themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Russian Firm, French Far-Right Party Settle Unpaid Debt Dispute

`` An amicable agreement was reached between the parties .
The judge approved it , '' a court spokeswoman told AFP after the first hearing into the dispute .
A legal agreement was reached Wednesday between France 's far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen and a Russian firm suing it over a massive unpaid loan , a Moscow court said .
Documents filed in December last year to Moscow 's Court of Arbitration showed aviation parts company Aviazapchast was suing Le Pen 's party for 639.8 million rubles ( $ 10.1 million ) loaned to the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased to 734 million rubles , though it was not immediately clear what accounted for the increase .
It should have made a single payment of 9 million euros ( $ 10 million ) in 2019 , after interest payments .
The debt-recovery action was filed with the Russian court late last year and the National Rally party was notified in a December letter of the first hearing in June .
Party treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just declined to comment to AFP on Wednesday 's ruling .
The court said a document outlining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working days .
The French far-right party , which has struggled financially for several years , took out the loan with Russia 's First Czech-Russian Bank in 2014 .
News of the lending sparked concerns the Kremlin had thrown its weight behind Le Pen 's party , which is critical of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis .
In March 2016 , the original loan was passed to Russian car hire firm Konti , shortly before the First Czech-Russian Bank went into administration and eventually shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deposit Insurance Agency then indicated that the loan had been passed on to Aviazapchast in late 2016 .

"An amicable agreement was reached between the parties. The judge approved it," a court spokeswoman told AFP after the first hearing into the dispute.
A legal agreement was reached Wednesday between France's far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen and a Russian firm suing it over a massive unpaid loan, a Moscow court said.
Documents filed in December last year to Moscow's Court of Arbitration showed aviation parts company Aviazapchast was suing Le Pen's party for 639.8 million rubles ($10.1 million) loaned to the party.
Documents show the sum has since increased to 734 million rubles, though it was not immediately clear what accounted for the increase.
It should have made a single payment of 9 million euros ($10 million) in 2019, after interest payments.
The debt-recovery action was filed with the Russian court late last year and the National Rally party was notified in a December letter of the first hearing in June.
Party treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just declined to comment to AFP on Wednesday's ruling.
The court said a document outlining the full agreement would be published within five working days.
The French far-right party, which has struggled financially for several years, took out the loan with Russia's First Czech-Russian Bank in 2014.
News of the lending sparked concerns the Kremlin had thrown its weight behind Le Pen's party, which is critical of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
In March 2016, the original loan was passed to Russian car hire firm Konti, shortly before the First Czech-Russian Bank went into administration and eventually shut down in July the same year.
State-owned Deposit Insurance Agency then indicated that the loan had been passed on to Aviazapchast in late 2016.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--First Russian Strikes in 3 Months Hit NW Syria – Monitor

The Russian strikes on Tuesday evening and at dawn on Wednesday hit an area of the northwest where the boundaries of Hama , Idlib and Latakia provinces meet , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said .
Russian air strikes have hit Syria 's last major rebel bastion for the first time since a March ceasefire came into force , a war monitor said on Wednesday .
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance ( HTS ) , led by Syria 's former Al-Qaeda affiliate , and its hardline allies enjoy a significant presence in the area , the Britain-based monitoring group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , the Idlib region of the northwest is controlled by HTS and affiliated rebel groups .
A Russian-backed government offensive between December and March displaced nearly a million people in the region .
Some 840,000 of the nearly one million remain displaced , while some 120,000 have returned to their home communities since the ceasefire went into force , according to the United Nations .
The truce , which coincided with the coronavirus crisis , had put a stop to the relentless air strikes by government forces and their Russian allies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
The Observatory said the latest strikes were intended to push jihadists away from the key M4 highway in northern Syria , where Turkish and Russian forces often conduct joint patrols as part of the truce agreement .
They were also intended to push HTS and its allies further away from the Sahl al-Ghab area in the north of Hama province , where government and Russian forces are present , it added .
The air strikes triggered a fresh wave of displacement from Sahl al-Ghab and the Jabal al-Zawiya district of neighboring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the 3 million people living in the Idlib region have been displaced from other parts of Syria recaptured by the government .
After holding barely a fifth of the country five years ago , Russian intervention has helped the government reclaim control of more than 70 % of Syria .
In the northwest , HTS and its allies control around half of Idlib province and slivers of territory in the neighboring provinces of Hama , Latakia and Aleppo .
The war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population since it started in 2011 .
The month of May saw the lowest civilian death toll since the start of the conflict nine years ago with 71 civilians reported killed , the Observatory said on Tuesday .

