themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Explainer: The Biggest Incubators of Russia’s Coronavirus Outbreak

Russia has rapidly become one of the epicenters of the deadly coronavirus pandemic , reporting the world ’ s fastest growth in infections with more than 10,000 new daily cases from May 2-13 .
This week , Russia surpassed Britain , Italy and Spain to become the second most-infected country with 252,245 confirmed cases , behind the United States .
Officials attribute the increase to mass testing and detecting asymptomatic cases not always counted in other countries .
The outbreak within Russia has hit several industries and communities in particular .
Here ’ s an overview of the sectors which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers are disproportionately affected by coronavirus .
Russia ’ s health minister told lawmakers on May 13 that Covid-19 outbreaks have appeared in 400 hospitals nationwide .
— About 2,000 medics have been infected in Moscow , 1,500 in St. Petersburg , almost 450 in southern Russia ’ s Krasnodar region , more than 200 in the republic of North Ossetia and more than 100 in the Buddhist republic of Kalmykia .
— Covid-19 has also affected nursing homes , with 120 elderly residents and staff in Smolensk west of Moscow and 99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected .
— An unofficial “ list of memory ” with the names of Russian and Belarussian medics who have died after being infected with Covid-19 listed 190 names as of May 14 .
— The Defense Ministry says 1,205 troops and cadets have tested positive for Covid-19 as of May 12 .
— At least 376 cadets who were involved in rehearsals for the postponed Victory Day parade in April contracted the virus , according to a report by the Proekt investigative outlet .
— Draft boards are set to reopen May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 , Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said .
— More than 600 wardens and 145 prisoners have been confirmed to have Covid-19 as of May 13 .
Russia ’ s Supreme Court , following a request from the Federal Prison Service , urged judges to stop jailing suspects and people convicted for misdemeanors .
— Prisoners have complained of a lack of protective equipment like masks and the inability to observe social distancing guidelines in tight spaces .
Activists say that prison officials have barred visitations , package deliveries — causing food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers from visiting clients .
— 2,084 energy workers tested positive at natural-gas giant Novatek ’ s Belokamenka construction site in northern Russia ’ s Murmansk region as of May 13 .
Authorities opened a field hospital near the site and sent a cruise ship to house patients , and President Vladimir Putin on May 11 ordered the construction of a new field hospital in Belokamenka .
— More than 200 cases have been reported in the seaport of Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula 1,500 kilometers east , where the Velesstroy subcontractor involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also building an LNG site .
— Overall , 1,037 energy workers tested positive in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district as of May 13 .
— One-third of the estimated 10,500 workers at a Gazprom subsidiary ’ s field in the Siberian republic of Sakha had Covid-19 as of early May , according to the Health Ministry .
The regional governor , who vowed to evacuate 8,500 workers to their home regions where many end up testing positive , later said new tests showed around 600 cases among the workers .
— Three hundred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Russia ’ s largest gold mine Olimpiada in the Krasnoyarsk region ; its owner Polyus says the outbreak has not affected operations and the mine will stay open .
— All 200 priests at the Russian-backed Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery in the Ukrainian capital were reported to have tested positive for Covid-19 in April .
— At least 13 Russian clerics have died and many more are believed to have been infected .
The Russian Orthodox Church ’ s spokesman has lashed out at critics for alleging a cover-up of its number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information holds no public value ” and “ the spread of infection is no higher than among doctors , police officers and others .
”

Russia has rapidly become one of the epicenters of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, reporting the world’s fastest growth in infections with more than 10,000 new daily cases from May 2-13. This week, Russia surpassed Britain, Italy and Spain to become the second most-infected country with 252,245 confirmed cases, behind the United States. Officials attribute the increase to mass testing and detecting asymptomatic cases not always counted in other countries. The outbreak within Russia has hit several industries and communities in particular. Here’s an overview of the sectors which have been hardest-hit: Hospitals — Russian healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by coronavirus. Russia’s health minister told lawmakers on May 13 that Covid-19 outbreaks have appeared in 400 hospitals nationwide. — About 2,000 medics have been infected in Moscow, 1,500 in St. Petersburg, almost 450 in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, more than 200 in the republic of North Ossetia and more than 100 in the Buddhist republic of Kalmykia.
— Covid-19 has also affected nursing homes, with 120 elderly residents and staff in Smolensk west of Moscow and 99 children’s hospital patients in Moscow infected. — An unofficial “list of memory” with the names of Russian and Belarussian medics who have died after being infected with Covid-19 listed 190 names as of May 14. The military — The Defense Ministry says 1,205 troops and cadets have tested positive for Covid-19 as of May 12. — At least 376 cadets who were involved in rehearsals for the postponed Victory Day parade in April contracted the virus, according to a report by the Proekt investigative outlet. — Draft boards are set to reopen May 12 and conscriptions to begin on May 20, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Prisons — More than 600 wardens and 145 prisoners have been confirmed to have Covid-19 as of May 13. Russia’s Supreme Court, following a request from the Federal Prison Service, urged judges to stop jailing suspects and people convicted for misdemeanors. — Prisoners have complained of a lack of protective equipment like masks and the inability to observe social distancing guidelines in tight spaces. Activists say that prison officials have barred visitations, package deliveries — causing food and medicine shortages in some jails — and lawyers from visiting clients.
Energy — 2,084 energy workers tested positive at natural-gas giant Novatek’s Belokamenka construction site in northern Russia’s Murmansk region as of May 13. Authorities opened a field hospital near the site and sent a cruise ship to house patients, and President Vladimir Putin on May 11 ordered the construction of a new field hospital in Belokamenka. — More than 200 cases have been reported in the seaport of Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula 1,500 kilometers east, where the Velesstroy subcontractor involved in Novatek’s Belokamenka project is also building an LNG site. — Overall, 1,037 energy workers tested positive in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district as of May 13.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--NYT Defies Russia’s Call to Retract Report on Coronavirus Deaths

Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry had demanded that NYT and the Financial Times retract reports , based on Moscow ’ s own official mortality data showing a spike in deaths last month , that Russia could be undercounting its Covid-19 deaths .
Ranking behind only the United States in infections , Russia places 18th in the world for mortality with 2,305 Covid-19 deaths as of Thursday .
The New York Times stands by its reporting on Russia ’ s low coronavirus death figures and will not issue a retraction , the paper ’ s vice president for communications Danielle Rhoades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re confident in the accuracy of our material based on data published by an official government agency and interviews with experts from state institutions , ” Rhoades Ha told the state-run TASS news agency .
“ None of the facts in our article are disputed , ” she added .
Because Russia only counts the deaths of coronavirus-positive patients toward its total if pathologists say the virus played a direct role in their deaths , critics have long cast doubt on its low official numbers .
Moscow , the epicenter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also seen a low mortality rate compared to other world capitals since the start of the pandemic .
Preliminary data from the Moscow civil registry office showed almost 20 % more fatalities in April 2020 than the average April mortality over the past decade .
The data , first published by The Moscow Times on Sunday , suggests that the city ’ s excess deaths may be linked to coronavirus .
Moscow ’ s Health Department said Wednesday that more than 60 % of deaths among Moscow ’ s coronavirus patients are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s official virus death toll because these patients died of other underlying causes .
It also refuted claims that it was under-reporting its coronavirus deaths .
Moscow reported 639 deaths directly caused by Covid-19 in April , meaning about 1,597 coronavirus-positive patients died that month overall based on the Health Department 's percentage .
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Russian lawmakers had called on the ministry to strip NYT and FT of accreditation .
“ It ’ s an extreme measure and not our practice , ” Zakharova said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they publish retractions , ” she warned .

Russia’s Foreign Ministry had demanded that NYT and the Financial Times retract reports , based on Moscow’s own official mortality data showing a spike in deaths last month, that Russia could be undercounting its Covid-19 deaths. Ranking behind only the United States in infections, Russia places 18th in the world for mortality with 2,305 Covid-19 deaths as of Thursday.
The New York Times stands by its reporting on Russia’s low coronavirus death figures and will not issue a retraction, the paper’s vice president for communications Danielle Rhoades Ha told Russian state media Wednesday.
“We’re confident in the accuracy of our material based on data published by an official government agency and interviews with experts from state institutions,” Rhoades Ha told the state-run TASS news agency.
“None of the facts in our article are disputed,” she added.
Because Russia only counts the deaths of coronavirus-positive patients toward its total if pathologists say the virus played a direct role in their deaths, critics have long cast doubt on its low official numbers.
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, has also seen a low mortality rate compared to other world capitals since the start of the pandemic.
Preliminary data from the Moscow civil registry office showed almost 20% more fatalities in April 2020 than the average April mortality over the past decade. The data, first published by The Moscow Times on Sunday, suggests that the city’s excess deaths may be linked to coronavirus.
Moscow’s Health Department said Wednesday that more than 60% of deaths among Moscow’s coronavirus patients are not being counted toward the city’s official virus death toll because these patients died of other underlying causes. It also refuted claims that it was under-reporting its coronavirus deaths.
Moscow reported 639 deaths directly caused by Covid-19 in April, meaning about 1,597 coronavirus-positive patients died that month overall based on the Health Department's percentage.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Russian lawmakers had called on the ministry to strip NYT and FT of accreditation.
“It’s an extreme measure and not our practice,” Zakharova said.
“Further steps will depend on whether they publish retractions,” she warned.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--As the Coronavirus Contagion Grows in Russia, Putin’s Strongman Image Weakens

