themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Russia Says Its Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine 95% Effective

The calculations were based on preliminary data obtained 42 days after volunteers received the first dose , the Health Ministry , the state-run Gamaleya research center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) said in a joint statement .
Russia 's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 95 % effective , its developers said Tuesday as Russia seeks a leading role in the high-stakes global race for a safe , effective vaccine that can end to the deadly pandemic .
The statement said the vaccine had shown 91.4 % effectiveness 28 days after the first dose , a figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , after a second dose , data showed `` an efficacy of the vaccine above 95 % . ''
They did not note the number of cases used to make the calculation , however .
Alexander Gintsburg , the Gamaleya Center 's director , said the interim results showed that the volunteers ’ “ bodies have partially reacted to both doses.
” “ We expect the efficacy rate to be even higher based on the data three weeks after the second immunization when the body ’ s strongest and most stable response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The jab is still undergoing post-registration trials , with more than 19,000 out of the 40,000 participating volunteers having received both doses of either the vaccine or placebo so far .
Some of those vaccinated experienced short-term “ minor ” adverse events including flu-like symptoms like fever , weakness , fatigue and headache .
Scientists in the West have raised concerns about the speed of development of Russia 's coronavirus vaccines , suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver .
While several high-ranking Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kremlin on Tuesday said that President Vladimir Putin wo n't decide whether to receive the jab or not until its clinical trials have been completed and it is certified .
Russia plans to start mass vaccination against the coronavirus in 2021 , Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova , who is overseeing Russia ’ s Covid-19 response , said earlier Tuesday .
Developers plan to produce 2 million doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2020 .
RDIF ’ s international manufacturing partners are expected to produce the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2021 .
It will be free of charge for Russian citizens and will cost less than $ 10 per dose for international recipients , said the RDIF , the sovereign wealth fund bankrolling and marketing the two-dose adenoviral vaccine .
The wealth fund and its partners have launched production of a freeze-dried form of Sputnik V that will be stored at temperatures between 2-8 degrees Celsius , enabling its distribution to remote and tropical areas .

The calculations were based on preliminary data obtained 42 days after volunteers received the first dose, the Health Ministry, the state-run Gamaleya research center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a joint statement.
Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, its developers said Tuesday as Russia seeks a leading role in the high-stakes global race for a safe, effective vaccine that can end to the deadly pandemic.
The statement said the vaccine had shown 91.4% effectiveness 28 days after the first dose, a figure based on 39 cases.
Forty-two days later, after a second dose, data showed "an efficacy of the vaccine above 95%."
They did not note the number of cases used to make the calculation, however.
Alexander Gintsburg, the Gamaleya Center's director, said the interim results showed that the volunteers’ “bodies have partially reacted to both doses.”
“We expect the efficacy rate to be even higher based on the data three weeks after the second immunization when the body’s strongest and most stable response is achieved,” Gintsburg said.
The jab is still undergoing post-registration trials, with more than 19,000 out of the 40,000 participating volunteers having received both doses of either the vaccine or placebo so far. Some of those vaccinated experienced short-term “minor” adverse events including flu-like symptoms like fever, weakness, fatigue and headache.
Scientists in the West have raised concerns about the speed of development of Russia's coronavirus vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver.
While several high-ranking Russian officials have already received the vaccine, the Kremlin on Tuesday said that President Vladimir Putin won't decide whether to receive the jab or not until its clinical trials have been completed and it is certified.
Russia plans to start mass vaccination against the coronavirus in 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who is overseeing Russia’s Covid-19 response, said earlier Tuesday. Developers plan to produce 2 million doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2020.
RDIF’s international manufacturing partners are expected to produce the vaccine for more than half a billion people in 2021.
It will be free of charge for Russian citizens and will cost less than $10 per dose for international recipients, said the RDIF, the sovereign wealth fund bankrolling and marketing the two-dose adenoviral vaccine.
The wealth fund and its partners have launched production of a freeze-dried form of Sputnik V that will be stored at temperatures between 2-8 degrees Celsius, enabling its distribution to remote and tropical areas.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Russian Jehovah’s Witnesses Targeted in Fresh Raids

