themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Kyrgyzstan President Resigns to End Post-Election Crisis

Protests had erupted after the election on Oct. 4 was won by parties loyal to Jeenbekov but opponents said was hit by vote-buying .
The results were later annulled but this did not quell the tensions .
Kyrgyzstan 's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on Thursday , saying he wanted to bring an end to the crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month .
`` I am not clinging to power .
I do not want to go down in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who allowed bloodshed and shooting on its people .
I have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement released by his office .
More than 1,200 people were injured and one killed during the clashes in the wake of the elections between protesters and police .
The move came as supporters of Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov — who was serving jail time for hostage-taking only last week — gathered once more Thursday to demand Jeenbekov 's immediate resignation .
`` The current situation is close to a two-sided conflict .
On the one hand , the protesters , on the other , the law enforcement agencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Military personnel and law enforcement agencies are obliged to use weapons to protect the residence of head of state .
In this case , blood will be shed .
It is inevitable .
I urge both sides not to succumb to provocations . ''
The president had on Wednesday finally accepted the nomination of Japarov as prime minister , in a move seen as the first step towards calming the crisis .
But Japarov insisted that the president should step down .
Jeenbekov called on Japarov and other politicians `` to withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country so the people of Bishkek ( can ) return to a peaceful life . ''
Jeenbekov had previously pledged to resign after overseeing fresh parliamentary elections in the country .
But Japarov and his supporters pressed for an immediate resignation .
Kyrgyzstan has been dogged by political volatility for much of its three decades of independence .
A landlocked republic of 6.5 million people , it has now seen three presidents unseated by unrest since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 .
The chaos has worried its ally Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and clashes persist over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan .
Russian President Vladimir Putin 's deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak flew in for talks with Jeenbekov and Japarov this week , with Moscow emphasising that the chaos must be brought to an end .

Protests had erupted after the election on Oct. 4 was won by parties loyal to Jeenbekov but opponents said was hit by vote-buying. The results were later annulled but this did not quell the tensions.
Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on Thursday, saying he wanted to bring an end to the crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month.
"I am not clinging to power. I do not want to go down in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who allowed bloodshed and shooting on its people. I have taken the decision to resign," Jeenbekov said in a statement released by his office.
More than 1,200 people were injured and one killed during the clashes in the wake of the elections between protesters and police.
The move came as supporters of Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov — who was serving jail time for hostage-taking only last week — gathered once more Thursday to demand Jeenbekov's immediate resignation.
"The current situation is close to a two-sided conflict. On the one hand, the protesters, on the other, the law enforcement agencies," Jeenbekov said in the statement.
"Military personnel and law enforcement agencies are obliged to use weapons to protect the residence of head of state. In this case, blood will be shed. It is inevitable. I urge both sides not to succumb to provocations."
'Return to peaceful life'
The president had on Wednesday finally accepted the nomination of Japarov as prime minister, in a move seen as the first step towards calming the crisis. But Japarov insisted that the president should step down.
Jeenbekov called on Japarov and other politicians "to withdraw their supporters from the capital of the country so the people of Bishkek (can) return to a peaceful life."
Jeenbekov had previously pledged to resign after overseeing fresh parliamentary elections in the country. But Japarov and his supporters pressed for an immediate resignation.
Kyrgyzstan has been dogged by political volatility for much of its three decades of independence.
A landlocked republic of 6.5 million people, it has now seen three presidents unseated by unrest since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
The chaos has worried its ally Russia, coming as post-election protests rock ex-Soviet Belarus and clashes persist over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak flew in for talks with Jeenbekov and Japarov this week, with Moscow emphasising that the chaos must be brought to an end.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Russia Clears Remdesivir Coronavirus Drugs Used in Trump’s Treatment

U.S. studies have said that biochemical firm Gilead Sciences ’ remdesivir can shorten coronavirus recovery time by an average of four days but does not reduce deaths .
Remdesivir was part of a “ kitchen sink ” of therapeutics administered to Trump after he was hospitalized with Covid-19 earlier this month .
Russia has cleared two antiviral drugs called remdesivir for coronavirus treatment after doctors used the drugs to treat U.S. President Donald Trump , the Health Ministry announced Wednesday .
“ The Russian Health Ministry has registered two remdesivir antiviral drugs for the treatment of the new coronavirus infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ Registration licenses for domestic and imported drugs were issued Wednesday , ” the Russian ministry added .
Remdesivir has received full approval in Japan and emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , India and South Korea .
Europe ’ s healthcare regulator recommended conditional approval for remdesivir this summer .
Remdesivir , which was initially intended as an Ebola drug , is estimated to cost more than $ 5,000 in the U.S. and less than $ 100 in India .
The drug is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an inhaler version currently underway .
Russia is the world ’ s fourth-most affected country with more than 1.35 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 .
The country is currently experiencing a second coronavirus wave with new cases nearly tripling from around 5,000 to nearly 14,000 in the course of a month .
It has registered two candidate coronavirus vaccines ahead of large-scale clinical trials , with a third potential vaccine expected to be approved in December .

