themoscowtimes--2020-02-04--Russia Accuses Norway of Restricting Its Activities on Arctic Islands

The archipelago of Svalbard , about 850 kilometers ( 500 miles ) north of mainland Norway , is seen as a potential flashpoint between Moscow and the West as climate change has opened up the region and Russia has built up its military presence .
Russia on Tuesday accused Norway of restricting its activities on a remote chain of islands in the Arctic and said it wanted talks with Oslo to have the issue resolved .
Though the tourism and services sectors are growing on Svalbard , the traditional industry is coal mining and a Russian coal mining company has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades .
There is no oil or gas exploration near the islands .
The territory is regulated by a 1920 treaty , which grants Norway sovereignty but allows other signatories , including Russia , residence and commercial rights .
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has formally asked Oslo for talks to address what Moscow believes are restrictions that go against the treaty 's guarantees of `` equal liberty of access and entry , '' the Foreign Ministry said .
`` We expect a positive reply from the Norwegian side , '' it said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a deportation procedure exclusively for Russian nationals , the establishment of a fish protection zone it called illegal and the `` expansion of nature protection zones that limit economic activity . ''
It also pointed to restrictions on the use of a Russian helicopter and said there were also several other problems .
`` We do not intend to curtail our presence there .
On the contrary , we have long-term plans for strengthening , diversifying and modernizing it , '' it said .
The Norwegian foreign ministry confirmed receiving the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well known .
`` The issues put forward in the letter are regularly raised by Russia and are well-known to Norwegian authorities , '' the ministry said in an email to Reuters .
`` All activities in Svalbard must take place in accordance with Norwegian law , '' it added , without giving further details .

The archipelago of Svalbard, about 850 kilometers (500 miles) north of mainland Norway, is seen as a potential flashpoint between Moscow and the West as climate change has opened up the region and Russia has built up its military presence.
Russia on Tuesday accused Norway of restricting its activities on a remote chain of islands in the Arctic and said it wanted talks with Oslo to have the issue resolved.
Though the tourism and services sectors are growing on Svalbard, the traditional industry is coal mining and a Russian coal mining company has operated in the town of Barentsburg for decades. There is no oil or gas exploration near the islands.
The territory is regulated by a 1920 treaty, which grants Norway sovereignty but allows other signatories, including Russia, residence and commercial rights.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has formally asked Oslo for talks to address what Moscow believes are restrictions that go against the treaty's guarantees of "equal liberty of access and entry," the Foreign Ministry said.
"We expect a positive reply from the Norwegian side," it said.
Of particular concern, Moscow listed issues including a deportation procedure exclusively for Russian nationals, the establishment of a fish protection zone it called illegal and the "expansion of nature protection zones that limit economic activity."
It also pointed to restrictions on the use of a Russian helicopter and said there were also several other problems.
"We do not intend to curtail our presence there. On the contrary, we have long-term plans for strengthening, diversifying and modernizing it," it said.
The Norwegian foreign ministry confirmed receiving the letter, but said Moscow's grievances were well known.
"The issues put forward in the letter are regularly raised by Russia and are well-known to Norwegian authorities," the ministry said in an email to Reuters.
"All activities in Svalbard must take place in accordance with Norwegian law," it added, without giving further details.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-04--Chechen Dissident Killed in France Amid Series of High-Profile Murders Abroad

Local media initially reported that the body of an as-yet-unidentified man with multiple stab wounds was discovered in a hotel room last Thursday .
An unnamed source close to the murder investigation told AFP that the victim was Imran Aliyev , 44 , who criticized Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov under the alias “ Mansur Staryi ” ( Mansur the Elder ) on his YouTube page .
A Chechen emigre and vocal critic of the southern Russian region ’ s ruler has been stabbed to death in the northern French city of Lille , Agence France-Presse reported Monday .
The killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political motive , ” the AFP source was quoted as saying .
The AFP source said Aliyev arrived in Lille from neighboring Belgium , where he reportedly had political asylum , with another man of “ presumably the same nationality.
” Tumso Abdurakhmanov , another Chechen video blogger who has received death threats for his criticisms of Kadyrov , implicated a fellow Chechen native with alleged ties to high-level Chechen officials in Aliyev ’ s death .
“ According to my information , the criminal is now back in Chechnya and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his YouTube page Sunday .
Musa Tayipov , a Strasbourg-based Chechen opposition journalist , cast doubt on Kadyrov ’ s role in Aliyev ’ s killing .
Aliyev had allegedly received threats from natives of neighboring Ingushetia over comments he made about a Chechen-Ingush border dispute , Tayipov told The Guardian .
Aliyev ’ s stabbing is the latest in a series of high-profile murders of ethnic Chechens outside Russia that have been suspected to be politically motivated .
In August , former separatist Zelimkhan Khangoshvili , whom President Vladimir Putin called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin .
The killing also follows a series of public threats against online critics by Kadyrov and other Chechen officials .
A Chechen lawmaker described as Kadyrov ’ s right-hand man in November called on members of the Chechen diaspora in Europe and North America to stop their countrymen from “ disgracing the Chechen people.
” Kadyrov has ruled Russia ’ s predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya since 2007 .
Tens of thousands of Chechen refugees are estimated to live in Europe , having fled two separatist wars against Moscow and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Local media initially reported that the body of an as-yet-unidentified man with multiple stab wounds was discovered in a hotel room last Thursday. An unnamed source close to the murder investigation told AFP that the victim was Imran Aliyev, 44, who criticized Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov under the alias “Mansur Staryi” (Mansur the Elder) on his YouTube page.
A Chechen emigre and vocal critic of the southern Russian region’s ruler has been stabbed to death in the northern French city of Lille, Agence France-Presse reported Monday.
The killing “bears all the hallmarks of having a political motive,” the AFP source was quoted as saying.
The AFP source said Aliyev arrived in Lille from neighboring Belgium, where he reportedly had political asylum, with another man of “presumably the same nationality.”
Tumso Abdurakhmanov, another Chechen video blogger who has received death threats for his criticisms of Kadyrov, implicated a fellow Chechen native with alleged ties to high-level Chechen officials in Aliyev’s death.
“According to my information, the criminal is now back in Chechnya and will be rewarded there,” Abdurakhmanov said on his YouTube page Sunday.
Musa Tayipov, a Strasbourg-based Chechen opposition journalist, cast doubt on Kadyrov’s role in Aliyev’s killing. Aliyev had allegedly received threats from natives of neighboring Ingushetia over comments he made about a Chechen-Ingush border dispute, Tayipov told The Guardian.
Aliyev’s stabbing is the latest in a series of high-profile murders of ethnic Chechens outside Russia that have been suspected to be politically motivated. In August, former separatist Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, whom President Vladimir Putin called a terrorist, was shot and killed in Berlin.
The killing also follows a series of public threats against online critics by Kadyrov and other Chechen officials. A Chechen lawmaker described as Kadyrov’s right-hand man in November called on members of the Chechen diaspora in Europe and North America to stop their countrymen from “disgracing the Chechen people.”
Kadyrov has ruled Russia’s predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya since 2007. Tens of thousands of Chechen refugees are estimated to live in Europe, having fled two separatist wars against Moscow and, years later, Kadyrov’s rule.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-04--Russia to Quarantine Citizens Evacuated From China's Wuhan

Russia will set up a quarantine area in Siberia 's Tyumen region for Russians being evacuated from the epicenter of @ @ @ @ @ Interfax cited Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova as saying Tuesday .
She said that the @ @ @ @ @ quarantine for 14 days , but that they are thought to be healthy .

Scores of Russians began two weeks of quarantine and coronavirus tests in a camp in Siberia on Wednesday after being flown home from China's Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of an outbreak of the fast-spreading disease. Russia, which has restricted crossings along its 4,300 km (2,670-mile) land border with China, last week reported its first two cases of coronavirus, both in Siberia and both involving Chinese nationals.
Nadezhda K., one of the Russian nationals evacuated from Wuhan, has been documenting the evacuation on her Instagram. nd.nadias / Instagram
No infection was detected among the two groups of 144 returnees — including 16 nationals of ex-Soviet countries — who were brought back to Tyumen airport on Wednesday in two military planes, the Defense Ministry said. The global death toll from the outbreak has risen to nearly 500, all but two in mainland China, and infections to close to 25,000. Medical staff in white safety gear met the first Russian plane, an Il-76 military transporter, early on Wednesday, footage posted by the country's coronavirus crisis center showed. All arrivals were being quarantined for two weeks in a camp some 30km (19 miles) outside Tyumen, said Russia's chief medical officer, Anna Popova. The camp is fenced, equipped with CCTV cameras and guarded by military patrols, the crisis center said. A city of 800,000 people, Tyumen is a focal point of Russia's huge oil industry - and for speculation on what impact the virus might have on the country's economy.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-04--Turkey Says Russia Must Restrain Syrian Forces in Idlib

