themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Russian Artillery Bombards Raging Oil Field Fire to Extinguish Blaze

The Irkutsk Oil Company , a small producer , last week asked the Russian military to bombard a wellhead at the Yarakta oil field using the MT-12 Rapira weapon .
The wellhead at the remote facility caught fire during oil flow measurements on May 30 , the company ’ s subsidiary had said .
The Russian military is using an anti-tank gun to help put out a fire that has been raging in a Siberian oil field for more than a week , The Siberian Times reported Monday .
Nighttime footage shared by the Russian military showed troops loading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it called “ surgical precision ” at the burning wellhead from a distance of 180 meters .
The well was sealed and the inferno eliminated by late Monday morning , according to The Siberian Times .
“ We ’ re moving to the final stage of eliminating the fire , ” said Azat Galimyanov , chief engineer of Tikhookeanskiy Terminal ( Pacific Terminal ) , an Irkutsk Oil Company subsidiary .
The company said there were no casualties and no threat of wildfires from the wellhead fire .
The Soviet Union is believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a peaceful nuclear blast , to quell a gas-well fire that had raged for three years in 1966 .
The fire broke out more than 1,500 kilometers south of Norilsk , the site of a May 29 oil spill that has been called one of the worst in Arctic history and is believed to have been caused by melting permafrost .

The Irkutsk Oil Company, a small producer, last week asked the Russian military to bombard a wellhead at the Yarakta oil field using the MT-12 Rapira weapon. The wellhead at the remote facility caught fire during oil flow measurements on May 30, the company’s subsidiary had said .
The Russian military is using an anti-tank gun to help put out a fire that has been raging in a Siberian oil field for more than a week, The Siberian Times reported Monday.
Nighttime footage shared by the Russian military showed troops loading the 100mm gun and shooting it with what it called “surgical precision” at the burning wellhead from a distance of 180 meters.
The well was sealed and the inferno eliminated by late Monday morning, according to The Siberian Times.
“We’re moving to the final stage of eliminating the fire,” said Azat Galimyanov, chief engineer of Tikhookeanskiy Terminal (Pacific Terminal), an Irkutsk Oil Company subsidiary.
The company said there were no casualties and no threat of wildfires from the wellhead fire.
The Soviet Union is believed to have used an explosion, described as a peaceful nuclear blast, to quell a gas-well fire that had raged for three years in 1966.
The fire broke out more than 1,500 kilometers south of Norilsk, the site of a May 29 oil spill that has been called one of the worst in Arctic history and is believed to have been caused by melting permafrost.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Moscow Set to Further Ease Virus Lockdown

Russia 's largest city , with more than 12 million people , has been under lockdown since March 30 .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin was expected Monday to set out a timetable to further ease strict lockdown measures in the capital as Russia 's number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached 476,658 .
Sobyanin said on television on Thursday that he would give details of a gradual withdrawal from most lockdown measures `` over the month of June , up to July 1 . ''
July 1 is the date for a national vote on constitutional changes proposed by President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Kremlin beyond his current term .
Kremlin critics have suggested that city officials are under pressure to lift measures by July 1 to assuage fears over the safety of the vote .
Moscow has had a system of compulsory permits to use public transport and taxis for work or other essential activities since mid-April .
Sobyanin had previously extended the permit system until at least June 14 .
Since the start of June , residents have been allowed to go for walks and exercise outside according to a fixed schedule , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a nearby shop or walk a dog .
Moscow is Russia 's most-affected city with almost 200,000 confirmed cases and 2,970 deaths .
Daily new cases in the city have fallen from a peak of more than 6,000 in early May and are currently around 2,000 per day .
`` The main thing is to keep this trend , '' Sobyanin said .
There have already been some steps to reopen the city and revive the economy including a return to work for the construction industry and factories from May 12 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Five million people are using public transport , the mayor said .
Russia on Monday said the country 's death toll had risen to 5,971 while the number of new cases was 8,985 , a number that has been fairly consistent over the last weeks .
The far eastern Kamchatka peninsula on Monday saw a cluster of cases at a children 's home with 24 staff infected , Interfax reported .
The region , known for its active volcanoes and spectacular nature , has confirmed 1,168 cases out of a population of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the region at 423 is already higher than the 406 beds prepared for virus patients , according to the regional health ministry 's website .

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital's general lockdown and pass system would end on Tuesday, allowing residents to travel freely for the first time since late March.
Russia announced Monday it would lift a range of anti-coronavirus measures including a strict lockdown on Moscow, despite still recording thousands of new infections every day.
"Moscow is returning to the usual rhythm of life," he said in a video message on Facebook, adding that the elderly and those with chronic diseases will be allowed to leave their homes.
Russia has been moving quickly to ease restrictions even as it registers nearly 9,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths on a daily basis.
The country had recorded a total of 476,658 coronavirus infections as of Monday — the third-highest number in the world — and 5,971 deaths.
Officials say the high number is the result of a huge testing campaign, with more than 13 million tests carried out so far, and point to Russia's relatively low mortality rate as evidence it is safe to ease lockdowns.
Critics have accused authorities of under-reporting deaths and say officials are rushing to lift restrictions for political reasons.
President Vladimir Putin has rescheduled a high-profile World War II military parade in Red Square for June 24 and a vote on constitutional reforms for a week later, on July 1.
The vote, which will clear the way for changes allowing Putin to potentially stay in power beyond his current Kremlin term, was the centerpiece of the longtime leader's political calendar for this year but had to be postponed from April 22 as coronavirus cases surged.
Danger 'still exists'
Moscow, Russia's largest city with more than 12 million people, had been under lockdown since March 30.
Some measures have been gradually lifted over the last few weeks, with non-food retail shops permitted to reopen and residents allowed to go for walks according to a fixed schedule.
Sobyanin said that as well as all restrictions on movement being lifted from Tuesday, hairdressers, beauty salons and vets will be allowed to reopen.
Beginning next week, libraries, real estate offices and companies that provide services to residents will be able to resume their work, he said.
Restaurants and cafes would open in two stages beginning June 16 with Moscow residents allowed to visit terraces, with further restrictions easing the following week.
But the mayor urged caution, saying that the "likelihood of coronavirus infection has decreased, but still exists."
"We must constantly monitor the situation and prevent a new outbreak."
International travel
Russia also on Monday announced the first steps to allow its citizens to travel abroad, with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin saying a government order had been signed allowing them to leave the country to work, study or take care of sick relatives.
Foreigners could also visit Russia to care for relatives, he said, without making it clear how soon these new measures would be implemented.
All international flights were grounded in late March, although there have since been a few flights ferrying stranded Russians in and foreigners out.
Mishustin said the move was justified because the infection rate has stabilized over the last six days, particularly in Moscow.
Moscow is Russia's most-affected city with almost 200,000 confirmed cases and 2,970 deaths.
Other parts of Russia have seen emerging clusters of cases, including the Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula, where 24 staff were infected at a children's home, Interfax news agency reported Monday.
The region, known for its active volcanoes and spectacular nature, has confirmed 1,168 cases out of a population of just over 300,000.
The number hospitalized in the region at 423 is already higher than the 406 beds prepared for virus patients, according to the regional health ministry's website.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Russia Plans to Resume International Flights in July – Reports

