themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his victory Sunday before there was any reaction from the @ @ @ @ @ results .
`` This is a privilege which is not available to all countries , @ @ @ @ @ is recovering in Germany from a suspected poisoning earlier this year , congratulating Biden , @ @ @ @ @ Americans for `` defining the new leadership in a free and fair election.
” Police @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 people during the latest Sunday protest in weeks of unprecedented demonstrations against strongman Alexander @ @ @ @ @ reached out to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden .
Police vans and water cannons were deployed @ @ @ @ @ sporadically detaining protesters in various locations .
Witnesses saw a heavy security presence , with @ @ @ @ @ balaclavas grabbing protesters and taking them to police vans .
Azerbaijan said Sunday that its @ @ @ @ @ town of Shusha from Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh , but Armenia insisted that fighting continued @ @ @ @ @

First call
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his victory Sunday before there was any reaction from the Kremlin to the U.S. election results.
"This is a privilege which is not available to all countries," said Navalny, who is recovering in Germany from a suspected poisoning earlier this year, congratulating Biden, running mate Kamala Harris and Americans for "defining the new leadership in a free and fair election.”
‘March of People’s Power’
Police in Belarus detained more than 1,000 people during the latest Sunday protest in weeks of unprecedented demonstrations against strongman Alexander Lukashenko, as the opposition reached out to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden.
Police vans and water cannons were deployed to central Minsk with police sporadically detaining protesters in various locations. Witnesses saw a heavy security presence, with baton-carrying riot police in black balaclavas grabbing protesters and taking them to police vans.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan said Sunday that its forces had captured the key town of Shusha from Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia insisted that fighting continued for the strategic area.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--Deal Struck to End Nagorno-Karabakh War

Deal Struck to End Nagorno-Karabakh War

Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh with immediate effect .
Armenia ’ s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan first made the announcement on Facebook early Tuesday morning .
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed details of the deal , brokered by Moscow , minutes later in a televised statement .
“ I have signed a statement on the termination of the Karabakh war along with the Russian and Azerbaijani presidents , ” Pashinyan wrote .
The agreement came into effect at 01:00 local time — minutes before the announcements .
The deal provides for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Putin said .
Both sides will maintain their current territorial positions as part of the deal — meaning Azerbaijan will keep hold of the military gains it has achieved since the start of the conflict — and Armenia will return other occupied territories which it currently controls in phases over the next month .
That effectively means the return to Azerbaijani control of seven districts surrounding the core Nagorno-Karabakh region which Armenia seized during the 1988-94 conflict , as well as the culturally-important city of Shusha , which Azerbaijani forces seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , Armenia will retain control over most of Nagorno-Karabakh itself , the de facto state administered by Armenian-backed separatists and referred to as Artsakh in Armenia , but located within Azerbaijan 's international borders .
Azeri refugees and internally displaced persons ( IDPs ) from the 1988-94 war — hundreds of thousands of which live in Azerbaijan — will be permitted to return to Nagorno-Karabakh , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said .
A 2,000-strong Russian peacekeeping force will be deployed for a minimum of five years to protect the land corridor between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also gain passage to its Nakhchivan exclave which is detached from Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian land close to the border with Turkey and Iran .
Russian forces will guarantee the roads connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan .
Putin said he expects the agreement “ will create the conditions for a long-term settlement .
”

It sparked celebrations in Azerbaijan but fury in Armenia, where protesters took to the streets to denounce the country's leadership for losses in the territory, which broke from Azerbaijan's control during a war in the early 1990s.
The Moscow-brokered agreement, which saw a ceasefire take effect at 21:00 GMT, came after a string of Azerbaijani victories in its fight to retake the ethnic Armenian enclave.
Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers were heading to Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday after Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a peace deal to end weeks of fierce fighting over the disputed region.
Quick map of what parts of #Artsakh / #Karabakh Armenians keep (yellow), what's already militarily seized & kept by Azerbaijan (green/blue) and the rest, which is surrendered to Azerbaijan; terms also include returning the Armenian-occupied Qazakh enclaves and a route to Nakhchivan pic.twitter.com/qRmwaZTLwH
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deal in the early hours of Tuesday.
Pashinyan described the agreement as "unspeakably painful for me and for our people," while Aliyev said it amounted to a "capitulation" by Armenia.
The full text of the deal showed clear gains for Azerbaijan.
Its forces will retain control over areas seized in the fighting, including the key town of Shusha, while Armenia agreed to a timetable to withdraw from large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nearly 2,000 peacekeepers
A Russian force of 1,960 military personnel and 90 armored personnel carriers will deploy to the region as peacekeepers, for a renewable five-year mission.
Aliyev said key ally Turkey would also be involved in peacekeeping efforts but there was no mention of it in the agreement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara and Moscow would jointly supervise the ceasefire at a "joint center to be designated by Azerbaijan in its lands saved from Armenia's occupation."
He hailed the truce as a "right step in the direction of a lasting solution."
The conflict over the territory — which has simmered for decades despite international efforts to reach an accord — erupted into fresh fighting in late September.
More than 1,400 people have been confirmed killed, including dozens of civilians, but the death toll is believed to be significantly higher.
Azerbaijani forces made steady gains over the weeks of fighting, sweeping across the southern flank of the region and eventually into its heartland.
A turning point came on Sunday when Aliyev announced that his forces had captured Shusha, the region's strategically vital second-largest town.
Olga Oliker of the International Crisis Group said although the deal ends weeks of fighting "it is not a comprehensive peace treaty. Many details remain vague."
"Disquiet in Baku among those who see Russian peacekeepers as an encroachment on its sovereignty may test the deal," she added.
Karabakh 'catastrophe'
The announcement of the deal caused outrage in Yerevan, with angry protesters storming government headquarters where they ransacked offices and broke windows.
Crowds also entered parliament and demanded Pashinyan's resignation.
Police retook control of both buildings but the opposition called for a protest on Wednesday against Pashinyan, who came to power leading peaceful protests in 2018.
Pashinyan said he was personally responsible for the Karabakh "catastrophe," but defended his decision saying the situation could only have got worse.
"It is necessary to draw lessons, this will help Armenia's future development."


