish investigators blamed the crash on human error during bad weather, but some conservatives have not accepted the findings.
Duda told a reporter it was "difficult today to predict if the question would be resolved or not."
"We lack evidence. The wreck, although it belongs to Poland, and the black boxes, are still in Russia. What can you say?" Duda asked.
Debate over the cause of the crash has divided Poles with conservatives accusing Donald Tusk's liberal government of negligence in preparations for the presidential visit to Katyn and shortcomings in the investigation.
Warsaw announced it would not send an official delegation to Smolensk this year and accused Moscow of failing to answer questions that made it "impossible to organize the visit in line with security procedures." Moscow denied the charge.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Moscow Clinics Warned of Coronavirus Tests’ False Negatives – Kommersant

A new study this week placed the accuracy of Russia ’ s Covid-19 tests at 70 % to 80 % , with the rest being false negatives .
Medical experts have raised concerns about the quality of testing in Russia , citing the country 's low infection rates compared with other European nations with smaller populations .
Moscow ’ s health department has warned the city ’ s clinics that many coronavirus tests return false negative results , the Kommersant business daily reported Friday .
“ Negative results for Covid-19 swabs in patients with signs of respiratory disease don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rapid development of complications , ” Kommersant quoted the Moscow health department ’ s letter as saying .
“ Therefore , there are high risks of developing severe forms of the disease ” caused by coronavirus , department chief Alexei Khripunov ’ s letter to the heads of primary health care providers warns .
Patients developed complications as rapidly as within a few hours , Khripunov ’ s letter states , adding that they were more common within three to five days of infection .
It advises doctors to send patients who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which it says are the “ only reliable diagnostic test ” for coronavirus .
The city ’ s doctors have been permitted to treat all pneumonia patients as potential coronavirus patients because the fast-spreading virus often causes pneumonia .
Russian doctors will also be able to diagnose patients with coronavirus without running lab tests , Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Thursday .
He noted that the “ course of the disease is sometimes so quick that it has a distinct clinical picture.
” Russia is currently the world ’ s 17th-most affected country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Friday .

A new study this week placed the accuracy of Russia’s Covid-19 tests at 70% to 80%, with the rest being false negatives. Medical experts have raised concerns about the quality of testing in Russia, citing the country's low infection rates compared with other European nations with smaller populations.
Moscow’s health department has warned the city’s clinics that many coronavirus tests return false negative results, the Kommersant business daily reported Friday.
“Negative results for Covid-19 swabs in patients with signs of respiratory disease don’t completely rule out coronavirus infection and a rapid development of complications,” Kommersant quoted the Moscow health department’s letter as saying.
“Therefore, there are high risks of developing severe forms of the disease” caused by coronavirus, department chief Alexei Khripunov’s letter to the heads of primary health care providers warns.
Patients developed complications as rapidly as within a few hours, Khripunov’s letter states, adding that they were more common within three to five days of infection.
It advises doctors to send patients who develop complications to undergo CT scans, which it says are the “only reliable diagnostic test” for coronavirus.
The city’s doctors have been permitted to treat all pneumonia patients as potential coronavirus patients because the fast-spreading virus often causes pneumonia.
Russian doctors will also be able to diagnose patients with coronavirus without running lab tests, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Thursday. He noted that the “course of the disease is sometimes so quick that it has a distinct clinical picture.”
Russia is currently the world’s 17th-most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases as of Friday.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Moscow Stretched 'to Limit' by Virus Cases: Official

The densely populated capital with more than 12 million residents has the largest outbreak in Russia , with 7,822 confirmed coronavirus cases out of a national total of almost 12,000 .
Moscow 's hospitals and ambulance service are working at peak capacity after a sharp rise in those hospitalized with serious coronavirus complications , a senior city official said Friday .
The number in Moscow 's hospitals has doubled since last week and more than 85 % of these patients have pneumonia , deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova was quoted as saying on the city virus task force 's Telegram account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mild symptoms to hospitals .
Those who test positive are monitored through online video consultations .
`` Along with the growing numbers of people who are seriously ill , pressure has grown sharply on the capital 's health service .
Our inpatient facilities and ambulance service are now working at their limits , '' Rakova said .
Moscow has been under a lockdown since March 30 with residents only allowed to leave their homes for essential work , to buy food and medicine or to walk dogs within a radius of 100 meters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however .
Meanwhile Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that the epidemic was not even close to its peak .
`` I can tell you for sure : there has n't been any peak yet .
We are more in the foothills of this peak , not even in the middle , '' Sobyanin , who is also the head of a taskforce coordinating regional responses , told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency .
He said Russia had gained time with its anti-virus measures and was two to four weeks behind on the curve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have that time lag so we can prepare better for the blow that is coming our way , '' the mayor said .
Moscow is rushing to construct a new virus hospital with 500 beds from scratch in a few weeks .
It is due to open this month .

