themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--5 Killed in Russian Hotel After Boiling Water Floods Basement

At least three other people were taken to hospital with burns after the incident in the Mini Hotel Caramel , which is located in the basement of a residential building , the region 's investigative committee said .
Five people , including one child , were killed in the Russian city of Perm on Monday when a hot water pipe exploded in the night and flooded a basement hotel room with boiling water .
# BREAKING # Russia In # Perm , five people died in a hotel `` Caramel '' due to a break in a hot water pipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The hotel is located on the ground floor of the building .
pic.twitter.com/4wYMPEHDY0 A doctor treating the victims , Andrei Babikov , said a 33-year-old woman had burns covering 35 % of her body .
Two men aged 28 and 35 were in a less serious condition .
Regional governor Maxim Reshetnikov said it was a `` terrible accident . ''
`` We will conduct the necessary checks with law enforcement and monitoring services , '' he said on Instagram .
`` Special thanks go to the rescue workers , who themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Video posted on social media showed thick steam billowing out of the hotel 's entrance in the early hours of Monday morning , with emergency services in attendance .
Investigators opened a criminal investigation to establish whether the deaths resulted from negligence .
The RIA news agency reported that the heating pipe that exploded had been in operation since 1962 and had broken repeatedly in the past , citing a source in the Perm emergency services .
`` There were no victims in previous explosions , '' the source said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

At least three other people were taken to hospital with burns after the incident in the Mini Hotel Caramel, which is located in the basement of a residential building, the region's investigative committee said.
Five people, including one child, were killed in the Russian city of Perm on Monday when a hot water pipe exploded in the night and flooded a basement hotel room with boiling water.
#BREAKING #Russia In #Perm , five people died in a hotel "Caramel" due to a break in a hot water pipe, three more were hospitalized with burns. The hotel is located on the ground floor of the building. pic.twitter.com/4wYMPEHDY0
A doctor treating the victims, Andrei Babikov, said a 33-year-old woman had burns covering 35% of her body. Two men aged 28 and 35 were in a less serious condition.
Regional governor Maxim Reshetnikov said it was a "terrible accident."
"We will conduct the necessary checks with law enforcement and monitoring services," he said on Instagram. "Special thanks go to the rescue workers, who themselves received burns in pulling people out."
Video posted on social media showed thick steam billowing out of the hotel's entrance in the early hours of Monday morning, with emergency services in attendance.
Investigators opened a criminal investigation to establish whether the deaths resulted from negligence.
The RIA news agency reported that the heating pipe that exploded had been in operation since 1962 and had broken repeatedly in the past, citing a source in the Perm emergency services.
"There were no victims in previous explosions," the source said. "It was not replaced, only repaired."


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--Putin Sends Sweeping Constitutional Amendments to Lawmakers

Among the nearly dozen changes he pledged during last Wednesday 's state of the nation speech , Putin vowed to limit the presidency to two overall terms and tighten restrictions for candidates and other federal officials .
Russia ’ s Constitution would also have more legal weight than international acts and create new centers of power outside the presidency .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft bill on sweeping constitutional amendments to Russia ’ s lower house of parliament , the State Duma , on Monday , less than a week after first proposing the changes .
Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his proposals , recommending changes to 13 articles of the Constitution , the RBC news website reported earlier Monday .
Putin 's proposed changes were widely seen as giving the 67-year-old scope to extend his grip on power once he leaves the presidency in 2024 .
He has dominated Russian politics , as president or as prime minister , for two decades .
The State Duma ’ s legislative committee plans to discuss Putin ’ s bill Tuesday , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin as saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , RIA Novosti quoted the State Duma ’ s deputy speaker Ivan Melnikov as saying .
Putin ’ s bill requires three votes in the State Duma and one in the upper-house Federation Council before reaching his desk .
The public could vote on the constitutional amendments on April 12 , RBC reported earlier Monday .
Several officials , including Putin ’ s spokesman , have stressed after Putin ’ s state of the nation speech Wednesday that the public vote would not amount to a referendum .

The changes, which cover 21 pages, fill out some of the gaps in the plan Putin announced last week in his state-of-the-nation address. The overhaul would weaken the presidency somewhat, while giving more power to parliament and particularly to the State Council.
Putin laid out the details of the plan — widely seen as the Kremlin’s effort to lay the groundwork for Putin extending his rule beyond the end of his current term in 2024 — in draft amendments to the constitution submitted to parliament Monday.
President Vladimir Putin proposed giving broad new authority to set the direction of foreign, domestic and economic policy to the State Council as part of the constitutional overhaul he announced last week.
At the moment, that body is a gathering of regional and national leaders headed by Putin but with largely ceremonial powers. Under the proposed changes, the Council’s role would for the first time be written into the constitution and a special federal law.
The State Council would have the power to “set the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation and the priority areas of socio-economic development,” according to the draft. The body would be formed by the president, although the proposed amendments give no indication how that process would take place.
State council
Leading a strengthened State Council could be a role that might allow Putin to continue to dominate Russian politics even after the end of his current term, which must be his last under the constitution. Still, by giving the authority to the president to form the body, the draft amendments didn’t give it the broad reach some analysts had expected after Putin first proposed the changes in his speech last week.
Putin has described the constitutional amendments as aimed at strengthening Russia‘s democratic institutions. Over the weekend, he said that return to the Soviet tradition of leaders for life would be “worrying.” The amendments include a provision to limit presidents to no more than two terms in total, rather than consecutive as in the current constitution.
“The State Council becomes something like a collective presidency,” said Andrey Kortunov, head of the Kremlin-founded Russian International Affairs Council. “It will be very important who heads it and how it’s formed.” Those issues aren’t addressed in detail in the draft published Monday.
“One of the most important questions is will the State Council’s decisions be binding for the president,” said Sergei Pepeliaev, managing partner at Pepeliaev Group, a Moscow law firm. Under the amendments, “the president is giving up a bit of his authority,” he said, without substantially weakening it.
The changes spell out Putin’s proposals to reduce presidential power in other areas, although some aren’t as sweeping as the president suggested in his speech last week.
Parliamentary power
In addition to enshrining the State Council in the constitution, the proposed changes also give the parliament greater say over the formation of the government. The president’s candidate for prime minister would need formal confirmation by the lower house of parliament, instead of the current process of giving consent. The premier’s cabinet picks, currently not subject to legislative approval, would require parliamentary confirmation and couldn’t be rejected by the president.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--2 in 3 Russians Believe Russia Has Political Prisoners – Poll

Last summer saw the brief arrest of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov on falsified charges , a move that his supporters said was punishment for his work .
He was released days later following widespread public outcry .
Weeks later , an unprecedented wave of opposition protests was met with thousands of protesters briefly detained and at least a dozen activists criminally charged in the so-called “ Moscow Case.
” More than half of Russians believe that their country imprisons people for political reasons , an all-time high since the independent Levada Center polling agency first conducted the survey in 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirmatively when asked whether Russia has political prisoners , an increase from 50 % of respondents the year before , Levada ’ s survey published Monday said .
This increase can be linked to the controversy surrounding the Golunov case as well as to the arrests of opposition protesters in the “ Moscow Case , ” Levada Center Director Lev Gudkov told the Vedomosti business daily .
Respondents were most likely to name exiled former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov as the political prisoners they recognize , Gudkov added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognized 64 people on its list of Russian political prisoners .
The organization lists another 250 people who have been imprisoned for their religion .
Levada conducted the survey among 1,608 adults living in 50 Russian regions between Dec. 12-18 .

Last summer saw the brief arrest of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov on falsified charges, a move that his supporters said was punishment for his work. He was released days later following widespread public outcry. Weeks later, an unprecedented wave of opposition protests was met with thousands of protesters briefly detained and at least a dozen activists criminally charged in the so-called “Moscow Case.”
More than half of Russians believe that their country imprisons people for political reasons, an all-time high since the independent Levada Center polling agency first conducted the survey in 2004.
Sixty-three percent of Russian participants responded affirmatively when asked whether Russia has political prisoners, an increase from 50% of respondents the year before, Levada’s survey published Monday said.
This increase can be linked to the controversy surrounding the Golunov case as well as to the arrests of opposition protesters in the “Moscow Case,” Levada Center Director Lev Gudkov told the Vedomosti business daily.
Respondents were most likely to name exiled former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov as the political prisoners they recognize, Gudkov added.
The Memorial human rights organization has recognized 64 people on its list of Russian political prisoners. The organization lists another 250 people who have been imprisoned for their religion.
Levada conducted the survey among 1,608 adults living in 50 Russian regions between Dec. 12-18.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--Russian Official Walks Back Call to ‘Wipe Out’ Critical Journalists

Mikhail Ignatyev , who heads Russia ’ s republic of Chuvashia 680 kilometers east of Moscow , made the controversial remarks Saturday at an event commemorating the local press .
A Russian official has apologized Monday for remarks suggesting that journalists should be “ wiped out ” for criticizing the authorities .
“ They need to be wiped out , as the people say , ” Ignatyev was quoted as saying about critical journalists , using a phrase President Vladimir Putin famously employed when referring to Chechen terrorists in 2000 .
“ Say where they came from , their intentions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , what they earn , ” Ignatyev added Saturday .
The governor ’ s awkward turn of phrase comes at a sensitive time for media freedom in Russia .
The number of attacks and threats on Russian journalists by the authorities more than doubled between 2017-2019 , the international Justice for Journalists NGO said .
Russia also ranks 149th out of 180 countries worldwide for press freedom , according to the Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) international media watchdog .
Ignatyev later apologized for using the phrase and said his words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a statement published on the regional administration ’ s website Monday .
“ In fact , [ the governor ] was referring to people who call themselves journalists but pursue the sole goal of discrediting the government by any means , ” the statement said .
“ To those whose feelings were hurt by the phrase ‘ wipe out , ’ I — a person with a good soul — apologize , ” Ignatyev said .