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--3 Dead in Axe and Gun Attack at Russian Military Base

The shooting — the second at a military base in a year — took place at an airfield near the city of Voronezh where activists say army conscripts have been subjected to humiliating hazing .
A Russian soldier suspected of killing three servicemen using an axe and a gun at a military base has been detained after a massive manhunt , officials said .
Authorities however insist that bullying rituals that plagued the military in the 1990s have been rooted out in the Russian army .
Investigators said that a 20-year-old soldier identified as private Anton Makarov attacked an officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Voronezh at 5:30 a.m. ( 02:30 GMT ) .
Voronezh is more than 500 kilometers ( 310 miles ) south of Moscow .
`` In order to get hold of a service weapon Makarov killed an officer with an axe , '' the Investigative Committee , which probes serious crimes , said in a statement .
He then started shooting his fellow servicemen , killing two and wounding one , the statement said .
He was detained following a manhunt and was being interrogated .
More than 100 members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in the search operation , a spokesman said .
An unidentified source told the Interfax news agency that the shooting started when an altercation broke out between the soldier and an officer during an inspection .
The soldier `` grabbed a handgun '' from the officer 's holster and fired , Interfax reported .
Russia 's Western Military District however denied that a conflict had taken place .
Rights activists said that Makarov was a victim of hazing , which they claim is still common in the army .
Citing an informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-torture project Gulagu.net , told AFP that servicemen at the base had been beaten and asked to pay extortion money .
Describing Makarov as a `` principled '' man of modest means , Osechkin said the soldier had refused to make the payments .
`` In the eyes of his superiors , he did not respect them , '' Osechkin said , adding that he had been beaten up twice over the past two weeks .
Osechkin also said Makarov was violently detained .
In a video released by Gulagu.net that purports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen lying on the ground with a foot on his neck .
`` Do you know what you have been detained for ? ''
he is asked .
`` Yes , for everything , '' he allegedly answers .
Osechkin said that officials would look to shift the blame , pointing out that a number of media reported that Makarov was prone to fits of rage , and compared his case to that of conscript Ramil Shamsutdinov who opened fire on troops in October last year .
During that attack Shamsutdinov killed eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed on hazing that made his life `` hell . ''
Military service is compulsory in Russia for men aged between 18 and 27 , but many people use loopholes to evade conscription .

The shooting — the second at a military base in a year — took place at an airfield near the city of Voronezh where activists say army conscripts have been subjected to humiliating hazing.
A Russian soldier suspected of killing three servicemen using an axe and a gun at a military base has been detained after a massive manhunt, officials said.
Authorities however insist that bullying rituals that plagued the military in the 1990s have been rooted out in the Russian army.
Investigators said that a 20-year-old soldier identified as private Anton Makarov attacked an officer at the Baltimore military airfield near the city of Voronezh at 5:30 a.m. (02:30 GMT).
Voronezh is more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Moscow.
"In order to get hold of a service weapon Makarov killed an officer with an axe," the Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, said in a statement.
He then started shooting his fellow servicemen, killing two and wounding one, the statement said.
He was detained following a manhunt and was being interrogated.
More than 100 members of the national guard as well as drones took part in the search operation, a spokesman said.
An unidentified source told the Interfax news agency that the shooting started when an altercation broke out between the soldier and an officer during an inspection.
The soldier "grabbed a handgun" from the officer's holster and fired, Interfax reported.
Russia's Western Military District however denied that a conflict had taken place.
Activists speak of hazing
Rights activists said that Makarov was a victim of hazing, which they claim is still common in the army.
Citing an informed source, Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the anti-torture project Gulagu.net, told AFP that servicemen at the base had been beaten and asked to pay extortion money.
Describing Makarov as a "principled" man of modest means, Osechkin said the soldier had refused to make the payments.
"In the eyes of his superiors, he did not respect them," Osechkin said, adding that he had been beaten up twice over the past two weeks.
Osechkin also said Makarov was violently detained.
In a video released by Gulagu.net that purports to show the detention, Makarov is seen lying on the ground with a foot on his neck.
"Do you know what you have been detained for?" he is asked.
"Yes, for everything," he allegedly answers.
Osechkin said that officials would look to shift the blame, pointing out that a number of media reported that Makarov was prone to fits of rage, and compared his case to that of conscript Ramil Shamsutdinov who opened fire on troops in October last year.
During that attack Shamsutdinov killed eight and injured two in an attack he blamed on hazing that made his life "hell."
Military service is compulsory in Russia for men aged between 18 and 27, but many people use loopholes to evade conscription.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--Belarus Briefing | Nov. 9

Belarus Briefing | Nov. 9

Belarus has seen weekly mass protests against the disputed presidential re-election of Alexander Lukashenko for nearly three months .
On Monday , exiled Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called for a national strike after the deadline she set for Lukashenko to resign and free all political prisoners expired the previous day .
Here 's more of the latest news from Russia 's ex-Soviet neighbor : Nov. 9 : What you need to know today • Hundreds of people were detained in Minsk as protests continued for the 14th Sunday in a row .
• Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the nationwide ballot , has seemed out the help of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden , to heap pressure on Lukashenko .
`` Joe Biden has spoken out more than once and taken a firm position of support for the Belarusian people , '' she said .
• A report from the OSCE election-monitoring organization published on Thursday condemned `` massive '' rights abuses and torture in Belarus and called for a re-run of the country 's August presidential polls in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory .
• Belarus on Tuesday launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety concerns from neighboring Baltic states three decades after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster .
• None The OSCE says there is “ overwhelming evidence ” that Belarus 's August presidential election results were falsified and that “ systematic '' human rights violations have been committed by the country 's security forces .
• None More than 1,000 demonstrators , including many pensioners , took part in a march in Minsk on Nov. 2 to demand the resignation of Lukashenko , a day after hundreds of people were detained by police during a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a meeting with his new security chiefs on Friday following a reshuffle as he seeks to tighten his grip on power after months of unprecedented protests .
• None with all neighbors except Russia for most travelers , citing the coronavirus , while critics say it was a political move against the opposition .
• None Lukashenko dismissed controversial Belarusian interior minister Yury Karayeu , who oversaw a brutal crackdown on protesters in the days after the Aug. 9 presidential election , on Thursday .
State media reported that Karayeu was replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Minsk city police department .
• None Prominent American political strategist and former Bernie Sanders campaign adviser Vitali Shkliarov on Wednesday returned to the United States from Belarus where he was detained in late July on charges of mobilizing protesters .
Shkliarov was among several prominent figures seized in Belarus amid a crackdown on Lukashenko 's opponents .
• Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called Monday ’ s general strike aimed at putting pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko a “ collective success ” and vowed to continue calling for his resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universities to expel students who joined the anti-government rallies across Belarus .
With reporting from AFP , TASS and RFE .

