themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Russian ‘Wedding Photobomb’ Couple Jailed for Treason – Reports

Baltic affairs expert Antonina Zimina and her husband Konstantin Antonets were charged with treason after Zimina ’ s old classmate , a Federal Security Service ( FSB ) counterintelligence officer , appeared in their wedding photos .
The photographs with the FSB agent ’ s true identity were said to have circulated on social media and on Baltic television .
A Russian couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for blowing a secret agent ’ s cover in their wedding photos , the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday .
The Kaliningrad District Court found the couple guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in a penal colony and Antonets to 12 years in maximum-security prison in a closed trial , TASS quoted Zimina ’ s father as saying .
Prosecutors had asked for 14 years in a penal colony for Zimina and 13 years in a maximum-security facility for Antonets .
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years .
State prosecutors accused Zimina of disclosing the FSB agent ’ s identity to Latvian intelligence services in 2015 online , TASS reported .
Previous reports citing unnamed sources said Antonets had obtained classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a lawyer in the Kaliningrad region ’ s economy ministry .
Zimina ’ s father told TASS that the couple has maintained innocence since the start of the trial and plans to appeal the court ruling before it comes into effect .
A wide range of Russians , including scientists and journalists , have in recent years been accused of high treason or disclosing state secrets .
The number of Russia ’ s criminal cases surrounding treason , espionage and state secrets has grown fivefold in the past decade and peaked after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the eastern Ukraine conflict in 2014 , according to a tally by the independent Mediazona news site .

Baltic affairs expert Antonina Zimina and her husband Konstantin Antonets were charged with treason after Zimina’s old classmate, a Federal Security Service (FSB) counterintelligence officer, appeared in their wedding photos. The photographs with the FSB agent’s true identity were said to have circulated on social media and on Baltic television.
A Russian couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for blowing a secret agent’s cover in their wedding photos, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday.
The Kaliningrad District Court found the couple guilty of high treason and sentenced Zimina to 13 years in a penal colony and Antonets to 12 years in maximum-security prison in a closed trial, TASS quoted Zimina’s father as saying.
Prosecutors had asked for 14 years in a penal colony for Zimina and 13 years in a maximum-security facility for Antonets. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
State prosecutors accused Zimina of disclosing the FSB agent’s identity to Latvian intelligence services in 2015 online, TASS reported. Previous reports citing unnamed sources said Antonets had obtained classified information on Russian intelligence agencies' activities as a lawyer in the Kaliningrad region’s economy ministry.
Zimina’s father told TASS that the couple has maintained innocence since the start of the trial and plans to appeal the court ruling before it comes into effect.
A wide range of Russians, including scientists and journalists, have in recent years been accused of high treason or disclosing state secrets.
The number of Russia’s criminal cases surrounding treason, espionage and state secrets has grown fivefold in the past decade and peaked after the annexation of Crimea and the start of the eastern Ukraine conflict in 2014, according to a tally by the independent Mediazona news site.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Russia Returns Gifted Orthodox Icon to Bosnia After East Ukraine Controversy

Lavrov received the 300-year-old icon as a gift from Milorad Dodik , the Serb chair of Bosnia ’ s three-man presidency , during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 14 .
Shortly after , Bosnian Serb media reported that the icon was taken from the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine which has been controlled by pro-Russian rebels since 2014 .
Russian Foreign Minister Segei Lavrov has returned an 18th-century Orthodox Christian icon to Bosnia and Herzegovina embassy after reports said the religious artifact originated from rebel-held eastern Ukraine .
Ukraine has demanded an urgent explanation of the gilded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the icon to the Bosnian Embassy in Moscow , the state-run TASS news agency reported Wednesday .
`` On Dec. 23 , in agreement with the donor , the icon was transferred to the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Moscow .
At the same time , the partners were recommended to use available legal mechanisms to clarify all the circumstances of this case , including the origin of the said artifact , '' TASS quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying .
Following Lavrov ’ s visit to Bosnia , the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bosnia ’ s foreign ministry demanding an urgent explanation into the icon ’ s origins .
Dodik ’ s office denied the reports of it being from eastern Ukraine .
A number of Bosnian Serbs have fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukraine conflict .

Lavrov received the 300-year-old icon as a gift from Milorad Dodik, the Serb chair of Bosnia’s three-man presidency, during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 14. Shortly after, Bosnian Serb media reported that the icon was taken from the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine which has been controlled by pro-Russian rebels since 2014.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has returned an 18th-century Orthodox Christian icon to Bosnia and Herzegovina embassy after reports said the religious artifact originated from rebel-held eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has demanded an urgent explanation of the gilded icon's origins.
Lavrov has returned the icon to the Bosnian Embassy in Moscow, the state-run TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
"On Dec. 23, in agreement with the donor, the icon was transferred to the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Moscow. At the same time, the partners were recommended to use available legal mechanisms to clarify all the circumstances of this case, including the origin of the said artifact," TASS quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying.
Following Lavrov’s visit to Bosnia, the Ukrainian Embassy in Sarajevo had sent a note to Bosnia’s foreign ministry demanding an urgent explanation into the icon’s origins.
Dodik’s office denied the reports of it being from eastern Ukraine.
A number of Bosnian Serbs have fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukraine conflict.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Moscow Sets Daily Coronavirus Record With Over 8K New Cases