The densely populated capital with more than 12 million residents has the largest outbreak in Russia, with 7,822 confirmed coronavirus cases out of a national total of almost 12,000.
Moscow's hospitals and ambulance service are working at peak capacity after a sharp rise in those hospitalized with serious coronavirus complications, a senior city official said Friday.
The number in Moscow's hospitals has doubled since last week and more than 85% of these patients have pneumonia, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova was quoted as saying on the city virus task force's Telegram account.
Moscow is not sending people with mild symptoms to hospitals. Those who test positive are monitored through online video consultations.
"Along with the growing numbers of people who are seriously ill, pressure has grown sharply on the capital's health service. Our inpatient facilities and ambulance service are now working at their limits," Rakova said.
Moscow has been under a lockdown since March 30 with residents only allowed to leave their homes for essential work, to buy food and medicine or to walk dogs within a radius of 100 meters. Driving private cars is permitted, however.
Meanwhile Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that the epidemic was not even close to its peak.
"I can tell you for sure: there hasn't been any peak yet. We are more in the foothills of this peak, not even in the middle," Sobyanin, who is also the head of a taskforce coordinating regional responses, told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
He said Russia had gained time with its anti-virus measures and was two to four weeks behind on the curve compared with countries suffering major epidemics.
"We have that time lag so we can prepare better for the blow that is coming our way," the mayor said.
Moscow is rushing to construct a new virus hospital with 500 beds from scratch in a few weeks. It is due to open this month.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--170 Doctors, Patients in Russian Hospital Test Positive for Coronavirus – Reports

The Kuvatov Republic Clinical Hospital , the main hospital in the city of Ufa , was placed under strict lockdown on Monday after at least five doctors and two patients fell ill with coronavirus symptoms .
About 1,100 patients and doctors have been staying in the hospital since then .
At least 170 doctors and patients at a hospital in central Russia have tested positive for coronavirus in preliminary tests , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday .
`` The initial coronavirus test was carried out in the hospital and the results were negative for most patients and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health minister for the republic of Bashkortostan where Ufa is located .
“ One hundred and 70 of them must be tested a second time to confirm or disprove the results.
” An elderly patient who died on April 5 tested positive for coronavirus in a posthumous test .
Health experts have warned that hospitals and healthcare workers could be accelerating the spread of the deadly pandemic that has infected more than 1.6 million people worldwide .
In the northern republic of Komi , a rash of infections spread across six hospitals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected region per 100,000 residents after Moscow .
The republic of Bashkortostan has officially reported 40 coronavirus infections .
Nationwide , Russia has confirmed 11,917 cases .

The Kuvatov Republic Clinical Hospital, the main hospital in the city of Ufa, was placed under strict lockdown on Monday after at least five doctors and two patients fell ill with coronavirus symptoms. About 1,100 patients and doctors have been staying in the hospital since then.
At least 170 doctors and patients at a hospital in central Russia have tested positive for coronavirus in preliminary tests, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday.
"The initial coronavirus test was carried out in the hospital and the results were negative for most patients and doctors,” said Maxim Zabelin, health minister for the republic of Bashkortostan where Ufa is located. “One hundred and 70 of them must be tested a second time to confirm or disprove the results.”
An elderly patient who died on April 5 tested positive for coronavirus in a posthumous test.
Health experts have warned that hospitals and healthcare workers could be accelerating the spread of the deadly pandemic that has infected more than 1.6 million people worldwide. In the northern republic of Komi, a rash of infections spread across six hospitals, making it Russia’s second most infected region per 100,000 residents after Moscow.
The republic of Bashkortostan has officially reported 40 coronavirus infections. Nationwide, Russia has confirmed 11,917 cases.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Moscow’s Coronavirus Lockdown Leaves the Homeless Out in the Cold

