themoscowtimes--2020-04-21--Russia Reaches Record Life Expectancy of 73.4 Years

The increase from 2018 , when average life expectancy stood at a little over 73 years , is attributed to @ @ @ @ @ male mortality and a 2.1 % decrease in female mortality among working-age Russians .
Russians @ @ @ @ @ a historic record of 73.4 years in 2019 , the country ’ s Health Ministry @ @ @ @ @ saying Tuesday .
“ Thus , Russia was able to save the lives of an @ @ @ @ @ ” the Health Ministry ’ s press service was quoted as saying .
By comparison @ @ @ @ @ under 79 years in the United States and under 77 years in China .
The @ @ @ @ @ global average life expectancy at 72 years in 2016 .
Russia has earmarked 1.7 trillion @ @ @ @ @ ) on healthcare to meet President Vladimir Putin ’ s goal of raising life expectancy @ @ @ @ @ time his current term ends in 2024 .

The increase from 2018 , when average life expectancy stood at a little over 73 years, is attributed to a 3.5% decrease in male mortality and a 2.1% decrease in female mortality among working-age Russians.
Russians’ average life expectancy reached a historic record of 73.4 years in 2019, the country’s Health Ministry was quoted by Interfax as saying Tuesday.
“Thus, Russia was able to save the lives of an additional 13,600 working-age people,” the Health Ministry’s press service was quoted as saying.
By comparison, life expectancy stands slightly under 79 years in the United States and under 77 years in China. The World Health Organization estimated the global average life expectancy at 72 years in 2016.
Russia has earmarked 1.7 trillion rubles ($22 billion) on healthcare to meet President Vladimir Putin’s goal of raising life expectancy to 78 years by the time his current term ends in 2024.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-21--Exclusive: First Russian Doctor Treating Coronavirus Patients Dies From Virus, Medical Workers Say

A Russian urologist has died from coronavirus complications after he picked up the virus treating patients in a hospital for veterans , two of his colleagues told The Moscow Times on Tuesday .
He is the first doctor in Russia known to have died after treating coronavirus patients .
Maxim Starinsky , 56 , died on Monday at Kommunarka hospital , Moscow ’ s main coronavirus treatment center after he became infected tending to patients at Veterans Hospital no .
3 , according to two nurses who worked with him .
Both asked to remain anonymous .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor , ” said one of the nurses , adding that she had been friends with Starinsky for 23 years .
“ Everyone loved him.
” One of the nurses who spoke with The Moscow Times said that 64 medical workers at the veterans ’ hospital had tested positive for the coronavirus last week .
She said that one of the workers is in intensive care at Veterans Hospital no .
3 , and another is currently in intensive care at Kommunarka .
She added that she was one of the medical workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that she is now at home on sick leave .
She also said that 30 beds at the veterans ’ hospital have been allocated for the hospital ’ s medical staff .
Veterans Hospital no .
3 and Kommunarka did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
As the coronavirus pandemic has taken Russia in its grip , with the country ’ s total cases rising to 52,763 cases on Tuesday , Starinsky ’ s death and the escalating situation at Veterans Hospital no .
3 highlight the precarious position Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country has mobilized human resources to deal with the deadly virus .
Last week Moscow ’ s Health Department warned that the city , which is the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak , could run out of intensive care beds within two weeks .
It said it is rushing to reprofile 24 more hospitals for coronavirus patients , adding 21,000 beds .
Veterans Hospital no .
3 was reprofiled early in the crisis .
After doctors from St. Petersburg came to the Russian capital to train medical workers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus patients on April 6 following a visit from Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin .
“ Our doctors do not know how to work in such conditions , ” one of the nurses told The Moscow Times .
“ We had quiet peaceful work with older people , and now there is this emergency.
” “ When Veterans Hospital no .
3 opened it wasn ’ t ready to take in patients — some work was still being completed , ” the nurse added , noting that the hospital lacks enough oxygen humidification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they are put on ventilators as a drastic final step .
“ They have to take turns , it ’ s a total mess.
” “ Sobyanin came , gave the go-ahead and drove off , ” the nurse said .
Now Starinsky , who had worked there for over 15 years , the nurses said , is dead .
The death of a doctor working at Veterans Hospital no .
3 was first announced by Andrei Konoval , co-chairman of the independent medical labor union Destviye — or Action — on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He did not name Starinsky .
Konoval wrote that doctors from Veterans Hospital no .
3 had told him that many of their colleagues had tested positive for Covid-19 .
They added that on Monday , senior staff began receiving WhatsApp messages telling them they would no longer be tested for the coronavirus .
Before that , they told Konoval , any medical worker could take a test .
The nurses told The Moscow Times that they believe the hospital has suspended testing because it does not have enough medical workers and doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being quarantined .
“ Otherwise there will be no one left to work .
Until you show symptoms you ’ ll have to keep working , ” one of them said .
Indeed , the hospital is one of the coronavirus hospitals in Moscow being supported by medical students , Darya Belimova , Moscow regional coordinator of the Health Ministry ’ s “ Medical Volunteers ” program , told The Moscow Times last week .
The state of affairs at Veterans Hospital no .
3 appeared to sound the alarm for other hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Tuesday , a nurse working at First Moscow State Medical University ’ s Clinical Hospital no .
2 told The Moscow Times that her department was urgently called that morning and everyone was told they would need to be tested for the coronavirus .
Two nurses at Federal Scientific-Clinical Center of Otorhinolaryngology told The Moscow Times that they were tested Friday .
Both nurses tested negatively .
Previously they had been living at the hospital , but they have since been moved to a hotel along with other colleagues who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how many of their colleagues had tested positive for the virus .
Medical workers face the highest risk of infection .
In Italy , the European epicenter of the pandemic , more than 100 doctors have been killed by the coronavirus and healthcare workers account for 10 % of the country ’ s total reported infections .