Turkey urged Russia on Tuesday to rein in Syrian government forces in the northwestern province of Idlib , a day after eight Turkish personnel were killed in an attack Ankara blamed on Russian-backed Syrian troops .
The two countries back opposing sides in the war , with Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing rebels who once aimed to topple him .
They have worked together to reduce fighting in Idlib , but a major Syrian government offensive in the region has rattled Ankara , which fears millions of displaced people could be driven towards Turkey , which already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has urged Russia to restrain Syrian forces from launching further attacks , Moscow says it is concerned about attacks by militants who control Idlib , the last remaining major rebel stronghold after nearly nine years of war .
On Monday , Turkey bombarded dozens of targets around Idlib in response to the deadly attacks on its troops .
`` I told my counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the regime was carrying out provocative attacks on our observations posts around Idlib , that we will retaliate if they continue this , and that they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , '' Cavusoglu told reporters .
`` We also do n't accept the excuse of 'we can not fully control the regime ' here , '' he said , adding that agreements with Russia regarding Idlib must be revived .
Turkey is building housing for displaced people near the Turkish border , where President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday nearly 1 million people were heading .
United Nations regional spokesman David Swanson said 520,000 people had been displaced since the beginning of December .
He said an additional 280,000 people could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main highways in the region .
Konstantin Kosachev , a senior Russian lawmaker , said Moscow was very concerned about the situation in Idlib , calling it a `` serious test of the strength of the existing Russian-Turkish agreements '' in both Idlib and in northeast Syria , where the two countries have been carrying out joint patrols .
A Turkish security official said clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces continued intermittently around Saraqeb , a town 15 km ( 9 miles ) east of Idlib city .
He said Turkey had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it established in the area as part of a 2017 agreement with Russia and Iran , even though some posts are now surrounded by Syrian government forces .
`` There is information that some observation posts have been besieged by the regime , but the ( supply of ) new weapons , equipment and military support towards Idlib is continuing , '' the official said , speaking on condition of anonymity .
Fighting in Idlib has continued in recent years despite several ceasefire efforts , including as recently as last month , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians .

Turkey urged Russia on Tuesday to rein in Syrian government forces in the northwestern province of Idlib, a day after eight Turkish personnel were killed in an attack Ankara blamed on Russian-backed Syrian troops. The two countries back opposing sides in the war, with Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing rebels who once aimed to topple him. They have worked together to reduce fighting in Idlib, but a major Syrian government offensive in the region has rattled Ankara, which fears millions of displaced people could be driven towards Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million refugees. While Turkey has urged Russia to restrain Syrian forces from launching further attacks, Moscow says it is concerned about attacks by militants who control Idlib, the last remaining major rebel stronghold after nearly nine years of war. On Monday, Turkey bombarded dozens of targets around Idlib in response to the deadly attacks on its troops.
"I told my counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the regime was carrying out provocative attacks on our observations posts around Idlib, that we will retaliate if they continue this, and that they need to stop the regime as soon as possible," Cavusoglu told reporters. "We also don't accept the excuse of 'we cannot fully control the regime' here," he said, adding that agreements with Russia regarding Idlib must be revived. Turkey is building housing for displaced people near the Turkish border, where President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday nearly 1 million people were heading. United Nations regional spokesman David Swanson said 520,000 people had been displaced since the beginning of December. He said an additional 280,000 people could be displaced from urban centers near the two main highways in the region.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-04--Russian Warships to Hold Missile Drills Near Norway’s Gas Pipeline to Europe

Two Russian warships will conduct missile drills near Norway ’ s northernmost gas pipeline to Europe , the VG news @ @ @ @ @ Norwegian Intelligence Service ( NIS ) .
A notice to airmen ( NOTAM ) is @ @ @ @ @ the Norwegian Sea west of Helgeland , the Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Reitan near Bodø @ @ @ @ @ warnings to civilian air traffic is just south of the Arctic Circle and in near @ @ @ @ @ including Aasta Hansten , which is the northernmost gas field connected to the network of @ @ @ @ @ gas .
The area also has active shipping and fishery activity .
The NOTAM , @ @ @ @ @ is valid from early morning on Feb. 5 to the afternoon on Feb. 7 .
@ @ @ @ @ missiles are to be tested , or if any live shootings will happen at all @ @ @ @ @ Northern Fleet have announced missile shootings in the Norwegian Sea off the coast of northern @ @ @ @ @ being fired twice in the past .

Two Russian warships will conduct missile drills near Norway’s northernmost gas pipeline to Europe, the VG news website reported, citing the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS). A notice to airmen (NOTAM) is set for an area in the Norwegian Sea west of Helgeland, the Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Reitan near Bodø confirmed. The area with warnings to civilian air traffic is just south of the Arctic Circle and in near several Norwegian offshore installations, including Aasta Hansten, which is the northernmost gas field connected to the network of pipelines fueling Europe with natural gas. The area also has active shipping and fishery activity. The NOTAM, with reference A 0269/20, is valid from early morning on Feb. 5 to the afternoon on Feb. 7. It is not clear which missiles are to be tested, or if any live shootings will happen at all. Russian warships from the Northern Fleet have announced missile shootings in the Norwegian Sea off the coast of northern Norway without a single missile being fired twice in the past.
news Belarus Buys Oil from Norway as Russia Dispute Continues Read more
Among the Russian warships sailing north on their way back to their homebase in Severomorsk on the Kola Peninsula, there are the large missile cruiser Admiral Ustinov and the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov. Both vessels participated in an exercise near the Russian Black Sea naval base in Sevastopol on the coast of annexed Crimea in early January. The Vice-Admiral Kulakov sailed out from Severomorsk in late October last year, while the Admiral Ustinov has been on a world voyage since last summer. Last week, the two ships crossed the Bay of Biscay where they conducted anti-submarine training tasks while sailing north in the direction to the English Channel, the press service of the Russian Northern Fleet said. The ships passed the waters between Dover and Calais on Saturday morning. The ships arrived Sunday in the North Sea, off the west coast of Norway. Such an exercise close to Norwegian waters should be seen as part of Russia’s bastion defense, Lt. Gen. Morten Haga Lunde, the head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, told the VG news website. If Russia feels threatened, the military plan is to expand its bastion defense beyond the Barents Sea, conducting sea denial operations in the maritime spaces of northwestern Europe, all the way to the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. Over the last two years, Russia has exercised the bastion defense concept with surface warships, submarines and aircraft several times in the Norwegian Sea. Last August, the Ocean Shield exercise, originally taking place in the Baltic Sea, made a surprise move, lasting one week longer than planned and with warships sailing to waters outside northern Norway. "It is obvious that Russia wants to show its dissatisfaction with this winter’s NATO exercise in Norway, Cold Response," Haga Lunde said to VG. Cold Response takes place from March 2-18, but there is already visible military activity as some allied participants arrive early to prepare themselves for the exercise.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Russians Start 2-Week Coronavirus Quarantine After Return From Wuhan

Russia , which has restricted crossings along its 4,300 km ( 2,670-mile ) land border with China , last week reported its first two cases of coronavirus , both in Siberia and both involving Chinese nationals .
Scores of Russians began two weeks of quarantine and coronavirus tests in a camp in Siberia on Wednesday after being flown home from China 's Wuhan , the city at the epicenter of an outbreak of the fast-spreading disease .
No infection was detected among the two groups of 144 returnees — including 16 nationals of ex-Soviet countries — who were brought back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military planes , the Defense Ministry said .
The global death toll from the outbreak has risen to nearly 500 , all but two in mainland China , and infections to close to 25,000 .
Medical staff in white safety gear met the first Russian plane , an Il-76 military transporter , early on Wednesday , footage posted by the country 's coronavirus crisis center showed .
All arrivals were being quarantined for two weeks in a camp some 30km ( 19 miles ) outside Tyumen , said Russia 's chief medical officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fenced , equipped with CCTV cameras and guarded by military patrols , the crisis center said .
A city of 800,000 people , Tyumen is a focal point of Russia 's huge oil industry - and for speculation on what impact the virus might have on the country 's economy .
With a central bank rate meeting due on Friday , Citibank said it expected growth to rise to 2 % this year thanks to a stimulus plan announced by President Vladimir Putin .
However , that package `` may just serve as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus outbreak take full effect , '' Citi analysts said in a note this week .
On Tuesday , a health ministry official said that Russia was preparing for the possible spread of the virus , with some schools closed and public events cancelled , though other officials attributed that simply to flu .
Russia has suspended direct passenger trains and commercial flights from China , except for some being routed through a separate terminal in Moscow to make screening passengers easier .
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova estimated last week there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province , where Wuhan is located .
Georgy Yegorov , spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Beijing , said on Wednesday all Russian citizens who had expressed a wish to return home had done so , and no further repatriation flights were planned .