Of the 8,203 newly infected residents in the Russian capital , official data says that 1,772 have been hospitalized .
Moscow ’ s Covid-19 task force said more patients have been discharged than admitted to hospitals over the past 24 hours .
The latest record comes as Moscow prepares to celebrate Christmas and New Year ’ s without its traditional mass festivities due to the pandemic .
Moscow set a new single-day record of more than 8,000 coronavirus cases as national deaths and infections shattered previous records Thursday .
The city 's task force said around two out of five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with almost one-third in the 46-65 age group .
Russia ’ s national Covid-19 task force on Thursday also confirmed new record-breaking numbers with 29,935 coronavirus cases and 635 deaths .
The total national caseload is nearing 3 million , the world 's fourth-highest count , and official death numbers stand at more than 53,000 , the ninth-highest in the world .
Russia set its previous single-day high of 29,039 infections on Dec. 6 and hit its previous fatality record of 613 deaths on Dec. 11 .
Infection rates have nearly tripled from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18.2 per 100,000 in the first week of December , officials say .
Media reports have suggested that Russia has slowed Covid-19 testing this month despite its surge in infections and mass rollout of the domestic Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine .
Since the start of the record-breaking second wave this fall , Covid-19 has strained the regions ’ poorly funded healthcare systems , with severe shortages of hospital beds , staff and medicine reported outside Moscow .

Of the 8,203 newly infected residents in the Russian capital, official data says that 1,772 have been hospitalized. Moscow’s Covid-19 task force said more patients have been discharged than admitted to hospitals over the past 24 hours.
The latest record comes as Moscow prepares to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s without its traditional mass festivities due to the pandemic.
Moscow set a new single-day record of more than 8,000 coronavirus cases as national deaths and infections shattered previous records Thursday.
The city's task force said around two out of five newly infected Muscovites are aged 18-45, with almost one-third in the 46-65 age group.
Russia’s national Covid-19 task force on Thursday also confirmed new record-breaking numbers with 29,935 coronavirus cases and 635 deaths.
The total national caseload is nearing 3 million, the world's fourth-highest count, and official death numbers stand at more than 53,000, the ninth-highest in the world.
Russia set its previous single-day high of 29,039 infections on Dec. 6 and hit its previous fatality record of 613 deaths on Dec. 11.
Infection rates have nearly tripled from 6.1 per 100,000 people in October to 18.2 per 100,000 in the first week of December, officials say. Media reports have suggested that Russia has slowed Covid-19 testing this month despite its surge in infections and mass rollout of the domestic Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.
Since the start of the record-breaking second wave this fall, Covid-19 has strained the regions’ poorly funded healthcare systems, with severe shortages of hospital beds, staff and medicine reported outside Moscow.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Cat Rescued From Russian Trash Plant Gets Cabinet Title

Widely circulated surveillance footage this week showed a plant worker retrieving the cat from a tied plastic bag on a conveyor belt .
Veterinarians said the healthy and well-fed cat was likely domestic .
A cat that was rescued from a central Russian waste processing plant has been named an assistant to the regional environment minister , the administration said Wednesday .
The Ulyanovsk region ’ s environmental affairs ministry announced a contest to name the rescued cat , which will be made honorary deputy in charge of wildlife protection .
“ We ’ re taking the cat to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it , ” minister Gulnara Rakhmatulina said in a statement .
Addressing the owners who had disposed of the cat , Rakhmatulina said “ if you can ’ t keep an animal at home , you can always give it away to a shelter.
” Ulyanovsk ’ s environment ministry said it awarded the waste processing employee Mikhail Tukash and its director with letters of appreciation .
“ The cat wasn ’ t meowing and the bag wasn ’ t moving , ” Tukash told local television .
“ I needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metals .
I was just doing my job.
” The plant ’ s director had said that the animal was seconds away from being killed .
The cat is at least the third animal to be rescued at the plant some 700 kilometers east of Moscow , local television said .
Previously , it rescued an African hedgehog nicknamed “ Vezunka ” ( Russian for “ Lucky ” ) and two red-eared slider turtles .

Widely circulated surveillance footage this week showed a plant worker retrieving the cat from a tied plastic bag on a conveyor belt. Veterinarians said the healthy and well-fed cat was likely domestic.
A cat that was rescued from a central Russian waste processing plant has been named an assistant to the regional environment minister, the administration said Wednesday.
The Ulyanovsk region’s environmental affairs ministry announced a contest to name the rescued cat, which will be made honorary deputy in charge of wildlife protection.
“We’re taking the cat to our ministry and all employees will take responsibility for it,” minister Gulnara Rakhmatulina said in a statement.
Addressing the owners who had disposed of the cat, Rakhmatulina said “if you can’t keep an animal at home, you can always give it away to a shelter.”
Ulyanovsk’s environment ministry said it awarded the waste processing employee Mikhail Tukash and its director with letters of appreciation.
“The cat wasn’t meowing and the bag wasn’t moving,” Tukash told local television. “I needed to cut the bag to screen it for metals. I was just doing my job.”
The plant’s director had said that the animal was seconds away from being killed.
The cat is at least the third animal to be rescued at the plant some 700 kilometers east of Moscow, local television said. Previously, it rescued an African hedgehog nicknamed “Vezunka” (Russian for “Lucky”) and two red-eared slider turtles.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Russia Admits to ‘World’s Largest’ Arctic Oil Spill