A Russian urologist has died from coronavirus complications after he picked up the virus treating patients in a hospital for veterans, two of his colleagues told The Moscow Times on Tuesday. He is the first doctor in Russia known to have died after treating coronavirus patients. Maxim Starinsky, 56, died on Monday at Kommunarka hospital, Moscow’s main coronavirus treatment center after he became infected tending to patients at Veterans Hospital no. 3, according to two nurses who worked with him. Both asked to remain anonymous. “He was a very good person, friend, doctor,” said one of the nurses, adding that she had been friends with Starinsky for 23 years. “Everyone loved him.” One of the nurses who spoke with The Moscow Times said that 64 medical workers at the veterans’ hospital had tested positive for the coronavirus last week. She said that one of the workers is in intensive care at Veterans Hospital no. 3, and another is currently in intensive care at Kommunarka. She added that she was one of the medical workers who had tested positive for the virus and that she is now at home on sick leave. She also said that 30 beds at the veterans’ hospital have been allocated for the hospital’s medical staff. Veterans Hospital no. 3 and Kommunarka did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As the coronavirus pandemic has taken Russia in its grip, with the country’s total cases rising to 52,763 cases on Tuesday, Starinsky’s death and the escalating situation at Veterans Hospital no. 3 highlight the precarious position Russian medical workers have been placed in as the country has mobilized human resources to deal with the deadly virus. Last week Moscow’s Health Department warned that the city, which is the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, could run out of intensive care beds within two weeks. It said it is rushing to reprofile 24 more hospitals for coronavirus patients, adding 21,000 beds. Veterans Hospital no. 3 was reprofiled early in the crisis. After doctors from St. Petersburg came to the Russian capital to train medical workers, the nurses said, the hospital began taking in coronavirus patients on April 6 following a visit from Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. “Our doctors do not know how to work in such conditions,” one of the nurses told The Moscow Times. “We had quiet peaceful work with older people, and now there is this emergency.” “When Veterans Hospital no. 3 opened it wasn’t ready to take in patients — some work was still being completed,” the nurse added, noting that the hospital lacks enough oxygen humidification devices to help patients take in oxygen before they are put on ventilators as a drastic final step. “They have to take turns, it’s a total mess.” “Sobyanin came, gave the go-ahead and drove off,” the nurse said. Now Starinsky, who had worked there for over 15 years, the nurses said, is dead.
The death of a doctor working at Veterans Hospital no. 3 was first announced by Andrei Konoval, co-chairman of the independent medical labor union Destviye — or Action — on his Facebook page late Monday evening. He did not name Starinsky. Konoval wrote that doctors from Veterans Hospital no. 3 had told him that many of their colleagues had tested positive for Covid-19. They added that on Monday, senior staff began receiving WhatsApp messages telling them they would no longer be tested for the coronavirus. Before that, they told Konoval, any medical worker could take a test. The nurses told The Moscow Times that they believe the hospital has suspended testing because it does not have enough medical workers and doesn’t want to risk existing staff being quarantined. “Otherwise there will be no one left to work. Until you show symptoms you’ll have to keep working,” one of them said. Indeed, the hospital is one of the coronavirus hospitals in Moscow being supported by medical students, Darya Belimova, Moscow regional coordinator of the Health Ministry’s “Medical Volunteers” program, told The Moscow Times last week.
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themoscowtimes--2020-04-21--Russian Businesses Ask for Environmental Regulation Reprieve Amid Pandemic – Kommersant

