themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russia Plans Tourist Space Walks in 2023

Russia 's Energia space corporation said Thursday it will take the first tourist on a space walk in 2023 , @ @ @ @ @ new contract with a U.S. partner .
Energia has inked a contract with Space Adventures @ @ @ @ @ two space tourists to the International Space Station that year .
“ We plan that @ @ @ @ @ the expedition will do a space walk from the Russian segment , together with a @ @ @ @ @ said Energia , which is part of Russia 's space agency Roscosmos .
The announcement @ @ @ @ @ a deal with Richard Branson ’ s Virgin Galactic space tourism company to promote private @ @ @ @ @ a special training program in the U.S .

Russia's Energia space corporation said Thursday it will take the first tourist on a space walk in 2023, under the terms of a new contract with a U.S. partner.
Energia has inked a contract with Space Adventures, which promises to take two space tourists to the International Space Station that year.
“We plan that one of the participants of the expedition will do a space walk from the Russian segment, together with a professional Russian cosmonaut,” said Energia, which is part of Russia's space agency Roscosmos.
The announcement comes days after NASA signed a deal with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space tourism company to promote private missions to the station after a special training program in the U.S.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russian Artists Call for Justice in "Theater Trial"

A verdict will be reached on June 26 in the so-called `` theater trial . ''
Four people , including @ @ @ @ @ been accused of embezzlement .
The case has drawn controversy as critics say the case @ @ @ @ @ Several prominent Russian cultural figures have released videos criticizing the case and defending those accused @

A verdict will be reached on June 26 in the so-called "theater trial."
Four people, including director Kirill Serebrennikov, have been accused of embezzlement.
The case has drawn controversy as critics say the case is a political set-up.
Several prominent Russian cultural figures have released videos criticizing the case and defending those accused.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Activists Allege Cover-Up as Toxic Siberian Fuel Spill Reaches Arctic Ocean

Toxic fuel from a massive leak in Siberia may have already reached the Arctic Ocean despite officials ' claims of successful cleanup efforts , a Russian environmental activist said as he called on the international community to declare the accident a global disaster .
More than 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked into soil and rivers near the city of Norilsk after a power plant 's fuel tank collapsed on May 29 .
Officials have said that cleanup efforts had stopped the fuel from spreading further north , where it risked entering the Arctic Ocean .
Moscow-based hydrogeologist Georgy Kavanosyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River that flows into the Kara Sea , which is part of the Arctic Ocean , that showed more than double the normal concentration of toxic oil products .
“ Now the contaminant is getting closer to the Arctic Ocean or it is already there , ” he wrote in a letter to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg that he posted on Instagram .
Kavanosyan said the particles that dissolved into the water are more carcinogenic and toxic than fuel products collected from the water ’ s surface .
Some , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , can penetrate the skin and stay there for decades .
Kavanosyan accused metals tycoon Vladimir Potanin of attempting to cover up the scale of the damage and said he faced a “ big risk ” by going public with the claims .
The fuel tank collapse took place at a power plant owned by a subsidiary of Potanin ’ s metals giant Norilsk Nickel , which has said the collapse may have been caused by melting permafrost due to climate change .
Permafrost thaw has accelerated with the changing climate , transforming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gases and contributing to global warming .
“ We weren ’ t able to avoid a massive ecological catastrophe , ” Kavanosyan said in the video from Norilsk , where he said he needed to take extra precautions amid tightened security measures in the wake of the spill .
“ The scale of the disaster is truly colossal and we urgently need to declare the situation an international environmental disaster , ” he said .
Greenpeace Russia says it is the first such large-scale spill in the region beyond the Arctic Circle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic waterways at 100 billion rubles ( $ 1.4 billion ) .

