themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Litany of Blunders: Treatment of Coronavirus Patient Highlights Russia’s Shortcomings

A Russian national who is quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy , a hub for the coronavirus outbreak , has the coronavirus , the state-run RIA Novosti reported .
The man is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country .
The patient , 29-year-old Moscow resident David Berov , traveled to northern Italy for a ski trip on Feb. 14 and returned on Feb. 23 .
On Thursday , feeling ill , he visited a local hospital , which transferred him to Moscow ’ s Infectious Diseases Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There , he was placed in a room with five other men who had also recently returned from hubs for the outbreak : Italy , Iran and South Korea .
Berov was tested for the virus twice and each time the test came back negative .
Then , on Sunday afternoon , a third test came back positive .
“ When we got there we asked the medical staff why we are all lying together in the same room — any one of us could infect the others , ” Berov told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
“ They didn ’ t tell us.
” The hospital staff appeared to realize they had made a mistake .
According to Berov , when the clinic ’ s head doctor called him on Sunday afternoon to give him the positive test result , she asked him not to mention to staff from Russia ’ s federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor , which would be doing its own test later in the day , that it had kept a group of suspected patients all in one room .
Berov also noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know whether he had caught the coronavirus in Italy or from one of the patients with whom he had shared the hospital room .
In the days after he returned from Italy , Berov said that he was in close contact with family and friends , but avoided the office and his regular recreational sports activities .
On Sunday evening , the Baza news outlet reported that coronavirus tests in Russia go through three stages .
The first test is done by the hospital , a second is conducted by Rospotrebnadzor and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center called Vektor located in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk .
According to the outlet , which has close ties to security services , Berov ’ s Rospotrebnadzor test has come back positive and is now being sent for testing by Vektor .
On Monday afternoon , a doctor returned to Berov and said that they were having trouble confirming whether or not he had actually caught the virus .
When the news of the confirmation that Berov has the coronavirus came through , he told The Moscow Times that he had not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients who was in the room with Berov , Aslan Subkhankulov , told Baza that medical staff had asked the patients not to tell anyone that they were kept together .
Berov also told The Moscow Times that he and the five other patients were allowed to go to the bathroom unsupervised and roam down corridors frequented by other staff and patients .
In a video shot by a patient in the hospital viewed by The Moscow Times , a doctor is seen walking down the hallway without protective gear .
A representative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
1 declined a request for comment from The Moscow Times over the phone , adding that that all questions should be directed to the federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor .
Rospotrebnadzor , in turn , did not respond to a request for comment .
“ In an ideal world you would never put people who might just have the flu with patients who actually might have the coronavirus , ” said Ian Brierly , who heads the virology department at Cambridge University in the UK .
“ In essence , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not logical.
” Up to this point , the coronavirus has not spread in Russia , and no Russian nationals had tested positive on home soil .
In late January , two Chinese nationals infected with the coronavirus were found in Russia , and released from hospital when their health improved .
In February , three Russian nationals were found to have the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
Russia has taken measures to prevent the coronavirus , which has killed upward of 2,800 people worldwide , from crossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,209-kilometer land border with China , where the outbreak began at the end of 2019 , to most passengers , and limited flights between the countries .
It has also suspended some flights between South Korea and Russia , banned some citizens from Iran from entering the country and started to round up stray animals .
But Berov ’ s case highlights how unprepared Russia ’ s teetering healthcare system is to combat a coronavirus outbreak , from hospitals not having effective quarantining procedures in place to clinics lacking the right testing equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian national who was on the ski trip with Berov told The Moscow Times that they had returned to Moscow with a fever after the vacation .
The person went to their local clinic Bud Zdorov — Be Healthy — and took a standard blood test .
It came back negative .
“ They said everything was fine , that it was just ordinary flu , ” the person told The Moscow Times by phone from Hungary , where they are currently on a work trip .
They have not yet been contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person was just given a standard test , that would not be enough to determine whether or not they picked up the coronavirus .
“ The tests for the coronavirus are very specific — you can ’ t just check it at a normal hospital , ” said Brierly .
“ Nasal and throat swaps are the best ; blood is less effective.
” According to Berov , a third passenger who travelled with him to Italy has decided to “ hide ” from the authorities .
The person did not answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 26 , Moscow resident Evgeniy Berg told the story of how he tried to get tested for the coronavirus after returning from Iran in a post on his Facebook page .
A dozen clinics and labs told him they do not test for the virus .
So he called Rospotrebnadzor , which said it would send a doctor to test him , but only if he had symptoms .
“ Checking all suspicious patients is ‘ impractical , ’ ” Berg wrote that he was told .
Berov is now isolated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other patients .

