themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russia Probes Mystery Seal Die-Off

Russia Probes Mystery Seal Die-Off

Some of the seals were pregnant .
Between Sunday and Thursday , 272 dead Caspian seals had been found at a number of locations in the southern region of Dagestan including its regional capital Makhachkala and Derbent , another major city , said the state fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo .
Russian authorities said Friday they were investigating the mysterious death of nearly 300 endangered seals that had been discovered washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea .
An agency spokeswoman told AFP that more dead seals could yet be discovered .
A team of experts arrived from Moscow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said `` infectious disease '' as well as `` external '' reasons could be behind the mass die-off and an animal abuse probe would be launched .
The Caspian Sea , the world 's largest inland body of water , is bounded by five countries : Russia , Kazakhstan , Azerbaijan , Iran and Turkmenistan .
Seals have for decades suffered from over-hunting and the effects of industrial pollution in the Caspian Sea .
Experts say there are now about 70,000 Caspian seals , down from more than 1 million in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seals and other endemic species including the famed beluga sturgeon , the Caspian Sea boasts vast energy reserves .
Pollution from the extraction of oil and gas there , along with declining water levels due to climate change , pose a threat to many species and put the future of the sea itself at risk .
The UN Environment Program has warned that the Caspian `` suffers from an enormous burden of pollution . ''

Some of the seals were pregnant.
Between Sunday and Thursday, 272 dead Caspian seals had been found at a number of locations in the southern region of Dagestan including its regional capital Makhachkala and Derbent, another major city, said the state fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo.
Russian authorities said Friday they were investigating the mysterious death of nearly 300 endangered seals that had been discovered washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
An agency spokeswoman told AFP that more dead seals could yet be discovered.
A team of experts arrived from Moscow to help conduct an investigation.
The fisheries agency said "infectious disease" as well as "external" reasons could be behind the mass die-off and an animal abuse probe would be launched.
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is bounded by five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.
Seals have for decades suffered from over-hunting and the effects of industrial pollution in the Caspian Sea.
Experts say there are now about 70,000 Caspian seals, down from more than 1 million in the early 20th century.
As well as the seals and other endemic species including the famed beluga sturgeon, the Caspian Sea boasts vast energy reserves.
Pollution from the extraction of oil and gas there, along with declining water levels due to climate change, pose a threat to many species and put the future of the sea itself at risk.
The UN Environment Program has warned that the Caspian "suffers from an enormous burden of pollution."


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russia to Recruit Convicts to Clean Up Arctic Pollution

The announcement follows a string of environmental incidents to hit the fast-warming region this year , most notably a massive fuel spill from a Norilsk Nickel storage tank in May that environmentalists called the largest-ever oil spill in the Arctic .
Some 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the soil near the city of Norilsk and waterways up to 30 kilometers away .
Russia plans to recruit prisoners sentenced to forced labor to clean up pollution in the Arctic , the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday , citing Federal Prison Service ( FSIN ) official Elena Korobkova .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Petersburg , Korobkova said an agreement has already been reached with authorities in the Krasnoyarsk region to start clean-up work in Norilsk .
Norilsk authorities have already provided space to open a correctional center for 56 people , TASS quoted Korobkova , who oversees non-prison-related punishments at FSIN , as saying .
The Arkhangelsk region is considering a similar agreement with the FSIN , she said .
Korobkova said that local authorities and other organizations already working on Arctic clean-up could take advantage of `` mutually beneficial cooperation '' with the FSIN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot topics in the Arctic as meteorologists reported record-high temperatures in November and December .
In imperial Russia and the Soviet Union , sending political prisoners to labor camps in remote parts of Siberia and the Arctic was a common practice .
In modern-day Russia , forced labor has been used as a form of criminal punishment since 2017 , with officials dismissing comparisons to the Stalin-era gulag camps .

