themoscowtimes--2020-12-13--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Dec. 13


themoscowtimes--2020-12-13--Karabakh Ceasefire Breached, Says Russian Army

The Russian army on Saturday reported a violation of the ceasefire that ended the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in @ @ @ @ @ of Nagorno-Karabakh .
`` One case of ceasefire violation was reported on 11 December in @ @ @ @ @ said a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry , which has deployed peacekeepers to the @ @ @ @ @ reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces @ @ @ @ @ said `` adequate countermeasures '' had been taken against `` provocations '' from the other @ @ @ @ @ truce was `` currently being respected . ''
A spokesman for the Russian peacekeeping forces @ @ @ @ @ with automatic weapons , '' telling the Ria Novosti press agency that requests to respect @ @ @ @ @ to both parties .

The Russian army on Saturday reported a violation of the ceasefire that ended the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in November in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"One case of ceasefire violation was reported on 11 December in the Hadrut district," said a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region.
The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected."
A spokesman for the Russian peacekeeping forces confirmed "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons," telling the Ria Novosti press agency that requests to respect the ceasefire had been sent to both parties.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-13--Belarus Protesters Demand Lukashenko's Resignation

Protesters in Belarus weathered icy conditions Sunday , hitting the streets to demand the resignation of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko who is facing down months of historic protests against his rule .
The Viasna rights group said dozens of people were detained in Minsk as authorities deployed water cannon and large numbers of law enforcement blocked off areas of the city centre .
Demonstrators waving the opposition 's red and white flag marched on the outskirts of the capital to thwart a large-scale police crackdown .
The opposition-leaning news site Nasha Niva said protesters had organised at least 100 separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An AFP correspondent said that unlike previous weekend protests that spurred tens of thousands into the city centre , metro stations were open Sunday and mobile internet was working without interruptions .
Ex-Soviet Belarus has been gripped by historic anti-government demonstrations that erupted after August presidential elections in which Lukashenko claimed a sixth term in office .
His opponents claim the polls were rigged and that political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who ran in place of her jailed husband was the true winner .
Tikhanovskaya , who is in exile in neighbouring Lithuania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite repressions , violence and cold .
`` They resist Lukashenko 's regime because the people of Belarus want to live in a democratic and free country , '' she wrote on Twitter .
The European Union imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies citing election rigging and a violent police crackdown on protesters .
On Thursday , Belarus said it will temporarily close its land border in late December to curb the spread of the coronavirus , a move seen by the opposition as a further clampdown on dissent .

Protesters in Belarus weathered icy conditions Sunday, hitting the streets to demand the resignation of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko who is facing down months of historic protests against his rule.
The Viasna rights group said dozens of people were detained in Minsk as authorities deployed water cannon and large numbers of law enforcement blocked off areas of the city centre.
Demonstrators waving the opposition's red and white flag marched on the outskirts of the capital to thwart a large-scale police crackdown.
The opposition-leaning news site Nasha Niva said protesters had organised at least 100 separate gatherings in Minsk and its suburbs.
An AFP correspondent said that unlike previous weekend protests that spurred tens of thousands into the city centre, metro stations were open Sunday and mobile internet was working without interruptions.
Ex-Soviet Belarus has been gripped by historic anti-government demonstrations that erupted after August presidential elections in which Lukashenko claimed a sixth term in office.
His opponents claim the polls were rigged and that political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who ran in place of her jailed husband was the true winner.
Tikhanovskaya, who is in exile in neighbouring Lithuania, hailed protesters who had gathered "despite repressions, violence and cold.
"They resist Lukashenko's regime because the people of Belarus want to live in a democratic and free country," she wrote on Twitter.
The European Union imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies citing election rigging and a violent police crackdown on protesters.
On Thursday, Belarus said it will temporarily close its land border in late December to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a move seen by the opposition as a further clampdown on dissent.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-14--St. Petersburg Restaurants Spar With Authorities Over New Year Virus Restrictions