Video released by the Moscow branch of the federal Investigative Committee , which investigates major crimes , showed masked men prying open an apartment door and displaying Russian and foreign currency seized during the searches .
In a statement , it said Jehovah ’ s Witnesses held “ secret meetings ” there , “ studied religious literature ” and “ recruited new members.
” Russian authorities have arrested Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Moscow and across 20 other regions as part of their latest investigation into the religious group that is officially banned as “ extremist , ” investigators said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal case opened into “ extremist ” activities of the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses Administrative Center , the organization ’ s head office , between June 2019 and the present .
“ Together with the Russian Interior Ministry , the FSB [ Federal Security Service ] and National Guard support , investigators of the capital ’ s main directorate conducted searches in Moscow and in more than 20 regions of the country , ” the Moscow Investigative Committee said .
It did not say in which regions and how many worshippers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were both “ organizers and participants of the movement.
” If found guilty , the defendants face up to 10 years in prison .
The Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia organization has not reported on the latest raids .
The Christian denomination estimated that more than 400 of its followers have been charged or convicted in Russia between 2017 and late October 2020 .
Ten worshippers are serving prison sentences ranging from two to six years .

Video released by the Moscow branch of the federal Investigative Committee, which investigates major crimes, showed masked men prying open an apartment door and displaying Russian and foreign currency seized during the searches. In a statement, it said Jehovah’s Witnesses held “secret meetings” there, “studied religious literature” and “recruited new members.”
Russian authorities have arrested Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow and across 20 other regions as part of their latest investigation into the religious group that is officially banned as “extremist,” investigators said Tuesday.
The raids were part of a criminal case opened into “extremist” activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center, the organization’s head office, between June 2019 and the present.
Russia’s Supreme Court banned the Jehovah’s Witnesses in April 2017.
“Together with the Russian Interior Ministry, the FSB [Federal Security Service] and National Guard support, investigators of the capital’s main directorate conducted searches in Moscow and in more than 20 regions of the country,” the Moscow Investigative Committee said.
It did not say in which regions and how many worshippers have been detained, noting only that they were both “organizers and participants of the movement.”
If found guilty, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia organization has not reported on the latest raids.
The Christian denomination estimated that more than 400 of its followers have been charged or convicted in Russia between 2017 and late October 2020. Ten worshippers are serving prison sentences ranging from two to six years.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Russia Says Chased off U.S. Warship in Its Pacific Waters

The USS John S. McCain , a guided-missile destroyer , violated Russia 's territorial waters by moving two kilometers beyond the maritime border at 03:17 GMT into Peter the Great Gulf , the ministry said in a statement .
A Russian warship caught a U.S. Navy destroyer operating in Russia 's Pacific waters on Tuesday and chased it off , the Defense Ministry in Moscow said .
The U.S. ship had been operating for several days in the Sea of Japan and was being tracked by Russia , the ministry said .
The Admiral Vinogradov , an anti-submarine destroyer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning to the U.S. ship and threatened to `` use a ramming maneuver to drive the intruder out of its territorial waters . ''
The U.S. ship immediately returned to neutral waters , the statement said , and was being monitored .
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS John S. McCain had `` asserted navigational rights '' in the area `` by challenging Russia 's excessive maritime claims . ''
It gave no details of the incident but said the U.S. ship had been operating in the vicinity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an area the U.S. does not recognize as Russian territorial waters .
The area has been in dispute since 1984 , when the Soviet Union declared it part of its waters , a claim that Russia has maintained .
Such incidents at sea are uncommon and a sign of continued post-Cold War tensions between Russia and the United States .
Last year the two countries traded accusations of dangerous maneuvers after the Admiral Vinogradov came close to a collision with the USS Chancellorsville in the East China Sea .