Some 21,000 tons of oil poured into the surrounding ground and waterways near the city of Norilsk after a diesel oil tank belonging to a subsidiary of Russian metals giant Nornickel collapsed on May 29 .
Russian authorities said the fuel spill at an Arctic power station earlier in 2020 was the largest in world history , a top emergencies official said Thursday .
“ Such an amount of liquid diesel fuel has never been spilled in the history of mankind , ” the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Deputy Emergency Minister Alexander Chupriyan as telling reporters .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Arctic zone , ” he said .
A team of Nornickel-funded scientists , meanwhile , struck a more optimistic tone with their discovery of the five polluted rivers ’ self-cleaning abilities , according to their final report cited by the state-run TASS news agency Wednesday .
“ The microflora in the studied waters has adapted to oil products and is able to participate in their decomposition , ” said members of the so-called Great Norilsk Expedition organized by the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in August .
Nornickel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damages claim with Russia ’ s state environmental watchdog .
A different Nornickel-commissioned report said last month that the oil spill was “ inevitable ” due to design flaws , management failures and rising temperatures in the region .

Some 21,000 tons of oil poured into the surrounding ground and waterways near the city of Norilsk after a diesel oil tank belonging to a subsidiary of Russian metals giant Nornickel collapsed on May 29.
Russian authorities said the fuel spill at an Arctic power station earlier in 2020 was the largest in world history, a top emergencies official said Thursday.
“Such an amount of liquid diesel fuel has never been spilled in the history of mankind,” the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Deputy Emergency Minister Alexander Chupriyan as telling reporters.
“We already trapped [the fuel] in the Arctic zone,” he said.
A team of Nornickel-funded scientists, meanwhile, struck a more optimistic tone with their discovery of the five polluted rivers’ self-cleaning abilities, according to their final report cited by the state-run TASS news agency Wednesday.
“The microflora in the studied waters has adapted to oil products and is able to participate in their decomposition,” said members of the so-called Great Norilsk Expedition organized by the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in August.
Nornickel is currently contesting a $2 billion damages claim with Russia’s state environmental watchdog.
A different Nornickel-commissioned report said last month that the oil spill was “inevitable” due to design flaws, management failures and rising temperatures in the region.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Ex-Cops in Russian Reporter's Drugs Arrest Deny Guilt

The arrest of reporter Ivan Golunov in June 2019 on trumped-up drug charges spurred a massive campaign calling for his release led by activists and Kremlin critics .
Four former Russian policemen on trial for planting drugs on a prominent investigative journalist denied the charges against them on Thursday .
His supporters and employer — the independent Russian-language media outlet Meduza — said the narcotics had been planted on him as revenge for his work .
Golunov , 37 , was released days later after un unprecedented campaign in support of him , and the five police officers who arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January .
One of the five men has confessed to planting drugs on the journalist and is under house arrest .
During a court hearing in the Moscow City Court on Thursday , former policeman Igor Lyakhovets , suspected of organising the fabrication of the evidence , refused to admit guilt , Russian news agencies reported .
His three subordinates also denied the charges .
The trial was adjourned until Jan. 12 when Golunov is expected to be questioned , said the journalist 's lawyer Sergei Badamshin .
The investigative journalist 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia 's police force , whose members are an essential pillar of President Vladimir Putin 's 20-year rule .
Investigators have accused the men of falsifying the results of evidence-gathering operations and illegally buying , storing and transporting drugs .
Golunov is celebrated for detailed investigations into power structures in Russia including the shady funeral industry and corruption at Moscow city hall .
During his two decades in power , Putin has silenced most of his critics and a dwindling number of independent media outlets say they are coming under increasing state pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website , Irina Slavina , died in Nizhny Novgorod in October after setting herself on fire following a police raid .

The arrest of reporter Ivan Golunov in June 2019 on trumped-up drug charges spurred a massive campaign calling for his release led by activists and Kremlin critics.
Four former Russian policemen on trial for planting drugs on a prominent investigative journalist denied the charges against them on Thursday.
His supporters and employer — the independent Russian-language media outlet Meduza — said the narcotics had been planted on him as revenge for his work.
Golunov, 37, was released days later after un unprecedented campaign in support of him, and the five police officers who arrested him were dismissed and taken into custody in January.
One of the five men has confessed to planting drugs on the journalist and is under house arrest.
During a court hearing in the Moscow City Court on Thursday, former policeman Igor Lyakhovets, suspected of organising the fabrication of the evidence, refused to admit guilt, Russian news agencies reported.
His three subordinates also denied the charges.
The trial was adjourned until Jan. 12 when Golunov is expected to be questioned, said the journalist's lawyer Sergei Badamshin.
"He's attending every hearing," Badamshin told AFP.
The investigative journalist's detention shone light on widespread corruption among Russia's police force, whose members are an essential pillar of President Vladimir Putin's 20-year rule.
Investigators have accused the men of falsifying the results of evidence-gathering operations and illegally buying, storing and transporting drugs.
Golunov is celebrated for detailed investigations into power structures in Russia including the shady funeral industry and corruption at Moscow city hall.
During his two decades in power, Putin has silenced most of his critics and a dwindling number of independent media outlets say they are coming under increasing state pressure.
The editor of an independent news website, Irina Slavina, died in Nizhny Novgorod in October after setting herself on fire following a police raid.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-24--Half of Russians Skeptical Toward Navalny Poisoning – Poll

Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 on a flight from Siberia to Moscow .
He was flown for treatment to Germany two days later , where European scientists established that he was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Soviet-designed Novichok group .
Around half of Russians believe that Western secret agents orchestrated leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny 's poisoning or that he was n't poisoned at all , according to an independent survey published Thursday .
Nearly half of Russian respondents told the Levada Center polling agency they believe that Navalny ’ s poisoning was either faked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West .
According to Levada , 30 % of respondents said the incident was “ staged ” and 19 % said that foreign intelligence agencies arranged and executed the poisoning .
Only 15 % agreed with Navalny ’ s own assessment that Russian authorities carried out the poisoning in an attempt to “ eliminate a political opponent.
” The survey comes as the U.S. State Department laid the blame for Navalny 's poisoning on Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) after the publication of a joint media investigation implicating an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no plausible explanation for Mr. Navalny 's poisoning other than Russian government involvement and responsibility , ” CNN quoted an unnamed State Department spokesperson as saying Wednesday .
The State Department accused Russian authorities of promoting “ numerous , often contradictory , conspiracy theories ” as a “ means to deflect attention from the serious questions before the Russian government.
” The European Union has sanctioned six Russian officials and a state scientific institute over the poisoning .
Moscow , which denies both the poisoning and the government ’ s involvement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials from EU member states .
Levada polled 1,617 Russians by phone on Dec. 21-23 , 78 % of whom said they closely follow or have heard something about Navalny ’ s poisoning .

Navalny fell into a coma on Aug. 20 on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. He was flown for treatment to Germany two days later, where European scientists established that he was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Soviet-designed Novichok group.
Around half of Russians believe that Western secret agents orchestrated leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny's poisoning or that he wasn't poisoned at all, according to an independent survey published Thursday.
Nearly half of Russian respondents told the Levada Center polling agency they believe that Navalny’s poisoning was either faked or a “provocation” by the West.
According to Levada, 30% of respondents said the incident was “staged” and 19% said that foreign intelligence agencies arranged and executed the poisoning.
Only 15% agreed with Navalny’s own assessment that Russian authorities carried out the poisoning in an attempt to “eliminate a political opponent.”
The survey comes as the U.S. State Department laid the blame for Navalny's poisoning on Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) after the publication of a joint media investigation implicating an FSB chemical weapons unit.
“There is no plausible explanation for Mr. Navalny's poisoning other than Russian government involvement and responsibility,” CNN quoted an unnamed State Department spokesperson as saying Wednesday.
The State Department accused Russian authorities of promoting “numerous, often contradictory, conspiracy theories” as a “means to deflect attention from the serious questions before the Russian government.”
The European Union has sanctioned six Russian officials and a state scientific institute over the poisoning. Moscow, which denies both the poisoning and the government’s involvement, retaliated this week with travel bans targeting officials from EU member states.
Levada polled 1,617 Russians by phone on Dec. 21-23, 78% of whom said they closely follow or have heard something about Navalny’s poisoning.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Russia Imposes 14-Day Quarantine for UK Arrivals Due to Mutated Virus

All arriving passengers with the exception of aircraft crew members must self-isolate at home for 14 days after entering Russia @ @ @ @ @ said in the decree published Friday .
Russia will impose a 14-day quarantine requirement on @ @ @ @ @ starting Dec. 26 due to the spread of a more-contagious coronavirus strain in southeastern England @ @ @ @ @ Rospotrebnadzor has ordered .
Russia previously suspended flights with Britain for one week amid worldwide @ @ @ @ @ mutation , which is up to 70 % more infectious than previous variants .
Flights @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 26 .
More than 40 other countries suspended flights with Britain after the country @ @ @ @ @ London and southeastern England ahead of the Christmas holiday in an effort to slow the @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization has called on countries to take action to stop the spread of @ @ @ @ @ the virus , which first appeared in Britain in September .
The WHO said that @ @ @ @ @ spotted in the Netherlands , Denmark and Australia .