Mikhail Ignatyev, who heads Russia’s republic of Chuvashia 680 kilometers east of Moscow, made the controversial remarks Saturday at an event commemorating the local press.
A Russian official has apologized Monday for remarks suggesting that journalists should be “wiped out” for criticizing the authorities.
“They need to be wiped out, as the people say,” Ignatyev was quoted as saying about critical journalists, using a phrase President Vladimir Putin famously employed when referring to Chechen terrorists in 2000.
“Say where they came from, their intentions, where they live, where they work, what they earn,” Ignatyev added Saturday.
The governor’s awkward turn of phrase comes at a sensitive time for media freedom in Russia.
The number of attacks and threats on Russian journalists by the authorities more than doubled between 2017-2019, the international Justice for Journalists NGO said. Russia also ranks 149th out of 180 countries worldwide for press freedom, according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) international media watchdog.
Ignatyev later apologized for using the phrase and said his words had been “distorted,” according to a statement published on the regional administration’s website Monday.
“In fact, [the governor] was referring to people who call themselves journalists but pursue the sole goal of discrediting the government by any means,” the statement said.
“To those whose feelings were hurt by the phrase ‘wipe out,’ I — a person with a good soul — apologize,” Ignatyev said.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--In Wake of Putin’s ‘Coup,’ Russia’s Top Opposition Leader Refrains From Action

There was deathly silence from Russia ’ s most prominent opposition politician for days after President Vladimir Putin sent shockwaves through the establishment last Wednesday by proposing a clutch of constitutional amendments that could allow him to stay in power beyond the end of his term in 2024 .
Just hours later the silence became even more deafening when Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that he and his entire government would be resigning , citing the need to allow the president room to push through the changes , and little-known tax chief Mikhail Mishustin was named as his successor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday morning announced a protest march on Sunday against the proposed reforms , calling them a “ coup , ” did Alexei Navalny , the man who for years has been Putin ’ s loudest critic , finally speak up .
“ The Russian Constitution is abominable , ” Navalny wrote on Twitter that afternoon .
“ The mechanism of the usurpation of power is built into it .
Under this Constitution , everything has been taken away from us — from elections to pensions — and they want to continue taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to protect it.
” Observers have homed in on the fact that Putin ’ s proposed changes to the 1993 document would strengthen parliament and other government bodies , while the powers of the presidency would be reduced .
In effect , analysts say , Putin appears to be keeping various doors open for whatever position he might take on after leaving the Kremlin , while simultaneously reigning in his successor .
Critics recalled recent moves by neighboring Kazakhstan ’ s longtime leader Nursultan Nazarbayev , who instituted constitutional reforms to weaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smaller government body into the country ’ s most important one .
He then made himself its lifetime leader .
That possibility is what led local Moscow deputy Yulia Galyamina to call for people to take to the streets .
Her march , which was tacked onto an annual anti-fascist rally , brought out nearly 1,500 people , according to White Counter , an NGO that tallies up participants who have passed through the security frames surrounding approved protests .
“ This is the beginning of a big civil society campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , another local Moscow politician , Ilya Yashin — a Navalny ally — announced a separate march to take place on Feb. 29 .
This one would likewise be tacked onto a different protest , the annual march for Boris Nemtsov , an opposition politician who was gunned down just steps from the Kremlin in 2015 .
“ This will perhaps be the most important opposition rally in recent years , ” Yashin wrote on Twitter .
Although Navalny retweeted Yashin ’ s tweet — which may have given those anticipating he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not explicitly back the protest .
In a blog post Monday afternoon , he argued that it ’ s still unclear what exactly the Kremlin is planning .
Plus , he added , nothing has changed : Just like before , Putin , who is Russia ’ s longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin , is planning to remain in power .
Changing the Constitution , Navalny argued , is just another tool in his quest to do so .
“ The tactics of our actions will be largely determined by how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelong government , ” he wrote .
“ This will become clear in the coming weeks.
” Those plans are unfurling quickly , if opaquely .
On Monday , Putin officially submitted the changes to the State Duma , the lower house of parliament , Interfax reported .
Other reports , citing sources close to the Kremlin , indicated that authorities are planning a nationwide vote on the proposed changes sometime in April .
The independent election monitoring organization Golos called for clarity over what the unspecified vote would look like , describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law ” and a “ propaganda device aimed at legitimizing decisions that are situationally beneficial to specific political forces.
” “ It ’ s a classic Kremlin move to suddenly announce something and move very swiftly so that the opposition doesn ’ t have enough time to figure out what is going on and catch up , ” said political analyst Konstantin Gaaze .
But if the opposition is to mount some semblance of a resistance to the Kremlin ’ s plan , Gaaze said it will need Navalny .
“ There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ No one else can rally 20,000 to 30,000 people to the streets.
” Galyamina herself acknowledged as much in an interview with The Moscow Times on Monday .
But she also said she was still holding out hope that Navalny will come around .
“ It ’ s very important that he agrees with us , ” she said .
“ But we can ’ t force him .
And if he doesn ’ t join us , we will still go ahead.
” Both Galyamina and Yashin have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just this past summer , they were at the forefront of organizing rallies in Moscow against the exclusion of opposition politicians from Moscow ’ s city council elections .
Then , just like on Sunday , the first rally brought out about 1,500 people .
Those protests swelled to around 60,000 people at a single rally at the peak of the movement .
But those rallies , from which Navalny initially abstained , also grew on the back of his organizational clout once he threw his full weight into supporting them .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided that street protesting was no longer the correct tactic at the time .
Resistance tactics , moreover , are not the only thing the opposition disagrees on .
If this past summer it was clear to all in the opposition that barring opposition politicians from running in elections was an impediment to democracy , the authorities ’ latest moves are being interpreted in multiple ways .
Some have ventured that Putin ’ s proposals — which include limiting presidents to two total terms in office — are potentially positive changes .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , they are not viewing them in clear black and white terms .
As Yegor Zhukov , an opposition blogger who became a symbol of last summer ’ s protests , put it : “ Ensuring that a person can not hold the office of president for more than two terms in their life , and strengthening the power of the State Duma , are , in principle , awesome changes .
”

There was deathly silence from Russia’s most prominent opposition politician for days after President Vladimir Putin sent shockwaves through the establishment last Wednesday by proposing a clutch of constitutional amendments that could allow him to stay in power beyond the end of his term in 2024. Just hours later the silence became even more deafening when Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that he and his entire government would be resigning, citing the need to allow the president room to push through the changes, and little-known tax chief Mikhail Mishustin was named as his successor. Only after a lesser known opposition politician on Friday morning announced a protest march on Sunday against the proposed reforms, calling them a “coup,” did Alexei Navalny, the man who for years has been Putin’s loudest critic, finally speak up. “The Russian Constitution is abominable,” Navalny wrote on Twitter that afternoon. “The mechanism of the usurpation of power is built into it. Under this Constitution, everything has been taken away from us — from elections to pensions — and they want to continue taking away from us. There is no need to protect it.”
Observers have homed in on the fact that Putin’s proposed changes to the 1993 document would strengthen parliament and other government bodies, while the powers of the presidency would be reduced. In effect, analysts say, Putin appears to be keeping various doors open for whatever position he might take on after leaving the Kremlin, while simultaneously reigning in his successor. Critics recalled recent moves by neighboring Kazakhstan’s longtime leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who instituted constitutional reforms to weaken the president’s powers and turned a smaller government body into the country’s most important one. He then made himself its lifetime leader. That possibility is what led local Moscow deputy Yulia Galyamina to call for people to take to the streets. Her march, which was tacked onto an annual anti-fascist rally, brought out nearly 1,500 people, according to White Counter, an NGO that tallies up participants who have passed through the security frames surrounding approved protests. “This is the beginning of a big civil society campaign,” Galyamina promised. On Monday morning, another local Moscow politician, Ilya Yashin — a Navalny ally — announced a separate march to take place on Feb. 29. This one would likewise be tacked onto a different protest, the annual march for Boris Nemtsov, an opposition politician who was gunned down just steps from the Kremlin in 2015. “This will perhaps be the most important opposition rally in recent years,” Yashin wrote on Twitter.
Although Navalny retweeted Yashin’s tweet — which may have given those anticipating he would join the budding movement hope — he did not explicitly back the protest. In a blog post Monday afternoon, he argued that it’s still unclear what exactly the Kremlin is planning. Plus, he added, nothing has changed: Just like before, Putin, who is Russia’s longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin, is planning to remain in power. Changing the Constitution, Navalny argued, is just another tool in his quest to do so. “The tactics of our actions will be largely determined by how the Kremlin begins to build the mechanism of lifelong government,” he wrote. “This will become clear in the coming weeks.” Those plans are unfurling quickly, if opaquely. On Monday, Putin officially submitted the changes to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, Interfax reported. Other reports, citing sources close to the Kremlin, indicated that authorities are planning a nationwide vote on the proposed changes sometime in April. The independent election monitoring organization Golos called for clarity over what the unspecified vote would look like, describing it as “not supported by Russian law” and a “propaganda device aimed at legitimizing decisions that are situationally beneficial to specific political forces.” “It’s a classic Kremlin move to suddenly announce something and move very swiftly so that the opposition doesn’t have enough time to figure out what is going on and catch up,” said political analyst Konstantin Gaaze. But if the opposition is to mount some semblance of a resistance to the Kremlin’s plan, Gaaze said it will need Navalny. “There is no opposition leader but him,” he said. “No one else can rally 20,000 to 30,000 people to the streets.”


