themoscowtimes--2020-02-17--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 17

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who have since recovered .
The first Russian citizen has also been infected with the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,700 people continues to spread around the world , Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk , including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border and suspending e-visas and work visas for Chinese nationals .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantined Diamond Princess ship has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus , marking the first infection of a Russian citizen , Russia ’ s Embassy in Japan said Monday .
— Two men in the city of Chelyabinsk have been fined for hooliganism after they filmed a video in which they pretend to shoot and kill a person infected with coronavirus in a public park , the Znak.com news website reported .
The men wore white hazmat suits and face masks while simulating the shooting of the third person , who was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese national from the hospital in the Siberian city of Chita on Wednesday after he recovered from a coronavirus infection , the second of Russia 's two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover .
The other victim , also a Chinese national , was also said by authorities to have recovered and been released from quarantine in Siberia 's Tyumen region .
— Russia 's Transport Ministry is proposing to offer airlines 1.6 billion rubles ( $ 25.05 million ) in compensation for the grounding of flights to China due to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay Russia 's delivery of S-400 air defense systems to China , the state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport said .
— The number of payments made in Russia through the Chinese Alipay payment system was down 73 % in the first week of February compared to the same time last year .
— Russia 's Interior Ministry opened a criminal case of hooliganism after a Moscow man was filmed pretending to have a seizure on the metro while his two accomplices shouted that he was infected with the coronavirus .
The man has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Interior Ministry said .
— Russian authorities have quarantined a top Chinese diplomat as a safety precaution against coronavirus shortly after he arrived in Russia to take up his new post , Interfax reported .
— China ’ s Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines plan to lay off more than 100 Russian pilots amid wider cuts to foreign staff as the coronavirus outbreak has led to reduced travel into and out of China , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
— Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region 1,500 kilometers east of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a quarantine center after local residents formed a human shield to prevent entry to Chinese nationals .
— Prisoners in the Kursk region have begun making face masks to be used in correctional facilities after a spike in demand , Interfax cited the region 's penitentiary service as saying Friday .
`` The masks made at penitentiary production sites are in no way inferior to those from the pharmacy , '' the regional penitentiary service was quoted as saying .
— The Kremlin has started checking the body temperatures of individuals attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` precautionary measure , '' spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday .

Russia has confirmed 18,315,292 cases of coronavirus and 378,784 deaths , according to the national coronavirus information center. Russia’s total excess fatality count since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is at least 995,000. Under half the population is fully vaccinated.
— QR codes will be issued to Russians who test positive for Covid-19 antibodies, regardless of their vaccination status.
— Russians will be able to take an antibody test to obtain a coronavirus health pass from Feb. 21, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.
— Russia reported more than 200,000 new Covid-19 infections for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— After a three-day decline, Russia saw an an increase of Covid-19 infections with a total of 179,284 new infections and 748 deaths.
Russians and foreigners will be able to receive a coronavirus QR-code health pass based on the results of an antibody test from Monday.
Russia reported 137,642 new Covid-19 infections and 785 deaths over the last 24 hours.
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Feb. 10
— Russia reported a total of 197,076 new infections and 701 deaths.
Feb. 9
— Russia reported a total of 183,103 new infections and 669 deaths.
Feb. 8
— Russia reported a total of 165,643 new infections and 698 deaths.
— Almost 12,000 children with Covid-19 are currently being treated in hospitals, while children make up about 20% of the country's total number of coronavirus cases, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced.
Feb. 7
— Russia reported 171,905 new coronavirus infections and 609 deaths.
Feb. 6
— Russia reported a record 180,071 new coronavirus infections and 661 deaths.
Feb. 5
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 177,282 new infections and 714 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
Feb. 4
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 168,201 new infections and 682 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has a 70.5% efficacy against the Delta variant of the coronavirus six months after vaccination, the jab’s developers said Friday. The findings were published as part of the results of Phase 3 medical trials into the vaccine. Omicron has displaced Delta as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Moscow and is sweeping rapidly across the country.