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Coronavirus Update: Russia Acts to Curb Spread

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus on Friday and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who had been isolated .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 360 people in China continues to spread around the world , Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk , including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border Friday .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s response to the coronavirus — Russia said it will take between eight and 10 months to develop a vaccine against coronavirus , Interfax cited Health Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has set up a quarantine area in Siberia 's Tyumen region for Russians being evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak .
All evacuated citizens will be held in quarantine for 14 days .
— Russia will from Tuesday temporarily restrict the entry of foreigners arriving from China , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
She said the restrictions would not , however , apply to Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport , the capital 's main international airport .
— Russia may deport foreign citizens found to be infected with coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Russia has postponed the Russian Investment Forum in the Black Sea city of Sochi due to coronavirus concerns .
The forum , which is attended by a string of high-ranking officials and foreign investors , had been set to take place Feb. 12-14 .
— At least two regions — the Ulyanovsk region and the nearby Samara region on the Volga river some 900 kilometers ( 560 miles ) east of Moscow — have closed schools until the end of this week amid increased cases of flu which officials said were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visa-free travel for tourists to and from China and temporarily stopped accepting and issuing documents for work visas to Chinese nationals .
— State-run Russian Railways said it would halt passenger trains to China , including the Beijing-Moscow route , until further notice .
— Russia 's second-largest food retailer Magnit said it is suspending fruit and vegetable imports from China due to the spread of the coronavirus and logistical complications .
— Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Friday that OPEC+ countries may react if there are significant consequences for the oil market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the oil-producing countries have discussed bringing forward the March OPEC+ meeting , adding that they need several more days to monitor the situation .
— In addition to observing personal hygiene , the consumer protection watchdog advised against loose hair , as well as kissing and hugging in public .
— Apple and Chinese phone manufacturers stopped deliveries into Russia for two weeks , the Kommersant business daily reported .
— In St. Petersburg , the celebrated Mariinsky Theatre postponed a Feb. 11 performance by a Chinese national opera and dance troupe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listeners can enjoy the music without worrying unnecessarily . ''
— Russian universities and employers were advised to extend time off for their Chinese students and workers , either until further notice or March .
— Russian state lender VTB said it has temporarily suspended all business trips by its employees to China and several other Asian countries .
— Gazprom said the virus is not affecting Russian gas supplies to China via the newly built “ Power of Siberia ” pipeline .
— Russia ’ s tourism association expects China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 80 % drop-off in numbers in northern Russia ’ s Murmansk region , The Barents Observer reported .
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia ( ATOR ) expects Russian tour agencies to lose up to $ 100 million by the end of March due to the ban .
— Russia 's first McDonald 's restaurant scrapped a plan to sell Big Mac burgers for 3 rubles ( $ 0.04 ) to mark its 30th anniversary on Jan. 31 .
Authorities in Moscow have issued a citywide warning against mass public events @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Russia has confirmed 18,315,292 cases of coronavirus and 378,784 deaths , according to the national coronavirus information center. Russia’s total excess fatality count since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is at least 995,000. Under half the population is fully vaccinated.
— QR codes will be issued to Russians who test positive for Covid-19 antibodies, regardless of their vaccination status.
— Russians will be able to take an antibody test to obtain a coronavirus health pass from Feb. 21, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.
— Russia reported more than 200,000 new Covid-19 infections for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— After a three-day decline, Russia saw an an increase of Covid-19 infections with a total of 179,284 new infections and 748 deaths.
Russians and foreigners will be able to receive a coronavirus QR-code health pass based on the results of an antibody test from Monday.
Russia reported 137,642 new Covid-19 infections and 785 deaths over the last 24 hours.
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Feb. 10
— Russia reported a total of 197,076 new infections and 701 deaths.
Feb. 9
— Russia reported a total of 183,103 new infections and 669 deaths.
Feb. 8
— Russia reported a total of 165,643 new infections and 698 deaths.
— Almost 12,000 children with Covid-19 are currently being treated in hospitals, while children make up about 20% of the country's total number of coronavirus cases, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced.
Feb. 7
— Russia reported 171,905 new coronavirus infections and 609 deaths.
Feb. 6
— Russia reported a record 180,071 new coronavirus infections and 661 deaths.
Feb. 5
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 177,282 new infections and 714 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
Feb. 4
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 168,201 new infections and 682 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has a 70.5% efficacy against the Delta variant of the coronavirus six months after vaccination, the jab’s developers said Friday. The findings were published as part of the results of Phase 3 medical trials into the vaccine. Omicron has displaced Delta as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Moscow and is sweeping rapidly across the country.
Feb. 3
— Russia reported a new record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 155,768 new infections and 667 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia plans to cancel mandatory isolation requirements for people who come into contact with somebody infected with Covid-19, Anna Popova, the head of the Rospotrebnadzor consumer health watchdog said Friday. She said the forced quarantine rules “have lost their reasoning” with the surge in Omicron cases.
Feb. 2
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 141,883 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 678 fatalities.
Feb. 1
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 125,836 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 663 fatalities.
— Russia's Labor Ministry has recommended that all enterprises send as many of their employees to remote work as possible due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
— A growing number of Russian regions are re-introducing coronavirus lockdown measures due to the surging Omicron variant, even as the Kremlin on Monday repeated that there will be no nationwide lockdown due to the variant’s spread. Fifteen regions across the country have suspended routine medical care due to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations, while five regions have sent schoolchildren to remote learning and four regions banned mass gatherings. The Tula region south of Moscow took the most drastic step in the latest virus surge by announcing a 10-day regionwide holiday.
Jan. 31
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 124,070 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 621 fatalities.
— Russia’s excess fatalities reached 995,000 by the end of 2021, according to The Moscow Times’ analysis of official statistics. The country also saw its largest natural population decline since the end of the Soviet Union, registering a fall of more than one million in 2021, the Rosstat statistics service said Friday.
Jan. 30
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 121,228 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 617 fatalities.
Jan. 29
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time ever. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 113,112 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 668 fatalities.
— Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "clear that the real number of people who have Covid-19 is slightly higher than the official statistics."
— Moscow does not plan to introduce new lockdown measures in response to the Omicron variant, the RBC news website reported, citing two sources close to the Mayor's Office.
Jan. 28
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the eighth day running. A total of 98,040 new infections and 673 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
Jan. 27
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the seventh day running. A total of 88,816 new infections and 665 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
— The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the capital jumped 22% on Thursday and is now running close to peaks recorded during the two previous waves of the virus in 2021.
Jan. 26
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the sixth day running. A total of 74,692 new infections and 657 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Children in St. Petersburg will be barred from sporting, cultural and entertainment establishments from Jan. 28-Feb. 13, city authorities announced.
— Russia has cut the quarantine period for people infected with Covid-19 from 14 to seven days, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Tuesday.
Jan. 25
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fifth day running. A total of 67,809 new infections and 681 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Around 70% of people infected with the Omicron variant in Russia are unvaccinated, said Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog, in a televised meeting.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was likely to see growing coronavirus cases for at least two more weeks, as the Omicron variant fuels a record rise in infections.
Jan. 24
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fourth day running. A total of 65,109 new infections and 655 deaths were recorded.
Jan. 23
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the third day running. A total of 63,205 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 679 deaths.
Jan. 22
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread across the country. A total of 57,212 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 681 deaths.
Jan. 21
— Amid rising cases, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on extended a requirement for businesses in the capital to ensure 30% of their employers were working from home.
— Russia plans to cut the isolation period from 14 to seven days for those infected with Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russian lawmakers have agreed to withdraw from consideration an unpopular bill for QR-code health passes to enter public spaces, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
Jan. 19
— Russia reported 33,899 new Covid-19 infections and 698 deaths.
— Cases in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg set a new record high Wednesday with 4,382 new confirmed cases. In Moscow, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Omicron has become the dominant strain, new infections set their third-highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday of 8,795.
Jan. 18
— Russia reported 31,252 new Covid-19 infections and 688 deaths.
Jan. 17
— Russia reported 30,726 new Covid-19 infections and 670 deaths.
— The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still awaiting additional documentation on Sputnik V before it can proceed with the vaccine approval process, the EU’s Ambassador to Moscow said Monday. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia said Sunday the vaccine’s developers had submitted all the required information needed for its approval process, and further inspections will take place in February, though other WHO officials later appeared to contradict this, saying they were still waiting for a full data package from Russia.
Jan. 16
— Russia reported 29,230 new Covid-19 infections and 686 deaths.
Jan. 15
— Russia reported 27,179 new Covid-19 infections and 723 deaths.
Jan. 14
— Russia reported 23,820 new Covid-19 cases and 739 deaths
— Russia will delay controversial legislation over the use of coronavirus health passes for access to public spaces, officials said Friday, citing “new challenges” presented by the Omicron variant.
— Foreigners will be able to obtain a coronavirus health pass — QR code — in Russia by taking an antibody test, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday. The passes will be valid for six months.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday that Omicron had become the dominant coronavirus strain in the Russian capital, accounting for more than half of all new infections.
Jan. 13
— Russia reported 21,155 new Covid-19 infections — a 17.8% increase overnight — and 740 deaths.
Jan. 12
— Russia reported 17,946 new Covid-19 infections and 745 deaths.
— Russia has so far confirmed 698 official cases of the Omicron variant, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced at a meeting on Wednesday.
— President Vladimir Putin said health authorities only have “a couple of weeks” to prepare for the next wave of the pandemic.
— Russia delivered fewer than 80 million doses of its Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines to other countries in 2021, according to Unicef data cited by The Washington Post. The jab’s developers had initially planned to export doses for more than 500 million people, but have been beset by production and delivery delays. The vaccine has also yet to be approved by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Jan. 11
— Russia reported 17,525 new Covid-19 infections and 783 deaths.
— The presence of the Omicron variant in the Russian capital is already “significant,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. He warned that the city would see a major increase in infections within 7-10 days, adding that “it is quite possible that we will face a worse situation than in previous waves.”
— Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the military to limit vacations and trips abroad for servicemen and women due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Russia will be “covered” by the Omicron variant and should brace for a “very high” number of Covid-19 cases, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the state-run Gamaleya Institute which developed the country’s Sputnik V vaccine, said.
Jan. 10
— Russia confirmed 15,830 Covid-19 infections and 741 deaths.
Jan. 9
— Russia confirmed 16,246 Covid-19 infections and 763 deaths.
Jan. 8
— Russia confirmed 16,568 Covid-19 infections and 796 deaths.
Jan. 7
— Russia confirmed 16,735 Covid-19 infections and 787 deaths.
Jan. 6
— Russia confirmed 15,316 Covid-19 infections and 802 deaths.
Jan.5
— Russia confirmed 15,772 Covid-19 infections and 828 deaths.
Jan. 4
— Russia confirmed 15,903 Covid-19 infections and 834 deaths.
Jan. 3
— Russia confirmed 16,343 Covid-19 infections and 835 deaths.
Jan. 2
— Russia confirmed 18,233 Covid-19 infections and 811 deaths.
Jan. 1
— Russia confirmed 19,751 Covid-19 infections and 847 deaths.
Dec. 31
— Russia confirmed 20,638 Covid-19 infections and 912 deaths.
— Russia recorded more than 115,000 excess deaths during November 2021, according to official statistics published Thursday — a new record high since the start of the pandemic.
— Russia's Health Ministry on Thursday advised Russians against traveling abroad for the New Year holiday due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Over 100 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Russia, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said Thursday.
Dec. 30
— Russia confirmed 21,073 Covid-19 infections and 926 deaths. Cases in Moscow rose from 1,798 on Wednesday to 2,661 on Thursday, a nearly 50% increase.
Dec. 29
— Russia confirmed 21,119 Covid-19 infections and 932 deaths.
Dec. 28
— Russia confirmed 21,922 Covid-19 infections and 935 deaths.
Dec. 27
— Russia confirmed 23,210 Covid-19 infections and 937 deaths.
Dec. 26
— Russia confirmed 23,721 Covid-19 infections and 968 deaths.
Dec. 25
— Russia confirmed 24,946 Covid-19 infections and 981 deaths.
Dec. 24
— Russia confirmed 24,703 Covid-19 infections and 998 deaths.
Dec. 23
— Russia confirmed 25,667 Covid-19 infections and 1,002 deaths.
— Moscow confirmed over 3,000 new Covid cases, a 60% jump compared to Wednesday.
Dec. 22
— Russia on Wednesday confirmed 25,264 Covid-19 infections and 1,020 deaths.
Dec. 21
— Russia on Tuesday confirmed 25,907 Covid-19 infections and 1,027 deaths.
— Russia has detected 41 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far, health authorities said Tuesday.
Dec. 20
— Russia confirmed 27,022 Covid-19 infections and 1,019 deaths.
Dec. 19
— Russia confirmed 27,967 Covid-19 infections and 1,024 deaths.
— Russia could send free shipments of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Africa in the future, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which finances and promotes the jab, has said.
Dec. 18
— Russia confirmed 27,434 Covid-19 infections and 1,076 deaths.
Dec. 17
