themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Moscow Clinic Seeks to Bring Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines to Russia

A medical clinic in Moscow plans to be the first to bring two leading western-developed coronavirus vaccines to Russia , the clinic ’ s head told Forbes Russia on Tuesday .
The Hadassah Clinic is working to bring the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to Russia as soon as it becomes possible , its head Evgeny Tugolukov said .
The clinic belongs to the Skolkovo medical network , which operates under a special legal regime allowing it to sidestep some of the legal red tape involved with Russian medical registration .
For example , clinics in this network can use drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia but are registered in OECD countries .
Under this regime , the Hadassah Clinic can start using the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines without waiting for official countrywide registration .
Tugolukov said it remains unclear when exactly the clinic will be able to bring the foreign vaccines to Russia as global demand remains far higher than available supply .
The clinic is also negotiating for permission to conduct clinical trials of the vaccines within Russia .
The Health Ministry must first grant permission to research the vaccines on Russian territory as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the trials .
If all goes according to plan , these trials can start as soon as late February 2021 , Tugolukov said .
Russia earlier this month launched its mass vaccination campaign using the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine .
The vaccine ’ s developer , the state-run Gamaleya Institute , says the vaccine is safe and 92 % effective .
However , public trust in the domestic vaccine remains low , polls have said .
The Gamaleya Institute will partner with British drugmaker AstraZeneca for a clinical trial to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Covid-19 .
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was greenlit this month for emergency use in the United States and was granted general approval in Britain , the EU , Mexico , Singapore and Canada .
Clinical trial results have placed its effectiveness at 95 % .
The vaccine developed by U.S. drugmaker Moderna , meanwhile , has been found to have 94.1 % effectiveness based on its Phase 3 trial results .

A medical clinic in Moscow plans to be the first to bring two leading western-developed coronavirus vaccines to Russia, the clinic’s head told Forbes Russia on Tuesday.
The Hadassah Clinic is working to bring the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to Russia as soon as it becomes possible, its head Evgeny Tugolukov said.
The clinic belongs to the Skolkovo medical network, which operates under a special legal regime allowing it to sidestep some of the legal red tape involved with Russian medical registration. For example, clinics in this network can use drugs that haven’t been registered in Russia but are registered in OECD countries. Under this regime, the Hadassah Clinic can start using the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines without waiting for official countrywide registration.
Tugolukov said it remains unclear when exactly the clinic will be able to bring the foreign vaccines to Russia as global demand remains far higher than available supply.
The clinic is also negotiating for permission to conduct clinical trials of the vaccines within Russia. The Health Ministry must first grant permission to research the vaccines on Russian territory as well as approve the Hadassah Clinic’s participation in the trials. If all goes according to plan, these trials can start as soon as late February 2021, Tugolukov said.
Russia earlier this month launched its mass vaccination campaign using the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine’s developer, the state-run Gamaleya Institute, says the vaccine is safe and 92% effective. However, public trust in the domestic vaccine remains low, polls have said.
The Gamaleya Institute will partner with British drugmaker AstraZeneca for a clinical trial to test whether combining their jabs would boost immunity to Covid-19.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was greenlit this month for emergency use in the United States and was granted general approval in Britain, the EU, Mexico, Singapore and Canada. Clinical trial results have placed its effectiveness at 95%.
The vaccine developed by U.S. drugmaker Moderna, meanwhile, has been found to have 94.1% effectiveness based on its Phase 3 trial results.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Belarus Starts Coronavirus Vaccination With Sputnik V

Belarus , with a population of around 9.5 million people , has registered more than 188,000 cases of coronavirus infections and nearly 1,400 deaths .
Belarus on Tuesday began a vaccination drive against coronavirus using the Sputnik V jab , becoming the first country outside Russia to use the vaccine developed by Moscow .
`` Today the first vaccine shipment has arrived in Belarus , '' said the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) which financed Sputnik V. RDIF spokesman Arseny Palagin did not say how many doses had been sent to Belarus .
Belarus Health Minister Dmitry Pinevich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the first Belarusians to be inoculated .
`` We thank Russia for active mutual work and strategic cooperation to solve this issue , '' Pinevich was quoted as saying in the joint statement .
Kirill Dmitriyev , RDIF general director , said Russia planned to begin producing Sputnik V in the ex-Soviet country to `` simplify logistics '' and speed up the vaccination campaign .
Russia in August was the first country to announce the registration of a coronavirus vaccine — dubbed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite — but did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western and some Russian experts have raised concerns over the fast-tracked jab and critics have described it as a tool to bolster Russia 's geopolitical influence .