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--Freak Warm Weather Threatens Birth of Baby Seals in Northern Russia – NGO

Thousands of ringed and grey seals live in the waters of the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga near the city of St. Petersburg , which has seen temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius above average this winter .
Female seals typically burrow lairs into the snow that collects on sea ice to protect their pups from the cold and predators .
Record high temperatures in northern Russia this winter have prevented sea ice from forming , threatening the birth of baby seals as the pupping period approaches , a local NGO has warned .
“ This year , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there isn ’ t even any ice on the sea , and the predictions say that there won ’ t be any by February , which is when the seals usually give birth , ” Elena Andriyevskaya , the founder of the Friends of the Baltic Seal Foundation , told The Moscow Times .
As a result of the warm temperatures , female seals have been forced to seek shelter near coastlines where they have been battered by waves and wind – and where they are likely to give birth to their pups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Foundation posted a video taken by lighthouse workers of a female seal trying to take shelter on a rock formation in the sea , with a comment saying : “ This is what the conditions are like for seals this winter.
” Dozens of baby seals risk being stranded on the shore or in the open sea if sea ice doesn ’ t form in the coming weeks , Andriyevskaya said .
“ If nothing changes , we are in store for an epic rescue season , ” she added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rescue about 40 seal pups from the open sea .
Ringed and grey seals are listed as endangered species in Russia .
Temperatures in St. Petersburg have broken historic records four times in January so far , with abnormally high temperatures expected to continue for the rest of the week .

Thousands of ringed and grey seals live in the waters of the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga near the city of St. Petersburg, which has seen temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius above average this winter. Female seals typically burrow lairs into the snow that collects on sea ice to protect their pups from the cold and predators.
Record high temperatures in northern Russia this winter have prevented sea ice from forming, threatening the birth of baby seals as the pupping period approaches, a local NGO has warned.
“This year, not only is there no snow, but there isn’t even any ice on the sea, and the predictions say that there won’t be any by February, which is when the seals usually give birth,” Elena Andriyevskaya, the founder of the Friends of the Baltic Seal Foundation, told The Moscow Times.
As a result of the warm temperatures, female seals have been forced to seek shelter near coastlines where they have been battered by waves and wind – and where they are likely to give birth to their pups if sea ice continues to be absent.
The Foundation posted a video taken by lighthouse workers of a female seal trying to take shelter on a rock formation in the sea, with a comment saying: “This is what the conditions are like for seals this winter.”
Dozens of baby seals risk being stranded on the shore or in the open sea if sea ice doesn’t form in the coming weeks, Andriyevskaya said.
“If nothing changes, we are in store for an epic rescue season,” she added, estimating that her NGO has the capacity to rescue about 40 seal pups from the open sea.
Ringed and grey seals are listed as endangered species in Russia.
Temperatures in St. Petersburg have broken historic records four times in January so far, with abnormally high temperatures expected to continue for the rest of the week.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-20--New Russian PM Transferred His Wealth to Wife – Kommersant

Amid President Vladimir Putin ’ s power shake-up last week that saw Mishustin 's surprise appointment , critics questioned how his wife Vladlena Mishustina came to earn 789 million rubles ( $ 12.5 million ) over a nine-year period without owning a business .
Government records show Mishustin himself earning 213 million rubles ( $ 3.4 million ) between 2010 , when he was named chief of the tax service , and 2018 , the latest available accounting period .
Russia ’ s new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin transferred his wealth to his wife before returning to public office from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kommersant business daily reported Sunday following questions about the origins of her declared income .
From 2008-2010 , Mishustin held senior positions at the UFG investment company , then owned by Deutsche Bank .
Mishustin had transferred his assets to his wife as a stipulation of returning to public office as Russia ’ s tax chief , according to Kommersant .
Last week , an investigative news site claimed that the couple had concealed ownership of an elite house and apartment in Moscow before Mishustin took up the new post .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 9.5 million , in 2000 with money he earned at a computer nonprofit he co-founded in the late 1980s , according to Kommersant .
The apartment was part of the presidential administration ’ s compensation package for Mishustin ’ s service as deputy tax minister in 1998-2004 , the publication said .
The Mishustins ’ three sons currently own both properties , according to Kommersant .
However , their names have been reportedly concealed from the public registry under Russia ’ s law on the protection of judges , law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have criticized Kommersant ’ s report as a “ glorified press release .
”

Amid President Vladimir Putin’s power shake-up last week that saw Mishustin's surprise appointment, critics questioned how his wife Vladlena Mishustina came to earn 789 million rubles ($12.5 million) over a nine-year period without owning a business. Government records show Mishustin himself earning 213 million rubles ($3.4 million) between 2010, when he was named chief of the tax service, and 2018, the latest available accounting period.
Russia’s new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin transferred his wealth to his wife before returning to public office from the private sector a decade ago, the Kommersant business daily reported Sunday following questions about the origins of her declared income.
From 2008-2010, Mishustin held senior positions at the UFG investment company, then owned by Deutsche Bank. Mishustin had transferred his assets to his wife as a stipulation of returning to public office as Russia’s tax chief, according to Kommersant.
Last week, an investigative news site claimed that the couple had concealed ownership of an elite house and apartment in Moscow before Mishustin took up the new post.
The Mishustins bought the house, currently valued at $9.5 million, in 2000 with money he earned at a computer nonprofit he co-founded in the late 1980s, according to Kommersant.
The apartment was part of the presidential administration’s compensation package for Mishustin’s service as deputy tax minister in 1998-2004, the publication said.
The Mishustins’ three sons currently own both properties, according to Kommersant. However, their names have been reportedly concealed from the public registry under Russia’s law on the protection of judges, law enforcement and oversight officials.
Mishustin’s 2019 income declaration is expected late this spring.
Russian opposition figures have criticized Kommersant’s report as a “glorified press release.”


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Russia Screens Chinese Travellers Amid Coronavirus Fears

Russian airports have taken measures to screen travelers arriving from China in an attempt to identify people infected with the new coronavirus , airport officials said on Tuesday .
The World Health Organization has said that the coronavirus outbreak was likely to spread .
It has already killed six people , according to the mayor of the Chinese city of Wuhan .
In Russia , at least four airports - Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo in Moscow , as well as airports in Yekaterinburg and Irkutsk - have introduced screening measures to try to identify infected passengers , Russian airport officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it could not rule out the possibility that the infection could spread to Russia , but evaluated the risk of a widespread outbreak in Russia as low , the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday .
Interfax went on to report that a testing system to diagnose the new coronavirus had already been developed in Russia and that laboratories would start receiving it by the end of the week .
Regional authorities have also been briefed on proactive measures for reducing the risks of an epidemic .
According to Rospotrebnadzor , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year .

Russian airports have stepped up screening of travelers arriving from China to try to identify people infected with the new coronavirus, airport officials said Tuesday.
The World Health Organization has said that the coronavirus outbreak, which the mayor of the Chinese city of Wuhan says has killed six people, was likely to spread. The virus poses a threat to Russia's biological security, Deputy Health Minister Sergei Kraevoi was cited as saying by the state-run RIA news agency.
In Russia, at least four airports — Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo in Moscow, as well as airports in Yekaterinburg and Irkutsk — have introduced screening measures to try to identify infected passengers, Russian airport officials said.
Russia's consumer health regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, advised Russian tourists who planned to go to China to refrain from visiting Wuhan and to steer clear of zoos and of markets selling animals and seafood.
The regulator said it could not rule out the possibility of the infection spreading to Russia, but evaluated the risk of a widespread outbreak in Russia as low, Interfax reported.
It was also cited as saying that a testing system to diagnose the new coronavirus had been developed in Russia and that laboratories would start receiving it by the end of the week.
Regional authorities have already been briefed on measures they need to take to reduce the risks of an epidemic.
More than 1.5 million Chinese citizens visit Russia each year, according to Rospotrebnadzor.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Iran Confirms Russian-Made Missiles Downed Ukraine Plane

All 176 people died onboard the Kiev-bound Ukrainian International Airlines flight when it crashed six minutes after taking off from Tehran on Jan. 8 .
Iran has admitted to shooting it down by mistake in the tense hours after it launched missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq in response to the killing of its general in Baghdad .
Iran has confirmed that it used two Russian-made missiles in the downing of a Ukrainian airliner earlier this month , according to the country ’ s latest investigation report cited by Bloomberg .
Two Tor-M1 short-range surface-to-air missiles were launched at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited Iran ’ s Civil Aviation Organization as saying in its second preliminary investigation report .
It said that the missiles had been launched minutes after the Ukrainian plane took off from Tehran , according to Reuters .
Russia in 2007 delivered 29 Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran as part of a $ 700 million contract .
Tor missiles are guided by radar and fly at almost three times the speed of sound , meaning they will arrive within about five seconds if launched at a target five kilometers away , Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small warhead — about 15 kilograms of high explosive — but are designed to spray fragments of shredded metal , like bullets , into a target upon detonation .
The Tor is among the most modern air defense systems Iran has , according to Michael Duitsman , a research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies .
When Iran purchased them from Russia in the mid-2000s , `` the capability was such that at the time the U.S. was concerned about the sale , '' Reuters quoted Duitsman as saying .