The Russian strikes on Tuesday evening and at dawn on Wednesday hit an area of the northwest where the boundaries of Hama, Idlib and Latakia provinces meet, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Russian air strikes have hit Syria's last major rebel bastion for the first time since a March ceasefire came into force, a war monitor said on Wednesday.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance (HTS), led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and its hardline allies enjoy a significant presence in the area, the Britain-based monitoring group added.
Home to some 3 million people, the Idlib region of the northwest is controlled by HTS and affiliated rebel groups.
A Russian-backed government offensive between December and March displaced nearly a million people in the region.
Some 840,000 of the nearly one million remain displaced, while some 120,000 have returned to their home communities since the ceasefire went into force, according to the United Nations.
The truce, which coincided with the coronavirus crisis, had put a stop to the relentless air strikes by government forces and their Russian allies that killed at least 500 civilians in four months.
The Observatory said the latest strikes were intended to push jihadists away from the key M4 highway in northern Syria, where Turkish and Russian forces often conduct joint patrols as part of the truce agreement.
They were also intended to push HTS and its allies further away from the Sahl al-Ghab area in the north of Hama province, where government and Russian forces are present, it added.
The air strikes triggered a fresh wave of displacement from Sahl al-Ghab and the Jabal al-Zawiya district of neighboring Idlib, the Observatory added.
Nearly half of the 3 million people living in the Idlib region have been displaced from other parts of Syria recaptured by the government.
After holding barely a fifth of the country five years ago, Russian intervention has helped the government reclaim control of more than 70% of Syria.
In the northwest, HTS and its allies control around half of Idlib province and slivers of territory in the neighboring provinces of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.
The war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced nearly half of the country's pre-war population since it started in 2011.
The month of May saw the lowest civilian death toll since the start of the conflict nine years ago with 71 civilians reported killed, the Observatory said on Tuesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--One Dead in Fire at St. Petersburg Hospital

One person has died in a fire at a hospital in Russia 's second city St. Petersburg , emergencies services @ @ @ @ @ .
Bedsheets caught on fire in one of the buildings of the Botkin hospital around @ @ @ @ @ told the state-run TASS news agency .
`` The patient was alone in the room @ @ @ @ @ flames , but he was poisoned by the smoke , '' local emergencies services spokesman @ @ @ @ @ Efforts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful , he said , adding that the patient @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
News agencies quoted sources as saying the patient had been smoking in @ @ @ @ @ last month in fires at hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg , with faulty ventilators @ @ @ @ @ blazes , though an investigation is ongoing .
The Botkin hospital for infectious diseases is @ @ @ @ @ treatment center and one of the largest infection facilities in the country .

One person has died in a fire at a hospital in Russia's second city St. Petersburg, emergencies services and hospital staff said Wednesday.
Bedsheets caught on fire in one of the buildings of the Botkin hospital around 6:00 a.m., first responders told the state-run TASS news agency.
"The patient was alone in the room. There were no open flames, but he was poisoned by the smoke," local emergencies services spokesman Andrei Litovko told AFP.
Efforts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful, he said, adding that the patient was not being treated for the coronavirus.
News agencies quoted sources as saying the patient had been smoking in bed.
Several people died last month in fires at hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with faulty ventilators believed to have sparked the blazes, though an investigation is ongoing.
The Botkin hospital for infectious diseases is Saint Petersburg's main coronavirus treatment center and one of the largest infection facilities in the country.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 432K as Restrictions Ease

New infections have been steadily dropping since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11,000 cases .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ count is the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections @ @ @ @ @ mean the country can begin to return to normal .
Yet critics have cast doubt @ @ @ @ @ the authorities of under-reporting deaths and threatening a new wave of infections by lifting restrictions @ @ @ @ @ on Monday announced that a postponed nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that could extend his @ @ @ @ @ ahead on July 1 .
The authorities have also rescheduled Russia 's massive May 9 @ @ @ @ @ June 24 .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's pandemic with around half of @ @ @ @ @ , on Monday eased a nine-week lockdown allowing shops to reopen and residents to leave @ @ @ @ @ .
Putin was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday to discuss @ @ @ @ @ badly hit by lockdown measures and a sharp fall in oil prices .