Moscow ’ s indefinite coronavirus lockdown has left the city ’ s vulnerable homeless population with an impossible choice — find shelter or risk paying steep fines , while facing the danger of becoming infected with a potentially deadly disease .
In many European countries , where the coronavirus has hit hard , spaces including hotels , office buildings and gymnasiums have been converted into isolation shelters for the homeless .
No such measures have been taken in Russia , where anti-homeless stigma is strong — and with parks , shopping centers and train stations closed and volunteers staying home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options for finding shelter and basic necessities .
“ The homeless have no way to self-isolate , ” Daria Baybakova , the head of the Moscow branch of the Nochlezhka NGO , which operates a network of shelters in St. Petersburg and the capital , told The Moscow Times .
Official statistics for Russia ’ s homeless population are patchy , with data from the most recent census in 2010 placing the number of people living on the streets nationwide at 65,000 .
Nochlezhka — or “ Overnight Stay ” — says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the number of homeless in Moscow alone at about 80,000 .
That number has only increased since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak , Baybakova said , and there are far too few places in shelters to accommodate them all .
“ Even if you take the 14,000 number claimed by official sources , the total number of spaces in shelters in Moscow is no more than 1,600 , ” she said .
Dr. Lana Zhurkina , founder and head of homeless medical outreach center Dom Druzei — or “ Friends ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had enough shelters for the homeless , and that her organization has been increasingly busy since the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic .
Many homeless people already have poor health due to age or chronic illness , she added .
“ People who didn ’ t have anywhere to go before don ’ t have anywhere to go now , ” Zhurkina said .
If a homeless person were to become infected with the coronavirus , the key factor to getting care would be a positive test , but with coronavirus tests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guarantee that they would be treated .
A representative for Moscow ’ s city-run health insurance system told The Moscow Times that all coronavirus treatment costs are being covered by the state , even if a patient is homeless .
So far , there have been no reported cases of coronavirus in the city ’ s homeless shelters .
But NGO workers warn that these spaces , often tightly packed , are unprepared to handle an outbreak similar to one that broke out at a shelter in the Latvian capital , Riga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shelter was forced to close after one of its residents died from the virus .
Nochlezhka ’ s Moscow shelter is currently under renovation , Baybakova said , and unable to accommodate anyone as a result .
But it has launched an initiative called “ Ty Ne Odin ( You Are Not Alone ) , ” which leaves packages in areas frequented by the homeless so they can get free food and other essentials without personal contact .
So far , the organization has placed about 120 packages at different locations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the Social Adaptation Center , a city government-operated shelter , employees disinfect the premises several times per day and are required to wash their hands often .
People staying at the shelter have their temperatures checked daily .
But the Social Adaptation Center only has 1,000 beds — and those who stay there must have official registration within the city of Moscow , something few of its homeless have .
During the lockdown regime , Moscow ’ s Labor and Social Welfare Department says it is continuing to operate its “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks people ’ s temperatures , conducts physical exams and gives out antiseptics to the homeless .
The city also says it has increased its food distribution .
Emil Sosinsky , head of the The Noah Workers ' Home network of shelters in Moscow and the Moscow region , where residents are given free accommodation while being encouraged to earn some money , said the city ’ s measures to support the homeless have been inadequate .
“ We ’ d like to see the state create some kind of a center that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the coronavirus or not , ” he said .
Sosinsky said his shelters have done as much as they can to prevent the coronavirus from spreading , but that there ’ s virtually nothing they can do to stop a full-blown outbreak if any of their residents catch the virus .
He said the recommended social distance can ’ t be observed because the buildings have bunk beds , with anywhere from six to 40 people living in each room , depending on its size .
“ If someone brings the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone will be infected .
We aren ’ t able to create a special quarantine room because there is nowhere to put people .
Everything is occupied , ” Sosinsky said .