The USS John S. McCain, a guided-missile destroyer, violated Russia's territorial waters by moving two kilometers beyond the maritime border at 03:17 GMT into Peter the Great Gulf, the ministry said in a statement.
A Russian warship caught a U.S. Navy destroyer operating in Russia's Pacific waters on Tuesday and chased it off, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said.
The U.S. ship had been operating for several days in the Sea of Japan and was being tracked by Russia, the ministry said.
The Admiral Vinogradov, an anti-submarine destroyer in Russia's Pacific Fleet, sent a warning to the U.S. ship and threatened to "use a ramming maneuver to drive the intruder out of its territorial waters."
The U.S. ship immediately returned to neutral waters, the statement said, and was being monitored.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS John S. McCain had "asserted navigational rights" in the area "by challenging Russia's excessive maritime claims."
It gave no details of the incident but said the U.S. ship had been operating in the vicinity of the Peter the Great Gulf in an area the U.S. does not recognize as Russian territorial waters.
The area has been in dispute since 1984, when the Soviet Union declared it part of its waters, a claim that Russia has maintained.
Such incidents at sea are uncommon and a sign of continued post-Cold War tensions between Russia and the United States.
Last year the two countries traded accusations of dangerous maneuvers after the Admiral Vinogradov came close to a collision with the USS Chancellorsville in the East China Sea.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Putin Still Won't Congratulate Biden Despite Start of Formal Transition

Trump eased some lingering post-election uncertainty by tweeting late Monday that the agency that works with incoming administrations would begin work to assist Biden 's team .
While the president tweeted that it was time for the General Services Administration to `` do what needs to be done , '' he remained steadfast in his claim that he won the election and would carry on with legal challenges to the result .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not congratulate U.S. President-elect Joe Biden despite news that the Trump administration has approved the formal presidential transition process , the Kremlin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not enough , ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked whether Trump ’ s tweet was reason for Putin to congratulate Biden .
“ You know that reviews and recounts in some states are still continuing , without which the results of the election can not be officially announced , ” Interfax quoted Peskov as saying .
Putin ’ s press secretary added that “ nothing has changed ” since his initial comments two weeks ago that Putin will not congratulate Biden until legal challenges to the election are resolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy foreign minister , injected further pessimism into Moscow ’ s strained ties with the United States after Biden , who announced a foreign policy and national security team comprised of veteran officials , assumes the presidency next year .
“ Whoever ends up in the White House after Jan. 20 , 2021 , I see no reason to hope for a dynamic improvement in Russian-American relations , ” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying earlier Tuesday .
A total of 16 states have certified the results from the Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest hotly contested state to give its electoral votes to Biden on Monday .
All challenges to the results must be resolved by Dec. 8 and all 50 states must certify the results before the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14 .

Trump eased some lingering post-election uncertainty by tweeting late Monday that the agency that works with incoming administrations would begin work to assist Biden's team. While the president tweeted that it was time for the General Services Administration to "do what needs to be done," he remained steadfast in his claim that he won the election and would carry on with legal challenges to the result.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not congratulate U.S. President-elect Joe Biden despite news that the Trump administration has approved the formal presidential transition process, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
“No, that’s not enough,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked whether Trump’s tweet was reason for Putin to congratulate Biden.
“You know that reviews and recounts in some states are still continuing, without which the results of the election cannot be officially announced,” Interfax quoted Peskov as saying.
Putin’s press secretary added that “nothing has changed” since his initial comments two weeks ago that Putin will not congratulate Biden until legal challenges to the election are resolved.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, injected further pessimism into Moscow’s strained ties with the United States after Biden, who announced a foreign policy and national security team comprised of veteran officials, assumes the presidency next year.
“Whoever ends up in the White House after Jan. 20, 2021, I see no reason to hope for a dynamic improvement in Russian-American relations,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying earlier Tuesday.
A total of 16 states have certified the results from the Nov. 3 election, with Michigan becoming the latest hotly contested state to give its electoral votes to Biden on Monday.
All challenges to the results must be resolved by Dec. 8 and all 50 states must certify the results before the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Yevgeny Lebedev Named ‘Baron of Hampton and Siberia’ in Britain

The British monarch conferred a lifetime peerage to Lebedev , 40 , after his longtime friend Prime Minister Boris Johnson nominated him in July .
Reports suggested that Lebedev ’ s introduction into the House of Lords met a delay over his request to include “ Moscow ” in his title and the need for London to make a formal request to the Russian government .
Queen Elizabeth II has granted Russian-British media mogul Yevgeny Lebedev the title of “ Baron of Hampton and Siberia , ” according to the British government ’ s official journal of record The Gazette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extravagant businessman 's full title will be “ Baron Lebedev , of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and of Siberia in the Russian Federation ” when he enters the House of Lords .
The order was issued last Thursday .
Lebedev , the owner of Britain ’ s Independent and Evening Standard newspapers , is the son of ex-KGB agent turned business tycoon Alexander Lebedev , who also owns the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper in Russia .
Yevgeny Lebedev is due to be sworn in as the first Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month and will sit as a crossbench peer , a designation that holds no party affiliation , according to the Independent and Evening Standard .
“ Mr .
Lebedev was ennobled for his services to the media industry and his philanthropic work , ” they wrote , pointing to his campaigns that raised more than $ 100 million for charities dedicated to preserving wildlife and helping feed vulnerable people .
The senior Lebedev was reportedly one of the figures investigated as part of the British Parliament ’ s intelligence committee report on alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report concluded that British government and intelligence agencies failed to investigate reports of Russian interference .

