themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Moscow Announces Coronavirus Vaccination Drive

Online booking for health workers , teachers and social service workers deemed at higher risk of severe infection will open Friday , Sobyanin wrote on his website .
Moscow will start vaccinating at-risk groups against the coronavirus this weekend , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced Thursday after President Vladimir Putin ordered large-scale immunization across the country .
“ The vaccination centers will begin to work on Dec. 5 , ” he said .
As more doses arrive “ in the coming weeks , ” Sobyanin said the Russian capital will expand its list of eligible vaccine recipients .
More than 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been vaccinated with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine , Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Wednesday .
The two-dose jab is undergoing the final phase of clinical trials for safety and efficacy among 40,000 volunteers .
Authorities have said the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination program would be free and voluntary .
Polls have shown distrust toward Russian-made coronavirus vaccines among both Russian medics and the general population .
Putin on Wednesday ordered the large-scale vaccination against Covid-19 in Russia to start at the end of next week , hours after Britain became the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s Covid-19 vaccine .
Russia was the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine in August despite Sputnik V 's incomplete clinical trials , a move that triggered concerns over its safety .
Its developers have since touted a 95 % efficacy rate based on interim results of Phase 3 trials .
British vaccine experts have evaluated Sputnik V as “ reasonably effective ” following initial skepticism over the integrity of the data released under the Kremlin ’ s watch .

Online booking for health workers, teachers and social service workers deemed at higher risk of severe infection will open Friday, Sobyanin wrote on his website.
Moscow will start vaccinating at-risk groups against the coronavirus this weekend, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced Thursday after President Vladimir Putin ordered large-scale immunization across the country.
“The vaccination centers will begin to work on Dec. 5,” he said.
As more doses arrive “in the coming weeks,” Sobyanin said the Russian capital will expand its list of eligible vaccine recipients.
More than 100,000 Russians at higher risk of coronavirus have already been vaccinated with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Wednesday. The two-dose jab is undergoing the final phase of clinical trials for safety and efficacy among 40,000 volunteers.
Authorities have said the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination program would be free and voluntary. Polls have shown distrust toward Russian-made coronavirus vaccines among both Russian medics and the general population.
Putin on Wednesday ordered the large-scale vaccination against Covid-19 in Russia to start at the end of next week, hours after Britain became the first western country to issue general-use approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Russia was the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine in August despite Sputnik V's incomplete clinical trials, a move that triggered concerns over its safety. Its developers have since touted a 95% efficacy rate based on interim results of Phase 3 trials.
British vaccine experts have evaluated Sputnik V as “reasonably effective” following initial skepticism over the integrity of the data released under the Kremlin’s watch.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--U.S. Rights Activist Faces Expulsion From Russia

Authorities informed Vanessa Kogan that she “ poses a national security threat ” when they rejected her fast-track citizenship application and revoked her permanent residence earlier this week , Kogan told the Ekho Moskvy radio station Thursday .
A U.S. human rights activist who has defended the interests of Russian citizens in Europe ’ s human rights court faces expulsion from Russia , she has said .
“ They told me the FSB [ Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ] didn ’ t approve me and that I had two weeks to leave the country , ” Kogan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Initiative rights group and its partner organization Astreya , both of which were targets of FSB raids last year .
Russian authorities labeled the Justice Initiative ’ s branch in the North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia a “ foreign agent.
” Kogan , who has lived in Russia for 11 years and is married to human rights lawyer and Justice Initiative partner Grigor Avetisyan , said two of her dual-national children now risk being separated from one of their parents .
The Justice Initiative has won nearly 270 out of 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights , forcing Russia to pay more than $ 30 million in compensation to the victims of human rights abuses and domestic violence survivors .
“ They saw their chance to get rid of me , ” Kogan told the Guardian on Wednesday .
“ I think that it ’ s purely connected to the work that I do and my organization does.
” Human Rights Watch raised concerns over Kogan ’ s right to family life .
“ Given travel and entry limitations during the Covid-19 pandemic , it is unclear whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , ” HRW wrote .
Kogan told Ekho Moskvy she plans to appeal the impending expulsion , but called the attempt a “ formality ” that will unlikely reverse the government ’ s decision .
“ It ’ s definitely a general assault ” on Russian civil society , she said , linking the deportation orders with the latest flurry of legislative initiatives aimed at further curtailing the activities of foreign-funded NGOs .