All arriving passengers with the exception of aircraft crew members must self-isolate at home for 14 days after entering Russia, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said in the decree published Friday.
Russia will impose a 14-day quarantine requirement on individuals arriving from the U.K. starting Dec. 26 due to the spread of a more-contagious coronavirus strain in southeastern England, state consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has ordered.
Russia previously suspended flights with Britain for one week amid worldwide fears of the new Covid-19 mutation, which is up to 70% more infectious than previous variants. Flights are expected to resume on Dec. 26.
More than 40 other countries suspended flights with Britain after the country imposed a strict lockdown in London and southeastern England ahead of the Christmas holiday in an effort to slow the virus’ spread.
The World Health Organization has called on countries to take action to stop the spread of the more transmittable version of the virus, which first appeared in Britain in September. The WHO said that the mutation has also been spotted in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--‘Russian Napoleon’ Jailed for Dismembering Lover

Oleg Sokolov , 64 , who taught at St. Petersburg State University , was pulled out of the Moika River with severed arms in his bag last November .
He confessed to shooting his former student and girlfriend , 24-year-old Anastasia Yeshchenko , then sawing off her body parts and attempting to dispose of them .
A decorated Russian historian has received a lengthy prison sentence for murdering and dismembering his young lover , St. Petersburg-based media reported Friday .
St. Petersburg ’ s Oktyabrsky district court found Sokolov guilty of murder and sentenced him to 12.5 years in maximum-security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the courtroom .
State prosecutors had requested a 15-year sentence for Sokolov while his defense team asked for half as long .
Sokolov pleaded guilty but said he was driven to the crime by violent disputes with Yeshchenko and harassment from a longtime colleague and rival .
The recipient of France ’ s top state award in 2003 , Sokolov has authored books on emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and often led historical re-enactments dressed as Napoleon .
Reports after his arrest said he had planned to commit suicide at an imperial St. Petersburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young activist dressed as Napoleon appeared in court as judge Yulia Maximenko read out the verdict Friday , the independent Dozhd news channel reported .
Sokolov ’ s murder trial has renewed debate over Russia 's relaxing of penalties for domestic violence in 2017 .
Activists link the lack of legislative protections for victims and police inaction to a spike in domestic abuse which has been further exacerbated by nationwide coronavirus lockdowns this year .
Sokolov was sentenced as Russian lawmakers advanced a libel bill this week that introduces prison sentences of up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse .

Oleg Sokolov, 64, who taught at St. Petersburg State University, was pulled out of the Moika River with severed arms in his bag last November. He confessed to shooting his former student and girlfriend, 24-year-old Anastasia Yeshchenko, then sawing off her body parts and attempting to dispose of them.
A decorated Russian historian has received a lengthy prison sentence for murdering and dismembering his young lover, St. Petersburg-based media reported Friday.
St. Petersburg’s Oktyabrsky district court found Sokolov guilty of murder and sentenced him to 12.5 years in maximum-security prison, the Fontanka.ru news website reported from the courtroom.
State prosecutors had requested a 15-year sentence for Sokolov while his defense team asked for half as long. Sokolov pleaded guilty but said he was driven to the crime by violent disputes with Yeshchenko and harassment from a longtime colleague and rival.
The recipient of France’s top state award in 2003, Sokolov has authored books on emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and often led historical re-enactments dressed as Napoleon. Reports after his arrest said he had planned to commit suicide at an imperial St. Petersburg landmark in a Napoleon costume.
A young activist dressed as Napoleon appeared in court as judge Yulia Maximenko read out the verdict Friday, the independent Dozhd news channel reported.
Sokolov’s murder trial has renewed debate over Russia's relaxing of penalties for domestic violence in 2017. Activists link the lack of legislative protections for victims and police inaction to a spike in domestic abuse which has been further exacerbated by nationwide coronavirus lockdowns this year.
Sokolov was sentenced as Russian lawmakers advanced a libel bill this week that introduces prison sentences of up to five years for wrongful accusations of sexual abuse.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Russia Jails Ex-Official 15 Years in High-Profile Corruption Case

A former Moscow region official has been sentenced to 15 years in a maximum-security prison on corruption charges Friday , more than a year after a dramatic court hearing during which he attempted to take his own life .
Alexander Shestun , the former head of the Serpukhov district of the Moscow region , was found guilty of taking bribes , fraud , money laundering and illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
In addition to his 15-year prison sentence , the Podolsk city court ordered Shestun to pay a fine of 49 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forbade him from holding government office for eight years after his release .
Prosecutors had originally asked the court to sentence him to 20 years in a maximum-security prison as well as to fine him 50 million rubles ( $ 675,000 ) and recover 64 million rubles ( $ 864,000 ) from him .
Shestun denies his guilt and believes that the case against him is politically motivated .
Before his arrest , he had recorded a video appeal to President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to explain the pressures and threats he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had `` nothing to say on this topic . ''
During a June 2019 court hearing , Shestun said that the case against him was revenge from Ivan Tkachev , the head of the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) ’ s credit and finance counterintelligence unit .
He then attempted suicide by cutting his wrists with a disposable razor .
Shestun , who has been in custody since June 2018 , also went on hunger strike several times during his two and a half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had created 47 private companies through proxies and granted them plots of public land outside of competitive procedures and provided them budget loans at a minimum rate .
Investigators later charged him with receiving a 9.4 million ruble ( $ 146,000 ) bribe .

