themoscowtimes--2020-04-28--Remote Russian Region to Publish Coronavirus Patients’ Addresses Online

Russian coronavirus patients have previously reported being targeted with online bullying , threats and intimidation as well as leaks of their personal data .
A region in northern Russia will create an interactive map of confirmed coronavirus patients ’ addresses for residents to avoid , its governor said Monday .
“ I issued instructions to make an online map of all detected cases of infection , right up to specifying street and house numbers , ” Karelia ’ s governor Artur Parfenchikov wrote on social media .
He pledged to publish the infection map as soon as Monday and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s important that residents know the sources of infection and minimize visits to these places as much as possible , ” Parfenchikov wrote .
At least one local legislator has slammed Parfenchikov ’ s proposal as a violation of human rights , the Current Time broadcaster reported .
A number of Russian regions have enacted digital or text message-based passes to monitor movements during lockdown measures imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
Last month , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the creation of a cellphone geolocation tracking system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into contact with infected persons .
Critics have raised privacy concerns over the tracking technologies .
The republic of Karelia , a remote area bordering Finland with a population of slightly more than 600,000 , is among Russia ’ s 10 least-affected regions with 56 officially reported Covid-19 cases and no deaths .
Russia confirmed 87,147 coronavirus infections as of Monday , surpassing China to become the world 's ninth most-affected country .

Russian coronavirus patients have previously reported being targeted with online bullying, threats and intimidation as well as leaks of their personal data.
A region in northern Russia will create an interactive map of confirmed coronavirus patients’ addresses for residents to avoid, its governor said Monday.
“I issued instructions to make an online map of all detected cases of infection, right up to specifying street and house numbers,” Karelia’s governor Artur Parfenchikov wrote on social media.
He pledged to publish the infection map as soon as Monday and to update it on a daily basis.
“It’s important that residents know the sources of infection and minimize visits to these places as much as possible,” Parfenchikov wrote.
At least one local legislator has slammed Parfenchikov’s proposal as a violation of human rights, the Current Time broadcaster reported.
A number of Russian regions have enacted digital or text message-based passes to monitor movements during lockdown measures imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Last month, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the creation of a cellphone geolocation tracking system that would inform users if they had come into contact with infected persons.
Critics have raised privacy concerns over the tracking technologies.
The republic of Karelia, a remote area bordering Finland with a population of slightly more than 600,000, is among Russia’s 10 least-affected regions with 56 officially reported Covid-19 cases and no deaths. Russia confirmed 87,147 coronavirus infections as of Monday, surpassing China to become the world's ninth most-affected country.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-28--Russian Opposition Holds Online Protest Against Putin

Russian opposition activists avoided lockdown measures by holding an online protest on Thursday against President Vladimir Putin 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Speakers also criticized Putin 's proposed constitutional changes that allow him to extend his stay in office .
But the YouTube feed experienced serious technical problems , making the speeches initially inaudible and the number of viewers was only around four thousand .
The online event was organized by a group called `` The No Campaign '' , led by Ilya Azar , a journalist at independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and a municipal lawmaker .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a street demonstration as Moscow is under a strict lockdown , Azar told AFP .
`` In normal times it would be weird to organize a rally online , '' he said .
`` This is an attempt to find a new format . ''
The glitch-prone event contrasted with previous slick online presentations by Russia 's main opposition politician Alexei Navalny , who did not take part .
Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov had to repeat his entire speech due to lack of sound .
`` We are forced to use this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'd be glad to see you all in a Moscow square . ''
He attacked the government for failing to provide `` decent compensation '' for those who are unable to work due to the lockdown .
`` In most European countries ... the authorities are spending hundreds of billions and even trillions of dollars to save their citizens , save small and medium sized businesses , '' he said .
`` In Russia it 's the absolute opposite . ''

Russian opposition activists avoided lockdown measures by holding an online protest on Tuesday against President Vladimir Putin's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speakers also criticized Putin's proposed constitutional changes that allow him to extend his stay in office.
But the YouTube feed experienced serious technical problems, making the speeches initially inaudible and the number of viewers was only around four thousand.
The online event was organized by a group called "The No Campaign," led by Ilya Azar, a journalist at independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and a municipal lawmaker.
The online format aimed to recreate the feeling of a street demonstration as Moscow is under a strict lockdown, Azar told AFP.
"In normal times it would be weird to organize a rally online," he said. "This is an attempt to find a new format."
The glitch-prone event contrasted with previous slick online presentations by Russia's main opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who did not take part.
Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov had to repeat his entire speech due to lack of sound.
"We are forced to use this format, unfortunately," he said. "I'd be glad to see you all in a Moscow square."
He attacked the government for failing to provide "decent compensation" for those who are unable to work due to the lockdown.
"In most European countries ... the authorities are spending hundreds of billions and even trillions of dollars to save their citizens, save small and medium sized businesses," he said.
"In Russia it's the absolute opposite."


