themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Russia Moves to Hide Security Officers’ Data After Navalny Poisoning Revelations

The move follows leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny ’ s viral YouTube video of a phone call with one of his alleged poisoners .
That agent and other purported Federal Security Service ( FSB ) agents ’ identities were revealed by the investigative outlet Bellingcat , which regularly uses phone records and flight manifests obtained on the black market in its investigations .
Russian lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday to ban the public dissemination of data about security and law enforcement members .
The latest piece of legislation prohibits the sharing of information about police and investigators as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FSB agents .
The new law will protect security members ’ personal data “ regardless of direct threats to their security , ” an explanatory note states .
Previous legislation made it a criminal offense to share the security members ’ data when doing so threatened their lives .
Under the newly passed changes , sharing security officers ’ data will only be allowed as part of a criminal investigation or compliance with anti-corruption legislation .
Members of Russia ’ s lower house of parliament , the State Duma , passed the security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its submission .
Senators are expected to vote on the bill and send it to President Vladimir Putin ’ s desk during their last session of the year Friday .
The bill is part of a wider set of legislation cracking down on online dissent ahead of Russia ’ s 2021 parliamentary elections , ahead of which Navalny has been encouraging supporters to vote against Kremlin-backed candidates .
Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 and was flown to Germany , where European scientists determined he had been poisoned with the Soviet-designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Navalny was poisoned and accuses its European counterparts of withholding evidence .
In Navalny ’ s video viewed 16 million times in 24 hours , a voice identified as FSB chemical warfare specialist Konstantin Kudryavtsev divulged key details of the poisoning to Navalny .
The FSB has dismissed Navalny ’ s phone call with Kudryavtsev as a “ fake , ” foreign intelligence service-backed `` provocation aimed at discrediting '' the agency .
Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation ( FBK ) said it planned to petition Russian investigators and the FSB itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video .
President Vladimir Putin last week confirmed Bellingcat 's reporting , which was based on flight manifests it obtained , that FSB agents had been following Navalny .

The move follows leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s viral YouTube video of a phone call with one of his alleged poisoners. That agent and other purported Federal Security Service (FSB) agents’ identities were revealed by the investigative outlet Bellingcat, which regularly uses phone records and flight manifests obtained on the black market in its investigations.
Russian lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday to ban the public dissemination of data about security and law enforcement members.
The latest piece of legislation prohibits the sharing of information about police and investigators as well as Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and FSB agents.
The new law will protect security members’ personal data “regardless of direct threats to their security,” an explanatory note states. Previous legislation made it a criminal offense to share the security members’ data when doing so threatened their lives.
Under the newly passed changes, sharing security officers’ data will only be allowed as part of a criminal investigation or compliance with anti-corruption legislation.
Members of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed the security officers’ data-protection bill two weeks after its submission. Senators are expected to vote on the bill and send it to President Vladimir Putin’s desk during their last session of the year Friday.
The bill is part of a wider set of legislation cracking down on online dissent ahead of Russia’s 2021 parliamentary elections, ahead of which Navalny has been encouraging supporters to vote against Kremlin-backed candidates.
Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 and was flown to Germany, where European scientists determined he had been poisoned with the Soviet-designed Novichok nerve agent. The Kremlin denies that Navalny was poisoned and accuses its European counterparts of withholding evidence.
In Navalny’s video viewed 16 million times in 24 hours, a voice identified as FSB chemical warfare specialist Konstantin Kudryavtsev divulged key details of the poisoning to Navalny.
The FSB has dismissed Navalny’s phone call with Kudryavtsev as a “fake,” foreign intelligence service-backed "provocation aimed at discrediting" the agency.
Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) said it planned to petition Russian investigators and the FSB itself to probe the allegations made in the video.
President Vladimir Putin last week confirmed Bellingcat's reporting, which was based on flight manifests it obtained, that FSB agents had been following Navalny.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Putin's 'Chef' Sues Navalny and His Ally for Defamation