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs ( RSPP ) warned that existing regulations would lead to an “ uncontrolled spread of the disease , ” according to RSPP chief Alexander Shokhin ’ s April 15 letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin cited by Kommersant .
Its 73-point list reportedly includes requests to halt environmental supervision , to eliminate industrial pollution fines and to push back new permits and payments until next year .
Russian businesses have asked the government to suspend its enforcement of environmental regulations during the coronavirus pandemic , the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with the [ request ] as soon as we receive it , ” Kommersant quoted the office of Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko , who is responsible for environmental affairs , as saying .
Last fall , the RSPP successfully lobbied the government to drastically water down its package of climate change legislation that was due to be part of Russia ’ s ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement .
Experts and fellow business leaders have warned against easing environmental regulations .
“ Relaxing environmental regulations risks people ’ s health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration ’ s ( RANEPA ) Tatyana Lanshina as saying .
“ The pandemic affects everything , but clinics don ’ t stop working and the water , electricity and gas supplies don ’ t stop , ” said Lanshina , a senior research associate at RANEPA ’ s center for economic modeling of energy and the environment .
Natalya Belyayeva , deputy chief of the Business Russia union ’ s environmental committee , called the RSPP ’ s proposal “ outrageous.
” “ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental catastrophe ?
Wait for the environment to regurgitate us ?
” Belyayeva was quoted as saying .
Deputy Prime Minister Abramchenko is likely to find the RSPP ’ s request unfounded , Kommersant cited an unnamed government source as saying .
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry could ultimately side with the powerful business lobby , Kommersant reported , citing its recent steps to ease mineral resource management rules .

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) warned that existing regulations would lead to an “uncontrolled spread of the disease,” according to RSPP chief Alexander Shokhin’s April 15 letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin cited by Kommersant. Its 73-point list reportedly includes requests to halt environmental supervision, to eliminate industrial pollution fines and to push back new permits and payments until next year.
Russian businesses have asked the government to suspend its enforcement of environmental regulations during the coronavirus pandemic, the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday.
“We’ll instruct the appropriate departments to deal with the [request] as soon as we receive it,” Kommersant quoted the office of Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko, who is responsible for environmental affairs, as saying.
Last fall, the RSPP successfully lobbied the government to drastically water down its package of climate change legislation that was due to be part of Russia’s ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Experts and fellow business leaders have warned against easing environmental regulations.
“Relaxing environmental regulations risks people’s health and lives,” Kommersant quoted the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration’s (RANEPA) Tatyana Lanshina as saying.
“The pandemic affects everything, but clinics don’t stop working and the water, electricity and gas supplies don’t stop,” said Lanshina, a senior research associate at RANEPA’s center for economic modeling of energy and the environment.
Natalya Belyayeva, deputy chief of the Business Russia union’s environmental committee, called the RSPP’s proposal “outrageous.”
“What are we going to do in an environmental catastrophe? Wait for the environment to regurgitate us?” Belyayeva was quoted as saying.
Deputy Prime Minister Abramchenko is likely to find the RSPP’s request unfounded, Kommersant cited an unnamed government source as saying. The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry could ultimately side with the powerful business lobby, Kommersant reported, citing its recent steps to ease mineral resource management rules.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Kremlin Mulls Date for Post-Virus Vote on Putin's Constitution Reform

