themoscowtimes--2020-10-19--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

The man suspected of beheading a French teacher who had shown his students cartoons of the prophet Mohammed was an @ @ @ @ @ originating from the southern Russian region of Chechnya , news reports said Saturday .
A @ @ @ @ @ ’ s links to Abdullakh Anzorov , the suspect who was fatally wounded by police @ @ @ @ @ in France for the past 12 years where he received asylum .
Armenia and Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ a new ceasefire Sunday , as they tried for the second time in a week @ @ @ @ @ fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
A previous ceasefire agreed a week ago @ @ @ @ @ and continued fighting that has left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands from their @ @ @ @ @ more than 200 people Sunday as tens of thousands marched against strongman Alexander Lukashenko in @ @ @ @ @ open fire after weeks of demonstrations .

France in terror
The man suspected of beheading a French teacher who had shown his students cartoons of the prophet Mohammed was an 18-year-old born in Moscow and originating from the southern Russian region of Chechnya, news reports said Saturday.
A Russian embassy spokesman dismissed Russia’s links to Abdullakh Anzorov, the suspect who was fatally wounded by police, saying he had lived in France for the past 12 years where he received asylum.
Karabakh flare-up
Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating a new ceasefire Sunday, as they tried for the second time in a week to bring a halt to fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
A previous ceasefire agreed a week ago fell apart amid mutual accusations and continued fighting that has left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands from their homes.
‘March of Partisans’
Belarusian police detained more than 200 people Sunday as tens of thousands marched against strongman Alexander Lukashenko in defiance of police threats to open fire after weeks of demonstrations.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-19--U.S. Charges Six Russian Military Intelligence Officers With Cyberattacks

Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine 's power grid , the 2017 @ @ @ @ @ Winter Olympics , the US Justice Department announced on Monday .
The six current or @ @ @ @ @ were also accused of staging a malware attack called `` NotPetya '' that infected computers @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 billion in losses .
In addition , they allegedly targeted investigations into the @ @ @ @ @ former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter and carried out cyberattacks on media outlets @ @ @ @ @ .
Assistant Attorney General John Demers said the six GRU officers were responsible for `` @ @ @ @ @ series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group . ''
Demers said members @ @ @ @ @ have been charged previously with seeking to disrupt the 2016 US elections but there were @ @ @ @ @ '' in this indictment .

Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged in the United States with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine's power grid, the 2017 French elections and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the Justice Department announced Monday.
The six GRU agents were also accused of staging a malware attack called "NotPetya" that infected computers of businesses worldwide, causing nearly $1 billion in losses to three U.S. companies alone.
In addition, they allegedly targeted international investigations into the nerve agent poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, as well as waged cyberattacks on media outlets and parliament in Georgia.
At the same time, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused Russian military intelligence services of carrying out internet reconnaissance missions against targets linked to the Tokyo Olympics, before they were postponed until 2021 by the coronavirus pandemic.
"The targets included the Games' organizers, logistics services and sponsors," the Foreign Office said in a statement.
U.S. Assistant Attorney General John Demers said the six officers were responsible for "the most disruptive and destructive series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group."
Demers said members of the same GRU unit have been charged previously with seeking to disrupt the 2016 U.S. elections — but there were "no (2020) election interference allegations" in this indictment.
The indictment of the six, none of whom are in U.S. custody, was brought by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where hospitals were allegedly targeted by the NotPetya hackers.
The charges include conspiracy to conduct computer fraud and abuse, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, damaging protected computers, and aggravated identity theft.
Demers said the defendants launched destructive malware attacks against the electric power grid in Ukraine in December 2015 and December 2016.
"These were the first reported destructive malware attacks against the control systems of civilian critical infrastructure," he said.
"These attacks turned out the lights and turned off the heat in the middle of the Eastern European winter, as the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men, women and children went dark and cold."
'Petulant child'
The Justice Department said the defendants conducted "hack-and-leak" campaigns against French President Emmanuel Macron's political party and local French governments prior to the 2017 elections.
Demers said the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea were targeted after Russian athletes were banned from participating under their own flag because of government-sponsored doping efforts.
"Their cyberattack combined the emotional maturity of a petulant child with the resources of a nation state," he said, adding that they attempted to pin it on North Korea.
"During the opening ceremony, they launched the 'Olympic Destroyer' malware attack, which deleted data from thousands of computers supporting the Games, rendering them inoperable," he said.
The 2017 NotPetya attacks were aimed at businesses and critical infrastructure worldwide, and US targets included hospitals, a subsidiary of delivery giant FedEx and a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
In April 2018, spear phishing campaigns were launched against investigations being carried out into the Skripal poisoning by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
In Georgia, a spear phishing campaign was launched in 2018 against a major media company, and in 2019, efforts were made to compromise the computer network of the country's parliament, according to the Justice Department.
The six were identified as Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko, 32; Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov, 35; Pavel Valeryevich Frolov, 28; Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev, 29, Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko, 27; and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin, 32.
Kovalev was indicted previously in 2018, for attempting to gain access to U.S. computers involved in the administration of the 2016 US elections.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-20--Russia's New Coronavirus Cases Surpass 16K in New Record