Moscow’s indefinite coronavirus lockdown has left the city’s vulnerable homeless population with an impossible choice — find shelter or risk paying steep fines, while facing the danger of becoming infected with a potentially deadly disease. In many European countries, where the coronavirus has hit hard, spaces including hotels, office buildings and gymnasiums have been converted into isolation shelters for the homeless. No such measures have been taken in Russia, where anti-homeless stigma is strong — and with parks, shopping centers and train stations closed and volunteers staying home, Moscow’s homeless have few options for finding shelter and basic necessities. “The homeless have no way to self-isolate,” Daria Baybakova, the head of the Moscow branch of the Nochlezhka NGO, which operates a network of shelters in St. Petersburg and the capital, told The Moscow Times.
Official statistics for Russia’s homeless population are patchy, with data from the most recent census in 2010 placing the number of people living on the streets nationwide at 65,000. Nochlezhka — or “Overnight Stay” — says the number is closer to 1 million, with the number of homeless in Moscow alone at about 80,000. That number has only increased since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Baybakova said, and there are far too few places in shelters to accommodate them all. “Even if you take the 14,000 number claimed by official sources, the total number of spaces in shelters in Moscow is no more than 1,600,” she said. Dr. Lana Zhurkina, founder and head of homeless medical outreach center Dom Druzei — or “Friends’ Home” — said Moscow has never had enough shelters for the homeless, and that her organization has been increasingly busy since the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic. Many homeless people already have poor health due to age or chronic illness, she added. “People who didn’t have anywhere to go before don’t have anywhere to go now,” Zhurkina said.
If a homeless person were to become infected with the coronavirus, the key factor to getting care would be a positive test, but with coronavirus tests in short supply, it’s not a guarantee that they would be treated. A representative for Moscow’s city-run health insurance system told The Moscow Times that all coronavirus treatment costs are being covered by the state, even if a patient is homeless. So far, there have been no reported cases of coronavirus in the city’s homeless shelters. But NGO workers warn that these spaces, often tightly packed, are unprepared to handle an outbreak similar to one that broke out at a shelter in the Latvian capital, Riga, this month. In Britain, a shelter was forced to close after one of its residents died from the virus. Nochlezhka’s Moscow shelter is currently under renovation, Baybakova said, and unable to accommodate anyone as a result. But it has launched an initiative called “Ty Ne Odin (You Are Not Alone),” which leaves packages in areas frequented by the homeless so they can get free food and other essentials without personal contact. So far, the organization has placed about 120 packages at different locations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, she said. At the Social Adaptation Center, a city government-operated shelter, employees disinfect the premises several times per day and are required to wash their hands often. People staying at the shelter have their temperatures checked daily. But the Social Adaptation Center only has 1,000 beds — and those who stay there must have official registration within the city of Moscow, something few of its homeless have.
During the lockdown regime, Moscow’s Labor and Social Welfare Department says it is continuing to operate its “Social Patrol” mobile service, which checks people’s temperatures, conducts physical exams and gives out antiseptics to the homeless. The city also says it has increased its food distribution. Emil Sosinsky, head of the The Noah Workers' Home network of shelters in Moscow and the Moscow region, where residents are given free accommodation while being encouraged to earn some money, said the city’s measures to support the homeless have been inadequate. “We’d like to see the state create some kind of a center that could at least check whether the homeless have the coronavirus or not,” he said. Sosinsky said his shelters have done as much as they can to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, but that there’s virtually nothing they can do to stop a full-blown outbreak if any of their residents catch the virus. He said the recommended social distance can’t be observed because the buildings have bunk beds, with anywhere from six to 40 people living in each room, depending on its size. “If someone brings the virus into our shelter, then most likely everyone will be infected. We aren’t able to create a special quarantine room because there is nowhere to put people. Everything is occupied,” Sosinsky said.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Russian Jail on Coronavirus Lockdown After Inspector’s Death – Reports

The republic of Marii-El , some 700 kilometers east of Moscow , is Russia ’ s 12th most-affected region with 63 confirmed coronavirus cases .
Authorities reported Marii-El ’ s first death Thursday , identifying the patient as a 37-year-old woman .
A detention center east of Moscow has been placed under lockdown after the alleged death of one of its inspectors , the Mash Telegram channel reported Friday .
Marii-El ’ s first coronavirus victim was an employee at a detention center , the Lenta.ru news portal cited an unnamed law enforcement source as saying .
Mash reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Natalya Gayduk , had contracted the virus from colleagues in Moscow .
The outlet said that Gayduk had had contact with 27 people before succumbing to the disease .
Around 127 out of more than 1,600 employees have now been quarantined inside the detention center , Mash said without citing sources .
“ They can ’ t go home and are spending the nights at work , ” the outlet said .
Regional officials have not yet confirmed or denied the report .
The Federal Prison Service ’ s republic of Marii-El branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Ioshkar-Ola will remain on duty for 14 days starting this week , according to TASS .
Russia 's Federal Prison Service has confirmed at least one coronavirus case in a Ryazan region jail south of Moscow this week .
The service said its 49 labs had carried out more than 1,400 coronavirus tests as of Thursday .
Rights campaigners have called on the government to consider releasing some pre-trial detainees and prisoners held in the country 's packed jails , warning of the `` devastating consequences '' of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far after seeing its largest one-day surge in infections Friday .
Marii-El , like many Russian regions , is under strict lockdown measures until the end of April to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
On Friday , regional authorities limited alcohol sales to four hours a day .