Authorities informed Vanessa Kogan that she “poses a national security threat” when they rejected her fast-track citizenship application and revoked her permanent residence earlier this week, Kogan told the Ekho Moskvy radio station Thursday.
A U.S. human rights activist who has defended the interests of Russian citizens in Europe’s human rights court faces expulsion from Russia, she has said .
“They told me the FSB [Russia’s Federal Security Service] didn’t approve me and that I had two weeks to leave the country,” Kogan said during a live broadcast.
Kogan heads the Justice Initiative rights group and its partner organization Astreya, both of which were targets of FSB raids last year. Russian authorities labeled the Justice Initiative’s branch in the North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia a “foreign agent.”
Kogan, who has lived in Russia for 11 years and is married to human rights lawyer and Justice Initiative partner Grigor Avetisyan, said two of her dual-national children now risk being separated from one of their parents.
The Justice Initiative has won nearly 270 out of 400 cases in the European Court of Human Rights, forcing Russia to pay more than $30 million in compensation to the victims of human rights abuses and domestic violence survivors.
“They saw their chance to get rid of me,” Kogan told the Guardian on Wednesday. “I think that it’s purely connected to the work that I do and my organization does.”
Human Rights Watch raised concerns over Kogan’s right to family life. “Given travel and entry limitations during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is unclear whether her husband could join her in the U.S.,” HRW wrote.
Kogan told Ekho Moskvy she plans to appeal the impending expulsion, but called the attempt a “formality” that will unlikely reverse the government’s decision.
“It’s definitely a general assault” on Russian civil society, she said, linking the deportation orders with the latest flurry of legislative initiatives aimed at further curtailing the activities of foreign-funded NGOs.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Pay Russian Housewives For Domestic Work, United Russia Deputy Says

Housewives in Russia should earn a wage for their domestic labor , State Duma deputy Oksana Pushkina has said .
Pushkina ’ s statement in a Wednesday interview on the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station comes amid growing calls for governments to level the financial inequities traditionally faced by women .
Last month , Scotland became the first country to guarantee free menstrual products to all who need them .
“ My next legislative initiative is that housework must be paid , ” said Pushkina , who is vice chair of the State Duma ’ s committee on family , women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling United Russia party .
“ This should apply not only to women , but also to male householders , ” she added .
Earlier this year , populist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky tried to push a similar proposal through the State Duma in an effort to address Russia ’ s flagging birth rate , but budgetary constraints stalled the process .
His proposal called for a minimum monthly wage of 12,130 rubles ( $ 160 ) for one family member if the family 's combined income does not exceed the sum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pushkina cited a personal example in support of the legislation , saying the mother of her daughter-in-law had had to quit her job after having four children , making her financially dependent on her husband .
“ And now she says to her girls , one of whom is my daughter-in-law : ‘ Girls , do not repeat my mistakes ’ , ” Pushkina said .
“ ‘ If my husband wants to leave me tomorrow , then I will be left with nothing at all ’ .
”