Belarus has seen weekly mass protests against the disputed presidential re-election of Alexander Lukashenko for nearly three months.
Here's more of the latest news from Russia's ex-Soviet neighbor:
Nov. 17: What you need to know today
The Belarusian Association of Journalists has won the Media Freedom Award, a prize awarded by the governments of Britain and Canada
At least 1,000 people were detained across Belarus on November 15, according to local human rights watchdog Viasna, amid mass demonstrations against longstanding leader Alexander Lukashenko
Police brutality against demonstrators in Belarus, unprovoked by protesters, is impermissible, but the very instances of provocations must not be ruled out, Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told the media on Tuesday.
Nov. 13
Roman Bondarenko , 31, died on Thursday after being beaten to death by unknown security agents . Witnesses say Bondarenko was detained in Minsk after scuffling with people in plain clothes who came to a playground to remove red-and-white ribbons.
. Witnesses say Bondarenko was detained in Minsk after scuffling with people in plain clothes who came to a playground to remove red-and-white ribbons. Thousands of people carrying candles and flowers gathered in Minsk on Thursday to mourn the death of Bondarenko.
The EU has added Lukashenko and his son Viktor to its sanctions blacklist of Belarus officials, bringing the total to 59.
Nov. 9
Hundreds of people were detained in Minsk as protests continued for the 14th Sunday in a row.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania under pressure from officials after the nationwide ballot, has seemed out the help of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, to heap pressure on Lukashenko. "Joe Biden has spoken out more than once and taken a firm position of support for the Belarusian people," she said.
Nov. 6
A report from the OSCE election-monitoring organization published on Thursday condemned "massive" rights abuses and torture in Belarus and called for a re-run of the country's August presidential polls in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory.
Nov. 4
Belarus on Tuesday launched its controversial Russia-built nuclear power station despite safety concerns from neighboring Baltic states three decades after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
The OSCE says there is “overwhelming evidence” that Belarus's August presidential election results were falsified and that “systematic" human rights violations have been committed by the country's security forces.
More than 1,000 demonstrators, including many pensioners, took part in a march in Minsk on Nov. 2 to demand the resignation of Lukashenko, a day after hundreds of people were detained by police during a similar protest.
Oct. 30
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting with his new security chiefs on Friday following a reshuffle as he seeks to tighten his grip on power after months of unprecedented protests.
Belarus has partly closed its land borders with all neighbors except Russia for most travelers, citing the coronavirus, while critics say it was a political move against the opposition.
Oct. 29
Lukashenko dismissed controversial Belarusian interior minister Yury Karayeu, who oversaw a brutal crackdown on protesters in the days after the Aug. 9 presidential election, on Thursday. State media reported that Karayeu was replaced by Ivan Kubrakou, who previously headed the Minsk city police department.
Prominent American political strategist and former Bernie Sanders campaign adviser Vitali Shkliarov on Wednesday returned to the United States from Belarus where he was detained in late July on charges of mobilizing protesters. Shkliarov was among several prominent figures seized in Belarus amid a crackdown on Lukashenko's opponents.
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called Monday’s general strike aimed at putting pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko a “collective success” and vowed to continue calling for his resignation.
Lukashenko has called on universities to expel students who joined the anti-government rallies across Belarus.
With reporting from AFP, TASS and RFE.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--Bear and Cub Shot Dead by Russian Submariners After Climbing On Vessel

Footage shared by local media in the Kamchatka region shows the cub and its mother swimming toward the submarine , then sitting on its deck before shotgun fire rings out and the cub is seen falling into the water .
Crew members on a nuclear submarine have shot and killed a bear and her cub that climbed on board their vessel in Russia ’ s Far East , reports said Sunday .
“ There ’ s no other way , ” a voice behind the camera says .
“ If you chase it out , it ’ ll wander into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you fight bears in Kamchatka.
” The animals swam over Krasheninnikov Bay and climbed atop the docked nuclear submarine near the village of Rybachiy , the Russian Navy ’ s Pacific Fleet spokesperson told Interfax .
A hunting expert and instructor from the military town of Vilyuchinsk was called in to kill the bears with a “ specialized hunting weapon , ” the spokesperson added .
Vilyuchinsk is a closed city that houses a squadron of Pacific Fleet submarines .
The Telegram news channel Baza reported , without citing sources , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very emaciated and wounded and the cub would allegedly become aggressive without its mother.
” The outlet , which is reported to have links to Russia 's military and security services , added that villagers had for several days spotted and tried to chase away the bears .
At least 50 aggressive bears have been killed so far in 2020 , the Kamchatka region ’ s forestry management agency told Interfax .
Between 10,000 and 14,000 brown bears live on the remote Kamchatka peninsula , where they occasionally cross paths with humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While they enjoy feeding on roots , berries and honey , bears can attack humans if they feel threatened .

Footage shared by local media in the Kamchatka region shows the cub and its mother swimming toward the submarine, then sitting on its deck before shotgun fire rings out and the cub is seen falling into the water.
Crew members on a nuclear submarine have shot and killed a bear and her cub that climbed on board their vessel in Russia’s Far East, reports said Sunday.
“There’s no other way,” a voice behind the camera says. “If you chase it out, it’ll wander into the villages. That’s how you fight bears in Kamchatka.”
The animals swam over Krasheninnikov Bay and climbed atop the docked nuclear submarine near the village of Rybachiy, the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet spokesperson told Interfax.
A hunting expert and instructor from the military town of Vilyuchinsk was called in to kill the bears with a “specialized hunting weapon,” the spokesperson added. Vilyuchinsk is a closed city that houses a squadron of Pacific Fleet submarines.
The Telegram news channel Baza reported, without citing sources, that the bears were shot because the mother “was very emaciated and wounded and the cub would allegedly become aggressive without its mother.”
The outlet, which is reported to have links to Russia's military and security services, added that villagers had for several days spotted and tried to chase away the bears.
At least 50 aggressive bears have been killed so far in 2020, the Kamchatka region’s forestry management agency told Interfax.
Between 10,000 and 14,000 brown bears live on the remote Kamchatka peninsula, where they occasionally cross paths with humans, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
While they enjoy feeding on roots, berries and honey, bears can attack humans if they feel threatened.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--Russian Ruble, Stocks Surge on Vaccine Optimism