The republic of Marii-El, some 700 kilometers east of Moscow, is Russia’s 12th most-affected region with 63 confirmed coronavirus cases. Authorities reported Marii-El’s first death Thursday, identifying the patient as a 37-year-old woman.
A detention center east of Moscow has been placed under lockdown after the alleged death of one of its inspectors, the Mash Telegram channel reported Friday.
Marii-El’s first coronavirus victim was an employee at a detention center, the Lenta.ru news portal cited an unnamed law enforcement source as saying.
Mash reported that the woman, who it identified as Natalya Gayduk, had contracted the virus from colleagues in Moscow. The outlet said that Gayduk had had contact with 27 people before succumbing to the disease.
Around 127 out of more than 1,600 employees have now been quarantined inside the detention center, Mash said without citing sources.
“They can’t go home and are spending the nights at work,” the outlet said.
Regional officials have not yet confirmed or denied the report.
The Federal Prison Service’s republic of Marii-El branch confirmed that its detention center employees in the city of Ioshkar-Ola will remain on duty for 14 days starting this week, according to TASS.
Russia's Federal Prison Service has confirmed at least one coronavirus case in a Ryazan region jail south of Moscow this week.
The service said its 49 labs had carried out more than 1,400 coronavirus tests as of Thursday.
Rights campaigners have called on the government to consider releasing some pre-trial detainees and prisoners held in the country's packed jails, warning of the "devastating consequences" of the coronavirus.
Russia has reported 11,917 coronavirus cases so far after seeing its largest one-day surge in infections Friday.
Marii-El, like many Russian regions, is under strict lockdown measures until the end of April to prevent the spread of coronavirus. On Friday, regional authorities limited alcohol sales to four hours a day.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Moscow ‘Nowhere Near’ Its Coronavirus Peak, Mayor Warns

Russia is currently the world ’ s 17th-most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases as of Friday .
Moscow accounts for two-thirds of all nationwide cases with 7,822 infections and 50 of the country ’ s 94 deaths .
Moscow has not yet reached the peak of its coronavirus epidemic , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday as the Russian capital saw yet another record surge in infections over the past 24 hours .
“ We ’ re not at the peak yet , but somewhere at the base of the peak and not the middle , ” Sobyanin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RIA Novosti news agency .
“ As for forecasts , the only thing I ’ ll say is that we have a serious test ahead of us and we need to prepare for it , ” Sobyanin said .
The Russian capital of more than 12.5 million has imposed strict quarantine rules for the rest of April to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Residents face fines for going outside for non-essential reasons .
Sobyanin , who also leads Russia 's nationwide anti-coronavirus task force , noted that he coordinates all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis with President Vladimir Putin .
Putin urged Russians to self-isolate during the pandemic , declaring April a paid “ non-working ” month .
His recently signed law imposes steep fines and prison terms of up to seven years for violating quarantine rules .

Russia is currently the world’s 17th-most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases as of Friday. Moscow accounts for two-thirds of all nationwide cases with 7,822 infections and 50 of the country’s 94 deaths.
Moscow has not yet reached the peak of its coronavirus epidemic, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday as the Russian capital saw yet another record surge in infections over the past 24 hours.
“We’re not at the peak yet, but somewhere at the base of the peak and not the middle,” Sobyanin warned in an interview with the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
“As for forecasts, the only thing I’ll say is that we have a serious test ahead of us and we need to prepare for it,” Sobyanin said.
The Russian capital of more than 12.5 million has imposed strict quarantine rules for the rest of April to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Residents face fines for going outside for non-essential reasons.
Sobyanin, who also leads Russia's nationwide anti-coronavirus task force, noted that he coordinates all his actions on responding to the coronavirus crisis with President Vladimir Putin.
Putin urged Russians to self-isolate during the pandemic, declaring April a paid “non-working” month. His recently signed law imposes steep fines and prison terms of up to seven years for violating quarantine rules.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Russia to Diagnose Coronavirus Without Tests as Suspicions Mount