Russia confirmed 16,319 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday , bringing its official number of cases to 1,431,635 and breaking its record @ @ @ @ @ is at least the fourth record one-day increase in Russia in the past seven days @ @ @ @ @ since the start of the pandemic , Russia confirmed more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases within @ @ @ @ @ 12-18 .

Russia confirmed 16,319 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday, bringing its official number of cases to 1,431,635 and breaking its record for new infections.
This is at least the fourth record one-day increase in Russia in the past seven days. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Russia confirmed more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases within a single week from Oct. 12-18.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-20--Russia Offers U.S. One-Year Freeze on Nuclear Warhead Numbers

`` Russia offers to extend the New START by one year and is ready to take on a political commitment with the United States to freeze the number of nuclear warheads both sides have for this period , '' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement .
Russia said on Tuesday it was ready to offer the United States a mutual one-year freeze on the number of nuclear warheads held by both countries in order to extend a landmark arms reduction deal due to expire next year .
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposed extending by one year the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expire in February 2021 .
The White House described the proposal as a `` non-starter '' unless accompanied by a freeze on the number of nuclear warheads .
The ministry said the suspension could only take place on the understanding that there were no `` additional '' demands from the United States .
But it added the extra time gained could be used for talks on the future control of nuclear weapons .
Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START , which caps the number of nuclear warheads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on February 5 , 2021 .
The 10-year agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a `` reset '' in relations between Russia and the United States , spearheaded by former U.S. president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev .
But as Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 , tensions rapidly built up again .
National security advisor Robert O'Brien had rejected Putin 's offer , countering that both nations must cap warheads during the period .
O'Brien said the United States had already proposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the treaty 's scheduled expiration in February — with the understanding that the world 's two biggest nuclear powers would freeze warhead work in the interim period .

"Russia offers to extend the New START by one year and is ready to take on a political commitment with the United States to freeze the number of nuclear warheads both sides have for this period," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Russia said on Tuesday it was ready to offer the United States a mutual one-year freeze on the number of nuclear warheads held by both countries in order to extend a landmark arms reduction deal due to expire next year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposed extending by one year the New START treaty, which is due to expire in February 2021.
The White House described the proposal as a "non-starter" unless accompanied by a freeze on the number of nuclear warheads.
The ministry said the suspension could only take place on the understanding that there were no "additional" demands from the United States.
But it added the extra time gained could be used for talks on the future control of nuclear weapons.
Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on February 5, 2021.
The 10-year agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a "reset" in relations between Russia and the United States, spearheaded by former U.S. president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
But as Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, tensions rapidly built up again.
National security advisor Robert O'Brien had rejected Putin's offer, countering that both nations must cap warheads during the period.
O'Brien said the United States had already proposed a one-year extension to give time to negotiate beyond the treaty's scheduled expiration in February — with the understanding that the world's two biggest nuclear powers would freeze warhead work in the interim period.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-20--U.S. Revokes Aeroflot Crew Visas Over $50M iPhone Smuggling Scheme