The lawsuit appeared Tuesday on the website of a Moscow court , which later told the Russian news agency TASS that the claim sought 5 million rubles ( $ 66,000 ) each from Navalny and his ally Vladimir Milov for defamatory statements .
Kremlin-linked businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has sued Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a close ally for defamation , a Moscow court said Tuesday .
Prigozhin , 59 , is nicknamed `` Putin 's chef '' because his company Concord has catered for the Kremlin .
Last week Concord posted a copy of a lawsuit on the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had submitted to the Moscow court .
The lawsuit cited an Oct. 27 video stream by former deputy energy minister Milov on Navalny 's YouTube channel Navalny Live .
In the video Milov accuses Prigozhin of `` involving minors in prostitution '' in his past and describes him as a `` bandit who serves Putin for all sorts of bad deeds , '' which the lawsuit said caused the businessman to suffer `` moral injury . ''
Navalny , 44 , did not appear in the video stream .
In August the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Siberia to Moscow and was hospitalized in the Russian city of Omsk before being transferred by medical aircraft to Berlin .
Experts from several Western countries determined that he was poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok — a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied .
While Navalny was in a coma , Concord 's press service quoted Prigozhin as saying he intended to enforce a court decision last year that Navalny and his associates must pay him nearly 88 million rubles in damages over a video report .
`` I intend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their clothes and shoes , '' Prigozhin was quoted as saying .
Days after Navalny was released from a Berlin hospital in September his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said officials had seized the Kremlin critic 's apartment as part of the damages .
In October Prigozhin was sanctioned by the European Union on charges of undermining peace in Libya by supporting the Wagner Group private military company .
He has also been sanctioned by the United States for allegedly meddling in its 2016 presidential vote and for his links to Wagner , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout Africa and the Middle East .
Navalny has said he will return to Russia once he has made a full recovery in Germany .

The lawsuit appeared Tuesday on the website of a Moscow court, which later told the Russian news agency TASS that the claim sought 5 million rubles ($66,000) each from Navalny and his ally Vladimir Milov for defamatory statements.
Kremlin-linked businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has sued Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a close ally for defamation, a Moscow court said Tuesday.
Prigozhin, 59, is nicknamed "Putin's chef" because his company Concord has catered for the Kremlin.
Last week Concord posted a copy of a lawsuit on the social media network Vkontakte that it said it had submitted to the Moscow court.
The lawsuit cited an Oct. 27 video stream by former deputy energy minister Milov on Navalny's YouTube channel Navalny Live.
In the video Milov accuses Prigozhin of "involving minors in prostitution" in his past and describes him as a "bandit who serves Putin for all sorts of bad deeds," which the lawsuit said caused the businessman to suffer "moral injury."
Navalny, 44, did not appear in the video stream.
In August the Kremlin critic fell violently ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was hospitalized in the Russian city of Omsk before being transferred by medical aircraft to Berlin.
Experts from several Western countries determined that he was poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok — a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.
While Navalny was in a coma, Concord's press service quoted Prigozhin as saying he intended to enforce a court decision last year that Navalny and his associates must pay him nearly 88 million rubles in damages over a video report.
"I intend to strip this group of unscrupulous people of their clothes and shoes," Prigozhin was quoted as saying.
Days after Navalny was released from a Berlin hospital in September his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said officials had seized the Kremlin critic's apartment as part of the damages.
In October Prigozhin was sanctioned by the European Union on charges of undermining peace in Libya by supporting the Wagner Group private military company.
He has also been sanctioned by the United States for allegedly meddling in its 2016 presidential vote and for his links to Wagner, which has been accused of sending mercenaries to conflicts throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Navalny has said he will return to Russia once he has made a full recovery in Germany.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-22--Russia Sent '300 Military Instructors' to C.Africa – Ministry