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


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Russia’s 2020 Wildfires Cover Greece-Sized Area – Greenpeace

Russia 's Federal Forestry Agency has identified 12.3 million acres of wildfires raging across the country ’ s forests so far this year , four-fifths of which are in Siberia and the Russian Far East .
Experts warn that this year ’ s blazes , some of which may have survived from last summer through a historically warm and dry winter , could become the most destructive in history .
Wildfires in Russia have burned across a combined area the size of Greece so far in 2020 , surpassing official estimates threefold , Greenpeace Russia said as it braces for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next month .
Using satellite data , Greenpeace Russia estimated that 33.3 million acres — more than the area of Greece and nearly three times more than official data indicates — burned across forests , steppes and fields from January to mid-May .
“ If the steppe is on fire , the blaze can pass over a huge area in a matter of hours , ” Greenpeace Russia ’ s forestry expert Alexei Yaroshenko told the Kommersant business daily Tuesday .
One-third of the fires fell on abandoned fields that have turned into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trees , or seven times the number planted in 2019 , Greenpeace Russia said .
The environmental NGO said it believes non-forest fires should be counted in official data — which only tallies forest reserve fires that threaten populated areas — because they also pose a danger to forests .
Last year ’ s wildfires in Siberia burned across an area the size of Belgium at their peak and emitted the equivalent of Sweden ’ s total annual carbon dioxide emissions in one month alone .
Climate change is heating Russia at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia , the world ’ s fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter with an economy heavily dependent on oil and gas , has been slow to take steps to curb its carbon emissions .
Greenpeace Russia expects wildfires to pick up in pace and peak in July .

Russia's Federal Forestry Agency has identified 12.3 million acres of wildfires raging across the country’s forests so far this year, four-fifths of which are in Siberia and the Russian Far East. Experts warn that this year’s blazes, some of which may have survived from last summer through a historically warm and dry winter, could become the most destructive in history.
Wildfires in Russia have burned across a combined area the size of Greece so far in 2020, surpassing official estimates threefold, Greenpeace Russia said as it braces for blazes to erupt this week and peak next month.
Using satellite data, Greenpeace Russia estimated that 33.3 million acres — more than the area of Greece and nearly three times more than official data indicates — burned across forests, steppes and fields from January to mid-May.
“If the steppe is on fire, the blaze can pass over a huge area in a matter of hours,” Greenpeace Russia’s forestry expert Alexei Yaroshenko told the Kommersant business daily Tuesday.
One-third of the fires fell on abandoned fields that have turned into forests, killing an estimated 4.7 billion trees, or seven times the number planted in 2019, Greenpeace Russia said.
The environmental NGO said it believes non-forest fires should be counted in official data — which only tallies forest reserve fires that threaten populated areas — because they also pose a danger to forests.
Last year’s wildfires in Siberia burned across an area the size of Belgium at their peak and emitted the equivalent of Sweden’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions in one month alone.
Climate change is heating Russia at a rate more than twice the global average. Russia, the world’s fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter with an economy heavily dependent on oil and gas, has been slow to take steps to curb its carbon emissions.
Greenpeace Russia expects wildfires to pick up in pace and peak in July.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Putin Declares State of Emergency Over Siberian Fuel Spill

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered a state of emergency and criticized a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel after a massive diesel spill into a Siberian river .
The spill of over 20,000 tonnes of diesel fuel took place on Friday .
A fuel reservoir collapsed at a power plant near the city of Norilsk , located above the Arctic Circle , and leaked into a nearby river .
During a video conference , Putin lambasted the head of the Norilsk Nickel subsidiary that owns the power plant , NTEK , after officials said the company failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government agencies only find out about this two days after the fact ?
Are we going to learn about emergency situations from social media ?
Are you quite healthy over there ? ''
Putin told NTEK chief Sergei Lipin in an unusually stern dressing-down aired on television .
Nornickel has said in a statement that NTEK had reported what happened in a `` timely and proper '' way .
Krasnoyarsk region governor Alexander Uss told Putin he only `` learned of the real situation '' on Sunday after `` alarming information appeared in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed that a national state of emergency was needed to call in more resources for the cleanup effort .
Russia 's Investigative Committee , which deals with major crimes , announced that it launched three criminal probes into the accident and detained an employee of the power plant .
World Wildlife Fund expert Alexei Knizhnikov said the environmental group was the one who alerted cleanup specialists after confirming the accident through its sources .
`` These are huge volumes , '' he said .
`` It was difficult for them to cover it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spill is vastly larger than a major 2007 spill in the Kerch strait of the Black Sea , which involved 5,000 tonnes of oil , the WWF expert said .
At the time the Kerch spill was the largest of its kind for Russia and required intervention of the military and hundreds of volunteers .
Knizhnikov said diesel fuel is lighter than oil , so it is likely to evaporate rather than sink but it is `` more toxic to clean up . ''
The Ambarnaya river that bore the brunt of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it is too shallow to use barges and the remote location has no roads , officials told Putin .
Environment Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said he thought burning the fuel , which some are suggesting , was too risky .
`` It 's a very difficult situation .
I ca n't imagine burning so much fuel in an Arctic territory ... such a huge bonfire over such an area will be a big problem . ''