Belarus, with a population of around 9.5 million people, has registered more than 188,000 cases of coronavirus infections and nearly 1,400 deaths.
Belarus on Tuesday began a vaccination drive against coronavirus using the Sputnik V jab, becoming the first country outside Russia to use the vaccine developed by Moscow.
"Today the first vaccine shipment has arrived in Belarus," said the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which financed Sputnik V.
RDIF spokesman Arseny Palagin did not say how many doses had been sent to Belarus.
Belarus Health Minister Dmitry Pinevich said health workers and teachers would be among the first Belarusians to be inoculated.
"We thank Russia for active mutual work and strategic cooperation to solve this issue," Pinevich was quoted as saying in the joint statement.
Kirill Dmitriyev, RDIF general director, said Russia planned to begin producing Sputnik V in the ex-Soviet country to "simplify logistics" and speed up the vaccination campaign.
Russia in August was the first country to announce the registration of a coronavirus vaccine — dubbed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite — but did so ahead of large scale clinical trials.
Western and some Russian experts have raised concerns over the fast-tracked jab and critics have described it as a tool to bolster Russia's geopolitical influence.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Russia Detains Ex-Priest Suspected of Encouraging Children to 'Die for Russia'

Russian law enforcement officers have detained an excommunicated priest at the women ’ s monastery he seized near the city @ @ @ @ @ encouraging minors to “ die for Russia , ” the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ been charged with persuading minors to commit suicide , criminal charges that carry a maximum @ @ @ @ @ , his attorney Svetlana Gerasimova told Interfax .
The case is likely linked to one @ @ @ @ @ which he asks whether his supporters are ready to die for Russia , Gerasimova said @ @ @ @ @ stormed the Sredneuralsk women ’ s monastery at around 1 a.m. Tuesday to detain the @ @ @ @ @ his secular name to Nikolai Romanov after Russia ’ s last emperor .

Russian law enforcement officers have detained an excommunicated priest at the women’s monastery he seized near the city of Yekaterinburg on suspicion of encouraging minors to “die for Russia,” the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday. Father Sergei Romanov has been charged with persuading minors to commit suicide, criminal charges that carry a maximum prison sentence of four years, his attorney Svetlana Gerasimova told Interfax. The case is likely linked to one of his YouTube sermons in which he asks whether his supporters are ready to die for Russia, Gerasimova said. Dozens of security officers stormed the Sredneuralsk women’s monastery at around 1 a.m. Tuesday to detain the former priest, who changed his secular name to Nikolai Romanov after Russia’s last emperor.
Video footage circulating online shows officers clashing with the former monk’s supporters, mostly nuns. The local 66.ru news website reported that officers used force against the nuns, with some of them allegedly beaten with batons and one of them diagnosed with a hip fracture. Gerasimova said she has been unable to contact her client while he is being questioned by investigators. She said Romanov has also been charged with violating the right to freedom of conscience and religion as well as arbitrariness. The former priest publicly feuded with the Russian Orthodox Church this spring when he refused to follow coronavirus safety guidelines, telling his followers the conspiracy theory that the pandemic was manufactured to implant microchips into the population using vaccines.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Hungary Receives 6K Doses of Russia's Coronavirus Vaccine

`` 6,000 doses of Russian vaccine crossed Hungary 's border with Slovakia , '' Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook video message .
Hungary said it received 6,000 doses of Russia 's controversial coronavirus vaccine on Monday , in a new display of Budapest 's maverick vaccine policy .
The consignment was taken to Budapest for a decision by Hungarian experts on how to use it , he said , without providing details on the vaccine 's potential rollout .
The announcement comes after Hungary started vaccinations on Saturday ahead of most European Union countries after receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus jabs .
The move by Budapest , often at loggerheads with Brussels over accusations of democratic backsliding , sidestepped the EU 's coordinated approach to vaccinations which began on Sunday across most of the 27-member bloc .
Last month Szijjarto said Hungary was the first European country to receive samples for testing of Russia 's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine , while Hungarian doctors and experts have visited Russia to study its production .
The European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) , charged with overseeing vaccine approval in the EU before they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian drug , which Moscow says has shown 95 % effectiveness in trials .
But Western and Russian experts have raised concerns over the fast-tracked jab and critics have described it as a tool to bolster Russia 's geopolitical influence .
Large-scale deliveries and potentially mass production by a Hungarian firm are possible next year if it proves safe and effective , according to Budapest .
`` Hungary is open to all successful vaccine developments around the world , '' said Szijjarto Monday .
`` We are doing our best to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective vaccines whether they are created in the West or in the East , '' he said .