In a statement , the Foreign Ministry said Russia had `` promptly responded '' to a request and sent `` an additional 300 instructors to train the military personnel of the national army '' under the terms of an existing cooperation agreement .
Moscow said Tuesday it had dispatched 300 Russian military instructors to the Central African Republic at the CAR 's request after an alleged attempted coup ahead of upcoming elections .
On Monday the CAR government said that Russia , along with Rwanda , had sent in hundreds of troops after three powerful rebel groups merged and started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend .
The advance was halted and in some places pushed back and the situation was `` under control , '' the UN peacekeeping force in the CAR , known as MINUSCA , said late Sunday .
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was `` seriously concerned that the events of recent days have led to a sharp degradation of the security situation '' in the CAR .
The actions of the three rebel groups had been `` well coordinated and fed from the outside '' and aimed at `` disrupting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov denied that Moscow had sent troops to CAR , although he noted that Russian military instructors were already there under the existing bilateral deal .
He insisted the CAR 's presidential elections would take place as planned on Dec. 27 , despite `` destructive forces '' trying to `` disrupt '' them .
The Kremlin has led a diplomatic and financial offensive in the deeply troubled CAR since 2018 in return for concessions to Russian companies to exploit the country 's mineral wealth , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been seen in the context of a Russian bid to expand its influence in Africa , where the former Soviet Union used arms sales and military training to wield clout in the Cold War .

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Russia had "promptly responded" to a request and sent "an additional 300 instructors to train the military personnel of the national army" under the terms of an existing cooperation agreement.
Moscow said Tuesday it had dispatched 300 Russian military instructors to the Central African Republic at the CAR's request after an alleged attempted coup ahead of upcoming elections.
On Monday the CAR government said that Russia, along with Rwanda, had sent in hundreds of troops after three powerful rebel groups merged and started to advance on the capital Bangui at the weekend.
The advance was halted and in some places pushed back and the situation was "under control," the UN peacekeeping force in the CAR, known as MINUSCA, said late Sunday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "seriously concerned that the events of recent days have led to a sharp degradation of the security situation" in the CAR.
The actions of the three rebel groups had been "well coordinated and fed from the outside" and aimed at "disrupting the electoral process," it said.
On Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov denied that Moscow had sent troops to CAR, although he noted that Russian military instructors were already there under the existing bilateral deal.
He insisted the CAR's presidential elections would take place as planned on Dec. 27, despite "destructive forces" trying to "disrupt" them.
The Kremlin has led a diplomatic and financial offensive in the deeply troubled CAR since 2018 in return for concessions to Russian companies to exploit the country's mineral wealth, especially gold and diamonds.
The strategy has been seen in the context of a Russian bid to expand its influence in Africa, where the former Soviet Union used arms sales and military training to wield clout in the Cold War.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-22--Putin Grants Lifetime Immunity to Ex-Presidents and Their Families

The law comes amid swirling questions over Putin ’ s future after his current term limit expires in 2024 and is part of sweeping constitutional reforms allowing Putin to ignore current limits and run for two more six-year presidential terms .
Under the new law , former presidents are immune from criminal or administrative prosecution and may not be detained , arrested or subject to searches , interrogations or bodily searches .
An ex-president can only be stripped of immunity if the State Duma brings charges of high treason or other felonies against him or her .
If those charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitutional Court , the Federation Council would then vote on whether or not to strip the ex-president of immunity within three months .
If no decision is reached within three months , the charges are lifted .
When drafting the legislation this year , Russian lawmakers argued that similar laws already exist in other countries around the world .
Putin has not confirmed whether he will run for re-election in 2024 .
When asked about his post-2024 plans at his annual press conference last week , he said he will do what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The law comes amid swirling questions over Putin’s future after his current term limit expires in 2024 and is part of sweeping constitutional reforms allowing Putin to ignore current limits and run for two more six-year presidential terms.
Under the new law, former presidents are immune from criminal or administrative prosecution and may not be detained, arrested or subject to searches, interrogations or bodily searches.
An ex-president can only be stripped of immunity if the State Duma brings charges of high treason or other felonies against him or her. If those charges are approved by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, the Federation Council would then vote on whether or not to strip the ex-president of immunity within three months. If no decision is reached within three months, the charges are lifted.
When drafting the legislation this year, Russian lawmakers argued that similar laws already exist in other countries around the world.
Putin has not confirmed whether he will run for re-election in 2024. When asked about his post-2024 plans at his annual press conference last week, he said he will do what is in the country's best interests.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Argentina First in Latin America to Approve Russian Vaccine