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered a state of emergency and criticized a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel after a massive diesel spill into a Siberian river.
The spill of over 20,000 tons of diesel fuel took place on Friday. A fuel reservoir collapsed at a power plant near the city of Norilsk, located above the Arctic Circle, and leaked into a nearby river.
During a video conference, Putin lambasted the head of the Norilsk Nickel subsidiary that owns the power plant, NTEK, after officials said the company failed to report the incident.
"Why did government agencies only find out about this two days after the fact? Are we going to learn about emergency situations from social media? Are you quite healthy over there?" Putin told NTEK chief Sergei Lipin in an unusually stern dressing-down aired on television.
Nornickel has said in a statement that NTEK had reported what happened in a "timely and proper" way.
Krasnoyarsk region governor Alexander Uss told Putin he only "learned of the real situation" on Sunday after "alarming information appeared on social media."
Putin said he agreed that a national state of emergency was needed to call in more resources for the cleanup effort.
Russia's Investigative Committee, which deals with major crimes, announced that it launched three criminal probes into the accident and detained an employee of the power plant.
World Wildlife Fund expert Alexei Knizhnikov said the environmental group was the one who alerted cleanup specialists after confirming the accident through its sources.
"These are huge volumes," he said. "It was difficult for them to cover it up."
The volume of the spill is vastly larger than a major 2007 spill in the Kerch strait of the Black Sea, which involved 5,000 tons of oil, the WWF expert said.
At the time the Kerch spill was the largest of its kind for Russia and required intervention of the military and hundreds of volunteers.
Knizhnikov said diesel fuel is lighter than oil, so it is likely to evaporate rather than sink but it is "more toxic to clean up."
The Ambarnaya river that bore the brunt of the spill will be difficult to clean up because it is too shallow to use barges and the remote location has no roads, officials told Putin.
Environment Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said he thought burning the fuel, which some are suggesting, was too risky.
"It's a very difficult situation. I can't imagine burning so much fuel in an Arctic territory... such a huge bonfire over such an area will be a big problem."


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Russia Allows Nuclear Response to Conventional Attacks

Its publication , which has until now has been classified , comes less than a year before the last major U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control treaty is set to expire without extension .
The world ’ s two biggest nuclear powers exited another landmark strategic arms accord last year after accusing each other of violating it .
President Vladimir Putin signed a nuclear deterrence policy document Tuesday which reaffirms Russia 's allowance of first nuclear strikes in retaliation to non-nuclear attacks .
“ Aggression against Russia with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new document clears Russia to use nuclear weapons .
It reiterates Russia ’ s stance for nuclear weapons use against conventional weapons under the 2010 military doctrine .
The 2020 policy document also reserves Russia ’ s nuclear weapons use against nuclear weapons or “ reliable information ” of ballistic missile launches against Russia or its allies , as well as “ action ” against critical Russian state or military facilities .
Russia reserves the right to revise the fundamentals of its nuclear deterrence policy “ depending on internal and external factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Russia has expressed deeper misgivings over U.S. nuclear policy after Washington pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty ( INF ) in August 2019 , citing violations by Russia that Moscow denies .
The 2010 New START accord , which limits the number of deployable long-range nuclear warheads , is now the only remaining arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia .
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he wants to strike a nuclear pact with Russia .
In response , the Kremlin ’ s spokesman urged the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up negotiations before the New START Treaty expires in February 2021 .

Its publication, which has until now has been classified, comes less than a year before the last major U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control treaty is set to expire without extension. The world’s two biggest nuclear powers exited another landmark strategic arms accord last year after accusing each other of violating it.
President Vladimir Putin signed a nuclear deterrence policy document Tuesday which reaffirms Russia's allowance of first nuclear strikes in retaliation to non-nuclear attacks.
“Aggression against Russia with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened” is one of four circumstances that the new document clears Russia to use nuclear weapons.
It reiterates Russia’s stance for nuclear weapons use against conventional weapons under the 2010 military doctrine.
The 2020 policy document also reserves Russia’s nuclear weapons use against nuclear weapons or “reliable information” of ballistic missile launches against Russia or its allies, as well as “action” against critical Russian state or military facilities.
Russia reserves the right to revise the fundamentals of its nuclear deterrence policy “depending on internal and external factors impacting defense provision,” the document states.
Russia has expressed deeper misgivings over U.S. nuclear policy after Washington pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in August 2019, citing violations by Russia that Moscow denies.
The 2010 New START accord, which limits the number of deployable long-range nuclear warheads, is now the only remaining arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he wants to strike a nuclear pact with Russia. In response, the Kremlin’s spokesman urged the Russian and U.S. foreign policy chiefs to step up negotiations before the New START Treaty expires in February 2021.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--Russia Bars Campaigns Against Reforms Extending Putin’s Rule