The announcement follows a string of environmental incidents to hit the fast-warming region this year, most notably a massive fuel spill from a Norilsk Nickel storage tank in May that environmentalists called the largest-ever oil spill in the Arctic. Some 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the soil near the city of Norilsk and waterways up to 30 kilometers away.
Russia plans to recruit prisoners sentenced to forced labor to clean up pollution in the Arctic, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday, citing Federal Prison Service (FSIN) official Elena Korobkova.
Speaking at an annual Arctic forum in St. Petersburg, Korobkova said an agreement has already been reached with authorities in the Krasnoyarsk region to start clean-up work in Norilsk.
Norilsk authorities have already provided space to open a correctional center for 56 people, TASS quoted Korobkova, who oversees non-prison-related punishments at FSIN, as saying.
The Arkhangelsk region is considering a similar agreement with the FSIN, she said.
Korobkova said that local authorities and other organizations already working on Arctic clean-up could take advantage of "mutually beneficial cooperation" with the FSIN.
Climate change and widespread pollution remain hot topics in the Arctic as meteorologists reported record-high temperatures in November and December.
In imperial Russia and the Soviet Union, sending political prisoners to labor camps in remote parts of Siberia and the Arctic was a common practice.
In modern-day Russia, forced labor has been used as a form of criminal punishment since 2017, with officials dismissing comparisons to the Stalin-era gulag camps.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Suicide Bombing in Russia's North Caucasus Injures 6

Russia ’ s National Antiterrorism Committee ( NAC ) said the unidentified bomber detonated himself while authorities attempted to detain him in the village of Uchkeken some 1,500 kilometers south of Moscow .
It said six law enforcement officers were “ slightly injured ” and were receiving medical care .
An alleged suicide bomber has attacked a security service building in the southern Russian republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia , injuring at least six , news outlets and authorities reported Friday .
Graphic video shared by the Baza Telegram channel showed a blurred body lying next to a building entrance surrounded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is believed to have links in Russia ’ s security services , reported that the suicide bomber detonated his device outside the regional Federal Security Service ( FSB ) headquarters .
The FSB officers had reportedly been inspecting an initial “ small ” blast outside the building for several hours when the assailant got out of a passing car and blew himself up .
Baza reported that five FSB officers and one bystander have been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds .
“ The man presumably espoused the views of extremist groups , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the bomber was heard shouting “ Allahu Akbar ” ( Arabic for “ God is Great ” ) .
Karachayevo-Cherkessia is one of seven mostly Muslim-majority regions in Russia ’ s North Caucasus which have been plagued by violence two decades after separatists were defeated in nearby Chechnya .
Earlier this week , the FSB and the NAC said they had prevented 41 terrorist attacks so far in 2020 .

Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) said the unidentified bomber detonated himself while authorities attempted to detain him in the village of Uchkeken some 1,500 kilometers south of Moscow. It said six law enforcement officers were “slightly injured” and were receiving medical care.
An alleged suicide bomber has attacked a security service building in the southern Russian republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia, injuring at least six, news outlets and authorities reported Friday.
Graphic video shared by the Baza Telegram channel showed a blurred body lying next to a building entrance surrounded by blood and debris.
The outlet, which is believed to have links in Russia’s security services, reported that the suicide bomber detonated his device outside the regional Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters.
The FSB officers had reportedly been inspecting an initial “small” blast outside the building for several hours when the assailant got out of a passing car and blew himself up.
Baza reported that five FSB officers and one bystander have been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.
“The man presumably espoused the views of extremist groups,” Interfax quoted an unnamed source as saying, adding that the bomber was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is Great”).
Karachayevo-Cherkessia is one of seven mostly Muslim-majority regions in Russia’s North Caucasus which have been plagued by violence two decades after separatists were defeated in nearby Chechnya.
Earlier this week, the FSB and the NAC said they had prevented 41 terrorist attacks so far in 2020.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russia, AstraZeneca to Test Combined Coronavirus Vaccination

Russia ’ s state-run Gamaleya research center two weeks ago suggested trying the combined regimen with AstraZeneca , saying on Twitter it “ may prove important for revaccinations.
” The developer of Russia ’ s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine will partner with AstraZeneca to test in a clinical trial whether combining their jabs would boost immunity to Covid-19 , the British drugmaker announced Friday .
AstraZeneca 's statement said that it “ will soon begin exploring with Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia to understand whether two adenovirus-based vaccines can be successfully combined.
” “ Assessing different types of COVID-19 vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection and improve vaccine accessibility and could provide an additional approach to help overcome this deadly virus , ” it said .
The clinical trial program will begin enrolling adults aged 18 and older , AstraZeneca said without providing a timeframe .
AstraZeneca and Oxford University , the developers of the AZD1222 vaccine , on Tuesday became the first Covid-19 vaccine makers to publish final-stage clinical trial data in a scientific journal .
Their study in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet said that the vaccine works in an average of 70 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cheaper and more mobile alternative to its rivals due to its ability to be transported at normal fridge temperatures .
Gamaleya ’ s Sputnik V vaccine is still in post-registration clinical trials involving 40,000 volunteers even as Russia prepares it for a mass immunization drive for high-risk groups late this week with plans to produce 2 million doses by year ’ s end .
The institute vowed to publish interim results this month amid compounding worries over safety and poor standards under the Kremlin ’ s close watch .
Expert analysis by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed Sputnik V to be 96.2 % effective after its second jab .