All 176 people died onboard the Kiev-bound Ukrainian International Airlines flight when it crashed six minutes after taking off from Tehran on Jan. 8. Iran has admitted to shooting it down by mistake in the tense hours after it launched missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq in response to the killing of its general in Baghdad.
Iran has confirmed that it used two Russian-made missiles in the downing of a Ukrainian airliner earlier this month, according to the country’s latest investigation report cited by Bloomberg.
Two Tor-M1 short-range surface-to-air missiles were launched at the Boeing 737-800 from the north, Bloomberg cited Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization as saying in its second preliminary investigation report.
It said that the missiles had been launched minutes after the Ukrainian plane took off from Tehran, according to Reuters.
Russia in 2007 delivered 29 Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran as part of a $700 million contract.
Tor missiles are guided by radar and fly at almost three times the speed of sound, meaning they will arrive within about five seconds if launched at a target five kilometers away, Reuters reported two weeks ago.
They have a small warhead — about 15 kilograms of high explosive — but are designed to spray fragments of shredded metal, like bullets, into a target upon detonation.
The Tor is among the most modern air defense systems Iran has, according to Michael Duitsman, a research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
When Iran purchased them from Russia in the mid-2000s, "the capability was such that at the time the U.S. was concerned about the sale," Reuters quoted Duitsman as saying.
Reuters contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--'Men Only': Largest Pool in Russia's North Caucasus Bans Women

The Anzhi Arena spa in Russia ’ s republic of Dagestan did not say what prompted the abrupt rule change @ @ @ @ @ different public pool in the Dagestani city of Makhachkala had turned away a female visitor @ @ @ @ @ were “ embarrassed by the presence of half-naked women.
” A swimming pool in southern @ @ @ @ @ explanation , according to its announcement published by the popular listings magazine Afisha on Monday @ @ @ @ @ for men only starting Jan. 20 , ” the curt message reads on the Anzhi @ @ @ @ @ Instagram page .
Afisha provided a screenshot of the post , which had gained 158 @ @ @ @ @ comments .
The spa later switched its Instagram page to private , limiting access to @ @ @ @ @ Arena described its 50-meter swimming pool as the North Caucasus region ’ s largest when @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 .
Human rights groups have for years criticized women ’ s rights violations @ @ @ @ @ local authorities dismiss as a misunderstanding of local traditions .

The Anzhi Arena spa in Russia’s republic of Dagestan did not say what prompted the abrupt rule change. Afisha reported that a different public pool in the Dagestani city of Makhachkala had turned away a female visitor in 2011 because other clientele were “embarrassed by the presence of half-naked women.”
A swimming pool in southern Russia has banned women without explanation, according to its announcement published by the popular listings magazine Afisha on Monday.
“Pool attendance is for men only starting Jan. 20,” the curt message reads on the Anzhi Arena spa’s now-private Instagram page.
Afisha provided a screenshot of the post, which had gained 158 “likes” and no comments.
The spa later switched its Instagram page to private, limiting access to its 6,000 followers.
It is common in the North Caucasus region to find sports facilities offering men and women access on separate days of the week. But a complete ban on women using the pool goes against the Russian constitution, activists said.
Fatima Abdulkhalimova, 31, said she could no longer use the pool despite working there as an instructor.
"I do demonstrations, show people the correct technique, and now I'm not allowed to enter the water," Abdulkhalimova, a former professional swimmer, said.
"I think it's to do with religion, I believe it is because a lot of religious guys come here," she said.
Access to the pool had initially been permitted for both men and women, she said, before being restricted to Fridays only for women.
If having women-only days was not financially viable, then why not simply return to the earlier, mixed-gender system, Abdulkhalimova questioned.
Three women from Dagestan have now filed a complaint to the regional Prosecutor's Office accusing the sports complex of unconstitutional gender-based discrimination, a copy of the document, shared by Olga Gnezdilova, a lawyer with the Rights Initiative Project, showed.
Anzhi Arena described its 50-meter swimming pool as the North Caucasus region’s largest when it opened in the summer of 2019.
Human rights groups have for years criticized women’s rights violations in the region, which local authorities dismiss as a misunderstanding of local traditions.
Reuters contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Fire Kills Uzbek Laborers in Siberian Village

A fire killed 11 people , most of them laborers from Uzbekistan , in a wooden building in Siberia early @ @ @ @ @ emergency services and Russian news agencies .
Officials say that two people managed to escape @ @ @ @ @ single-story building in a village in the region of Tomsk .
Many of the dead @ @ @ @ @ logging plant , according to the state-run TASS news agency .
The state-run RIA Novosti @ @ @ @ @ service official as saying that the fire was probably caused by a short-circuit in a @ @ @ @ @ dead were Uzbek nationals and one was a Russian woman , RIA said .

A fire killed 11 people, most of them laborers from Uzbekistan, in a wooden building in Siberia early on Tuesday, according to emergency services and Russian news agencies.
Officials say that two people managed to escape the flames that destroyed the single-story building in a village in the region of Tomsk.
Many of the dead had been working at a logging plant, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
The state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited an emergency service official as saying that the fire was probably caused by a short-circuit in a heater.
Ten of the dead were Uzbek nationals and one was a Russian woman, RIA said.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Russian Jehovah's Witness Gets Suspended Sentence for 'Extremist Activity'

A court in the Russian Far East on Tuesday handed a six-year suspended jail sentence to a Jehovah 's Witness @ @ @ @ @ finding him guilty of extremist activity , a spokesman for the religious group said .
@ @ @ @ @ under pressure for years in Russia , where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by @ @ @ @ @ scholars have cast them as a dangerous foreign sect that erodes state institutions and traditional @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia 's Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the group was an `` extremist @ @ @ @ @ to disband , a decision that was followed by a crackdown which has seen dozens @ @ @ @ @ hit with criminal charges .

A court in the Russian Far East on Tuesday handed a six-year suspended jail sentence to a Jehovah's Witness, Grigoriy Bubnov, after finding him guilty of extremist activity, a spokesman for the religious group said.
Jehovah's Witnesses have been under pressure for years in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin. Orthodox scholars have cast them as a dangerous foreign sect that erodes state institutions and traditional values, allegations they reject.
Russia's Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the group was an "extremist" organization and ordered it to disband, a decision that was followed by a crackdown which has seen dozens of adherents detained and hundreds hit with criminal charges.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Russia Plans ‘World’s Biggest’ Orthodox Church – Reports

Once completed , the 25-story structure on the site of a women ’ s monastery in the Sverdlovsk region will reportedly hold up to 37,000 worshippers .
An influential spiritual leader plans to build the world ’ s largest Orthodox Christian Church in central Russia , the Znak.com news website reported Monday .
“ The Saint Sophia Church will become an outpost and the largest Orthodox Church in the world , ” Zhanna Ryabtseva , a senior regional manager of the pro-government All-Russia People ’ s Front movement , told Znak.com .
“ Construction of the first stylobate will begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Znak.com says is a parishioner of the project ’ s mastermind , said .
The mastermind is reportedly Father Sergei , the secretive leader of the women ’ s monastery where the church is set to be built and the confessor of several public figures , including former Crimean attorney general Natalya Poklonskaya .
When asked about the construction deadline , Ryabtseva told Znak.com : “ It ’ s all in God ’ s hands.
” Ryabtseva did not identify the church project ’ s investors , instead calling them “ the spiritual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China plan to co-finance construction of the Saint Sophia Church , an unnamed businessman familiar with the project told Znak.com .
Ryabtseva added that the new church plans to welcome a large number of Chinese parishioners .
A 3D model of the church showed an ornate three-tiered structure with a large golden dome towering over smaller domes .
The lower temple fits 20,000 worshippers , according to the design , while 17,000 fit in the upper temple .

Once completed, the 25-story structure on the site of a women’s monastery in the Sverdlovsk region will reportedly hold up to 37,000 worshippers.
An influential spiritual leader plans to build the world’s largest Orthodox Christian Church in central Russia, the Znak.com news website reported Monday.
“The Saint Sophia Church will become an outpost and the largest Orthodox Church in the world,” Zhanna Ryabtseva, a senior regional manager of the pro-government All-Russia People’s Front movement, told Znak.com.
“Construction of the first stylobate will begin in 2020,” Ryabtseva, who Znak.com says is a parishioner of the project’s mastermind, said.
The mastermind is reportedly Father Sergei, the secretive leader of the women’s monastery where the church is set to be built and the confessor of several public figures, including former Crimean attorney general Natalya Poklonskaya.
When asked about the construction deadline, Ryabtseva told Znak.com: “It’s all in God’s hands.”
Ryabtseva did not identify the church project’s investors, instead calling them “the spiritual children of Father Sergei.”
Investors from China plan to co-finance construction of the Saint Sophia Church, an unnamed businessman familiar with the project told Znak.com. Ryabtseva added that the new church plans to welcome a large number of Chinese parishioners.
A 3D model of the church showed an ornate three-tiered structure with a large golden dome towering over smaller domes. The lower temple fits 20,000 worshippers, according to the design, while 17,000 fit in the upper temple.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Putin Outlines Sweeping Powers for State Council in Shakeup