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the date for the vote will depend on the coronavirus pandemic .
The Kremlin on Wednesday confirmed plans to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments that would enable President Vladimir Putin to extend his time in office .
The Kremlin has `` certain rough estimates '' but `` the new timescale will be decided as the situation develops , '' he said .
The referendum was set to be held on April 22 but postponed due to the growing number of virus cases in Russia .
The proposed changes to Russia 's basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in office either as president or prime minister since 1999 — to serve further terms without a break .
Peskov hinted a decision could be taken next month , saying `` we have yet to analyze the virus situation up to the start of May before taking such important decisions . ''
He said the Kremlin did not rule out holding the vote on a `` symbolic date , '' without elaborating .
In Moscow , which is the epicenter of the epidemic in Russia , billboards on major highways advertise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a formal referendum .
According to a survey published Wednesday by state pollster VTsIOM , 47 % of Russians would definitely take part in a vote .

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the date for the vote will depend on the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kremlin on Wednesday confirmed plans to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments that would enable President Vladimir Putin to extend his time in office.
The Kremlin has "certain rough estimates" but "the new timescale will be decided as the situation develops," he said.
The referendum was set to be held on April 22 but postponed due to the growing number of virus cases in Russia.
The proposed changes to Russia's basic law would allow Putin — who has been in office either as president or prime minister since 1999 — to serve further terms without a break.
Peskov hinted a decision could be taken next month, saying "we have yet to analyze the virus situation up to the start of May before taking such important decisions."
He said the Kremlin did not rule out holding the vote on a "symbolic date," without elaborating.
In Moscow, which is the epicenter of the epidemic in Russia, billboards on major highways advertise the planned vote, which by Russian law is not a formal referendum.
Russia has 57,999 confirmed coronavirus cases.
According to a survey published Wednesday by state pollster VTsIOM, 47% of Russians would definitely take part in a vote.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Coronavirus Hits Hard in Russia’s Volatile Republic of Ingushetia