themoscowtimes--2020-04-28--Russians’ Trust in Putin Hits 14-Year Low – State Poll

The latest poll results come as Russian authorities — and Putin in particular — have faced criticism for their response to the coronavirus pandemic , which many see as providing insufficient support to businesses and workers .
Before the coronavirus hit Russia , Putin had been pursuing a series of constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay president until 2036 .
Just 28.3 % of Russians surveyed by VTsIOM in March named Putin when asked to name a politician whom they trust , the lowest percentage since the pollster began asking the question in January 2006 .
Valery Fyodorov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forbes Russia that respondents are more likely to say they trust Putin if asked the question in multiple-choice format rather than the “ open-ended ” format that VTsIOM normally uses .
For example , when asked to give a yes-or-no answer to whether or not they trust Putin in April , 69.8 % of respondents said yes , he said .
“ The open-ended question is more about memory and information activity than about trust , unfortunately , ” Fyodorov said .
“ In general , I would stop asking this question at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , they will start suspecting me of some terrible things.
” In its May 2019 survey , VTsIOM said that trust in Putin had reached a 13-year low of 31.7 % .
Following criticism from the Kremlin , VTsIOM said it would change its polling methodology , and its revised results showed trust in Putin skyrocket to 72.3 % .

The latest poll results come as Russian authorities — and Putin in particular — have faced criticism for their response to the coronavirus pandemic, which many see as providing insufficient support to businesses and workers. Before the coronavirus hit Russia, Putin had been pursuing a series of constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay president until 2036.
Just 28.3% of Russians surveyed by VTsIOM in March named Putin when asked to name a politician whom they trust, the lowest percentage since the pollster began asking the question in January 2006.
Valery Fyodorov, the head of VTsIOM, told Forbes Russia that respondents are more likely to say they trust Putin if asked the question in multiple-choice format rather than the “open-ended” format that VTsIOM normally uses.
For example, when asked to give a yes-or-no answer to whether or not they trust Putin in April, 69.8% of respondents said yes, he said.
“The open-ended question is more about memory and information activity than about trust, unfortunately,” Fyodorov said. “In general, I would stop asking this question at all, but if I stop asking it, they will start suspecting me of some terrible things.”
In its May 2019 survey, VTsIOM said that trust in Putin had reached a 13-year low of 31.7%. Following criticism from the Kremlin, VTsIOM said it would change its polling methodology, and its revised results showed trust in Putin skyrocket to 72.3%.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-28--Putin Extends Russia’s Coronavirus Lockdown as New Infections Continue to Rise

Russia now ranks eighth in the world for coronavirus infections , with 93,558 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday .
Putin originally declared a “ non-working ” week late in March , then extended it until Thursday , April 30 , as Russia registered increases in Covid-19 cases .
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday extended the national “ non-working ” month through May 11 , warning that Russia has yet to see the peak of its coronavirus outbreak .
“ The situation remains very complicated… Russia has managed to slow down the spread of the epidemic , but we haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Putin said on a conference call with regional governors .
The extended lockdown measures affect Russia 's early-May public holidays , which normally have three working days between May 1 and May 11 .
“ I think it ’ s right to declare these three days [ May 6-8 ] non-working .
Thus , the non-working period will extend until May 11 , ” he said .
“ The deadly threat of the virus remains , it could affect everyone .
In that regard , we all need to be concentrated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his fifth public address regarding the outbreak .
Putin also ordered officials to draw up measures to gradually lift restrictions starting May 12 by next week .
Russia 's governors are still authorized to take measures against the outbreak specific to their regions .
His announcement comes two days after Russia ’ s top health official warned of another spike in Covid-19 cases after the early May public holidays if people ignored lockdown measures .
Market data indicated that demand for barbecue and grilling products grew by 1.5 this weekend compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend the holidays in countryside dachas .
In Moscow , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , the coronavirus lockdown has been extended until May 13 , the Govorit Moskva radio station reported , citing a copy of an order from Mayor Sergei Sobyanin it obtained .
Muscovites are required to apply for digital passes to travel outside shops , pharmacies and a 100-meter radius to walk dogs under a system imposed to monitor people ’ s movements during the lockdown .
The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays on Monday .
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has meanwhile ordered Russia ’ s consumer protection watchdog to draft steps by Wednesday toward gradually reopening the economy .