U.S. studies have said that biochemical firm Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir can shorten coronavirus recovery time by an average of four days but does not reduce deaths. Remdesivir was part of a “ kitchen sink ” of therapeutics administered to Trump after he was hospitalized with Covid-19 earlier this month.
Russia has cleared two antiviral drugs called remdesivir for coronavirus treatment after doctors used the drugs to treat U.S. President Donald Trump, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday.
“The Russian Health Ministry has registered two remdesivir antiviral drugs for the treatment of the new coronavirus infection (Covid-19),” it said in a statement.
“Registration licenses for domestic and imported drugs were issued Wednesday,” the Russian ministry added.
Remdesivir has received full approval in Japan and emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, India and South Korea. Europe’s healthcare regulator recommended conditional approval for remdesivir this summer.
Remdesivir, which was initially intended as an Ebola drug, is estimated to cost more than $5,000 in the U.S. and less than $100 in India.
The drug is currently administered through an IV, with research of an inhaler version currently underway.
Russia is the world’s fourth-most affected country with more than 1.35 million confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The country is currently experiencing a second coronavirus wave with new cases nearly tripling from around 5,000 to nearly 14,000 in the course of a month. It has registered two candidate coronavirus vaccines ahead of large-scale clinical trials, with a third potential vaccine expected to be approved in December.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Large Oil Slick Discovered on Russia's Volga River

The 5,000 square meter layer of fuel was spotted near the port of Kimry some 150 kilometers north of the Russian capital , Moscow transport investigators said in a statement .
An oil slick the size of a hockey rink has been discovered on the Volga River north of Moscow , authorities said Wednesday , the latest instance of pollution to hit Russia ’ s waterways this year .
“ The discharge of petrochemical products from a vessel currently being identified has presumably occurred , ” it said .
On the opposite end of the Volga River more than 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Volgograd were reported to have found hundreds of dead catfish washed up on the shore of a local reservoir .
They linked it to poachers discarding small fish .
The Volga River slick is at least the second oil spill reported this week and comes less than five months after a massive diesel fuel-tank leak in the Arctic city of Norilsk triggered by melting permafrost .
The oil spill discovery also comes amid continuing questions over what caused a mass die-off of sea creatures , including seals , octopuses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Far East Kamchatka region last month .
Scientists said the event , increasingly believed to be caused by toxins from microalgae known as algal bloom , wiped out up to 95 % of seabed life .
The governor of the Kamchatka region said this week that scientists and witnesses reported seeing more dead marine animals washing up to the shore south of the initial discovery .
He suggested the mass die-off was linked to climate change and other polluting effects on the Pacific Ocean .
Greenpeace Russia said Wednesday that “ none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have caused the serious consequences we ’ re observing.
” “ This means that both man-made and natural theories remain in the search for the cause of the environmental disaster , ” the organization said .

The 5,000 square meter layer of fuel was spotted near the port of Kimry some 150 kilometers north of the Russian capital, Moscow transport investigators said in a statement.
An oil slick the size of a hockey rink has been discovered on the Volga River north of Moscow, authorities said Wednesday, the latest instance of pollution to hit Russia’s waterways this year.
“The discharge of petrochemical products from a vessel currently being identified has presumably occurred,” it said.
On the opposite end of the Volga River more than 1,000 kilometers to the south, residents of the city of Volgograd were reported to have found hundreds of dead catfish washed up on the shore of a local reservoir. They linked it to poachers discarding small fish.
The Volga River slick is at least the second oil spill reported this week and comes less than five months after a massive diesel fuel-tank leak in the Arctic city of Norilsk triggered by melting permafrost.
The oil spill discovery also comes amid continuing questions over what caused a mass die-off of sea creatures, including seals, octopuses, starfish and sea urchins, in the Far East Kamchatka region last month. Scientists said the event, increasingly believed to be caused by toxins from microalgae known as algal bloom, wiped out up to 95% of seabed life.
The governor of the Kamchatka region said this week that scientists and witnesses reported seeing more dead marine animals washing up to the shore south of the initial discovery. He suggested the mass die-off was linked to climate change and other polluting effects on the Pacific Ocean.
Greenpeace Russia said Wednesday that “none of the compounds found in water samples could have caused the serious consequences we’re observing.”
“This means that both man-made and natural theories remain in the search for the cause of the environmental disaster,” the organization said.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Kyrgyzstan PM Claims Presidential Powers in Post-Vote Crisis