The Russian ruble and stock market soared Monday , hitting their strongest levels in months as global markets cheered positive @ @ @ @ @ frontrunners in the coronavirus vaccine race .
American pharma giant Pfizer and German BioNTech said @ @ @ @ @ Phase 3 medical trials , was 90 % effective in preventing Covid-19 infections .
It @ @ @ @ @ promising public update yet published on vaccine effectiveness from one of the handful of vaccines @ @ @ @ @ among volunteers .
The ruble soared by more than 2 % against the dollar — @ @ @ @ @ foreign currency markets — to stand at 75.9 .
That was the currency ’ s @ @ @ @ @ The ruble has now gained almost 6 % from where it stood on the eve @ @ @ @ @ .
Global enthusiasm also helped push the Russian stock market higher .
The dollar-denominated RTS @ @ @ @ @ during Monday afternoon trading in Moscow , while the ruble-based MOEX Index climbed 2.3 % @

The Russian ruble and stock market soared Monday, hitting their strongest levels in months as global markets cheered positive news from one of the frontrunners in the coronavirus vaccine race.
American pharma giant Pfizer and German BioNTech said their vaccine, currently in Phase 3 medical trials, was 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 infections. It is the most detailed and promising public update yet published on vaccine effectiveness from one of the handful of vaccines which have undergone widespread testing among volunteers.
The ruble soared by more than 2% against the dollar — a huge movement in the foreign currency markets — to stand at 75.9. That was the currency’s best reading since mid-September. The ruble has now gained almost 6% from where it stood on the eve of the U.S. presidential election.
Global enthusiasm also helped push the Russian stock market higher. The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 4.3% during Monday afternoon trading in Moscow, while the ruble-based MOEX Index climbed 2.3%.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-09--Azerbaijan Downs Russian Helicopter in Armenia as Fighting Rages Over Karabakh

A third crew member was injured and evacuated , it said .
The Defense Ministry in Moscow said two crew members were killed when the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defense system close to the border with Azerbaijan .
Azerbaijan accidently shot down a Russian military helicopter in Armenia as fighting raged over Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday , threatening to draw Moscow further into the conflict .
Azerbaijan quickly admitted to having accidently shot down the helicopter and apologized .
`` The Azerbaijani side offers an apology to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , adding the move was an accident and `` not aimed against '' Moscow .
Azerbaijan said the decision was made to open fire on the helicopter due to the `` tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness '' after six weeks of fierce clashes with Armenia-backed separatists for control of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The helicopter was shot down near the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic , a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan between Armenia and Turkey , far from Nagorno-Karabakh .
Russia has a military pact with Armenia and a base in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would not get involved in the conflict with Azerbaijan unless Armenian territory itself came under threat .
Ferocious fighting continued over Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday , with conflicting reports of whether Azerbaijani forces had managed to capture the disputed region 's key town of Shusha , known as Shushi in Armenian .
Armenian officials insisted battles for the town were ongoing , with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan saying : `` The fighting for Shushi continues . ''
The Armenian government said there were `` persistent battles '' in recent days and that separatist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fortress city of Shushi . ''
But Vahram Poghosyan , a spokesman for Karabakh 's separatist leader , posted on Facebook that Armenian forces had lost control of Shusha , a strategically vital town that is the region 's second-largest .
`` We have to admit that a chain of failures still haunts us and the city of Shushi is completely out of our control , '' Poghosyan said .
`` The enemy is on the outskirts of Stepanakert , '' he said , referring to the region 's main city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already in danger . ''
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced on Sunday his forces had taken Shusha , which lies around 15 kilometers ( nine miles ) from Stepanakert and on the main road to Armenia .
Aliyev said on Twitter on Monday that his forces had managed to capture 48 more settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh , an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan 's control during a bitter war in the 1990s .
Fresh fighting over the region erupted in late September and Azerbaijani forces have been able to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's southern flank and into its heartland .
Anger appeared to be mounting in Armenia over the military losses , with 17 opposition parties on Monday calling on Pashinyan and the rest of his government to immediately resign .
The parties — including several of the country 's largest political groupings — said in a statement that Armenia 's leaders bore `` the entire responsibility for the situation '' in Karabakh .
`` The authorities have lost their moral and political basis to represent the people , '' they said .
Karabakh declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaration has not been recognized internationally , even by Armenia , and it remains a part of Azerbaijan under international law .
The recent fighting has been the worst in decades , with more than 1,000 people reported killed including dozens of civilians and the real death toll is believed to be much higher .
The clashes have forced thousands to flee their homes leaving Stepanakert a ghost town devastated after weeks of shelling .
The longstanding ex-Soviet rivals have left three recent ceasefire agreements brokered by the United States , Russia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-chair the `` Minsk Group '' that helped broker a truce in 1994 but has failed to mediate a lasting resolution to the long-simmering territorial dispute .
Diplomatic efforts appeared to ramp up over the weekend as fighting intensified near Shusha , with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking Saturday to Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Emmanuel Macron of France .
Turkey is a key ally of Azerbaijan and its involvement would be key to any agreement to halt the fighting .