"6,000 doses of Russian vaccine crossed Hungary's border with Slovakia," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook video message.
Hungary said it received 6,000 doses of Russia's controversial coronavirus vaccine on Monday, in a new display of Budapest's maverick vaccine policy.
The consignment was taken to Budapest for a decision by Hungarian experts on how to use it, he said, without providing details on the vaccine's potential rollout.
The announcement comes after Hungary started vaccinations on Saturday ahead of most European Union countries after receiving its first delivery of the Belgian-made Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus jabs.
The move by Budapest, often at loggerheads with Brussels over accusations of democratic backsliding, sidestepped the EU's coordinated approach to vaccinations which began on Sunday across most of the 27-member bloc.
Last month Szijjarto said Hungary was the first European country to receive samples for testing of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, while Hungarian doctors and experts have visited Russia to study its production.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), charged with overseeing vaccine approval in the EU before they can be marketed, has yet to assess the Russian drug, which Moscow says has shown 95% effectiveness in trials.
But Western and Russian experts have raised concerns over the fast-tracked jab and critics have described it as a tool to bolster Russia's geopolitical influence.
Large-scale deliveries and potentially mass production by a Hungarian firm are possible next year if it proves safe and effective, according to Budapest.
"Hungary is open to all successful vaccine developments around the world," said Szijjarto Monday.
"We are doing our best to bring to Hungary as fast as possible all effective vaccines whether they are created in the West or in the East," he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Russia Opens 'Fraud' Probe Against Navalny

Russian investigators Tuesday opened a criminal probe into Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , alleging he used more than 356 million rubles ( $ 4.8 million ) of donations to his organizations for personal purposes including holidays abroad .
The Investigative Committee , which probes major crimes , said in a statement that the money was part of more than 588 million rubles Navalny had raised `` exclusively '' for his non-profit organisations , including the Anti-Corruption Fund .
The committee said Navalny used the money to acquire `` personal property ( and ) material assets and to pay expenses ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this way , the funds collected from citizens were stolen , '' the committee added , saying it had opened a criminal case into `` fraud on an especially large scale . ''
The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison .
Navalny , 44 , is currently recovering from a poisoning attempt in Germany .
He has said he will return to Russia once his health is restored .
In August , the Kremlin critic fell violently ill during a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being transferred to Berlin by medical aircraft .
Experts in several Western countries concluded that he was poisoned with the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent — a claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied .
Navalny , Russia 's most prominent opposition figure , has said the main security agency Federal Security Service ( FSB ) was behind the poisoning at the direction of President Vladimir Putin .
On Tuesday Navalny described the fresh criminal probe against him as `` invented by Putin . ''
`` Well , I immediately said that they will try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't die '' from the poisoning , he wrote on Twitter .
Navalny has faced charges of fraud before .
In February 2014 he was charged with fraud and money laundering and spent almost a year under house arrest before receiving a suspended sentence in December that year .
Last year Europe 's top rights courts ruled that Russia had violated Navalny 's rights with the case .