After trying to calm the crisis by confirming Japarov in his role only Wednesday , Jeenbekov has now became the third Kyrgyz leader to resign over political unrest since 2005 .
The vote was later annulled but this did not quell the clashes , in which more than 1,200 people were injured and one killed .
Protests erupted after October 4 parliamentary elections were won by parties loyal to Jeenbekov , with opponents disputing the results over alleged vote-buying .
`` I congratulate you on victory .
Today everything fell into place , '' he told supporters outside the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the president and the prime minister have been transferred to me , '' Sadyr Japarov told cheering supporters on Thursday , after Jeenbekov resigned and the parliament speaker refused to become acting president .
Kyrgyzstan 's new prime minister Sadyr Japarov claimed presidential powers on Thursday after the Central Asian country 's head of state Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned amid a post-election crisis .
He said he was stepping down to avoid bloodshed , as hundreds of protesters loyal to Japarov rallied close to the state residence calling for his resignation .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who allowed bloodshed and shooting on its people .
I have taken the decision to resign , '' Jeenbekov said in a statement released by his office .
The president had previously pledged to resign after overseeing fresh parliamentary elections , but Japarov insisted that he step down without delay .
Jeenbekov called on Japarov and other politicians `` to withdraw their supporters from the capital of the country so the people of Bishkek ( can ) return to a peaceful life . ''
Populist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from jail during the unrest .
He was serving time for hostage-taking and has been suspected of ties to organized crime , prompting a rally last week .
But he has denied the links and said that his 2017 arrest was the result of a `` political order '' .
Since his release and confirmation as prime minister , his supporters have pushed for him to claim the presidency - and sometimes been accused of violence and intimidation .
`` People are rejoicing ( at Jeenbekov 's resignation ) , '' one supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that parliament is `` in his way '' .
Once the body is dissolved , `` ( the people ) want Sadyr ( Japarov ) to take it all upon himself and begin working , '' she said .
Parliament was set to meet on Friday to discuss Jeenbekov 's resignation .
With the body 's mandate expiring , speaker Kanat Isayev told Kyrgyz news website 24.kg that he had `` no moral right '' to take up the presidency as called for under the constitution - leaving Japarov next in line @ @ @

Kyrgyzstan's new prime minister Sadyr Japarov claimed presidential powers on Thursday after the Central Asian country's head of state Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned amid a post-election crisis. "The powers of the president and the prime minister have been transferred to me," Sadyr Japarov told cheering supporters on Thursday, after Jeenbekov resigned and the parliament speaker refused to become acting president. "I congratulate you on victory. Today everything fell into place," he told supporters outside the prime minister's offices. Protests erupted after October 4 parliamentary elections were won by parties loyal to Jeenbekov, with opponents disputing the results over alleged vote-buying. The vote was later annulled but this did not quell the clashes, in which more than 1,200 people were injured and one killed. After trying to calm the crisis by confirming Japarov in his role only Wednesday, Jeenbekov has now became the third Kyrgyz leader to resign over political unrest since 2005.
He said he was stepping down to avoid bloodshed, as hundreds of protesters loyal to Japarov rallied close to the state residence calling for his resignation. "I do not want to go down in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who allowed bloodshed and shooting on its people. I have taken the decision to resign," Jeenbekov said in a statement released by his office. The president had previously pledged to resign after overseeing fresh parliamentary elections, but Japarov insisted that he step down without delay. Jeenbekov called on Japarov and other politicians "to withdraw their supporters from the capital of the country so the people of Bishkek (can) return to a peaceful life." Post-vote clashes Populist figurehead Japarov was among prominent figures sprung from jail during the unrest. He was serving time for hostage-taking and has been suspected of ties to organized crime, prompting a rally last week. But he has denied the links and said that his 2017 arrest was the result of a "political order". Since his release and confirmation as prime minister, his supporters have pushed for him to claim the presidency - and sometimes been accused of violence and intimidation. "People are rejoicing (at Jeenbekov's resignation)," one supporter, Zhanat Akmatova, told AFP, adding that parliament is "in his way". Once the body is dissolved, "(the people) want Sadyr (Japarov) to take it all upon himself and begin working," she said. Parliament was set to meet on Friday to discuss Jeenbekov's resignation. With the body's mandate expiring, speaker Kanat Isayev told Kyrgyz news website 24.kg that he had "no moral right" to take up the presidency as called for under the constitution - leaving Japarov next in line as PM.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Russia Pulls Out of MH17 Talks With Australia, Netherlands

Moscow said the Dutch government ’ s “ unfriendly ” move this summer to take Russia to the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) for its role in the MH17 downing made the trilateral talks “ meaningless.
” Russia has withdrawn from talks with Australia and the Netherlands launched nearly two years ago to establish responsibility for the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said Thursday .
“ The responsibility for the breakdown of the trilateral consultations thus rests entirely with The Hague , ” the Foreign Ministry said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 193 Dutch and 27 Australian nationals , aboard MH17 were killed when their plane was shot down over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine .
Dutch prosecutors and international investigators say a Russian-made missile brought from across the border in western Russia was responsible for the downing .
Russia denies the allegations that it was involved in shooting down MH17 .
In Thursday ’ s statement , the ministry called the years-long , Dutch-led investigation “ biased , superficial and politicized ” and accused Australia and the Netherlands of “ trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving compensation for victims ’ relatives.
” Russia said it held three overall rounds of talks with Australian and Dutch officials ; the sides met for the first time sometime in early 2019 but declined to disclose details , citing confidentiality .
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Russia ’ s decision to pull out of the intergovernmental talks surprised him and Foreign Minister Stef Blok said the Netherlands regrets Moscow ’ s decision .
“ This is painful for the next of kin , ” Reuters quoted Rutte as saying .