In late March , as Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak fanned out from Moscow to the country ’ s provinces , Abdurakhman Martazanov , chief mufti of Russia ’ s autonomous North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia , started to worry .
Before many Russians had grasped the reality of the pandemic facing their country , Martazanov put together a set of guidelines allowing Ingushetia ’ s mostly Muslim population to observe their religion without jeopardizing public health .
The faithful were told to pray at home rather than in mosques , funerals were to be kept small with social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to be organized by hospitals .
Barely two weeks later Martazanov was admitted to hospital with acute respiratory symptoms in Nazran , the republic ’ s largest city .
He died the next day , after testing positive for Covid-19 .
Buried according to anti-virus guidelines he himself had drawn up , the Islamic religious leader was the second fatality of his tiny republic ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
Since the coronavirus first reached Ingushetia local authorities have registered 354 confirmed cases and 12 deaths .
With a population of barely 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rate of almost 700 per million inhabitants , far higher than any other Caucasian region , and almost twice that of Russia as a whole .
Many blame pre-existing factors , including chronic poverty and political unrest for the severity of Ingushetia ’ s situation .
“ Of course our hospitals have problems and shortages , especially of personal protective equipment , just like anywhere else in Russia , ” one local doctor told The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity .
“ But I don ’ t think our healthcare is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country to have created an outbreak on this scale.
” At around the size of Rhode Island , Ingushetia is among Russia ’ s smallest , poorest and most densely populated regions .
While several other remote regions , including the far-northern Komi Republic have experienced intense and localized Covid-19 outbreaks , Ingushetia faces a range of wider problems .
It lags other regions in testing , having only administered 2677 coronavirus tests of around two million reportedly taken nationwide .
However , few of the locals The Moscow Times spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the republic ’ s outbreak .
Ever since the Ingush government approved an unpopular land swap with neighboring Chechnya in 2018 , Ingushetia has been especially restive , even by the standards of the often-troubled North Caucasus .
Widespread outrage at the deal with Chechnya spilled over into months of street protests in the Ingush capital , Magas , and Ingush leader , Yunus-Bek Yevkoruv , resigned last year .
Many locals now say that the land deal , coupled with underlying problems of corruption and poverty , has made the Ingush government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now refuses to believe the region ’ s leadership on anything , including the coronavirus .
This has led people to be skeptical of all government action surrounding Covid-19 , ranging from suspicions of a cover-up , to disbelief in the virus ’ s existence .
“ Trust has completely collapsed between the government and the people , ” said Izabella Yevloyeva , an Ingush journalist forced to leave the region during the land-deal protests who now lives in Prague .
“ A lot of people just assume that the coronavirus is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Yevloyeva added that when she published figures on the coronavirus in Ingushetia , readers accused her of lying and promoting fake , pro-government statistics .
This instinctive suspicion of the regional government means that the self-isolation regime in force since March is not being observed , she suggested .
Against government instructions , weddings , funerals and other gatherings are continuing as before .
Over the weekend , much of the population of Nesterovskaya , a town near the Chechen border , turned out to search for , and eventually find , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Local authorities themselves have admitted that their social distancing orders are not being obeyed .
In an emotional Sunday night video address Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov , head of the Ingush government , blamed “ those who irresponsibly post fabrications on social media ” for fuelling the republic ’ s explosion in cases .
“ All we ask is that people strictly adhere to the self-isolation regime , ” said Kalimatov .
“ Help us , or at least don ’ t obstruct us.
” Ironically , the authorities ’ perceived failure to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ingush admiring the public health approach taken by Ramzan Kadyrov , the Chechen leader whose land swap discredited the Ingush authorities .
In much larger Chechnya , where Kadyrov has called for quarantine breakers to be killed , Covid-19 cases are much fewer than in Ingushetia .
“ I may not agree with Kadyrov ’ s undemocratic approach , ” said Yevloyeva , “ but harsh measures do seem to have worked in Chechnya.
” Many of Ingushetia ’ s problems are common to other regions in the North Caucasus .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic fallout of strict self-isolation rules has fuelled protests against an unpopular regional government by locals subscribing to similar conspiracy theories casting doubt on the existence of coronavirus .
However , many locals see the situation in Ingushetia as uniquely dangerous for public health .
“ This kind of distrust of government exists everywhere in Russia , ” said Ruslan Mutsolgov , leader of the Ingush branch of liberal opposition party YABLOKO .
“ But here in Ingushetia , it ’ s especially huge.
” Many suggest that the republic ’ s socio-economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social distancing and the severity of its Covid-19 outbreak .
Ranked 79 of 85 Russian regions by GDP , and with unemployment officially at 26 % , Ingushetia ’ s economy is likely too weak to sustain self-isolation without substantial financial support .
“ If you want to order people to self-isolate , fine , ” said Mutsolgov .
“ But you have to provide them with support to do so .
Almost no one in Ingushetia has any kind of financial cushion , so if we ’ re going to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide one.
” Though the Ingush government has begun distributing aid to the poorest households , Mutsolgov believes it is still insufficient .
His party has published an open letter to the republic ’ s government , demanding a comprehensive aid package , including support for small businesses and compensation for lost wages , as a way to rally the Ingush population behind self-isolation measures .
“ We ’ re only going to survive this if the government supports the people .
Without support , this situation will only get worse .
@