A third crew member was injured and evacuated, it said.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow said two crew members were killed when the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defense system close to the border with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan accidently shot down a Russian military helicopter in Armenia as fighting raged over Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday, threatening to draw Moscow further into the conflict.
Azerbaijan quickly admitted to having accidently shot down the helicopter and apologized.
"The Azerbaijani side offers an apology to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the move was an accident and "not aimed against" Moscow.
Azerbaijan said the decision was made to open fire on the helicopter due to the "tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness" after six weeks of fierce clashes with Armenia-backed separatists for control of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The helicopter was shot down near the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan between Armenia and Turkey, far from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Russia has a military pact with Armenia and a base in the country, but has so far insisted it would not get involved in the conflict with Azerbaijan unless Armenian territory itself came under threat.
Ferocious fighting continued over Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday, with conflicting reports of whether Azerbaijani forces had managed to capture the disputed region's key town of Shusha, known as Shushi in Armenian.
'Persistent battles'
Armenian officials insisted battles for the town were ongoing, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan saying: "The fighting for Shushi continues."
The Armenian government said there were "persistent battles" in recent days and that separatist forces "confidently defended and are defending the fortress city of Shushi."
But Vahram Poghosyan, a spokesman for Karabakh's separatist leader, posted on Facebook that Armenian forces had lost control of Shusha, a strategically vital town that is the region's second-largest.
"We have to admit that a chain of failures still haunts us and the city of Shushi is completely out of our control," Poghosyan said.
"The enemy is on the outskirts of Stepanakert," he said, referring to the region's main city, "and the existence of the capital is already in danger."
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced on Sunday his forces had taken Shusha, which lies around 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Stepanakert and on the main road to Armenia.
Aliyev said on Twitter on Monday that his forces had managed to capture 48 more settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan's control during a bitter war in the 1990s.
Fresh fighting over the region erupted in late September and Azerbaijani forces have been able to make substantial gains, sweeping across the region's southern flank and into its heartland.
Mounting anger in Armenia
Anger appeared to be mounting in Armenia over the military losses, with 17 opposition parties on Monday calling on Pashinyan and the rest of his government to immediately resign.
The parties — including several of the country's largest political groupings — said in a statement that Armenia's leaders bore "the entire responsibility for the situation" in Karabakh.
"The authorities have lost their moral and political basis to represent the people," they said.
Karabakh declared independence nearly 30 years ago but the declaration has not been recognized internationally, even by Armenia, and it remains a part of Azerbaijan under international law.
The recent fighting has been the worst in decades, with more than 1,000 people reported killed including dozens of civilians and the real death toll is believed to be much higher.
The clashes have forced thousands to flee their homes leaving Stepanakert a ghost town devastated after weeks of shelling.
The longstanding ex-Soviet rivals have left three recent ceasefire agreements brokered by the United States, Russia and France in tatters.
The three countries co-chair the "Minsk Group" that helped broker a truce in 1994 but has failed to mediate a lasting resolution to the long-simmering territorial dispute.
Diplomatic efforts appeared to ramp up over the weekend as fighting intensified near Shusha, with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking Saturday to Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Emmanuel Macron of France.
Turkey is a key ally of Azerbaijan and its involvement would be key to any agreement to halt the fighting.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-10--What Does the Nagorno-Karabakh Deal Mean for Russia?

The new Russia-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a sign of Moscow seeking to reaffirm its influence in the conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh , analysts said Tuesday .
But they disagreed on the level of the Kremlin 's success .
Unlike previous agreements brokered by Russia and the U.S. which have fallen through within minutes , the latest deal marks the first attempt at mediation through the deployment of third-party peacekeepers .
At least 1,960 Russian troops were deployed to the region just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the arrangement .
Most analysts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Kremlin — showing that it was able to reaffirm its status as a decision-maker in the conflict despite Turkey ’ s emergence as a key player backing Azerbaijan .
Michael Carpenter , the managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement , called the agreement “ a geopolitical victory for Putin.
” Kirill Koktysh , a faculty fellow at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations , echoed this view , contrasting Russia 's actions with those of fellow OSCE Minsk Group members France and the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be the only regional broker , although Yerevan had high hopes for Paris and for the OSCE , ” Koktysh told The Moscow Times .
“ Both sides even gave the opportunity [ for regional mediation ] to Washington but , in the end , Moscow emerged as the only guarantor.
” Fyodor Lukyanov , chief editor of the Russia in Global Affairs journal , said the agreement reaffirms Armenia ’ s security dependence on Russia and marks “ the end of the OSCE Minsk Group ” that “ will no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy.
” Rauf Mammadov , a residential scholar at The Middle East Institute , added that “ Ankara ’ s role in the post-conflict process remains ambiguous.
” Lukyanov believes that cooperation with Turkey , which deployed its forces to work alongside Russia ’ s peacekeepers , will be a complicated matter , though Russia will likely persevere .
“ Speaking of Russia ’ s ability to deal with Turkey , it is astounding how , over the last five years , Russia has been able to achieve its own goals in situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We saw it in Syria , to some extent in Libya , and now — in the South Caucasus , ” Lukyanov noted .
Mark Galeotti , a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute , disagrees , arguing that the agreement that came hours after an Azerbaijani surface-to-air missile shot down a Russian Mi-24 helicopter was not a victory for the Kremlin but rather an attempt “ to manage its decline.
” Galeotti warned that the latest situation is reminiscent of Russia ’ s response to its Su-24 bomber ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To hold Turkey responsible , the Kremlin imposed widespread sanctions , which , according to Galeotti was its attempt at “ masking weakness.
” “ This is neither mature statecraft nor self-confident hegemony , ” Galeotti wrote in an op-ed for The Moscow Times on Tuesday .
“ This is managing decline , a Russia that in regional terms is strong in capacities , weak in will , trying to make the best of a situation , and in the process disappointing its allies and doing nothing to deter its challengers .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guns are silent now — but for how long ?
” Military analyst Aleksandr Golts , in an interview with the Echo Moskvy radio station , similarly called the Russia-brokered truce the “ best way out ” given the much worse scenarios that could play out as a result of Russia ’ s regional policy line of the past 20 years .
Dmitry Trenin , the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center , offered an optimistic but cautious view of Russia ’ s move , warning against premature celebrations of the agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ceasefire can last .
The road to the final accord will be long and rocky .
Armenia will find it hard to accept defeat .
Russia proved to be indispensable but had to accept Turkey ’ s role .
New regional balance is in place.
” No matter the actual influence foreign powers may have on the outcome of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , only the two key players will have the final say over the region ’ s fate , Lukyanov said .
“ All in all , Russia does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nagorno-Karabakh .
This is a matter of sovereign Armenia and sovereign Azerbaijan .
”