Moscow said the Dutch government’s “ unfriendly ” move this summer to take Russia to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for its role in the MH17 downing made the trilateral talks “meaningless.”
Russia has withdrawn from talks with Australia and the Netherlands launched nearly two years ago to establish responsibility for the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
“The responsibility for the breakdown of the trilateral consultations thus rests entirely with The Hague,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
All 298 people, including 193 Dutch and 27 Australian nationals, aboard MH17 were killed when their plane was shot down over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Dutch prosecutors and international investigators say a Russian-made missile brought from across the border in western Russia was responsible for the downing.
Russia denies the allegations that it was involved in shooting down MH17.
In Thursday’s statement, the ministry called the years-long, Dutch-led investigation “biased, superficial and politicized” and accused Australia and the Netherlands of “trying to get Russia to admit guilt and receiving compensation for victims’ relatives.”
Russia said it held three overall rounds of talks with Australian and Dutch officials; the sides met for the first time sometime in early 2019 but declined to disclose details, citing confidentiality.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Russia’s decision to pull out of the intergovernmental talks surprised him and Foreign Minister Stef Blok said the Netherlands regrets Moscow’s decision.
“This is painful for the next of kin,” Reuters quoted Rutte as saying.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-15--Beluga Family Rescued From Low Tide By Russian Emergency Worker

Residents of the coastal Chumikan village reached out to Alexei Paramonov on Wednesday afternoon , saying two adult whales and a baby were left to die on a shore of the Uda River that flows into the sea .
An emergency ministry inspector in Russia ’ s Far East spent Wednesday night in an unusual way : rescuing a family of beluga whales that beached on the shore near the Sea of Okhotsk .
“ I was on duty and immediately went to the area to see it for myself , ” Paramonov , an experienced whale rescuer , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press office .
Paramonov found the animals laying about 1.5 kilometers ( 0.9 miles ) away from the water .
“ The [ calf ] was at a distance from his mother and was severely frozen in the wind , ” local whale expert Bakht Mavlanov told the Khabarovsky Krai Segodnya news outlet .
“ He screamed pitifully ; these were real sobs , similar to the cry of a small child , the animal was very scared .
At the same time , his mother was in an equally stressful situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her child , and because of that she was wounded.
” According to the emergency ministry 's report , Paramonov dug a hole under one of the animals to safely turn it over onto its stomach as it had been dangerously turned onto its side .
He then spent hours into the night protecting the whale pod from wild animals and poachers and keeping the animals hydrated by regularly watering their skin and eyes .
He also saved the baby whale from hypothermia by putting a blanket over it .
The animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of the midnight high tide .
Coincidentally , Paramonov previously rescued three wounded white whales in the same area and on the exact same date last year .
In 2014 , he also successfully rescued a whale from poachers .
While Beluga whales are considered some of the smallest whale species in existence , adults can weigh up to 1.5 tons and reach up to 6 meters ( 20 feet ) in length .

Residents of the coastal Chumikan village reached out to Alexei Paramonov on Wednesday afternoon, saying two adult whales and a baby were left to die on a shore of the Uda River that flows into the sea.
An emergency ministry inspector in Russia’s Far East spent Wednesday night in an unusual way: rescuing a family of beluga whales that beached on the shore near the Sea of Okhotsk.
“I was on duty and immediately went to the area to see it for myself,” Paramonov, an experienced whale rescuer, told the Khabarovsk region emergency ministry’s press office.
Paramonov found the animals laying about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) away from the water.
“The [calf] was at a distance from his mother and was severely frozen in the wind,” local whale expert Bakht Mavlanov told the Khabarovsky Krai Segodnya news outlet. “He screamed pitifully; these were real sobs, similar to the cry of a small child, the animal was very scared. At the same time, his mother was in an equally stressful situation, hitting stones, trying to get closer to her child, and because of that she was wounded.”
According to the emergency ministry's report, Paramonov dug a hole under one of the animals to safely turn it over onto its stomach as it had been dangerously turned onto its side.
He then spent hours into the night protecting the whale pod from wild animals and poachers and keeping the animals hydrated by regularly watering their skin and eyes. He also saved the baby whale from hypothermia by putting a blanket over it.
The animals safely returned to the sea with the arrival of the midnight high tide.
Coincidentally, Paramonov previously rescued three wounded white whales in the same area and on the exact same date last year. In 2014, he also successfully rescued a whale from poachers.
While Beluga whales are considered some of the smallest whale species in existence, adults can weigh up to 1.5 tons and reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-16--Putin Proposes One-Year Extension of New START Treaty