The British monarch conferred a lifetime peerage to Lebedev, 40, after his longtime friend Prime Minister Boris Johnson nominated him in July. Reports suggested that Lebedev’s introduction into the House of Lords met a delay over his request to include “Moscow” in his title and the need for London to make a formal request to the Russian government.
Queen Elizabeth II has granted Russian-British media mogul Yevgeny Lebedev the title of “Baron of Hampton and Siberia,” according to the British government’s official journal of record The Gazette.
According to the Gazette, the extravagant businessman's full title will be “Baron Lebedev, of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and of Siberia in the Russian Federation” when he enters the House of Lords.
The order was issued last Thursday.
Lebedev, the owner of Britain’s Independent and Evening Standard newspapers, is the son of ex-KGB agent turned business tycoon Alexander Lebedev, who also owns the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper in Russia.
Yevgeny Lebedev is due to be sworn in as the first Russian member of the House of Lords next month and will sit as a crossbench peer, a designation that holds no party affiliation, according to the Independent and Evening Standard.
“Mr. Lebedev was ennobled for his services to the media industry and his philanthropic work,” they wrote, pointing to his campaigns that raised more than $100 million for charities dedicated to preserving wildlife and helping feed vulnerable people.
The senior Lebedev was reportedly one of the figures investigated as part of the British Parliament’s intelligence committee report on alleged Kremlin interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum. The report concluded that British government and intelligence agencies failed to investigate reports of Russian interference.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Russian WWII Vet Given Presidential Medal for Raising Coronavirus Funds

Zinaida Korneva , 98 , received the Decoration “ For Beneficence ” for her “ great contribution to charitable and public activities , ” the decree said .
The medal recognizes charity efforts to support medical facilities , works aimed at combating the spread of dangerous diseases and contributions to the development of healthcare , among other activities .
President Vladimir Putin has awarded a Russian World War II veteran for raising funds to support the families of doctors who died from coronavirus , according to a government decree published Monday .
St. Petersburg native Korneva in April launched her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British World War II veteran Thomas Moore , who raised more than $ 40 million for health care workers by walking laps around his garden .
Korneva launched a YouTube channel with daily videos recounting her experiences as a Red Army soldier .
The 4.5 million rubles ( $ 59,300 ) Korneva raised in two months has been distributed among 151 families .
Authorities say 258 Russian medical workers have died during the pandemic , though colleagues say the real number is nearly triple that figure .
More than 2.1 million Russians have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , with a record number of deaths and cases in recent weeks .

Zinaida Korneva, 98, received the Decoration “For Beneficence” for her “great contribution to charitable and public activities,” the decree said. The medal recognizes charity efforts to support medical facilities, works aimed at combating the spread of dangerous diseases and contributions to the development of healthcare, among other activities.
President Vladimir Putin has awarded a Russian World War II veteran for raising funds to support the families of doctors who died from coronavirus, according to a government decree published Monday.
St. Petersburg native Korneva in April launched her fundraising effort after being inspired by 100-year-old British World War II veteran Thomas Moore, who raised more than $40 million for health care workers by walking laps around his garden.
Korneva launched a YouTube channel with daily videos recounting her experiences as a Red Army soldier.
The 4.5 million rubles ($59,300) Korneva raised in two months has been distributed among 151 families.
Authorities say 258 Russian medical workers have died during the pandemic, though colleagues say the real number is nearly triple that figure.
More than 2.1 million Russians have been infected by coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, with a record number of deaths and cases in recent weeks.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-24--Russian Peacekeeper Wounded in Deadly Nagorno-Karabakh Mine Blast