Putin announced the vote will take place on July 1 after the coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 432,000 Russians forced him to postpone the original April 22 date .
A key provision in the proposed changes would reset Putin ’ s presidential term count , opening the way for him to serve two more terms until 2036 , when he would turn 83 .
Russian election officials say activists are not allowed to campaign against a package of constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his 20-year rule into the next decade , the RBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amendments have asked the Central Election Commission ( CEC ) to allocate media time and space for their campaign , RBC reported .
They argue that they are being deprived of a chance to express their opinions amid an ongoing campaign urging Russians to vote for the reforms .
CEC member Maya Grishina told RBC that it ’ s merely “ informing ” the public with billboards and television ads about the vote , adding that the constitutional voting act does not include provisions on campaigning for or against the amendments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for informing about voting on the amendments , ” Grishina said .
She vowed to consider the opponents ’ request for equal time once she receives it .
The opponents , who include prominent economists , journalists and politicians , are now considering suing the CEC .
“ The television ads on the constitutional amendments vote are in fact campaigns , ” Moscow municipal deputy Yulia Galyamina told the Znak.com news website Wednesday .
“ These ads should undergo a linguistic analysis.
” One ad by pro-Kremlin groups went viral for drumming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage as a union between a man and a woman by depicting a gay couple adoption .
“ We started the information [ campaign ] as soon as the first decree on voting was published .
We suspended the preparatory campaign [ due to the coronavirus ] but there was no need to suspend the information campaign so it continued all this time , ” Grishina told RBC .
The Meduza news website reported Tuesday that the Kremlin is eyeing a turnout of 55 % with a 60 % “ yes ” vote @

Putin announced the vote will take place on July 1 after the coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 432,000 Russians forced him to postpone the original April 22 date. A key provision in the proposed changes would reset Putin’s presidential term count, opening the way for him to serve two more terms until 2036, when he would turn 83.
Russian election officials say activists are not allowed to campaign against a package of constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his 20-year rule into the next decade, the RBC news website reported Tuesday.
Opponents of the amendments have asked the Central Election Commission (CEC) to allocate media time and space for their campaign, RBC reported. They argue that they are being deprived of a chance to express their opinions amid an ongoing campaign urging Russians to vote for the reforms.
CEC member Maya Grishina told RBC that it’s merely “informing” the public with billboards and television ads about the vote, adding that the constitutional voting act does not include provisions on campaigning for or against the amendments.
“Election commissions and the media are responsible for informing about voting on the amendments,” Grishina said.
She vowed to consider the opponents’ request for equal time once she receives it.
The opponents, who include prominent economists, journalists and politicians, are now considering suing the CEC.
“The television ads on the constitutional amendments vote are in fact campaigns,” Moscow municipal deputy Yulia Galyamina told the Znak.com news website Wednesday. “These ads should undergo a linguistic analysis.”
One ad by pro-Kremlin groups went viral for drumming up support for a constitutional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman by depicting a gay couple adoption.
“We started the information [campaign] as soon as the first decree on voting was published. We suspended the preparatory campaign [due to the coronavirus] but there was no need to suspend the information campaign so it continued all this time,” Grishina told RBC.
The Meduza news website reported Tuesday that the Kremlin is eyeing a turnout of 55% with a 60% “yes” vote.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-03--‘Let American Imperialism Collapse’: How Is Russian TV Covering U.S. Protests?

Multiple incidents involving police violence against demonstrators and journalists were broadcast live at riots nationwide following the killing of an unarmed black man , George Floyd , in police custody on May 25 .
More than 9,000 people have been arrested and 11 people , many of whom were African-Americans , have been killed amid the unrest .
Cities across the United States have been rocked by a week of protests against police brutality and injustice toward African-Americans that have at times turned violent and destructive .
Russian newspaper coverage of the unrest has been described as “ relatively low-key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language that has appeared in some of the country ’ s most-read tabloid columns and been shared by pro-Kremlin media conglomerate RT 's chief editor .
The Moscow Times dove deeper into the coverage of the mass protests in the U.S .
Here are the key quotes from some of Russia ’ s most-watched political talk shows : — “ Vremya Pokazhet ” ( Time Will Tell ) , Channel One “ There are certain forces behind the protests .
There ’ s a certain democratic political consensus making sure that this unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everything is being done to show that Trump can ’ t govern America without these incidents [ happening ] .
” “ Trump must be the reason behind the protests .
Someone isn ’ t profiting from his presidency.
” “ Leading U.S. media are carrying out propaganda in the style of the Soviet Union .
It pays to seek out Kremlin agents.
” “ They will blame Trump , saying that Vladimir Putin is his best friend.
” “ The allegation is that Russia interfered in the protests [ and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are joking all around ...
Jokes are jokes , but this is a real tragedy.
” “ Trump ’ s position will strengthen while the country tears itself apart.
” “ This is a high-level game against Trump… Democratic Party political technologists are attempting to characterize Trump as a dictator .
As soon as active restraint measures and new sacrificial victims go into play , the Democrats ’ last hope would be to declare that dictatorship has come to U.S. shores , Trump is illegitimate and there ’ s no need for elections.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely on point : Let American imperialism rot and collapse.
” “ This is a pre-revolutionary situation .
The protesters have nothing to lose and want to change the system.
” “ American society isn ’ t built to solve the problems of the black minority , which took the most casualties from coronavirus.
” “ America is still a strong country and the protests are a signal to the global elites that something needs to be done with inequality.
” “ But you can ’ t forget the pre-election period , the @ @ @ @ @ @