Feb. 3
— Russia reported a new record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 155,768 new infections and 667 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia plans to cancel mandatory isolation requirements for people who come into contact with somebody infected with Covid-19, Anna Popova, the head of the Rospotrebnadzor consumer health watchdog said Friday. She said the forced quarantine rules “have lost their reasoning” with the surge in Omicron cases.
Feb. 2
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 141,883 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 678 fatalities.
Feb. 1
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 125,836 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 663 fatalities.
— Russia's Labor Ministry has recommended that all enterprises send as many of their employees to remote work as possible due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
— A growing number of Russian regions are re-introducing coronavirus lockdown measures due to the surging Omicron variant, even as the Kremlin on Monday repeated that there will be no nationwide lockdown due to the variant’s spread. Fifteen regions across the country have suspended routine medical care due to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations, while five regions have sent schoolchildren to remote learning and four regions banned mass gatherings. The Tula region south of Moscow took the most drastic step in the latest virus surge by announcing a 10-day regionwide holiday.
Jan. 31
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 124,070 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 621 fatalities.
— Russia’s excess fatalities reached 995,000 by the end of 2021, according to The Moscow Times’ analysis of official statistics. The country also saw its largest natural population decline since the end of the Soviet Union, registering a fall of more than one million in 2021, the Rosstat statistics service said Friday.
Jan. 30
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 121,228 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 617 fatalities.
Jan. 29
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time ever. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 113,112 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 668 fatalities.
— Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "clear that the real number of people who have Covid-19 is slightly higher than the official statistics."
— Moscow does not plan to introduce new lockdown measures in response to the Omicron variant, the RBC news website reported, citing two sources close to the Mayor's Office.
Jan. 28
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the eighth day running. A total of 98,040 new infections and 673 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
Jan. 27
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the seventh day running. A total of 88,816 new infections and 665 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
— The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the capital jumped 22% on Thursday and is now running close to peaks recorded during the two previous waves of the virus in 2021.
Jan. 26
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the sixth day running. A total of 74,692 new infections and 657 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Children in St. Petersburg will be barred from sporting, cultural and entertainment establishments from Jan. 28-Feb. 13, city authorities announced.
— Russia has cut the quarantine period for people infected with Covid-19 from 14 to seven days, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Tuesday.
Jan. 25
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fifth day running. A total of 67,809 new infections and 681 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Around 70% of people infected with the Omicron variant in Russia are unvaccinated, said Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog, in a televised meeting.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was likely to see growing coronavirus cases for at least two more weeks, as the Omicron variant fuels a record rise in infections.
Jan. 24
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fourth day running. A total of 65,109 new infections and 655 deaths were recorded.
Jan. 23
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the third day running. A total of 63,205 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 679 deaths.
Jan. 22
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread across the country. A total of 57,212 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 681 deaths.
Jan. 21
— Amid rising cases, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on extended a requirement for businesses in the capital to ensure 30% of their employers were working from home.
— Russia plans to cut the isolation period from 14 to seven days for those infected with Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russian lawmakers have agreed to withdraw from consideration an unpopular bill for QR-code health passes to enter public spaces, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
Jan. 19
— Russia reported 33,899 new Covid-19 infections and 698 deaths.
— Cases in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg set a new record high Wednesday with 4,382 new confirmed cases. In Moscow, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Omicron has become the dominant strain, new infections set their third-highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday of 8,795.
Jan. 18
— Russia reported 31,252 new Covid-19 infections and 688 deaths.
Jan. 17
— Russia reported 30,726 new Covid-19 infections and 670 deaths.
— The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still awaiting additional documentation on Sputnik V before it can proceed with the vaccine approval process, the EU’s Ambassador to Moscow said Monday. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia said Sunday the vaccine’s developers had submitted all the required information needed for its approval process, and further inspections will take place in February, though other WHO officials later appeared to contradict this, saying they were still waiting for a full data package from Russia.
Jan. 16
— Russia reported 29,230 new Covid-19 infections and 686 deaths.
Jan. 15
— Russia reported 27,179 new Covid-19 infections and 723 deaths.
Jan. 14
— Russia reported 23,820 new Covid-19 cases and 739 deaths
— Russia will delay controversial legislation over the use of coronavirus health passes for access to public spaces, officials said Friday, citing “new challenges” presented by the Omicron variant.