A Russian national who is quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy, a hub for the coronavirus outbreak, has the coronavirus, the state-run RIA Novosti reported. The man is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country. The patient, 29-year-old Moscow resident David Berov, traveled to northern Italy for a ski trip on Feb. 14 and returned on Feb. 23. On Thursday, feeling ill, he visited a local hospital, which transferred him to Moscow’s Infectious Diseases Hospital No. 1, a public hospital. There, he was placed in a room with five other men who had also recently returned from hubs for the outbreak: Italy, Iran and South Korea. Berov was tested for the virus twice and each time the test came back negative. Then, on Sunday afternoon, a third test came back positive. “When we got there we asked the medical staff why we are all lying together in the same room — any one of us could infect the others,” Berov told The Moscow Times by phone from the hospital. “They didn’t tell us.” The hospital staff appeared to realize they had made a mistake. According to Berov, when the clinic’s head doctor called him on Sunday afternoon to give him the positive test result, she asked him not to mention to staff from Russia’s federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which would be doing its own test later in the day, that it had kept a group of suspected patients all in one room. Berov also noted that the doctor said she did not know whether he had caught the coronavirus in Italy or from one of the patients with whom he had shared the hospital room.
news Moscow Deploys Facial Recognition in Mass Coronavirus Quarantine Read more
In the days after he returned from Italy, Berov said that he was in close contact with family and friends, but avoided the office and his regular recreational sports activities. On Sunday evening, the Baza news outlet reported that coronavirus tests in Russia go through three stages. The first test is done by the hospital, a second is conducted by Rospotrebnadzor and the third is then done by a medical center called Vektor located in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. According to the outlet, which has close ties to security services, Berov’s Rospotrebnadzor test has come back positive and is now being sent for testing by Vektor. On Monday afternoon, a doctor returned to Berov and said that they were having trouble confirming whether or not he had actually caught the virus. When the news of the confirmation that Berov has the coronavirus came through, he told The Moscow Times that he had not yet been informed. One of the patients who was in the room with Berov, Aslan Subkhankulov, told Baza that medical staff had asked the patients not to tell anyone that they were kept together. Berov also told The Moscow Times that he and the five other patients were allowed to go to the bathroom unsupervised and roam down corridors frequented by other staff and patients. In a video shot by a patient in the hospital viewed by The Moscow Times, a doctor is seen walking down the hallway without protective gear. A representative of Moscow’s Infectious Diseases Hospital No. 1 declined a request for comment from The Moscow Times over the phone, adding that that all questions should be directed to the federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. Rospotrebnadzor, in turn, did not respond to a request for comment. “In an ideal world you would never put people who might just have the flu with patients who actually might have the coronavirus,” said Ian Brierly, who heads the virology department at Cambridge University in the UK. “In essence, it is not the right thing to do and not logical.”
news Coronavirus Hits Russian Exports to China Read more
Up to this point, the coronavirus has not spread in Russia, and no Russian nationals had tested positive on home soil. In late January, two Chinese nationals infected with the coronavirus were found in Russia, and released from hospital when their health improved. In February, three Russian nationals were found to have the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan. Russia has taken measures to prevent the coronavirus, which has killed upward of 2,800 people worldwide, from crossing its borders. It has closed its 4,209-kilometer land border with China, where the outbreak began at the end of 2019, to most passengers, and limited flights between the countries. It has also suspended some flights between South Korea and Russia, banned some citizens from Iran from entering the country and started to round up stray animals. But Berov’s case highlights how unprepared Russia’s teetering healthcare system is to combat a coronavirus outbreak, from hospitals not having effective quarantining procedures in place to clinics lacking the right testing equipment. Asking to speak anonymously, another Russian national who was on the ski trip with Berov told The Moscow Times that they had returned to Moscow with a fever after the vacation. The person went to their local clinic Bud Zdorov — Be Healthy — and took a standard blood test. It came back negative. “They said everything was fine, that it was just ordinary flu,” the person told The Moscow Times by phone from Hungary, where they are currently on a work trip. They have not yet been contacted by any health authorities.
But if the person was just given a standard test, that would not be enough to determine whether or not they picked up the coronavirus. “The tests for the coronavirus are very specific — you can’t just check it at a normal hospital,” said Brierly. “Nasal and throat swaps are the best; blood is less effective.” According to Berov, a third passenger who travelled with him to Italy has decided to “hide” from the authorities. The person did not answer calls from The Moscow Times. On Feb. 26, Moscow resident Evgeniy Berg told the story of how he tried to get tested for the coronavirus after returning from Iran in a post on his Facebook page. A dozen clinics and labs told him they do not test for the virus. So he called Rospotrebnadzor, which said it would send a doctor to test him, but only if he had symptoms. “Checking all suspicious patients is ‘impractical,’” Berg wrote that he was told. Berov is now isolated in a separate room, as are the other patients.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Russian Olympic Figure Skating Champion Sotnikova Retires

Sotnikova clinched Russia ’ s first-ever ladies singles gold at the Sochi Games at the age of 17 in 2014 .
The 23-year-old hasn ’ t competed since the 2015 Russian Championships .
Russian Olympic figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova has announced her retirement over health concerns , the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday .
“ I ’ m done with professional sport… because I want to be healthy and happy , ” TASS quoted Sotnikova as saying on Russian television .
“ I want to [ compete ] , but , unfortunately , my health doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sotnikova had undergone cervical spine surgery in February , TASS reported , citing her coach and her agent .
“ Adelina has two implants connected by a [ metal ] plate in her spine , ” Sotnikova ’ s agent Maria Shashina was quoted as saying .
“ This plate is held by six titanium screws screwed into her spine so that she could once again get back on the ice and please her audience , ” Shashina added .
Sotnikova ’ s upset victory in 2014 was surrounded by controversy when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Skating Union to look into allegations of bias in the judging panel .
The ISU dismissed the complaint .
Sotnikova announced her retirement less than a week after Russian tennis star and five-time grand slam winner Maria Sharapova announced hers at age 32 .

Sotnikova clinched Russia’s first-ever ladies singles gold at the Sochi Games at the age of 17 in 2014. The 23-year-old hasn’t competed since the 2015 Russian Championships.
Russian Olympic figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova has announced her retirement over health concerns, the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday.
“I’m done with professional sport… because I want to be healthy and happy,” TASS quoted Sotnikova as saying on Russian television.
“I want to [compete], but, unfortunately, my health doesn’t allow me to,” she added.
Sotnikova had undergone cervical spine surgery in February, TASS reported, citing her coach and her agent.
“Adelina has two implants connected by a [metal] plate in her spine,” Sotnikova’s agent Maria Shashina was quoted as saying.
“This plate is held by six titanium screws screwed into her spine so that she could once again get back on the ice and please her audience,” Shashina added.
Sotnikova’s upset victory in 2014 was surrounded by controversy when South Korea filed a complaint asking the International Skating Union to look into allegations of bias in the judging panel. The ISU dismissed the complaint.
Sotnikova announced her retirement less than a week after Russian tennis star and five-time grand slam winner Maria Sharapova announced hers at age 32.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Moscow Winter 'Warmest Since Records Began'

Moscow , which for the past months has largely been deprived of its traditional seasonal covering of snow , has seen its warmest winter since records began , the state weather service said on Saturday .
Roman Vilfand , the head of Russia 's forecasting center , told the TASS news agency that the average temperature in Moscow from December to February has been some 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record of -2.8 degrees seen in the winter of 1960-1961 .
He said such differences between records were extremely rare .
Records began 140 years ago in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going to see such a warm winter again for a long time , '' he said .
He added that the winter record for Russia as a whole would also likely be beaten , but said the data was still being compiled .
2019 was also the hottest year ever registered in Russia .
Muscovites of the elder generation fondly remember crisper and colder winters from decades back , when the parks of the city were covered in plentiful snow .
The Kremlin acknowledges global warming , with President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warming for Russia was 2.5 percent higher than elsewhere on the planet .
But he cast doubt over whether global warming is of human origin , and stated it could be blamed on cosmological processes .
`` Nobody knows the origins of global climate change , '' Putin said .