Russian investigators Tuesday opened a criminal probe into Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, alleging he used more than 356 million rubles ($4.8 million) of donations to his organizations for personal purposes including holidays abroad.
The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said in a statement that the money was part of more than 588 million rubles Navalny had raised "exclusively" for his non-profit organisations, including the Anti-Corruption Fund.
The committee said Navalny used the money to acquire "personal property (and) material assets and to pay expenses (including holidays abroad)."
"In this way, the funds collected from citizens were stolen," the committee added, saying it had opened a criminal case into "fraud on an especially large scale."
The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Navalny, 44, is currently recovering from a poisoning attempt in Germany. He has said he will return to Russia once his health is restored.
In August, the Kremlin critic fell violently ill during a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was hospitalised in the city of Omsk before being transferred to Berlin by medical aircraft.
Experts in several Western countries concluded that he was poisoned with the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent — a claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied.
Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has said the main security agency Federal Security Service (FSB) was behind the poisoning at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday Navalny described the fresh criminal probe against him as "invented by Putin."
"Well, I immediately said that they will try to put me in jail because I didn't die" from the poisoning, he wrote on Twitter.
Navalny has faced charges of fraud before.
In February 2014 he was charged with fraud and money laundering and spent almost a year under house arrest before receiving a suspended sentence in December that year.
Last year Europe's top rights courts ruled that Russia had violated Navalny's rights with the case.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Argentina Launches Covid-19 Vaccines With Controversial Sputnik V

Argentina on Tuesday launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign with the controversial Sputnik V shots developed by Russia , the government said .
It is the first country in the Americas to use this vaccine against the pandemic .
The vaccination drive began simultaneously around the country with frontline healthcare workers given priority , Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said .
She spoke at Posadas Hospital in Buenos Aires , where a doctor named Flavia Loiacono became the first in the country to get a Covid shot .
`` The idea is to start vaccinating those with the greatest risk exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gam-CovidVac vaccine , nicknamed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite , has come under fire from critics in Russia and abroad because it was registered before the start of large-scale clinical trials .
Its developers claim it is more than 90 percent effective but detractors have described it as a tool to bolster Russia 's geopolitical influence .
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez tried to ease fears three weeks ago by saying he would `` be the first to be vaccinated so that no one need be afraid . ''
Argentina , which gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dec. 23 , is now the fourth country in Latin American to launch a vaccination campaign , after Mexico , Costa Rica and Chile .
`` We are going to have to keep taking care of ourselves .
It will take a few months for the vaccine to have a widespread effect , '' said Gonzalez Garcia .
The next groups to receive the vaccine will be the over 60s , people with at least two medical conditions , police and teachers .
A first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It requires people to get two shots , three weeks apart .
Another 19.7 million doses are supposed to be delivered in January and February , while Argentina has an option to buy a further five million .
The South American country , which plans to purchase 51 million vaccine doses in total , has also signed an agreement to obtain doses of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca , and is negotiating with Pfizer-BioNTech .
That latest negotiation is proving difficult and last week Gonzalez Garcia complained that Pfizer had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the provision of vaccines .
Gonzalo Perez Marc , who is in charge of studying the Pfizer vaccine in Argentina , said `` the negotiation is n't easy .
It remains a commercial product . ''
The pandemic has killed nearly 43,000 people in Argentina , which has recorded more than 1.5 million cases among its population of 44 million .
Cuba , meanwhile , said it will vaccinate its people in the first half of next year with a vaccine that Cuba itself is developing .
Two vaccine candidates are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reached the clinical trial stage , the institute 's director Vicente Verez Bencomo said in comments carried Tuesday by the state newspaper Granma .