Dozens of establishments have said they intend to remain open for Russia ’ s most festive holiday , while city authorities have clamped down on coronavirus violators with harsh raids .
Restaurants and bars in Russia ’ s second city of St. Petersburg are at odds with authorities over New Year ’ s restrictions aimed at combating one of the country ’ s worst coronavirus outbreaks , saying the measures threaten their survival .
In recent weeks , St. Petersburg has had Russia ’ s second-highest coronavirus infection rate .
As he announced the New Year ’ s restrictions last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that the city was close to reimposing a strict lockdown due to high case numbers and hospital bed shortages .
The restrictions , officially called Resolution 131 , call for the complete closure of restaurants and bars between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3 .
Establishments will also not be able to serve customers between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Dec. 25-29 and from Jan. 4-10 .
Beglov ’ s announcement sparked anger from local businesses and a “ Map of Resistance ” showing some 200 locations that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online the next day .
“ Not working at all is death , ” the project ’ s organizer , entrepreneur Alexander Konovalov , told the RBC news website .
“ The authorities chose a blow worse than a lockdown .
Any sane person understands that the coronavirus is terrible .
But this does not mean that the coronavirus should kill an industry to the point that it can not be restored in any way.
” Businesses that protested against the new restrictions pointed to what they called a lack of logic behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggles , saying that many customers prepaid for corporate New Year ’ s parties earlier in the fall and that they would incur huge losses by returning the money .
The map wasn ’ t without its controversies , with several establishments listed on the map saying they were added to it without their knowledge and that they planned to comply with the city ’ s restrictions .
The day after the map was published , investigators and police carried out raids on bars after the cut-off time of 11 p.m. , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees with truncheons .
Commenting on the raids , Deputy Governor Evgeny Yelin said the police had every right to use force , describing the violence as their “ duty.
” The St. Petersburg Investigative Committee said three bars on the city ’ s main nightlife hub , Rubinstein Street , were found to be violating anti-coronavirus measures by staying open past 11 p.m. Investigators opened two criminal cases against the bars on charges of violating sanitary and epidemiological regulations , which can carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was abruptly shut down after a wave of discussion in Russian media .
“ It is clear to us that we managed to get through to the authorities and they have finally heard us .
Our colleagues were able to share their proposals about effective and logical measures to combat the coronavirus in St. Petersburg , ” a message on its website said .
“ We will defeat both the epidemic and the crisis when the authorities and businesses are able to communicate and act in concert .
”

Dozens of establishments have said they intend to remain open for Russia’s most festive holiday, while city authorities have clamped down on coronavirus violators with harsh raids.
Restaurants and bars in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg are at odds with authorities over New Year’s restrictions aimed at combating one of the country’s worst coronavirus outbreaks, saying the measures threaten their survival.
In recent weeks, St. Petersburg has had Russia’s second-highest coronavirus infection rate. As he announced the New Year’s restrictions last week, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov warned that the city was close to reimposing a strict lockdown due to high case numbers and hospital bed shortages.
The restrictions, officially called Resolution 131, call for the complete closure of restaurants and bars between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3. Establishments will also not be able to serve customers between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Dec. 25-29 and from Jan. 4-10.
Beglov’s announcement sparked anger from local businesses and a “Map of Resistance” showing some 200 locations that would defy the orders during the holidays appeared online the next day.
“Not working at all is death,” the project’s organizer, entrepreneur Alexander Konovalov, told the RBC news website. “The authorities chose a blow worse than a lockdown. Any sane person understands that the coronavirus is terrible. But this does not mean that the coronavirus should kill an industry to the point that it cannot be restored in any way.”
Businesses that protested against the new restrictions pointed to what they called a lack of logic behind the rules. They also cited financial struggles, saying that many customers prepaid for corporate New Year’s parties earlier in the fall and that they would incur huge losses by returning the money.
The map wasn’t without its controversies, with several establishments listed on the map saying they were added to it without their knowledge and that they planned to comply with the city’s restrictions.
The day after the map was published, investigators and police carried out raids on bars after the cut-off time of 11 p.m., with video footage showing officers beating customers and employees with truncheons. Commenting on the raids, Deputy Governor Evgeny Yelin said the police had every right to use force, describing the violence as their “duty.”
The St. Petersburg Investigative Committee said three bars on the city’s main nightlife hub, Rubinstein Street, were found to be violating anti-coronavirus measures by staying open past 11 p.m. Investigators opened two criminal cases against the bars on charges of violating sanitary and epidemiological regulations, which can carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
On Thursday, the Map of Resistance was abruptly shut down after a wave of discussion in Russian media.
“It is clear to us that we managed to get through to the authorities and they have finally heard us. Our colleagues were able to share their proposals about effective and logical measures to combat the coronavirus in St. Petersburg,” a message on its website said. “We will defeat both the epidemic and the crisis when the authorities and businesses are able to communicate and act in concert.”