Toxic fuel from a massive leak in Siberia may have already reached the Arctic Ocean despite officials' claims of successful cleanup efforts, a Russian environmental activist said as he called on the international community to declare the accident a global disaster. More than 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked into soil and rivers near the city of Norilsk after a power plant's fuel tank collapsed on May 29. Officials have said that cleanup efforts had stopped the fuel from spreading further north, where it risked entering the Arctic Ocean.
Moscow-based hydrogeologist Georgy Kavanosyan said he took measurements in the Pyasina River that flows into the Kara Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean, that showed more than double the normal concentration of toxic oil products. “Now the contaminant is getting closer to the Arctic Ocean or it is already there,” he wrote in a letter to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg that he posted on Instagram. Kavanosyan said the particles that dissolved into the water are more carcinogenic and toxic than fuel products collected from the water’s surface. Some, he said in a YouTube video published last Thursday, can penetrate the skin and stay there for decades. Kavanosyan accused metals tycoon Vladimir Potanin of attempting to cover up the scale of the damage and said he faced a “big risk” by going public with the claims.
The fuel tank collapse took place at a power plant owned by a subsidiary of Potanin’s metals giant Norilsk Nickel, which has said the collapse may have been caused by melting permafrost due to climate change. Permafrost thaw has accelerated with the changing climate, transforming the Arctic tundra while releasing trapped greenhouse gases and contributing to global warming. “We weren’t able to avoid a massive ecological catastrophe,” Kavanosyan said in the video from Norilsk, where he said he needed to take extra precautions amid tightened security measures in the wake of the spill.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-26--1 in 5 Moscow Residents Have Coronavirus Antibodies – Official

Anastasia Rakova said that more than 90,000 Muscovites had been tested from June 5-18 as part of the citywide testing program ’ s third stage .
One in five healthy Moscow residents has coronavirus antibodies , suggesting they have been infected and could be immune for a period of time , the Russian capital ’ s deputy mayor said Friday .
“ We can say that herd immunity continues to form and about 20 % of Muscovites currently have such immunity , ” Rakova said .
She noted a 2.5 % increase in the presence of antibodies from the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they plan to test 6 million people , or around half of Moscow ’ s total population , for antibodies .
National health officials said earlier in June that one in seven Russians , or around 14 % , tested for Covid-19 have developed immunity to the virus .
The percentage of immune cases among minors under 17 years old totaled almost 20 % .
Moscow ’ s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5 % of the city ’ s residents , or nearly 300,000 people , may have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China has said that the antibodies may fade within two months of infection and suggested that asymptomatic people have weaker immune responses to infection .
Experts also warn that the presence of antibodies does n't necessarily confer total immunity to the coronavirus .
Russia has confirmed more than 620,000 coronavirus infections as of Friday , the world ’ s third-highest caseload .
Moscow , which accounts for more than one-third of Russia 's cases , began to gradually emerge from lockdown this month .
Almost 8,800 people have died nationwide , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high numbers of Covid-19 cases .

Anastasia Rakova said that more than 90,000 Muscovites had been tested from June 5-18 as part of the citywide testing program’s third stage.
One in five healthy Moscow residents has coronavirus antibodies, suggesting they have been infected and could be immune for a period of time, the Russian capital’s deputy mayor said Friday.
“We can say that herd immunity continues to form and about 20% of Muscovites currently have such immunity,” Rakova said.
She noted a 2.5% increase in the presence of antibodies from the city's previous studies.
City officials say they plan to test 6 million people, or around half of Moscow’s total population, for antibodies.
National health officials said earlier in June that one in seven Russians, or around 14%, tested for Covid-19 have developed immunity to the virus. The percentage of immune cases among minors under 17 years old totaled almost 20%.
Moscow’s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5% of the city’s residents, or nearly 300,000 people, may have been infected with Covid-19.
A recent study conducted in China has said that the antibodies may fade within two months of infection and suggested that asymptomatic people have weaker immune responses to infection.
Experts also warn that the presence of antibodies doesn't necessarily confer total immunity to the coronavirus.
Russia has confirmed more than 620,000 coronavirus infections as of Friday, the world’s third-highest caseload. Moscow, which accounts for more than one-third of Russia's cases, began to gradually emerge from lockdown this month.
Almost 8,800 people have died nationwide, the lowest death toll among countries with similarly high numbers of Covid-19 cases.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-26--Investor Breathes New Life Into Major Arctic Coal Project