Argentina on Tuesday launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign with the controversial Sputnik V shots developed by Russia, the government said.
It is the first country in the Americas to use this vaccine against the pandemic.
The vaccination drive began simultaneously around the country with frontline healthcare workers given priority, Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said.
She spoke at Posadas Hospital in Buenos Aires, where a doctor named Flavia Loiacono became the first in the country to get a Covid shot.
"The idea is to start vaccinating those with the greatest risk exposure," said Gonzalez Garcia.
The Gam-CovidVac vaccine, nicknamed Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite, has come under fire from critics in Russia and abroad because it was registered before the start of large-scale clinical trials.
Its developers claim it is more than 90 percent effective but detractors have described it as a tool to bolster Russia's geopolitical influence.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez tried to ease fears three weeks ago by saying he would "be the first to be vaccinated so that no one need be afraid."
Argentina, which gave emergency approval to the Sputnik V vaccine on Dec. 23, is now the fourth country in Latin American to launch a vaccination campaign, after Mexico, Costa Rica and Chile.
"We are going to have to keep taking care of ourselves. It will take a few months for the vaccine to have a widespread effect," said Gonzalez Garcia.
The next groups to receive the vaccine will be the over 60s, people with at least two medical conditions, police and teachers.
A first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Russian product arrived here on Christmas Eve. It requires people to get two shots, three weeks apart.
Another 19.7 million doses are supposed to be delivered in January and February, while Argentina has an option to buy a further five million.
The South American country, which plans to purchase 51 million vaccine doses in total, has also signed an agreement to obtain doses of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and is negotiating with Pfizer-BioNTech.
That latest negotiation is proving difficult and last week Gonzalez Garcia complained that Pfizer had set what she called unacceptable new terms for the provision of vaccines.
Gonzalo Perez Marc, who is in charge of studying the Pfizer vaccine in Argentina, said "the negotiation isn't easy. It remains a commercial product."
The pandemic has killed nearly 43,000 people in Argentina, which has recorded more than 1.5 million cases among its population of 44 million.
Cuba, meanwhile, said it will vaccinate its people in the first half of next year with a vaccine that Cuba itself is developing.
Two vaccine candidates are being developed at the Finlay Vaccine Institute and have reached the clinical trial stage, the institute's director Vicente Verez Bencomo said in comments carried Tuesday by the state newspaper Granma.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Russia Adds Women's Rights NGO to 'Foreign Agents' List

The Justice Ministry ’ s addition of the NGO , which provides legal and psychological help to domestic violence victims , to the “ foreign agent ” registry comes amid fears of a renewed crackdown on critical voices ahead of Russia 's 2021 legislative elections .
Lawmakers pushed through controversial expansions to the “ foreign agents ” law last week which would allow any politically active , foreign-funded individual to be added to the list .
Writing on Facebook , Nasiliyu.net director Anna Rivina said her organization was mainly added to the list over its support for a bill that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 % [ due to ] LGBT propaganda.
” “ They made us very angry , so in 2021 we will do more and be louder , more transparent and more bold the further they go , ” Rivina said .
The Justice Ministry had launched an audit of the organization this month after it did not submit an application to be included in the `` foreign agents '' registry .
Rivina said the ministry requested all documents related to the NGO ’ s financial activities and events as well as its partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a quote from a Forbes Russia interview that was included in the documents the Justice Ministry sent her : “ The situation really is funny in a morbid sense .
If the issue of domestic violence was solved in our country , then we would n't need an organization like ours .
”

The Justice Ministry’s addition of the NGO, which provides legal and psychological help to domestic violence victims, to the “foreign agent” registry comes amid fears of a renewed crackdown on critical voices ahead of Russia's 2021 legislative elections. Lawmakers pushed through controversial expansions to the “foreign agents” law last week which would allow any politically active, foreign-funded individual to be added to the list.
Writing on Facebook, Nasiliyu.net director Anna Rivina said her organization was mainly added to the list over its support for a bill that seeks to re-criminalize domestic violence and “5% [due to] LGBT propaganda.”
“They made us very angry, so in 2021 we will do more and be louder, more transparent and more bold the further they go,” Rivina said.
The Justice Ministry had launched an audit of the organization this month after it did not submit an application to be included in the "foreign agents" registry. Rivina said the ministry requested all documents related to the NGO’s financial activities and events as well as its partnership agreements.
Rivina also shared a screenshot of a quote from a Forbes Russia interview that was included in the documents the Justice Ministry sent her: “The situation really is funny in a morbid sense. If the issue of domestic violence was solved in our country, then we wouldn't need an organization like ours.”


themoscowtimes--2020-12-29--Moscow Expands List of German Officials Banned From Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that in response to `` destructive '' EU sanctions in October , `` Moscow made a decision to expand the reciprocal list of German citizens who are prohibited from entering Russia . ''
Moscow on Tuesday expanded a list of German officials who are banned from entering Russia in response to EU sanctions that the bloc imposed over Russian cyber attacks on the German parliament .
The European Union and Britain in October hit senior Russian intelligence officers with the penalties for their alleged role in hacking the German parliament 's computer network in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2015 completely paralyzed the IT infrastructure of the Bundestag and the entire parliament had to be taken offline for days while it was fixed .
The head of the GRU military intelligence agency , Igor Kostyukov , and intelligence officer Dmitri Badin were banned from EU soil and are subject to an asset freeze .
Russia on Tuesday did not specify which German officials were being handed entry bans , but said the individuals were senior members of the intelligence services and defense ministry .
The Foreign Ministry in Moscow described EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hacking attacks as a `` pretext . ''
Moscow and Brussels have recently ratcheted up tit-for-tat sanctions , including renewed food import bans and penalties over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny .

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that in response to "destructive" EU sanctions in October, "Moscow made a decision to expand the reciprocal list of German citizens who are prohibited from entering Russia."
Moscow on Tuesday expanded a list of German officials who are banned from entering Russia in response to EU sanctions that the bloc imposed over Russian cyber attacks on the German parliament.
The European Union and Britain in October hit senior Russian intelligence officers with the penalties for their alleged role in hacking the German parliament's computer network in 2015.
A cyber attack in April and May 2015 completely paralyzed the IT infrastructure of the Bundestag and the entire parliament had to be taken offline for days while it was fixed.
The head of the GRU military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov, and intelligence officer Dmitri Badin were banned from EU soil and are subject to an asset freeze.
Russia on Tuesday did not specify which German officials were being handed entry bans, but said the individuals were senior members of the intelligence services and defense ministry.
The Foreign Ministry in Moscow described EU allegations that Russia was involved in the hacking attacks as a "pretext."
Moscow and Brussels have recently ratcheted up tit-for-tat sanctions, including renewed food import bans and penalties over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-30--Outspoken Moscow Priest Defrocked by Orthodox Church

Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev , a well-known radio and television personality whose views on homosexuality , blasphemy and Russia ’ s Orthodox hierarchy have made him one of the country ’ s best-known priests , had described Alexander Ageykin , a fellow priest who died of the coronavirus in April , as a “ dumb careerist ” on his LiveJournal blog .
The Russian Orthodox Church has defrocked one of the country ’ s most prominent priests after he was found to have slandered a fellow priest who died from Covid-19 .
The Moscow Episcopal Court on Tuesday found that Kuraev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since receiving a warning in 2015 and concluded that his public statements accusing the Church hierarchy of “ organizing a schism ” were blasphemous .
The decision to defrock Kuraev — who described the move to The Insider news website as his “ canonical murder ” and “ a New Year ’ s present for Patriarch Kirill ” — must be approved by the Patriarch , the highest authority in the Russian Orthodox Church .
Kuraev has long been a polarizing figure in Russian Christianity .
In 2013 the outspoken priest alleged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of the Orthodox Church , after which he was dismissed from his teaching position at the Moscow Theological Academy .
His public pronouncements — which have included criticism of Islam , legal restrictions on blasphemy and Russia ’ s 2014 annexation of Crimea — have made him one of the Orthodox ’ s Church ’ s internet-friendly priests , with over 70,000 Facebook followers .

Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev, a well-known radio and television personality whose views on homosexuality, blasphemy and Russia’s Orthodox hierarchy have made him one of the country’s best-known religious figures, had described Alexander Ageykin, the head of a Moscow cathedral who died of the coronavirus in April, as a “dumb careerist” on his LiveJournal blog.
The Russian Orthodox Church has defrocked one of the country’s most prominent theologians after he was found to have slandered a fellow priest who died from Covid-19.
The Moscow Episcopal Court on Tuesday found that Kuraev had not “changed his ways” since receiving a warning in 2015 and concluded that his public statements accusing the Church hierarchy of “organizing a schism” were blasphemous.
The decision to defrock Kuraev — who described the move to The Insider news website as his “canonical murder” and “a New Year’s present for Patriarch Kirill” — must be approved by the Patriarch, the highest authority in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Kuraev has long been a polarizing figure in Russian Christianity.
In 2013 the outspoken theologian alleged the existence of a “gay lobby” at the heart of the Orthodox Church, after which he was dismissed from his teaching position at the Moscow Theological Academy.
His public pronouncements — which have included criticism of Islam, legal restrictions on blasphemy and Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea — have made him one of the Orthodox’s Church’s internet-friendly figures, with over 70,000 Facebook followers.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-30--Moscow Expands List of UK Officials Banned From Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in response to `` unconstructive and unfriendly '' UK penalties it had `` decided to expand the number of British citizens who are denied entry to our country . ''
Moscow on Wednesday expanded a list of UK officials banned from entering Russia in a tit-for-tat response to British sanctions imposed over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny .
In October the British government announced it would follow the European Union in adopting sanctions targeting Russian officials over the attack on Navalny with the Novichok nerve agent .
The UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on six Russian officials , including the head of the Federal Security Services ( FSB ) .
Moscow earlier this month hit EU countries with reciprocal sanctions in response to the bloc 's measures .
The EU sanctions for Navalny 's poisoning came as part of a package that also punished Russia for what Brussels says is Moscow 's destabilizing role in Libya .
Navalny was poisoned in August during a trip to Siberia ahead of local elections .
He was transferred to Germany and medical experts from several Western countries concluded he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia on Tuesday also hit German officials with entry bans after the EU and UK sanctioned several Russian intelligence officers for hacks on the German parliament 's computer network in 2015 .