The investigation has led the State Department to revoke 113 visas of current and former employees of Russia ’ s flagship carrier Aeroflot suspected of participating in the smuggling scheme .
The United States has charged 10 Russian nationals with smuggling $ 50 million worth of mainly stolen iPhones and other Apple products , the Justice Department said Monday .
“ If you believe it is acceptable to exploit positions with a foreign airline to smuggle millions of dollars in illegal goods back to Russia as we allege , the answer is Nyet , ” said FBI assistant director-in-charge William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation with Customs and Border Protection , the New York City Police Department , the State Department ’ s diplomatic security service and others .
The U.S. government alleges that Russian resident Sayuz Daibagya had instructed Aeroflot crew members and others to travel to the U.S. to pick up the iPhones , iPads and Apple Watches .
Suspects Akmal Asadov , Kirill Sokhonchuk , Anton Perevoznikov and Marat Shadkhin allegedly obtained the electronic devices , many of which the Justice Department says were stolen .
A total of eight suspects , including Shohruh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have been arrested and two others are at large .
They were charged with transporting stolen property , failing to file export information and illegally exporting electronic devices .
The Justice Department said Daibagya and Saidov had smuggled more than 1,235 Apple products worth $ 1.25 million over five separate trips between August-December 2019 .
Searches at the time of the arrests revealed “ large amounts of electronic devices ” and more than $ 600,000 in cash , some of which was hidden in the crawl space of Shadkhin ’ s residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ luggage had revealed “ millions of dollars of electronic devices.
” “ As alleged , the defendants were members of an international smuggling ring that used a network of operators here and in Russia to circumvent U.S. export laws and regulations , ” acting U.S. attorney Seth DuCharme said .
“ With today ’ s arrests , the network has been disabled , ” DuCharme added .
Aeroflot has not yet commented on the allegations , while the Russian Consulate in New York said it was looking into the charges .

The investigation has led the State Department to revoke 113 visas of current and former employees of Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot suspected of participating in the smuggling scheme.
The United States has charged 10 Russian nationals with smuggling $50 million worth of mainly stolen iPhones and other Apple products, the Justice Department said Monday.
“If you believe it is acceptable to exploit positions with a foreign airline to smuggle millions of dollars in illegal goods back to Russia as we allege, the answer is Nyet,” said FBI assistant director-in-charge William Sweeney.
The FBI conducted the inter-agency investigation with Customs and Border Protection, the New York City Police Department, the State Department’s diplomatic security service and others.
The U.S. government alleges that Russian resident Sayuz Daibagya had instructed Aeroflot crew members and others to travel to the U.S. to pick up the iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.
Suspects Akmal Asadov, Kirill Sokhonchuk, Anton Perevoznikov and Marat Shadkhin allegedly obtained the electronic devices, many of which the Justice Department says were stolen.
A total of eight suspects, including Shohruh Saidov, Zokir Iskanderov and Azamat Bobomurodov, have been arrested and two others are at large.
They were charged with transporting stolen property, failing to file export information and illegally exporting electronic devices.
The Justice Department said Daibagya and Saidov had smuggled more than 1,235 Apple products worth $1.25 million over five separate trips between August-December 2019.
Searches at the time of the arrests revealed “large amounts of electronic devices” and more than $600,000 in cash, some of which was hidden in the crawl space of Shadkhin’s residence.
Searches of various Aeroflot crew members’ luggage had revealed “millions of dollars of electronic devices.”
“As alleged, the defendants were members of an international smuggling ring that used a network of operators here and in Russia to circumvent U.S. export laws and regulations,” acting U.S. attorney Seth DuCharme said.
“With today’s arrests, the network has been disabled,” DuCharme added.
In a statement to the The Moscow Times, Aeroflot said that “none of the 10 published names of those being charged are current or former employees of Aeroflot,” adding that it was working with the Russian Embassy in Washington and Russian General Consulate in New York “to clarify the substance of any allegations against the company and to coordinate any further action.”
The company added: “Aeroflot consistently does everything in its power to prevent cross-border offences and economic crime. Previously, the company has worked with law enforcement agencies to identify and thwart attempts to engage its employees in illegal activity similar to what is being alleged in this instance. The company's response was robust, and included taking legal action."