Argentina 's health ministry said Wednesday it has given the controversial Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine `` emergency '' authorization , making the country the first in Latin America to do so .
The first shipment of the 25 million doses of the vaccine bought by the Argentine government is due to arrive on Thursday .
The authorization for the Gam-CovidVac vaccine , nicknamed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite , was given `` in conformity with the recommendations '' of Argentina 's drug administration agency , Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said .
The vaccine has come under fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was registered before the start of large-scale clinical trials .
Its developers claim it is more than 90 % effective but detractors have described it as a tool to bolster Russia 's geopolitical influence .
`` The authorization of the Sputnik V vaccine in Argentina without added clinical trials in the country constitutes an important acknowledgment of Russia 's rules and regulations and the quality of its clinical tests , '' said Kirill Dmitriev , the director of the Russian direct investment fund that helped finance the vaccine 's development .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Moscow to collect the first 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Nikolai Gamaleya Epidemiology and Microbiology Center .
The authorization came hot on the heels of approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as the government continues to negotiate with U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer over supplies .

Argentina's health ministry said Wednesday it has given the controversial Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine "emergency" authorization, making the country the first in Latin America to do so.
The first shipment of the 25 million doses of the vaccine bought by the Argentine government is due to arrive on Thursday.
The authorization for the Gam-CovidVac vaccine, nicknamed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite, was given "in conformity with the recommendations" of Argentina's drug administration agency, Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said.
The vaccine has come under fire from critics in Russia and abroad because it was registered before the start of large-scale clinical trials.
Its developers claim it is more than 90% effective but detractors have described it as a tool to bolster Russia's geopolitical influence.
"The authorization of the Sputnik V vaccine in Argentina without added clinical trials in the country constitutes an important acknowledgment of Russia's rules and regulations and the quality of its clinical tests," said Kirill Dmitriev, the director of the Russian direct investment fund that helped finance the vaccine's development.
On Tuesday, an Aerolineas Argentinas flight left for Moscow to collect the first 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Nikolai Gamaleya Epidemiology and Microbiology Center.
The authorization came hot on the heels of approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as the government continues to negotiate with U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer over supplies.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Russian Lawmakers Back New Restrictions on Free Speech, Information, Protests

Lawmakers in Russia ’ s lower house of parliament , the State Duma , have passed over a dozen laws this week that expand the government ’ s powers while imposing new restrictions on free speech and information access .
State Duma deputy Dmitry Vyatkin authored many of the bills , which have moved through parliament at breakneck pace in what observers call an effort to restrain Russia ’ s opposition ahead of the 2021 legislative elections .
Here ’ s a roundup of the sweeping legislative changes that appear likely to become law : The State Duma on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final reading to prohibit the sharing of personal data and information about the work of intelligence officers , law enforcement agencies , the military and judges .
The move follows a joint media investigation led by Bellingcat and CNN that named several alleged FSB chemical-weapons experts who tailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny for several years and were involved in his poisoning .
The investigation was based on information taken from flight manifests , mobile phone bills and other data purchased on the black market due to a separate Russian law that allows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation makes sharing information about police and investigators , as well as Foreign Intelligence Service ( SVR ) and FSB agents , a criminal offense .
The new law will protect security members ’ personal data “ regardless of direct threats to their security , ” an explanatory note states .
Previous legislation made it a criminal offense to share security members ’ data when doing so threatened their lives .
Also on Wednesday , the State Duma passed a bill in its third reading that would allow the federal media watchdog to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if they are found to `` restrict important information on Russian territory '' or contradict state media coverage of foreign sanctions against Russia or its citizens .
Internet platforms found to be violating the law would be added to a blacklist of websites “ involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms of Russian citizens ” and the media watchdog , Roskomnadzor , would introduce restrictive measures .
In an explanatory note attached to the bill , the authors wrote that authorities have been receiving complaints this year from Russian media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` foreign internet platforms Twitter , Facebook and YouTube . ''
Earlier this year the U.S. tech giants introduced labels for state-affiliated media outlets .
Critics have accused Russian authorities of following in China ’ s footsteps by seeking heavier internet restrictions and a separate Russian internet .
This summer , Russian walked back its failed attempt to block the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram .
The State Duma also passed a bill to prohibit the financing of protests and rallies from abroad and require organizers of political events to disclose the sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill ’ s explanatory document , money for rallies of 500 people may only be transferred to a Russian bank account and rally organizers must disclose the account numbers with the authorities .
Donors will also be required to disclose their personal data when transferring funds .
Under the bill , political campaigns would be banned from accepting money or property from foreign states , organizations , NGOs or citizens ; international organizations and movements ; unregistered public associations or individuals labeled as “ foreign agents ” ; Russians younger than 16 ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a year before the money transfer .
Another bill affecting public protests would label lines for single-picket protests as mass rallies and ban protests outside law enforcement and security buildings .
This bill would also prohibit journalists from concealing their press badges while covering rallies .
A bill approved by lawmakers in its final reading would punish those found guilty of spreading libel online with up to two years in prison .
State Duma deputy Vyatkin , the bill ’ s author , has said these amendments to Article 128.1 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and authors of Telegram channels .
The bill would also expand the types of punishments for posting libel on the internet .
Currently , fines or compulsory labor have been relied on for libel `` against several persons , including individually undefined ones , '' while the new amendments introduce imprisonment , forced labor and arrest .
“ The very fact of the threat of such a punishment can sober someone up , '' Vyatkin said .
Russian lawmakers on Wednesday passed in its final reading controversial draft legislation that includes an expansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign agent . ''
Under the changes , any individual — including those running for office — could be deemed a foreign agent if they receive any material or monetary support from abroad , or from organizations already deemed foreign agents .
The law will also bar those individuals from holding municipal government positions .
Groups or individuals deemed foreign agents had previously been required to register with the Justice Ministry , label publications with the tag and submit detailed paperwork or face fines .
The State Duma announced that it had increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could see culpable individuals receiving sentences of up to five years in prison .
A bill establishing criminal liability and imprisonment for up to a year for blocking traffic on roads , highways and city streets passed through the State Duma in its third reading on Wednesday .
The bill would amend Article 267 of the Criminal Code , which in its current form only provides for criminal liability if the blockage inflicts serious harm to human health or damages over 1 million rubles .
If someone died because of the blockage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in prison ; if more than one person died , the maximum prison sentence increases to 10 years .