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in response to "unconstructive and unfriendly" UK penalties it had "decided to expand the number of British citizens who are denied entry to our country."
Moscow on Wednesday expanded a list of UK officials banned from entering Russia in a tit-for-tat response to British sanctions imposed over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In October the British government announced it would follow the European Union in adopting sanctions targeting Russian officials over the attack on Navalny with the Novichok nerve agent.
The UK penalties included entry bans and asset freezes on six Russian officials, including the head of the Federal Security Services (FSB).
Moscow earlier this month hit EU countries with reciprocal sanctions in response to the bloc's measures.
The EU sanctions for Navalny's poisoning came as part of a package that also punished Russia for what Brussels says is Moscow's destabilizing role in Libya.
Navalny was poisoned in August during a trip to Siberia ahead of local elections. He was transferred to Germany and medical experts from several Western countries concluded he was poisoned with the Soviet-designed toxin.
Russia on Tuesday also hit German officials with entry bans after the EU and UK sanctioned several Russian intelligence officers for hacks on the German parliament's computer network in 2015.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-30--Putin Signs Controversial ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Expansion

The new law significantly widens the scope of who can be recognized as a foreign agent in Russia and has been criticized as an effort to stamp out critical voices .
The foreign agent law first passed in 2012 initially targeted media outlets and civil society groups and has been gradually expanded since to include individual journalists and bloggers .
President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill allowing any politically active , foreign-funded individual or organization to be labeled a “ foreign agent.
” Under the law signed by Putin on Wednesday , foreign-funded individuals who gather information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities will also be labeled as foreign agents .
Individuals and groups recognized as foreign agents are required to report their activities and face financial audits .
Under the new law , organizations labeled foreign agents are required to submit quarterly financial documentation to the Justice Ministry .
These individuals and groups must be referred to as foreign agents any time they are mentioned in the media .
However , the latest amendments to the law remove the requirement for bloggers and regular citizens to label information about foreign agents .
The law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is published .
The legislation comes amid a flurry of new additions to Russia ’ s foreign agents registry , which critics say marks a renewed crackdown on voices critical of the Kremlin ahead of next year ’ s parliamentary elections .
This week , the Justice Ministry added five individuals to the registry for the first time ever , setting a precedent to target specific journalists and human rights activists instead of just organizations .

The new law significantly widens the scope of who can be recognized as a foreign agent in Russia and has been criticized as an effort to stamp out critical voices. The foreign agent law first passed in 2012 initially targeted media outlets and civil society groups and has been gradually expanded since to include individual journalists and bloggers.
President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill allowing any politically active, foreign-funded individual or organization to be labeled a “foreign agent.”
Under the law signed by Putin on Wednesday, foreign-funded individuals who gather information on Russia’s military or military-technical activities will also be labeled as foreign agents.
Individuals and groups recognized as foreign agents are required to report their activities and face financial audits. Under the new law, organizations labeled foreign agents are required to submit quarterly financial documentation to the Justice Ministry.
These individuals and groups must be referred to as foreign agents any time they are mentioned in the media. However, the latest amendments to the law remove the requirement for bloggers and regular citizens to label information about foreign agents.
The law will come into force 10 days after it is published.
The legislation comes amid a flurry of new additions to Russia’s foreign agents registry, which critics say marks a renewed crackdown on voices critical of the Kremlin ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.
This week, the Justice Ministry added five individuals to the registry for the first time ever, setting a precedent to target specific journalists and human rights activists instead of just organizations.