themoscowtimes--2020-12-15--Putin Congratulates U.S. President-Elect Biden After Electoral College Confirmation

Putin is one of the last world leaders to congratulate the president-elect , with his message coming six weeks after the Nov. 3 vote in which Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump .
The Kremlin maintained that it would wait until the election results were officially confirmed to congratulate Biden .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden after the Electoral College confirmed his win , the Kremlin announced Tuesday .
Putin wished Biden success and expressed confidence that “ Russia and the U.S. , which bear special responsibility for global security and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , really contribute to solving many problems and challenges that the world is currently facing.
” He added that “ Russian-American cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect would meet the interests of the peoples of both countries and the entire international community.
” “ For my part , I am ready for interaction and contacts with you , ” Putin said .
The announcement comes shortly after U.S. media reports of hackers linked to Russian intelligence services breaching several U.S. agencies .
Russia has denied the allegations published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the U.S. and Russia have hit post-Cold War lows in recent years , exacerbated by Moscow ’ s 2014 annexation of Crimea , the conflict in eastern Ukraine and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .

Putin is one of the last world leaders to congratulate the president-elect, with his message coming six weeks after the Nov. 3 vote in which Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump. The Kremlin maintained that it would wait until the election results were officially confirmed to congratulate Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden after the Electoral College confirmed his win, the Kremlin announced Tuesday.
Putin wished Biden success and expressed confidence that “Russia and the U.S., which bear special responsibility for global security and stability, can, despite their differences, really contribute to solving many problems and challenges that the world is currently facing.”
He added that “Russian-American cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect would meet the interests of the peoples of both countries and the entire international community.”
“For my part, I am ready for interaction and contacts with you,” Putin said.
The announcement comes shortly after U.S. media reports of hackers linked to Russian intelligence services breaching several U.S. agencies. Russia has denied the allegations published in Reuters and The Washington Post.
Ties between the U.S. and Russia have hit post-Cold War lows in recent years, exacerbated by Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the conflict in eastern Ukraine and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-15--11 Killed in Fire at Nursing Home in Russia

Fire erupted in a retirement home in central Russia overnight , killing 11 people who were trapped as the blaze swept through the small wooden building , investigators said Tuesday .
Russia 's Investigative Committee , which probes major crimes , said it had opened a criminal investigation into possible negligence over the blaze at the home in the Bashkortostan region .
`` At the time the fire started there were 15 people in the room , four of whom managed to escape on their own .
In the course of extinguishing the fire , the bodies of 11 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The nursing home in the village of Ishbuldino was a one-story wooden building with a small attic , Russia 's emergencies ministry said .
It added that firefighters were able to put out the flames by morning .
According to investigators the home was registered as a nonprofit organization that provided charity for the elderly .
But a local official told the Interfax news agency that it did not have the legal right to provide people with overnight accommodation .
Accidental fires and blasts in residential buildings are relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aging infrastructure and non-compliance with safety standards .

Fire erupted in a retirement home in central Russia overnight, killing 11 people who were trapped as the blaze swept through the small wooden building, investigators said Tuesday.
Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it had opened a criminal investigation into possible negligence over the blaze at the home in the Bashkortostan region.
"At the time the fire started there were 15 people in the room, four of whom managed to escape on their own. In the course of extinguishing the fire, the bodies of 11 people were found," the committee said in a statement.
The nursing home in the village of Ishbuldino was a one-story wooden building with a small attic, Russia's emergencies ministry said. It added that firefighters were able to put out the flames by morning.
According to investigators the home was registered as a nonprofit organization that provided charity for the elderly.
But a local official told the Interfax news agency that it did not have the legal right to provide people with overnight accommodation.
Accidental fires and blasts in residential buildings are relatively common in Russia as a result of aging infrastructure and non-compliance with safety standards.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-15--Oliver Stone Receives Russian Coronavirus Vaccine Despite Age Concerns

Russia launched nationwide Covid-19 vaccine distribution late last week among high-risk health , education and other workers aged 18 to 60 .
Experts have warned it could be harmful for patients aged 60 and older , who develop more severe forms of Covid-19 and have the highest death rates .
U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone said he has received Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus despite the country 's mass rollout not covering his age group .
“ I got a vaccine a few days ago .
I don ’ t know if it ’ ll work but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , ” Stone , 74 , told Russia ’ s Channel One state broadcaster .
Stone , who had been touring Russia ’ s nuclear plants for his upcoming climate change documentary , said in an interview that aired Monday he plans to return to receive the second shot .
“ I ’ m hopeful .
It ’ s a very good vaccine , I don ’ t understand why it ’ s being ignored in the West , ” Stone , who filmed a series of flattering interviews with Putin ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election , said through a dubbed voiceover translation .
Developers of Sputnik V said this fall they launched trials among 150 volunteers aged over 60 to determine its safety .
Around 320,000 doses have gone into distribution as part of the mass vaccination campaign so far , Sputnik V ’ s developers have said .
Russia ’ s sovereign wealth fund that finances and markets the vaccine said more than 200,000 Russians have been inoculated outside post-registration trials .
Developers on Monday said data obtained three weeks after volunteers received the first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficacy and 100 % against severe cases .
Russia has confirmed some 2.7 million infections and nearly 47,500 deaths since the start of the pandemic .