If you were taking your cues from Russia ’ s longtime leader Vladimir Putin this week , you would have been left thinking that the country ’ s worst struggles with the coronavirus pandemic were over .
“ Starting tomorrow , May 12 , the national non-working period will end for the entire country and for all sectors of the economy , ” the Russian president announced during a televised address to the nation Monday .
The unclear policy , which was in effect for six weeks , had officially allowed only essential business to remain open , while all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is in the interest of all of us for the economy to return to normal quickly , ” Putin added .
Yet just the next day , Russia hit several unenviable milestones in an outbreak that has lasted for 10 weeks and counting .
First , Russia recorded its highest death toll from Covid-19 in a single day .
Then Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov followed in the footsteps of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by checking into a hospital , becoming the fifth senior government official to contract the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-country race to the bottom , Russia slid into second place behind the United States for both fastest-growing outbreak and most coronavirus cases .
“ Putin has lost touch with reality , ” said Tatiana Stanovaya , founder of the R.Politik political analysis project .
“ It seems like he doesn ’ t understand which country he is in.
” Other than striding into Moscow ’ s main coronavirus hospital at the end of March clad in a yellow hazmat suit and respirator , the president has abandoned his usual strong leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has appeared on state television weekly in video conferences with cabinet and regional officials , but has appeared bored , slouching back in his chair and playing with a pen rather than paying attention .
Insulated by people who give him good news to avoid his ire and lacking the interest to dig into the details after two decades in power , Stanovaya said , Putin appears not to grasp the full complexity of Russia ’ s outbreak .
“ He has transformed from a politician into a missionary , feeling responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
“ Geopolitical games are interesting for him ; lockdown is boring.
” As the coronavirus spread throughout Russia , Putin shifted responsibility from himself to lesser authorities , tasking Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin with leading the country ’ s coronavirus taskforce and instructing regional governors to make their own policy decisions .
To wit : although Putin on Monday called for the economy to get back up and running , he left the implementation of precise measures to achieve this aim to regional authorities .
Moscow , the epicenter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now remains — at least technically — under lockdown .
Political scientist Alexander Kynev believes that this “ decentralization ” of the power Putin has spent two decades bringing under his grip is a tactic to avoid negative blowback .
But in doing so , Kynev said that Putin has lost the “ machismo ” image that has underpinned his rule for so long .
“ He doesn ’ t look like a strong leader anymore , ” he said .
“ For so many years his charisma was his bravado .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bitch , he was powerful .
And this gained him respect even from those who weren ’ t happy with him.
” “ Now he looks like an old , sick wolf , ” Kynev added .
Another possible effect of the decentralization , said political scientist Yekaterina Schulmann , is that there has been no “ rallying around the flag ” in Russia , unlike in other countries around the world .
“ In social science this has been considered an almost automatic effect in emergency situations , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy , Germany , central European countries , the U.K and even for a bit in the United States .
We don ’ t have it at all.
” That rallying around the flag is what for many years kept Putin ’ s approval rating so high , said Denis Volkov , deputy director of the Levada Center , Russia ’ s only independent pollster .
He pointed to Putin ’ s ratings having skyrocketed to 87 % after the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 .
But for the past three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in spring 2018 for a fourth presidential term , Levada has tracked a falling approval rating — as well as for government institutions as a whole — as that patriotic fervor has faded and , with Western sanctions battering Russia ’ s economy , wages have fallen .
Last week , Levada measured Putin ’ s approval rating at a historic low of 59 % .
Volkov attributed the drop to Russians ’ continued fears over their financial situations , which have only been heightened by the pandemic .
“ The situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But that post-Crimea cushion is gone.
” To note two of the starkest figures of the economic crash Russia is facing , a third of its economy has ground to a halt , while 735,000 Russians have already registered as unemployed over the last two months .