The changes , which cover 21 pages , fill out some of the gaps in the plan Putin announced last week in his state-of-the-nation address .
The overhaul would weaken the presidency somewhat , while giving more power to parliament and particularly to the State Council .
Putin laid out the details of the plan — widely seen as the Kremlin ’ s effort to lay the groundwork for Putin extending his rule beyond the end of his current term in 2024 — in draft amendments to the constitution submitted to parliament Monday .
President Vladimir Putin proposed giving broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign , domestic and economic policy to the State Council as part of the constitutional overhaul he announced last week .
At the moment , that body is a gathering of regional and national leaders headed by Putin but with largely ceremonial powers .
Under the proposed changes , the Council ’ s role would for the first time be written into the constitution and a special federal law .
The State Council would have the power to “ set the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” according to the draft .
The body would be formed by the president , although the proposed amendments give no indication how that process would take place .
Leading a strengthened State Council could be a role that might allow Putin to continue to dominate Russian politics even after the end of his current term , which must be his last under the constitution .
Still , by giving the authority to the president to form the body , the draft amendments didn ’ t give it the broad reach some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the changes in his speech last week .
Putin has described the constitutional amendments as aimed at strengthening Russia ‘ s democratic institutions .
Over the weekend , he said that return to the Soviet tradition of leaders for life would be “ worrying.
” The amendments include a provision to limit presidents to no more than two terms in total , rather than consecutive as in the current constitution .
“ The State Council becomes something like a collective presidency , ” said Andrey Kortunov , head of the Kremlin-founded Russian International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very important who heads it and how it ’ s formed.
” Those issues aren ’ t addressed in detail in the draft published Monday .
“ One of the most important questions is will the State Council ’ s decisions be binding for the president , ” said Sergei Pepeliaev , managing partner at Pepeliaev Group , a Moscow law firm .
Under the amendments , “ the president is giving up a bit of his authority , ” he said , without substantially weakening it .
The changes spell out Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other areas , although some aren ’ t as sweeping as the president suggested in his speech last week .
In addition to enshrining the State Council in the constitution , the proposed changes also give the parliament greater say over the formation of the government .
The president ’ s candidate for prime minister would need formal confirmation by the lower house of parliament , instead of the current process of giving consent .
The premier ’ s cabinet picks , currently not subject to legislative approval , would require parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the president .


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Foreign, Defense and Energy Ministers Keep Their Position in New Russian Cabinet

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved a new Russian government that kept many veteran and senior ministers in place , but brought in a new economy minister and a new first deputy prime minister .
The new government was formed less than a week after Putin unveiled a sweeping shake-up of the political system , which led to the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister along with his entire government .
Putin went on to pick Mikhail Mishustin , a 53-year-old with almost no political profile , as his new prime minister .
On Tuesday , Putin approved the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Minister Anton Siluanov , Energy Minister Alexander Novak , Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev , Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov all kept their jobs in government , the Kremlin said .
Lavrov , 69 , has been the face of Moscow 's muscular foreign policy for more than a decade and a half as the Kremlin has reasserted what President Vladimir Putin said was Russia 's rightful standing as a world power .
But Maxim Reshetnikov will replace Maxim Oreshkin as the country 's economy minister , the Kremlin @ @ @ @

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new government on Tuesday which he described as a break with the past, bringing in some fresh faces but retaining many senior ministers.
The new government included a new economy minister and a new first deputy prime minister, but the finance, foreign, defense, energy and agriculture ministers all kept their jobs.
The new team was formed less than a week after Putin unveiled a sweeping shake-up of the political system, which led to the resignation of his ally Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister along with the entire government.
Putin went on to pick 53-year-old former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin, who has almost no political profile, as his new prime minister.
Putin's wider shake-up, which envisages changing the constitution, is widely seen as preparing the ground for 2024, when Putin, now 67, is obliged to leave the presidency after occupying the Kremlin or the prime minister's job continuously since 1999.
Critics have long said Putin, a former KGB officer, wants to stay on in some capacity after his term ends so that he can wield power over the world's largest nation and one of its two biggest nuclear powers.
Tuesday's new appointments could be intended to reboot the government's flagging image and shift attention to Putin's drive to lift falling real incomes and drive ahead with big national infrastructure projects which he hopes will catapult his country into a new economic league.
“The most important task is to increase the welfare of our citizens and strengthen our statehood and the position of our country in the world. All these are absolutely attainable goals,” Putin told the new government.
“We have achieved a very balanced government. We have enough people who worked in the previous government, as well as a major renewal.”
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov all kept their jobs.
"The logic has changed"
Putin named Andrei Belousov, his economy advisor since 2013, as first deputy prime minister, replacing Anton Siluanov who had held the role since May 2018.
Belousov, 60, in 2018 proposed making big metals and mining companies pay a windfall tax, sending their share prices lower, although that proposal was subsequently watered down.
Belousov also made headlines last year when he confirmed his friendship with businessman Artem Avetisyan, whose legal battle with private equity fund Baring Vostok has rattled the business community.
Putin approved 40-year-old Maxim Reshetnikov, a former regional governor, as the new economy minister, replacing Maxim Oreshkin who spent just over three years in the role. Reshetnikov has previously worked in the Moscow mayor's office.
Putin also replaced the minister of telecommunications. He named Maksut Shadaev, until now a vice president of state telecoms operator Rostelecom, to the role.
Abbas Gallyamov, a former government speech writer, said Putin had removed three people strongly disliked in certain parts of society — the ministers for culture and education, and a deputy prime minister who oversaw sport at the height of a doping scandal.
"Previously the Kremlin said it would appoint who it wanted and didn't care if people didn't like their choice," Gallyamov wrote on social media. "Now the logic has changed and the authorities do not want to irritate society."
But he said keeping on some political heavyweights, signaled there was little change in direction, adding: "Putin is clearly showing that substantive changes to the regime's ideology are not planned."


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--U.S. Troops ‘Block’ Russian Soldiers in Syria

News of the standoff appeared two years after an incident in which anywhere from five to 200 Russian mercenaries were killed by U.S. airstrikes while attempting to take over a Syrian oil refinery .
As of mid-December , U.S. forces were deployed at 11 bases and military posts in northeast Syria , including five in the province of Hasakah , four in Deir ez-Zor and two in Raqqa , Anadolu reported last month .
U.S. troops have “ blocked ” Russian soldiers from accessing an oilfield in northeast Syria , Turkey ’ s Hurriyet Daily News outlet has reported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. troops stopped a Russian military patrol en route to an oilfield near the Hasakah region town of Rmelan on Saturday , Anadolu reported , citing unnamed local sources .
The U.S. soldiers reportedly asked Russian troops to return to the town of Amuda 100 kilometers to the west .
The standoff took place two days after Kurdish forces similarly prevented Russian troops from passing through a major city to establish a military zone near the Rmelan oilfield , the outlet reported .
No casualties were reported in either case .
Russian troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. bases in northern Syria , filling a void left by U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s withdrawal of U.S. troops in October .
Russia intervened in Syria in 2015 on the side of Syrian government forces in their campaign against rebels and jihadists .
Moscow denies using military contractors in Syria and says any Russian civilians there are volunteers .

News of the standoff appeared two years after an incident in which anywhere from five to 200 Russian mercenaries were killed by U.S. airstrikes while attempting to take over a Syrian oil refinery. As of mid-December, U.S. forces were deployed at 11 bases and military posts in northeast Syria, including five in the province of Hasakah, four in Deir ez-Zor and two in Raqqa, Anadolu reported last month.
U.S. troops have “blocked” Russian soldiers from accessing an oilfield in northeast Syria, Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News outlet has reported , citing the state news agency Anadolu.
U.S. troops stopped a Russian military patrol en route to an oilfield near the Hasakah region town of Rmelan on Saturday, Anadolu reported, citing unnamed local sources. The U.S. soldiers reportedly asked Russian troops to return to the town of Amuda 100 kilometers to the west.
The standoff took place two days after Kurdish forces similarly prevented Russian troops from passing through a major city to establish a military zone near the Rmelan oilfield, the outlet reported.
No casualties were reported in either case.
Russian troops have taken over at least three other U.S. bases in northern Syria, filling a void left by U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. troops in October.
Russia intervened in Syria in 2015 on the side of Syrian government forces in their campaign against rebels and jihadists. Moscow denies using military contractors in Syria and says any Russian civilians there are volunteers.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Russian ‘Plumbers’ Questioned at Davos Over Espionage Suspicions – Report

Held annually in the Swiss ski resort of Davos , the WEF gathers world leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel with thousands of figures in business , NGOs , academia and more .
Two Russians who identified themselves as plumbers despite carrying diplomatic passports were checked in Switzerland on suspicion of espionage ahead of this week ’ s World Economic Forum ( WEF ) , the Tagez Anzeiger newspaper reported Monday .
The two unnamed men were taken in for a routine identity check in August 2019 after authorities learned that they were both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-week period , Tagez Anzeiger reported , citing the police spokeswoman in the canton of Graubünden where Davos is located .
It was “ obvious ” that the two men had their sights on the WEF and the high-profile figures who attend the forum , Tagez Anzeiger cited unnamed sources familiar with the case as saying .
They could have been working to establish a long-term audio surveillance or hacking program , the sources said .
While both men carried Russian diplomatic passports , they identified themselves as plumbers , Tagez Anzeiger reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as diplomats in Switzerland , the police said , and as a result were unable to claim diplomatic immunity after being detained .
The Russians claimed immunity , however , and Russian state representatives threatened diplomatic consequences if the men were arrested .
Ultimately , police released the men and allowed them to leave the country with no subsequent entry bans .
“ There were no indications of criminal acts during the check , '' the Graubünden cantonal police spokeswoman told the newspaper .
She later told Reuters that police had never identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account in Tagez Anzeiger 's report .
The Russian Embassy in Bern ’ s press secretary denied the espionage claims , telling Tagez Anzeiger that the men had been in Davos to help prepare for an event hosted by the state-run Roscongress Foundation during the WEF .
“ There are people outside of the Russian Foreign Ministry who are given diplomatic passports , ” the embassy was quoted as saying .
U.S.-British investor Bill Browder , who has led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after complaining of mistreatment , said the alleged incident showed the reach of the Russian state .