themoscowtimes--2020-12-14--Media Investigation Names FSB Agents Behind Navalny Poisoning

Navalny is recovering in Berlin after being poisoned with what Western governments say was the deadly Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August .
The European Union sanctioned FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov and senior Kremlin officials over the poisoning .
An elite Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) chemical weapons unit shadowed opposition figure Alexei Navalny ’ s movements for the past three years up until his near-fatal poisoning , a joint media investigation said Monday .
Members of the FSB ’ s small unit specializing in toxins and nerve agents followed Navalny on more than 30 trips to and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone records , flight manifests and other documents examined by the Bellingcat investigative outlet , CNN , Russia ’ s The Insider news website and Germany ’ s Der Spiegel .
The report described the FSB unit as comprising six to 10 agents , including qualified doctors , toxicologists and paramedics in their late 30s and 40s .
The outlets said the team ’ s direct commander , military scientist Stanislav Makshakov , had communicated with senior figures at the FSB and a scientific institute behind Russia 's purported clandestine Novichok program before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During one of the trips on July 6 , Navalny ’ s wife Yulia Navalnaya fell ill with symptoms that experts reportedly said were consistent with low-dosage poisoning .
At least three members of the FSB unit flew to Russia ’ s western exclave of Kaliningrad around the same time as the Navalnys , the outlets cited flight manifests as saying .
The joint monthslong investigation said that two teams comprising five or six FSB agents were deployed alongside Navalny ’ s Siberian trip at around the time of his Aug. 20 poisoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm with certainty ” that the FSB unit poisoned Navalny , “ but its activities in July and August suggest that the European action against Bortnikov and other senior officials is not misplaced.
” “ I want to say a few words to the FSB and law enforcement agency officers : Aren ’ t you ashamed of working for this system ?
” Navalny wrote on his personal website in connection with the investigation .
The Kremlin has denied any role in the poisoning .
President Vladimir Putin on Friday continued to accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow to investigate Navalny ’ s poisoning , of refusing to cooperate on an investigation .
Putin also told the presidential human rights council that Navalny ’ s near-death did not warrant the opening of a criminal investigation in Russia .