Four emergency workers from the unrecognized ethnic Armenian republic of Nagorno-Karabakh were also wounded in the region ’ s Tartar district , the Defense Ministry was cited as saying by Interfax .
A Russian peacekeeper has been wounded and an Azerbaijani soldier killed in a mine explosion in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan , Russia ’ s Defense Ministry said Monday .
The explosion happened during searches for missing soldiers by a joint group that includes Russian peacekeepers , Azeri troops , Nagorno-Karabakh emergency personnel and Red Cross officials .
The Russian peacekeeper was reportedly taken to the Azeri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier Monday that it deployed more than 100 mine-clearing experts to the region .
More than 100 people have been killed and almost 300 wounded by undetonated land mines near Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1990s , the United Nations said in 2005 .
The UN Mine Action Service said it was ready to deploy a needs-assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh in early December .
Some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers are overseeing a Moscow-brokered peace deal that Azerbaijan and Armenia signed on Nov. 10 after six weeks of armed conflict that left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,000 civilians have been killed and over 8,000 wounded in the conflict , according to Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Armenian separatists ceded three districts to Azerbaijan as part of the peace deal .

Four emergency workers from the unrecognized ethnic Armenian republic of Nagorno-Karabakh were also wounded in the region’s Tartar district, the Defense Ministry was cited as saying by Interfax.
A Russian peacekeeper has been wounded and an Azerbaijani soldier killed in a mine explosion in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday.
The explosion happened during searches for missing soldiers by a joint group that includes Russian peacekeepers, Azeri troops, Nagorno-Karabakh emergency personnel and Red Cross officials.
The Russian peacekeeper was reportedly taken to the Azeri capital of Baku with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier Monday that it deployed more than 100 mine-clearing experts to the region. More than 100 people have been killed and almost 300 wounded by undetonated land mines near Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1990s, the United Nations said in 2005.
The UN Mine Action Service said it was ready to deploy a needs-assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh in early December.
Some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers are overseeing a Moscow-brokered peace deal that Azerbaijan and Armenia signed on Nov. 10 after six weeks of armed conflict that left thousands dead and displaced.
More than 4,000 civilians have been killed and over 8,000 wounded in the conflict, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Armenian separatists ceded three districts to Azerbaijan as part of the peace deal.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-25--Russian Phone Pranksters Dupe Trudeau as ‘Greta Thunberg’

In the phone call published on the Vovan and Lexus comic duo ’ s YouTube page this week , the fake Greta grills Trudeau about NATO , other world leaders and her fears of a “ growing international crisis and anticipation of the third world war.
” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the latest victim of a pair of notorious Russian pranksters who called him while posing as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg .
When Trudeau praises Thunberg ’ s 2019 visit to Montreal , saying it “ helped define ” the results of Canada 's federal election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ But leave NATO .
Drop your weapons .
Pick flowers .
Smile at nature.
” “ I also dream of a world in which soldiers are not necessary , but we don ’ t live in that world yet , unfortunately , ” Trudeau can be heard responding .
The 10-minute conversation ends after the fake Greta asks if Trudeau can introduce her to Terrance and Phillip , a fictional Canadian comedy duo from “ South Park ” who speak with an exaggerated accent and sophomoric toilet humor .
“ Wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Trudeau responds after initially promising to connect her with them through his team .
“ I believe they are South Park parodies of Canadians.
” Trudeau ’ s office told Canada ’ s CTV broadcaster that the call dates back to January , when world leaders reached out to offer condolences over the deaths of Canadian citizens onboard a Ukrainian passenger plane shot down by Iran .
“ The Prime Minister determined the call was fake and promptly ended it , ” the office was quoted as saying Tuesday .
Vovan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov , are known in Russia for targeting Kremlin opponents with prank calls .
In recent months , they have targeted foreign political and royal figures like French President Emmanuel Macron , Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prince Harry .