Russian doctors will now be able to diagnose patients with coronavirus without running lab tests , the country ’ s top health official has said as Russia ’ s relatively low infection figures have drawn suspicion among medical experts .
The move comes after a new Russian study placed the accuracy of the country ’ s Covid-19 tests at 70 % to 80 % , with the rest being false negatives .
Russia is currently the world ’ s 17th-most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases Friday .
“ We see that the course of the disease is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinct clinical picture , ” Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said in an interview Thursday .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s diagnosed without laboratory confirmation .
It ’ s standard practice for doctors , ” Murashko told the state-run Rossia television channel .
His interview follows Moscow doctors ’ decision to treat all pneumonia patients as potential coronavirus patients because the fast-spreading virus often causes pneumonia .
A sharp spike in pneumonia cases in the Russian capital in March stoked concerns about the accuracy of coronavirus tests in the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned residents Friday that “ we haven ’ t reached a peak ” in coronavirus infections yet .

Russian doctors will now be able to diagnose patients with coronavirus without running lab tests, the country’s top health official has said as Russia’s relatively low infection figures have drawn suspicion among medical experts. The move comes after a new Russian study placed the accuracy of the country’s Covid-19 tests at 70% to 80%, with the rest being false negatives. Russia is currently the world’s 17th-most affected country with 11,917 officially reported coronavirus cases Friday.
“We see that the course of the disease is sometimes so quick that it has a distinct clinical picture,” Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said in an interview Thursday. “That’s why it’s diagnosed without laboratory confirmation. It’s standard practice for doctors,” Murashko told the state-run Rossia television channel.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-10--Russian Family Takes Shelter From Coronavirus In the Woods

A relative tipped off the authorities Monday that her brother , his wife and their three children had been gone for more than 24 hours .
The family ’ s patriarch later explained to police that they had gone to the woods to escape the Covid-19 outbreak , which has so far infected more than 10,000 Russians and 1.6 million worldwide .
A family in central Russia tried to wait out the coronavirus pandemic in the woods until they were forcefully returned home , police in the Sverdlovsk region said Thursday .
“ They took a set of groceries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to periodically return to the village for food , ” the regional police department said in a statement .
“ They slept on branches in the open air , ” it said .
Police charged the parents with failing to perform their parental duties , an administrative offense that carries a small fine .
The three children , one of whom was bitten by a tick , were placed in the care of child protective services .
The Sverdlovsk region , with a population of 4.3 million , has officially reported 59 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Thursday .

A relative tipped off the authorities Monday that her brother, his wife and their three children had been gone for more than 24 hours. The family’s patriarch later explained to police that they had gone to the woods to escape the Covid-19 outbreak, which has so far infected more than 10,000 Russians and 1.6 million worldwide.
A family in central Russia tried to wait out the coronavirus pandemic in the woods until they were forcefully returned home, police in the Sverdlovsk region said Thursday.
“They took a set of groceries and a cellphone with them and were planning to periodically return to the village for food,” the regional police department said in a statement.
“They slept on branches in the open air,” it said.
Police charged the parents with failing to perform their parental duties, an administrative offense that carries a small fine. The three children, one of whom was bitten by a tick, were placed in the care of child protective services.
The Sverdlovsk region, with a population of 4.3 million, has officially reported 59 of Russia’s 10,131 coronavirus cases nationwide as of Thursday.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-09--Russian Investigators Probe Wartime Nazi Massacres