Housewives in Russia should earn a wage for their domestic labor, State Duma deputy Oksana Pushkina has said.
Pushkina’s statement in a Wednesday interview on the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station comes amid growing calls for governments to level the financial inequities traditionally faced by women. Last month, Scotland became the first country to guarantee free menstrual products to all who need them.
“My next legislative initiative is that housework must be paid,” said Pushkina, who is vice chair of the State Duma’s committee on family, women, and children and a member of the ruling United Russia party.
“This should apply not only to women, but also to male householders,” she added.
Earlier this year, populist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky tried to push a similar proposal through the State Duma in an effort to address Russia’s flagging birth rate, but budgetary constraints stalled the process. His proposal called for a minimum monthly wage of 12,130 rubles ($160) for one family member if the family's combined income does not exceed the sum of two living wages in the region.
Pushkina cited a personal example in support of the legislation, saying the mother of her daughter-in-law had had to quit her job after having four children, making her financially dependent on her husband.
“And now she says to her girls, one of whom is my daughter-in-law: ‘Girls, do not repeat my mistakes’,” Pushkina said. “‘If my husband wants to leave me tomorrow, then I will be left with nothing at all’.”


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Turkey Backs Crimea’s Return to Ukraine – FM

Turkey is willing to support the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula ’ s return to Ukraine , Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday .
The statement comes amid an already uneasy relationship between Moscow and Ankara , which are traditionally partners but have recently been at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , the Syrian conflict and Libya ’ s civil war .
In October , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey does not recognize the 2014 annexation of Crimea and will continue to support its territorial integrity as `` part of Ukraine . ''
“ We will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of military cooperation and the defense industry , ” Cavusoglu tweeted .
Referring to Ukraine ’ s newly announced initiative aimed at refocusing the international community ’ s attention on returning Crimea to Kiev , Cavusoglu said “ we welcome the Crimean Platform initiative.
” The statement came shortly after the Turkish diplomat had a “ friendly meeting ” with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba .
The first Crimean Platform summit is expected to be held next May , with representatives from Turkey , France , Germany , Britain and the U.S. @ @ @ @

Turkey is willing to support the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula’s return to Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday.
The statement comes amid an already uneasy relationship between Moscow and Ankara, which are traditionally partners but have recently been at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Syrian conflict and Libya’s civil war. In October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey does not recognize the 2014 annexation of Crimea and will continue to support its territorial integrity as "part of Ukraine."
“We will continue to strengthen our relationship, especially in the areas of military cooperation and the defense industry,” Cavusoglu tweeted.
Referring to Ukraine’s newly announced initiative aimed at refocusing the international community’s attention on returning Crimea to Kiev, Cavusoglu said “we welcome the Crimean Platform initiative.”
The statement came shortly after the Turkish diplomat had a “friendly meeting” with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba.
The first Crimean Platform summit is expected to be held next May, with representatives from Turkey, France, Germany, Britain and the U.S. set to attend.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Over 100K At-Risk Russians Vaccinated for Coronavirus

His announcement at a special session of the UN General Assembly presenting Sputnik V came as President Vladimir Putin ordered the large-scale vaccination of priority groups such as doctors and teachers to start late next week .
Earlier in the day , Britain became the first western country to issue general-use approval for Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s Covid-19 vaccine starting next week .
More than 100,000 Russians at higher risk of severe coronavirus cases have been vaccinated with the domestically made Sputnik V vaccine , Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Wednesday .
“ We have started vaccinating high-risk groups .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been vaccinated , ” Interfax quoted Murashko as saying .
Putin said around 2 million Sputnik V vaccine doses have either already been produced or will be manufactured in the coming days , allowing Russian doctors and teachers to receive the two-dose jabs immediately .
British vaccine experts have evaluated the adenoviral vector-based Sputnik V as “ reasonably effective ” following initial skepticism over the integrity of the data released under the Kremlin ’ s watch .
The two-dose shot will cost less than $ 10 per dose , Kirill Dmitriev , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund ( RDIF ) which funds and markets Sputnik V , said at the UNGA session .
Russia was the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine in August despite Sputnik V 's incomplete clinical trials .
Its developers have since touted a 95 % efficacy rate based on interim results of Phase 3 trials .
More than 50 countries have requested to buy or localize the production of around 1 billion Sputnik V doses .
Russia authorized a second coronavirus vaccine , named EpiVacCorona , in October ahead of its post-registration trials @ @ @ @ @