If you were taking your cues from Russia’s longtime leader Vladimir Putin this week, you would have been left thinking that the country’s worst struggles with the coronavirus pandemic were over. “Starting tomorrow, May 12, the national non-working period will end for the entire country and for all sectors of the economy,” the Russian president announced during a televised address to the nation Monday. The unclear policy, which was in effect for six weeks, had officially allowed only essential business to remain open, while all employers were required to keep paying staff. “It is in the interest of all of us for the economy to return to normal quickly,” Putin added. Yet just the next day, Russia hit several unenviable milestones in an outbreak that has lasted for 10 weeks and counting. First, Russia recorded its highest death toll from Covid-19 in a single day. Then Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov followed in the footsteps of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by checking into a hospital, becoming the fifth senior government official to contract the coronavirus. And in what has become a two-country race to the bottom, Russia slid into second place behind the United States for both fastest-growing outbreak and most coronavirus cases. “Putin has lost touch with reality,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the R.Politik political analysis project. “It seems like he doesn’t understand which country he is in.”
Other than striding into Moscow’s main coronavirus hospital at the end of March clad in a yellow hazmat suit and respirator, the president has abandoned his usual strong leader image for most of the outbreak. He has appeared on state television weekly in video conferences with cabinet and regional officials, but has appeared bored, slouching back in his chair and playing with a pen rather than paying attention. Insulated by people who give him good news to avoid his ire and lacking the interest to dig into the details after two decades in power, Stanovaya said, Putin appears not to grasp the full complexity of Russia’s outbreak. “He has transformed from a politician into a missionary, feeling responsibility to history, not the people,” she added. “Geopolitical games are interesting for him; lockdown is boring.” As the coronavirus spread throughout Russia, Putin shifted responsibility from himself to lesser authorities, tasking Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin with leading the country’s coronavirus taskforce and instructing regional governors to make their own policy decisions. To wit: although Putin on Monday called for the economy to get back up and running, he left the implementation of precise measures to achieve this aim to regional authorities. Moscow, the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak, for now remains — at least technically — under lockdown.
Political scientist Alexander Kynev believes that this “decentralization” of the power Putin has spent two decades bringing under his grip is a tactic to avoid negative blowback. But in doing so, Kynev said that Putin has lost the “machismo” image that has underpinned his rule for so long. “He doesn’t look like a strong leader anymore,” he said. “For so many years his charisma was his bravado. Even if he was a son of a bitch, he was powerful. And this gained him respect even from those who weren’t happy with him.” “Now he looks like an old, sick wolf,” Kynev added. Another possible effect of the decentralization, said political scientist Yekaterina Schulmann, is that there has been no “rallying around the flag” in Russia, unlike in other countries around the world. “In social science this has been considered an almost automatic effect in emergency situations,” she said. “We saw it in France, Italy, Germany, central European countries, the U.K and even for a bit in the United States. We don’t have it at all.”
That rallying around the flag is what for many years kept Putin’s approval rating so high, said Denis Volkov, deputy director of the Levada Center, Russia’s only independent pollster. He pointed to Putin’s ratings having skyrocketed to 87% after the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. But for the past three years, since Putin’s re-election in spring 2018 for a fourth presidential term, Levada has tracked a falling approval rating — as well as for government institutions as a whole — as that patriotic fervor has faded and, with Western sanctions battering Russia’s economy, wages have fallen. Last week, Levada measured Putin’s approval rating at a historic low of 59%. Volkov attributed the drop to Russians’ continued fears over their financial situations, which have only been heightened by the pandemic. “The situation is still stable,” Volkov said. “But that post-Crimea cushion is gone.” To note two of the starkest figures of the economic crash Russia is facing, a third of its economy has ground to a halt, while 735,000 Russians have already registered as unemployed over the last two months.
news Putin Withdraws From the Coronavirus Crisis in a Political Abdication Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 250K

Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 250K

The Kremlin this week eased a national lockdown to slow the spread of the virus , despite a steady rise in numbers that has brought Russia to second place in a global tally of infections , behind the United States .
A majority of Russia 's new cases were registered in the capital , a government virus tally said , where Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has extended a lockdown until the end of May .
President Vladimir Putin 's spokesperson , Dmitry Peskov , on Tuesday became the most recent senior figure in government to announce they had tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was receiving treatment in the hospital .
Despite the steady rise in new cases , Russia 's reported mortality rate is significantly lower compared to other European countries hit hard by the pandemic .
Authorities say the low mortality rate is because Russia was able to learn lessons from the experiences of western Europe , moving quickly to isolate travellers and people at risk , convert hospitals for virus patients and launch a vast campaign to test and quarantine those infected .
Officials also credit a widespread testing and tracking effort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million tests , though critics have cast doubt on the numbers , as Russia uses a different classification method to count the deceased .

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Russian Medics Ask Where Putin's Virus Bonuses Went

In a small town 200 kilometers ( 120 miles ) from the capital , she visits patients at home and normally has around three calls a day .
But that number surged to 30 in April as the pandemic struck Russia .
Maria , a 24-year-old doctor working outside Moscow , expected to be paid extra if one of her patients tested positive for the coronavirus .
Instead , her salary shrank .
When President Vladimir Putin promised on television in April that doctors would get a monthly bonus of 80,000 rubles ( $ 1,100 ) for treating virus patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased risk and workload .
`` I hoped that if I came in contact with the infection , I would also get some extra money , '' said Maria , who spoke on the condition of anonymity , fearing she could damage her career prospects .
What happened was quite different .
After a patient she visited and swabbed tested positive , Maria was ordered to self-isolate for two weeks .
When she got her April salary , it was cut to just 14,000 rubles ( $ 189 ) .
Her salary varies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most she makes is 36,000 rubles ( $ 487 ) , working two different jobs and overtime , she said .
`` I could have contracted the virus , but instead of a bonus , my salary is less than usual , '' said Maria , who was only given one surgical mask and a pair of gloves per shift .
Healthcare workers across Russia watched Putin promise doctors extra pay and monthly bonuses of between 25,000 and 80,000 rubles ( $ 338 to $ 1,083 ) to medics and drivers working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened their April pay slips , most saw no sign of these generous sums .
Many posted photos online of pay checks where the extra money amounted to $ 10 or less — or nothing at all .
The government has transferred 27 billion rubles for healthcare bonuses , but regional authorities have only paid out 4.5 billion , he said .
`` There are problems with payments even in regions most hit by the infection , where the workload on medics is at the maximum , '' he admitted .
With more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steadily rising , Russia has the world 's second-highest number of infections .
Andrei Konoval , head of the Action union of medical workers , said Putin 's directive lost its punch as it percolated through the healthcare system 's bureaucracy .