The new Russia-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a sign of Moscow seeking to reaffirm its influence in the conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, analysts said Tuesday. But they disagreed on the level of the Kremlin's success. Unlike previous agreements brokered by Russia and the U.S. which have fallen through within minutes, the latest deal marks the first attempt at mediation through the deployment of third-party peacekeepers. At least 1,960 Russian troops were deployed to the region just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the arrangement.
Most analysts agree that this agreement is an achievement for the Kremlin — showing that it was able to reaffirm its status as a decision-maker in the conflict despite Turkey’s emergence as a key player backing Azerbaijan. Michael Carpenter, the managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, called the agreement “a geopolitical victory for Putin.” Kirill Koktysh, a faculty fellow at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, echoed this view, contrasting Russia's actions with those of fellow OSCE Minsk Group members France and the U.S. “Moscow has shown yet again that it can be the only regional broker, although Yerevan had high hopes for Paris and for the OSCE,” Koktysh told The Moscow Times. “Both sides even gave the opportunity [for regional mediation] to Washington but, in the end, Moscow emerged as the only guarantor.” Fyodor Lukyanov, chief editor of the Russia in Global Affairs journal, said the agreement reaffirms Armenia’s security dependence on Russia and marks “the end of the OSCE Minsk Group” that “will no longer play a decisive role in European policy.”
Rauf Mammadov, a residential scholar at The Middle East Institute, added that “Ankara’s role in the post-conflict process remains ambiguous.” Lukyanov believes that cooperation with Turkey, which deployed its forces to work alongside Russia’s peacekeepers, will be a complicated matter, though Russia will likely persevere. “Speaking of Russia’s ability to deal with Turkey, it is astounding how, over the last five years, Russia has been able to achieve its own goals in situations where interests collide or contradict each other. We saw it in Syria, to some extent in Libya, and now — in the South Caucasus,” Lukyanov noted. Not a victory Mark Galeotti, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, disagrees, arguing that the agreement that came hours after an Azerbaijani surface-to-air missile shot down a Russian Mi-24 helicopter was not a victory for the Kremlin but rather an attempt “to manage its decline.” Galeotti warned that the latest situation is reminiscent of Russia’s response to its Su-24 bomber’s downing in Syria in 2015. To hold Turkey responsible, the Kremlin imposed widespread sanctions, which, according to Galeotti was its attempt at “masking weakness.” “This is neither mature statecraft nor self-confident hegemony,” Galeotti wrote in an op-ed for The Moscow Times on Tuesday. “This is managing decline, a Russia that in regional terms is strong in capacities, weak in will, trying to make the best of a situation, and in the process disappointing its allies and doing nothing to deter its challengers. All one can say is that at least the guns are silent now — but for how long?”


themoscowtimes--2020-11-10--Russian PM Mishustin Tightens Grip on Domestic Policy in Mini Reshuffle

The Russian government is pushing ahead with a long-rumored mini-reshuffle this week in what analysts see as a mark of both newly installed prime minister Mikhail Mishustin ’ s growing influence and President Vladimir Putin ’ s divide-and-conquer approach to keeping his underlings in check .
A handful of mid-ranking cabinet members have been shuffled out and replaced by new faces , mostly hailing from the industries which they will now be responsible for overseeing .
The CEO of Russia ’ s state-owned airline Aeroflot , Vitaly Savelyev , for instance , will be the new Transport Minister , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikolay Shulginov is to be the new Energy Minister .
The new members — all men — have themselves failed to excite political commentators , who see the appointments as largely technocratic .
But many pointed to the mechanics of the reshuffle as a sign that Mikhail Mishustin , who was appointed prime minister in a surprise move at the start of the year , is gradually exerting his authority over the cabinet .
“ I wouldn ’ t say this is a revolution , but it ’ s important in the context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Tatiana Stanovaya , founder of the R.Politik political analysis outfit .
“ He is fine-tuning his cabinet and getting rid of those he doesn ’ t want to work with .
It means he ’ s reinforcing his political position.
” Tom Adshead , director of research at Macro Advisory also said the reshuffle was “ a win for Mishustin.
” “ He did not get all the people he wanted when he was first appointed prime minister , but now he ’ s moving to stamp his authority — within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all activity in Russia.
” By appointing a new cohort of technocrats — or “ interchangeable functionaries , ” as Andrei Kolesnikov , chair of the Russian domestic politics and political institutions program at the Carnegie Moscow Center said — Mishustin is preparing to refocus the government on delivering its socio-economic agenda following a year of fire-fighting the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Mishustin is Putin ’ s real hope — his last hope in some ways — to boost the economy and secure a growth breakthrough , ” Stanovaya said .
That makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps any of his previous prime ministers , she added , who “ were always the result of some compromise ” and were often not tasked with a “ special mission or project ” that Putin particularly cared about .
“ Of course [ Mishustin ’ s predecessor ] Dmitry Medvedev was a special figure , but Putin never really liked him .
Especially after the presidency and tandemocracy .
It was just a deal.
” In Mishustin ’ s case , that special mission is the $ 400-billion National Projects program — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering everything from infrastructure and housing to culture and health .
“ Mishustin was brought in to bring new life to the National Projects , ” Adshead said .
“ Actually he seemed to get things done in January to March .
Government spending was up .
Then the pandemic hit.
” Over the summer , Putin pushed the deadline for the program back from 2024 to 2030 and stripped out some of the targets .
Even Kremlin-friendly analysts were sceptical as to whether the initial plan could have been achieved by 2024 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to wipe out years of economic growth , investment and living standards .
Mishustin is now using the pandemic to recalibrate the program in line with his priorities and what he thinks is achievable , Adshead said , in another sign of his growing influence over domestic policy .
The reshuffle comes just weeks after Mishustin dished out a mid-term report on his cabinet members ’ performance , designed to showcase his ruthless focus on bureaucratic efficiency , the Baza news site reported .
It involved analyzing more than 2,800 individual government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerical score for the number of tasks they had successfully implemented and whether they were on time .
However , Mishustin ’ s growing influence should not be overstated .
It is tightly constrained to domestic policy , Nikolai Petrov , a Chatham House senior research fellow told The Moscow Times — an area many commentators say Putin ’ s interest has dwindled in over his 20 years in power .
“ Mishustin has got a more narrow sphere of responsibility , but almost a free hand within that sphere of responsibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just on the reshuffle , Petrov argues , it should be seen within the context of Putin ’ s other maneuvers to tinker with Russia ’ s decision-making structures .
Last Friday , for instance , he established a new 50-strong commission to deal with international development — the latest part in the establishment of a de facto “ parallel government ” dealing with foreign policy outside of Mishustin ’ s purview .
“ It ’ s not by chance that this reshuffle comes simultaneously with the establishment of this new commission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more narrow , but in compensation he has a free hand to form his team as he wants.
” That is part of Putin ’ s divide-and-conquer strategy , where decision-making power is split into three camps , Petrov argues .
Mishustin is influential among the domestic socio-economic policymakers , but has little to no influence in the other two areas : foreign policy in a broad sense , and the security bloc controlled by the siloviki .
“ It ’ s a sophisticated mechanism so no one person can be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Putin .
It ’ s a division of responsibility , because you have several people in top positions where nobody is subordinate to another one , but instead all directly subordinate to Putin , ” he explained .
For that reason , the shake-up should not be seen as evidence that Putin is grooming a successor , Kolesnikov believes .
“ This is not about politics .
Mishustin is not a politician or a successor , he ’ s simply a functionary .
The real prime minister in this system is Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor of Putin , ” he said , referencing the new constitutional changes which will allow him to stay in office until 2036 , should he decide to .
Another sign of what Kolesnikov calls the “ political weakness of the government ” is the promotion of Energy Minister Alexander Novak , to deputy prime minister — one of ten such positions .
“ Putin does n't like to have too many deputy prime ministers , he used to say that there should only be one , ” Adshead said .
When Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yeltsin , Russia had as many as 13 — up to three of which were designated “ first ” deputy prime minister at any one time .
The more in the role , the less political clout they each carry , Kolesnikov said .
While many commentators pointed to Novak ’ s success as Energy Minister — overseeing such a politically sensitive and important sphere , controlling Russia ’ s most lucrative resource and managing relations with Saudi Arabia through the OPEC+ deal — Stanovaya doubts the move into the ranks of deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Formally , yes .
But in fact , it ’ s a demotion .
He loses a ministry .
And if you compare the status of a deputy prime minister and a minister , the former is weaker , they have a very narrow apparatus and actually depend on the ministers they are supposed to oversee.
” Petrov also questioned whether the move should be seen as a vote of confidence in Novak .
“ His position closer to the top will make his status higher , but he won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control that he had when he was a minister.
” Beyond the intrigue around the winners and losers of the mini-reshuffle , few see any signs the new faces will result in a significant shift in policy .
“ The core economic bloc is not affected — either in terms of changes within it or the line up of forces against it .
That in itself suggests no big policy shifts.
” said Stephen Fortescue , a Russian studies professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia who specializes on Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ While this is not quite shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic — since Russia doesn ’ t face an imminent disaster of Titanic proportions — it isn ’ t much to be excited about.
” The reshuffle does , however , provide the Russian parliament with the first chance to exercise its new powers , granted under the constitutional changes waved through in the summer , to vote on the new cabinet appointments .
“ It ’ ll just be a formality , ” said Stanovaya , speaking before lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ministers and Novak .
“ But we shouldn ’ t underestimate formal procedures .
It will be very interesting from now on to watch how the MPs adapt , and whether they will try to use it to gain some political dividends .
”