Multiple incidents involving police violence against demonstrators and journalists were broadcast live at riots nationwide following the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in police custody on May 25. More than 9,000 people have been arrested and 11 people, many of whom were African-Americans, have been killed amid the unrest.
Cities across the United States have been rocked by a week of protests against police brutality and injustice toward African-Americans that have at times turned violent and destructive.
Russian newspaper coverage of the unrest has been described as “relatively low-key and factual,” despite racially charged language that has appeared in some of the country’s most-read tabloid columns and been shared by pro-Kremlin media conglomerate RT's chief editor.
The Moscow Times dove deeper into the coverage of the mass protests in the U.S. Here are the key quotes from some of Russia’s most-watched political talk shows:
— “Vremya Pokazhet” (Time Will Tell), Channel One
“There are certain forces behind the protests. There’s a certain democratic political consensus making sure that this unrest doesn’t end too soon.”
“Everything is being done to show that Trump can’t govern America without these incidents [happening].”
“Trump must be the reason behind the protests. Someone isn’t profiting from his presidency.”
— “60 Minutes,” Rossia
“Leading U.S. media are carrying out propaganda in the style of the Soviet Union. It pays to seek out Kremlin agents.”
“They will blame Trump, saying that Vladimir Putin is his best friend.”
“The allegation is that Russia interfered in the protests [and is] influencing the elections.”
— “Evening With Vladimir Solovyov,” Rossia
“People are joking all around... Jokes are jokes, but this is a real tragedy.”
“Trump’s position will strengthen while the country tears itself apart.”
“This is a high-level game against Trump… Democratic Party political technologists are attempting to characterize Trump as a dictator. As soon as active restraint measures and new sacrificial victims go into play, the Democrats’ last hope would be to declare that dictatorship has come to U.S. shores, Trump is illegitimate and there’s no need for elections.”
— “Mesto Vstrechi” (Meeting Place), NTV
“The feeling of Schadenfreude is absolutely on point: Let American imperialism rot and collapse.”
“This is a pre-revolutionary situation. The protesters have nothing to lose and want to change the system.”
“American society isn’t built to solve the problems of the black minority, which took the most casualties from coronavirus.”
“America is still a strong country and the protests are a signal to the global elites that something needs to be done with inequality.”
“But you can’t forget the pre-election period, the [coronavirus] crisis.”


themoscowtimes--2020-06-04--Quarantined With Family, Russia’s LGBT Youth Face New Struggles