Moscow, which for the past months has largely been deprived of its traditional seasonal covering of snow, has seen its warmest winter since records began, the state weather service said on Saturday.
Roman Vilfand, the head of Russia's forecasting center, told the TASS news agency that the average temperature in Moscow from December to February has been some 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record of -2.8 degrees seen in the winter of 1960-1961.
He said such differences between records were extremely rare. Records began 140 years ago in Russia.
"I am sure that we are not going to see such a warm winter again for a long time," he said. He added that the winter record for Russia as a whole would also likely be beaten, but said the data was still being compiled.
2019 was also the hottest year ever registered in Russia. Muscovites of the elder generation fondly remember crisper and colder winters from decades back, when the parks of the city were covered in plentiful snow.
The Kremlin acknowledges global warming, with President Vladimir Putin saying in December that the rate of warming for Russia was 2.5 percent higher than elsewhere on the planet.
But he cast doubt over whether global warming is of human origin, and stated it could be blamed on cosmological processes. "Nobody knows the origins of global climate change," Putin said.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Russia Says ‘Can’t Guarantee’ Turkish Planes’ Safety Over Syria

Damascus said on Monday it was closing Syrian air space over the Idlib region , the last rebel-held sector of Syria , where fighting has escalated as Russian-backed government forces try to oust opposition fighters allied to Turkey .
Russia said it can not guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft over Syria , after Turkey shot down two Syrian war planes and struck a military airport , the latest clashes that have brought Moscow and Ankara closer than ever to direct confrontation .
The Kremlin said Turkey should take note of a warning issued by the Russian Defense Ministry overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk over the province .
Fighting in northwestern Syria has displaced a million civilians since December in what the United Nations says could be the worst humanitarian crisis of the nine-year war .
Russian-backed Syrian government forces have launched a bid to capture the last swathe of Syria still held by rebels .
Moscow and Ankara both have forces in the area and have traded blame for the deteriorating situation since last week , when at least 33 Turkish troops were killed in an air strike , the worst attack on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , which has batteries of advanced S-400 surface-to-air missiles deployed in Syria , said the Russian and Turkish militaries were in constant contact over Idlib .
Syrian government forces are battling to recapture a strategic rebel-held town in Idlib .
A Turkish official said Ankara would continue to strike President Bashar al-Assad 's troops after escalating its military operations at the weekend .
Russia has long backed Assad , while Turkey supports anti-Assad rebels .
The two countries both have forces in the area under a deal intended to avert all-out fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that President Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks on Syria in Moscow on Thursday .
But Peskov said Russia had not changed its position on Syria and was as committed as ever to the Syrian government 's fight against anti-Assad rebels .
Russia has been providing air support to Assad 's forces in Idlib and also has special forces and military advisers on the ground in Syria .
Private military contractors have also been fighting on Assad 's side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements ( between Russia and Turkey on Syria ) , supports the territorial integrity of Syria , and supports Syria in its fight against terrorists , '' Peskov told reporters on Monday .

Damascus said on Monday it was closing Syrian air space over the Idlib region, the last rebel-held sector of Syria, where fighting has escalated as Russian-backed government forces try to oust opposition fighters allied to Turkey.
Russia said it cannot guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft over Syria, after Turkey shot down two Syrian war planes and struck a military airport, the latest clashes that have brought Moscow and Ankara closer than ever to direct confrontation.
The Kremlin said Turkey should take note of a warning issued by the Russian Defense Ministry overnight, which said Turkish aircraft could be at risk over the province.
Fighting in northwestern Syria has displaced a million civilians since December in what the United Nations says could be the worst humanitarian crisis of the nine-year war. Russian-backed Syrian government forces have launched a bid to capture the last swathe of Syria still held by rebels.
Moscow and Ankara both have forces in the area and have traded blame for the deteriorating situation since last week, when at least 33 Turkish troops were killed in an air strike, the worst attack on the Turkish military in nearly 30 years.
Russia, which has batteries of advanced S-400 surface-to-air missiles deployed in Syria, said the Russian and Turkish militaries were in constant contact over Idlib.
Syrian government forces are battling to recapture a strategic rebel-held town in Idlib. A Turkish official said Ankara would continue to strike President Bashar al-Assad's troops after escalating its military operations at the weekend.
Russia has long backed Assad, while Turkey supports anti-Assad rebels. The two countries both have forces in the area under a deal intended to avert all-out fighting there, but diplomatic efforts have crumbled in recent weeks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that President Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks on Syria in Moscow on Thursday. But Peskov said Russia had not changed its position on Syria and was as committed as ever to the Syrian government's fight against anti-Assad rebels.
Russia has been providing air support to Assad's forces in Idlib and also has special forces and military advisers on the ground in Syria. Private military contractors have also been fighting on Assad's side.
Russia "remains committed to the Sochi agreements (between Russia and Turkey on Syria), supports the territorial integrity of Syria, and supports Syria in its fight against terrorists," Peskov told reporters on Monday.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | March 2

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who have since recovered .
The first three Russian citizens have also been infected with the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 2,800 people 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 with China and temporarily banning Chinese citizens from entering the country .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national who was quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy , a hub for the coronavirus outbreak , has the coronavirus , the state-run RIA Novosti reported .
The man , 29-year-old Moscow resident David Berov , is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country .
— The impact of coronavirus on the Russian economy will be deeper than originally expected , Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said .
The ruble 's depreciation and stock market decline have gained momentum since mid-February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about its economic impact , which sent oil prices crashing .
— Schools across Moscow have canceled swimming classes and large-scale events to prevent the spread of the flu and respiratory infections , the city ’ s education officials said in a Feb. 28 letter cited by Interfax .
— Moscow authorities are deporting 88 foreign nationals who violated quarantine measures imposed on them as a precaution against coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency cited Moscow 's deputy mayor as saying .
— A Russian citizen has tested positive with coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interfax reported .
It marks the fourth case of coronavirus among Russian citizens and the first infection in Azerbaijan .
— The Russian government temporarily barred Iranian citizens from entering Russia and said it would also restrict the entry of South Korean citizens from March 1 as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus , decrees published online showed .
— The government also said it would not allow in any foreign citizens traveling from Iran or South Korea , and ordered the Foreign Ministry to suspend the issue of visas to Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train service from Moscow to the southern French city of Nice starting March 4 , the state-run TASS news agency reported , citing the Transport Ministry .
The ministry said the train link would be suspended until further notice as part of wider measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Russia .
— Moscow authorities have identified 88 people who violated the city 's self-isolation orders after returning from China , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
The Russian capital deployed its facial recognition network to enforce the quarantine .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Russia 's Federal Tourism Agency recommended national tour operators suspend tours to Italy , South Korea and Iran until the outbreaks of coronavirus there are brought under control .
— Moscow will suspend flights between Russia and South Korea from March 1 over coronavirus fears , except those operated by Aeroflot and Aurora , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Golikova said Russia would also stop issuing visas to some Iranian citizens from Feb. 28 and was advising Russians against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the outbreak which have been previously announced will be extended by one month to April 1 , Golikova said .
— The Chinese Embassy in Russia has reportedly asked Moscow authorities to stop the profiling of Chinese nationals on the city 's public transport .
According to Novaya Gazeta , the embassy 's letter said that Moscow police and subway workers had begun questioning passengers believed to be Chinese to check for signs of coronavirus , something that is n't being done anywhere else in the world .
— Two Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being quarantined in a seaside resort on Tenerife , one of the Canary Islands , after an Italian doctor who was staying there tested positive for coronavirus , Interfax reported .
— Seven Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been placed in a two-week quarantine in a Vladivostok hospital .
— Nearly all of the 25 Ukrainian nationals onboard the quarantined ship have refused to be evacuated to their home country after violent protests against coronavirus evacuees broke out there .
— Around 2,500 people arriving from China have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and monitored by the Russian capital ’ s facial-recognition technology , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .

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.
Please donate today and support the only independent, English-language news outlet reporting within Russia. Your contribution helps ensure our reporting is free and open to all!
The Moscow Times is at the forefront of this coverage — and we need your support to do it.
As Russia faces a deadly pandemic, ongoing clampdowns on independent media and a swiftly warming climate, the need for free, independent and objective coverage of Russia has never been greater.
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--2020-03-02--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Thousands of Russians rallied across the country to mark five years since the murder of prominent Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov , joining a march that organizers said was also a protest against planned changes to Russia 's Constitution .
Demonstrators carried photos of Nemtsov and posters reading `` No to eternal Putin '' and `` No to the usurpation of power . ''
The annual march was the first major demonstration organized by Russia 's political opposition since President Vladimir Putin proposed a raft of changes to the Constitution last month .
Russia and Turkey have agreed to reduce tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province while continuing military action there , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said ahead of Putin ’ s talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan this week .
Erdogan spoke with Putin by phone , asking for Russia to step aside in Syria and leave Turkey to deal with Syrian government forces alone .
Putin also discussed Idlib by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and French President Emmanuel Macron , who urged Putin and Erdogan to halt hostilities in Syria and agree to a lasting ceasefire .
Authorities in annexed Crimea declared a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quarantine after being hospitalized on suspicion of having the coronavirus .
Three people died at a Moscow birthday party after around 30 kilograms of dry ice , a solid form of carbon dioxide meant to create special effects , were tipped into a pool .

Thousands of Russians rallied across the country to mark five years since the murder of prominent Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, joining a march that organizers said was also a protest against planned changes to Russia's Constitution.
Demonstrators carried photos of Nemtsov and posters reading "No to eternal Putin" and "No to the usurpation of power." The annual march was the first major demonstration organized by Russia's political opposition since President Vladimir Putin proposed a raft of changes to the Constitution last month.
Turkey tensions
Russia and Turkey have agreed to reduce tensions on the ground in Syria's Idlib province while continuing military action there, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said ahead of Putin’s talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan this week.
Erdogan spoke with Putin by phone, asking for Russia to step aside in Syria and leave Turkey to deal with Syrian government forces alone. Putin also discussed Idlib by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and French President Emmanuel Macron, who urged Putin and Erdogan to halt hostilities in Syria and agree to a lasting ceasefire.
Coronavirus suspicions
Authorities in annexed Crimea declared a manhunt for a woman who had escaped a quarantine after being hospitalized on suspicion of having the coronavirus.
Dry-ice tragedy
Three people died at a Moscow birthday party after around 30 kilograms of dry ice, a solid form of carbon dioxide meant to create special effects, were tipped into a pool.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Coronavirus Alert: Russian Cossacks Told Not to Kiss Orthodox Icons

The order was issued by Gennadiy Kovalev , head of the Council of Cossack Hetmans ( leaders ) of Russia @ @ @ @ @ , traditional militia units that once protected Russia 's borderlands .
Russian Cossacks have been @ @ @ @ @ leaders not to kiss icons or clerics ' hands to try to prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @ icons is a common practice in the Russian Orthodox Church , and Kovalev said the @ @ @ @ @ about the health of Pope Francis , who said on Sunday he had a cold @ @ @ @ @ would defy the order , which coincided with the season of Lent , when Christians @ @ @ @ @ and the Russian Orthodox Church holds special ceremonies .
The head of a rival national @ @ @ @ @ order and said it did not apply to its members , the state-run RIA news @ @ @ @ @ reported six cases of the virus , which originated in China , no deaths .

The order was issued by Gennadiy Kovalev, head of the Council of Cossack Hetmans (leaders) of Russia which represents several thousand Cossacks, traditional militia units that once protected Russia's borderlands.
Russian Cossacks have been told by one of their leaders not to kiss icons or clerics' hands to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Kissing icons is a common practice in the Russian Orthodox Church, and Kovalev said the order was prompted by reports about the health of Pope Francis, who said on Sunday he had a cold.
Other Cossacks said they would defy the order, which coincided with the season of Lent, when Christians are urged to occasionally fast and the Russian Orthodox Church holds special ceremonies.
The head of a rival national Cossack organization rejected Kovalev's order and said it did not apply to its members, the state-run RIA news agency said.
Russia has reported six cases of the virus, which originated in China, no deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Putin Proposes to Enshrine God, Heterosexual Marriage in Constitution