Russia’s state-run Gamaleya research center two weeks ago suggested trying the combined regimen with AstraZeneca, saying on Twitter it “may prove important for revaccinations.”
The developer of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine will partner with AstraZeneca to test in a clinical trial whether combining their jabs would boost immunity to Covid-19, the British drugmaker announced Friday.
AstraZeneca's statement said that it “will soon begin exploring with Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia to understand whether two adenovirus-based vaccines can be successfully combined.”
“Assessing different types of COVID-19 vaccines in combination could help unlock synergies in protection and improve vaccine accessibility and could provide an additional approach to help overcome this deadly virus,” it said.
The clinical trial program will begin enrolling adults aged 18 and older, AstraZeneca said without providing a timeframe.
AstraZeneca and Oxford University, the developers of the AZD1222 vaccine, on Tuesday became the first Covid-19 vaccine makers to publish final-stage clinical trial data in a scientific journal. Their study in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet said that the vaccine works in an average of 70% of cases. AZD1222 is seen as a cheaper and more mobile alternative to its rivals due to its ability to be transported at normal fridge temperatures.
Gamaleya’s Sputnik V vaccine is still in post-registration clinical trials involving 40,000 volunteers even as Russia prepares it for a mass immunization drive for high-risk groups late this week with plans to produce 2 million doses by year’s end. The institute vowed to publish interim results this month amid compounding worries over safety and poor standards under the Kremlin’s close watch.
Expert analysis by a Russian state-run public health institute reportedly showed Sputnik V to be 96.2% effective after its second jab.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Putin Backs Russian Human Rights Court Proposal

Russia should form its own human rights court , President Vladimir Putin said when asked by a council member on Thursday .
Analysts have said the formation of such a court is likely a response to the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) , which has ordered Russia to pay out millions of euros to plaintiffs for human rights violations over the years .
“ The idea seems right in itself , ” Putin said during the annual meeting of the presidential human rights council , asking members to start working on clarifying legislative and funding details .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament and the expert community as saying that the idea for a Russian human rights court has never previously been discussed among lawmakers .
Alexander Verkhovsky , director of the Sova Center for Information and Analysis , called the idea “ abstract , ” telling RBC that it lacks legislative backing unlike the ECHR , which relies on the European Convention on Human Rights .
Russian citizens have the right to appeal to the ECHR , which obliges Russia to enforce its decisions .
This summer , Russian voters approved a set of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Constitution and its laws over international treaties and other acts .
Experts saw the change as targeting the ECHR , where Russia remains the runaway leader in case numbers .

Russia should form its own human rights court, President Vladimir Putin said when asked by a council member on Thursday.
Analysts have said the formation of such a court is likely a response to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which has ordered Russia to pay out millions of euros to plaintiffs for human rights violations over the years.
“The idea seems right in itself,” Putin said during the annual meeting of the presidential human rights council, asking members to start working on clarifying legislative and funding details.
The RBC news website cited sources in parliament and the expert community as saying that the idea for a Russian human rights court has never previously been discussed among lawmakers.
Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the Sova Center for Information and Analysis, called the idea “abstract,” telling RBC that it lacks legislative backing unlike the ECHR, which relies on the European Convention on Human Rights.
Russian citizens have the right to appeal to the ECHR, which obliges Russia to enforce its decisions.
This summer, Russian voters approved a set of constitutional amendments that include a provision prioritizing the Russian Constitution and its laws over international treaties and other acts. Experts saw the change as targeting the ECHR, where Russia remains the runaway leader in case numbers.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russia’s Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 600 in One-Day Record