The New START deal was signed in April 2010 but went into force in February 2011 .
It lasts for 10 years but with a possible extension .
President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions the last major nuclear arms reduction accord between Russia and the United States .
`` I have a proposal — which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations , '' Putin said at a meeting of his security council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the meeting Putin asked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to `` formulate our position to try and get at least some sort of coherent answer from them in the nearest future . ''
Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START , which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on Feb. 5 , 2021 .
Earlier this week the United States said it had reached an agreement in principle with Russia to extend New START , but Moscow quickly rejected U.S. conditions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections in which U.S. President Donald Trump is trailing in polls , the administration indicated it would support preserving the treaty for an unspecified period .
Putin said on Friday it would be `` extremely sad '' if the treaty expired and was not replaced by another similar agreement .
He said New START was succesful in containing an arms race , adding the international community should not be left without `` such a fundamental document . ''
The agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a `` reset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , spearheaded by U.S. president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev .
But as Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 , tensions rapidly built up again .
Lavrov said Moscow favored extending the current treaty for another five years without any conditions but was also ready to work out a new agreement with Americans .
He said Moscow had handed over to Washington some `` concrete proposals . ''
In response , Russia 's top diplomat said , the United States came up with a number of proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ START .
These `` numerous '' proposals lie outside the framework of both the agreement and `` outside our responsibility , '' Lavrov said .
Trump 's administration has been insisting without success that its nemesis China enter the treaty , which has limited the United States and Russia to 1,550 nuclear warheads each and expires on Feb. 5 .

The New START deal was signed in April 2010 but went into force in February 2011. It lasts for 10 years but with a possible extension.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions the last major nuclear arms reduction accord between Russia and the United States.
"I have a proposal — which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations," Putin said at a meeting of his security council, according to a Kremlin statement.
At the meeting Putin asked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to "formulate our position to try and get at least some sort of coherent answer from them in the nearest future."
Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on Feb. 5, 2021.
Earlier this week the United States said it had reached an agreement in principle with Russia to extend New START, but Moscow quickly rejected U.S. conditions.
With three weeks to go before U.S. elections in which U.S. President Donald Trump is trailing in polls, the administration indicated it would support preserving the treaty for an unspecified period.
Putin said on Friday it would be "extremely sad" if the treaty expired and was not replaced by another similar agreement.
He said New START was succesful in containing an arms race, adding the international community should not be left without "such a fundamental document."
The agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a "reset" in relations between Russia and the United States, spearheaded by U.S. president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
But as Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, tensions rapidly built up again.
Lavrov said Moscow favored extending the current treaty for another five years without any conditions but was also ready to work out a new agreement with Americans.
He said Moscow had handed over to Washington some "concrete proposals."
In response, Russia's top diplomat said, the United States came up with a number of proposals described as pre-conditions necessary to extend New START.
These "numerous" proposals lie outside the framework of both the agreement and "outside our responsibility," Lavrov said.
Trump's administration has been insisting without success that its nemesis China enter the treaty, which has limited the United States and Russia to 1,550 nuclear warheads each and expires on Feb. 5.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-16--Putin Proposes Closing Gay Marriage Loophole – Vedomosti

A legal loophole in Russia ’ s family law recognizes same-sex couples who have tied the knot abroad as long as they ’ re not close relatives or are already married .
This led to at least two high-profile cases of Russian clerks unintentionally recognizing gay marriage since 2018 .
President Vladimir Putin wants to enact changes that would ban Russian authorities from recognizing gay marriages registered outside the country , the Vedomosti business daily reported Thursday .
Putin submitted draft amendments to Russia ’ s Family Code this week that ban “ immoral interpretations ” of international treaties governing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The ban primarily concerns same-sex marriages , ” it cited an unnamed member of Putin ’ s task force on constitutional amendments as saying .
The source pointed to same-sex marriages registered abroad in particular .
International law had taken priority in Russia before this summer 's nationwide vote on constitutional amendments granted Russia ’ s Constitution precedence over international treaties and other acts .
According to Vedomosti , Russian authorities will now be able to challenge “ immoral ” international decisions with the Constitutional Court .
Russia itself does not register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia 's basic law .
Following the constitutional reform vote , lawmakers submitted draft legislation seeking to explicitly ban same-sex and transgender marriage .
Russia Pen & Paper law firm partner Konstantin Dobrynin described the morality-based ban as legally “ strange ” in comments to Vedomosti .
Vedomosti did not say when lawmakers plan to vote on the gay marriage loophole proposal , but Putin ’ s other constitutional reforms that require changes to federal laws have been given top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of parliament .
Putin has sought to distance Russia from Western values including liberal attitudes toward homosexuality in his 20 years in power .