Roman Trotsenko , one of Russia ’ s richest businessmen , plans to invest 33 billion rubles ( $ 476 million ) into a major Arctic coal extraction project , Forbes Russia reported .
Trotsenko on June 18 formalized the acquisition of 75 % of shares in the Arctic Mining Company and intends to forge ahead with big plans for coal production on the tundra .
The Arctic Mining Company was formerly owned by Dmitry Bosov , the businessman who died by suicide in early May .
Bosov and his investment company Alltech had great plans for the project and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tons of high-quality coal from his many license areas on the Taimyr Peninsula .
However , progress was seriously hampered by a lawsuit from Russian environmental authorities and lack of funds , and in early 2020 Bosov announced that he was abandoning the project .
By that time , construction workers had been in the remote and vulnerable lands since 2016 to prepare for project launch .
Reportedly , $ 86 million has been spent on developing the project .
According to Forbes , the business deal is based on a swap of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coal licenses and Alltech takes over full control over the Pechora LNG project .
Revised plans for the coal project aim to produce 1 million tons of coal per year by 2023 and 5 million tons by 2025 .
About 13 billion rubles ( $ 167 million ) will be invested in regional exploration and infrastructure development while 20 billion ( $ 288 million ) will be spent on the coal mines .
Trotsenko himself intends to cover about 30 % of the investments , while the remaining sums will be come from @ @ @

Revised plans for the coal project aim to produce 1 million tons of coal per year by 2023 and 5 million tons by 2025. About 13 billion rubles ($167 million) will be invested in regional exploration and infrastructure development while 20 billion ($288 million) will be spent on the coal mines. Trotsenko himself intends to cover about 30% of the investments, while the remaining sums will be come from bank credits.
According to Forbes, the business deal is based on a swap of assets in which Trotsenko gets the Taimyr coal licenses and Alltech takes over full control over the Pechora LNG project.
By that time, construction workers had been in the remote and vulnerable lands since 2016 to prepare for project launch. Reportedly, $86 million has been spent on developing the project.
However, progress was seriously hampered by a lawsuit from Russian environmental authorities and lack of funds, and in early 2020 Bosov announced that he was abandoning the project .
The Arctic Mining Company was formerly owned by Dmitry Bosov, the businessman who died by suicide in early May . Bosov and his investment company Alltech had great plans for the project and originally intended to extract several hundred million tons of high-quality coal from his many license areas on the Taimyr Peninsula.
Trotsenko on June 18 formalized the acquisition of 75% of shares in the Arctic Mining Company and intends to forge ahead with big plans for coal production on the tundra.
The estimates are far more modest than the ones originally presented by the company's former owner. Dmitry Bosov intended to invest as much as $250 billion and reach a production of as much as 30 million tons by 2023. The coal was long seen as a key part of Russia's goal to boost shipments along the Northern Sea Route.
Associated with Rosneft
Trotsenko is well-connected with powerful people in both the government and state companies. In 2009, he took the reins of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, a leading state shipbuilding company.
In 2012, he was appointed adviser to Igor Sechin, the head of state-run oil giant Rosneft. Trotsenko reportedly especially advised Sechin on issues related to the company’s activities on the Siberian shelf.
Since then, he has been involved in business projects connected with the state oil company in various ways. Both the Pechora LNG and the coal projects in Taimyr have links to Rosneft.
Chaika terminal
The Taimyr Peninsula is not new to Trotsenko. He owns several coal licenses in the area. With his company Severnaya Zvezda, the businessman has for several years planned the extraction and export of major volumes of coal.
Through Severnaya Zvezda, Trotsenko owns the license to the Syradasayskoye coal field in Taimyr and project plans include several millions of tons exported from a new port terminal located near Dikson on the Kara Sea coast.
Reserves are estimated at 5.7 billion tons and annual production is to reach at least 10 million tons. Originally, production was set to start in 2020.
The Syradasayskoye field is located about 120 kilometers from the coast of the Kara Sea, not far from the license areas of Vostok Coal.
The Chaika terminal will be the centerpiece of the projected new infrastructure in Taimyr. The terminal will be located on the peninsula's west coast and serve export shipments both to Europe and Asia. The same terminal is planned to be used by Rosneft for its future Vostok Oil project.
Russia goes for coal
Demand for coal is in steep decline in Europe and other parts of the world, but Russia still envisions a significant growth in its own production.
A new state program for coal development through 2035 calls for increasing domestic output by up to 50%.
According to the program, up to 668 million tons of coal can be extracted by 2035, of which up to 392 million tons can be exported.
China and India are seen as key markets for the carbon-rich black rocks.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-26--Russia to Speed Up S-400 Delivery to India Amid China Standoff