Russia launched nationwide Covid-19 vaccine distribution late last week among high-risk health, education and other workers aged 18 to 60. Experts have warned it could be harmful for patients aged 60 and older, who develop more severe forms of Covid-19 and have the highest death rates.
U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone said he has received Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus despite the country's mass rollout not covering his age group.
“I got a vaccine a few days ago. I don’t know if it’ll work but I heard good things about the Russian vaccine,” Stone, 74, told Russia’s Channel One state broadcaster.
Stone, who had been touring Russia’s nuclear plants for his upcoming climate change documentary, said in an interview that aired Monday he plans to return to receive the second shot.
“I’m hopeful. It’s a very good vaccine, I don’t understand why it’s being ignored in the West,” Stone, who filmed a series of flattering interviews with Putin ahead of the Russian president’s 2018 re-election, said through a dubbed voiceover translation.
Developers of Sputnik V said this fall they launched trials among 150 volunteers aged over 60 to determine its safety.
Around 320,000 doses have gone into distribution as part of the mass vaccination campaign so far, Sputnik V’s developers have said. Russia’s sovereign wealth fund that finances and markets the vaccine said more than 200,000 Russians have been inoculated outside post-registration trials.
Developers on Monday said data obtained three weeks after volunteers received the first of two Sputnik V doses showed 91.4% efficacy and 100% against severe cases.
Russia has confirmed some 2.7 million infections and nearly 47,500 deaths since the start of the pandemic.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-15--U.S. Accuses Russia of Sowing 'Chaos' in Mediterranean

America 's top diplomat Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Russia of continuing to `` threaten Mediterranean stability '' and sowing `` chaos , conflict and division '' in countries around the region .
In a statement on `` Russian Influence in the Mediterranean , '' the outgoing Secretary of State responded to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov , who he said `` accused the United States of playing political games '' in the region .
Lavrov `` again gets the facts wrong and attempts to rewrite history , '' Pompeo said , denouncing Moscow 's actions in Libya , Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the U.S. `` supports the formation of an inclusive government that can secure the country and meet the economic and humanitarian needs of the Libyan people , '' and is working with the United Nations towards that goal .
`` Russia on the other hand undermines Mediterranean domestic politics , supports Syria 's brutal dictator , and fuels Libya 's conflict with its proxy .
Who is playing games here ? ''
he added on Twitter .
He elaborated in the statement , saying : `` Russia continues to threaten Mediterranean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread disinformation , undermine national sovereignty , and sow chaos , conflict , and division within countries throughout the region . ''
Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump was never really able to keep his promise to improve relations with Russia , stumbling over accusations of Russian interference in his 2016 victory and the bipartisan hostility of American politicians against the Kremlin .
Russian President Vladimir Putin waited more than a month to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his victory against Trump in the November 3 U.S. presidential election .
`` For my part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts with you , '' Putin told Biden in a congratulatory telegram on Tuesday , according to a Kremlin statement .

America's top diplomat Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Russia of continuing to "threaten Mediterranean stability" and sowing "chaos, conflict and division" in countries around the region.
In a statement on "Russian Influence in the Mediterranean," the outgoing Secretary of State responded to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who he said "accused the United States of playing political games" in the region.
Lavrov "again gets the facts wrong and attempts to rewrite history," Pompeo said, denouncing Moscow's actions in Libya, Greece and Syria.
In Libya, he said, the U.S. "supports the formation of an inclusive government that can secure the country and meet the economic and humanitarian needs of the Libyan people," and is working with the United Nations towards that goal.
"Russia on the other hand undermines Mediterranean domestic politics, supports Syria's brutal dictator, and fuels Libya's conflict with its proxy. Who is playing games here?" he added on Twitter.
He elaborated in the statement, saying: "Russia continues to threaten Mediterranean stability using a variety of techniques to spread disinformation, undermine national sovereignty, and sow chaos, conflict, and division within countries throughout the region."
Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump was never really able to keep his promise to improve relations with Russia, stumbling over accusations of Russian interference in his 2016 victory and the bipartisan hostility of American politicians against the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin waited more than a month to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his victory against Trump in the November 3 U.S. presidential election.
"For my part, I am ready for collaboration and contacts with you," Putin told Biden in a congratulatory telegram on Tuesday, according to a Kremlin statement.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-16--Russian Nuclear-Powered Ship Turns Back After Emergency Repairs