— Russia confirmed 27,743 Covid-19 infections and 1,080 deaths.
— Russia claimed its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine provides “robust” long-term protection against the Omicron variant, disputing the findings of an independent study which found the Russian jab produced no antibody response whatsoever to the new highly transmissible variant.
Dec. 16
— Russia has detected the Omicron variant in 25 people so far, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russia confirmed 28,486 Covid-19 infections and 1,133 deaths.
— Russian lawmakers approved legislation in a first reading that will require people to show health passes to access public places like bars and restaurants, as the country gears up for a winter Covid wave.
— Russia has not yet provided all the information requested by the WHO to certify the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “It's true that some information needed for certification has not yet been submitted. We had a different understanding of what information was needed and how it has to be submitted, we have different standards, etc," Peskov told journalists, adding that the Kremlin is not worried by the lengthy approval process the vaccine has faced.
Dec. 15
—Russians with coronavirus antibodies from both foreign and domestic vaccines will be able to get a QR code valid for six months, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Monday.
— Russia will scrap the proposed bill that would require QR codes to access public transport, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Dec. 6
— Russia has confirmed its first reported cases of the Omicron variant. The new strain was detected in two people who traveled into the country from South Africa, Russia’s consumer and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said. Another 10 Russians who returned from South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus and their samples are currently being analyzed to determine the variant, the agency added.
Dec. 3
— Russia said it recorded its deadliest month in decades in October, with the total number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic surpassing 810,000.
Dec. 2
— Russia will require citizens entering the country from South Africa or neighboring countries to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival due to the Omicron variant starting Dec. 2, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova announced.
Nov. 30
— Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
— Russians returning from countries with which Moscow has not formally restored air travel will have to quarantine for 14 days, Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor consumer and health watchdog said. The validity of health passes obtained by a negative PCR test will also be reduced from 72 to 48 hours. Popova also advised Russians not to travel abroad for New Year holidays as part of a package of recommendations outlined in response to the Omicron variant.
— Putin has ordered the government to create an updated action plan for the Omicron strain by next week, he said at an investment forum.
Nov. 29
— As many as 1,500 Russian tourists have been left stranded in South Africa as countries scramble to ban flights from the region, media reported Monday.
— The backers of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V said Monday that the jab is effective against the new Omicron coronavirus variant but they were also developing an adapted booster.
Nov. 28
— The new Omicron variant may be spreading across Russia by tourists returning from Egypt, Senator and Honored Doctor of Russia Vladimir Krugly said Sunday. Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which leads the country’s Covid-19 response efforts, later denied Krugly’s claims.
Nov. 25
— St. Petersburg aims to vaccinate 80% of its population by mid-January through vaccination, its Governor Alexander Beglov said Thursday. He said 67% of the city is currently vaccinated.
— Russian lawmakers are seeking to recognize those vaccinated against the coronavirus with foreign jabs, the Izvestia daily reported Thursday.
Nov. 24
— President Vladimir Putin repeated his stance that Covid-19 vaccination should be voluntary as regions and cities tighten restrictions on the unvaccinated.
— He added that he has received a nasal Covid-19 vaccine, days after saying he received a Sputnik Light booster shot.
— Russia has registered a Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced.
Nov. 23
— Russia and Hungary have agreed to mutually recognize each others' vaccination certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, marking the first such agreement between Russia and another country.
Nov. 22
— A Siberian region of Russia has become the first in the country to impose self-isolation rules for residents who haven’t yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.
— The republic of Tatarstan became the first Russian province to enforce QR code passes on public transit earlier Monday.
Nov. 21
— President Vladimir Putin said he had had a third dose of a Covid vaccine. "I had it two hours ago," Putin said on state television channel Rossiya 24, assuring viewers that his booster injection of the Sputnik vaccine had been painless.
Nov. 19
— Russia's herd immunity has surpassed 50%, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
Nov. 17
— Two more Russian coronavirus vaccines are currently undergoing preclinical trials, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. So far, Russia has authorized four vaccines: Sputnik V, the one-dose Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona and CoviVak.
— There is "no end in sight" to the Covid-19 pandemic in Russia yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— A Far East Russian region has become the first in the country to introduce vaccine passports for internal flights as federal lawmakers race to mandate health passes for public transport and other areas.
Nov. 16
— Russia will resume air travel with Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mongolia from Dec. 1, authorities announced. It will also lift all remaining restrictions on flights with Mexico, Cuba and Qatar starting that day. Starting Dec. 12, train connections to Finland will resume.
Nov. 16
— U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has received approval to conduct trials of Paxlovid, a novel oral antiviral treatment aimed at preventing and treating Covid-19. Ninety people in a handful of Russian cities will take part in the trials.
Nov. 12
— Russia will introduce health passes for access to public places, restaurants and intercity trains and planes in a radical move designed to boost Russia's sluggish vaccination campaign.
Nov. 9
— St. Petersburg mandated vaccination against Covid-19 for all residents over 60 years old as well as people with certain chronic illnesses.
— Russia is now the world leader in coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— The developer of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities.
Nov. 8
— Russia’s nationwide paid holiday aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came to an end Monday. Some regions are keeping the restrictions in place and many others are implementing digital passes showing proof of vaccination or recent Covid-19 recovery.
— QR codes proving one's vaccination continue to be valid for one year after vaccination, Russia's Health Ministry and Digital Development Ministry said Monday following reports that the validity period had changed to 6 months.
Nov. 2
— Russia's single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine produces a strong antibody response among recipients, according to research published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik Light is the first dose of Russia's two-dose Sputnik V vaccine, which is the backbone of Russia's domestic vaccination campaign and is being sold around the world.
Nov. 1
— Russian authorities said that doctors were under "extraordinary" strain due to surging coronavirus cases in Europe's worst-hit country.
— The Novgorod region in northwestern Russia has become the first region to extend the non-working week. It will order all non-essential workers to take a mandated paid holiday for an additional week after Nov. 7.
Oct. 27
— The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
— The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.
Oct. 26
— All of Russia's 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said.
— The European Union expects countries including Russia to investigate the sale of fake Covid-19 certificates online and take appropriate measures, an EU spokesperson told RBC. The cybersecurity company Kaspersky said last week that it uncovered counterfeit travel certificates made to look as if they were issued in France or Poland being sold for an average price of $300 on the Telegram messaging app.
— Authorities in annexed Crimea said they plan to purchase mobile refrigerators to store bodies in the city of Simferopol as Covid-19 deaths continue to rise and the city's morgues are overwhelmed.
Oct. 25
— Russian authorities were investigating nurses and a doctor in St. Petersburg accused of selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates, as the country faces a deadly new wave. The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said a doctor and three nurses are suspected of pocketing at least 100,000 rubles ($1,430) from 12 people after selling official certificates without having administered jabs.
— President Vladimir Putin instructed regional leaders to order restaurants to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to ban all entertainment events.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin imposed a partial citywide lockdown between Oct. 28-Nov. 7 to stem the spread of the virus.
— The restrictions suspend businesses, services, catering, sports, recreation, entertainment and film screenings with the exception of the sale of essential goods like medicines and food. Mass events, except those authorized by health officials, will be banned, and theater and museum attendance will be capped at 50% with mask-wearing and digital-code rules in place. In-person public services will be suspended and kindergarteners and school students sent home between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7.
The Moscow region introduced identical restrictions shortly after Sobyanin’s announcement.
— President Vladimir Putin will not meet people face-to-face during Russia's nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on Oct. 30 designed to curb Covid infections amid record deaths, his spokesman said.
— The pace of vaccinations in Russia has accelerated following a string of regions imposing vaccine mandates for workers in certain sectors of the economy and vaccine passports for entry into indoor venues, according to the Gogov website which tracks vaccine uptake across the country. It estimates Russia is administering more than 300,000 first doses each day — up from around 120,000 a day earlier October.
Oct. 23
— Russia's second city St. Petersburg will impose a partial lockdown from Oct. 30-Nov. 7, authorities announced.
Oct. 21
— Sochi is bracing for an influx of tourists during public holidays starting Oct. 30 designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Occupancy rates in hotels are set to be at least 75%, the city’s mayor said — equivalent to peak summer months at the Black Sea resort. The city has introduced vaccine passports for entry into restaurants and bars in a bid to stop the spread of the virus despite the mass inflow of tourists.
— Russia has detected a new sub-variant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which risks compounding the country’s spiraling infections and deaths, a senior Russian government scientist warned.
— The European Union’s drug regulator will not approve Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine until at least the first months of 2022, Reuters reported.
Oct. 20
— President Vladimir Putin announced a non-working week in Russia from Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Putin pleaded with Russians to get vaccinated and said the public holidays could be extended further if cases do not start to fall.
— Nationwide, 87% of hospital beds reserved for coronavirus patients are occupied, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said in a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Oct. 19
— Some 1,100 medical staff died from Covid-19 in Russia during the first six months of 2021, the chair of the State Duma’s budget committee said. That is more than twice the number who succumbed to the virus in 2020, he added.
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has backed plans for a nationwide non-working week starting Oct. 30. The proposal was put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova during a televised government meeting. Mishustin said the strict measures — effectively a paid vacation or orders for workers at non-essential businesses to stop going into their place of work — were “now necessary” given increased numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Golikova said some regions should introduce the non-working week earlier, on Oct. 23 and also called for unvaccinated pensioners to start self-isolating at home.
Oct. 18
— Russia's second city, St. Petersburg, announced it would tighten restrictions to battle a surge in Covid-19 cases, introducing a health pass to regulate access to crowd events.
— Moscow authorities will start fining public transport passengers whose face masks do not cover their nose and mouth, a transit official said.
— South Africa's health products regulator said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men. The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus — a type of virus that causes respiratory infections — known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
— Russia will allow family members of foreigners who live in Russia to enter the country, the Foreign Ministry said. The relaxation will allow people from countries not yet on Russia’s designated list of open countries to receive a special entry permit to come to Russia, provided they have a close relative living in Russia.
Oct. 16
— According to Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, 38 of Russia’s 85 regions have introduced vaccine mandates for certain categories of citizens and employees working in designated sectors of the economy, such as retail and hospitality.
Oct. 15
— Russia will resume regular air travel with the Bahamas, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Slovenia, Tunisia, Sweden and Thailand starting Nov. 9, the national Covid-19 headquarters announced.
Oct. 14
— Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has called on doctors who are self-isolating or even retired due to the pandemic to get vaccinated and return to work due to record increases in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Oct. 12
— The Moscow region that surrounds the capital has imposed vaccine mandates for sales, food, transport, public service, hair salon and fitness club employees.
— Roughly 235,000 of Russia's 255,000 Covid hospital beds nationwide are occupied, with 6,000 patients on ventilators, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
— Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad has suspended planned medical procedures as it battles an “extremely difficult” surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The central Mari El region also canceled routine operations and medical treatment from Tuesday, warning that it had run out of free hospital beds and may soon have to start treating patients in corridors.
Oct. 11
— The Kremlin described Russia's Covid fatality toll as "high" and the country's vaccination rate as "unacceptably" low, even as it rejected new restrictions so as to protect the economy.
— Moscow launched free express coronavirus tests at 20 locations across the city, as the capital continues to battle with rising infection rates. The tests give a result in 15 minutes, but are less effective than the gold standard PCR tests. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said rapid testing would allow “socially responsible citizens” to ensure they are not spreading the virus.
— The Leningrad region that surrounds St. Petersburg will require residents to present QR codes proving their vaccination status or a negative PCR test in order to enter theaters, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms through Nov. 15.
Oct. 8
— Russia reported 65,000 excess fatalities in August in a 45% jump on pre-pandemic mortality rates, official data showed. The country's overall number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus stands at 660,000.
— EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer said that the country "has repeatedly postponed" the timing of the inspection requested by the European Medicines Agency which has slowed down the approval process of the vaccine in the EU. The Russian Ministry of Health responded by saying that it presented the EU with all the necessary documents that the block requested.
Oct. 7
— A World Health Organization delegation will visit Russia this month as part of its approval procedure for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriyev said.
— The problem behind WHO's suspension of Sputnik V's approval process has been resolved, said Mariangela Simao, WHO's assistant director general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced that mass PCR testing will be introduced in Russia's capital in 1-2 weeks.
— Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said the federal government recommends Russian regions introduce QR-codes for attending mass events, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Oct. 4
— Russia’s top cabinet official on Monday criticized the country's stalling vaccination rates for failing to slow the spread of Covid-19 as Russians die in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Siberian Shaman Files Complaint With European Rights Court