In late March, as Russia’s coronavirus outbreak fanned out from Moscow to the country’s provinces, Abdurakhman Martazanov, chief mufti of Russia’s autonomous North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, started to worry. Before many Russians had grasped the reality of the pandemic facing their country, Martazanov put together a set of guidelines allowing Ingushetia’s mostly Muslim population to observe their religion without jeopardizing public health. The faithful were told to pray at home rather than in mosques, funerals were to be kept small with social distancing observed and ritual washing of the dead was to be organized by hospitals. Barely two weeks later Martazanov was admitted to hospital with acute respiratory symptoms in Nazran, the republic’s largest city. He died the next day, after testing positive for Covid-19. Buried according to anti-virus guidelines he himself had drawn up, the Islamic religious leader was the second fatality of his tiny republic’s coronavirus outbreak.
Abdurakhman Martazanov. Screenshot Youtube
Since the coronavirus first reached Ingushetia local authorities have registered 354 confirmed cases and 12 deaths. With a population of barely 500,000, that’s a per capita infection rate of almost 700 per million inhabitants, far higher than any other Caucasian region, and almost twice that of Russia as a whole. Many blame pre-existing factors, including chronic poverty and political unrest for the severity of Ingushetia’s situation. “Of course our hospitals have problems and shortages, especially of personal protective equipment, just like anywhere else in Russia,” one local doctor told The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity. “But I don’t think our healthcare is bad enough compared to the rest of the country to have created an outbreak on this scale.” At around the size of Rhode Island, Ingushetia is among Russia’s smallest, poorest and most densely populated regions. While several other remote regions, including the far-northern Komi Republic have experienced intense and localized Covid-19 outbreaks, Ingushetia faces a range of wider problems. It lags other regions in testing, having only administered 2677 coronavirus tests of around two million reportedly taken nationwide. However, few of the locals The Moscow Times spoke to blamed health services for the scale of the republic’s outbreak.
Ever since the Ingush government approved an unpopular land swap with neighboring Chechnya in 2018, Ingushetia has been especially restive, even by the standards of the often-troubled North Caucasus. Widespread outrage at the deal with Chechnya spilled over into months of street protests in the Ingush capital, Magas, and Ingush leader, Yunus-Bek Yevkoruv, resigned last year. Many locals now say that the land deal, coupled with underlying problems of corruption and poverty, has made the Ingush government so unpopular that much of the population now refuses to believe the region’s leadership on anything, including the coronavirus. This has led people to be skeptical of all government action surrounding Covid-19, ranging from suspicions of a cover-up, to disbelief in the virus’s existence. “Trust has completely collapsed between the government and the people,” said Izabella Yevloyeva, an Ingush journalist forced to leave the region during the land-deal protests who now lives in Prague. “A lot of people just assume that the coronavirus is a government conspiracy to keep them under control.” Yevloyeva added that when she published figures on the coronavirus in Ingushetia, readers accused her of lying and promoting fake, pro-government statistics. This instinctive suspicion of the regional government means that the self-isolation regime in force since March is not being observed, she suggested. Against government instructions, weddings, funerals and other gatherings are continuing as before. Over the weekend, much of the population of Nesterovskaya, a town near the Chechen border, turned out to search for, and eventually find, a missing child, despite official discouragement. Local authorities themselves have admitted that their social distancing orders are not being obeyed. In an emotional Sunday night video address Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, head of the Ingush government, blamed “those who irresponsibly post fabrications on social media” for fuelling the republic’s explosion in cases. “All we ask is that people strictly adhere to the self-isolation regime,” said Kalimatov. “Help us, or at least don’t obstruct us.”
Ironically, the authorities’ perceived failure to get to grips with the pandemic has many Ingush admiring the public health approach taken by Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader whose land swap discredited the Ingush authorities. In much larger Chechnya, where Kadyrov has called for quarantine breakers to be killed, Covid-19 cases are much fewer than in Ingushetia. “I may not agree with Kadyrov’s undemocratic approach,” said Yevloyeva, “but harsh measures do seem to have worked in Chechnya.” Many of Ingushetia’s problems are common to other regions in the North Caucasus. In the neighboring republic of North Ossetia, the economic fallout of strict self-isolation rules has fuelled protests against an unpopular regional government by locals subscribing to similar conspiracy theories casting doubt on the existence of coronavirus. However, many locals see the situation in Ingushetia as uniquely dangerous for public health. “This kind of distrust of government exists everywhere in Russia,” said Ruslan Mutsolgov, leader of the Ingush branch of liberal opposition party YABLOKO. “But here in Ingushetia, it’s especially huge.”