The investigation was opened following findings in historical archives about killings in several locations in southern Russia 's Rostov region , including Zmiyovskaya Balka , a village where `` no less than 27,000 people '' were shot by firing squad .
Russia on Thursday launched a probe into three World War II-era atrocities in areas occupied by Nazi forces .
The massacres in August 1942 were perpetrated by the Einsatzkommando 10a death squad , `` under the pretext of resettling the civilian population of Jewish nationality and Communist party members , '' the Investigative Committee said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Russian Historical Society which studied classified files as well as other materials , including children 's essays .
A video published by the investigators alleged that a Ukrainian living in Canada was involved in the Zmiyovskaya Balka massacre .
Helmut Oberlander , 96 , is fighting a court decision to strip him of his Canadian citizenship .
Oberlander claims he was forcibly conscripted by the Nazis and that he only acted as an interpreter for the death squad .
He and his family have started a new round of appeals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deported to Germany or to stand trial .
The Simon Wiesenthal Center has consistently put Oberlander on its most wanted list of Nazi war criminals .
He is one of just a handful who are still living .
Another massacre that is part of the new Russian probe involves over 3,500 residents of the town Shakhty , who were killed and dropped into an abandoned mine .
The third incident is the 500 people shot by security police in the village Gruzinov some time before Feb. 14 , 1943 .
Russia this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory over Nazi forces .
A huge celebration planned for May 9 however is threatened by the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic .
Nazi forces occupied large parts of western and southern Russia between 1941 and 1944 .

The investigation was opened following findings in historical archives about killings in several locations in southern Russia's Rostov region, including Zmiyovskaya Balka, a village where "no less than 27,000 people" were shot by firing squad.
Russia on Thursday launched a probe into three World War II-era atrocities in areas occupied by Nazi forces.
The massacres in August 1942 were perpetrated by the Einsatzkommando 10a death squad, "under the pretext of resettling the civilian population of Jewish nationality and Communist party members," the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
The committee is relying on documents unearthed by the Russian Historical Society which studied classified files as well as other materials, including children's essays.
A video published by the investigators alleged that a Ukrainian living in Canada was involved in the Zmiyovskaya Balka massacre.
Helmut Oberlander, 96, is fighting a court decision to strip him of his Canadian citizenship.
Oberlander claims he was forcibly conscripted by the Nazis and that he only acted as an interpreter for the death squad.
He and his family have started a new round of appeals, saying he is too feeble to be deported to Germany or to stand trial.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center has consistently put Oberlander on its most wanted list of Nazi war criminals. He is one of just a handful who are still living.
Another massacre that is part of the new Russian probe involves over 3,500 residents of the town Shakhty, who were killed and dropped into an abandoned mine.
The third incident is the 500 people shot by security police in the village Gruzinov some time before Feb. 14, 1943.
Russia this year will mark 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi forces. A huge celebration planned for May 9 however is threatened by the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nazi forces occupied large parts of western and southern Russia between 1941 and 1944.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-16--Russia, U.S. Should Help Each Other During Pandemic: Kremlin

`` President Putin believes this pandemic is the time to help each other , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters , after U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to send ventilators to Russia .
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the global coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for his country to work together with the United States , the Kremlin said Thursday .
`` This is very positive and the U.S. president told Putin of this readiness during the recent phone call , '' Peskov said .
Russia would take Trump up on his offer `` if need be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin and Trump discussed their countries ' efforts to combat coronavirus .
Russia this month sent a military plane with medical aid and equipment to New York , the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus epidemic .
Since late March , Trump and Putin have had a flurry of contacts , with the U.S. leader saying that they `` get along very well , '' even though bilateral relations have been at their lowest point since the Cold War .
Russia on Thursday registered 3,448 new cases of infection , bringing the total to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authorities have warned that the outbreak has put a huge strain on clinics in Moscow and elsewhere .

"President Putin believes this pandemic is the time to help each other," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, after U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to send ventilators to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the global coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for his country to work together with the United States, the Kremlin said Thursday.
"This is very positive and the U.S. president told Putin of this readiness during the recent phone call," Peskov said.
Russia would take Trump up on his offer "if need be," he added.
Last week Putin and Trump discussed their countries' efforts to combat coronavirus.
Russia this month sent a military plane with medical aid and equipment to New York, the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus epidemic.
Since late March, Trump and Putin have had a flurry of contacts, with the U.S. leader saying that they "get along very well," even though bilateral relations have been at their lowest point since the Cold War.
Russia on Thursday registered 3,448 new cases of infection, bringing the total to nearly 28,000, with 232 deaths. Authorities have warned that the outbreak has put a huge strain on clinics in Moscow and elsewhere.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-16--Russia Releases Footage of Fatal 2019 Plane Crash

New footage has been released of the tragic 2019 Aeroflot plane crash at Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport .
The plane @ @ @ @ @ five crew members , made an emergency landing after being hit by lightning shortly after @ @ @ @ @ into flames on the runway after a crash landing , killing 41 people and injuring @ @ @ @ @ investigation into the incident which was concluded this week found numerous safety violations and ruled @ @ @ @ @ cause of the crash .