His announcement at a special session of the UN General Assembly presenting Sputnik V came as President Vladimir Putin ordered the large-scale vaccination of priority groups such as doctors and teachers to start late next week. Earlier in the day, Britain became the first western country to issue general-use approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine starting next week.
More than 100,000 Russians at higher risk of severe coronavirus cases have been vaccinated with the domestically made Sputnik V vaccine, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Wednesday.
“We have started vaccinating high-risk groups. To date, more than 100,000 Russian citizens have been vaccinated,” Interfax quoted Murashko as saying.
Putin said around 2 million Sputnik V vaccine doses have either already been produced or will be manufactured in the coming days, allowing Russian doctors and teachers to receive the two-dose jabs immediately.
British vaccine experts have evaluated the adenoviral vector-based Sputnik V as “reasonably effective” following initial skepticism over the integrity of the data released under the Kremlin’s watch.
The two-dose shot will cost less than $10 per dose, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which funds and markets Sputnik V, said at the UNGA session.
Russia was the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine in August despite Sputnik V's incomplete clinical trials. Its developers have since touted a 95% efficacy rate based on interim results of Phase 3 trials.
More than 50 countries have requested to buy or localize the production of around 1 billion Sputnik V doses. Russia authorized a second coronavirus vaccine, named EpiVacCorona, in October ahead of its post-registration trials that began last month.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Putin Replaces Rusnano Chief Chubais Amid Reform Push

President Vladimir Putin named a replacement for Anatoly Chubais , the head of state nanotechnology firm Rusnano , on Wednesday , exposing a rift between the president and the former deputy prime minister whose popularity has waned in recent years .
During his 12 years as Rusnano ’ s head Chubais , who had been an architect of Russia 's 1990s privatizations as deputy prime minister , was tasked with helping to create innovative technology and develop it commercially .
A 2013 assessment by Russia ’ s Accounts Chamber revealed ineffective management and spending at the firm , while opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` drinking the budget . ''
Putin proposed Sergei Kulikov , the current head of the Military-Industrial Commission and a former director of state conglomerate Rostec , to take the helm at Rusnano in Chubais ’ stead .
`` Sergei Alexandrovich , you know that you are invited to head one of our largest development structures , Rusnano , '' Putin said during a videoconference with Kulikov .
Rusnano , formerly known as the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation , remains one of the “ key development areas ” for the country , Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the development of technologies such as nanotechnology , our economy has no future , this is quite obvious .
The same applies to artificial intelligence and other areas [ such as ] biotechnology , '' Putin told Kulikov .
The government has already prepared proposals to support Rusnano , the president said .
Last month , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced reforms of state development institutions including Rusnano in order to complete Putin ’ s $ 360 billion National Projects agenda , which has fallen behind schedule since being announced in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chubais ’ dismissal as Rusnano CEO and Kulikov ’ s appointment to the position on Thursday .
Chubais confirmed that Thursday will be his last day as Rusnano CEO .
Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there will be no meeting between the president and Chubais .
Chubais , 65 , is a businessman and former politician who got his head start during the Yeltsin era and was one of the main figures behind the privatization of the Russian energy market .

President Vladimir Putin named a replacement for Anatoly Chubais, the head of state nanotechnology firm Rusnano, on Wednesday, exposing a rift between the president and the former deputy prime minister whose popularity has waned in recent years.
During his 12 years as Rusnano’s head Chubais, who had been an architect of Russia's 1990s privatizations as deputy prime minister, was tasked with helping to create innovative technology and develop it commercially. A 2013 assessment by Russia’s Accounts Chamber revealed ineffective management and spending at the firm, while opposition figure Alexei Navalny accused Rusnano and Chubais of "drinking the budget."
Putin proposed Sergei Kulikov, the current head of the Military-Industrial Commission and a former director of state conglomerate Rostec, to take the helm at Rusnano in Chubais’ stead.
"Sergei Alexandrovich, you know that you are invited to head one of our largest development structures, Rusnano," Putin said during a videoconference with Kulikov.
Rusnano, formerly known as the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation, remains one of the “key development areas” for the country, Putin said during the videoconference.
"Without the development of technologies such as nanotechnology, our economy has no future, this is quite obvious. The same applies to artificial intelligence and other areas [such as] biotechnology," Putin told Kulikov.
The government has already prepared proposals to support Rusnano, the president said. Last month, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced reforms of state development institutions including Rusnano in order to complete Putin’s $360 billion National Projects agenda, which has fallen behind schedule since being announced in 2018.
The Russian government signed a directive for Chubais’ dismissal as Rusnano CEO and Kulikov’s appointment to the position on Thursday.
Chubais confirmed that Thursday will be his last day as Rusnano CEO. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there will be no meeting between the president and Chubais.
Chubais, 65, is a businessman and former politician who got his head start during the Yeltsin era and was one of the main figures behind the privatization of the Russian energy market.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Russia Reports Record 28K Coronavirus Cases