In the phone call published on the Vovan and Lexus comic duo’s YouTube page this week, the fake Greta grills Trudeau about NATO, other world leaders and her fears of a “growing international crisis and anticipation of the third world war.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the latest victim of a pair of notorious Russian pranksters who called him while posing as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
When Trudeau praises Thunberg’s 2019 visit to Montreal, saying it “helped define” the results of Canada's federal election that year, the fake Greta says: “But leave NATO. Drop your weapons. Pick flowers. Smile at nature.”
“I also dream of a world in which soldiers are not necessary, but we don’t live in that world yet, unfortunately,” Trudeau can be heard responding.
The 10-minute conversation ends after the fake Greta asks if Trudeau can introduce her to Terrance and Phillip, a fictional Canadian comedy duo from “South Park” who speak with an exaggerated accent and sophomoric toilet humor.
“Wait, were they not in South Park?” Trudeau responds after initially promising to connect her with them through his team. “I believe they are South Park parodies of Canadians.”
Trudeau’s office told Canada’s CTV broadcaster that the call dates back to January, when world leaders reached out to offer condolences over the deaths of Canadian citizens onboard a Ukrainian passenger plane shot down by Iran.
“The Prime Minister determined the call was fake and promptly ended it,” the office was quoted as saying Tuesday.
Vovan and Lexus, the moniker used by Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, are known in Russia for targeting Kremlin opponents with prank calls. In recent months, they have targeted foreign political and royal figures like French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prince Harry.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-25--Investigation Claims to Uncover Putin’s Extramarital Daughter

Her mother Svetlana Krivonogikh is the beneficiary of a company that owns a small share in Rossiya Bank , which was sanctioned by the West after the 2014 annexation of Crimea for its connections with Russia ’ s political elite .
Proekt estimates the total value of Krivonogikh ’ s known properties and business assets in Moscow , St. Petersburg and the southern resort city of Sochi at 7.7 billion rubles ( $ 102 million ) .
Yelizaveta Vladimirovna Krivonogikh “ bears a phenomenal resemblance to the Russian president , ” Proekt reported , citing photographs it said it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the father of a secretive St. Petersburg millionaire ’ s 17-year-old daughter , the Proekt investigative website reported Wednesday .
The outlet said it had obtained copies of documents , presumably a birth certificate , which do not identify Krivonogikh ’ s father other than by her patronymic Vladimirovna .
Face-recognition software reportedly showed a 70.44 % similarity between Putin and the younger Krivonogikh , with a 75 % match meaning the photos are of the same person .
“ We can draw the conclusion that they may be related , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who used the face analysis , as saying .
Proekt said it would not publish photos of Yelizaveta Krivonogikh , who was born in 2003 and has allegedly lived under a different last name for the past several years , for ethical reasons .
The teenager reportedly deleted photos showing her face from her social media accounts under the different last name after Proekt contacted her mother .
Proekt said Svetlana Krivonogikh promised to call back its correspondent but never did and the outlet was unable to contact her again .
Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1990s before he became president , Proekt cited two unnamed sources who know her as saying .
She had worked as a cleaner and lived in a communal apartment before moving into “ the most elite housing that a St. Petersburg resident could wish for ” around that time , the outlet said .
The relationship likely ended “ somewhere near the end of the last decade , ” it reported .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had previously been asked about Krivonogikh but that he knows nothing about her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been asked about this last name , but I ’ ve never heard anything about it and I don ’ t know anything , ” Interfax quoted Peskov as telling reporters following the Proekt report ’ s publication Wednesday .
“ This is the first time I ’ ve ever heard of such a woman and I can ’ t tell you anything about it , ” he added .
Putin , who has been divorced since 2013 , has repeatedly dodged requests to confirm or deny reports by several media outlets that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vorontsova and project director Katerina Tikhonova .