A Siberian shaman who has tried to hike to Moscow for what he calls a mission to expel President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ a complaint with Europe ’ s top human rights court against his latest detention , @ @ @ @ @ authorities have cut short each of Alexander Gabyshev ’ s three attempts to trek across @ @ @ @ @ republic of Sakha last year .

A Siberian shaman who has tried to hike to Moscow for what he calls a mission to expel President Vladimir Putin from power has filed a complaint with Europe’s top human rights court against his latest detention, Interfax reported Wednesday.
Russian authorities have cut short each of Alexander Gabyshev’s three attempts to trek across the country from his native republic of Sakha last year.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Russia Ordered to Pay $1M to Police Brutality Victims

Russia paid more than 600 million rubles ( $ 9.5 million ) to its citizens in compliance with European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) rulings in 2019 , officials said .
Russia ’ s payouts over 20 years , they said , totaled 200 million euros .
Fifty Russian citizens have been awarded compensation totaling more than 1 million euros ( $ 1.1 million ) for police brutality and illegal searches , according to four European human rights court rulings issued Tuesday .
Three of the latest ECHR rulings award 29 Russian citizens 835,000 euros on claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nails and beatings with truncheons , according to a tally by the MBKh News website .
In its fourth ruling , the ECHR awarded 21 Russian lawyers 180,000 euros on claims of unlawful searches .
Russian law enforcement has been rocked by several torture scandals in recent years , with reported victims including LGBT people in Chechnya , Jehovah 's Witnesses and prisoners .
President Vladimir Putin in 2015 allowed the Russian Constitutional Court to overrule decisions issued by the Strasbourg-based judiciary .
Putin ’ s recent constitutional shake-up includes a proposal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rulings , a clause that experts viewed as targeting the ECHR .
The share of Russian cases in Europe ’ s top human rights court reached a seven-year high in 2019 , according to its recently released annual report .

Russia paid more than 600 million rubles ($9.5 million) to its citizens in compliance with European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings in 2019, officials said . Russia’s payouts over 20 years, they said, totaled 200 million euros.
Fifty Russian citizens have been awarded compensation totaling more than 1 million euros ($1.1 million) for police brutality and illegal searches, according to four European human rights court rulings issued Tuesday.
Three of the latest ECHR rulings award 29 Russian citizens 835,000 euros on claims of torture through electric shocks, needles in nails and beatings with truncheons, according to a tally by the MBKh News website.
In its fourth ruling, the ECHR awarded 21 Russian lawyers 180,000 euros on claims of unlawful searches.
Russian law enforcement has been rocked by several torture scandals in recent years, with reported victims including LGBT people in Chechnya, Jehovah's Witnesses and prisoners.
President Vladimir Putin in 2015 allowed the Russian Constitutional Court to overrule decisions issued by the Strasbourg-based judiciary. Putin’s recent constitutional shake-up includes a proposal for Russian law to take precedence over international rulings, a clause that experts viewed as targeting the ECHR.
The share of Russian cases in Europe’s top human rights court reached a seven-year high in 2019, according to its recently released annual report.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Climate Change Is Moving Russia's Taiga North, Scientists Warn

Climate change is heating Russia at a rate more than twice the global average , thawing what was once permanently frozen ground in the Arctic tundra , the Environment Ministry warned last year .
This has set off massive releases of gases like methane and carbon dioxide — previously stored in the permafrost — into the atmosphere .
The Taiga forests of Siberia have expanded north toward the Arctic as a result of warming temperatures over the past four decades , a team of Russian and Finnish scientists has said .
“ We are currently observing sustained growth in temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift in biomes toward the North Pole by 100-150 kilometers over the past 40 years , ” Viktor Gennadinik , a Russian scientist participating in the study , was cited as saying by the state-run TASS news agency Friday .
“ The taiga is moving into higher latitudes , into areas that were previously tundra , ” he added .
The joint project is being run by scientists from Tyumen State University , the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological Institute .
Another observation of the project said that the warming climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic ecosystem .
Rashit Khantemirov , a biologist at the Urals branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences , told TASS that the current developments in the Arctic have not been seen for the past 7,000 years .