Russia now ranks eighth in the world for coronavirus infections, with 93,558 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday. Putin originally declared a “non-working” week late in March, then extended it until Thursday, April 30, as Russia registered increases in Covid-19 cases.
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday extended the national “non-working” month through May 11, warning that Russia has yet to see the peak of its coronavirus outbreak.
“The situation remains very complicated… Russia has managed to slow down the spread of the epidemic, but we haven’t passed the peak yet,” Putin said on a conference call with regional governors.
The extended lockdown measures affect Russia's early-May public holidays, which normally have three working days between May 1 and May 11.
“I think it’s right to declare these three days [May 6-8] non-working. Thus, the non-working period will extend until May 11,” he said.
“The deadly threat of the virus remains, it could affect everyone. In that regard, we all need to be concentrated, disciplined and mobilized,” Putin said in his fifth public address regarding the outbreak.
Putin also ordered officials to draw up measures to gradually lift restrictions starting May 12 by next week. Russia's governors are still authorized to take measures against the outbreak specific to their regions.
His announcement comes two days after Russia’s top health official warned of another spike in Covid-19 cases after the early May public holidays if people ignored lockdown measures. Market data indicated that demand for barbecue and grilling products grew by 1.5 this weekend compared with earlier in April, suggesting preparations to spend the holidays in countryside dachas.
In Moscow, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, the coronavirus lockdown has been extended until May 13, the Govorit Moskva radio station reported, citing a copy of an order from Mayor Sergei Sobyanin it obtained.
Muscovites are required to apply for digital passes to travel outside shops, pharmacies and a 100-meter radius to walk dogs under a system imposed to monitor people’s movements during the lockdown.
The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital had extended lockdown measures into the early-May public holidays on Monday.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has meanwhile ordered Russia’s consumer protection watchdog to draft steps by Wednesday toward gradually reopening the economy.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-28--Senior Russian FSB Officer Named as Key MH17 Figure: Bellingcat

Dutch-led investigators have so far named four pro-Russian separatists as suspects in criminal proceedings into the deaths of 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 , which was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 .
The investigation appealed for witnesses last fall to help name a key figure identified as “ Vladimir Ivanovich ” in intercepted calls with separatist commanders .
Federal Security Service ( FSB ) Col. Gen. Andrei Burlaka is believed to be the highest-ranking Russian official linked to the investigation into the downing of Flight MH17 , according to a joint investigation by the investigative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Insider news website published Tuesday .
Bellingcat and The Insider identified “ Vladimir Ivanovich ” as Col. Gen. Andrei Ivanovich Burlaka , the FSB Border Service ’ s chief of operational staff .
The outlets said that they established Burlaka ’ s identity through extensive searches of phone records , travel data and voice-comparison technology .
“ This FSB general is the highest-ranking Russian official identified as a person of interest in the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17 , ” Bellingcat wrote .
It noted that Burlaka is two steps removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answers directly to President Vladimir Putin .
BBC Russia corroborated Burlaka 's identity through an unnamed source who had personally spoken with Burlaka .
Bellingcat said that Burlaka was “ in a crucial position to supervise the movement of weapons from Russia to Ukraine , and thus would have had to authorize the transfer of the Russian Buk missile launcher that shot the Malaysian airliner after crossing the border.
” “ Based on the call intercepts as a whole , it becomes clear that ‘ Vladimir Ivanovich ’ played a critical role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militants and the Russian government , ” it wrote .
Russia has denied any role in the July 17 , 2014 , downing of MH17 .

Dutch-led investigators have so far named four pro-Russian separatists as suspects in criminal proceedings into the deaths of 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. The investigation appealed for witnesses last fall to help name a key figure identified as “Vladimir Ivanovich” in intercepted calls with separatist commanders.
Federal Security Service (FSB) Col. Gen. Andrei Burlaka is believed to be the highest-ranking Russian official linked to the investigation into the downing of Flight MH17, according to a joint investigation by the investigative outlet Bellingcat and Russia’s The Insider news website published Tuesday.
Bellingcat and The Insider identified “Vladimir Ivanovich” as Col. Gen. Andrei Ivanovich Burlaka, the FSB Border Service’s chief of operational staff. The outlets said that they established Burlaka’s identity through extensive searches of phone records, travel data and voice-comparison technology.
“This FSB general is the highest-ranking Russian official identified as a person of interest in the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17,” Bellingcat wrote.
It noted that Burlaka is two steps removed from FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, who answers directly to President Vladimir Putin.
BBC Russia corroborated Burlaka's identity through an unnamed source who had personally spoken with Burlaka.
Bellingcat said that Burlaka was “in a crucial position to supervise the movement of weapons from Russia to Ukraine, and thus would have had to authorize the transfer of the Russian Buk missile launcher that shot the Malaysian airliner after crossing the border.”
“Based on the call intercepts as a whole, it becomes clear that ‘Vladimir Ivanovich’ played a critical role in the chain of command between ostensibly local militants and the Russian government,” it wrote.
Russia has denied any role in the July 17, 2014, downing of MH17.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-29--Russia Extends Entry Ban for Foreigners Over Pandemic