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March amid the coronavirus outbreak , allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other flights authorized by the government .
Since then , Russia has reported more than 476,000 Covid-19 cases , becoming the world ’ s third most-affected country by the pandemic .
Russia plans to resume international air travel on July 15 as it eyes a gradual return to normal life amid the coronavirus pandemic , the RBC news website and state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday .
Russia ’ s Federal Air Transport Agency , Rosaviatsia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international flights in five weeks to Russia ’ s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor , RBC and TASS cited unnamed sources as saying .
Rosaviatsia reportedly seeks to restart flights to and from 15 countries , including China , South Korea , Turkey and European countries where the coronavirus crisis has eased .
An Interfax source identified the countries as former Soviet republics .
“ Nearly every country ” would be available for business aviation , according to a TASS source .
The resumption would be contingent on the destination countries agreeing to accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered Rosaviatsia and Rospotrebnadzor to explore options for resuming international flights .
Russia 's border has been closed to all foreign nationals since mid-March .

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March amid the coronavirus outbreak, allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other flights authorized by the government. Since then, Russia has reported more than 476,000 Covid-19 cases, becoming the world’s third most-affected country by the pandemic.
Russia plans to resume international air travel on July 15 as it eyes a gradual return to normal life amid the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC news website and state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday.
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, plans to send its proposal to restart international flights in five weeks to Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, RBC and TASS cited unnamed sources as saying.
Rosaviatsia reportedly seeks to restart flights to and from 15 countries, including China, South Korea, Turkey and European countries where the coronavirus crisis has eased. An Interfax source identified the countries as former Soviet republics.
“Nearly every country” would be available for business aviation, according to a TASS source.
The resumption would be contingent on the destination countries agreeing to accept flights from Russia, the outlets reported.
On Monday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered Rosaviatsia and Rospotrebnadzor to explore options for resuming international flights.
Russia's border has been closed to all foreign nationals since mid-March.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 475K as Country Slowly Reopens

New infections have plateaued since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11,000 cases .
Officials say Russia @ @ @ @ @ the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections and its @ @ @ @ @ country can begin to return to normal .
Yet critics have cast doubt on the @ @ @ @ @ of under-reporting deaths and threatening a new wave of infections by lifting restrictions .
Russian @ @ @ @ @ announced that a postponed nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that could extend his hold over @ @ @ @ @ July 1 .
The authorities have also rescheduled Russia 's massive May 9 Victory Day @ @ @ @ @ .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's pandemic with around half of the country @ @ @ @ @ Monday eased a nine-week lockdown allowing shops to reopen and residents to leave their homes @ @ @ @ @ was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday to discuss proposals to @ @ @ @ @ by lockdown measures and a sharp fall in oil prices .

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

OPEC members and key oil producers including Russia agreed to extend historic output cuts through July , as oil prices @ @ @ @ @ ease .
Under the terms of the April agreement , OPEC and the so-called OPEC+ @ @ @ @ @ 9.7 million barrels per day ( bpd ) from May 1 until the end of @ @ @ @ @ then to be gradually eased from July , to 7.7 million bpd until December .
@ @ @ @ @ production from 561 million metric tons last year to 510-520 million tons in 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ The United States offered to help Russia clean up a vast fuel spill that has @ @ @ @ @ northern Siberia , deemed the worst ecological catastrophe of the sort to ever hit the @ @ @ @ @ was thankful for the offer but noted that it had sufficient resources to handle the @ @

Crude deal
OPEC members and key oil producers including Russia agreed to extend historic output cuts through July, as oil prices tentatively recover and coronavirus lockdowns ease.
Under the terms of the April agreement, OPEC and the so-called OPEC+ pledged to cut output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from May 1 until the end of June. The cuts were then to be gradually eased from July, to 7.7 million bpd until December.
Russia will cut its crude production from 561 million metric tons last year to 510-520 million tons in 2020, the energy minister said.
Helping hand
The United States offered to help Russia clean up a vast fuel spill that has fouled an Arctic river in northern Siberia, deemed the worst ecological catastrophe of the sort to ever hit the region. Russia said it was thankful for the offer but noted that it had sufficient resources to handle the crisis.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--‘A Political Decision’: Russia Declares Victory Over Coronavirus Even as Cases Rise