In a small town 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the capital, she visits patients at home and normally has around three calls a day. But that number surged to 30 in April as the pandemic struck Russia.
Maria, a 24-year-old doctor working outside Moscow, expected to be paid extra if one of her patients tested positive for the coronavirus. Instead, her salary shrank.
When President Vladimir Putin promised on television in April that doctors would get a monthly bonus of 80,000 rubles ($1,100) for treating virus patients, she thought it was compensation for increased risk and workload.
"I hoped that if I came in contact with the infection, I would also get some extra money," said Maria, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing she could damage her career prospects.
What happened was quite different.
After a patient she visited and swabbed tested positive, Maria was ordered to self-isolate for two weeks. When she got her April salary, it was cut to just 14,000 rubles ($189).
Her salary varies from month to month, but the most she makes is 36,000 rubles ($487), working two different jobs and overtime, she said.
"I could have contracted the virus, but instead of a bonus, my salary is less than usual," said Maria, who was only given one surgical mask and a pair of gloves per shift.
Healthcare workers across Russia watched Putin promise doctors extra pay and monthly bonuses of between 25,000 and 80,000 rubles ($338 to $1,083) to medics and drivers working to fight coronavirus.
But when overworked doctors opened their April pay slips, most saw no sign of these generous sums.
'Huge disappointment'
Many posted photos online of pay checks where the extra money amounted to $10 or less — or nothing at all.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin acknowledged the problem.
The government has transferred 27 billion rubles for healthcare bonuses, but regional authorities have only paid out 4.5 billion, he said.
"There are problems with payments even in regions most hit by the infection, where the workload on medics is at the maximum," he admitted.
With more than 242,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and cases steadily rising, Russia has the world's second-highest number of infections.
Andrei Konoval, head of the Action union of medical workers, said Putin's directive lost its punch as it percolated through the healthcare system's bureaucracy.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Russia Touts ‘Promising’ Coronavirus Drug in Early Trials

Of 40 coronavirus patients who took a favipiravir pill , 60 % tested negative for Covid-19 within five days compared to 30 % in the control group , according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) and the ChemRar biotechnology firm .
Favipiravir works by blocking the ability of a virus to replicate inside a cell .
Early clinical trials of an antiviral drug in Russia have given “ promising ” results in treating the new coronavirus , a joint venture announced Wednesday as Russia faced mounting Covid-19 cases .
“ The ChemRar Group alongside RDIF will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug as soon as the end of May ” if it obtains registration , the joint venture said in a statement .
With 250 treatment courses produced and 1,500 more at the production stage , the venture said it has the capacity to manufacture up to 600,000 doses per year .
The early clinical trials at six medical centers in three cities will expand to 30 medical centers in eight Russian regions involving 330 patients .
The RDIF has invested 150 million rubles ( $ 2 million ) in funding for the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday that he expects to start clinical trials for possible coronavirus vaccines in June .
China has already completed clinical trials on favipiravir , which is the generic version of the Japanese firm Fujifilm ’ s anti-flu drug Avigan , the country 's science and technology ministry said in March .
Two trials in the country found the drug shortened recovery time for patients .
Japan said it hopes to approve Avigan for coronavirus treatment this month if a clinical trial proves effective .
India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has advanced to phase three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the Russian government authorized hospitals to treat coronavirus patients with the untested malaria drug hydroxychloroquine , which studies have linked to potentially deadly side effects .
A BBC Russia report said in April that doctors in Moscow were being required to test hydroxychloroquine on themselves despite the side effects and the study ’ s stated voluntary nature .
Russian scientists are testing vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus and plan to start human trials of experimental vaccines in June .
Russia has confirmed 242,271 cases of coronavirus infections , placing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,212 deaths as of Wednesday .
It has reported more than 10,000 new cases daily for the past 11 days .