A legal loophole in Russia’s family law recognizes same-sex couples who have tied the knot abroad as long as they’re not close relatives or are already married. This led to at least two high-profile cases of Russian clerks unintentionally recognizing gay marriage since 2018.
President Vladimir Putin wants to enact changes that would ban Russian authorities from recognizing gay marriages registered outside the country, the Vedomosti business daily reported Thursday.
Putin submitted draft amendments to Russia’s Family Code this week that ban “immoral interpretations” of international treaties governing family affairs, according to Vedomosti.
“The ban primarily concerns same-sex marriages,” it cited an unnamed member of Putin’s task force on constitutional amendments as saying. The source pointed to same-sex marriages registered abroad in particular.
International law had taken priority in Russia before this summer's nationwide vote on constitutional amendments granted Russia’s Constitution precedence over international treaties and other acts.
According to Vedomosti, Russian authorities will now be able to challenge “immoral” international decisions with the Constitutional Court.
Russia itself does not register same-sex marriages and the constitutional vote added language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia's basic law. Following the constitutional reform vote, lawmakers submitted draft legislation seeking to explicitly ban same-sex and transgender marriage.
Russia Pen & Paper law firm partner Konstantin Dobrynin described the morality-based ban as legally “strange” in comments to Vedomosti.
Vedomosti did not say when lawmakers plan to vote on the gay marriage loophole proposal, but Putin’s other constitutional reforms that require changes to federal laws have been given top priority in Russia’s lower house of parliament.
Putin has sought to distance Russia from Western values including liberal attitudes toward homosexuality in his 20 years in power.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-16--Russia Projected to Lose 11X More Population Than in 2019 – RBC

The government forecasts a 352,500 drop in Russia ’ s population this year , according to the report , leading to a population of 146.4 million by the end of 2020 .
Russia ’ s population decline in 2020 will be 1,100 % greater than that of 2019 amid the effects of the coronavirus pandemic , according to government projections cited by the RBC news website Thursday .
That ’ s a nearly 11-fold increase from the previous year ’ s population decline of 32,100 , according to RBC .
Russia ’ s population stood at 146.7 million at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population decline for 2020 more than doubles last month ’ s forecast of 158,000 .
Experts told RBC that the revised population prediction is likely closer to reality because of an abrupt halt in migration to Russia and rising death rate caused by Covid-19 .
The forecasts are part of the government ’ s draft plan for enacting President Vladimir Putin ’ s goal of reversing Russia 's demographic crisis by the end of his term in 2024 , one of his National Projects announced with his re-election in 2018 .
They estimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a total of more than 1.2 million between 2020-24 , RBC reported .
The projected decrease for 2020 would be Russia 's highest loss of population since 2006 , when the population fell by 374,000 to a total of 142.2 million .
Official statistics say that Russia ’ s natural population fell by 346,900 in January-August 2020 , compared to 219,200 in January-August 2019 .
Migration into Russia also declined from 153,900 in January-July 2019 to 65,300 in January-July 2020 .
In January-August , 71,748 more people died than in January-August 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two-thirds of those deaths ( 45,663 ) .

The government forecasts a 352,500 drop in Russia’s population this year, according to the report, leading to a population of 146.4 million by the end of 2020.
Russia’s population decline in 2020 will be 1,100% greater than that of 2019 amid the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to government projections cited by the RBC news website Thursday.
That’s a nearly 11-fold increase from the previous year’s population decline of 32,100, according to RBC. Russia’s population stood at 146.7 million at the end of 2019.
The latest projected population decline for 2020 more than doubles last month’s forecast of 158,000. Experts told RBC that the revised population prediction is likely closer to reality because of an abrupt halt in migration to Russia and rising death rate caused by Covid-19.
The forecasts are part of the government’s draft plan for enacting President Vladimir Putin’s goal of reversing Russia's demographic crisis by the end of his term in 2024, one of his National Projects announced with his re-election in 2018.
They estimate that Russia’s population will decline by a total of more than 1.2 million between 2020-24, RBC reported.
The projected decrease for 2020 would be Russia's highest loss of population since 2006, when the population fell by 374,000 to a total of 142.2 million.
Official statistics say that Russia’s natural population fell by 346,900 in January-August 2020, compared to 219,200 in January-August 2019.
Migration into Russia also declined from 153,900 in January-July 2019 to 65,300 in January-July 2020.
In January-August, 71,748 more people died than in January-August 2019. Covid-19 either directly or indirectly caused nearly two-thirds of those deaths (45,663).


themoscowtimes--2020-10-16--In Crisis-Hit Kyrgyzstan, Russia Weighs Its Influence and Intentions