In the middle of May , as Moscow passed the peak of its new coronavirus case total and began heading back down the curve toward zero , the city ’ s mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that strict restrictions would nonetheless remain in place for the foreseeable future .
At the time , new daily cases in Moscow had plateaued at around 4,500 per day .
Sobyanin , who doubles as head of Russia ’ s coronavirus taskforce , explained that residents of the Russian capital would only be allowed to go outside for walks or exercise when new daily infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands.
” Over two weeks later , Moscow continues to see new daily cases in the thousands .
The Russian capital recorded just over 2,000 new infections on Monday , while the country saw nearly 9,000 new cases nationwide and over 100 deaths .
Sobyanin , however , has changed his tune .
“ I want to congratulate you on another shared victory , ” he said in a video address to Muscovites Monday .
From Tuesday , Sobyanin announced , the capital will be ending its digital pass and schedule system for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , bars , restaurants , gyms and hairdressers will all reopen in Russia ’ s most populous city , which has been on lockdown since March 30 .
While Russia isn ’ t the only country easing coronavirus restrictions as the pandemic begins to ebb among those countries gripped by it early on , it is doing so at a time when its caseload is significantly higher than in others .
On Monday , for instance , New Zealand withdrew all of its coronavirus restrictions , save for opening its borders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s final infected patient had fully recovered .
“ This appears to be a politically motivated decision to create an illusion that everything is safe , ” said Vasily Vlassov , an epidemiologist with Moscow ’ s Higher School of Economics .
The reason , political analysts said , is that the Kremlin has two key delayed political events on the near horizon — a parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany followed by a constitutional referendum that could see President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everything currently happening has to be looked at through the prism of this vote , ” said Konstantin Kalachev , head of the Political Expert Group think tank .
“ This is all part of the orchestrated drama .
First the victory over the coronavirus , then the celebration of the victory over the Nazis , then the culmination.
” Sobyanin ’ s shift to accommodate the Kremlin ’ s political plans appears to have taken some strong-arming .
Recent days , in particular , showed discord between the mayor and the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complicated walking schedule for Muscovites from May 28 until at least June 14 , Putin announced that the traditional May 9 victory parade would take place on June 24 .
Then , a few days later , the president said the constitutional referendum vote would take place on July 1 .
Sobyanin ’ s comments to Muscovites the same day appeared to be begrudging .
“ Today the president announced the vote on changes to the Constitution .
You 'd think we have other more pressing matters — the pandemic , economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote ?
” he said .
“ But unrealized decisions are also a serious problem.
” The next day Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called for an investigation into whether Moscow ’ s quarantine had violated the rights of its residents .
On Monday , Mishustin moved to allow Russians to once again travel abroad , announcing that a government order had been signed allowing them to leave Russia to work , study or take care of sick relatives .
“ Initially there was alignment between Sobyanin and the federal government , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the International Crisis Group .
“ But what we ’ ve seen recently is increasing pressure on Sobyanin to ease the lockdown .
”

In the middle of May, as Moscow passed the peak of its new coronavirus case total and began heading back down the curve toward zero, the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that strict restrictions would nonetheless remain in place for the foreseeable future. At the time, new daily cases in Moscow had plateaued at around 4,500 per day. Sobyanin, who doubles as head of Russia’s coronavirus taskforce, explained that residents of the Russian capital would only be allowed to go outside for walks or exercise when new daily infections reach “tens or hundreds, not thousands.” Over two weeks later, Moscow continues to see new daily cases in the thousands. The Russian capital recorded just over 2,000 new infections on Monday, while the country saw nearly 9,000 new cases nationwide and over 100 deaths. Sobyanin, however, has changed his tune. “I want to congratulate you on another shared victory,” he said in a video address to Muscovites Monday. From Tuesday, Sobyanin announced, the capital will be ending its digital pass and schedule system for taking walks outside — and within two weeks, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers will all reopen in Russia’s most populous city, which has been on lockdown since March 30.
While Russia isn’t the only country easing coronavirus restrictions as the pandemic begins to ebb among those countries gripped by it early on, it is doing so at a time when its caseload is significantly higher than in others. On Monday, for instance, New Zealand withdrew all of its coronavirus restrictions, save for opening its borders to foreign tourists, only after it announced the country’s final infected patient had fully recovered. “This appears to be a politically motivated decision to create an illusion that everything is safe,” said Vasily Vlassov, an epidemiologist with Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. The reason, political analysts said, is that the Kremlin has two key delayed political events on the near horizon — a parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany followed by a constitutional referendum that could see President Vladimir Putin remain in office until 2036. “Everything currently happening has to be looked at through the prism of this vote,” said Konstantin Kalachev, head of the Political Expert Group think tank. “This is all part of the orchestrated drama. First the victory over the coronavirus, then the celebration of the victory over the Nazis, then the culmination.” Sobyanin’s shift to accommodate the Kremlin’s political plans appears to have taken some strong-arming. Recent days, in particular, showed discord between the mayor and the president.
Just a day after Sobyanin unveiled a complicated walking schedule for Muscovites from May 28 until at least June 14, Putin announced that the traditional May 9 victory parade would take place on June 24. Then, a few days later, the president said the constitutional referendum vote would take place on July 1. Sobyanin’s comments to Muscovites the same day appeared to be begrudging. “Today the president announced the vote on changes to the Constitution. You'd think we have other more pressing matters — the pandemic, economic woes. What's the rush with the vote?” he said. “But unrealized decisions are also a serious problem.” The next day Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called for an investigation into whether Moscow’s quarantine had violated the rights of its residents. On Monday, Mishustin moved to allow Russians to once again travel abroad, announcing that a government order had been signed allowing them to leave Russia to work, study or take care of sick relatives. “Initially there was alignment between Sobyanin and the federal government,” said Anna Arutunyan, Senior Russia Analyst with the International Crisis Group. “But what we’ve seen recently is increasing pressure on Sobyanin to ease the lockdown.”