New footage has been released of the tragic 2019 Aeroflot plane crash at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
The plane, carrying 73 passengers and five crew members, made an emergency landing after being hit by lightning shortly after takeoff.
The plane burst into flames on the runway after a crash landing, killing 41 people and injuring nine others.
Russia's investigation into the incident which was concluded this week found numerous safety violations and ruled out technical malfunctions as the cause of the crash.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-16--Russia's Novaya Gazeta Deletes Chechnya Lockdown Article After Kadyrov Threat

Kadyrov said Monday that Novaya Gazeta ’ s story on Chechens underreporting potential coronavirus symptoms out of fear for their safety would lead “ someone ” to “ commit a crime ” against its author .
The veteran journalist who wrote the feature , Yelena Milashina , and her lawyer were previously subjected to a physical attack in a Chechen hotel in February that Kadyrov said had no witnesses .
The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper has deleted its investigation into the republic of Chechnya ’ s strict anti-coronavirus measures after Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov issued a threat to the journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article was found to contain “ false socially significant information… that threatens people ’ s lives and wellbeing , ” Novaya Gazeta reported , citing the General Prosecutor ’ s Office ordering state media watchdog Roskomnadzor to take the article down .
Roskomnadzor didn ’ t specify which piece of information in the article was deemed fake , Novaya Gazeta ’ s editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov told Interfax .
Muratov said Novaya Gazeta could appeal the ruling .
In an interview with the Meduza news website , Muratov said his legal team will decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report Kadyrov ’ s threats to the police .
“ As for his threatening tone , this isn ’ t the first time he ’ s addressed Novaya Gazeta like this .
I don ’ t even want to remember what happened when we reported the story about gay people in Chechnya , ” he said .
Kadyrov may have taken offense at the report ’ s suggestion that he himself has been ignoring Chechnya ’ s quarantine order , Milashina said in an interview with the U.S.-funded RFE/RL news outlet ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has imposed strict regional border controls during Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak , reported 108 coronavirus cases and five deaths since the outbreak began .
Russia reported a total of 27,938 cases and 232 deaths as of Thursday .
The Kremlin on Thursday called Kadyrov ’ s threats against Milashina and Novaya Gazeta “ quite emotional.
” “ On the other hand , the current [ coronavirus ] situation is very emotional , ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying .

Kadyrov said Monday that Novaya Gazeta’s story on Chechens underreporting potential coronavirus symptoms out of fear for their safety would lead “someone” to “commit a crime” against its author. The veteran journalist who wrote the feature, Yelena Milashina, and her lawyer were previously subjected to a physical attack in a Chechen hotel in February that Kadyrov said had no witnesses.
The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper has deleted its investigation into the republic of Chechnya’s strict anti-coronavirus measures after Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov issued a threat to the journalist who wrote it.
Milashina’s article was found to contain “false socially significant information… that threatens people’s lives and wellbeing,” Novaya Gazeta reported, citing the General Prosecutor’s Office ordering state media watchdog Roskomnadzor to take the article down.
Roskomnadzor didn’t specify which piece of information in the article was deemed fake, Novaya Gazeta’s editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov told Interfax.
Muratov said Novaya Gazeta could appeal the ruling.
In an interview with the Meduza news website, Muratov said his legal team will decide over the next few days whether to report Kadyrov’s threats to the police.
“As for his threatening tone, this isn’t the first time he’s addressed Novaya Gazeta like this. I don’t even want to remember what happened when we reported the story about gay people in Chechnya,” he said.
Kadyrov may have taken offense at the report’s suggestion that he himself has been ignoring Chechnya’s quarantine order, Milashina said in an interview with the U.S.-funded RFE/RL news outlet’s Russian desk Tuesday.
Chechnya, which has imposed strict regional border controls during Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, reported 108 coronavirus cases and five deaths since the outbreak began. Russia reported a total of 27,938 cases and 232 deaths as of Thursday.
The Kremlin on Thursday called Kadyrov’s threats against Milashina and Novaya Gazeta “quite emotional.”
“On the other hand, the current [coronavirus] situation is very emotional,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.