Twelve days after the start of Kyrgyzstan ’ s third revolution in 15 years , populist former lawmaker Sadyr Japarov , who was freed from jail during the protests , has claimed the roles of both president and prime minister .
Anger over pro-government parties ’ gains in an Oct. 4 parliamentary vote spilled into the streets of Bishkek , prompting the fall of the government and resignation of president Sooronbay Jeenbekov on Thursday .
A whirlwind two weeks of post-election violence and fierce power struggles in Kyrgyzstan has political observers at odds over Russia ’ s role and true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of democracy.
” Analysts interviewed by The Moscow Times said they believe any new Kyrgyz political regime will be inherently pro-Russian and look to Moscow for conflict resolution .
“ Today , Russia is making efforts to stabilize the situation with the pro-Russian Kyrgyz leaders popular among the people , ” said Baktybek Beshimov , a former Kyrgyz lawmaker who is now a professor at Northeastern University ’ s Global Studies and International Relations program .
Kyrgyzstan ’ s former president claimed to have had multiple phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressed Russia ’ s role as Bishkek ’ s strategic partner during his ascent to power .
What analysts disagree on is whether Russia is playing a constructive role in the ex-Soviet country , where it deploys an airbase and relies on a large pool of labor migrants .
Japarov ’ s supporters freed him from jail amid the post-election protests and used street demonstrations to install him in power .
The nationalist former lawmaker had been serving an 11.5-year sentence on charges of kidnapping he says were politically motivated .
The Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeenbekov , instead stressing the need for stability .
For Beshimov , this lack of vocal support signals that Putin “ does not believe in Jeenbekov.
” “ Putin has been forced to find a solution without failed Kyrgyz leaders , ” said Beshimov .
Dr. Erica Marat , who heads the Regional and Analytical Studies department at the U.S. Department of Defense-run National Defense University ’ s College of International Security Affairs , agreed that Putin ’ s silence effectively hastened Jeenbekov ’ s resignation .
“ Japarov was emboldened in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting with [ Russia ’ s deputy prime minister for post-Soviet integration Dmitry ] Kozak , ” Marat said .
What Monday ’ s three-way meeting between Japarov , Jeenbekov and Kozak signaled , however , is that “ Russia is interested in undermining hopes for an orderly and legitimate transition of power through another parliamentary election , ” she said .
“ A more centralized political system in Kyrgyzstan is preferred in Moscow , ” said Marat .
While it ’ s true that Russia keeps lines of communication open with competing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultation , Kyrgyz human rights activist Dinara Oshurakhunova said “ you can ’ t simply say that Kremlin proteges came to power.
” “ The Kremlin is in no rush to show its support for a specific group , ” said Oshurakhunova , who heads the Bishkek-based Civic Initiatives Public Foundation and coordinates the Civic Control Committee .
“ It ’ s a welcome development because outside interference is unacceptable in the current situation , ” she added , warning that “ we ’ ll be forced to call on foreign powers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent escalation.
” Ordinary citizens who took part in the post-election protests appear to have no illusions about Russia ’ s outsize influence in Kyrgyzstan ’ s political gamesmanship .
Logistics entrepreneur Abdimital Jumabekov , who rallied against the Oct. 4 election results , put it bluntly : “ The president will be whoever gets approval from Putin.
” “ He has so many levers , ” Jumabekov told The Moscow Times hours after witnessing the storming of the seat of government in the early hours of Oct. 6 .
Independent Central Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ for both the better and the worse.
” “ For the better , because a single powerhouse is needed to avoid bloodshed , ” he said .
“ For the worse , because it means that Kyrgyz [ political ] elites still haven ’ t reached the point of understanding that would allow them to maintain the balance [ of power ] .
”