Russia reported a record 613 coronavirus deaths Friday as the country prepares to launch a mass vaccination drive by the end of the week .
The country ’ s total number of Covid-19 fatalities now stands at 45,893 , according to the national pandemic response task force that bases its data on daily tallies .
Official statistics published Thursday , which are based on autopsy reports , showed that Russia recorded more than double the number of fatalities that were originally claimed in the daily updates .
Russia recorded more than 47,000 excess deaths in October alone .
Authorities maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and continue to place Russia ’ s coronavirus death rate at 1.7 % against the global average of 2.3 % .
On Friday , Russia ’ s task force recorded 28,585 new coronavirus infections in all but one federal subject .
The overall caseload now stands at 2,597,711 , highest in all but three countries in the world .
Moscow remains the epicenter of Russia ’ s outbreak with around 7,000 new infections per day .
Russia 's second-largest city St. Petersburg , which continues to see new daily records of over 3,700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total lockdown , is the second most-affected region .
Russia ’ s far-flung regions account for 70 % of active Covid-19 cases as the second wave of the outbreak batters their poorly funded healthcare systems .
President Vladimir Putin has ordered a free and voluntary immunization drive with the domestic Sputnik V vaccine .
Authorities expect to manufacture 2 million doses by the end of 2020 .

Russia reported a record 613 coronavirus deaths Friday as the country prepares to launch a mass vaccination drive by the end of the week.
The country’s total number of Covid-19 fatalities now stands at 45,893, according to the national pandemic response task force that bases its data on daily tallies.
Official statistics published Thursday, which are based on autopsy reports, showed that Russia recorded more than double the number of fatalities that were originally claimed in the daily updates. Russia recorded more than 47,000 excess deaths in October alone.
Authorities maintain that both sets of data are accurate and continue to place Russia’s coronavirus death rate at 1.7% against the global average of 2.3%.
On Friday, Russia’s task force recorded 28,585 new coronavirus infections in all but one federal subject. The overall caseload now stands at 2,597,711, highest in all but three countries in the world.
Moscow remains the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak with around 7,000 new infections per day. Russia's second-largest city St. Petersburg, which continues to see new daily records of over 3,700 cases and is on the brink of a total lockdown, is the second most-affected region.
Russia’s far-flung regions account for 70% of active Covid-19 cases as the second wave of the outbreak batters their poorly funded healthcare systems.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered a free and voluntary immunization drive with the domestic Sputnik V vaccine. Authorities expect to manufacture 2 million doses by the end of 2020.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--New Alliance Hopes to Raise Awareness of Arctic Environmental Crisis

“ The people will then be well-equipped to influence political decisions , ” he added .
“ We hope to give our audience a complete , objective picture of what is truly happening in the Arctic and the Barents regions , which would allow them to analyze and form an independent opinion about it , ” Timofey Surovtsev , BRIES co-founder and head of the Moscow-based ecological consultancy POMOR , told The Moscow Times .
The Barents Region Independent Environmental Society ( BRIES ) , aims to create an international communications platform where specialists in the field of environmental protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with journalists .
Independent experts and journalists from Russia , Denmark , Norway , Sweden and Finland have formed a regional alliance to share information and publicize stories about environmental damage .
BRIES founders believe that all Arctic region countries face nearly identical environmental problems caused by the mining industry and the use of harmful , outdated equipment by industrial plants , particularly in coastal areas .
Though some regional activists have achieved small victories on a local level , cross-country cooperation remains limited .
BRIES members believe more objective coverage of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
Russian veteran journalist and BRIES member Sergey Shahidzhinyan said that he knew little about the environmental problems that exist outside his country until he took a work trip to iron ore mines near the Norwegian town of Kirkenes .
“ I was shocked when I first saw the empty , contaminated lands and rivers near the mines , ” he said .
“ I imagined Norway as the greenest country on earth and what I saw has changed that forever.
” Shahidzhinyan ’ s experience in Norway convinced him that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions as protecting the environment while , in reality , they are doing as much damage as others .
He chose to tackle the information gap in the coverage of environmental issues by establishing “ ECO-press ” , an association that supports environmental journalists and connects them with the experts in their subject matter .
His organization was a part of an environmental campaign that led to the closure of a polluting fish plant in the northern town of Nikel in Russia ’ s Murmansk region and now hopes to share its expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental activist Vladimir Latka believes that , if successful , the BRIES community could help countries beyond the Barents region .
“ We share the same environment that knows no human concept of borders and , hence , similar goals , ” Latka said .
“ The Barents Sea is a large marine ecosystem shared by Russia and Norway that , in turn , is a part of the even larger ecosystem of the North Atlantic , ” he added .
Forty experts and journalists from Russia and other partner states have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital network that will unite them is yet to go live , and in-person summits will have to wait until the post-Covid-19 era .
Well-known Norwegian activist and member of “ The Green Warriors of Norway ” NGO Ruben Oddekalv has high hopes for the alliance , noting that BRIES members are already working together to solve cross-border ecological issues .
He said that formalizing the partnership will provide new means to “ influence politicians and other authorities.
” “ We hope that BRIES will grow stronger and become a recognized and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental protection throughout the Barents region , ” Oddekalv said .