The decree barring foreigners from entering the country , which was introduced in mid-March and set to expire Thursday , was extended until Russia has the virus under control , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said .
Russia on Wednesday extended an entry ban for foreigners to slow the coronavirus as the country registers a steep rise in the number of new infections .
`` I have signed a government resolution on extending it until the fight against the infection is over and the epidemic situation has improved , '' he told officials meeting to discuss Russia 's response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered a steady increase in new coronavirus cases , with more than 99,000 confirmed infections and 972 deaths .
Mishustin said the entry ban would carry exemptions for specialists who do maintenance on imported equipment .
This would `` reduce the negative impact '' on companies that manufacture equipment to combat coronavirus infection , he explained .
President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that Russia had not yet reached the peak of coronavirus infections and extended lockdown measures in the country for two weeks .
In a video conference with regional governors , Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the pandemic , but cautioned that `` this should not reassure us . ''

The decree barring foreigners from entering the country, which was introduced in mid-March and set to expire Thursday, was extended until Russia has the virus under control, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
Russia on Wednesday extended an entry ban for foreigners to slow the coronavirus as the country registers a steep rise in the number of new infections.
"I have signed a government resolution on extending it until the fight against the infection is over and the epidemic situation has improved," he told officials meeting to discuss Russia's response to the pandemic.
Health officials in Russia have registered a steady increase in new coronavirus cases, with more than 99,000 confirmed infections and 972 deaths.
Mishustin said the entry ban would carry exemptions for specialists who do maintenance on imported equipment.
This would "reduce the negative impact" on companies that manufacture equipment to combat coronavirus infection, he explained.
President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that Russia had not yet reached the peak of coronavirus infections and extended lockdown measures in the country for two weeks.
In a video conference with regional governors, Putin said Russia had managed to slow the spread of the pandemic, but cautioned that "this should not reassure us."


themoscowtimes--2020-04-29--Siberian Officials Suspected of Starting Wildfires

The four officials from the Ust-Kutsky district in the Irkutsk region said they were on assignment to film reported burn sites , according to a series of videos posted by local media .
One of the officials appeared in the videos hunched over with a bleeding face , which the videos ’ authors said was the result of him falling on a log .
The mayor of a remote Siberian town has accused four district officials of attempting to start wildfires after catching them with gas canisters near his property , local media reported Wednesday .
“ They went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set a fire and put on a show that Dushin ’ s forest is burning , ” Alexander Dushin , the mayor of the town of Ust-Kut located in the district , claimed in the video .
Regional investigators said they will inspect an unnamed municipal district official for abuse of authority after he was spotted near the site of burning dry grass , the state-run TASS news agency reported Wednesday .
The four officials have gone missing in the 24 hours since the incident , the district ’ s chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assume that Dushin is holding them by force , ” she was quoted as saying .
The Ust-Kutsky district , more than 5,000 kilometers east of Moscow , on Tuesday announced that police and National Guard troops have stepped up patrols to prevent forest fires .
Nine Siberian regions including Irkutsk have so far been affected by the wildfires , which were set by locals to dry grass and pushed out of control by strong winds , according to NASA ’ s satellite technology .
The Irkutsk region accounts for one-tenth of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of forest currently burning in Siberia , according to the Russian government ’ s Aerial Forest Protection Service , Avialesookhrana .
Greenpeace Russia forecasts that the wildfires , which started a month earlier than usual this year due to a dry winter , could become the most destructive since the beginning of the century .

The four officials from the Ust-Kutsky district in the Irkutsk region said they were on assignment to film reported burn sites, according to a series of videos posted by local media. One of the officials appeared in the videos hunched over with a bleeding face, which the videos’ authors said was the result of him falling on a log.
The mayor of a remote Siberian town has accused four district officials of attempting to start wildfires after catching them with gas canisters near his property, local media reported Wednesday.
“They went into the forest. For what? To set a fire and put on a show that Dushin’s forest is burning,” Alexander Dushin, the mayor of the town of Ust-Kut located in the district, claimed in the video.
Regional investigators said they will inspect an unnamed municipal district official for abuse of authority after he was spotted near the site of burning dry grass, the state-run TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
The four officials have gone missing in the 24 hours since the incident, the district’s chief of staff Marina Kosygina told TASS. “We assume that Dushin is holding them by force,” she was quoted as saying.
The Ust-Kutsky district, more than 5,000 kilometers east of Moscow, on Tuesday announced that police and National Guard troops have stepped up patrols to prevent forest fires.
Nine Siberian regions including Irkutsk have so far been affected by the wildfires, which were set by locals to dry grass and pushed out of control by strong winds, according to NASA’s satellite technology.
The Irkutsk region accounts for one-tenth of the almost 61,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of forest currently burning in Siberia, according to the Russian government’s Aerial Forest Protection Service, Avialesookhrana.
Greenpeace Russia forecasts that the wildfires, which started a month earlier than usual this year due to a dry winter, could become the most destructive since the beginning of the century.