Lawmakers in Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, have passed over a dozen laws this week that expand the government’s powers while imposing new restrictions on free speech and information access.
State Duma deputy Dmitry Vyatkin authored many of the bills, which have moved through parliament at breakneck pace in what observers call an effort to restrain Russia’s opposition ahead of the 2021 legislative elections.
Here’s a roundup of the sweeping legislative changes that appear likely to become law:
Prohibiting disclosure of security officials’ personal data
The State Duma on Wednesday passed a bill in its third and final reading to prohibit the sharing of personal data and information about the work of intelligence officers, law enforcement agencies, the military and judges.
The move follows a joint media investigation led by Bellingcat and CNN that named several alleged FSB chemical-weapons experts who tailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny for several years and were involved in his poisoning. The investigation was based on information taken from flight manifests, mobile phone bills and other data purchased on the black market due to a separate Russian law that allows the sale of personal data.
The new legislation makes sharing information about police and investigators, as well as Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and FSB agents, a criminal offense.
The new law will protect security members’ personal data “regardless of direct threats to their security,” an explanatory note states. Previous legislation made it a criminal offense to share security members’ data when doing so threatened their lives.
Allowing Russia to Block YouTube, Twitter, Facebook
Also on Wednesday, the State Duma passed a bill in its third reading that would allow the federal media watchdog to block websites, including social media sites, if they are found to "restrict important information on Russian territory" or contradict state media coverage of foreign sanctions against Russia or its citizens.
Internet platforms found to be violating the law would be added to a blacklist of websites “involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms of Russian citizens” and the media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, would introduce restrictive measures.
In an explanatory note attached to the bill, the authors wrote that authorities have been receiving complaints this year from Russian media that their accounts have been censored by "foreign internet platforms Twitter, Facebook and YouTube." Earlier this year the U.S. tech giants introduced labels for state-affiliated media outlets.
Critics have accused Russian authorities of following in China’s footsteps by seeking heavier internet restrictions and a separate Russian internet. This summer, Russian walked back its failed attempt to block the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram.
More restrictions on public protests
The State Duma also passed a bill to prohibit the financing of protests and rallies from abroad and require organizers of political events to disclose the sources of their funding.
According to the bill’s explanatory document, money for rallies of 500 people may only be transferred to a Russian bank account and rally organizers must disclose the account numbers with the authorities. Donors will also be required to disclose their personal data when transferring funds.
Under the bill, political campaigns would be banned from accepting money or property from foreign states, organizations, NGOs or citizens; international organizations and movements; unregistered public associations or individuals labeled as “foreign agents”; Russians younger than 16; anonymous donors; and legal entities created less than a year before the money transfer.
Another bill affecting public protests would label lines for single-picket protests as mass rallies and ban protests outside law enforcement and security buildings. This bill would also prohibit journalists from concealing their press badges while covering rallies.
Imprisonment or forced labor for spreading libel online
A bill approved by lawmakers in its final reading would punish those found guilty of spreading libel online with up to two years in prison. State Duma deputy Vyatkin, the bill’s author, has said these amendments to Article 128.1 of the Criminal Code are aimed at bloggers and authors of Telegram channels.
The bill would also expand the types of punishments for posting libel on the internet. Currently, fines or compulsory labor have been relied on for libel "against several persons, including individually undefined ones," while the new amendments introduce imprisonment, forced labor and arrest.
“The very fact of the threat of such a punishment can sober someone up," Vyatkin said.
Expanded ‘foreign agents’ law
Russian lawmakers on Wednesday passed in its final reading controversial draft legislation that includes an expansion of who can be labeled a "foreign agent."
Under the changes, any individual — including those running for office — could be deemed a foreign agent if they receive any material or monetary support from abroad, or from organizations already deemed foreign agents.
The law will also bar those individuals from holding municipal government positions.
Groups or individuals deemed foreign agents had previously been required to register with the Justice Ministry, label publications with the tag and submit detailed paperwork or face fines.
The State Duma announced that it had increased the punishment for failure to comply that could see culpable individuals receiving sentences of up to five years in prison.
Prison time for blocking a street
A bill establishing criminal liability and imprisonment for up to a year for blocking traffic on roads, highways and city streets passed through the State Duma in its third reading on Wednesday.
The bill would amend Article 267 of the Criminal Code, which in its current form only provides for criminal liability if the blockage inflicts serious harm to human health or damages over 1 million rubles. If someone died because of the blockage, those found guilty face up to eight years in prison; if more than one person died, the maximum prison sentence increases to 10 years.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Russia to Launch Own TikTok Developed With Putin's Alleged Daughter