“The people will then be well-equipped to influence political decisions,” he added.
“We hope to give our audience a complete, objective picture of what is truly happening in the Arctic and the Barents regions, which would allow them to analyze and form an independent opinion about it,” Timofey Surovtsev, BRIES co-founder and head of the Moscow-based ecological consultancy POMOR, told The Moscow Times.
The Barents Region Independent Environmental Society (BRIES), aims to create an international communications platform where specialists in the field of environmental protection can share their knowledge and up-to-date information with journalists.
Independent experts and journalists from Russia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland have formed a regional alliance to share information and publicize stories about environmental damage.
BRIES founders believe that all Arctic region countries face nearly identical environmental problems caused by the mining industry and the use of harmful, outdated equipment by industrial plants, particularly in coastal areas.
Though some regional activists have achieved small victories on a local level, cross-country cooperation remains limited. BRIES members believe more objective coverage of these issues by regional and international media could help.
Russian veteran journalist and BRIES member Sergey Shahidzhinyan said that he knew little about the environmental problems that exist outside his country until he took a work trip to iron ore mines near the Norwegian town of Kirkenes.
“I was shocked when I first saw the empty, contaminated lands and rivers near the mines,” he said. “I imagined Norway as the greenest country on earth and what I saw has changed that forever.”
Shahidzhinyan’s experience in Norway convinced him that some countries are skilled at presenting their industrial actions as protecting the environment while, in reality, they are doing as much damage as others.
He chose to tackle the information gap in the coverage of environmental issues by establishing “ECO-press”, an association that supports environmental journalists and connects them with the experts in their subject matter.
His organization was a part of an environmental campaign that led to the closure of a polluting fish plant in the northern town of Nikel in Russia’s Murmansk region and now hopes to share its expertise within the BRIES framework.
Hope for the Future
Biologist and environmental activist Vladimir Latka believes that, if successful, the BRIES community could help countries beyond the Barents region.
“We share the same environment that knows no human concept of borders and, hence, similar goals,” Latka said. “The Barents Sea is a large marine ecosystem shared by Russia and Norway that, in turn, is a part of the even larger ecosystem of the North Atlantic,” he added.
Forty experts and journalists from Russia and other partner states have already confirmed their BRIES membership. However, the digital network that will unite them is yet to go live, and in-person summits will have to wait until the post-Covid-19 era.
Well-known Norwegian activist and member of “The Green Warriors of Norway” NGO Ruben Oddekalv has high hopes for the alliance, noting that BRIES members are already working together to solve cross-border ecological issues. He said that formalizing the partnership will provide new means to “influence politicians and other authorities.”
“We hope that BRIES will grow stronger and become a recognized and well-established collaboration platform that strengthens and coordinates environmental protection throughout the Barents region, ” Oddekalv said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russian Military Slams Foreign Anti-Vaccine ‘Sabotage’

Spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned of “ pseudo-analytical investigations ” and “ fake witness accounts ” alleging the dangers of Sputnik V and mass refusals , including by Russian troops , to inoculate .
A foreign-funded campaign is being waged to discredit Russia ’ s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine , Russia ’ s Defense Ministry said Friday as the country prepares a mass immunization drive .
“ We know in detail the amount of funds and resources being thrown from abroad to discredit the domestic vaccine in the world and in Russia , ” Konashenkov said in a statement on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warnings , which did not identify which countries were behind the alleged negative campaign , come as a President Vladimir Putin-ordered mass vaccination program gets underway later this week despite reports suggesting scaling issues for Sputnik V. Expert analysis by Russia ’ s state-run public health institute reportedly showed Sputnik V to be 96.2 % effective after its second and final jab .
Russian scientists have raised concerns this fall over the “ ridiculous ” race to vaccinate high-risk groups amid ongoing clinical trials and at the expense of scientific research standards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ informational sabotage will in no way weaken the high efficiency of Russian vaccines and certainly won ’ t enhance the ‘ healing power ’ of foreign counterparts , ” Konashenkov said .
Around 120 paid Russian contract soldiers were involved in civilian and military studies of a frozen form of Sputnik V earlier this year .
The vaccine is currently in Phase 3 trials involving 40,000 volunteers , with developers vowing to publish interim results soon amid compounding worries over safety and poor standards under the Kremlin ’ s close watch .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been vaccinated so far , with plans to inoculate 100,000 service members with Sputnik V by year 's end , Konashenkov said .
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu , who himself received Sputnik V in September , said a total of over 400,000 military personnel are expected to be vaccinated .
The Defense Ministry says 4,100 soldiers have tested positive for Covid-19 , more than half of whom are currently hospitalized .
Over 20,000 service members have recovered and more than 76,500 taken off medical supervision since the start of the pandemic , @ @ @

Spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned of “pseudo-analytical investigations” and “fake witness accounts” alleging the dangers of Sputnik V and mass refusals, including by Russian troops, to inoculate.
A foreign-funded campaign is being waged to discredit Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday as the country prepares a mass immunization drive.
“We know in detail the amount of funds and resources being thrown from abroad to discredit the domestic vaccine in the world and in Russia,” Konashenkov said in a statement on the Defense Ministry’s website.
His warnings, which did not identify which countries were behind the alleged negative campaign, come as a President Vladimir Putin-ordered mass vaccination program gets underway later this week despite reports suggesting scaling issues for Sputnik V.
Expert analysis by Russia’s state-run public health institute reportedly showed Sputnik V to be 96.2% effective after its second and final jab. Russian scientists have raised concerns this fall over the “ridiculous” race to vaccinate high-risk groups amid ongoing clinical trials and at the expense of scientific research standards.
“We’re convinced that this informational sabotage will in no way weaken the high efficiency of Russian vaccines and certainly won’t enhance the ‘healing power’ of foreign counterparts,” Konashenkov said.
Around 120 paid Russian contract soldiers were involved in civilian and military studies of a frozen form of Sputnik V earlier this year. The vaccine is currently in Phase 3 trials involving 40,000 volunteers, with developers vowing to publish interim results soon amid compounding worries over safety and poor standards under the Kremlin’s close watch.
More than 10,000 members of the Russian military have been vaccinated so far, with plans to inoculate 100,000 service members with Sputnik V by year's end, Konashenkov said. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who himself received Sputnik V in September, said a total of over 400,000 military personnel are expected to be vaccinated.
The Defense Ministry says 4,100 soldiers have tested positive for Covid-19, more than half of whom are currently hospitalized. Over 20,000 service members have recovered and more than 76,500 taken off medical supervision since the start of the pandemic, it said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Russian Arctic Sailings Set 2020 Record

Russian Arctic Sailings Set 2020 Record

A record number of vessels have in 2020 sailed through Russia ’ s shipping lane in the rapidly melting Arctic known as the Northern Sea Route , Reuters has reported .
The news agency said Norway ’ s Center for High North Logistics ( CHNL ) logistics foundation has recorded 62 full transit voyages through the Northern Sea Route as of Wednesday .
Ships sailed 37 times through the route in all of 2019 , it said .
The number of ships using the Northern Sea Route also rose from 277 to 331 this year , Reuters cited CHNL data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada were said to dominate the Arctic voyages with iron ore , oil and liquefied natural gas .
The record sailings come as the Kremlin places top priority on the Northern Sea Route , which provides a shortcut connection between Europe and Asia .
President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to quadruple annual shipments on the route from 20 million metric tons in 2018 to 80 million tons in 2024 .
The increase also comes as ice coverage shrinks in the rapidly melting Arctic .
The entire Northern Sea Route was ice-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , parts of the Arctic sea ice have failed to freeze at their latest expected point .
Experts have told The Moscow Times that , with coverage shrinking by 10 % each decade , sea ice could soon cover half the area it did in the late 1970s .
“ We see favorable ice conditions in this navigation season as one of the reasons for the growth ” in Northern Sea Route navigation , Reuters quoted Sergei Balmasov , CHNL ’ s head of information , as saying .
Russia is warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the world due to its vast Arctic territories .
Experts warn that increased shipping on the Northern Sea Route carries the risk of oil spills in remote areas that are difficult for responders to reach .
“ The region has seen comparatively little shipping traffic compared to other regions of the world , ” Reuters quoted Sian Prior , lead advisor at the Clean Arctic Alliance , as saying .
“ And the necessary environmental regulation to minimize the impact of increased shipping in the region is incomplete , ” Prior @ @