The Russian government is pushing ahead with a long-rumored mini-reshuffle this week in what analysts see as a mark of both newly installed prime minister Mikhail Mishustin’s growing influence and President Vladimir Putin’s divide-and-conquer approach to keeping his underlings in check. A handful of mid-ranking cabinet members have been shuffled out and replaced by new faces, mostly hailing from the industries which they will now be responsible for overseeing. The CEO of Russia’s state-owned airline Aeroflot, Vitaly Savelyev, for instance, will be the new Transport Minister, and the boss of state electricity giant RusHydro Nikolay Shulginov is to be the new Energy Minister. The new members — all men — have themselves failed to excite political commentators, who see the appointments as largely technocratic. But many pointed to the mechanics of the reshuffle as a sign that Mikhail Mishustin, who was appointed prime minister in a surprise move at the start of the year, is gradually exerting his authority over the cabinet.
“I wouldn’t say this is a revolution, but it’s important in the context of Mishustin’s position,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the R.Politik political analysis outfit. “He is fine-tuning his cabinet and getting rid of those he doesn’t want to work with. It means he’s reinforcing his political position.” Tom Adshead, director of research at Macro Advisory also said the reshuffle was “a win for Mishustin.” “He did not get all the people he wanted when he was first appointed prime minister, but now he’s moving to stamp his authority — within the bounds of the political forces that constrain all activity in Russia.” Putin’s last hope By appointing a new cohort of technocrats — or “interchangeable functionaries,” as Andrei Kolesnikov, chair of the Russian domestic politics and political institutions program at the Carnegie Moscow Center said — Mishustin is preparing to refocus the government on delivering its socio-economic agenda following a year of fire-fighting the coronavirus pandemic. “Mishustin is Putin’s real hope — his last hope in some ways — to boost the economy and secure a growth breakthrough,” Stanovaya said. That makes him personally more important to Putin than perhaps any of his previous prime ministers, she added, who “were always the result of some compromise” and were often not tasked with a “special mission or project” that Putin particularly cared about. “Of course [Mishustin’s predecessor] Dmitry Medvedev was a special figure, but Putin never really liked him. Especially after the presidency and tandemocracy. It was just a deal.”
In Mishustin’s case, that special mission is the $400-billion National Projects program — a sweeping and ambitious package of investments covering everything from infrastructure and housing to culture and health. “Mishustin was brought in to bring new life to the National Projects,” Adshead said. “Actually he seemed to get things done in January to March. Government spending was up. Then the pandemic hit.” Over the summer, Putin pushed the deadline for the program back from 2024 to 2030 and stripped out some of the targets. Even Kremlin-friendly analysts were sceptical as to whether the initial plan could have been achieved by 2024 without the coronavirus outbreak, which is set to wipe out years of economic growth, investment and living standards. Mishustin is now using the pandemic to recalibrate the program in line with his priorities and what he thinks is achievable, Adshead said, in another sign of his growing influence over domestic policy. The reshuffle comes just weeks after Mishustin dished out a mid-term report on his cabinet members’ performance, designed to showcase his ruthless focus on bureaucratic efficiency, the Baza news site reported. It involved analyzing more than 2,800 individual government orders, and giving each official a numerical score for the number of tasks they had successfully implemented and whether they were on time. Free hand, limited scope However, Mishustin’s growing influence should not be overstated. It is tightly constrained to domestic policy, Nikolai Petrov, a Chatham House senior research fellow told The Moscow Times — an area many commentators say Putin’s interest has dwindled in over his 20 years in power. “Mishustin has got a more narrow sphere of responsibility, but almost a free hand within that sphere of responsibility,” he said. Instead of focusing just on the reshuffle, Petrov argues, it should be seen within the context of Putin’s other maneuvers to tinker with Russia’s decision-making structures. Last Friday, for instance, he established a new 50-strong commission to deal with international development — the latest part in the establishment of a de facto “parallel government” dealing with foreign policy outside of Mishustin’s purview. “It’s not by chance that this reshuffle comes simultaneously with the establishment of this new commission. It demonstrates that Mishustin’s responsibility is more narrow, but in compensation he has a free hand to form his team as he wants.” That is part of Putin’s divide-and-conquer strategy, where decision-making power is split into three camps, Petrov argues. Mishustin is influential among the domestic socio-economic policymakers, but has little to no influence in the other two areas: foreign policy in a broad sense, and the security bloc controlled by the siloviki. “It’s a sophisticated mechanism so no one person can be seen as a successor. Everybody reports directly to Putin. It’s a division of responsibility, because you have several people in top positions where nobody is subordinate to another one, but instead all directly subordinate to Putin,” he explained. Weak government For that reason, the shake-up should not be seen as evidence that Putin is grooming a successor, Kolesnikov believes. “This is not about politics. Mishustin is not a politician or a successor, he’s simply a functionary. The real prime minister in this system is Putin, and right now Putin is the successor of Putin,” he said, referencing the new constitutional changes which will allow him to stay in office until 2036, should he decide to. Another sign of what Kolesnikov calls the “political weakness of the government” is the promotion of Energy Minister Alexander Novak, to deputy prime minister — one of ten such positions. “Putin doesn't like to have too many deputy prime ministers, he used to say that there should only be one,” Adshead said. When Putin first started working with his predecessor Boris Yeltsin, Russia had as many as 13 — up to three of which were designated “first” deputy prime minister at any one time. The more in the role, the less political clout they each carry, Kolesnikov said.
Alexander Novak (right), has been appointed a deputy prime minister in the reshuffle. Pictured earlier November with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (left) at the opening of a digital electricity substation. Yelena Afonina/TASS