Of 40 coronavirus patients who took a favipiravir pill, 60% tested negative for Covid-19 within five days compared to 30% in the control group, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the ChemRar biotechnology firm. Favipiravir works by blocking the ability of a virus to replicate inside a cell.
Early clinical trials of an antiviral drug in Russia have given “promising” results in treating the new coronavirus, a joint venture announced Wednesday as Russia faced mounting Covid-19 cases.
“The ChemRar Group alongside RDIF will be able to start commercial deliveries of the drug as soon as the end of May” if it obtains registration, the joint venture said in a statement.
With 250 treatment courses produced and 1,500 more at the production stage, the venture said it has the capacity to manufacture up to 600,000 doses per year.
The early clinical trials at six medical centers in three cities will expand to 30 medical centers in eight Russian regions involving 330 patients.
The RDIF has invested 150 million rubles ($2 million) in funding for the project.
Russia’s health minister said Wednesday that he expects to start clinical trials for possible coronavirus vaccines in June.
China has already completed clinical trials on favipiravir, which is the generic version of the Japanese firm Fujifilm’s anti-flu drug Avigan, the country's science and technology ministry said in March. Two trials in the country found the drug shortened recovery time for patients.
Japan said it hopes to approve Avigan for coronavirus treatment this month if a clinical trial proves effective. India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has advanced to phase three of favipiravir trials in the country.
Last month, the Russian government authorized hospitals to treat coronavirus patients with the untested malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which studies have linked to potentially deadly side effects.
A BBC Russia report said in April that doctors in Moscow were being required to test hydroxychloroquine on themselves despite the side effects and the study’s stated voluntary nature.
Russian scientists are testing vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus and plan to start human trials of experimental vaccines in June.
Russia has confirmed 242,271 cases of coronavirus infections, placing it behind only the United States, and 2,212 deaths as of Wednesday. It has reported more than 10,000 new cases daily for the past 11 days.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Russia’s Trash-Burning Plants Could Fuel Unrest, Greenpeace Warns

State industrial conglomerate Rostec , state nuclear agency Rosatom and the VEB state development corporation on Thursday announced a 600 billion ruble ( $ 7.6 billion ) project to build the 25 waste-to-energy plants in “ Russia ’ s largest tourist centers.
” Russia ’ s ambitious plans to build 25 waste-burning power plants risk provoking social unrest over their environmental and financial costs , Greenpeace Russia warned Thursday .
Greenpeace warned that the public could end up paying for the plants ’ construction at least in part while also facing higher energy costs as consumers .
Together with five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Moscow and in central Russia ’ s republic of Tatarstan , Greenpeace estimates the plants will spew 5 million metric tons of toxic waste every year .
“ Local residents will go on strike , ” the environmental NGO said in a statement .
“ They don ’ t want to risk the health of their children , who will have to breathe the harmful emissions.
” Greenpeace also warned that the plants will increase Russia ’ s dependency on plastic and delay its move toward biodegradable materials .
Environmental activists previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equate waste incineration with recycling in their trash reform plan for the next decade .
Rostec disputed Greenpeace ’ s assessment , calling its technology “ the most widespread and well-researched in the world [ and ] the most ecologically clean and safe for the environment and the population.
” “ Myths about the dangers of waste-to-energy plants apply to older-generation plants , ” Interfax quoted Rostec ’ s press service as saying Thursday .
The backlash toward the waste-incineration plants is the latest issue in Russia ’ s struggle to reform its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country have rallied since fall 2018 against Moscow ’ s plans to export its waste to more remote and less populated regions .

State industrial conglomerate Rostec, state nuclear agency Rosatom and the VEB state development corporation on Thursday announced a 600 billion ruble ($7.6 billion) project to build the 25 waste-to-energy plants in “Russia’s largest tourist centers.”
Russia’s ambitious plans to build 25 waste-burning power plants risk provoking social unrest over their environmental and financial costs, Greenpeace Russia warned Thursday.
Greenpeace warned that the public could end up paying for the plants’ construction at least in part while also facing higher energy costs as consumers. Together with five others scheduled to launch in late 2022 outside Moscow and in central Russia’s republic of Tatarstan, Greenpeace estimates the plants will spew 5 million metric tons of toxic waste every year.
“Local residents will go on strike,” the environmental NGO said in a statement. “They don’t want to risk the health of their children, who will have to breathe the harmful emissions.”
Greenpeace also warned that the plants will increase Russia’s dependency on plastic and delay its move toward reusable materials.
Environmental activists previously criticized Moscow city authorities’ plans to equate waste incineration with recycling in their trash reform plan for the next decade.
Rostec disputed Greenpeace’s assessment, calling its technology “the most widespread and well-researched in the world [and] the most ecologically clean and safe for the environment and the population.”
“Myths about the dangers of waste-to-energy plants apply to older-generation plants,” Interfax quoted Rostec’s press service as saying Thursday.
The backlash toward the waste-incineration plants is the latest issue in Russia’s struggle to reform its waste management system. Russians across the country have rallied since fall 2018 against Moscow’s plans to export its waste to more remote and less populated regions.
This story was updated at 1:04 p.m. on May 18 to clarify Greenpeace's warning that waste-to-power plants could delay Russia’s move toward reusable materials, not biodegradable materials.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-14--Key MH17 Suspect Detained in East Ukraine: BBC Russia