Climate change is heating Russia at a rate more than twice the global average, thawing what was once permanently frozen ground in the Arctic tundra, the Environment Ministry warned last year. This has set off massive releases of gases like methane and carbon dioxide — previously stored in the permafrost — into the atmosphere.
The Taiga forests of Siberia have expanded north toward the Arctic as a result of warming temperatures over the past four decades, a team of Russian and Finnish scientists has said .
“We are currently observing sustained growth in temperatures in northern Eurasia and a corresponding latitudinal shift in biomes toward the North Pole by 100-150 kilometers over the past 40 years,” Viktor Gennadinik, a Russian scientist participating in the study, was cited as saying by the state-run TASS news agency Friday.
“The taiga is moving into higher latitudes, into areas that were previously tundra,” he added.
The joint project is being run by scientists from Tyumen State University, the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Another observation of the project said that the warming climate is also bringing dangerous new pests into the Arctic ecosystem.
Rashit Khantemirov, a biologist at the Urals branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told TASS that the current developments in the Arctic have not been seen for the past 7,000 years.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Russia Sentences 2 ‘Extremist’ Jehovah’s Witnesses

The ruling to hand the two worshippers in the Khabarovsk region a two-year suspended sentence comes after Russia ’ s Supreme Court declared the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses an “ extremist ” organization in 2017 .
Two Jehovah ’ s Witnesses have been convicted of extremism in Russia ’ s Far East , the group said Tuesday amid what activists say is an escalating crackdown on the religious group .
A court found Jehovah ’ s Witnesses Nikolai Polevodov and Stanislav Kim guilty of membership in an extremist organization , the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia group said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow believers currently awaiting a verdict on charges of organizing an extremist organization .
They were detained during a raid on what the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia called a non-religious gathering at a cafe in 2018 .
Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Polevodov and Kim to three years in prison .
The court database withholds the defendants ’ names but notes that Tuesday ’ s verdict is guilty .
Human Rights Watch said 2019 marked an escalation in the persecution of Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including nine real prison sentences .
President Vladimir Putin called the persecution of Jehovah ’ s Witnesses under anti-extremism law “ complete nonsense ” in 2018 .

The ruling to hand the two worshippers in the Khabarovsk region a two-year suspended sentence comes after Russia’s Supreme Court declared the Jehovah’s Witnesses an “extremist” organization in 2017.
Two Jehovah’s Witnesses have been convicted of extremism in Russia’s Far East, the group said Tuesday amid what activists say is an escalating crackdown on the religious group.
A court found Jehovah’s Witnesses Nikolai Polevodov and Stanislav Kim guilty of membership in an extremist organization, the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia group said.
Polevodov and Kim are also among six fellow believers currently awaiting a verdict on charges of organizing an extremist organization. They were detained during a raid on what the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia called a non-religious gathering at a cafe in 2018.
Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Polevodov and Kim to three years in prison.
The court database withholds the defendants’ names but notes that Tuesday’s verdict is guilty.
Human Rights Watch said 2019 marked an escalation in the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, with nearly 500 raids and 18 convictions, including nine real prison sentences.
President Vladimir Putin called the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses under anti-extremism law “complete nonsense” in 2018.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--‘Crimea Is Lost,’ Pompeo Reportedly Tells Ukraine

Pompeo reportedly made the remarks Friday at talks with Ukrainian civil society members during his recent visit to Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries .
Ukraine 's relations with Russia collapsed after Moscow seized the Black Sea peninsula and a war between pro-Russian rebels and Kiev broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014 .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has allegedly said that Ukraine has lost Crimea to Russia forever , according to a closed-door meeting participant ’ s account provided to Ukrainian media .
“ He said that Crimea is lost , ” Yelena Trehub , the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the NV news magazine Tuesday .
“ World players are well aware that Crimea is lost , ” Trehub recounted Pompeo ’ s words to Crimean activist Emina Dzhaparova .
“ Russia is not a country from which you can take something away.
” The United States and Western countries have imposed economic sanctions on Russia over Crimea , including a fresh round last week after the peninsula ’ s 2019 election and the introduction of direct railway service to mainland Russia .
The Kremlin has maintained that the annexation of Crimea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for Russia .

Update: According to a journalist who spoke to prominent Ukrainian anti-corruption worker Yelena Tregub, the NV news website misquoted Pompeo. "When the international community sees Crimea as lost, it’s important to keep the issue and fate of Crimean Tatars in public eye and the U.S. plays a role in this," BuzzFeed journalist Christopher Miller quoted Tregub as recounting Pompeo's statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has allegedly said that Ukraine has lost Crimea to Russia forever, according to a closed-door meeting participant’s account provided to Ukrainian media.
Pompeo reportedly made the remarks Friday at talks with Ukrainian civil society members during his recent visit to Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries. Ukraine's relations with Russia collapsed after Moscow seized the Black Sea peninsula and a war between pro-Russian rebels and Kiev broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Russia Plans S-400 Deliveries to India in 2021

India , the largest purchaser of Russian military hardware , agreed on the roughly $ 5 billion deal in 2018 .
The U.S. has said countries trading with Russia 's defense and intelligence sectors would face automatic sanctions .
Russia plans to start deliveries of its S-400 air defense system to India late next year , a Russian official said Wednesday of the arms deal that risks landing Delhi under U.S. sanctions .
“ The first batch is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021 , ” Vladimir Drozhzhov , the deputy head of Russia ’ s Federal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted by Interfax as saying .
“ The training of Indian specialists will begin before the start of delivery , ” Drozhzhov said .
Moscow is expected to deliver all five S-400 missile batteries to New Delhi by 2025 , a senior Russian diplomat in India said last month .
The S-400 would give India ’ s military the ability to shoot down aircraft and missiles at unprecedented ranges .
Washington has said countries trading with Russia 's defense and intelligence sectors would face automatic sanctions under a sweeping legislation called Countering America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CAATSA ) .
India is hoping that President Donald Trump 's administration will give it a waiver on the weapons systems which Delhi sees as a deterrent against China 's larger and more superior military .
A senior U.S. State Department official said last month that India would not receive a “ blanket waiver ” on sanctions .
The United States in 2018 imposed sanctions on China 's military for its purchase of combat fighters and the S-400 missile system from Russia .
Drozhzhov estimated that India has ordered $ 15 billion worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India has purchased around $ 70 billion in weapons from Russia since 1991 , he said .

India, the largest purchaser of Russian military hardware, agreed on the roughly $5 billion deal in 2018. The U.S. has said countries trading with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors would face automatic sanctions.
Russia plans to start deliveries of its S-400 air defense system to India late next year, a Russian official said Wednesday of the arms deal that risks landing Delhi under U.S. sanctions.
“The first batch is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021,” Vladimir Drozhzhov, the deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, was quoted by Interfax as saying.
“The training of Indian specialists will begin before the start of delivery,” Drozhzhov said.
Moscow is expected to deliver all five S-400 missile batteries to New Delhi by 2025, a senior Russian diplomat in India said last month.
The S-400 would give India’s military the ability to shoot down aircraft and missiles at unprecedented ranges.
Washington has said countries trading with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors would face automatic sanctions under a sweeping legislation called Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
India is hoping that President Donald Trump's administration will give it a waiver on the weapons systems which Delhi sees as a deterrent against China's larger and more superior military. A senior U.S. State Department official said last month that India would not receive a “blanket waiver” on sanctions.
The United States in 2018 imposed sanctions on China's military for its purchase of combat fighters and the S-400 missile system from Russia.
Drozhzhov estimated that India has ordered $15 billion worth of Russian arms in three years. India has purchased around $70 billion in weapons from Russia since 1991, he said.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-03--Russian Cities See Hottest January in Recorded History

Update : January temperatures across all of Russia were the second-hottest in the country ’ s recorded history , the @ @ @ @ @ .
Scores of cities across Russia including Moscow and St. Petersburg have experienced the hottest @ @ @ @ @ , an official at Russia ’ s meteorological center said Monday .
The latest record @ @ @ @ @ the hottest year on record in Russia .
Moscow and some parts of Russia have @ @ @ @ @ warm winter , which meteorologists have attributed to an atmospheric front from the Atlantic Ocean @

Update: January temperatures across all of Russia were the second-hottest in the country’s recorded history, the Federal Meteorological Service said Wednesday.
Scores of cities across Russia including Moscow and St. Petersburg have experienced the hottest January in their recorded histories, an official at Russia’s meteorological center said Monday.
The latest record comes after 2019 was declared the hottest year on record in Russia. Moscow and some parts of Russia have been reeling from an unusually warm winter, which meteorologists have attributed to an atmospheric front from the Atlantic Ocean.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Is Russia’s Church About to Ban Priests From Blessing Nukes?