Putin in January unleashed a political storm by proposing an overhaul of the Constitution , the first changes to the basic law since 1993 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted to parliament a number of constitutional changes , including amendments that mention God and stipulate that marriage is a union of a man and woman .
Shortly afterward , the lower house unanimously approved the constitutional reform bill in a first reading after less than two hours of debate .
Ahead of a second and key reading set for next week , Putin submitted 24 pages worth of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volodin .
`` The president 's amendments are the result of his dialogue with representatives of all factions ( and ) civil society , '' he said in comments released by the State Duma .
The amendments enshrine the mention of Russians ' `` faith in God '' and also stipulate that marriage is a heterosexual union , said Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy .
Most Russians identify as Orthodox Christians but Russia is officially a secular state .
The new amendments also ban giving away Russian territory and any call promoting such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of a Kremlin-appointed constitutional working group , actor Vladimir Mashkov , has suggested that such an amendment would ensure that Russia keeps Crimea — which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014 — or the Kuril Islands — disputed with Japan for decades — even after Putin quits power .
Tolstoy said he was pleased with the draft legislation .
`` I believe that most of the proposals that have been discussed have been taken into account , '' he told AFP .
The 67-year-old Putin , who has dominated Russia for 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a defender of traditional values and rally support by promoting anti-Western and conservative ideas .
Putin 's fourth stint in the Kremlin has seen a strong pivot to more conservative policies , with groups promoting fundamentalist Orthodox Christian views gaining more legitimacy and liberal viewpoints attacked as Moscow 's relations with the West have soured .
The second reading of the constitutional reform bill is expected to take place on March 10 , said a spokeswoman for Pavel Krasheninnikov , co-chief of the constitutional working group .
The spokeswoman told AFP that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be published later this week .
A public vote on the constitutional reforms has been set for April 22 .
Analysts see Putin 's plan to change the constitution as beginning preparations for succession when his current Kremlin term ends in 2024 .
At the weekend more than 22,000 people rallied in central Moscow to call on Putin not to stay in power indefinitely .

Putin in January unleashed a political storm by proposing an overhaul of the Constitution, the first changes to the basic law since 1993.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted to parliament a number of constitutional changes, including amendments that mention God and stipulate that marriage is a union of a man and woman.
Shortly afterward, the lower house unanimously approved the constitutional reform bill in a first reading after less than two hours of debate.
Ahead of a second and key reading set for next week, Putin submitted 24 pages worth of new proposals, said State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.
"The president's amendments are the result of his dialogue with representatives of all factions (and) civil society," he said in comments released by the State Duma.
The amendments enshrine the mention of Russians' "faith in God" and also stipulate that marriage is a heterosexual union, said Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy.
Most Russians identify as Orthodox Christians but Russia is officially a secular state.
The new amendments also ban giving away Russian territory and any call promoting such a move would also be outlawed.
A member of a Kremlin-appointed constitutional working group, actor Vladimir Mashkov, has suggested that such an amendment would ensure that Russia keeps Crimea — which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014 — or the Kuril Islands — disputed with Japan for decades — even after Putin quits power.
Tolstoy said he was pleased with the draft legislation.
"I believe that most of the proposals that have been discussed have been taken into account," he told AFP.
The 67-year-old Putin, who has dominated Russia for 20 years, has sought to cast himself as a defender of traditional values and rally support by promoting anti-Western and conservative ideas.
Putin's fourth stint in the Kremlin has seen a strong pivot to more conservative policies, with groups promoting fundamentalist Orthodox Christian views gaining more legitimacy and liberal viewpoints attacked as Moscow's relations with the West have soured.
The second reading of the constitutional reform bill is expected to take place on March 10, said a spokeswoman for Pavel Krasheninnikov, co-chief of the constitutional working group.
The spokeswoman told AFP that the text of the amendments was expected to be published later this week.
A public vote on the constitutional reforms has been set for April 22.
Analysts see Putin's plan to change the constitution as beginning preparations for succession when his current Kremlin term ends in 2024.
At the weekend more than 22,000 people rallied in central Moscow to call on Putin not to stay in power indefinitely.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Latvia Arrests Spy Working for Russia

Latvia Arrests Spy Working for Russia

`` The agent ... contacted the Latvian officer to try to recruit him into handing over classified material that could then be used by Russia 's secret services against Latvia but the agent has been arrested instead , '' Latvia 's security service said in a statement .
Latvia said Monday a citizen thought to be working for Russia has been arrested for trying to recruit a secret service officer to spy for Moscow .
The man , whose name was not disclosed , contacted the officer in July and was arrested in November .
He faces up to 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by AFP , the Russian Embassy in Latvia declined comment .
Moscow regularly rejects such charges .
Russian espionage activity in Latvia — and its fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania — has increased since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and tensions with the West have grown over its backing for rebels in eastern Ukraine .
In 2018 , Jurijs Stilve was found guilty of spying for Russia and got three years on probation , while railroad maintenance dispatcher Aleksandrs Krasnopjorovs was jailed for over three years for forwarding NATO video surveillance footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Latvian police and interior ministry officer , is currently awaiting trial on suspicion of having spied for Moscow .

"The agent... contacted the Latvian officer to try to recruit him into handing over classified material that could then be used by Russia's secret services against Latvia but the agent has been arrested instead," Latvia's security service said in a statement.
Latvia said Monday a citizen thought to be working for Russia has been arrested for trying to recruit a secret service officer to spy for Moscow.
The man, whose name was not disclosed, contacted the officer in July and was arrested in November. He faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted.
Contacted by AFP, the Russian Embassy in Latvia declined comment. Moscow regularly rejects such charges.
Russian espionage activity in Latvia — and its fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania — has increased since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and tensions with the West have grown over its backing for rebels in eastern Ukraine.
In 2018, Jurijs Stilve was found guilty of spying for Russia and got three years on probation, while railroad maintenance dispatcher Aleksandrs Krasnopjorovs was jailed for over three years for forwarding NATO video surveillance footage to Russia.
Olegs Buraks, a former Latvian police and interior ministry officer, is currently awaiting trial on suspicion of having spied for Moscow.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Russia Orders New Trial in Activist’s ‘Repeat Protest’ Conviction

Kotov , 34 , in September became the second person ever to be found guilty of taking part in multiple unsanctioned protests .
The Moscow City Court upheld the sentence for the computer programmer , whom rights groups called a prisoner of conscience , the following month .
A Moscow court has ordered a lower court to review the four-year prison sentence of activist Konstantin Kotov , who was convicted of “ multiple breaches ” of Russia ’ s protest law , Interfax reported Monday .
A Moscow appellate court struck down October ’ s ruling and sent Kotov ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court for review , Interfax reported .
No date has been set for the new trial .
The judge ordered Kotov to remain in custody until May 2 .
Kotov ’ s lawyers had asked the appellate judge to overturn the case .
State prosecutors had requested to reduce Kotov ’ s sentence from four years to one year , according to Interfax .
Kotov was arrested and charged amid a wave of criminal prosecutions that were opened over last summer ’ s Moscow election protests .
The rallies , which began after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Sept. 8 Moscow City Duma election , became the largest wave of protests seen in Russia since 2011-2013 .
President Vladimir Putin , who promised in December to look into his case , ordered federal prosecutors in January to determine whether Kotov ’ s sentence was lawful .