The Kommersant business daily cited Gazprom-Media CEO Alexander Zharov as saying the holding had purchased a service called `` Ya Molodets '' ( `` I am great '' ) .
Russia 's leading media holding , which is controlled by state energy giant Gazprom , will launch an app similar to the video-sharing social network TikTok , the group 's CEO said Wednesday .
Zharov said the app was developed with the support of the Innopraktika foundation , an organization run by Katerina Tikhonova — one of President Vladimir Putin 's alleged daughters .
Gazprom-Media will `` use the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a new video service for Russian bloggers , '' Zharov said , adding that it will be launched within two years .
The app will support the sharing of short vertical videos , similar to the Chinese social network TikTok .
Zharov took charge of Gazprom-Media earlier this year after leaving his post as head of the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor that was behind the failed blocking of the Telegram messaging service .
Gazprom-Media is one of Russia 's largest media organizations , owning some of its most-watched television channels and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month Zharov announced that Gazprom-Media will launch two websites similar to YouTube in the next two years , with one being an improved version of the Rutube streaming service — a platform targeted at Russian speakers that Gazprom-Media acquired in 2008 .
On Wednesday Zharov said the holding had been working for `` about a year to modernize it and make it no worse than YouTube in terms of tools . ''
In recent years YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for young Russians , with some of the most-watched channels racking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has also become a source of independent news and an alternative to the main television channels that are mostly under state control .
Authorities have continuously stepped up efforts to tighten control over the Russian segment of the internet under the pretext of fighting online extremism .
Earlier Wednesday the lower house of parliament passed legislation that would make it possible to block internet platforms , including YouTube , if they are found guilty of `` censorship '' and `` discrimination . ''