The Russian Orthodox Church is considering to ban priests from blessing weapons of mass destruction , citing concerns that the @ @ @ @ @ .
The blessing of military weaponry , such as rockets , fighter jets , or @ @ @ @ @ widespread under President Vladimir Putin 's rule as ties between the church and armed forces @ @ @ @

The Russian Orthodox Church is considering to ban priests from blessing weapons of mass destruction, citing concerns that the practice goes against church tradition.
The blessing of military weaponry, such as rockets, fighter jets, or even guns, has become widespread under President Vladimir Putin's rule as ties between the church and armed forces continue to strengthen.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Italian Assets Linked to Putin Ally Frozen in U.S. Investor Feud

An Italian court froze assets belonging to a Kremlin adviser ’ s sister as part of his ownership dispute over a Russian bank with Michael Calvey , a prominent American investor who ’ s awaiting trial in Moscow on embezzlement charges .
A judge in the Tuscan city of Lucca ruled last month that Artem Avetisyan ’ s sale of real estate holding Immobiliare Roma S.r.l to his sister didn ’ t protect the asset from a potential seizure under a case in Cyprus , according to court documents .
The judge rejected Avetisyan ’ s claim that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , giving the court jurisdiction .
The victory , while small , is a rare one for Calvey , 52 , and his Baring Vostok Capital Partners .
They were forced to cede control of Vostochny Bank to Avetisyan last year after Calvey and several of his colleagues were arrested and charged with financial crimes .
Calvey , who ’ s raised more than $ 3.7 billion since founding Moscow-based Baring Vostok in 1994 , was jailed for almost two months before being remanded to house arrest .
He faces a maximum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ native dismisses the allegations , saying he ’ s just the latest victim of the not-uncommon practice of well-connected Russians settling commercial disputes through a criminal court .
Baring Vostok ’ s legal problems started after it filed a 17 billion-ruble ( $ 268 million ) claim against Avetisyan in London for allegedly stripping assets from his Uniastrum Bank before merging with Vostochny in 2017 .
Avetisyan said he ’ s not a party to the criminal case and it ’ s separate from his takeover of the combined lender last summer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell his Finvision holding company another 10 % of the bank .

An Italian court froze assets belonging to a Kremlin adviser’s sister as part of his ownership dispute over a Russian bank with Michael Calvey, a prominent American investor who’s awaiting trial in Moscow on embezzlement charges.
A judge in the Tuscan city of Lucca ruled last month that Artem Avetisyan’s sale of real estate holding Immobiliare Roma S.r.l to his sister didn’t protect the asset from a potential seizure under a case in Cyprus, according to court documents. The judge rejected Avetisyan’s claim that he’s not a legal resident in Italy, giving the court jurisdiction.
The victory, while small, is a rare one for Calvey, 52, and his Baring Vostok Capital Partners. They were forced to cede control of Vostochny Bank to Avetisyan last year after Calvey and several of his colleagues were arrested and charged with financial crimes. Calvey, who’s raised more than $3.7 billion since founding Moscow-based Baring Vostok in 1994, was jailed for almost two months before being remanded to house arrest. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
The Oklahoma native dismisses the allegations, saying he’s just the latest victim of the not-uncommon practice of well-connected Russians settling commercial disputes through a criminal court.
Legal trouble
Baring Vostok’s legal problems started after it filed a 17 billion-ruble ($268 million) claim against Avetisyan in London for allegedly stripping assets from his Uniastrum Bank before merging with Vostochny in 2017. Avetisyan said he’s not a party to the criminal case and it’s separate from his takeover of the combined lender last summer, after a Siberian court ordered Baring Vostok to sell his Finvision holding company another 10% of the bank.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Anti-LGBT Hate Crimes Up in Russia, Watchdog Says

At the same time , the SOVA Center noted Tuesday that the number of crimes against ethnic and religious minorities , as well as ideologically motivated attacks , went down last year .
The watchdog said convictions for hate crimes have gone down as well .
The number of hate crimes against members of Russia ’ s LGBT community increased in 2019 , according to an annual report by the prominent SOVA Center nonprofit , which tracks xenophobia and racism in the country .
One LGBT activist was killed and seven were injured in Russia last year , SOVA said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed and five were injured in 2018 .
The organization classified activist Yelena Grigoriyeva ’ s death in July as an anti-LGBT hate crime .
Grigoryeva ’ s personal details were leaked in an anti-LGBT group ’ s “ death list ” shortly before she was found with multiple stab wounds in St. Petersburg .
“ She contacted the police more than once because of the threats but there was no reaction whatsoever , ” SOVA said .
Other victims included picketers or those who attended LGBT-related events , SOVA said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ street attacks on individuals who were mistaken for the LGBT due to their appearance , ” it noted .
The SOVA Center warned that the true level of homophobic violence could be higher than reported because there is no official data on homophobic attacks .
Activists tie the violence to Russia ’ s 2013 law banning “ gay propaganda among minors ” and anti-LGBT rhetoric on state television .

At the same time, the SOVA Center noted Tuesday that the number of crimes against ethnic and religious minorities, as well as ideologically motivated attacks, went down last year. The watchdog said convictions for hate crimes have gone down as well.
The number of hate crimes against members of Russia’s LGBT community increased in 2019, according to an annual report by the prominent SOVA Center nonprofit, which tracks xenophobia and racism in the country.
One LGBT activist was killed and seven were injured in Russia last year, SOVA said. In comparison, one LGBT activist was killed and five were injured in 2018.
The organization classified activist Yelena Grigoriyeva’s death in July as an anti-LGBT hate crime. Grigoryeva’s personal details were leaked in an anti-LGBT group’s “death list” shortly before she was found with multiple stab wounds in St. Petersburg.
“She contacted the police more than once because of the threats but there was no reaction whatsoever,” SOVA said.
Other victims included picketers or those who attended LGBT-related events, SOVA said.
“[T]here were also street attacks on individuals who were mistaken for the LGBT due to their appearance,” it noted.
The SOVA Center warned that the true level of homophobic violence could be higher than reported because there is no official data on homophobic attacks.
Activists tie the violence to Russia’s 2013 law banning “gay propaganda among minors” and anti-LGBT rhetoric on state television.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Virus Fallout Hits Lake Baikal as Chinese Tourists Stay Away

Winter is high season for tourism around Lake Baikal in Siberia , but the coronavirus outbreak has curtailed its main @ @ @ @ @ holidaymakers .
They account for more than two-thirds of foreign tourists to the world 's @ @ @ @ @ significant part of the around two million Chinese who visited Russia last year , spending @ @ @ @ @ in its first three months .
Russia has reported just two cases of the fast-spreading @ @ @ @ @ of Chinese visitors to the lake has dwindled as Moscow and Beijing have imposed travel @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The number of Chinese tourists has fallen dramatically ...
There 's much less @ @ @ @ @ feeling it very badly , '' said Anastasia Nikolayeva , a hotel waitress in Listvyanka @ @ @ @ @ in the Irkutsk region .
Flanked by snow-capped hills and woodlands , Lake Baikal contains @ @ @ @ @ 's unfrozen freshwater reserves .
It freezes in winter , offering an array of winter @ @ @ @ @ , fishing to hovercrafting .

Winter is high season for tourism around Lake Baikal in Siberia, but the coronavirus outbreak has curtailed its main source of income: Chinese holidaymakers.
They account for more than two-thirds of foreign tourists to the world's largest freshwater lake, a significant part of the around two million Chinese who visited Russia last year, spending more than any other nation in its first three months.
Russia has reported just two cases of the fast-spreading virus, but the flow of Chinese visitors to the lake has dwindled as Moscow and Beijing have imposed travel restrictions to stem its spread.
"The number of Chinese tourists has fallen dramatically... There's much less work now. Business is feeling it very badly," said Anastasia Nikolayeva, a hotel waitress in Listvyanka, a small lakeside town in the Irkutsk region.
Flanked by snow-capped hills and woodlands, Lake Baikal contains about one-fifth of the earth's unfrozen freshwater reserves. It freezes in winter, offering an array of winter sports from skating, skiing, fishing to hovercrafting.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-05--Moscow Outlines $231Bln Plan for Arctic Oil Development

A new $ 231 billion tax regime for the Russian Arctic is to provide for an unprecedented wave of investments in icy drilling .
The new legislation was hammered through the government on Jan. 30 .
It will give national oil companies incentives for major investments in Arctic oil , the country ’ s new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says .
`` These laws will create favorable conditions for Arctic investments , the development of unique fields and consequently the accelerated development of the Northern Sea Route , '' the premier underlined as his cabinet approved the legislation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda and government officials are grappling with the task of how to reach 80 million tons of shipments on the Northern Sea Route by 2024 .
The shipping route is among the priorities in President Vladimir Putin ’ s so-called May Decrees from 2018 .
Russia 's Far East and Arctic development ministry prepared the new laws .
According to the ministry , the major tax cuts that are included in the new legislation will pave the way for a series of new big oil and gas projects in the region .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in shipments on the Northern Sea Route , the ministry argues .
New projects now are likely to be developed both offshore and on land , with overall investment reaching up to 14.7 trillion rubles ( $ 231 billion ) , Far East and Arctic development minister Alexander Kozlov says .
That includes three new offshore projects with a price tag of 1.77 trillion rubles ( $ 27.6 billion ) , his ministry said .
The offshore projects will be given a 5 % oil production tax rate for their first 15 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region will be given big incentives .
According to Kozlov , a new zero percentage mineral extraction tax will ultimately result in the development of three petrochemical projects in the region with investments totaling 2.9 trillion rubles ( $ 46 billion ) .
It is natural gas company Gazprom that is likely to be driving force in the petrochemical projects .
The state company is already planning the construction of a gigantic petrochemical plant in Bovenenkovo , the company hub in the Yamal Peninsula .
It is to be able to produce about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and polypropylene per year , company sources say .
The Russian government also wants to intensify oil exploration in the country ’ s eastern Arctic regions , where it will introduce a zero-level extraction tax for the 12 first years of new projects .
`` As a result , we are getting three new huge oil fields with about 10 trillion rubles ( $ 157 billion ) of investments , '' Kozlov said .
Among the eastern Arctic , the project is likely to include Rosneft ’ s plans for its Vostok Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the export of oil through a new pipeline to the Taymyr Peninsula .
Transport and infrastructure development have also been included in the new legislation .
The companies that build new seaports in the region will benefit from zero percent income tax for 10 years .
And shipping companies operating in the region will have no VAT on shipments of export goods and icebreaker services .