For Sasha , a queer , non-binary person from Moscow , the clashes at home first started around age 13 or 14 .
“ It was basically made clear to me that I ’ ll never be accepted in my own family if I ‘ keep having homosexual tendencies , ’ ” Sasha , now 18 , told The Moscow Times .
For years they coped with the tension and rows by staying with friends or changing how they presented themselves around their parents .
But since the start of a lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been forced to stay at home 24/7 , existing in a constant state of anxiety and helplessness .
“ Every time I walk through the door to the apartment it brings back painful memories ...
I have to suppress myself at home , change the way I walk , talk , my mannerisms , ” Sasha said .
Out of options , they launched an online fundraiser last month to raise enough money to move out .
Russia ’ s LGBT youth are increasingly seeking help for abuse , mental illness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic has forced them indoors with unaccepting families , said Svetlana Zakharova of the Russian LGBT Network , one of the country ’ s largest LGBT organizations .
“ Right now , people are being locked in quite small places ... and a child , a minor , can ’ t do what he or she would do in normal circumstances [ to cope ] , ” Zakharova told The Moscow Times .
“ There are many situations where [ LGBT ] people are locked together with aggressors or with people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or gender identity.
” According to the NGO ’ s data , the number of calls to its hotline since March has increased by 72.9 % compared with the first three months of 2020 and by 35.4 % compared to the same period in 2019 .
Requests for help from its online psychologist chat — a popular service among younger people — have increased by 96.3 % compared to the first three months of 2020 and are up 174 % from the same period in 2019 .
“ Before [ the coronavirus ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six hours a day , and now it ’ s working 24 hours a day because of the huge number of requests , ” Zakharova said .
“ Many requests for legal and psychological help are coming from minors.
” Musician and queer activist Slava Rusova said that quarantine has intensified problems that already existed for many young queer people .
“ I think that quarantine has exacerbated two main problems .
First of all , it ’ s domestic violence .
There are already serious struggles with it in our country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24/7 is real torture , ” she said .
“ The second problem is communication : high-quality , accepting communication that queer teens can get only in a circle of close friends .
Lack of a safe environment is a huge problem at any time , but now especially.
” While polling has indicated a gradual shift toward tolerance of LGBT people among Russians in recent years , homophobic attitudes , violence and government policies remain prelavent amid Russia ’ s pivot to “ traditional values ” under President Vladimir Putin .
Next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a set of constitutional amendments , one of which would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia ’ s basic law .
Another would allow Putin — who recently vowed gay marriage won ’ t be legal in Russia as long as he is president — to extend his presidency through 2036 .
According to Zakharova , a law passed in 2013 that prohibits the display of “ homosexual propaganda toward minors ” has discouraged teachers , counselors and community members from directly helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It creates this atmosphere of fear where psychologists do n't know if they can provide psychological support and teachers do n't know how to behave if they have an LGBT student , ” she said .
Even if their home environment isn ’ t directly abusive , young people still face challenges expressing their identity around family .
Anastasia , 18 , identifies as lesbian but hasn ’ t come out to her parents .
“ Since I became self-aware , my main concern has been avoiding the LGBT subject .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My biggest problem is my own silence when I hear ‘ What about a future husband ?
’ I understand that I can ’ t speak about the way it is , and it eats away at me .
Being in an atmosphere of sexism and silence about homosexuality , I don ’ t fully accept myself.
” The St. Petersburg-based Vykhod ( Coming Out ) LGBT group qualifies psychological pressure such as ignoring a person ’ s coming out , deliberate misgendering and disparaging comments about someone ’ s personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the toll it can take on mental health .
“ I learned that [ my parents ’ ] love was conditional , or rather they loved a perfect version of me ... that just doesn ’ t exist in real life , ” Sasha said .
“ This disorganized attachment system really broke me and gave me bipolar disorder , depression , chronic derealization , emotional numbness , trust issues and fear of emotional intimacy.
” In addition to psychological harm , LGBT youth are at increased risk of homelessness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own accord or are thrown out .
“ In all of Russia there is only one shelter for LGBT people and it ’ s in Moscow , ” Zakharova said .
“ Homelessness is a huge problem but for many reasons including this [ 'gay propaganda ' ] legislation , there are no organizations that work specifically with homeless LGBT people or homeless LGBT minors.
” With coronavirus lockdowns slowly lifting in many regions of the country , there may be light at the end of the tunnel for young LGBT people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a way it will improve , because children will be able learn strategies [ for coping ] , like just leaving their home if there ’ s a question of violence , ” Zakharova said .
“ But in general , this violence exists and it ’ s almost invisible in Russian society.
” For Sasha , waiting for a return to normal isn ’ t an option .
“ I have big hopes for the future , ” they said .
“ I want to be a writer , I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have freedom in expressing myself and eventually move to a more progressive country , but I can ’ t do any of this if I don ’ t move out.
” Some names have been changed to protect individuals ’ privacy .