themoscowtimes--2020-11-10--Netflix to Provide Movies Dubbed In Russian

Although Netflix has been available in Russia since late 2015 , programming has not been dubbed .
The new service @ @ @ @ @ media holding company National Media Group ( NMG ) , will offer more Russian content @ @ @ @ @ The Lake , ” which Netflix is showing on worldwide platforms .
The streaming service @ @ @ @ @ of Russian material .
After starting with approximately three dozen Russian-language films , it is @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 Russian films in the next two months .
Netflix also said the @ @ @ @ @ be available around the world .
Netflix is already producing and distributing content in a @ @ @ @ @ local languages and with subtitles .
It has been filming soaps in Turkey for local @ @ @ @ @ for eastern European and South American audiences with dubbing .
Netflix ’ s market capitalization @ @ @ @ @ is pegged at almost $ 225 billion .

Although Netflix has been available in Russia since late 2015, programming has not been dubbed.
The new service, in partnership with Russian media holding company National Media Group (NMG), will offer more Russian content including the series “To The Lake,” which Netflix is showing on worldwide platforms.
Netflix is launching a pilot project that will provide films dubbed into Russian, Interfax has reported.
The streaming service will also increase the availability of Russian material. After starting with approximately three dozen Russian-language films, it is expected to increase availability to more than 100 Russian films in the next two months. Netflix also said the newly acquired Russian content will be available around the world.
Netflix is already producing and distributing content in a number of countries worldwide in local languages and with subtitles. It has been filming soaps in Turkey for local consumption, as well as for eastern European and South American audiences with dubbing.
Netflix’s market capitalization based on its stock value is pegged at almost $225 billion.
Reported by Ali Sar for The Moscow Times.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-10--Moscow Curbs Late-Night Club, Restaurant Hours as Coronavirus Surges

Starting Nov. 13 , these establishments as well as others like bowling alleys , karaoke bars and cafes , will not be allowed to serve customers from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m .
The restrictions do not apply to take-away services in the Russian capital .
Moscow will limit hours at clubs , bars and restaurants for two months starting Friday , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced alongside other measures in the latest effort to contain a record-breaking surge of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The new restrictions are introduced for two months until Jan. 15 , 2021 , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sobyanin said on his website Tuesday .
Sobyanin also suspended mass cultural events , with the exception of those authorized by officials , and closed all indoor children ’ s care and entertainment centers .
The RBC news website later cited two unnamed City Hall sources as saying that New Year ’ s festivities will not be held in Moscow because of the pandemic .
The mayor capped theater , cinema and concert hall attendance at 25 % , but noted that sports matches with fans will have to be authorized by City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of leisure and entertainment industries in advance , we want to save venues and businesses from needless expenses caused by the sudden cancellation of concerts and other festive events , ” he said .
Additionally , Sobyanin ordered Moscow ’ s universities and colleges to switch to distance learning and urged federal universities to take similar steps .
“ We recommend that schoolchildren and students who have transitioned to distance learning stay home and minimize trips around the city , ” he said .
The new restrictions come one day after Moscow reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the country as a whole reporting more than 20,000 new infections for five consecutive days .
Sobyanin wrote on his website that positive PCR test results in Moscow shot up from 1 % in mid-August to 7.5 % in early November .
“ Unfortunately , we can expect the situation to deteriorate further in the coming weeks , ” he warned .

Starting Nov. 13, these establishments as well as others like bowling alleys, karaoke bars and cafes, will not be allowed to serve customers from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The restrictions do not apply to take-away services in the Russian capital.
Moscow will limit hours at clubs, bars and restaurants for two months starting Friday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced alongside other measures in the latest effort to contain a record-breaking surge of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The new restrictions are introduced for two months until Jan. 15, 2021, because the New Year holidays are ahead,” Sobyanin said on his website Tuesday.
Sobyanin also suspended mass cultural events, with the exception of those authorized by officials, and closed all indoor children’s care and entertainment centers. The RBC news website later cited two unnamed City Hall sources as saying that New Year’s festivities will not be held in Moscow because of the pandemic.
The mayor capped theater, cinema and concert hall attendance at 25%, but noted that sports matches with fans will have to be authorized by City Hall.
“By restricting the work of leisure and entertainment industries in advance, we want to save venues and businesses from needless expenses caused by the sudden cancellation of concerts and other festive events,” he said.
Additionally, Sobyanin ordered Moscow’s universities and colleges to switch to distance learning and urged federal universities to take similar steps.
“We recommend that schoolchildren and students who have transitioned to distance learning stay home and minimize trips around the city,” he said.
The new restrictions come one day after Moscow reported its highest number of new Covid-19 cases, with the country as a whole reporting more than 20,000 new infections for five consecutive days. Sobyanin wrote on his website that positive PCR test results in Moscow shot up from 1% in mid-August to 7.5% in early November.
“Unfortunately, we can expect the situation to deteriorate further in the coming weeks,” he warned.