themoscowtimes--2020-04-22--Russia Seeks Protections for Domestic Abuse Victims During Coronavirus Lockdown

Experts have warned that lockdown measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 would lead to even more abuse in Russia , where domestic violence has been decriminalized since 2017 .
The authors of Russia ’ s delayed domestic abuse law have asked the government to take emergency steps to protect victims during the coronavirus quarantine , the RBC news website reported Tuesday .
The proposed measures include providing shelter for victims , exempting them from punishment for violating quarantine rules and ordering police to respond to all domestic violence reports .
“ We need to urgently take these measures now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s co-author Oksana Pushkina as saying .
“ Hiding your head in the sand means harming people .
Who are we kidding when we don ’ t acknowledge the issue ?
” Pushkina said .
Data cited by RBC said that calls to Russia ’ s domestic violence hotline have increased by at least one-quarter in a month , while other regions saw up to threefold increases .
Homelessness due to job loss among women with children has gone up 40 % , according to RBC .
As mounting evidence suggests that coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in domestic abuse worldwide , the United Nations has called on governments to “ put women ’ s safety first as they respond to the pandemic.
” “ We ’ ll definitely need to treat this pandemic for more than 10 years if we don ’ t adopt a special law , ” Pushkina , who co-authored a bill to re-criminalize domestic abuse that has stalled in Russia ’ s parliament since it was introduced last fall , was quoted as saying .
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova ’ s office said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , RBC reported .
Valentina Matviyenko , the speaker of Russia ’ s upper-house Federation Council , has said that lawmakers would consider the legislation to re-criminalize domestic violence as soon as “ the circumstances permit.
” “ I don ’ t think there will be a surge in domestic violence since families are going through this difficult time together , ” Matviyenko said last Thursday .

Experts have warned that lockdown measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 would lead to even more abuse in Russia, where domestic violence has been decriminalized since 2017.
The authors of Russia’s delayed domestic abuse law have asked the government to take emergency steps to protect victims during the coronavirus quarantine, the RBC news website reported Tuesday.
The proposed measures include providing shelter for victims, exempting them from punishment for violating quarantine rules and ordering police to respond to all domestic violence reports.
“We need to urgently take these measures now,” RBC quoted the proposal’s co-author Oksana Pushkina as saying.
“Hiding your head in the sand means harming people. Who are we kidding when we don’t acknowledge the issue?” Pushkina said.
Data cited by RBC said that calls to Russia’s domestic violence hotline have increased by at least one-quarter in a month, while other regions saw up to threefold increases. Homelessness due to job loss among women with children has gone up 40%, according to RBC.
As mounting evidence suggests that coronavirus-related restrictions on movement have fueled a rise in domestic abuse worldwide, the United Nations has called on governments to “put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic.”
“We’ll definitely need to treat this pandemic for more than 10 years if we don’t adopt a special law,” Pushkina, who co-authored a bill to re-criminalize domestic abuse that has stalled in Russia’s parliament since it was introduced last fall, was quoted as saying.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova’s office said it would consider the proposals once it receives them, RBC reported.
Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia’s upper-house Federation Council, has said that lawmakers would consider the legislation to re-criminalize domestic violence as soon as “the circumstances permit.”
“I don’t think there will be a surge in domestic violence since families are going through this difficult time together,” Matviyenko said last Thursday.