Health officials reported 28,145 new infections across every Russian region Thursday , bringing the total caseload to 2,375,546 .
Russia has the world ’ s fourth-highest Covid-19 case numbers behind Brazil , India and the United States .
Russia reported more than 28,000 coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the start of the pandemic , the latest record amid the second wave plaguing the country ’ s major cities and far-flung regions .
More than one-fifths of those infected did not exhibit symptoms , according to Russia ’ s Covid-19 task force .
The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 554 — one day after seeing a record 589 fatalities — pushing the death toll to 41,607 .
Russia now has the world ’ s 10th-highest coronavirus death toll .
Internal documents obtained by the independent news website Mediazona placed Russia ’ s Covid-19 death toll at almost 75,000 — or the fifth-highest in the world — between April and mid-November .
The outlet earlier estimated up to 120,000 excess deaths between April and October .
Russia ’ s coronavirus task force said 29,502 people have recovered from coronavirus over the past 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia has avoided reintroducing strict lockdown measures seen in other parts of Europe despite the surge , pinning hopes on a domestically made vaccine expected in the coming weeks .
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered the mass vaccination against coronavirus among the Russian population to start late next week , with doctors and teachers first in line to receive the country 's Sputnik V jab .
Authorities have reinstated a nationwide mask mandate and some Russian regions extended targeted stay-at-home and remote-work and study restrictions .
Moscow and St. Petersburg ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the New Year .

Health officials reported 28,145 new infections across every Russian region Thursday, bringing the total caseload to 2,375,546. Russia has the world’s fourth-highest Covid-19 case numbers behind Brazil, India and the United States.
Russia reported more than 28,000 coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the latest record amid the second wave plaguing the country’s major cities and far-flung regions.
More than one-fifths of those infected did not exhibit symptoms, according to Russia’s Covid-19 task force.
The number of deaths due to coronavirus increased by 554 — one day after seeing a record 589 fatalities — pushing the death toll to 41,607. Russia now has the world’s 10th-highest coronavirus death toll.
Internal documents obtained by the independent news website Mediazona placed Russia’s Covid-19 death toll at almost 75,000 — or the fifth-highest in the world — between April and mid-November. The outlet earlier estimated up to 120,000 excess deaths between April and October.
Russia’s coronavirus task force said 29,502 people have recovered from coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with overall recoveries totaling 1,859,851.
Russia has avoided reintroducing strict lockdown measures seen in other parts of Europe despite the surge, pinning hopes on a domestically made vaccine expected in the coming weeks.
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered the mass vaccination against coronavirus among the Russian population to start late next week, with doctors and teachers first in line to receive the country's Sputnik V jab.
Authorities have reinstated a nationwide mask mandate and some Russian regions extended targeted stay-at-home and remote-work and study restrictions. Moscow and St. Petersburg ordered restaurants and other venues to shut down through the New Year.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Russian Airspace Overhaul Causes 100 Flight Cancellations