Green activists have expressed concern that the vessel will be sailing past several European countries on its way home during the winter storm season .
A Russian nuclear-powered cargo ship bound for Antarctica has been forced to turn back after sustaining damage , and will bypass Europe before undergoing repairs , state nuclear agency Rosatom said Wednesday .
The Sevmorput vessel had to turn around on Dec. 2 and is traveling toward the Russian port city of St. Petersburg at a speed of 10 knots , Rosatom said .
The vessel was forced to stop off the coast of Angola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rudder system , '' Rosatom told AFP , explaining that the propeller lost one of its blades .
During maintenance work that lasted three weeks due to unfavorable weather conditions , another propeller blade was cut off to remove the imbalance , the nuclear agency added .
Rosatom added that the ship was seaworthy and its nuclear reactor was operating without any complications .
But the French environmental group Robin Hood expressed concern Monday about Sevmorput 's route , noting that it would pass 14 European countries on its way to St. Petersburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taking place during `` winter storms in the North Atlantic , '' the organization said in a statement .
There was `` no coordinated plan between EU countries to prevent the floating nuclear power plant from drifting '' or over arranging another port for the vessel to dock , it added .
According to the Marine Traffic tracking website , Sevmorput is currently in the Atlantic Ocean between the Canary Islands and the Moroccan coast .
It estimated it would take several weeks to get back home .
Sevmorput is Russia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 260-meter-long vessel commissioned during the Soviet era and completed in 1988 .
It returned to service in 2016 after extensive repairs .

Green activists have expressed concern that the vessel will be sailing past several European countries on its way home during the winter storm season.
A Russian nuclear-powered cargo ship bound for Antarctica has been forced to turn back after sustaining damage, and will bypass Europe before undergoing repairs, state nuclear agency Rosatom said Wednesday.
The Sevmorput vessel had to turn around on Dec. 2 and is traveling toward the Russian port city of St. Petersburg at a speed of 10 knots, Rosatom said.
The vessel was forced to stop off the coast of Angola for "repairs of the propeller and rudder system," Rosatom told AFP, explaining that the propeller lost one of its blades.
During maintenance work that lasted three weeks due to unfavorable weather conditions, another propeller blade was cut off to remove the imbalance, the nuclear agency added.
Rosatom added that the ship was seaworthy and its nuclear reactor was operating without any complications.
But the French environmental group Robin Hood expressed concern Monday about Sevmorput's route, noting that it would pass 14 European countries on its way to St. Petersburg.
Sevmorput's journey past Europe will be taking place during "winter storms in the North Atlantic," the organization said in a statement.
There was "no coordinated plan between EU countries to prevent the floating nuclear power plant from drifting" or over arranging another port for the vessel to dock, it added.
According to the Marine Traffic tracking website, Sevmorput is currently in the Atlantic Ocean between the Canary Islands and the Moroccan coast. It estimated it would take several weeks to get back home.
Sevmorput is Russia's only active nuclear-powered cargo ship, a 260-meter-long vessel commissioned during the Soviet era and completed in 1988.
It returned to service in 2016 after extensive repairs.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-16--'Funny to Read': Russia Reacts to Navalny Poisoning Investigation

Senior Russian diplomats and state television pundits have dismissed media investigations into leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny ’ s poisoning and accused their authors of illegal invasion of privacy .
A joint investigation published by several media outlets this week claimed Federal Security Service ( FSB ) chemical weapons experts had tailed Navalny for years , including on the day he was poisoned .
Navalny ’ s own video naming his alleged poisoners crossed 10 million views on YouTube in less than 48 hours .
The joint Bellingcat , CNN , The Insider and Der Spiegel report was “ funny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lavrov — the first Russian official to publicly react to the investigation — said Wednesday .
Lavrov accused the United States and other Western countries of orchestrating the recent hacking and poisoning reports .
“ The manner in which this news is presented speaks to only one thing : Our Western partners lack any ethical standards or skills of normal diplomatic work and an unwillingness to comply with international legal norms when it comes to establishing facts , ” he said .
Speaking at a press conference in Croatia , Lavrov also addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the stories .
President Vladimir Putin ’ s spokesman abruptly canceled daily media briefings after the joint investigation was published , saying he needs to prepare for Thursday ’ s end-of-year press conference .
“ The logic here is [ ... ] if Moscow has been silent for two days , then it ’ s guilty .
The inferiority of this approach , in my view , is obvious to any sane person , ” Lavrov said .
Echoing his boss ’ repudiation , Russia ’ s ambassador to the European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poisoning investigation “ comical.
” European labs concluded this fall that Navalny , 44 , was poisoned with the Soviet-designed Novichok nerve agent after he fell ill on a domestic flight in August before being medevaced to Berlin .
The EU has imposed entry bans and bank account freezes on six Russian officials suspected of being responsible , including FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov .
Russian state-run media outlets seized on the joint investigation 's methodology , which is based on phone records and flight manifests obtained by the investigative outlet Bellingcat .
Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a Western intelligence front .
“ It ’ s official .
Navalny is working with the CIA and MI6 , ” news talk show host Yevgeny Popov said in a social media post late Monday , according to a BBC Monitoring translation .
His colleague Vladimir Solovyov postulated that the report was a joint operation by U.S. and British intelligence and , later , called for an investigation into how the alleged FSB agents ’ phone records were obtained .
“ It ’ s a serious issue .
We need to investigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said during his evening talk show .
Another popular news talk show host Artyom Sheynin spared no epithet to describe the investigative report , calling it “ phantasmagoric ” and “ idiotic ” Wednesday .
Sheynin said on his show that the report is “ tough to read because it ’ s clear straight away that it ’ s material for a psychiatrist .
”