New Delhi and Beijing have blamed each other for a June 15 battle in the Ladakh region in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed while China suffered an unknown number of casualties .
India has also ordered Pakistan to cut its embassy staff by half this week , a month after New Delhi expelled two diplomats over spying claims .
Russia will accelerate S-400 air defense system deliveries to India by a year following tense standoffs with China and Pakistan in contested border regions , the Kommersant business daily reported Friday .
India now expects Russia to send the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Indian defense chief ’ s visit to Moscow for Russia ’ s landmark Victory Day parade this week , according to Kommersant .
The first delivery was originally scheduled for late 2021 .
“ If this scenario is realized , then we ’ ll see the first S-400 at Republic Day in the Indian capital next Jan. 26 , ” an unnamed Indian military source told Kommersant .
“ This system will be our silver bullet against our enemies , ” they added .
India plans to deploy three S-400 batteries on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , Kommersant cited its Indian sources as saying .
Russia will reportedly send one S-400 battery per year , with all five expected to reach India by 2024 .
“ The disbalance [ with China and Pakistan ] will be eliminated after the S-400s assume the main role of protecting Indian airspace , ” the sources were quoted as saying .
“ The S-400s will free up our multi-purpose fighters to strike ground targets , eliminating the need for them to conduct aerial combat with enemy fighters.
” The S-400 would give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoot down aircraft and missiles at unprecedented ranges .
“ I have been assured that ongoing contracts will… in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time , ” India ’ s defense minister Rajnath Singh tweeted Tuesday .

New Delhi and Beijing have blamed each other for a June 15 battle in the Ladakh region in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed while China suffered an unknown number of casualties. India has also ordered Pakistan to cut its embassy staff by half this week, a month after New Delhi expelled two diplomats over spying claims.
Russia will accelerate S-400 air defense system deliveries to India by a year following tense standoffs with China and Pakistan in contested border regions, the Kommersant business daily reported Friday.
India now expects Russia to send the first of five S-400 batteries in 2020 following the Indian defense chief’s visit to Moscow for Russia’s landmark Victory Day parade this week, according to Kommersant. The first delivery was originally scheduled for late 2021.
“If this scenario is realized, then we’ll see the first S-400 at Republic Day in the Indian capital next Jan. 26,” an unnamed Indian military source told Kommersant.
“This system will be our silver bullet against our enemies,” they added.
India plans to deploy three S-400 batteries on the border with Pakistan and two with China, Kommersant cited its Indian sources as saying. Russia will reportedly send one S-400 battery per year, with all five expected to reach India by 2024.
“The disbalance [with China and Pakistan] will be eliminated after the S-400s assume the main role of protecting Indian airspace,” the sources were quoted as saying. “The S-400s will free up our multi-purpose fighters to strike ground targets, eliminating the need for them to conduct aerial combat with enemy fighters.”
The S-400 would give India’s military the ability to shoot down aircraft and missiles at unprecedented ranges.
“I have been assured that ongoing contracts will… in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time,” India’s defense minister Rajnath Singh tweeted Tuesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-26--Serebrennikov Trial: Russia Finds Prominent Director Guilty in Fraud Case