Her mother Svetlana Krivonogikh is the beneficiary of a company that owns a small share in Rossiya Bank, which was sanctioned by the West after the 2014 annexation of Crimea for its connections with Russia’s political elite. Proekt estimates the total value of Krivonogikh’s known properties and business assets in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the southern resort city of Sochi at 7.7 billion rubles ($102 million).
Yelizaveta Vladimirovna Krivonogikh “bears a phenomenal resemblance to the Russian president,” Proekt reported, citing photographs it said it had obtained.
Russian President Vladimir Putin may be the father of a secretive St. Petersburg millionaire’s 17-year-old daughter, the Proekt investigative website reported Wednesday.
The outlet said it had obtained copies of documents, presumably a birth certificate, which do not identify Krivonogikh’s father other than by her patronymic Vladimirovna.
Face-recognition software reportedly showed a 70.44% similarity between Putin and the younger Krivonogikh, with a 75% match meaning the photos are of the same person.
“We can draw the conclusion that they may be related,” Proekt quoted visual computing scientist Hassan Ugail, who used the face analysis, as saying.
Proekt said it would not publish photos of Yelizaveta Krivonogikh, who was born in 2003 and has allegedly lived under a different last name for the past several years, for ethical reasons. The teenager reportedly deleted photos showing her face from her social media accounts under the different last name after Proekt contacted her mother.
Proekt said Svetlana Krivonogikh promised to call back its correspondent but never did and the outlet was unable to contact her again.
Putin’s relationship with Krivonogikh allegedly began in the 1990s before he became president, Proekt cited two unnamed sources who know her as saying. She had worked as a cleaner and lived in a communal apartment before moving into “the most elite housing that a St. Petersburg resident could wish for” around that time, the outlet said. The relationship likely ended “somewhere near the end of the last decade,” it reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had previously been asked about Krivonogikh but that he knows nothing about her.
“Yes, I’ve been asked about this last name, but I’ve never heard anything about it and I don’t know anything,” Interfax quoted Peskov as telling reporters following the Proekt report’s publication Wednesday.
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a woman and I can’t tell you anything about it,” he added.
Putin, who has been divorced since 2013, has repeatedly dodged requests to confirm or deny reports by several media outlets that he is the father of endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova and project director Katerina Tikhonova.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-25--Moscow Plans Expanded Social Credit-Style Tracking System – Open Media

Moscow plans to track its residents ’ “ loyalty ” with detailed digital profiles akin to China 's social credit system , the Open Media news website reported Tuesday , citing public documents .
Moscow City Hall has since 2017 been collecting the gender , age , income level and relationship to other people signed up to its mos.ru website as part of the internet activity monitoring system called IS STATS .
Open Media reported that Moscow City Hall placed a 280 million ruble ( $ 3.7 million ) tender last week to expand the system ’ s capabilities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Muscovites ’ violations , fines , debts and participation in various events , according to the cited documentation .
The data will be compared with information from public Wi-Fi networks and mobile phone operators .
Moscow City Hall will be able to divide the data into groups that include “ signs of loyalty , ” according to Open Media .
The purpose of the digital profiles is to “ continuously monitor user activity ” throughout Moscow , develop detailed analytics based on areas of activity , “ rapidly identify emerging trends ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation in the city , ” according to the report .

Moscow plans to track its residents’ “loyalty” with detailed digital profiles akin to China's social credit system, the Open Media news website reported Tuesday, citing public documents.
Moscow City Hall has since 2017 been collecting the gender, age, income level and relationship to other people signed up to its mos.ru website as part of the internet activity monitoring system called IS STATS.
Open Media reported that Moscow City Hall placed a 280 million ruble ($3.7 million) tender last week to expand the system’s capabilities.
The digital profiles will now include information about Muscovites’ violations, fines, debts and participation in various events, according to the cited documentation. The data will be compared with information from public Wi-Fi networks and mobile phone operators.
Moscow City Hall will be able to divide the data into groups that include “signs of loyalty,” according to Open Media.
The purpose of the digital profiles is to “continuously monitor user activity” throughout Moscow, develop detailed analytics based on areas of activity, “rapidly identify emerging trends” and “respond promptly to changes in the situation in the city,” according to the report.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-25--Russian Lawmaker, LGBT Activist Named Among World’s Most Influential Women

Feminist Russian lawmaker Oksana Pushkina and prosecuted LGBT activist Yulia Tsvetkova have been named among the world ’ s 100 most inspirational and influential women in 2020 by the BBC .
This year 's edition of the BBC 's annual 100 Women list aims to highlight women who act as leaders of change .
The BBC left one of the 100 spots blank as a tribute to the women who have made sacrifices to help others during the coronavirus pandemic .
Pushkina , 57 , appeared on the list for being the only Russian lawmaker to publicly support several dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MP of sexual harassment in 2018 .
She is listed alongside 28 activists , athletes and politicians from around the world under the “ Leadership ” category .
“ The world has changed a lot in 2020 , but besides the trauma and crisis , one thing I ’ ve learnt is that new challenges always bring out the best in people , ” Pushkina told the BBC .
Tsvetkova , 27 , was recognized for raising issues related to women ’ s and LGBT rights , as well as for sharing body-positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she now faces up to six years in prison .
Tsvetkova is among 21 artists including actor Jane Fonda listed under the BBC ’ s “ Creativity ” category .
“ Never tolerate abuse , whether it comes from the government , a partner or society .
You are strong and have the power to change the world .
No matter how dark times are , keep dreaming and fighting , ” Tsvetkova told the BBC .
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also earned a spot on the list for leading the ex-Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed the greatest challenge yet to its longtime leader ’ s rule .
She continues to call for President Alexander Lukashenko to step down from power and release political prisoners following the Aug. 9 election she claims to have won .