A key suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was detained on unrelated charges in eastern Ukraine around the time the murder trial against the MH17 suspects started in the Netherlands this spring , BBC Russia reported Thursday .
Former field commander Leonid Kharchenko , 47 , is the only Ukrainian passport-holder among four suspects named by the Dutch-led investigation into the tragedy that killed all 298 people on board flight MH17 in July 2014 .
The other three are Russian nationals who , like Kharchenko , are expected to be tried in absentia .
Pro-Russian authorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kharchenko near his home on March 11 , BBC Russia cited an unnamed former commander who had served with Kharchenko as saying .
He was reportedly charged with illegal possession of firearms and an illegal search .
Former fellow soldiers say they believe that the pro-Russian authorities pressed what they call “ ridiculous ” charges against Kharchenko in order to shield him from a kidnapping attempt by Ukraine .
Ukrainian authorities , who are engaged in a six-year war with Russian-backed separatists in the country 's east , charged Kharchenko in 2015 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services kidnapped a key MH17 witness last year , only for him to be handed over to Russia as part of a high-profile prisoner swap .
“ Kharchenko lived a quiet life in Donetsk and didn ’ t suspect that this could happen to him , ” BBC Russia quoted an unnamed former fellow soldier as saying .
“ Perhaps they ’ re guarding him in this cruel way , but it ’ s a very strange way of securing a person.
” Kharchenko is reportedly being held in a Donetsk justice ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by two months last Friday , according to BBC Russia .
Dutch-led prosecutors accuse Kharchenko and the three Russian suspects of playing central roles in transporting and launching the Buk missile system that brought down the plane .
Russia denies any role in the downing of MH17 .
Judges at a March hearing in the Netherlands adjourned the MH17 trial until June 8 to give defense lawyers more time to prepare .

A key suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was detained on unrelated charges in eastern Ukraine around the time the murder trial against the MH17 suspects started in the Netherlands this spring, BBC Russia reported Thursday. Former field commander Leonid Kharchenko, 47, is the only Ukrainian passport-holder among four suspects named by the Dutch-led investigation into the tragedy that killed all 298 people on board flight MH17 in July 2014. The other three are Russian nationals who, like Kharchenko, are expected to be tried in absentia.
Leonid Kharchenko Screenshot Youtube
Pro-Russian authorities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic arrested Kharchenko near his home on March 11, BBC Russia cited an unnamed former commander who had served with Kharchenko as saying. He was reportedly charged with illegal possession of firearms and an illegal search. The MH17 trial began on March 9. Former fellow soldiers say they believe that the pro-Russian authorities pressed what they call “ridiculous” charges against Kharchenko in order to shield him from a kidnapping attempt by Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities, who are engaged in a six-year war with Russian-backed separatists in the country's east, charged Kharchenko in 2015 with creating a terrorist group. Ukrainian security services kidnapped a key MH17 witness last year, only for him to be handed over to Russia as part of a high-profile prisoner swap.
One BBC Russian source, who us familiar with the case, said the accusations are 'ridiculous' - illegal possession of weapons and participation in an illegal search in 2014 — Olga Prosvirova (@Olya_Prosvirova) May 14, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-05-15--Siberian Ambulance Crews Vow Hunger Strike Over Putin's Unpaid Virus Bonuses

Ambulance workers in western Siberia have threatened to go on hunger strike if they don ’ t receive President Vladimir Putin ’ s promised payouts for working with coronavirus patients .
Thursday marked Putin ’ s deadline to hand out April bonuses of up to 80,000 rubles ( $ 1,100 ) to all medics treating Covid-19 patients .
Russia ’ s prime minister acknowledged this week that regional authorities have only paid out 4.5 billion rubles ( $ 57 million ) of the 27 billion rubles ( $ 343 million ) in funds from the federal government .
But ambulance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video address to Putin that only those who hospitalize patients with confirmed cases have been paid since .
“ All the others were left without money , ” the ambulance workers in the town of Anzhero-Sudzhensk almost 4,000 kilometers east of Moscow said .
“ If the payments are due , why aren ’ t they delivered properly ?
Why do we always have to prove something to everyone ?
” one worker said .
The ambulance crews also complained of having to reuse protective gowns and sew their own face masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hunger strike next Monday if they don ’ t get paid , the Tayga.info news website reported .
Kemerovo governor Sergei Tsivilev ’ s social media team said he has received their complaint and is “ working on it.
” Regional health authorities said the ambulance crews don ’ t qualify for the bonuses because they don ’ t deal directly with Covid-19 patients .
On Friday , Putin reiterated his calls to pay medics in full and vowed to return to the issue next week .
More than 100,000 people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action ) union of medical workers demanding full payouts and wider eligibility for the bonuses since it was launched last week .
Russia has the world ’ s second-highest number of coronavirus infections with 262,843 confirmed cases as of Friday .