European regulators last month warned of major changes to departure and arrival procedures after the restructure covering 49 airports across European Russia which takes effect Thursday .
Russian transportation authorities had said the restructuring would cut the workload of air traffic controllers by half and delays at landing by 70 % .
Russia ’ s Pobeda low-cost airline has canceled 110 flights to seven cities over a disruptive airspace overhaul that resulted in outdated flight charts and databases for western Russia , media reported Wednesday .
Pobeda canceled flights to the Russian cities of Astrakhan , Izhevsk , Kirov , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Dec. 31 .
The RBC news website cited the airline ’ s booking system , the airports ’ arrival schedules and confirmed the cancellations with an unnamed Pobeda source .
Magas , the capital of southern Russia ’ s republic of Ingushetia , accounts for more than half of the canceled flights .
“ Considering the mountains there , flights to Magas in these conditions amount to suicide , ” RBC quoted an unnamed Pobeda pilot as saying .
The U.S. navigational information provider Jeppesen failed to update flight databases because “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadlines for publishing amendments , ” Pobeda ’ s director of flight operations Denis Petrikov had said in an internal communication cited earlier by RBC .
Russia ’ s Federal Air Transportation Agency said it released the update one month before it took effect in line with International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) standards .
Jeppesen , as well as other providers Lufthansa Systems and Navblue , have alerted their customers over potential incomplete data at dozens of Russian airports , according to the FlightGlobal aviation news website .
The European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 navigation data alert to inform cockpit crews about the deficiencies to increase awareness .
Pobeda , a subsidiary of Russia ’ s flagship carrier Aeroflot , kept flights to seven other Russian cities by adding instructors who would help “ blind-land ” the planes without outdated navigation data .

European regulators last month warned of major changes to departure and arrival procedures after the restructure covering 49 airports across European Russia which takes effect Thursday. Russian transportation authorities had said the restructuring would cut the workload of air traffic controllers by half and delays at landing by 70%.
Russia’s Pobeda low-cost airline has canceled 110 flights to seven cities over a disruptive airspace overhaul that resulted in outdated flight charts and databases for western Russia, media reported Wednesday.
Pobeda canceled flights to the Russian cities of Astrakhan, Izhevsk, Kirov, Kurgan, Magas, Petrozavodsk and Yaroslavl through Dec. 31. The RBC news website cited the airline’s booking system, the airports’ arrival schedules and confirmed the cancellations with an unnamed Pobeda source.
Magas, the capital of southern Russia’s republic of Ingushetia, accounts for more than half of the canceled flights.
“Considering the mountains there, flights to Magas in these conditions amount to suicide,” RBC quoted an unnamed Pobeda pilot as saying.
The U.S. navigational information provider Jeppesen failed to update flight databases because “the Russian aviation authorities violated the recommended deadlines for publishing amendments,” Pobeda’s director of flight operations Denis Petrikov had said in an internal communication cited earlier by RBC. Russia’s Federal Air Transportation Agency said it released the update one month before it took effect in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Jeppesen, as well as other providers Lufthansa Systems and Navblue, have alerted their customers over potential incomplete data at dozens of Russian airports, according to the FlightGlobal aviation news website. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency urged in a Nov. 19 navigation data alert to inform cockpit crews about the deficiencies to increase awareness.
Pobeda, a subsidiary of Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot, kept flights to seven other Russian cities by adding instructors who would help “blind-land” the planes without outdated navigation data.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--Pussy Riot Member Jailed for Anti-Police Brutality Protest

Pussy Riot member Margarita Konovalova , also known as Rita Flores , has been sentenced to 20 days in jail @ @ @ @ @ protest near the Kremlin , the Apologia Telegram channel reported Thursday .
During the Nov. @ @ @ @ @ members in traditional Russian folk costumes tied artist Farhad Israfilli-Gelman , who was wearing an @ @ @ @ @ , to a lamp post using caution tape on Manezhnaya Square .
The Tverskoy District @ @ @ @ @ days of administrative arrest for repeated violations of Russian protest law , Apologia reported .
@ @ @ @ @ being taken to a hospital in an ambulance .
Before the arrest , the electricity @ @ @ @ @ cut off , damaging the wiring , according to attorney Mansur Gilmanov .
Fellow Pussy @ @ @ @ @ who also took part in the protest , was detained the day before .
Israfilli-Gelman @ @ @ @ @ handed administrative protocols for participating in an unauthorized action .
Under Russian law , any @ @ @ @ @ is illegal unless authorized by the authorities in advance .