Kotov, 34, in September became the second person ever to be found guilty of taking part in multiple unsanctioned protests. The Moscow City Court upheld the sentence for the computer programmer, whom rights groups called a prisoner of conscience, the following month.
A Moscow court has ordered a lower court to review the four-year prison sentence of activist Konstantin Kotov, who was convicted of “multiple breaches” of Russia’s protest law, Interfax reported Monday.
A Moscow appellate court struck down October’s ruling and sent Kotov’s case back to the Moscow City Court for review, Interfax reported. No date has been set for the new trial.
The judge ordered Kotov to remain in custody until May 2.
Kotov’s lawyers had asked the appellate judge to overturn the case. State prosecutors had requested to reduce Kotov’s sentence from four years to one year, according to Interfax.
Kotov was arrested and charged amid a wave of criminal prosecutions that were opened over last summer’s Moscow election protests. The rallies, which began after opposition candidates were barred from the ballot in the Sept. 8 Moscow City Duma election, became the largest wave of protests seen in Russia since 2011-2013.
President Vladimir Putin, who promised in December to look into his case, ordered federal prosecutors in January to determine whether Kotov’s sentence was lawful.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-02--Trial of Austrian Army Officer Accused of Spying for Russia Opens

The 71-year-old defendant , who has not been named , is accused of having provided `` comprehensive information '' on a range of military aspects to Moscow , above all on weapons systems and how tasks were assigned within the armed forces , prosecutors have said .
The trial of a retired Austrian army colonel accused of spying for Russia for decades opened on Monday and was ordered to be held behind closed doors on national security grounds .
`` He says no , at no point did he betray any military or state secrets , '' defense lawyer Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Salzburg opened .
Hofer said his client describes himself as a patriot .
After the defendant entered the court , wearing a suit and carrying a bundle of papers under his arm , the presiding judge ordered that the trial be held behind closed doors on national security grounds , and the public gallery was cleared .
Prosecutors say that in the course of his at least 25-year career as a spy for Russian GRU military intelligence , with which he first came into contact during a foreign assignment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of euros .
The case has been embarrassing for neutral Austria , which under conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has positioned itself as one of Russia 's closest allies in the European Union while saying it wants to be a bridge between east and west .
Austria was in the minority of European Union states not to expel any Russian diplomats over the poisoning in Britain of Russian former spy-turned-British-mole Sergei Skripal and his daughter , which London blames on Moscow .
Russia denies the accusation .
Asked about the nature of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official who prosecutors say was his GRU handler , Hofer said : `` It developed out of an acquaintance , a friendship , a collegiality , that there was originally interest in how he sees the world . ''
He added that his client gathered the information for the Russian man , who had a `` language barrier '' , apparently suggesting the Russian needed help understanding information in German .
`` He ( the defendant ) says he felt more like a foreign correspondent , '' Hofer said .
His client faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a court statement .
Five days in March have been set aside for the trial .
It is unclear when a verdict will be reached .

The 71-year-old defendant, who has not been named, is accused of having provided "comprehensive information" on a range of military aspects to Moscow, above all on weapons systems and how tasks were assigned within the armed forces, prosecutors have said.
The trial of a retired Austrian army colonel accused of spying for Russia for decades opened on Monday and was ordered to be held behind closed doors on national security grounds.
"He says no, at no point did he betray any military or state secrets," defense lawyer Michael Hofer told reporters before the trial in the city of Salzburg opened. Hofer said his client describes himself as a patriot.
After the defendant entered the court, wearing a suit and carrying a bundle of papers under his arm, the presiding judge ordered that the trial be held behind closed doors on national security grounds, and the public gallery was cleared.
Prosecutors say that in the course of his at least 25-year career as a spy for Russian GRU military intelligence, with which he first came into contact during a foreign assignment in 1987, he was paid hundreds of thousands of euros.
The case has been embarrassing for neutral Austria, which under conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has positioned itself as one of Russia's closest allies in the European Union while saying it wants to be a bridge between east and west.
Austria was in the minority of European Union states not to expel any Russian diplomats over the poisoning in Britain of Russian former spy-turned-British-mole Sergei Skripal and his daughter, which London blames on Moscow. Russia denies the accusation.
Asked about the nature of his client's relationship with a Russian military official who prosecutors say was his GRU handler, Hofer said: "It developed out of an acquaintance, a friendship, a collegiality, that there was originally interest in how he sees the world."
He added that his client gathered the information for the Russian man, who had a "language barrier", apparently suggesting the Russian needed help understanding information in German.
"He (the defendant) says he felt more like a foreign correspondent," Hofer said.
His client faces up to 10 years in prison, according to a court statement. Five days in March have been set aside for the trial. It is unclear when a verdict will be reached.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Moscow Scrambles to Contain the Coronavirus as First Case is Confirmed

As the first confirmed case of the coronavirus has hit Moscow , authorities have transferred planes going to and from @ @ @ @ @ Terminal F , where flights serving China had already been relocated .
Staff in hazmat @ @ @ @ @ passengers for temperatures , and the Moscow metro has additionally started random temperature testing .

As the first confirmed case of the coronavirus has hit Moscow, authorities have transferred planes going to and from outbreak hubs to Sheremyetevo's Terminal F, where flights serving China had already been relocated.
Staff in hazmat suits greet and test incoming passengers for temperatures, and the Moscow metro has additionally started random temperature testing.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Russian Jailed for 9 Years for Murdering Popular Instagram Influencer

A Moscow court on Monday convicted Maxim Gareyev for the murder of 25-year-old Yekaterina Karaglanova , a medical student whose naked body was found with more than 19 knife wounds in a suitcase in a rented flat in July last year .
A Russian man has been jailed for nine years for stabbing to death a popular Instagram influencer who modeled herself on Audrey Hepburn .
Karaglanova had an Instagram account called Katti_loves_life , posting images of herself posing to look like `` Breakfast at Tiffany 's '' actress Hepburn in scenic holiday destinations such as Venice and Dubai and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adored Audrey since school and people often tell me I look like her , '' she wrote in 2017 .
Her account now has more than 100,000 followers , with the last post from a holiday in Corfu in June .
Gareyev reportedly underwent numerous cosmetic operations and was nicknamed `` Ken Doll '' by Russian tabloids for his resemblance to the male version of the Barbie Doll .
In a video released by investigators , he said he murdered Karaglanova , who he knew , because she humiliated him over his financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered to serve his sentence in a strict-regime penal colony , the Moscow prosecutor 's office said .
He was also ordered to pay 2.5 million rubles ( $ 38,000 ) in compensation to Karaglanova 's family .
She studied medicine at a top Moscow university and wrote she was doing a clinical residency .
Her rented flat was in a quiet city district with a number of embassies .
She reportedly competed in several beauty contests .
Russian activists have decried the country 's record on violence against women .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to official statistics there were 33,300 crimes involving violence in the family in 2018 , 24,400 of them against women .