The Kommersant business daily cited Gazprom-Media CEO Alexander Zharov as saying the holding had purchased a service called "Ya Molodets" ("I am great").
Russia's leading media holding, which is controlled by state energy giant Gazprom, will launch an app similar to the video-sharing social network TikTok, the group's CEO said Wednesday.
Zharov said the app was developed with the support of the Innopraktika foundation, an organization run by Katerina Tikhonova — one of President Vladimir Putin's alleged daughters.
Gazprom-Media will "use the project's software to speed up the creation of a new video service for Russian bloggers," Zharov said, adding that it will be launched within two years.
The app will support the sharing of short vertical videos, similar to the Chinese social network TikTok.
Zharov took charge of Gazprom-Media earlier this year after leaving his post as head of the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor that was behind the failed blocking of the Telegram messaging service.
Gazprom-Media is one of Russia's largest media organizations, owning some of its most-watched television channels and a range of radio stations.
Earlier this month Zharov announced that Gazprom-Media will launch two websites similar to YouTube in the next two years, with one being an improved version of the Rutube streaming service — a platform targeted at Russian speakers that Gazprom-Media acquired in 2008.
On Wednesday Zharov said the holding had been working for "about a year to modernize it and make it no worse than YouTube in terms of tools."
In recent years YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for young Russians, with some of the most-watched channels racking in tens of millions of views.
It has also become a source of independent news and an alternative to the main television channels that are mostly under state control.
Authorities have continuously stepped up efforts to tighten control over the Russian segment of the internet under the pretext of fighting online extremism.
Earlier Wednesday the lower house of parliament passed legislation that would make it possible to block internet platforms, including YouTube, if they are found guilty of "censorship" and "discrimination."


themoscowtimes--2020-12-23--Moscow Opposition Deputy Gets Suspended Sentence for Multiple Protest Violations

Galyamina , a member of north-central Moscow ’ s Timiryazevsky District council , is accused of demonstrating against local elections in the summer of 2019 and against Russia 's constitutional reforms this summer .
She was fined and spent nearly a month in detention for various infractions at the protests .
Moscow opposition deputy Yulia Galyamina will walk free after receiving a suspended sentence under Russia ’ s law criminalizing multiple protest violations , the Mediazona news website reported Wednesday .
Moscow ’ s Tverskoy District Court found Galyamina , 47 , guilty of violating the multiple-protest law and handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mediazona cited judge Anatoly Belyakov as saying .
Prosecutors had asked for a three-year sentence for Galyamina .
Russians found guilty of taking part in unauthorized rallies , pickets or marches several times within a six-month period face a maximum sentence of five years in prison .
During her final statement transcribed by Mediazona , Galyamina said the court case “ proves to the whole country that I ’ m a real threat ” to President Vladimir Putin .
“ I , a woman , pose a threat to a man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
But this man is just a little man who ’ s afraid of soft female power , ” she told the court .
Around 200 people gathered outside the court in Galyamina ’ s support , chanting slogans in support of political prisoners .
Denis Shenderevich , an opposition deputy on west Moscow 's Kuntsevsky District council who turned out to support Galyamina , told The Moscow Times that the court 's decision was dictated from above by political considerations .
`` This is no court .
It 's a cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Galyamina , who has also said the case against her is politically motivated , is the fourth person to be prosecuted under the controversial law criminalizing multiple unauthorized protests that President Vladimir Putin signed in 2014 .
Those convicted for multiple protests and other violations are banned from running for office under another law that Putin signed earlier this year .
Outside the courthouse , Galyamina told reporters that her avoiding a custodial sentence was the result of her supporters ' putting pressure on the authorities , citing an online petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
`` Every victim of political repression needs this level of support , regardess of who they are , '' she said .