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Russian TV Channel Appears to Add Footage of US Unrest to Film

Channel One devoted Sunday evening to airing director Alexei Balabanov 's movies `` Brat '' and `` Brat 2 '' ( “ Brother ” and “ Brother 2 ” ) on the twentieth anniversary of the second film ’ s release .
The home audience across the country was , however , puzzled by new footage showing unrest across the United States in place of the final film credits .
While the famous '' Nautilus Pompilius '' song `` Goodbye , America '' played - the song played during the final credits in the original version - viewers saw scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was provoked by the death of George Floyd .
Video footage of the riots in the United States was shown for a little more than a minute right after the names , dates of birth and death of actor Sergei Bodrov and director Alexei Balabanov were on screen .
`` The main values of the `` free world '' are cracking under the blows of police batons , burning in the fire of looted stores , drowning in the fury of uncompromising confrontation , '' the news reporter said immediately after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” On Russian social media , the main reaction was outrage .
“ Instead of credits for “ Brat 2 , ” Channel One showed footage of protests in the United States as the song `` Goodbye America '' played .
I can imagine how the Kremlin propagandists would have screamed if some American channel had shown photos from Norilsk after a disaster film.
” One of the movie producers of `` Brat 2 , '' Sergei Selyanov , did not see any misconduct in the actions of the Russian TV channel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ use films , so there was no violation… Many people have seen `` Brat 2 '' — if it was the premiere , you could say something , ” he said , as quoted on the news website `` Gazeta.Ru . ''
A spokesperson for the Channel One told the news website Podyom that they did not change the final credits of the film .
`` Channel One , like other big channels , does n't show the end credits of movies .
In the case of ‘ Brat 2 '' ’ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was important to note the two main creators of this picture , Sergei Bodrov and Alexei Balabanov .
The film ended with their names .
At exactly 21:00 , the news program ‘ Vremya ’ started , and the first story was released with the song by the group ‘ Nautilus Pompilius ’ ‘ Goodbye , America ’ , '' the channel ’ s spokesperson told Podyom .
According to the news website Meduza , musicians Vyacheslav Butusov and Dmitry Umetsky , who wrote the song that was included in the official soundtrack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives of the late film director Alexey Balabanov have not yet commented on the matter .
The “ Vremya ” news story with the track `` Goodbye , America '' is still on the channel ’ s website .

Channel One devoted Sunday evening to airing director Alexei Balabanov's movies "Brat" and "Brat 2" (“Brother” and “Brother 2”) on the twentieth anniversary of the second film’s release. The home audience across the country was, however, puzzled by new footage showing unrest across the United States in place of the final film credits. While the famous"Nautilus Pompilius" song "Goodbye, America" played - the song played during the final credits in the original version - viewers saw scenes of the unrest in the United States that was provoked by the death of George Floyd. Video footage of the riots in the United States was shown for a little more than a minute right after the names, dates of birth and death of actor Sergei Bodrov and director Alexei Balabanov were on screen.
"The main values of the "free world" are cracking under the blows of police batons, burning in the fire of looted stores, drowning in the fury of uncompromising confrontation," the news reporter said immediately after the screening of the film "Brat 2.” On Russian social media, the main reaction was outrage.
Первый канал в воскресном эфире заменил финальные титры фильма Алексея Балабанова «Брат 2», во время которых звучит песня «Наутилуса Помпилиуса» «Гудбай, Америка», на кадры протестов в США.
простите, ЧТО — Feldman (@EvgenyFeldman) June 7, 2020
“Channel One on Sunday replaced the final credits of Alexei Balabanov's film "Brat 2," during which the song" Nautilus Pompilius" "Goodbye, America " is played, with footage of U.S. protests. Sorry, WHAT?”
“@channelone_rus decided to wittily edit the final credits of the anniversary show # brat 2 with unrest in the United States, I wonder if they had approval...?”
Первый канал вместо титров к фильму «Брат-2» показал кадры протестов в США под песню «Гудбай Америка». Представляю, как бы визжали кремлёвские пропагандисты, если бы на каком-нибудь американском канале после фильма о катастрофе показали фотографии из Норильска pic.twitter.com/6FLY0brAhY — Сталингулаг (@StalinGulag) June 7, 2020
“Instead of credits for “Brat 2,” Channel One showed footage of protests in the United States as the song "Goodbye America" played. I can imagine how the Kremlin propagandists would have screamed if some American channel had shown photos from Norilsk after a disaster film.”


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Despite Coronavirus, Moscow Races Outside for the First Weekend of Summer

Moscow was treated to its first glimpse of summer over the weekend — and Muscovites wasted no time in flocking @ @ @ @ @ popular spots despite the coronavirus after months of self-isolation .
From strolling through Gorky Park @ @ @ @ @ along the Moscow River ’ s shoreline , residents embraced the warm weather — although @ @ @ @ @ the masks and gloves or social distancing that are required as protection against the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ look at how Moscow greeted the warm weather under coronavirus lockdown :

Despite Coronavirus, Moscow Races Outside for the First Weekend of Summer
Moscow was treated to its first glimpse of summer over the weekend — and Muscovites wasted no time in flocking to the city's most popular spots despite the coronavirus after months of self-isolation.
From strolling through Gorky Park to basking in the sunshine along the Moscow River’s shoreline, residents embraced the warm weather — although many people chose to forego the masks and gloves or social distancing that are required as protection against the coronavirus.
Here’s a look at how Moscow greeted the warm weather under coronavirus lockdown:


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--MH17 Suspect's Lawyers Say Pandemic Stymying Defense