Held annually in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, the WEF gathers world leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel with thousands of figures in business, NGOs, academia and more.
Two Russians who identified themselves as plumbers despite carrying diplomatic passports were checked in Switzerland on suspicion of espionage ahead of this week’s World Economic Forum (WEF), the Tagez Anzeiger newspaper reported Monday.
The two unnamed men were taken in for a routine identity check in August 2019 after authorities learned that they were both staying in the country for the same three-week period, Tagez Anzeiger reported, citing the police spokeswoman in the canton of Graubünden where Davos is located.
It was “obvious” that the two men had their sights on the WEF and the high-profile figures who attend the forum, Tagez Anzeiger cited unnamed sources familiar with the case as saying. They could have been working to establish a long-term audio surveillance or hacking program, the sources said.
While both men carried Russian diplomatic passports, they identified themselves as plumbers, Tagez Anzeiger reported. Neither of the men were accredited as diplomats in Switzerland, the police said, and as a result were unable to claim diplomatic immunity after being detained.
The Russians claimed immunity, however, and Russian state representatives threatened diplomatic consequences if the men were arrested. Ultimately, police released the men and allowed them to leave the country with no subsequent entry bans.
“There were no indications of criminal acts during the check," the Graubünden cantonal police spokeswoman told the newspaper. She later told Reuters that police had never identified the men as plumbers, contradicting the account in Tagez Anzeiger's report.
The Russian Embassy in Bern’s press secretary denied the espionage claims, telling Tagez Anzeiger that the men had been in Davos to help prepare for an event hosted by the state-run Roscongress Foundation during the WEF.
“There are people outside of the Russian Foreign Ministry who are given diplomatic passports,” the embassy was quoted as saying.
U.S.-British investor Bill Browder, who has led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the death of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after complaining of mistreatment, said the alleged incident showed the reach of the Russian state.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--New China Coronavirus Poses ‘Biological Threat’ to Russia – Minister

Russian airports have stepped up screening of travelers arriving from China to try to identify people infected with the new coronavirus , airport officials said Tuesday .
The World Health Organization has said that the coronavirus outbreak , which the mayor of the Chinese city of Wuhan says has killed six people , was likely to spread .
The virus poses a threat to Russia 's biological security , Deputy Health Minister Sergei Kraevoi was cited as saying by the state-run RIA news agency .
In Russia , at least four airports — Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo in Moscow , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — have introduced screening measures to try to identify infected passengers , Russian airport officials said .
Russia 's consumer health regulator , Rospotrebnadzor , advised Russian tourists who planned to go to China to refrain from visiting Wuhan and to steer clear of zoos and of markets selling animals and seafood .
The regulator said it could not rule out the possibility of the infection spreading to Russia , but evaluated the risk of a widespread outbreak in Russia as low , Interfax reported .
It was also cited as saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus had been developed in Russia and that laboratories would start receiving it by the end of the week .
Regional authorities have already been briefed on measures they need to take to reduce the risks of an epidemic .
More than 1.5 million Chinese citizens visit Russia each year , according to Rospotrebnadzor .


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Russian Tourists Undeterred From China Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

The virus has killed nine people and infected more than 400 in an outbreak originating from the central city of Wuhan , spreading fear of a global contagion and rattling financial markets .
A popular destination for Russian travelers is Hainan island , a province off China ’ s southern coast 1,500 kilometers away from the outbreak ’ s epicenter .
Russian tourists appear to be undeterred by a new flu-like coronavirus in China , Russian travel agencies told the state-run TASS news agency as the country ’ s Health Ministry called it a “ biological threat .
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Tez Tour , one of Russia ’ s largest tour agencies , told TASS on Tuesday .
At most , travelers called in to inquire about updates , Tez Tour said and added that bookings into Hainan kept coming in .
“ We 're monitoring the situation , and so far demand for beach holidays in Сhina remains stable , ” Intourist , Russia ’ s oldest travel agency , told TASS .
Several other unnamed sources in Russia ’ s tourist industry said demand for holidays in Hainan remained stable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health watchdog , Rospotrebnadzor , advised Russian tourists who planned to go to China to refrain from visiting Wuhan and to steer clear of zoos and of markets selling animals and seafood .
Rospotrebnadzor has also strengthened its sanitary and quarantine control at all entry points into the country , Interfax said Wednesday .
There are no suspected cases of coronavirus in Russia , the watchdog added .
Symptoms of the virus , which can cause pneumonia , include fever , coughing and difficulty breathing .
The infection can be passed from person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among those infected in China .
Fears of a pandemic similar to an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) that originated in China and killed nearly 800 people in 2002-2003 have roiled global markets , with aviation and luxury goods stocks hit particularly hard and the Chinese yuan tumbling .
Though the origin of the virus had yet to be identified , the World Health Organization said the primary source was probably of animal origin .
Chinese officials have linked the outbreak to Wuhan 's seafood market .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January and September 2019 , Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) has said .

The virus has killed nine people and infected more than 400 in an outbreak originating from the central city of Wuhan, spreading fear of a global contagion and rattling financial markets. A popular destination for Russian travelers is Hainan island, a province off China’s southern coast 1,500 kilometers away from the outbreak’s epicenter.
Russian tourists appear to be undeterred by a new flu-like coronavirus in China, Russian travel agencies told the state-run TASS news agency as the country’s Health Ministry called it a “ biological threat. ”
“There are no cancellations at the moment,” Tez Tour, one of Russia’s largest tour agencies, told TASS on Tuesday.
At most, travelers called in to inquire about updates, Tez Tour said and added that bookings into Hainan kept coming in.
“We're monitoring the situation, and so far demand for beach holidays in Сhina remains stable,” Intourist, Russia’s oldest travel agency, told TASS.
Several other unnamed sources in Russia’s tourist industry said demand for holidays in Hainan remained stable, TASS reported.
Russia's consumer health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, advised Russian tourists who planned to go to China to refrain from visiting Wuhan and to steer clear of zoos and of markets selling animals and seafood.
Russia is now working to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus strain, Rospotrebnadzor was quoted by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency as saying.
"Yes, of course, the development of a vaccine is underway. Every time we have a mutation (of a virus), we start developing a vaccine immediately," Anna Popova, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, was cited as saying.
RIA cited Elena Yezhlova, head of Rospotrebnadzor's Epidemiological Surveillance Department, as explaining the process.
"The development of a vaccine is a long and complicated process; a decision is made on the basis of risk and the level of need dictated by the current situation," Yezhlova was quoted as saying.
"At present, we will rely on the WHO's recommendations."
There are no suspected cases of coronavirus in Russia, the watchdog said, adding that it has strengthened its sanitary and quarantine control at all entry points into the country.
Symptoms of the virus, which can cause pneumonia, include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. The infection can be passed from person to person, and 15 medical personnel are among those infected in China.
Fears of a pandemic similar to an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that originated in China and killed nearly 800 people in 2002-2003 have roiled global markets, with aviation and luxury goods stocks hit particularly hard and the Chinese yuan tumbling.
Though the origin of the virus had yet to be identified, the World Health Organization said the primary source was probably of animal origin. Chinese officials have linked the outbreak to Wuhan's seafood market.
More than 655,000 Russian tourists visited China between January and September 2019, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Russia’s Tumultuous Week: The Main Events

The proposals , made during his annual state of the nation address , set off a chain of events including the prime minister ’ s resignation , a new cabinet of ministers and widespread speculation about what Putin ’ s power restructuring bodes for the future .
President Vladimir Putin proposed to make several amendments to the Russian Constitution last week in what has been seen by many observers as an move to secure his executive power beyond 2024 .
Here ’ s a look at the sweeping changes that have taken place in the past seven days : Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional amendments aimed at shifting power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister .
Hours later , Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announces he and his entire government have resigned .
Although this dramatic exit seemed to signal a changing tide in Russian governance , many say it was simply the strategic removal of a prime minister whose increasing unpopularity had made him a political liability .
Jan. 16 : Putin confirms former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister .
A relative political unknown , Mishustin vows to improve business and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push forward with enacting Putin ’ s national projects .
Jan. 19 : Putin , currently in his fourth term as president , rejects a “ president for life ” model , saying that future presidents of Russia should be limited to two terms in office .
Some see this as an attempt to counter widespread speculation that he plans to stay in power beyond 2024 .
Jan. 20 : Putin submits the proposed amendments to the State Duma , with reports of a nationwide vote on the amendments to be held as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announces that Prosecutor General Yury Chaika , a longtime ally of the president , is leaving his post .
Jan. 21 : Mishustin appoints his new cabinet .
Despite Putin ’ s declarations of a “ major renewal , '' many senior ministers keep their positions , indicating little change in the overall ideology of the government .
Read more about the new and old faces in Russia ’ s cabinet here .