Galyamina, a member of north-central Moscow’s Timiryazevsky District council, is accused of demonstrating against local elections in the summer of 2019 and against Russia's constitutional reforms this summer. She was fined and spent nearly a month in detention for various infractions at the protests.
Moscow opposition deputy Yulia Galyamina will walk free after receiving a suspended sentence under Russia’s law criminalizing multiple protest violations, the Mediazona news website reported Wednesday.
Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court found Galyamina, 47, guilty of violating the multiple-protest law and handed her a suspended sentence of two years, Mediazona cited judge Anatoly Belyakov as saying.
Prosecutors had asked for a three-year sentence for Galyamina. Russians found guilty of taking part in unauthorized rallies, pickets or marches several times within a six-month period face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
During her final statement transcribed by Mediazona, Galyamina said the court case “proves to the whole country that I’m a real threat” to President Vladimir Putin.
“I, a woman, pose a threat to a man who is seemingly vested with all kinds of power. But this man is just a little man who’s afraid of soft female power,” she told the court.
Around 200 people gathered outside the court in Galyamina’s support, chanting slogans in support of political prisoners.
Denis Shenderevich, an opposition deputy on west Moscow's Kuntsevsky District council who turned out to support Galyamina, told The Moscow Times that the court's decision was dictated from above by political considerations.
"This is no court. It's a cover for a political decision," he said.
Galyamina, who has also said the case against her is politically motivated, is the fourth person to be prosecuted under the controversial law criminalizing multiple unauthorized protests that President Vladimir Putin signed in 2014.
Those convicted for multiple protests and other violations are banned from running for office under another law that Putin signed earlier this year.
Outside the courthouse, Galyamina told reporters that her avoiding a custodial sentence was the result of her supporters' putting pressure on the authorities, citing an online petition against her prosecution signed by over 150,000 people.
"Every victim of political repression needs this level of support, regardess of who they are," she said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--30% of Russians Say Navalny Poisoning ‘Staged’ – Poll

Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 on a flight from Siberia to Moscow .
He was flown for treatment to Germany two days later , where European scientists established that he was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Soviet-designed Novichok group .
Around one-third of Russians believe that leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny was not poisoned , according to an independent survey published Thursday .
Nearly half of Russian respondents told the Levada Center polling agency they believe that Navalny ’ s poisoning was either faked or a “ provocation ” by the West .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident was “ staged ” and 19 % said that foreign intelligence agencies arranged and executed Navalny ’ s poisoning .
Only 15 % agreed with Navalny ’ s own assessment that Russian authorities carried out the poisoning in an attempt to “ eliminate a political opponent.
” The survey comes as the U.S. State Department laid the blame for Navalny 's poisoning on Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) after the publication of a joint media investigation implicating an FSB chemical weapons unit .
“ There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than Russian government involvement and responsibility , ” CNN quoted an unnamed State Department spokesperson as saying Wednesday .
The State Department accused Russian authorities of promoting “ numerous , often contradictory , conspiracy theories ” as a “ means to deflect attention from the serious questions before the Russian government.
” The European Union has sanctioned six Russian officials and a state scientific institute over the poisoning .
Moscow , which denies both the poisoning and the government ’ s involvement , retaliated this week with travel bans targeting officials from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians by phone on Dec. 21-23 , 78 % of whom said they closely follow or have heard something about Navalny ’ s poisoning .

Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. He was flown for treatment to Germany two days later, where European scientists established that he was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Soviet-designed Novichok group.
Around half of Russians believe that Western secret agents orchestrated leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny's poisoning or that he wasn't poisoned at all, according to an independent survey published Thursday.
Nearly half of Russian respondents told the Levada Center polling agency they believe that Navalny’s poisoning was either faked or a “provocation” by the West.
According to Levada, 30% of respondents said the incident was “staged” and 19% said that foreign intelligence agencies arranged and executed the poisoning.
Only 15% agreed with Navalny’s own assessment that Russian authorities carried out the poisoning in an attempt to “eliminate a political opponent.”
The survey comes as the U.S. State Department laid the blame for Navalny's poisoning on Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) after the publication of a joint media investigation implicating an FSB chemical weapons unit.
“There is no plausible explanation for Mr. Navalny's poisoning other than Russian government involvement and responsibility,” CNN quoted an unnamed State Department spokesperson as saying Wednesday.
The State Department accused Russian authorities of promoting “numerous, often contradictory, conspiracy theories” as a “means to deflect attention from the serious questions before the Russian government.”
The European Union has sanctioned six Russian officials and a state scientific institute over the poisoning. Moscow, which denies both the poisoning and the government’s involvement, retaliated this week with travel bans targeting officials from EU member states.
Levada polled 1,617 Russians by phone on Dec. 21-23, 78% of whom said they closely follow or have heard something about Navalny’s poisoning.