The high-profile trial on the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner over eastern Ukraine in 2014 , killing all 298 people on board , resumed on Monday after being postponed two and a half months ago as the coronavirus pandemic was peaking in the Netherlands .
Lawyers for a Russian suspect in the trial of four men accused of downing flight MH17 said Monday that the coronavirus pandemic has severely hampered efforts to prepare a preliminary defense .
At the high-security courthouse just outside Amsterdam 's Schiphol airport , judges and prosecutors sat next to each other but separated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing on March 23 , the Netherlands had already entered into lockdown while Russia later followed suit , making contact with suspect Oleg Pulatov virtually impossible , his defense lawyer Sabine ten Doesschate said .
`` All these measures have had a huge impact on the preparation for the preliminary defense of Oleg Pulatov , '' she told the hearing , which was also attended by a limited number of relatives and journalists .
`` Our contact with our client has been minimal ... and discussions about matters which could be hugely relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , '' Ten Doesschate said .
This included details of accusations against Pulatov and whether the Netherlands had jurisdiction to try the case , she said .
Pulatov , a Russian national , together with fellow countrymen Igor Girkin , Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko have been charged by Dutch prosecutors with murder and causing the flight to crash .
As has been the case in previous hearings , none of the four suspects were in court , with only Pulatov being defended by a legal team .
Prosecutors say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whose territory the plane 's wreckage fell near the start of Ukraine 's bitter civil war .
All 298 crew and passengers — 196 of them Dutch — died when the Boeing 777 jet was ripped apart by a surface-to-air missile while on a routine flight between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur on July 17 , 2014 .
Prosecutors argue the men were instrumental in bringing a BUK missile system to Ukraine from its original base in Russia — even if they did not pull the trigger .
Prosecutor Thijs Berger on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done including exploding a BUK missile in Ukraine in 2016 as part of the investigation .
Prosecutors played a video of the test , which showed the missile exploding in a violent fireball .
`` Pieces of the BUK missile were found both in the wreckage and in the bodies of the crew and passengers , '' he said .
If found guilty , the four suspects could be given life sentences .
Russia has long denied any involvement in the downing of MH17 , and has offered a series of alternative explanations @ @ @ @ @ @

The high-profile trial on the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board, resumed on Monday after being postponed two and a half months ago as the coronavirus pandemic was peaking in the Netherlands.
Lawyers for a Russian suspect in the trial of four men accused of downing flight MH17 said Monday that the coronavirus pandemic has severely hampered efforts to prepare a preliminary defense.
At the high-security courthouse just outside Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, judges and prosecutors sat next to each other but separated with glass plates.
At the last hearing on March 23, the Netherlands had already entered into lockdown while Russia later followed suit, making contact with suspect Oleg Pulatov virtually impossible, his defense lawyer Sabine ten Doesschate said.
"All these measures have had a huge impact on the preparation for the preliminary defense of Oleg Pulatov," she told the hearing, which was also attended by a limited number of relatives and journalists.
"Our contact with our client has been minimal... and discussions about matters which could be hugely relevant to his defence have simply not been possible," Ten Doesschate said.
This included details of accusations against Pulatov and whether the Netherlands had jurisdiction to try the case, she said.
Pulatov, a Russian national, together with fellow countrymen Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko have been charged by Dutch prosecutors with murder and causing the flight to crash.
As has been the case in previous hearings, none of the four suspects were in court, with only Pulatov being defended by a legal team.
Prosecutors say all four were linked to pro-Russian separatists on whose territory the plane's wreckage fell near the start of Ukraine's bitter civil war.
All 298 crew and passengers — 196 of them Dutch — died when the Boeing 777 jet was ripped apart by a surface-to-air missile while on a routine flight between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014.
Prosecutors argue the men were instrumental in bringing a BUK missile system to Ukraine from its original base in Russia — even if they did not pull the trigger.
Prosecutor Thijs Berger on Monday told judges that extensive tests have been done including exploding a BUK missile in Ukraine in 2016 as part of the investigation.
Prosecutors played a video of the test, which showed the missile exploding in a violent fireball.
"Pieces of the BUK missile were found both in the wreckage and in the bodies of the crew and passengers," he said.
If found guilty, the four suspects could be given life sentences.
Russia has long denied any involvement in the downing of MH17, and has offered a series of alternative explanations for the plane's downing.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Russia Steps Up Recruitment of Syrians to Fight in Libya – Reuters

Haftar ’ s forces retreated from one of their last strongholds on the outskirts of the Libyan capital of Tripoli last week , ending his 14-month offensive against the country ’ s UN-backed government .
The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) declared a fresh offensive to build upon a string of recent successes against Haftar ’ s men .
Russia has accelerated its drive to recruit Syrians to fight for Libya ’ s rebel leader Khalifa Haftar in May in violation of a UN arms embargo , Reuters reported Sunday .
Russian private mercenary group Wagner is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supervision of the Russian military , Reuters cited two unnamed Syrian opposition sources and a regional source as saying .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Russia had recruited more than 900 Syrians to fight in Libya in May , Reuters reported .
The recruits are trained at a base in Homs before being deployed to Libya and are paid between $ 1,000 and $ 2,000 a month , according to Reuters .
“ The pace of hiring increased as Libya ’ s fighting intensified and the war in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency cited a regional source as saying ,

Haftar’s forces retreated from one of their last strongholds on the outskirts of the Libyan capital of Tripoli last week, ending his 14-month offensive against the country’s UN-backed government. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) declared a fresh offensive to build upon a string of recent successes against Haftar’s men.
Russia has accelerated its drive to recruit Syrians to fight for Libya’s rebel leader Khalifa Haftar in May in violation of a UN arms embargo, Reuters reported Sunday.
Russian private mercenary group Wagner is hiring Syrians to fight for Haftar under the supervision of the Russian military, Reuters cited two unnamed Syrian opposition sources and a regional source as saying.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Russia had recruited more than 900 Syrians to fight in Libya in May, Reuters reported. The recruits are trained at a base in Homs before being deployed to Libya and are paid between $1,000 and $2,000 a month, according to Reuters.
“The pace of hiring increased as Libya’s fighting intensified and the war in Syria died down,” the news agency cited a regional source as saying,


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Moscow Lockdown to End as Russia Eases Anti-Virus Measures