The proposals, made during his annual state of the nation address, set off a chain of events including the prime minister’s resignation, a new cabinet of ministers and widespread speculation about what Putin’s power restructuring bodes for the future.
President Vladimir Putin proposed to make several amendments to the Russian Constitution last week in what has been seen by many observers as an move to secure his executive power beyond 2024.
Here’s a look at the sweeping changes that have taken place in the past seven days:
Jan. 15: Putin proposes a package of constitutional amendments aimed at shifting power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister. Hours later, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announces he and his entire government have resigned.
Although this dramatic exit seemed to signal a changing tide in Russian governance, many say it was simply the strategic removal of a prime minister whose increasing unpopularity had made him a political liability.
Jan. 16: Putin confirms former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister. A relative political unknown, Mishustin vows to improve business and macroeconomic stability, as well as to push forward with enacting Putin’s national projects.
Jan. 19: Putin, currently in his fourth term as president, rejects a “president for life” model, saying that future presidents of Russia should be limited to two terms in office. Some see this as an attempt to counter widespread speculation that he plans to stay in power beyond 2024.
Jan. 20: Putin submits the proposed amendments to the State Duma, with reports of a nationwide vote on the amendments to be held as early as April. The Kremlin later announces that Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, a longtime ally of the president, is leaving his post.
Jan. 21: Mishustin appoints his new cabinet. Despite Putin’s declarations of a “major renewal," many senior ministers keep their positions, indicating little change in the overall ideology of the government. Read more about the new and old faces in Russia’s cabinet here.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Mishustin Gives Gazprom the Go-Ahead

Mishustin Gives Gazprom the Go-Ahead

Three days after being announced as Russia ’ s new prime minister , Mikhail Mishustin has granted Gazprom Oil the development rights to the Khambateyskoye gas and oil field on the Yamal Peninsula .
According to the federal government , the oil company will pay about 2 billion rubles ( $ 32 million ) for the production licenses .
The field is located both on land and offshore , with a portion situated in the Gulf of Ob .
Gazprom Oil already possesses the licenses for several nearby fields , including the Novy Port field located a few kilometers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in full swing since 2014 .
The Yamal Peninsula is a key area for Gazprom Oil .
Up to 8.5 million tons of oil are sent through Novy Port 's terminal per year .
The resources in the newly-obtained area could ultimately be connected to a proposed natural gas pipeline that will stretch eastwards across the Gulf of Ob .
The construction of the pipeline and related infrastructure could cost up to 75 billion rubles , the Kommersant business daily reported .
Several more decrees , laws and regulations regarding Arctic development await @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among them is a new Law on the Arctic , which should be adopted in the first quarter of the year .
The document will secure oil and natural gas extraction as a cornerstone of economic development .
The new legislation is expected to give major tax cuts to resource extraction industries embarking on new Arctic projects .

Three days after being announced as Russia’s new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin has granted Gazprom Oil the development rights to the Khambateyskoye gas and oil field on the Yamal Peninsula.
According to the federal government, the oil company will pay about 2 billion rubles ($32 million) for the production licenses.
The field is located both on land and offshore, with a portion situated in the Gulf of Ob. Gazprom Oil already possesses the licenses for several nearby fields, including the Novy Port field located a few kilometers to the south, where production has been in full swing since 2014.
The Yamal Peninsula is a key area for Gazprom Oil. Up to 8.5 million tons of oil are sent through Novy Port's terminal per year.
The resources in the newly-obtained area could ultimately be connected to a proposed natural gas pipeline that will stretch eastwards across the Gulf of Ob. The construction of the pipeline and related infrastructure could cost up to 75 billion rubles, the Kommersant business daily reported.
Several more decrees, laws and regulations regarding Arctic development await the signature of the new prime minister. Among them is a new Law on the Arctic, which should be adopted in the first quarter of the year.
The document will secure oil and natural gas extraction as a cornerstone of economic development. The new legislation is expected to give major tax cuts to resource extraction industries embarking on new Arctic projects.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Russian Police Probe Popular Stand-Up Comic After Religion, Putin Jokes

It was not immediately clear what prompted the Orekhovo-Zuevo police department to send the request to the St. Petersburg venue where Alexander Dolgopolov performed in February 2019 .
However , Russian media reported Wednesday that authorities sought to interrogate Dolgopolov based on a viewer ’ s complaint that the comic insulted his religious feelings .
Police near Moscow have put out a request for information about a popular comic ’ s stand-up performance from a year ago , the comic said Tuesday , prompting speculation that he could be targeted for jokes he made about religion and the authorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2013 in what rights activists and analysts described as a return to the Dark Ages .
Those found guilty risk up to three years of imprisonment .
“ I don ’ t know what 's happening .
I ’ m scared , I ’ m angry , but I ’ m not surprised , ” Dolgopolov said in an Instagram video Tuesday .
“ I doubt that police wanted to find out where I live to take a selfie as fans , ” he joked .
Dolgopolov ’ s act , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel on YouTube , has gained more than 2.5 million views in nine months .
He opens the hour-long routine with a joke about Jesus and his mother Mary .
Later , Dolgopolov mocks Putin ’ s voters and Russia ’ s presidential elections .
After he broke the news of being targeted by the authorities , viewers also suggested that Dolgopolov may have insulted President Vladimir Putin .
During the February act , the comic quips : “ I ’ m not smart enough for subtleties when I talk about politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orekhovo-Zuevo police department ’ s request follows a wave of prosecutions last year after Russia criminalized “ blatant disrespect ” toward the authorities .
An overwhelming majority of criminal cases launched under the new law concerned disrespect toward Putin , analysis has shown .
“ Putin must have watched my act and released his attack dogs to sniff out everything about me , ” Dolgopolov said on Instagram .

Update: Dolgopolov has fled Russia pending further information about the police probe, human rights lawyer Leonid Solovyov told the MBKh news website Thursday. “We can’t say where he went yet,” Solovyov said, citing security reasons.
Dolgopolov warned his Instagram followers that his late Wednesday performance in Moscow was canceled.
Police near Moscow have put out a request for information about a popular comic’s stand-up performance from a year ago, the comic said Tuesday, prompting speculation that he could be targeted for jokes he made about religion and the authorities.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the Orekhovo-Zuevo police department to send the request to the St. Petersburg venue where Alexander Dolgopolov performed in February 2019. However, Russian media reported Wednesday that authorities sought to interrogate Dolgopolov based on a viewer’s complaint that the comic insulted his religious feelings.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Russian, Syrian Troops Hold Joint Drills

These are at least the second joint Russian-Syrian naval drills to take place in the port of Tartus in a month .
Russia seeks to invest $ 500 million in Tartus over the next four years , with plans to build a grain hub and infrastructure construction expected to begin this year .
Russia and Syria have conducted joint exercises aimed at protecting economic interests in Moscow ’ s key naval foothold in the Mediterranean , the Defense Ministry ’ s Zvezda news channel reported .
During the exercises , around 2,000 troops , 10 vessels and 30 pieces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Zvezda reported .
Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems protected coastal airspace , it quoted the Defense Ministry as saying .
“ A business ’ activity directly depends on how security is organized , how protection is provided against various threats and how to respond to these situations , ” said Mikhail Yalbychev , head of Tartus ’ management department .
The joint exercises took place over the course of Saturday , Sunday and Monday , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
Russia has waged an air and sea campaign in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Moscow 's Middle East ally grappled with a years-long civil war .
Russia has maintained the Tartus military facility since 1971 and recently moved to expand its foothold there through 2092 .
On Tuesday , Russian-led air strikes killed at least 40 people in northwest Syria in a major army assault backed by Iranian militias to clear out rebels that has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing toward the border with Turkey , residents and rescuers said .

These are at least the second joint Russian-Syrian naval drills to take place in the port of Tartus in a month. Russia seeks to invest $500 million in Tartus over the next four years, with plans to build a grain hub and infrastructure construction expected to begin this year.
Russia and Syria have conducted joint exercises aimed at protecting economic interests in Moscow’s key naval foothold in the Mediterranean, the Defense Ministry’s Zvezda news channel reported .
During the exercises, around 2,000 troops, 10 vessels and 30 pieces of equipment repelled simulated underwater and on-land attacks, Zvezda reported.
Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems protected coastal airspace, it quoted the Defense Ministry as saying.
“A business’ activity directly depends on how security is organized, how protection is provided against various threats and how to respond to these situations,” said Mikhail Yalbychev, head of Tartus’ management department.
The joint exercises took place over the course of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the state-run TASS news agency reported.
Russia has waged an air and sea campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 as Moscow's Middle East ally grappled with a years-long civil war. Russia has maintained the Tartus military facility since 1971 and recently moved to expand its foothold there through 2092.
On Tuesday, Russian-led air strikes killed at least 40 people in northwest Syria in a major army assault backed by Iranian militias to clear out rebels that has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing toward the border with Turkey, residents and rescuers said.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-22--Trump Administration Planning to Add Belarus to Travel Ban List – Reports

The Trump administration is planning to add seven countries — Belarus , Eritrea , Kyrgyzstan , Myanmar , Nigeria , @ @ @ @ @ its controversial travel ban list , according to media reports on Tuesday .
Some countries @ @ @ @ @ some visa categories , the Wall Street Journal reported .
The list of countries was @ @ @ @ @ be changed , according to the website Politico .
U.S. President Donald Trump said in @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal that he was considering adding countries to the travel ban , but declined @ @ @ @ @ Politico said an announcement was expected as early as Monday .