A record number of vessels have in 2020 sailed through Russia’s shipping lane in the rapidly melting Arctic known as the Northern Sea Route, Reuters has reported.
The news agency said Norway’s Center for High North Logistics (CHNL) logistics foundation has recorded 62 full transit voyages through the Northern Sea Route as of Wednesday. Ships sailed 37 times through the route in all of 2019, it said.
The number of ships using the Northern Sea Route also rose from 277 to 331 this year, Reuters cited CHNL data as saying. Russia, China and Canada were said to dominate the Arctic voyages with iron ore, oil and liquefied natural gas.
The record sailings come as the Kremlin places top priority on the Northern Sea Route, which provides a shortcut connection between Europe and Asia. President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to quadruple annual shipments on the route from 20 million metric tons in 2018 to 80 million tons in 2024.
The increase also comes as ice coverage shrinks in the rapidly melting Arctic.
The entire Northern Sea Route was ice-free in the summer of 2019. This year, parts of the Arctic sea ice have failed to freeze at their latest expected point. Experts have told The Moscow Times that, with coverage shrinking by 10% each decade, sea ice could soon cover half the area it did in the late 1970s.
“We see favorable ice conditions in this navigation season as one of the reasons for the growth” in Northern Sea Route navigation, Reuters quoted Sergei Balmasov, CHNL’s head of information, as saying.
Russia is warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the world due to its vast Arctic territories.
Experts warn that increased shipping on the Northern Sea Route carries the risk of oil spills in remote areas that are difficult for responders to reach.
“The region has seen comparatively little shipping traffic compared to other regions of the world,” Reuters quoted Sian Prior, lead advisor at the Clean Arctic Alliance, as saying.
“And the necessary environmental regulation to minimize the impact of increased shipping in the region is incomplete,” Prior said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--People Who Ordered Nemtsov Murder Found, Putin Says

A Kremlin-initiated investigation has found the individuals who ordered the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015 , President @ @ @ @ @ a meeting of the presidential human rights council .
Nemtsov , one of Putin 's @ @ @ @ @ shot and killed on a bridge near the Kremlin walls in February 2015 .
A @ @ @ @ @ jailed for up to 20 years in 2017 , but Nemtsov ’ s allies have @ @ @ @ @ to identify those who had ordered the killing .
“ In Nemtsov ’ s murder @ @ @ @ @ the perpetrators and the organizers have been found , ” Putin said .
He didn @ @ @ @ @ who were accused of ordering Nemtsov ’ s assassination .
Nemtsov , who had been @ @ @ @ @ Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s , was responsible for a number of reforms in post-Soviet @ @ @ @ @ death , Nemtsov gave an interview saying that Putin would have him killed because of @ @ @ @ @ with Ukraine .

A Kremlin-initiated investigation has found the individuals who ordered the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a meeting of the presidential human rights council.
Nemtsov, one of Putin's most vocal critics, was shot and killed on a bridge near the Kremlin walls in February 2015. A gunman and four accomplices were jailed for up to 20 years in 2017, but Nemtsov’s allies have criticized the investigation for failing to identify those who had ordered the killing.
“In Nemtsov’s murder... everything is clear, the perpetrators and the organizers have been found,” Putin said.
He didn’t name the individuals who were accused of ordering Nemtsov’s assassination.
Nemtsov, who had been deputy prime minister under then-President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, was responsible for a number of reforms in post-Soviet Russia.
Shortly before his death, Nemtsov gave an interview saying that Putin would have him killed because of his position on the conflict with Ukraine.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Gazprom Restarts Construction on Controversial Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

Construction work resumed Friday on the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is to bring Russian gas to Germany , the project 's managers said , despite protests from the United States .
Work on the 10-billion-euro ( $ 11 billion ) pipeline had been suspended for nearly a year because of U.S. sanctions signed off by U.S. President Donald Trump in late 2019 that threatened asset freezes and visa restrictions for companies involved in the construction .
Trump 's administration has repeatedly slammed Germany and other European nations for their reliance on energy from Russia , with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` captive to Russia . ''
But on Friday , Germany 's Authority of Waterways and Shipping Management published a notice to seafarers on the resumption of building works on the final few kilometres of the pipeline .
It warned them to avoid the area up to `` around Dec. 31 , '' and pointed out that `` anchoring or fishing is not permitted in the area of the planned pipelines . ''
Confirming the resumption of construction , Nord Stream 2 said in a statement that `` the pipelay vessel Fortuna will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) section of the pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in water depths of less than 30 meters ( 100 feet ) . ''
Besides Russian giant Gazprom , which has a majority stake in the project , the international consortium involved in the pipeline includes European players such as Germany 's Wintershall and Uniper groups , the Dutch-British giant Shell , France 's Engie and Austria 's OMV .
News of works resuming sent Gazprom 's stocks leaping 3.5 % on the Moscow stock exchange .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy criticism within and outside Germany over it .
Besides the United States , European nations like Poland , Ukraine and the Baltic states are also fiercely opposed to the pipeline , fearing it will increase Europe 's reliance on Russian energy supplies , which Moscow could then use to exert political pressure .
Following the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny earlier this year , there had been speculation that Germany might pull the plug on the deal .
But sanctions imposed over the poisoning have so far steered clear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated in a Berlin hospital and German authorities concluded that he had been poisoned with a rare Novichok nerve agent developed by Russian authorities , plunging relations with the Kremlin to a new low .
A Nordstream 1 pipeline , which runs along a similar route to Nordstream 2 , was inaugurated in 2011 .