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital 's general lockdown and pass system would end on Tuesday , allowing residents to travel freely for the first time since late March .
Russia announced Monday it would lift a range of anti-coronavirus measures including a strict lockdown on Moscow , despite still recording thousands of new infections every day .
`` Moscow is returning to the usual rhythm of life , '' he said in a video message on Facebook , adding that the elderly and those with chronic diseases will be allowed to leave their homes .
Russia has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it registers nearly 9,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths on a daily basis .
The country had recorded a total of 476,658 coronavirus infections as of Monday — the third-highest number in the world — and 5,971 deaths .
Officials say the high number is the result of a huge testing campaign , with more than 13 million tests carried out so far , and point to Russia 's relatively low mortality rate as evidence it is safe to ease lockdowns .
Critics have accused authorities of under-reporting deaths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for political reasons .
President Vladimir Putin has rescheduled a high-profile World War II military parade in Red Square for June 24 and a vote on constitutional reforms for a week later , on July 1 .
The vote , which will clear the way for changes allowing Putin to potentially stay in power beyond his current Kremlin term , was the centerpiece of the longtime leader 's political calendar for this year but had to be postponed from April 22 as coronavirus cases surged .
Moscow , Russia 's largest city with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been under lockdown since March 30 .
Some measures have been gradually lifted over the last few weeks , with non-food retail shops permitted to reopen and residents allowed to go for walks according to a fixed schedule .
Sobyanin said that as well as all restrictions on movement being lifted from Tuesday , hairdressers , beauty salons and vets will be allowed to reopen .
Beginning next week , libraries , real estate offices and companies that provide services to residents will be able to resume their work , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stages beginning June 16 with Moscow residents allowed to visit terraces , with further restrictions easing the following week .
But the mayor urged caution , saying that the `` likelihood of coronavirus infection has decreased , but still exists . ''
`` We must constantly monitor the situation and prevent a new outbreak . ''
Russia also on Monday announced the first steps to allow its citizens to travel abroad , with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin saying a government order had been signed allowing them to leave the country to work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Foreigners could also visit Russia to care for relatives , he said , without making it clear how soon these new measures would be implemented .
All international flights were grounded in late March , although there have since been a few flights ferrying stranded Russians in and foreigners out .
Mishustin said the move was justified because the infection rate has stabilized over the last six days , particularly in Moscow .
Moscow is Russia 's most-affected city with almost 200,000 confirmed cases and 2,970 deaths .
Other parts of Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula , where 24 staff were infected at a children 's home , Interfax news agency reported Monday .
The region , known for its active volcanoes and spectacular nature , has confirmed 1,168 cases out of a population of just over 300,000 .
The number hospitalized in the region at 423 is already higher than the 406 beds prepared for virus patients , according to the regional health ministry 's website .


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--'Unprecedented' Siberian Oil Spill Reaches Arctic Glacial Lake

President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency last Wednesday , several days after 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked from a collapsed fuel tank outside the city of Norilsk .
Massive concentrations of pollution were recorded in a nearby river , a phenomenon that local environmental officials said was due to the floating dams being ineffective or installed too late .
A massive fuel spill in northern Siberia has reached an Arctic glacial lake after seeping through floating barriers installed to stop the leak , regional officials said Tuesday .
“ The fuel got into Lake Pyasino , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Krasnoyarsk region , referring to the Arctic body of water 20 kilometers from the site of the spill .
Lake Pyasino is a major body of water and the source of the Pyasina River that is vitally important to the entire Taimyr peninsula .
The Pyasina River flows into the Kara Sea , which is part of the Arctic Ocean .
“ It ’ s impossible to predict how it will bear this load .
It ’ s important now to keep it from reaching the Pyasina River , which goes further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcaster Yenisey .
The Krasnoyarsk region ’ s deputy ecology minister Yulia Gumenyuk said Monday that high concentrations of pollutants had been recorded in Lake Pyasino .
Russia ’ s Emergency Situations Ministry said later Tuesday that the oil concentration at Lake Pyasino did not exceed the norm .
On Friday , the Emergency Situations Ministry had announced that the spread of pollution had been `` stopped . ''
The spill polluted huge stretches of river , triggering a major clean-up effort .
A spokesman for Russia 's Marine Rescue Service last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic region .
Russian officials have said it was caused by melting permafrost and the prosecutor general has ordered a review of structures built on unstable ground .
Vladimir Potanin , the head of metals giant Norilsk Nickel which owns the thermal power plant where the spill originated , told Putin last week his company would pay for clean-up efforts .
Sixty-five percent of Russia is covered by permafrost and the Environment Ministry warned in 2018 that its melt threatens pipes and structures as well as buried toxic waste which can seep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been opened in connection with the incident .

President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency last Wednesday, several days after 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked from a collapsed fuel tank outside the city of Norilsk. Massive concentrations of pollution were recorded in a nearby river, a phenomenon that local environmental officials said was due to the floating dams being ineffective or installed too late.
A massive fuel spill in northern Siberia has reached an Arctic glacial lake after seeping through floating barriers installed to stop the leak, regional officials said Tuesday.
“The fuel got into Lake Pyasino,” said Alexander Uss, the governor of the Krasnoyarsk region, referring to the Arctic body of water 20 kilometers from the site of the spill.
Lake Pyasino is a major body of water and the source of the Pyasina River that is vitally important to the entire Taimyr peninsula. The Pyasina River flows into the Kara Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean.
“It’s impossible to predict how it will bear this load. It’s important now to keep it from reaching the Pyasina River, which goes further north,” Uss told the local broadcaster Yenisey.
The Krasnoyarsk region’s deputy ecology minister Yulia Gumenyuk said Monday that high concentrations of pollutants had been recorded in Lake Pyasino.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said later Tuesday that the oil concentration at Lake Pyasino did not exceed the norm.
On Friday, the Emergency Situations Ministry had announced that the spread of pollution had been "stopped." The spill polluted huge stretches of river, triggering a major clean-up effort.
A spokesman for Russia's Marine Rescue Service last week called the spill an unprecedented event for the Arctic region. Russian officials have said it was caused by melting permafrost and the prosecutor general has ordered a review of structures built on unstable ground.
Vladimir Potanin, the head of metals giant Norilsk Nickel which owns the thermal power plant where the spill originated, told Putin last week his company would pay for clean-up efforts.
Sixty-five percent of Russia is covered by permafrost and the Environment Ministry warned in 2018 that its melt threatens pipes and structures as well as buried toxic waste which can seep into waterways.
Four criminal cases have been opened in connection with the incident.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--Russian Historian Goes on Trial for Chopping Up Lover