A former Moscow region official has been sentenced to 15 years in a maximum-security prison on corruption charges Friday, more than a year after a dramatic court hearing during which he attempted to take his own life.
Alexander Shestun, the former head of the Serpukhov district of the Moscow region, was found guilty of taking bribes, fraud, money laundering and illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
In addition to his 15-year prison sentence, the Podolsk city court ordered Shestun to pay a fine of 49 million rubles ($661,000) and forbade him from holding government office for eight years after his release.
Prosecutors had originally asked the court to sentence him to 20 years in a maximum-security prison as well as to fine him 50 million rubles ($675,000) and recover 64 million rubles ($864,000) from him.
Shestun denies his guilt and believes that the case against him is politically motivated.
Before his arrest, he had recorded a video appeal to President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to explain the pressures and threats he is facing. Following the appeal, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had "nothing to say on this topic."
During a June 2019 court hearing, Shestun said that the case against him was revenge from Ivan Tkachev, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB)’s credit and finance counterintelligence unit. He then attempted suicide by cutting his wrists with a disposable razor.
Shestun, who has been in custody since June 2018, also went on hunger strike several times during his two and a half years in detention.
Investigators said Shestun had created 47 private companies through proxies and granted them plots of public land outside of competitive procedures and provided them budget loans at a minimum rate. Investigators later charged him with receiving a 9.4 million ruble ($146,000) bribe.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Russia Probes Navalny Ally for 'Threatening Suspected Poisoner'

Investigators accused Lyubov Sobol of trespassing `` with the use of violence or a threat to use it '' after she rang the doorbell of the alleged agent from Federal Security Service ( FSB ) , the country 's main security agency .
Russian authorities on Friday launched a criminal probe into an ally of Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny and raided her flat for allegedly threatening a man Navalny said took part in his poisoning .
Sobol 's lawyer Vladimir Voronin told AFP that the opposition activist was currently a witness in the probe but added that he expected Sobol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 7:00 a.m. on Friday , the 33-year-old opposition activist posted a video on Twitter from inside her apartment before going incommunicado .
In the video her seven-year-old daughter can be heard crying as someone pounds on the front door , demanding it be opened .
A separate CCTV image released by Navalny 's allies shows masked men in black uniforms — one carrying a crowbar — inside Sobol 's Moscow residential building .
Investigators confiscated Sobol 's tech devices as well as her daughter 's mobile phone , her associates said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tricked an alleged chemical weapons expert with the FSB named Konstantin Kudryavtsev into admitting the domestic intelligence agency had sought to kill him this summer by placing poison in his underwear .
Later Monday , Sobol went to the Moscow apartment where Kudryavtsev is believed to live .
She was detained by police at the scene and questioned for hours .
Sobol 's lawyer said the probe had been launched following a complaint from Kudryavtsev 's mother-in-law .
Western governments say Navalny , 44 , was poisoned with the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow 's relations with leading European countries and sparked mutual sanctions .
The FSB says Navalny 's call with Kudryavtsev was `` fake '' but has not denied that he works for the agency .
The Kremlin has admitted that security agents have tailed Navalny but denied any attempts to poison him .
Russian authorities have not opened a criminal probe into the opposition leader 's poisoning .
Navalny said the Russian authorities ' `` hysterical reaction '' only proved their guilt .
`` You call a killer 's doorbell — they break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for questioning , '' he wrote on his blog .
Sobol , a lawyer by training , has announced plans to run in parliamentary elections next year .
She rose to prominence in the summer of 2019 when she and other opposition politicians were barred from running for local council elections in Moscow .
The barred candidates spearheaded demonstrations in the Russian capital over their exclusion from the polls and Sobol also staged a month-long hunger strike in protest .
Kremlin critics have accused authorities of taking a crackdown on the opposition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny , who is undergoing physical therapy in Germany , said late Thursday he was as optimistic as ever .
`` I am absolutely convinced that we will prevail , '' he said during a YouTube broadcast hosted by Sobol .
`` And even though life puts a bit of pressure on us we will come out even stronger . ''

Investigators accused Lyubov Sobol of trespassing "with the use of violence or a threat to use it" after she rang the doorbell of the alleged agent from Federal Security Service (FSB), the country's main security agency.
Russian authorities on Friday launched a criminal probe into an ally of Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny and raided her flat for allegedly threatening a man Navalny said took part in his poisoning.
Sobol's lawyer Vladimir Voronin told AFP that the opposition activist was currently a witness in the probe but added that he expected Sobol to be charged later Friday.
Just after 7:00 a.m. on Friday, the 33-year-old opposition activist posted a video on Twitter from inside her apartment before going incommunicado.
In the video her seven-year-old daughter can be heard crying as someone pounds on the front door, demanding it be opened.
A separate CCTV image released by Navalny's allies shows masked men in black uniforms — one carrying a crowbar — inside Sobol's Moscow residential building.
Investigators confiscated Sobol's tech devices as well as her daughter's mobile phone, her associates said.
On Monday, Navalny said he had tricked an alleged chemical weapons expert with the FSB named Konstantin Kudryavtsev into admitting the domestic intelligence agency had sought to kill him this summer by placing poison in his underwear.
Later Monday, Sobol went to the Moscow apartment where Kudryavtsev is believed to live. She was detained by police at the scene and questioned for hours.
Sobol's lawyer said the probe had been launched following a complaint from Kudryavtsev's mother-in-law.
Western governments say Navalny, 44, was poisoned with the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent in a case that has further dented Moscow's relations with leading European countries and sparked mutual sanctions.
The FSB says Navalny's call with Kudryavtsev was "fake" but has not denied that he works for the agency.
The Kremlin has admitted that security agents have tailed Navalny but denied any attempts to poison him.
'Hysterical reaction'
Russian authorities have not opened a criminal probe into the opposition leader's poisoning.
Navalny said the Russian authorities' "hysterical reaction" only proved their guilt.
"You call a killer's doorbell — they break down your door and take you in for questioning," he wrote on his blog.
Sobol, a lawyer by training, has announced plans to run in parliamentary elections next year.
She rose to prominence in the summer of 2019 when she and other opposition politicians were barred from running for local council elections in Moscow.
The barred candidates spearheaded demonstrations in the Russian capital over their exclusion from the polls and Sobol also staged a month-long hunger strike in protest.
Kremlin critics have accused authorities of taking a crackdown on the opposition to new highs in recent months.
But Navalny, who is undergoing physical therapy in Germany, said late Thursday he was as optimistic as ever.
"I am absolutely convinced that we will prevail," he said during a YouTube broadcast hosted by Sobol.
"And even though life puts a bit of pressure on us we will come out even stronger."