Pussy Riot member Margarita Konovalova, also known as Rita Flores, has been sentenced to 20 days in jail for staging an anti-police brutality protest near the Kremlin, the Apologia Telegram channel reported Thursday.
During the Nov. 28 protest, Pussy Riot members in traditional Russian folk costumes tied artist Farhad Israfilli-Gelman, who was wearing an OMON officer’s uniform, to a lamp post using caution tape on Manezhnaya Square.
The Tverskoy District Court sentenced Konovalova to 20 days of administrative arrest for repeated violations of Russian protest law, Apologia reported.
She was detained Wednesday after being taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Before the arrest, the electricity in Flores' apartment was cut off, damaging the wiring, according to attorney Mansur Gilmanov.
Fellow Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina, who also took part in the protest, was detained the day before. Israfilli-Gelman and photographer Gleb Kuznetsov were handed administrative protocols for participating in an unauthorized action.
Under Russian law, any protest larger than one person is illegal unless authorized by the authorities in advance.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-03--5 Questions About Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine, Answered

Russia is pushing ahead with its domestically produced Sputnik V vaccine as the global race for a safe and effective vaccine that can put an end to the coronavirus pandemic heats up .
Hours after Pfizer-BioNTech made headlines Wednesday by winning the first official general-use vaccine approval in the western world , President Vladimir Putin ordered large-scale vaccination with Sputnik V to start in Russia late next week .
On Thursday , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that mass vaccination of high-risk groups would start in the capital this Friday .
As Russia moves forward with its mass vaccination drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country remain skeptical , with polls showing distrust toward Russian-made coronavirus vaccines among both Russian medics and the general population .
Here are the top five things to know about the Sputnik V vaccine : Q : How does it work ?
A vector is an engineered virus lacking a gene for reproduction .
Once injected into the human body , the vector containing the coronavirus gene is supposed to provoke the production of coronavirus spike proteins without actually infecting the body , therefore building immunity to the virus .
The first Sputnik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vector for the coronavirus surface protein , called spike , while the second uses adenovirus 5 .
Western vaccine developers such as CanSino Biologics , the University of Oxford and Johnson & Johnson have used adenoviral vector technology for their Covid-19 vaccines .
“ Many other vaccine candidates against Covid-19 are also based on adenoviral vectors , but so far none are using the two-vector vaccination system created at Gamaleya , ” the vaccine ’ s official website says .
Q : Is it safe and effective ?
A : Sputnik V ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 95 % efficacy last week , citing interim clinical trial data obtained 42 days after volunteers received the first dose .
“ There were no unexpected adverse events during the trials .
Monitoring of the participants is ongoing , ” the Sputnik V website says .
According to its developers , Sputnik V ’ s side effects include a fever of 38 degrees Celsius , headaches and muscle pain and affect about 15 % of recipients .
The vaccine ’ s safety and efficacy have drawn concern from critics in Russia and abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries signed a note of concern over possible data manipulation and statistical anomalies in its Phase 1/2 data published in The Lancet .
The developers defended their research saying that the methods they used to obtain measurements give only rough values , not exact numbers .
A : President Vladimir Putin has ordered large-scale vaccination to start across the country next week while mass vaccination in Moscow is set to start as soon as this weekend .
The announcement came shortly after Pfizer-BioNTech won general-use approval for its vaccine in Britain .
High-priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social workers will be first in line to get the vaccine .
Putin said Russia 2 million vaccine doses have either already been produced or will be manufactured in the coming days .
Over 100,000 people have already been vaccinated with Sputnik V , Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Thursday , and more than 400,000 military personnel have received the jab .
Authorities have stressed that vaccination is voluntary .
Reports last month said Russia was struggling with production capacity issues and problems with scalability and quality control .
Q : How much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is free inside Russia and won ’ t cost more than $ 10 internationally compared with its more expensive western counterparts .
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has set its initial price at $ 19.50 a dose , or $ 39 overall since two doses are required .
A : The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow , a state-run research center .
Gamaleya produced the vaccine with support from the Russian Direct Investment Fund .
“ Scientists from Gamaleya have been working with adenovirus vector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world leaders in the development of this kind of vaccine , ” the official website for the vaccine says .