The Trump administration is planning to add seven countries — Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania — to its controversial travel ban list, according to media reports on Tuesday.
Some countries will face bans only on some visa categories, the Wall Street Journal reported. The list of countries was not final and could yet be changed, according to the website Politico.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he was considering adding countries to the travel ban, but declined to state which ones. Politico said an announcement was expected as early as Monday.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--Russia Gets New Government in What Putin Calls 'Major Renewal'

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new government on Tuesday which he described as a break with the past , bringing in some fresh faces but retaining many senior ministers .
The new government included a new economy minister and a new first deputy prime minister , but the finance , foreign , defense , energy and agriculture ministers all kept their jobs .
The new team was formed less than a week after Putin unveiled a sweeping shake-up of the political system , which led to the resignation of his ally Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister along with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick 53-year-old former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin , who has almost no political profile , as his new prime minister .
Putin 's wider shake-up , which envisages changing the constitution , is widely seen as preparing the ground for 2024 , when Putin , now 67 , is obliged to leave the presidency after occupying the Kremlin or the prime minister 's job continuously since 1999 .
Critics have long said Putin , a former KGB officer , wants to stay on in some capacity after his term ends so that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest nation and one of its two biggest nuclear powers .
Tuesday 's new appointments could be intended to reboot the government 's flagging image and shift attention to Putin 's drive to lift falling real incomes and drive ahead with big national infrastructure projects which he hopes will catapult his country into a new economic league .
“ The most important task is to increase the welfare of our citizens and strengthen our statehood and the position of our country in the world .
All these are absolutely attainable goals , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have achieved a very balanced government .
We have enough people who worked in the previous government , as well as a major renewal.
” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov , Energy Minister Alexander Novak , Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev , Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov all kept their jobs .
Putin named Andrei Belousov , his economy advisor since 2013 , as first deputy prime minister , replacing Anton Siluanov who had held the role since May 2018 .
Belousov , 60 , in 2018 proposed making big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax , sending their share prices lower , although that proposal was subsequently watered down .
Belousov also made headlines last year when he confirmed his friendship with businessman Artem Avetisyan , whose legal battle with private equity fund Baring Vostok has rattled the business community .
Putin approved 40-year-old Maxim Reshetnikov , a former regional governor , as the new economy minister , replacing Maxim Oreshkin who spent just over three years in the role .
Reshetnikov has previously worked in the Moscow mayor 's office .
Putin also replaced the minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , until now a vice president of state telecoms operator Rostelecom , to the role .
Abbas Gallyamov , a former government speech writer , said Putin had removed three people strongly disliked in certain parts of society — the ministers for culture and education , and a deputy prime minister who oversaw sport at the height of a doping scandal .
`` Previously the Kremlin said it would appoint who it wanted and did n't care if people did n't like their choice , '' Gallyamov wrote on social media .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities do not want to irritate society . ''
But he said keeping on some political heavyweights , signaled there was little change in direction , adding : `` Putin is clearly showing that substantive changes to the regime 's ideology are not planned . ''


themoscowtimes--2020-01-21--New China Coronavirus Poses ‘Biological Threat’ to Russia – Official


themoscowtimes--2020-01-23--Bulgaria Charges 3 Russians Over Poisoning Possibly Linked to Skripal Case

The prosecutors did not name the three Russians , but said European arrest warrants had been issued and that they would seek their extradition to Bulgaria .
Bulgarian prosecutors have charged three Russians with the attempted murder of three men whose poisoning is being investigated by Sofia for possible links with the 2018 nerve-agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal .
The three are accused of trying to kill arms factory owner and trader Emilian Gebrev and two other Bulgarians in Sofia between April 28 and May 4 , 2015 by `` intoxication with an unidentified organophosphorus substance , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They said the method used was `` dangerous to the lives of many . ''
Gebrev and the two other victims fell ill but survived .
The investigation into the poisoning was reopened in 2018 after Gebrev told prosecutors he had reason to believe the substance used on him might have been similar to Novichok , the nerve agent used against Skripal in Salisbury in England .
In February last year , Bulgaria said it was investigating a possible link between their poisoning and the attack on Skripal and his daughter , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prosecutors said a Russian man by the name of Sergei Fedotov visited Bulgaria three times in 2015 and was there in April when Gebrev was poisoned .
In October 2018 , Russian news website Fontanka named Fedotov , who it said worked for the country 's GRU military intelligence service , as a suspect in the Skripal case .
Moscow never comments on the identity of GRU staff , but has denied involvement in the poisoning of Skripal .
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman declined to give detailed comment on Thursday but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably following developments .
Investigative website Bellingcat has said Fedotov was an alias for a GRU officer called Denis Sergeev .
In December , Sotir Tsatsarov , at the time Bulgaria 's chief prosecutor , said he saw a close link between the people involved in the crimes in Bulgaria and England as a suspect in the Skripal case was in Sofia when Gebrev was poisoned .
The Bulgarian prosecutors have said they are cooperating with the FBI and Britain on the investigation .

The prosecutors did not name the three Russians, but said European arrest warrants had been issued and that they would seek their extradition to Bulgaria.
Bulgarian prosecutors have charged three Russians with the attempted murder of three men whose poisoning is being investigated by Sofia for possible links with the 2018 nerve-agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
The three are accused of trying to kill arms factory owner and trader Emilian Gebrev and two other Bulgarians in Sofia between April 28 and May 4, 2015 by "intoxication with an unidentified organophosphorus substance," the prosecutors said in a statement.
They said the method used was "dangerous to the lives of many."
Gebrev and the two other victims fell ill but survived.
The investigation into the poisoning was reopened in 2018 after Gebrev told prosecutors he had reason to believe the substance used on him might have been similar to Novichok, the nerve agent used against Skripal in Salisbury in England.
In February last year, Bulgaria said it was investigating a possible link between their poisoning and the attack on Skripal and his daughter, both of whom survived.
At the time, prosecutors said a Russian man by the name of Sergei Fedotov visited Bulgaria three times in 2015 and was there in April when Gebrev was poisoned.
In October 2018, Russian news website Fontanka named Fedotov, who it said worked for the country's GRU military intelligence service, as a suspect in the Skripal case.
Moscow never comments on the identity of GRU staff, but has denied involvement in the poisoning of Skripal.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman declined to give detailed comment on Thursday but said the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria was probably following developments.
Investigative website Bellingcat has said Fedotov was an alias for a GRU officer called Denis Sergeev.
In December, Sotir Tsatsarov, at the time Bulgaria's chief prosecutor, said he saw a close link between the people involved in the crimes in Bulgaria and England as a suspect in the Skripal case was in Sofia when Gebrev was poisoned.
The Bulgarian prosecutors have said they are cooperating with the FBI and Britain on the investigation.


themoscowtimes--2020-01-23--LGBT Israelis Barred from Adopting Russian Children

Russia banned adoption by LGBT couples and individuals from countries that allow gay marriage in 2013 .
Israel has been complying with this law through a de facto arrangement in the years since it passed , the Haaretz news outlet reported in 2017 .
Israel and Russia have signed a new adoption agreement that will effectively block LGBT Israelis from adopting Russian children , Israel ’ s Channel 12 news outlet reported Wednesday .
While it doesn ’ t explicitly mention LGBT adoption , the new agreement , which was signed ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adoptions between Russia and Israel must comply with Russian law .
The agreement has been met with outrage by Israel 's LGBT community , with critics pointing to what they say is Israel ’ s conflicting stance on gay rights .
Despite a 2017 promise to legalize adoption by same-sex couples , LGBT Israelis are still barred from adopting children or conceiving children through surrogacy .
Israel had previously rejected Russia ’ s requests to put the LGBT restriction into a formal document , Haaretz reported Thursday .
Russia is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents , and Russian children account for roughly half of all adoptions in Israel .
The latest agreement aims to make it easier and faster for heterosexual couples and individuals in Israel to adopt Russian children .
An explanatory note accompanying Russia 's 2013 LGBT adoption law said that the government had acted to protect adopted children `` from possible unwanted influence such as artificial forcing of non-traditional sexual behavior and the suffering , complexes and stresses that , according to psychologists ' studies , are often experienced by kids raised in same-sex @ @ @

Russia banned adoption by LGBT couples and individuals from countries that allow gay marriage in 2013. Israel has been complying with this law through a de facto arrangement in the years since it passed, the Haaretz news outlet reported in 2017.
Israel and Russia have signed a new adoption agreement that will effectively block LGBT Israelis from adopting Russian children, Israel’s Channel 12 news outlet reported Wednesday.
While it doesn’t explicitly mention LGBT adoption, the new agreement, which was signed ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Israel this week, says all adoptions between Russia and Israel must comply with Russian law.
The agreement has been met with outrage by Israel's LGBT community, with critics pointing to what they say is Israel’s conflicting stance on gay rights. Despite a 2017 promise to legalize adoption by same-sex couples, LGBT Israelis are still barred from adopting children or conceiving children through surrogacy.
Israel had previously rejected Russia’s requests to put the LGBT restriction into a formal document, Haaretz reported Thursday.
Russia is one of the few countries to allow adoption by Israeli parents, and Russian children account for roughly half of all adoptions in Israel. The latest agreement aims to make it easier and faster for heterosexual couples and individuals in Israel to adopt Russian children.
An explanatory note accompanying Russia's 2013 LGBT adoption law said that the government had acted to protect adopted children "from possible unwanted influence such as artificial forcing of non-traditional sexual behavior and the suffering, complexes and stresses that, according to psychologists' studies, are often experienced by kids raised in same-sex families."