Feminist Russian lawmaker Oksana Pushkina and prosecuted LGBT activist Yulia Tsvetkova have been named among the world’s 100 most inspirational and influential women in 2020 by the BBC.
This year's edition of the BBC's annual 100 Women list aims to highlight women who act as leaders of change. The BBC left one of the 100 spots blank as a tribute to the women who have made sacrifices to help others during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pushkina, 57, appeared on the list for being the only Russian lawmaker to publicly support several dozen female journalists who had accused a fellow MP of sexual harassment in 2018. She is listed alongside 28 activists, athletes and politicians from around the world under the “Leadership” category.
“The world has changed a lot in 2020, but besides the trauma and crisis, one thing I’ve learnt is that new challenges always bring out the best in people,” Pushkina told the BBC.
Tsvetkova, 27, was recognized for raising issues related to women’s and LGBT rights, as well as for sharing body-positive drawings of the female anatomy for which she now faces up to six years in prison. Tsvetkova is among 21 artists including actor Jane Fonda listed under the BBC’s “Creativity” category.
“Never tolerate abuse, whether it comes from the government, a partner or society. You are strong and have the power to change the world. No matter how dark times are, keep dreaming and fighting,” Tsvetkova told the BBC.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also earned a spot on the list for leading the ex-Soviet nation’s democratic movement that has posed the greatest challenge yet to its longtime leader’s rule. She continues to call for President Alexander Lukashenko to step down from power and release political prisoners following the Aug. 9 election she claims to have won.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-25--Russia's Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 500 in New One-Day Record

The country 's total number of fatalities now stands at 37,538 , a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods .
An analysis of official statistics on fatalities published earlier this month revealed almost 120,000 excess deaths in Russia since the start of the pandemic .
Russia reported a record high of 507 new coronavirus-related deaths Wednesday as the Kremlin acknowledges the heavy strain placed on the country ’ s healthcare system but continues to rule out a new nationwide lockdown .
On Wednesday , health authorities recorded 23,675 new infections in all 85 Russian regions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over one-fifth of the newly infected did not exhibit symptoms .
For the first time since the start of the pandemic , the Moscow region recorded over 1,000 cases with 1,005 new coronavirus infections .
Moscow remains the epicenter of Russia ’ s Covid-19 outbreak with 4,685 new cases , followed by St. Petersburg with its own record of 3,421 new infections .
St. Petersburg became Russia ’ s second most-affected region with 107,464 cases , overtaking the Moscow region 's 105,748 .
Authorities say Russia ’ s coronavirus infections have nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
The total caseload surpassed 2 million last week with record numbers of infections and deaths during the second wave .

The country's total number of fatalities now stands at 37,538, a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods. An analysis of official statistics on fatalities published earlier this month revealed almost 120,000 excess deaths in Russia since the start of the pandemic.
Russia reported a record high of 507 new coronavirus-related deaths Wednesday as the Kremlin acknowledges the heavy strain placed on the country’s healthcare system but continues to rule out a new nationwide lockdown.
On Wednesday, health authorities recorded 23,675 new infections in all 85 Russian regions, with the overall virus caseload totaling 2,162,503.
Over one-fifth of the newly infected did not exhibit symptoms.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Moscow region recorded over 1,000 cases with 1,005 new coronavirus infections.
Moscow remains the epicenter of Russia’s Covid-19 outbreak with 4,685 new cases, followed by St. Petersburg with its own record of 3,421 new infections. St. Petersburg became Russia’s second most-affected region with 107,464 cases, overtaking the Moscow region's 105,748.
Authorities say Russia’s coronavirus infections have nearly tripled from 6.1 to 17.1 per 100,000 people. The total caseload surpassed 2 million last week with record numbers of infections and deaths during the second wave.