This story is being updated .
A Moscow court has found prominent theater director Kirill Serebrennikov and two co-defendants guilty of criminal fraud in a controversial case that his supporters say is politically motivated .
The full sentencing will be read later Friday .
Several hundred supporters of the co-defendants , including famous rapper Oxxxymiron , several popular actors and other cultural figures , gathered outside Moscow ’ s Meshchansky district court ahead of the verdict .
Prosecutors requested six years for Serebrennikov , five years for former Seventh Studio theater producer Alexei Malobrodsky and four each for director Yury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apfelbaum .
Prosecutors also requested fines ranging from 200,000 rubles to 800,000 rubles for the co-defendants .
Serebrennikov told reporters in court that he hoped that the judge would deliver a not-guilty verdict .
Serebrennikov , 50 , was detained in August 2017 on charges of creating an organized criminal group with his colleagues and embezzling more than $ 2 million of state funding for a theatre project called Platforma .
The so-called “ theater trial ” has drawn controversy as critics say the case is a political set-up .
In 2012 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the small state-funded Gogol Center , which he turned into one of Moscow 's best theaters and a favorite of the liberal intelligentsia .
Yet Serebrennikov 's work has angered cultural conservatives in Russia who see his frequent use of onstage nudity and obscene language , as well as modern adaptations of classics , as a step too far .
The prominent director calls the charges “ absurd ” and maintains that the money was used properly .
Serebrennikov , Itin and Apfelbaum were released on bail in April 2019 after a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the criminal fraud charges .
A Moscow court ordered in 2019 to re-try the case over mistakes in the previous guilty verdict .
Observers speculated at the time that the case could be thrown out or the charges mitigated .
The prosecution ’ s key witness earlier in June claimed giving her testimony under duress , joining three previous witnesses in claiming that they had been pressured to testify against former colleagues .
The embezzlement trial has attracted international attention and calls for his release everywhere from Hollywood to Cannes .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Friday ’ s verdict criticizing the case and defending those accused .
Human Rights Watch and international artistic groups have called on Russian prosecutors to drop the charges .
“ The state ’ s leap to criminal embezzlement charges seems to be a thinly veiled way to retaliate against Serebrennikov for his political criticism and to send a chilling message to other artists , ” the groups said .

A Moscow court has handed a suspended sentence to prominent theater director Kirill Serebrennikov, a surprise legal victory in a fraud case his supporters say was politically motivated and a test of artistic freedom in Russia. Suspended sentences are widely seen as the lightest punishment in Russia's legal system, which rarely issues not-guilty verdicts. The sentencing was met with applause by the hundreds of supporters gathered outside. Moscow’s Meshchansky district court found Serebrennikov guilty of large-scale embezzlement on Friday, ordering him to undergo three years of probation and pay an 800,000 ruble ($11,500) fine.
Prosecutors had requested six years for Serebrennikov, five years for former Seventh Studio theater producer Alexei Malobrodsky and four each for director Yury Itin and former Culture Ministry employee Sofia Apfelbaum. Prosecutors also requested fines ranging from 200,000 rubles to 800,000 rubles for the co-defendants. Malobrodsky and Itin also received suspended sentences, with Malobrodsky receiving two years' probation and a 300,000 ruble fine and Itin receiving three years' probation and a 200,000 ruble fine. Apfelbaum, meanwhile, had her charges downgraded to negligence and freed her from paying a fine due to a statute of limitations. All co-defendants had pleaded not guilty. Several hundred supporters of the case's co-defendants, including famous rapper Oxxxymiron, several popular actors and other cultural figures, had gathered outside the court building ahead of the verdict. Serebrennikov, 50, was detained in August 2017 on charges of creating an organized criminal group with his colleagues and embezzling more than $2 million of state funding for a theater project called Platforma. The so-called “theater trial” has drawn controversy as critics say the case is a political set-up. In 2012, Serebrennikov was appointed as the director of the small state-funded Gogol Center, which he turned into one of Moscow's best theaters and a favorite of the liberal intelligentsia.
Yet Serebrennikov's work has angered cultural conservatives in Russia who see his frequent use of onstage nudity and obscene language, as well as modern adaptations of classics, as a step too far. The prominent director calls the charges “absurd” and maintains that the money was used properly. Serebrennikov, Itin and Apfelbaum were released on bail in April 2019 after a year and a half spent under house arrest on the criminal fraud charges. A Moscow court ordered in 2019 to re-try the case over mistakes in the previous guilty verdict. Observers speculated at the time that the case could be thrown out or the charges mitigated. The prosecution’s key witness earlier in June claimed giving her testimony under duress, joining three previous witnesses in claiming that they had been pressured to testify against former colleagues.