A Moscow court on Monday convicted Maxim Gareyev for the murder of 25-year-old Yekaterina Karaglanova, a medical student whose naked body was found with more than 19 knife wounds in a suitcase in a rented flat in July last year.
A Russian man has been jailed for nine years for stabbing to death a popular Instagram influencer who modeled herself on Audrey Hepburn.
Karaglanova had an Instagram account called Katti_loves_life, posting images of herself posing to look like "Breakfast at Tiffany's" actress Hepburn in scenic holiday destinations such as Venice and Dubai and wearing designer labels.
"I've adored Audrey since school and people often tell me I look like her," she wrote in 2017.
Her account now has more than 100,000 followers, with the last post from a holiday in Corfu in June.
Gareyev reportedly underwent numerous cosmetic operations and was nicknamed "Ken Doll" by Russian tabloids for his resemblance to the male version of the Barbie Doll.
In a video released by investigators, he said he murdered Karaglanova, who he knew, because she humiliated him over his financial situation and sexuality.
The 33-year-old was ordered to serve his sentence in a strict-regime penal colony, the Moscow prosecutor's office said.
He was also ordered to pay 2.5 million rubles ($38,000) in compensation to Karaglanova's family.
She studied medicine at a top Moscow university and wrote she was doing a clinical residency. Her rented flat was in a quiet city district with a number of embassies. She reportedly competed in several beauty contests.
Russian activists have decried the country's record on violence against women.
There is currently no law defining domestic violence and according to official statistics there were 33,300 crimes involving violence in the family in 2018, 24,400 of them against women.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Putin Says Protesters Welcome to 'Get Shaved' in Jail

Russian President Vladimir Putin mockingly suggested on Tuesday that participants in unsanctioned protests were welcome to go to prison and `` get shaved . ''
In the latest in a series of interviews with state-run news agency TASS , Putin said opposition supporters who take part in unapproved rallies should expect to be given jail time .
`` If you have not received ( permission ) and taken to the streets — you are welcome to get shaved , '' Putin said , in reference to the practice of prisoners having their heads shaved .
`` Get some rest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` There are certain rules for everybody to adhere to , '' Putin told Andrei Vandenko , who is doing a series of interviews with Putin to mark 20 years since he first became president .
`` This is the law .
And it must be obeyed .
Otherwise , the country 's stability will break down .
Do we want to see cars torched in our streets ? ''
Police cracked down last summer on a series of unsanctioned anti-government demonstrations , with hundreds arrested and several protesters sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of demonstrations to obtain prior approval from authorities and the opposition complains that permission is often denied without cause .
Authorities imposed harsher penalties for organizing unsanctioned demonstrations after large-scale protests in 2011-2012 sparked by Putin 's return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister .
Single-person pickets are the only form of protest that does not require prior approval from Russian authorities .
Putin has not shied away from using colorful or even foul language during his 20 years in power .
In 2012 he used slang to refer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feminist punk band Pussy Riot and in 1999 famously vowed to `` rub out ( terrorists ) in the outhouse . ''

Russian President Vladimir Putin mockingly suggested on Tuesday that participants in unsanctioned protests were welcome to go to prison and "get shaved." In the latest in a series of interviews with state-run news agency TASS, Putin said opposition supporters who take part in unapproved rallies should expect to be given jail time.
"If you have not received (permission) and taken to the streets — you are welcome to get shaved," Putin said, in reference to the practice of prisoners having their heads shaved. "Get some rest. Relax a little bit," Putin said. "There are certain rules for everybody to adhere to," Putin told Andrei Vandenko, who is doing a series of interviews with Putin to mark 20 years since he first became president. "This is the law. And it must be obeyed. Otherwise, the country's stability will break down. Do we want to see cars torched in our streets?" Police cracked down last summer on a series of unsanctioned anti-government demonstrations, with hundreds arrested and several protesters sentenced to long jail terms.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Opposition Leader Navalny Says Bank Accounts Frozen

Russia 's main opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Tuesday that authorities had frozen all of his bank accounts and those of his family , including his elderly parents .
`` All accounts have been blocked , '' Navalny , an anti-corruption campaigner who has emerged as President Vladimir Putin 's most prominent critic , said on Twitter .
His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh told AFP that the accounts had been frozen due to a money-laundering probe against Navalny 's Anti-Corruption Foundation .
Navalny said that because of the blocked accounts his daughter , who is a student at Stanford University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents could not receive their pensions .
`` This is quite unpleasant , I wo n't deny it .
My parents are elderly people , pensioners , '' he wrote in a blog post .
`` My child is studying at the other end of the planet by herself -- she 's been left without a single cent . ''
He added that his son no longer had access to his savings account .
Investigators last summer launched a money-laundering probe into Navalny 's foundation , which seeks donations from the public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procured illegally .
In August , a Moscow district court froze 75 million rubles ( $ 1.1 million ) held in accounts by the foundation and staff members .
Navalny said his personal accounts had until now remained untouched .
Ivan Zhdanov , the director of Navalny 's foundation , said authorities had also blocked the bank accounts of his family .
Investigators have repeatedly accused Navalny 's foundation of financial crimes , including money laundering and accepting illegal donations , and frozen its accounts .
Navalny organized some of the biggest protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the run-up to local elections in September , Navalny and his supporters organized a wave of protests after popular opposition politicians were barred from standing in the Moscow municipal election , prompting a police crackdown .