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Scientists Sound the Alarm Over Fast-Shrinking Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world ’ s largest inland body of water and borders southern Russia , Iran , Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan .
By the end of the century , the lake is expected to shrink by about 25 % , uncovering 93,000 square kilometers of dry land — comparable to the size of Portugal , according to scientists ’ estimates .
Western European scientists are ringing the alarm as the Caspian Sea shrinks due to climate change , saying the falling water levels presage a fast-approaching ecocide and the loss of unique local species .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threaten people , biodiversity and geopolitical stability in the Caspian Sea region , scientists Matthias Prange , Thomas Wilke & Frank P. Wesselingh wrote in the Communications Earth & Environment journal this week .
As rising temperatures brought on by climate change accelerate water evaporation even further , species such as the Caspian seal which is unique to the region will suffer .
About 99 % of Caspian seal pups are raised on the winter ice of the northern Caspian .
Yet both this winter ice and indeed the whole northern Caspian will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the climate-driven drying of continental interiors is recognized as an important problem in terms of fresh water scarcity , its impact on lake levels will have many other far-reaching consequences that are underappreciated , but affect the livelihoods and economies of millions of people all over the world , ” the scientists said .
They added that solutions are limited as the sea ’ s falling water levels are tied to rising greenhouse gas emissions , a problem that can only be addressed through global cooperation .
“ In Soviet times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were proposed to deal with the shrinking Aral Sea to the east .
But such large works – in the case of the Caspian Sea , a canal from the Black Sea might be considered – come with huge ecological and geopolitical risks , ” the scientists wrote .

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water and borders southern Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. By the end of the century, the lake is expected to shrink by about 25%, uncovering 93,000 square kilometers of dry land — comparable to the size of Portugal, according to scientists’ estimates.
Western European scientists are ringing the alarm as the Caspian Sea shrinks due to climate change, saying the falling water levels presage a fast-approaching ecocide and the loss of unique local species.
These alarming rates of water level decline will threaten people, biodiversity and geopolitical stability in the Caspian Sea region, scientists Matthias Prange, Thomas Wilke & Frank P. Wesselingh wrote in the Communications Earth & Environment journal this week.
As rising temperatures brought on by climate change accelerate water evaporation even further, species such as the Caspian seal which is unique to the region will suffer.
About 99% of Caspian seal pups are raised on the winter ice of the northern Caspian. Yet both this winter ice and indeed the whole northern Caspian will disappear, the scientists said.
“While the climate-driven drying of continental interiors is recognized as an important problem in terms of fresh water scarcity, its impact on lake levels will have many other far-reaching consequences that are underappreciated, but affect the livelihoods and economies of millions of people all over the world,” the scientists said.
They added that solutions are limited as the sea’s falling water levels are tied to rising greenhouse gas emissions, a problem that can only be addressed through global cooperation.
“In Soviet times, large scale water diversions from Siberian rivers were proposed to deal with the shrinking Aral Sea to the east. But such large works – in the case of the Caspian Sea, a canal from the Black Sea might be considered – come with huge ecological and geopolitical risks,” the scientists wrote.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Russian Role in C.Africa Grows Ahead of Weekend Vote

Moscow has led a diplomatic and financial offensive in the deeply troubled nation since 2018 in return for concessions given to its companies to exploit the country 's mineral wealth , especially gold and diamonds .
Russia 's growing role in the volatile Central African Republic was in the spotlight this week , after Moscow dispatched military instructors following a rebel threat to disrupt Sunday 's elections .
Russia has sent arms and is an open supporter of incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera who is on course to win a second term in the legislative and presidential elections .
Touadera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement with Russia , while Moscow opened a military office in the country last year and sent four generals to oversee it .
The mining concessions have been farmed out to companies associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin , who is very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Prigozhin is suspected to be the main financier of the private Russian security firm Wagner , whose men have been deployed across the country , according to experts , diplomats and non-governmental organizations .
At least 175 `` military instructors '' have been sent since 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure Touadera 's safety .
But a week ago , when three main rebel groups threatened to march on the capital Bangui in what the government said was a coup attempt , Russia sent giant Antonov carriers packed with at least 300 military instructors to help the regular forces .
Moscow initially denied this but later admitted to dispatching the troops .
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was `` seriously concerned that the events of recent days have led to a sharp degradation of the security situation '' in the CAR .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been `` well coordinated and fed from the outside '' and aimed at `` disrupting the electoral process , '' it said .
Several witnesses and NGOs have reported that the `` instructors '' were at the front fighting rebels .
In the middle of October , armored vehicles draped in the Russian and CAR flags patrolled the streets of Bangui .
The Russian instructors have been housed in Berengo , about 60 kilometers ( 40 miles ) from the capital of the former French colony .