Ambulance workers in western Siberia have threatened to go on hunger strike if they don’t receive President Vladimir Putin’s promised payouts for working with coronavirus patients. Thursday marked Putin’s deadline to hand out April bonuses of up to 80,000 rubles ($1,100) to all medics treating Covid-19 patients. Russia’s prime minister acknowledged this week that regional authorities have only paid out 4.5 billion rubles ($57 million) of the 27 billion rubles ($343 million) in funds from the federal government.
But ambulance workers in the Kemerovo region said in a video address to Putin that only those who hospitalize patients with confirmed cases have been paid since. “All the others were left without money,” the ambulance workers in the town of Anzhero-Sudzhensk almost 4,000 kilometers east of Moscow said. “If the payments are due, why aren’t they delivered properly? Why do we always have to prove something to everyone?” one worker said.
The ambulance crews also complained of having to reuse protective gowns and sew their own face masks. They warned they will go on a hunger strike next Monday if they don’t get paid, the Tayga.info news website reported. Kemerovo governor Sergei Tsivilev’s social media team said he has received their complaint and is “working on it.” Regional health authorities said the ambulance crews don’t qualify for the bonuses because they don’t deal directly with Covid-19 patients.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-15--Moscow Says No Proof Russian Hackers Spied on Merkel

`` Five years have passed .
Not a single concrete fact has been provided , '' Lavrov said in a live interview with Russia 's RBC news website .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday rejected allegations by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Russian hackers had spied on her .
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday , Merkel voiced frustration that Russia was targeting her in hacking attacks as she tried to build a better relationship with Moscow .
She said she had concrete proof of the `` outrageous '' spying attempts .
Lavrov charged that Berlin had decided Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no facts in relation to Russia . ''
German media reported that data from Merkel 's email account was among information copied by hackers in 2015 in an attack that also targeted the Bundestag .
Reports in German media have named the suspect as Dmitry Badin , who is also wanted by the FBI for other cyberattacks , including those targeting the Democrats during the 2016 US presidential election .
Merkel raised the specter of new sanctions against Russia if the rogue activity did not stop , adding that he attacks `` pained @ @ @

"Five years have passed. Not a single concrete fact has been provided," Lavrov said in a live interview with Russia's RBC news website.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday rejected allegations by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Russian hackers had spied on her.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Merkel voiced frustration that Russia was targeting her in hacking attacks as she tried to build a better relationship with Moscow.
She said she had concrete proof of the "outrageous" spying attempts.
Lavrov charged that Berlin had decided Moscow was guilty even though "there are no facts in relation to Russia."
German media reported that data from Merkel's email account was among information copied by hackers in 2015 in an attack that also targeted the Bundestag.
Reports in German media have named the suspect as Dmitry Badin, who is also wanted by the FBI for other cyberattacks, including those targeting the Democrats during the 2016 US presidential election.
Merkel raised the specter of new sanctions against Russia if the rogue activity did not stop, adding that he attacks "pained" her.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-15--Russia-Raised Austrian Princess Dies at 31

Maria Singh , née Princess Maria Galitzine , was the great-granddaughter of the last emperor and empress of Austria and a descendant of the House of Habsburg that ruled parts of Europe for almost 600 years .
Austrian princess Maria Galitzine , who spent her school years in Russia , has died of a sudden heart aneurysm in the United States at age 31 , her family said in an obituary published Friday .
Her Russian roots go back to Countess Xenia Czernichev-Besobrasov , who became the second Russian Orthodox archduchess of Austria after marrying the last emperor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1953 .
At age 5 in 1993 , Princess Maria and her family moved from her birth country of Luxembourg to Russia , where she attended a private German school in Moscow .
She attended the College of Art and Design in Belgium after graduating and lived in Brussels , Chicago and Houston , where she married chef Rishi Roop Singh .
Princess Maria passed away on May 4 , her obituary in The Houston Chronicle said .
She was laid to rest in the Orthodox section of a Houston cemetery on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 11 .
She is survived by her husband , their two-year-old son , parents Princess Maria-Anna and Prince Piotr Galitzine , as well as three sisters and two brothers .

Maria Singh, née Princess Maria Galitzine, was the great-granddaughter of the last emperor and empress of Austria and a descendant of the House of Habsburg that ruled parts of Europe for almost 600 years.
Austrian princess Maria Galitzine, who spent her school years in Russia, has died of a sudden heart aneurysm in the United States at age 31, her family said in an obituary published Friday.
Her Russian roots go back to Countess Xenia Czernichev-Besobrasov, who became the second Russian Orthodox archduchess of Austria after marrying the last emperor’s youngest son, Archduke Rudolf, in 1953.
At age 5 in 1993, Princess Maria and her family moved from her birth country of Luxembourg to Russia, where she attended a private German school in Moscow.
She attended the College of Art and Design in Belgium after graduating and lived in Brussels, Chicago and Houston, where she married chef Rishi Roop Singh.
Princess Maria passed away on May 4, her obituary in The Houston Chronicle said. She was laid to rest in the Orthodox section of a Houston cemetery on May 8. She would have turned 32 on May 11.
She is survived by her husband, their two-year-old son, parents Princess Maria-Anna and Prince Piotr Galitzine, as well as three sisters and two brothers.