Russia's main opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Tuesday that authorities had frozen all of his bank accounts and those of his family, including his elderly parents.
"All accounts have been blocked," Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner who has emerged as President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, said on Twitter.
His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh told AFP that the accounts had been frozen due to a money-laundering probe against Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.
Navalny said that because of the blocked accounts his daughter, who is a student at Stanford University, was without money and that his retired parents could not receive their pensions.
"This is quite unpleasant, I won't deny it. My parents are elderly people, pensioners," he wrote in a blog post.
"My child is studying at the other end of the planet by herself -- she's been left without a single cent."
He added that his son no longer had access to his savings account.
Investigators last summer launched a money-laundering probe into Navalny's foundation, which seeks donations from the public, accusing it of taking money that was procured illegally.
In August, a Moscow district court froze 75 million rubles ($1.1 million) held in accounts by the foundation and staff members.
Navalny said his personal accounts had until now remained untouched.
Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's foundation, said authorities had also blocked the bank accounts of his family.
Investigators have repeatedly accused Navalny's foundation of financial crimes, including money laundering and accepting illegal donations, and frozen its accounts.
Navalny organized some of the biggest protests against Putin in recent years.
In the run-up to local elections in September, Navalny and his supporters organized a wave of protests after popular opposition politicians were barred from standing in the Moscow municipal election, prompting a police crackdown.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Russia Sends 4th Warship to Syria Amid Turkey Tensions

The large landing ship Novocherkassk was photographed crossing Turkey ’ s busy Bosphorus strait days after Russia sent two warships equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles toward the Syrian coast .
A third frigate has been in the Mediterranean since December .
The Russian Navy has dispatched a fourth warship to Syria ’ s Mediterranean coast as tensions over the northwestern province of Idlib spiral with Turkey , amateur ship spotters reported Monday .
Turkey and Russia have come closer than ever to direct military confrontation in Syria in recent days .
Ankara launched a military campaign last week in Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on retaking the rebel stronghold .
Turkey said Syrian government airstrikes killed 33 Turkish soldiers Thursday , bringing the death toll in Idlib to 54 Turkish soldiers in February .
Turkish forces responded to the strikes by shooting down two Syrian government warplanes and striking a military airport .
Turkey ’ s defense ministry said Tuesday that it shot down another Syrian warplane .
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are due to meet this Thursday in an effort to diffuse tensions .
Russia and Syria have carried out a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent months .
Russia has maintained the Tartus military facility since 1971 and recently moved to expand its foothold there through 2092 .
Russia has waged an air and sea campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 as its ally has grappled with a nine-year civil war .

The large landing ship Novocherkassk was photographed crossing Turkey’s busy Bosphorus strait days after Russia sent two warships equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles toward the Syrian coast. A third frigate has been in the Mediterranean since December.
The Russian Navy has dispatched a fourth warship to Syria’s Mediterranean coast as tensions over the northwestern province of Idlib spiral with Turkey, amateur ship spotters reported Monday.
Turkey and Russia have come closer than ever to direct military confrontation in Syria in recent days.
Ankara launched a military campaign last week in Idlib against the Russian-backed Syrian government forces intent on retaking the rebel stronghold. Turkey said Syrian government airstrikes killed 33 Turkish soldiers Thursday, bringing the death toll in Idlib to 54 Turkish soldiers in February.
Turkish forces responded to the strikes by shooting down two Syrian government warplanes and striking a military airport. Turkey’s defense ministry said Tuesday that it shot down another Syrian warplane.
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are due to meet this Thursday in an effort to diffuse tensions.
Russia and Syria have carried out a number of naval drills in the port of Tartus in recent months. Russia has maintained the Tartus military facility since 1971 and recently moved to expand its foothold there through 2092.
Russia has waged an air and sea campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 as its ally has grappled with a nine-year civil war.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-03--Russian Police Turn to ‘Name Profiling’ to Spot Criminals

Psychologist Boris Khigir claims his method , which he says is based on personal observations and statistics , has an 80 % accuracy rate .
Critics have questioned the reliability of criminal profiling .
The Russian police force 's official gazette has interviewed an expert who claims to be able to identify criminals based on their name , birth date and other traits .
“ I have a lie detector in my head which is fed with details such as a person ’ s name , patronymic and appearance , ” Khigir said in a Feb. 26 interview with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on what he claims to be 30 years of research , Khigir says the most “ criminal ” name is Sergei .
“ My data says that five out of 10 Sergeis could be criminals .
Plus , these people are usually gay , ” he told Petrovka 38 .
The patronymics Nikolayevich , Igorevich , Anatolyevich and four other common names point to violent criminality , he said .
Additionally , the psychologist noted that “ nearly the absolute majority of murderers and pedophiles have the O blood type.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t mean that we support ” his methods , Petrovka 38 ’ s executive secretary Sergei Ostashev told the Open Media investigative website which first reported about the interview .
The Prosecutor General ’ s Office has previously described the average Russian criminal as a male between the ages 30 and 49 without a higher education and a stable source of income .
Last April , a Defense Ministry-run news magazine run claimed that the Russian military tested the telepathic effects of parapsychology in its wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers to wiretap conversations , disrupt software , identify potential terrorists and read foreign-language documents locked in a safe — all using nothing but their minds .
The expert community is divided on the existence of parapsychology capabilities in the military , the RBC news website reported last spring .

Psychologist Boris Khigir claims his method, which he says is based on personal observations and statistics, has an 80% accuracy rate. Critics have questioned the reliability of criminal profiling.
The Russian police force's official gazette has interviewed an expert who claims to be able to identify criminals based on their name, birth date and other traits.
“I have a lie detector in my head which is fed with details such as a person’s name, patronymic and appearance,” Khigir said in a Feb. 26 interview with the Interior Ministry’s Petrovka 38 weekly.
Based on what he claims to be 30 years of research, Khigir says the most “criminal” name is Sergei.
“My data says that five out of 10 Sergeis could be criminals. Plus, these people are usually gay,” he told Petrovka 38.
The patronymics Nikolayevich, Igorevich, Anatolyevich and four other common names point to violent criminality, he said.
Additionally, the psychologist noted that “nearly the absolute majority of murderers and pedophiles have the O blood type.”
Khigir’s interview “doesn’t mean that we support” his methods, Petrovka 38’s executive secretary Sergei Ostashev told the Open Media investigative website which first reported about the interview.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has previously described the average Russian criminal as a male between the ages 30 and 49 without a higher education and a stable source of income.
Last April, a Defense Ministry-run news magazine run claimed that the Russian military tested the telepathic effects of parapsychology in its wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and the early 2000s.
The techniques reportedly allowed soldiers to wiretap conversations, disrupt software, identify potential terrorists and read foreign-language documents locked in a safe — all using nothing but their minds. The expert community is divided on the existence of parapsychology capabilities in the military, the RBC news website reported last spring.