Construction work resumed Friday on the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is to bring Russian gas to Germany, the project's managers said, despite protests from the United States. Work on the 10-billion-euro ($11 billion) pipeline had been suspended for nearly a year because of U.S. sanctions signed off by U.S. President Donald Trump in late 2019 that threatened asset freezes and visa restrictions for companies involved in the construction. Trump's administration has repeatedly slammed Germany and other European nations for their reliance on energy from Russia, with the president himself calling Europe's biggest economy a "captive to Russia." But on Friday, Germany's Authority of Waterways and Shipping Management published a notice to seafarers on the resumption of building works on the final few kilometres of the pipeline.
Gazprom
It warned them to avoid the area up to "around Dec. 31," and pointed out that "anchoring or fishing is not permitted in the area of the planned pipelines." Confirming the resumption of construction, Nord Stream 2 said in a statement that "the pipelay vessel Fortuna will lay a 2.6 kilometer (1.6 mile) section of the pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in water depths of less than 30 meters (100 feet)." Besides Russian giant Gazprom, which has a majority stake in the project, the international consortium involved in the pipeline includes European players such as Germany's Wintershall and Uniper groups, the Dutch-British giant Shell, France's Engie and Austria's OMV. News of works resuming sent Gazprom's stocks leaping 3.5% on the Moscow stock exchange.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-11--Kaliningrad Named Top Emerging Tourist Destination – Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor has ranked Russia ’ s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as the No .
1 emerging tourism destination in the world for 2020 .
Sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland , the Kaliningrad region ’ s German heritage and influence make it unique from Russia ’ s mainland and its Baltic coastline draws surfers , swimmers and sunbathers in the summer .
The region ’ s capital , also named Kaliningrad , was known as the Prussian city of Königsberg from its founding by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century until it was transferred to the Soviet Union after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city was renamed in honor of Soviet politician Mikhail Kalinin in 1946 .
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union , it remained part of Russia .
The top three must-see attractions in Kaliningrad are the Curonian Spit National Park , Königsberg Cathedral and the Museum of the World Ocean , Tripadvisor said .
The region is also known for its amber products .
The home of Russia 's Baltic Fleet was followed by Saranda , Albania and Beirut in Tripadvisor ’ s ranking .
The Kaliningrad region sees tourism as an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several projects to attract even more tourists to the region , the region ’ s culture and tourism minister Andrei Yarmak told the Lenta.ru news website Thursday .
Planned infrastructure projects include the construction of a Ferris wheel as well as development of the city ’ s river embankment and public recreation areas .

Tripadvisor has ranked Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as the No. 1 emerging tourism destination in the world for 2020.
Sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, the Kaliningrad region’s German heritage and influence make it unique from Russia’s mainland and its Baltic coastline draws surfers, swimmers and sunbathers in the summer.
The region’s capital, also named Kaliningrad, was known as the Prussian city of Königsberg from its founding by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century until it was transferred to the Soviet Union after the end of World War II. The city was renamed in honor of Soviet politician Mikhail Kalinin in 1946. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it remained part of Russia.
The top three must-see attractions in Kaliningrad are the Curonian Spit National Park, Königsberg Cathedral and the Museum of the World Ocean, Tripadvisor said. The region is also known for its amber products.
The home of Russia's Baltic Fleet was followed by Saranda, Albania and Beirut in Tripadvisor’s ranking.
The Kaliningrad region sees tourism as an important source of cash flow and is dedicating several projects to attract even more tourists to the region, the region’s culture and tourism minister Andrei Yarmak told the Lenta.ru news website Thursday. Planned infrastructure projects include the construction of a Ferris wheel as well as development of the city’s river embankment and public recreation areas.