For Sasha, a queer, non-binary person from Moscow, the clashes at home first started around age 13 or 14. “It was basically made clear to me that I’ll never be accepted in my own family if I ‘keep having homosexual tendencies,’” Sasha, now 18, told The Moscow Times. For years they coped with the tension and rows by staying with friends or changing how they presented themselves around their parents. But since the start of a lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in Moscow two months ago, they have been forced to stay at home 24/7, existing in a constant state of anxiety and helplessness. “Every time I walk through the door to the apartment it brings back painful memories ... I have to suppress myself at home, change the way I walk, talk, my mannerisms,” Sasha said. Out of options, they launched an online fundraiser last month to raise enough money to move out. Russia’s LGBT youth are increasingly seeking help for abuse, mental illness and even homelessness as schools have closed and the pandemic has forced them indoors with unaccepting families, said Svetlana Zakharova of the Russian LGBT Network, one of the country’s largest LGBT organizations.
“Right now, people are being locked in quite small places ... and a child, a minor, can’t do what he or she would do in normal circumstances [to cope],” Zakharova said. “There are many situations where [LGBT] people are locked together with aggressors or with people who don't know about their sexual orientation or gender identity.” According to the NGO’s data, the number of calls to its hotline since March has increased by 72.9% compared with the first three months of 2020 and by 35.4% compared to the same period in 2019. Requests for help from its online psychologist chat — a popular service among younger people — have increased by 96.3% compared to the first three months of 2020 and are up 174% from the same period in 2019. “Before [the coronavirus], the chat was working five to six hours a day, and now it’s working 24 hours a day because of the huge number of requests,” Zakharova said. “Many requests for legal and psychological help are coming from minors.” Musician and queer activist Slava Rusova said that quarantine has intensified problems that already existed for many young queer people. “I think that quarantine has exacerbated two main problems. First of all, it’s domestic violence. There are already serious struggles with it in our country. Living in an apartment with abusive parents 24/7 is real torture,” she said. “The second problem is communication: high-quality, accepting communication that queer teens can get only in a circle of close friends. Lack of a safe environment is a huge problem at any time, but now especially.” While polling has indicated a gradual shift toward tolerance of LGBT people among Russians in recent years, homophobic attitudes, violence and government policies remain prelavent amid Russia’s pivot to “traditional values” under President Vladimir Putin. Next month, Russians are set to vote on a set of constitutional amendments, one of which would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia’s basic law. Another would allow Putin — who recently vowed gay marriage won’t be legal in Russia as long as he is president — to extend his presidency through 2036. According to Zakharova, a law passed in 2013 that prohibits the display of “homosexual propaganda toward minors” has discouraged teachers, counselors and community members from directly helping LGBT youth stuck in abusive households.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-04--Moscow to Spend $3Bln on Coronavirus Fight, Mayor Says

The epicenter of Russia ’ s outbreak with over 40 % of its 441,108 cases , Moscow allowed shops to reopen and residents to leave homes for short walks from Monday after nine weeks in lockdown .
Combined with a sharp fall in oil prices , the lockdown measures that Sobyanin has extended until June 14 have badly hit Moscow ’ s and Russia ’ s economy .
The city of Moscow will end up spending a total of 250 billion rubles ( $ 3.1 billion ) on fighting the coronavirus outbreak but will lose double that amount in revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ According to preliminary estimates , the city has spent and will continue to spend a quarter-trillion rubles on problems related to the pandemic , ” Sobyanin told the state-run TASS news agency .
“ City budget revenues will lose another half a trillion [ rubles ] , ” the mayor said .
His economic deputy previously placed the overall losses at 600 billion rubles with a 7 % drop in revenue .
Before the coronavirus outbreak battered the economy , Moscow ’ s revenues were due to total 2.8 trillion rubles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TASS interview , Sobyanin forecast the end of the outbreak by mid-2021 but warned that masks could remain mandatory until next February .
Russia ’ s prime minister introduced a 5-trillion-ruble ( $ 73 billion ) recovery plan due to be put into action in July to offset economic damage from the pandemic .
The package — envisioning “ stabilization ” by the end of the year , “ recovery ” by mid-2021 and growth starting in late 2021 — is the largest yet announced by the Kremlin .
It had faced criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans .

The epicenter of Russia’s outbreak with over 40% of its 441,108 cases, Moscow allowed shops to reopen and residents to leave homes for short walks from Monday after nine weeks in lockdown. Combined with a sharp fall in oil prices, the lockdown measures that Sobyanin has extended until June 14 have badly hit Moscow’s and Russia’s economy.
The city of Moscow will end up spending a total of 250 billion rubles ($3.1 billion) on fighting the coronavirus outbreak but will lose double that amount in revenue, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday.
“According to preliminary estimates, the city has spent and will continue to spend a quarter-trillion rubles on problems related to the pandemic,” Sobyanin told the state-run TASS news agency.
“City budget revenues will lose another half a trillion [rubles],” the mayor said.
His economic deputy previously placed the overall losses at 600 billion rubles with a 7% drop in revenue.
Before the coronavirus outbreak battered the economy, Moscow’s revenues were due to total 2.8 trillion rubles and expenditures 3.15 trillion rubles.
In the TASS interview, Sobyanin forecast the end of the outbreak by mid-2021 but warned that masks could remain mandatory until next February.
Russia’s prime minister introduced a 5-trillion-ruble ($73 billion) recovery plan due to be put into action in July to offset economic damage from the pandemic.
The package — envisioning “stabilization” by the end of the year, “recovery” by mid-2021 and growth starting in late 2021 — is the largest yet announced by the Kremlin. It had faced criticism for steering clear of more ambitious spending plans.