Senior Russian diplomats and state television pundits have dismissed media investigations into leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s poisoning and accused their authors of illegal invasion of privacy. A joint investigation published by several media outlets this week claimed Federal Security Service (FSB) chemical weapons experts had tailed Navalny for years, including on the day he was poisoned. Navalny’s own video naming his alleged poisoners crossed 10 million views on YouTube in less than 48 hours.
news Media Investigation Names FSB Agents Behind Navalny Poisoning Read more
The joint Bellingcat, CNN, The Insider and Der Spiegel report was “funny to read,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov — the first Russian official to publicly react to the investigation — said Wednesday. Lavrov accused the United States and other Western countries of orchestrating the recent hacking and poisoning reports. “The manner in which this news is presented speaks to only one thing: Our Western partners lack any ethical standards or skills of normal diplomatic work and an unwillingness to comply with international legal norms when it comes to establishing facts,” he said. Speaking at a press conference in Croatia, Lavrov also addressed speculation about the Kremlin’s silence following the stories. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman abruptly canceled daily media briefings after the joint investigation was published, saying he needs to prepare for Thursday’s end-of-year press conference. “The logic here is [...] if Moscow has been silent for two days, then it’s guilty. The inferiority of this approach, in my view, is obvious to any sane person,” Lavrov said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-16--Thailand Resumes Visa-Free Access for Russian Tourists

Thailand , a popular tourist destination that has escaped relatively unscathed from the Covid-19 pandemic , began reopening its borders in October to kick-start its battered tourism industry .
All new arrivals from countries deemed to be low-risk are required to spend 14 days in self-paid hotel quarantine .
Thailand has restored visa-free access to Russian tourists months after it first imposed coronavirus border restrictions , Interfax cited the royal kingdom ’ s tourism ministry as saying Wednesday .
Russian passport holders are allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without obtaining a tourist visa , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thai Embassy in Moscow .
Instead of a visa , Rusian tourists will need to apply for a document known as a “ certificate of entry , ” or a COE .
The visa-free application process takes around seven working days , according to the instructions on the Thai embassy ’ s website updated Wednesday .
Tourists wishing to spend up to 90 days in Thailand need to apply for both a tourist visa and a COE , while visits up to 270 days require a special tourist visa ( STV ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ late March as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the country , Russia has gradually reopened flights to a dozen countries it deemed safe for travel in recent months .
Thailand is not yet listed among those countries .

Thailand, a popular tourist destination that has escaped relatively unscathed from the Covid-19 pandemic, began reopening its borders in October to kick-start its battered tourism industry. All new arrivals from countries deemed to be low-risk are required to spend 14 days in self-paid hotel quarantine.
Thailand has restored visa-free access to Russian tourists months after it first imposed coronavirus border restrictions, Interfax cited the royal kingdom’s tourism ministry as saying Wednesday.
Russian passport holders are allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without obtaining a tourist visa, according to Interfax and the website of the Thai Embassy in Moscow.
Instead of a visa, Rusian tourists will need to apply for a document known as a “certificate of entry,” or a COE.
The visa-free application process takes around seven working days, according to the instructions on the Thai embassy’s website updated Wednesday.
Tourists wishing to spend up to 90 days in Thailand need to apply for both a tourist visa and a COE, while visits up to 270 days require a special tourist visa (STV).
After grounding nearly all international flights in late March as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the country, Russia has gradually reopened flights to a dozen countries it deemed safe for travel in recent months. Thailand is not yet listed among those countries.