Navalny is recovering in Berlin after being poisoned with what Western governments say was the deadly Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August. The European Union sanctioned FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov and senior Kremlin officials over the poisoning.
An elite Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) chemical weapons unit shadowed opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s movements for the past three years up until his near-fatal poisoning, a joint media investigation said Monday.
Members of the FSB’s small unit specializing in toxins and nerve agents followed Navalny on more than 30 trips to and from Moscow since 2017, according to phone records, flight manifests and other documents examined by the Bellingcat investigative outlet, CNN, Russia’s The Insider news website and Germany’s Der Spiegel.
The report described the FSB unit as comprising six to 10 agents, including qualified doctors, toxicologists and paramedics in their late 30s and 40s.
The outlets said the team’s direct commander, military scientist Stanislav Makshakov, had communicated with senior figures at the FSB and a scientific institute behind Russia's purported clandestine Novichok program before and after Navalny’s trips.
During one of the trips on July 6, Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya fell ill with symptoms that experts reportedly said were consistent with low-dosage poisoning. At least three members of the FSB unit flew to Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad around the same time as the Navalnys, the outlets cited flight manifests as saying.
The joint monthslong investigation said that two teams comprising five or six FSB agents were deployed alongside Navalny’s Siberian trip at around the time of his Aug. 20 poisoning.
CNN said it could not “confirm with certainty” that the FSB unit poisoned Navalny, “but its activities in July and August suggest that the European action against Bortnikov and other senior officials is not misplaced.”
“I want to say a few words to the FSB and law enforcement agency officers: Aren’t you ashamed of working for this system?” Navalny wrote on his personal website in connection with the investigation.
The Kremlin has denied any role in the poisoning. President Vladimir Putin on Friday continued to accuse European countries, which have repeatedly asked Moscow to investigate Navalny’s poisoning, of refusing to cooperate on an investigation.
Putin also told the presidential human rights council that Navalny’s near-death did not warrant the opening of a criminal investigation in Russia.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-14--Russia Test Launches Long-Delayed Angara Heavy Lift Rocket

A vital part of President Vladimir Putin ’ s efforts to revive the space industry , the Angara are the first new family of space rockets developed since the Soviet era .
Angara launches have been rescheduled over the years after the Angara A5 heavy lift launch vehicle and its smaller version known as the 1.2 were launched in 2014 .
Russia successfully test launched its first post-Soviet rocket for the second time in six years following delays and glitches , Russia ’ s Federal Space Agency , Roscosmos , announced Monday .
Early on Monday , Roscosmos said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cosmodrome in Russia ’ s far northwest and flew for 12 minutes and 28 seconds before “ a spacecraft weight mockup separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle.
” “ It flies , damn it !
” Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in a tweet following the successful launch .
The state-run TASS news agency published footage of the Angara A5 launch it said was shared by Russia ’ s Defense Ministry .
Roscosmos touted Angara ’ s ecological footprint because it does not use “ aggressive and toxic propellants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas adjacent to the launch complex and in the drop zones.
” Angara was commissioned in the early 1990s , when Russian space officials were concerned that an independent Ukraine might withhold deliveries of vital components used in Russian rockets such as Proton .
The Vostochny Cosmodrome in Far East Russia , itself plagued by corruption scandals and delays , is expected to be the Angara rockets ’ primary launch site .

A vital part of President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to revive the space industry, the Angara are the first new family of space rockets developed since the Soviet era. Angara launches have been rescheduled over the years after the Angara A5 heavy lift launch vehicle and its smaller version known as the 1.2 were launched in 2014.
Russia successfully test launched its first post-Soviet rocket for the second time in six years following delays and glitches, Russia’s Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, announced Monday.
Early on Monday, Roscosmos said the Angara A5 lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia’s far northwest and flew for 12 minutes and 28 seconds before “a spacecraft weight mockup separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle.”
“It flies, damn it!” Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in a tweet following the successful launch.
The state-run TASS news agency published footage of the Angara A5 launch it said was shared by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Roscosmos touted Angara’s ecological footprint because it does not use “aggressive and toxic propellants, significantly increasing environmental safety both in the areas adjacent to the launch complex and in the drop zones.”
Angara was commissioned in the early 1990s, when Russian space officials were concerned that an independent Ukraine might withhold deliveries of vital components used in Russian rockets such as Proton.
Angara A5 is intended to succeed Russia’s workhorse Proton launcher rocket.
The Vostochny Cosmodrome in Far East Russia, itself plagued by corruption scandals and delays, is expected to be the Angara rockets’ primary launch site.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-14--U.S. Eyes Closing 2 Remaining Russian Consulates – Kommersant