Oleg Sokolov , a history lecturer who received France 's Legion d'Honneur from Jacques Chirac in 2003 , was arrested last year on suspicion of murder after he was hauled out of the freezing Moika River in St. Petersburg drunk with a backpack containing a woman 's arms .
The trial of a decorated Russian historian accused of murdering and dismembering his young lover began Tuesday in a case that has fueled intense debate in Russia over domestic violence .
He confessed in November to murdering and dismembering his 24-year-old ex-student and lover Anastasia Yeshchenko and was placed in pre-trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time for an investigation into his alleged abuse of women students .
On Tuesday , he appeared in a St. Petersburg court behind a glass cage , wearing a face mask and blue surgical gloves .
His lawyer Alexander Pochuyev said ahead of the hearing that Sokolov was in good physical condition but added that his psychological state was `` of course difficult . ''
The hearing was adjourned until Monday after lawyers said a new recording had emerged and they needed time to examine it .
Pochuyev implied that Yeshchenko may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` traumatic situation '' had preceded the tragedy .
Sokolov broke down during a hearing in November , saying he was `` devastated '' by what happened .
He had lived with the victim for several years and initially tried to blame her for the murder , saying she attacked him with a knife during a heated argument .
Sokolov taught history at St. Petersburg State University , President Vladimir Putin 's alma mater , and was close to the authorities .
The murder trial has injected new urgency into a debate over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where some 16.5 million women fall victim every year to abuse from family or partners .
Putin decriminalized some forms of domestic violence in 2017 , and most abusers get away with a fine .
Advocates say that a lack of legislation , a shortage of shelters nationwide and police who are unresponsive to appeals for help have left Russian women unprotected .
Reports of domestic violence spiked during a nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus , and activists said their pleas for greater government protections went unheeded .
Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popova said last year that Sokolov had been shielded by the country 's `` rotten system , '' adding the murder could have been avoided .
Sokolov authored several books on French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and often led historical reenactments of his 1812 Russian campaign .
After disposing of the corpse he reportedly planned to commit suicide at the Peter and Paul Fortress , one of the former imperial capital 's most famous landmarks , dressed as Napoleon .
Many of his students expressed dismay over the killing , saying Sokolov had long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints over his past conduct were ignored .
One student accused university management of `` hushing up '' Sokolov 's behavior .
He also allegedly beat up and threatened to burn and kill another female student in 2008 but was never charged .

Oleg Sokolov, a history lecturer who received France's Legion d'Honneur from Jacques Chirac in 2003, was arrested last year on suspicion of murder after he was hauled out of the freezing Moika River in St. Petersburg drunk with a backpack containing a woman's arms.
The trial of a decorated Russian historian accused of murdering and dismembering his young lover began Tuesday in a case that has fueled intense debate in Russia over domestic violence.
He confessed in November to murdering and dismembering his 24-year-old ex-student and lover Anastasia Yeshchenko and was placed in pre-trial detention.
Calls had arisen at the same time for an investigation into his alleged abuse of women students.
On Tuesday, he appeared in a St. Petersburg court behind a glass cage, wearing a face mask and blue surgical gloves.
His lawyer Alexander Pochuyev said ahead of the hearing that Sokolov was in good physical condition but added that his psychological state was "of course difficult."
"He repents," the lawyer told AFP.
The hearing was adjourned until Monday after lawyers said a new recording had emerged and they needed time to examine it.
Pochuyev implied that Yeshchenko may have provoked his client, saying a "traumatic situation" had preceded the tragedy.
Sokolov broke down during a hearing in November, saying he was "devastated" by what happened.
He had lived with the victim for several years and initially tried to blame her for the murder, saying she attacked him with a knife during a heated argument.
Sokolov taught history at St. Petersburg State University, President Vladimir Putin's alma mater, and was close to the authorities.
Complaints ignored
The murder trial has injected new urgency into a debate over punishment for domestic violence in Russia, where some 16.5 million women fall victim every year to abuse from family or partners.
Putin decriminalized some forms of domestic violence in 2017, and most abusers get away with a fine.
Advocates say that a lack of legislation, a shortage of shelters nationwide and police who are unresponsive to appeals for help have left Russian women unprotected.
Reports of domestic violence spiked during a nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and activists said their pleas for greater government protections went unheeded.
Moscow lawyer and women's rights activist Alyona Popova said last year that Sokolov had been shielded by the country's "rotten system," adding the murder could have been avoided.
Sokolov authored several books on French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and often led historical reenactments of his 1812 Russian campaign.
After disposing of the corpse he reportedly planned to commit suicide at the Peter and Paul Fortress, one of the former imperial capital's most famous landmarks, dressed as Napoleon.
Many of his students expressed dismay over the killing, saying Sokolov had long been known for his aggressive behavior but complaints over his past conduct were ignored.
One student accused university management of "hushing up" Sokolov's behavior.
He also allegedly beat up and threatened to burn and kill another female student in 2008 but was never charged.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--Russia Hands ‘Harshest, Longest’ Jail Sentence to Jehovah’s Witness