Twelve days after the start of Kyrgyzstan’s third revolution in 15 years, populist former lawmaker Sadyr Japarov, who was freed from jail during the protests, has claimed the roles of both president and prime minister.
Anger over pro-government parties’ gains in an Oct. 4 parliamentary vote spilled into the streets of Bishkek, prompting the fall of the government and resignation of president Sooronbay Jeenbekov on Thursday.
A whirlwind two weeks of post-election violence and fierce power struggles in Kyrgyzstan has political observers at odds over Russia’s role and true intentions in Central Asia’s “island of democracy.”
Analysts interviewed by The Moscow Times said they believe any new Kyrgyz political regime will be inherently pro-Russian and look to Moscow for conflict resolution.
“Today, Russia is making efforts to stabilize the situation with the pro-Russian Kyrgyz leaders popular among the people,” said Baktybek Beshimov, a former Kyrgyz lawmaker who is now a professor at Northeastern University’s Global Studies and International Relations program.
Kyrgyzstan’s former president claimed to have had multiple phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the crisis, while Japarov stressed Russia’s role as Bishkek’s strategic partner during his ascent to power.
What analysts disagree on is whether Russia is playing a constructive role in the ex-Soviet country, where it deploys an airbase and relies on a large pool of labor migrants.
Japarov’s supporters freed him from jail amid the post-election protests and used street demonstrations to install him in power. The nationalist former lawmaker had been serving an 11.5-year sentence on charges of kidnapping he says were politically motivated.
The Kremlin has openly sided with neither Japarov nor Jeenbekov, instead stressing the need for stability. For Beshimov, this lack of vocal support signals that Putin “does not believe in Jeenbekov.”
“Putin has been forced to find a solution without failed Kyrgyz leaders,” said Beshimov.
Dr. Erica Marat, who heads the Regional and Analytical Studies department at the U.S. Department of Defense-run National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs, agreed that Putin’s silence effectively hastened Jeenbekov’s resignation.
“Japarov was emboldened in his calls for Jeenbekov’s resignation after meeting with [Russia’s deputy prime minister for post-Soviet integration Dmitry] Kozak,” Marat said.
What Monday’s three-way meeting between Japarov, Jeenbekov and Kozak signaled, however, is that “Russia is interested in undermining hopes for an orderly and legitimate transition of power through another parliamentary election,” she said.
“A more centralized political system in Kyrgyzstan is preferred in Moscow,” said Marat.
While it’s true that Russia keeps lines of communication open with competing figures who often travel to Moscow for consultation, Kyrgyz human rights activist Dinara Oshurakhunova said “you can’t simply say that Kremlin proteges came to power.”
“The Kremlin is in no rush to show its support for a specific group,” said Oshurakhunova, who heads the Bishkek-based Civic Initiatives Public Foundation and coordinates the Civic Control Committee.
“It’s a welcome development because outside interference is unacceptable in the current situation,” she added, warning that “we’ll be forced to call on foreign powers to intervene ourselves if there’s a violent escalation.”
Ordinary citizens who took part in the post-election protests appear to have no illusions about Russia’s outsize influence in Kyrgyzstan’s political gamesmanship.
Logistics entrepreneur Abdimital Jumabekov, who rallied against the Oct. 4 election results, put it bluntly: “The president will be whoever gets approval from Putin.”
“He has so many levers,” Jumabekov told The Moscow Times hours after witnessing the storming of the seat of government in the early hours of Oct. 6.
Independent Central Asia analyst Arkady Dubnov agreed with that take “for both the better and the worse.”
“For the better, because a single powerhouse is needed to avoid bloodshed,” he said.
“For the worse, because it means that Kyrgyz [political] elites still haven’t reached the point of understanding that would allow them to maintain the balance [of power].”


themoscowtimes--2020-10-16--Russia Sets New Daily Coronavirus Record With Over 15K Cases

This is the first time that Russia has confirmed more than 15,000 Covid-19 infections in a single day .
Russia confirmed 15,150 cases of the novel coronavirus Friday , a new daily record since the start of the pandemic as authorities grapple with the onset of a second wave .
Friday 's increase pushed the overall number of Covid-19 cases in Russia to 1,369,313 , the fourth-highest in the world .
Russia ’ s coronavirus information center confirmed 232 deaths from Covid-19 Friday , slightly fewer than Thursday ’ s record high of 286 deaths .
Russia ’ s official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 23,723 .
The federal statistics agency that publishes monthly data says the real number of fatalities is at least double that figure .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak , confirmed 5,049 cases for the first time since the height of the pandemic in mid-May .
St. Petersburg and the Moscow region on Friday confirmed 647 and 448 cases each , respectively .
Russia ’ s healthcare professionals warn that second wave peaks will be significantly higher than in the first wave and may not subside until mid-to-late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russia ’ s 176,000 hospital beds are occupied with Covid-19 patients , prompting some hospitals to halt seeing patients with other illnesses .
Around half of Russia ’ s regions have reinstated various restrictions , with Moscow introducing QR scans for bar and nightclub attendance and banning entrance to the metro for maskless and gloveless passengers , to slow the spread of the infection .
The World Health Organization said Thursday that Europe ’ s surge in coronavirus infections is of “ great concern ” but warned against total lockdowns to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @

This is the first time that Russia has confirmed more than 15,000 Covid-19 infections in a single day.
Russia confirmed 15,150 cases of the novel coronavirus Friday, a new daily record since the start of the pandemic as authorities grapple with the onset of a second wave.
Friday's increase pushed the overall number of Covid-19 cases in Russia to 1,369,313, the fourth-highest in the world.
Russia’s coronavirus information center confirmed 232 deaths from Covid-19 Friday, slightly fewer than Thursday’s record high of 286 deaths.
Russia’s official death toll based on daily records stands at 23,723. The federal statistics agency that publishes monthly data says the real number of fatalities is at least double that figure.
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, confirmed 5,049 cases for the first time since the height of the pandemic in mid-May.
St. Petersburg and the Moscow region on Friday confirmed 647 and 448 cases each, respectively.
Russia’s healthcare professionals warn that second wave peaks will be significantly higher than in the first wave and may not subside until mid-to-late November. Authorities say that 90% of Russia’s 176,000 hospital beds are occupied with Covid-19 patients, prompting some hospitals to halt seeing patients with other illnesses.
Around half of Russia’s regions have reinstated various restrictions, with Moscow introducing QR scans for bar and nightclub attendance and banning entrance to the metro for maskless and gloveless passengers, to slow the spread of the infection.
The World Health Organization said Thursday that Europe’s surge in coronavirus infections is of “great concern” but warned against total lockdowns to avoid deeper economic and social consequences.