The U.S. in March temporarily suspended operations at its Vladivostok consulate and reduced services at the Yekaterinburg consulate due to the Covid-19 outbreak .
The United States is considering closing its two remaining consulates in Russia amid the coronavirus pandemic and continued bilateral tensions , the Kommersant business daily reported Monday , citing unnamed diplomatic sources .
According to Kommersant , the U.S. State Department “ concluded that the situation will not get much better in the near future.
” Citing several unnamed diplomatic sources , it reported that one of the options under consideration is to fully close the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Embassy in Moscow has not yet commented on the report .
The U.S. drastically reduced visa services in Russia in 2018 after a series of tit-for-tat expulsions and consulate closures , including the closure of its St. Petersburg consulate .
Russian citizens seeking U.S. visas have faced wait times of up to one year due to the retaliatory measures over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election .
Russia ’ s consulate in New York , meanwhile , announced Saturday it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus cases there .

The U.S. in March temporarily suspended operations at its Vladivostok consulate and reduced services at the Yekaterinburg consulate due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The United States is considering closing its two remaining consulates in Russia amid the coronavirus pandemic and continued bilateral tensions, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.
According to Kommersant, the U.S. State Department “concluded that the situation will not get much better in the near future.” Citing several unnamed diplomatic sources, it reported that one of the options under consideration is to fully close the Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg consulates.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has not yet commented on the report.
The U.S. drastically reduced visa services in Russia in 2018 after a series of tit-for-tat expulsions and consulate closures, including the closure of its St. Petersburg consulate.
Russian citizens seeking U.S. visas have faced wait times of up to one year due to the retaliatory measures over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
Russia’s consulate in New York, meanwhile, announced Saturday it was temporarily closing due to a spike in coronavirus cases there.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-14--U.S. Government Confirms Cyberattack After Reports of Russia-Linked Hacking

The U.S. government confirmed Sunday that its computer networks had been hit by a cyberattack , as The Washington Post reported at least two departments had been targeted by Russian state hackers .
`` We have been working closely with our agency partners regarding recently discovered activity on government networks , '' a spokesperson for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told AFP .
`` CISA is providing technical assistance to affected entities as they work to identify and mitigate any potential compromises . ''
The Post said the hacks were linked to an attack last week on cybersecurity firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were breached by sophisticated attackers who stole tools used to test customers ' computer systems .
FireEye said it suspected the attack was state-sponsored .
U.S. media reports also said the FBI was investigating a group working for the Russian foreign intelligence service , SVR , and that breaches had been taking place for months .
The same group also reportedly hacked U.S. government agencies during the Obama administration .
`` The United States government is aware of these reports and we are taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said .
Russia 's Embassy in the U.S. hit back later Sunday against what it said were the `` unfounded '' media claims , denying any role in the alleged attacks .
`` Malicious activities in the information space contradicts the principles of the Russian foreign policy , national interests and our understanding of interstate relations , '' the embassy said in a statement on its official Facebook page .
`` Russia does not conduct offensive operations in the cyber domain . ''

The U.S. government confirmed Sunday that its computer networks had been hit by a cyberattack, as The Washington Post reported at least two departments had been targeted by Russian state hackers.
"We have been working closely with our agency partners regarding recently discovered activity on government networks," a spokesperson for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told AFP.
"CISA is providing technical assistance to affected entities as they work to identify and mitigate any potential compromises."
The Post said the hacks were linked to an attack last week on cybersecurity firm FireEye, which said its own defenses were breached by sophisticated attackers who stole tools used to test customers' computer systems.
FireEye said it suspected the attack was state-sponsored.
U.S. media reports also said the FBI was investigating a group working for the Russian foreign intelligence service, SVR, and that breaches had been taking place for months.
The same group also reportedly hacked U.S. government agencies during the Obama administration.
"The United States government is aware of these reports and we are taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to this situation," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said.
Russia's Embassy in the U.S. hit back later Sunday against what it said were the "unfounded" media claims, denying any role in the alleged attacks.
"Malicious activities in the information space contradicts the principles of the Russian foreign policy, national interests and our understanding of interstate relations," the embassy said in a statement on its official Facebook page.
"Russia does not conduct offensive operations in the cyber domain."