The Pskov City Court handed Gennady Shpakovsky , 61 , the sentence early Tuesday after mass raids led to dozens of arrests across Russia in 2018 .
Authorities wiretapped his family ’ s apartment and monitored their movements for several months before armed agents broke in during a religious meeting at his home , the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses group said .
A court in western Russia has sentenced a member of the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses to six and a half years in jail on charges of extremism , a prison term the religious organization described as unprecedented in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the longest , harshest sentence handed down ” to a Jehovah ’ s Witness in Russia , the New York-based organization said in a statement .
Jehovah ’ s Witnesses spokesman Jarrod Lopes criticized Russia for disregarding its own constitution , which guarantees the freedom of religion , and international human rights law .
“ Undeterred even by COVID-19 , Russia continues to unconscionably subject peaceful citizens like Gennady to the unsanitary and potentially deadly confines of prison , ” Lopes said .
Shpakovsky ’ s sentence is the latest episode in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Witnesses , which the country declared an “ extremist ” organization in 2017 .
Russia has since issued a series of lengthy sentences against believers including a Danish citizen , Dennis Christensen , who was sentenced to a six-year term in February 2019 .
In his final statement to the judge , the organization said Shpakovsky rejected the charges and drew parallels with Soviet repressions of people who were later rehabilitated by the authorities .
“ Unfortunately , history repeats itself .
Today , the same thing is being done to me and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Pskov City Court handed Gennady Shpakovsky, 61, the sentence early Tuesday after mass raids led to dozens of arrests across Russia in 2018. Authorities wiretapped his family’s apartment and monitored their movements for several months before armed agents broke in during a religious meeting at his home, the Jehovah’s Witnesses group said.
A court in western Russia has sentenced a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to six and a half years in jail on charges of extremism, a prison term the religious organization described as unprecedented in length and severity.
“This is the longest, harshest sentence handed down” to a Jehovah’s Witness in Russia, the New York-based organization said in a statement.
Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman Jarrod Lopes criticized Russia for disregarding its own constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion, and international human rights law.
“Undeterred even by COVID-19, Russia continues to unconscionably subject peaceful citizens like Gennady to the unsanitary and potentially deadly confines of prison,” Lopes said.
Shpakovsky’s sentence is the latest episode in Russia's crackdown on the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which the country declared an “extremist” organization in 2017.
Russia has since issued a series of lengthy sentences against believers including a Danish citizen, Dennis Christensen, who was sentenced to a six-year term in February 2019.
In his final statement to the judge, the organization said Shpakovsky rejected the charges and drew parallels with Soviet repressions of people who were later rehabilitated by the authorities.
“Unfortunately, history repeats itself. Today, the same thing is being done to me and my fellow believers,” Shpakovsky said.
Shpakovsky plans to appeal his conviction.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--Russia’s Arctic City of Murmansk Opens Coronavirus Hospital Constructed in 2 Weeks

The city of Murmansk in Russia ’ s Arctic has opened a new coronavirus field hospital two weeks after breaking @ @ @ @ @ in the country has a hospital been erected as quickly , regional authorities say .
@ @ @ @ @ , about 15 kilometers south of Murmansk , has 700 beds for coronavirus patients .
@ @ @ @ @ with various specializations .
There are both “ clean ” and “ dirty ” zones @ @ @ @ @ beds are reserved for patients needing intensive care , regional authorities said .

The city of Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic has opened a new coronavirus field hospital two weeks after breaking ground on construction.
Nowhere in the country has a hospital been erected as quickly, regional authorities say.
The 10,000-square-meter hospital in Murmashi, about 15 kilometers south of Murmansk, has 700 beds for coronavirus patients. It consists of nine blocks with various specializations. There are both “clean” and “dirty” zones, and 100 of the beds are reserved for patients needing intensive care, regional authorities said.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--Popular Russian Actor Faces 12 Years in Jail for Fatal DUI Crash

Security camera footage captured Yefremov ’ s SUV driving into oncoming traffic and crashing into a van on the Garden Ring road steps away from the Russian Foreign Ministry building .
In eyewitness videos after the incident , Yefremov appeared to be drunk with slurred speech and stumbling movements .
Mikhail Yefremov , one of Russia ’ s most well-known actors , faces up to 12 years in jail for a drunken head-on collision in central Moscow that killed the driver of the vehicle he crashed into late Monday .
The van driver , identified as online delivery driver Sergei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
News agencies reported Tuesday morning that Zakharov , 57 , had died from his injuries .
Yefremov was initially charged with a DUI , which carries up to seven years in jail , and released pending investigation before the van driver died from his injuries .
A medical exam has established an unspecified amount of alcohol in Yefremov 's blood .
Following the delivery driver 's death , police increased the charges against Yefremov to ones that could land him behind bars for up to 12 years .
An unnamed law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency that authorities plan to take Yefremov in for questioning .
Yefremov , 56 , has cultivated an image of a jolly drunk in his acting career that spans more than 30 years .

Security camera footage captured Yefremov’s SUV driving into oncoming traffic and crashing into a van on the Garden Ring road steps away from the Russian Foreign Ministry building. In eyewitness videos after the incident, Yefremov appeared to be drunk with slurred speech and stumbling movements.
Mikhail Yefremov, one of Russia’s most well-known actors, faces up to 12 years in jail for a drunken head-on collision in central Moscow that killed the driver of the vehicle he crashed into late Monday.
The van driver, identified as online delivery driver Sergei Zakharov, was hospitalized in critical condition. News agencies reported Tuesday morning that Zakharov, 57, had died from his injuries.
Yefremov was initially charged with a DUI, which carries up to seven years in jail, and released pending investigation before the van driver died from his injuries. A medical exam has established an unspecified amount of alcohol in Yefremov's blood.
Following the delivery driver's death, police increased the charges against Yefremov to ones that could land him behind bars for up to 12 years.
An unnamed law enforcement source told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that authorities plan to take Yefremov in for questioning.
Yefremov, 56, has cultivated an image of a jolly drunk in his acting career that spans more than 30 years.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-09--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surge to 485K as Moscow Cancels Quarantine

New infections have plateaued since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11,000 cases .
Officials say Russia 's high virus count is the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections and its low fatality numbers mean the country can begin to return to normal .
Yet critics have cast doubt on the numbers , accusing the authorities of under-reporting deaths and threatening a new wave of infections by lifting restrictions .
Starting Tuesday , Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's pandemic with around half of the country 's total cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included a digital pass system to regulate residents ' movement around the city and restrictions on walks outside .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced that a postponed nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that could extend his hold over power will go ahead on July 1 .
The authorities have also rescheduled Russia 's massive May 9 Victory Day military parade for June 24 .
Putin was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday to discuss proposals to restart an economy badly hit by lockdown measures and a sharp @ @ @ @ @