A new $231 billion tax regime for the Russian Arctic is to provide for an unprecedented wave of investments in icy drilling.
The new legislation was hammered through the government on Jan. 30. It will give national oil companies incentives for major investments in Arctic oil, the country’s new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says.
"These laws will create favorable conditions for Arctic investments, the development of unique fields and consequently the accelerated development of the Northern Sea Route," the premier underlined as his cabinet approved the legislation.
Northern Sea Route
The Arctic is high on the Russian political agenda and government officials are grappling with the task of how to reach 80 million tons of shipments on the Northern Sea Route by 2024. The shipping route is among the priorities in President Vladimir Putin’s so-called May Decrees from 2018.
Russia's Far East and Arctic development ministry prepared the new laws. According to the ministry, the major tax cuts that are included in the new legislation will pave the way for a series of new big oil and gas projects in the region. The projects will ultimately provide for a spike in shipments on the Northern Sea Route, the ministry argues.
Offshore drilling
New projects now are likely to be developed both offshore and on land, with overall investment reaching up to 14.7 trillion rubles ($231 billion), Far East and Arctic development minister Alexander Kozlov says.
That includes three new offshore projects with a price tag of 1.77 trillion rubles ($27.6 billion), his ministry said.
The offshore projects will be given a 5% oil production tax rate for their first 15 years.
Petrochemistry
Also, petrochemical projects in the region will be given big incentives. According to Kozlov, a new zero percentage mineral extraction tax will ultimately result in the development of three petrochemical projects in the region with investments totaling 2.9 trillion rubles ($46 billion).
It is natural gas company Gazprom that is likely to be driving force in the petrochemical projects. The state company is already planning the construction of a gigantic petrochemical plant in Bovenenkovo, the company hub in the Yamal Peninsula. It is to be able to produce about 3 million tons of plastics products polyethylene and polypropylene per year, company sources say.
Arctic Siberia
The Russian government also wants to intensify oil exploration in the country’s eastern Arctic regions, where it will introduce a zero-level extraction tax for the 12 first years of new projects.
"As a result, we are getting three new huge oil fields with about 10 trillion rubles ($157 billion) of investments," Kozlov said.
Among the eastern Arctic, the project is likely to include Rosneft’s plans for its Vostok Oil, the fields in the Vankor region and the export of oil through a new pipeline to the Taymyr Peninsula.
Transport and infrastructure development have also been included in the new legislation. The companies that build new seaports in the region will benefit from zero percent income tax for 10 years. And shipping companies operating in the region will have no VAT on shipments of export goods and icebreaker services.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-06--Crimea’s Capital Faces Water Shortage, Plans Daily Shutoffs

Crimea received 85 % of its water from Ukraine ’ s Dnieper River via the North Crimean Canal until 2014 , when Russia annexed the peninsula and Ukrainian authorities blocked the canal .
The three reservoirs supplying Simferopol are currently at one-third their capacity , the RBC news website reported .
The capital of Russian-annexed Crimea is facing a water shortage with enough supply to last 100 days , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday , citing regional and local officials .
If the city ’ s water consumption doesn ’ t change , Simferopol ’ s water supply will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kommersant cited Crimean water management official Igor Vail as saying at a city administration meeting .
Simferopol will introduce water restrictions on residents and businesses starting Feb. 10 , Elena Protsenko , the head of the city administration , wrote on her Facebook page .
Water will be turned on in the mornings and evenings , with hot water turned off every day except Saturday and Sunday .
“ The restrictions will not affect socially significant places : hospitals , schools , kindergartens , etc.
, ” Kommersant quoted Andrei Chernichenko , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , as saying .
Viktor Tarasenko , the president of the Crimean Academy of Sciences , told Kommersant that Simferopol ’ s water shortage stems from a second consecutive winter with low snowfall as well as a dry spring , summer and fall last year .
“ Bad luck with rainfall .
Unfortunately , nothing substantial has come up in the past few years in terms of searching for and implementing new alternatives , ” he said .
In January , Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Crimean officials for failing to resolve @ @ @ @ @ @

Crimea received 85% of its water from Ukraine’s Dnieper River via the North Crimean Canal until 2014, when Russia annexed the peninsula and Ukrainian authorities blocked the canal. The three reservoirs supplying Simferopol are currently at one-third their capacity, the RBC news website reported .
The capital of Russian-annexed Crimea is facing a water shortage with enough supply to last 100 days, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing regional and local officials.
If the city’s water consumption doesn’t change, Simferopol’s water supply will only last 90 to 100 days, Kommersant cited Crimean water management official Igor Vail as saying at a city administration meeting.
Simferopol will introduce water restrictions on residents and businesses starting Feb. 10, Elena Protsenko, the head of the city administration, wrote on her Facebook page. Water will be turned on in the mornings and evenings, with hot water turned off every day except Saturday and Sunday.
“The restrictions will not affect socially significant places: hospitals, schools, kindergartens, etc.,” Kommersant quoted Andrei Chernichenko, the head of information for Simferopol’s administration, as saying.
Viktor Tarasenko, the president of the Crimean Academy of Sciences, told Kommersant that Simferopol’s water shortage stems from a second consecutive winter with low snowfall as well as a dry spring, summer and fall last year.
“Bad luck with rainfall. Unfortunately, nothing substantial has come up in the past few years in terms of searching for and implementing new alternatives,” he said.
In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Crimean officials for failing to resolve the peninsula's water shortages.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-06--Russian Military Specialists Killed in Syria, Foreign Ministry Says

Russia ’ s rare admission of casualties comes as the UN Security Council meets to discuss the violence in Idlib , the last major rebel stronghold in Syria ’ s nine-year war .
A number of ceasefire efforts , including a Jan. 12 deal arranged by Turkey and Russia , have so far failed to stop the escalation in violence .
Russian and Turkish `` military specialists '' were killed by militants who staged more than 1,000 attacks in the last two weeks of January in the de-escalation zone in Syria 's Idlib province , Russia 's Foreign Ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dangerous increase in tension and a surge of violence in Idlib , '' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website .
It did not specify when or how many Russian and Turkish specialists had been killed last month .
A Russian conflict-monitoring group had earlier alleged that at least four members of Russia ’ s special counterterrorism forces were killed by militants in Syria on Saturday .
The Kremlin declined to comment on the Foreign Ministry ’ s report , forwarding all questions to the Defense Ministry .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France had called for Thursday ’ s UN Security Council meeting , urged Russia on Wednesday to stop the Syrian government assault on Idlib with Russian and Iranian backing .
Turkey also threatened to drive back the Syrian forces in Idlib unless they withdraw from the region by the end of the month to stem an assault that it says had displaced close to 1 million people .
Russia continues to closely coordinate with Turkey and Iran on the ground in Syria , the Foreign Ministry added .
Turkey and Russia back opposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have called the violence in Idlib a humanitarian catastrophe .

Russia’s rare admission of casualties comes as the UN Security Council meets to discuss the violence in Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria’s nine-year war. A number of ceasefire efforts, including a Jan. 12 deal arranged by Turkey and Russia, have so far failed to stop the escalation in violence.
Russian and Turkish "military specialists" were killed by militants who staged more than 1,000 attacks in the last two weeks of January in the de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib province, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
"There has recently been a dangerous increase in tension and a surge of violence in Idlib," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.
It did not specify when or how many Russian and Turkish specialists had been killed last month.
A Russian conflict-monitoring group had earlier alleged that at least four members of Russia’s special counterterrorism forces were killed by militants in Syria on Saturday.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the Foreign Ministry’s report, forwarding all questions to the Defense Ministry.
The United States, which alongside Britain and France had called for Thursday’s UN Security Council meeting, urged Russia on Wednesday to stop the Syrian government assault on Idlib with Russian and Iranian backing.
Turkey also threatened to drive back the Syrian forces in Idlib unless they withdraw from the region by the end of the month to stem an assault that it says had displaced close to 1 million people.
Russia continues to closely coordinate with Turkey and Iran on the ground in Syria, the Foreign Ministry added.
Turkey and Russia back opposing sides of the conflict.
Eight aid groups have called the violence in Idlib a humanitarian catastrophe.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.