Moscow has led a diplomatic and financial offensive in the deeply troubled nation since 2018 in return for concessions given to its companies to exploit the country's mineral wealth, especially gold and diamonds.
Russia's growing role in the volatile Central African Republic was in the spotlight this week, after Moscow dispatched military instructors following a rebel threat to disrupt Sunday's elections.
Russia has sent arms and is an open supporter of incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera who is on course to win a second term in the legislative and presidential elections.
Touadera's government recently signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia, while Moscow opened a military office in the country last year and sent four generals to oversee it.
Growing military presence
The mining concessions have been farmed out to companies associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Prigozhin is suspected to be the main financier of the private Russian security firm Wagner, whose men have been deployed across the country, according to experts, diplomats and non-governmental organizations.
At least 175 "military instructors" have been sent since 2018 to train the country's soldiers and ensure Touadera's safety.
But a week ago, when three main rebel groups threatened to march on the capital Bangui in what the government said was a coup attempt, Russia sent giant Antonov carriers packed with at least 300 military instructors to help the regular forces.
Moscow initially denied this but later admitted to dispatching the troops.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "seriously concerned that the events of recent days have led to a sharp degradation of the security situation" in the CAR.
The actions of the three rebel groups had been "well coordinated and fed from the outside" and aimed at "disrupting the electoral process," it said.
Several witnesses and NGOs have reported that the "instructors" were at the front fighting rebels.
In the middle of October, armored vehicles draped in the Russian and CAR flags patrolled the streets of Bangui.
The Russian instructors have been housed in Berengo, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the capital of the former French colony.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-25--Russia Slaps Foreign Media, NGOs with 'Foreign Agent' and 'Undesirable Org' Labels

The Justice Ministry labeled three AIDS service organizations and one educational affiliate of exiled oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky ’ s Open Russia pro-democracy group as “ foreign agents ” Monday .
Russia has listed four NGOs , two civil society groups and one media outlet as “ foreign agents ” and “ undesirable organizations ” amid a renewed crackdown on critical voices this week .
St. Petersburg ’ s Humanitarian Action foundation , Oryol ’ s Phoenix Plus nonprofit , Yekaterinburg ’ s Aktsent social and legal aid group and the Open St. Petersburg education project received the label for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come as Russian lawmakers this week pushed through legislation expanding the “ foreign agent ” label to any politically active , foreign-funded individual .
Failure to comply could lead to up to five years in prison if President Vladimir Putin signs the proposals into law .
The Russian Prosecutor General ’ s Office also declared the Prague Civil Society Centre and the Council of Europe ’ s ( CoE ) Association of Schools of Political Studies “ undesirable ” organizations in separate decisions announced Monday and Thursday .
The civil society , independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to the foundations of Russia ’ s constitutional system and security , ” the Prosecutor ’ s Office said .
A 2015 law allows Russian prosecutors to limit or halt the work of “ undesirable ” foreign groups , punishing violators with fines or prison terms up to six years .
The Czech information agency Medium-Orient , founder of the southern Russia-focused news website Caucasus Times , also became the 12th foreign news outlet to be slapped with the “ foreign agent ” label .

The Justice Ministry labeled three AIDS service organizations and one educational affiliate of exiled oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s Open Russia pro-democracy group as “foreign agents” Monday.
Russia has listed four NGOs, two civil society groups and one media outlet as “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations” amid a renewed crackdown on critical voices this week.
St. Petersburg’s Humanitarian Action foundation, Oryol’s Phoenix Plus nonprofit, Yekaterinburg’s Aktsent social and legal aid group and the Open St. Petersburg education project received the label for “influencing” state policy.
The designations come as Russian lawmakers this week pushed through legislation expanding the “foreign agent” label to any politically active, foreign-funded individual. Failure to comply could lead to up to five years in prison if President Vladimir Putin signs the proposals into law.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office also declared the Prague Civil Society Centre and the Council of Europe’s (CoE) Association of Schools of Political Studies “undesirable” organizations in separate decisions announced Monday and Thursday.
The civil society, independent media and education groups pose “a threat to the foundations of Russia’s constitutional system and security,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.
A 2015 law allows Russian prosecutors to limit or halt the work of “undesirable” foreign groups, punishing violators with fines or prison terms up to six years.
The Czech information agency Medium-Orient, founder of the southern Russia-focused news website Caucasus Times, also became the 12th foreign news outlet to be slapped with the “foreign agent” label.