Russia is pushing ahead with its domestically produced Sputnik V vaccine as the global race for a safe and effective vaccine that can put an end to the coronavirus pandemic heats up.
Hours after Pfizer-BioNTech made headlines Wednesday by winning the first official general-use vaccine approval in the western world, President Vladimir Putin ordered large-scale vaccination with Sputnik V to start in Russia late next week.
On Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that mass vaccination of high-risk groups would start in the capital this Friday.
As Russia moves forward with its mass vaccination drive, many people inside and outside the country remain skeptical, with polls showing distrust toward Russian-made coronavirus vaccines among both Russian medics and the general population.
Here are the top five things to know about the Sputnik V vaccine:
Q: How does it work?
A: Sputnik V is a two-part adenovirus-based vector vaccine.
A vector is an engineered virus lacking a gene for reproduction. Once injected into the human body, the vector containing the coronavirus gene is supposed to provoke the production of coronavirus spike proteins without actually infecting the body, therefore building immunity to the virus.
The first Sputnik V shot uses adenovirus 26 as the vector for the coronavirus surface protein, called spike, while the second uses adenovirus 5.
Western vaccine developers such as CanSino Biologics, the University of Oxford and Johnson & Johnson have used adenoviral vector technology for their Covid-19 vaccines.
“Many other vaccine candidates against Covid-19 are also based on adenoviral vectors, but so far none are using the two-vector vaccination system created at Gamaleya,” the vaccine’s official website says.
Q: Is it safe and effective?
A: Sputnik V’s developers announced the vaccine’s 95% efficacy last week, citing interim clinical trial data obtained 42 days after volunteers received the first dose.
“There were no unexpected adverse events during the trials. Monitoring of the participants is ongoing,” the Sputnik V website says.
According to its developers, Sputnik V’s side effects include a fever of 38 degrees Celsius, headaches and muscle pain and affect about 15% of recipients.
The vaccine’s safety and efficacy have drawn concern from critics in Russia and abroad. In September, scientists from several countries signed a note of concern over possible data manipulation and statistical anomalies in its Phase 1/2 data published in The Lancet. The developers defended their research saying that the methods they used to obtain measurements give only rough values, not exact numbers.
Q: When will vaccinations start?
A: President Vladimir Putin has ordered large-scale vaccination to start across the country next week while mass vaccination in Moscow is set to start as soon as this weekend. The announcement came shortly after Pfizer-BioNTech won general-use approval for its vaccine in Britain. High-priority groups such as teachers, doctors and social workers will be first in line to get the vaccine. Putin said Russia 2 million vaccine doses have either already been produced or will be manufactured in the coming days.
Over 100,000 people have already been vaccinated with Sputnik V, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Thursday, and more than 7,000 military personnel have received the jab. Authorities have stressed that vaccination is voluntary.
Reports last month said Russia was struggling with production capacity issues and problems with scalability and quality control.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The vaccine is free inside Russia and won’t cost more than $10 internationally compared with its more expensive western counterparts. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has set its initial price at $19.50 a dose, or $39 overall since two doses are required.
Q: Who developed the vaccine?
A: The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, a state-run research center. Gamaleya produced the vaccine with support from the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
“Scientists from Gamaleya have been working with adenovirus vector vaccines since the 1980s and have become world leaders in the development of this kind of vaccine,” the official website for the vaccine says.