— Foreigners will be able to obtain a coronavirus health pass — QR code — in Russia by taking an antibody test, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday. The passes will be valid for six months.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday that Omicron had become the dominant coronavirus strain in the Russian capital, accounting for more than half of all new infections.
Jan. 13
— Russia reported 21,155 new Covid-19 infections — a 17.8% increase overnight — and 740 deaths.
Jan. 12
— Russia reported 17,946 new Covid-19 infections and 745 deaths.
— Russia has so far confirmed 698 official cases of the Omicron variant, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced at a meeting on Wednesday.
— President Vladimir Putin said health authorities only have “a couple of weeks” to prepare for the next wave of the pandemic.
— Russia delivered fewer than 80 million doses of its Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines to other countries in 2021, according to Unicef data cited by The Washington Post. The jab’s developers had initially planned to export doses for more than 500 million people, but have been beset by production and delivery delays. The vaccine has also yet to be approved by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Jan. 11
— Russia reported 17,525 new Covid-19 infections and 783 deaths.
— The presence of the Omicron variant in the Russian capital is already “significant,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. He warned that the city would see a major increase in infections within 7-10 days, adding that “it is quite possible that we will face a worse situation than in previous waves.”
— Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the military to limit vacations and trips abroad for servicemen and women due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Russia will be “covered” by the Omicron variant and should brace for a “very high” number of Covid-19 cases, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the state-run Gamaleya Institute which developed the country’s Sputnik V vaccine, said.
Jan. 10
— Russia confirmed 15,830 Covid-19 infections and 741 deaths.
Jan. 9
— Russia confirmed 16,246 Covid-19 infections and 763 deaths.
Jan. 8
— Russia confirmed 16,568 Covid-19 infections and 796 deaths.
Jan. 7
— Russia confirmed 16,735 Covid-19 infections and 787 deaths.
Jan. 6
— Russia confirmed 15,316 Covid-19 infections and 802 deaths.
Jan.5
— Russia confirmed 15,772 Covid-19 infections and 828 deaths.
Jan. 4
— Russia confirmed 15,903 Covid-19 infections and 834 deaths.
Jan. 3
— Russia confirmed 16,343 Covid-19 infections and 835 deaths.
Jan. 2
— Russia confirmed 18,233 Covid-19 infections and 811 deaths.
Jan. 1
— Russia confirmed 19,751 Covid-19 infections and 847 deaths.
Dec. 31
— Russia confirmed 20,638 Covid-19 infections and 912 deaths.
— Russia recorded more than 115,000 excess deaths during November 2021, according to official statistics published Thursday — a new record high since the start of the pandemic.
— Russia's Health Ministry on Thursday advised Russians against traveling abroad for the New Year holiday due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Over 100 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Russia, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said Thursday.
Dec. 30
— Russia confirmed 21,073 Covid-19 infections and 926 deaths. Cases in Moscow rose from 1,798 on Wednesday to 2,661 on Thursday, a nearly 50% increase.
Dec. 29
— Russia confirmed 21,119 Covid-19 infections and 932 deaths.
Dec. 28
— Russia confirmed 21,922 Covid-19 infections and 935 deaths.
Dec. 27
— Russia confirmed 23,210 Covid-19 infections and 937 deaths.
Dec. 26
— Russia confirmed 23,721 Covid-19 infections and 968 deaths.
Dec. 25
— Russia confirmed 24,946 Covid-19 infections and 981 deaths.
Dec. 24
— Russia confirmed 24,703 Covid-19 infections and 998 deaths.
Dec. 23
— Russia confirmed 25,667 Covid-19 infections and 1,002 deaths.
— Moscow confirmed over 3,000 new Covid cases, a 60% jump compared to Wednesday.
Dec. 22
— Russia on Wednesday confirmed 25,264 Covid-19 infections and 1,020 deaths.
Dec. 21
— Russia on Tuesday confirmed 25,907 Covid-19 infections and 1,027 deaths.
— Russia has detected 41 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far, health authorities said Tuesday.
Dec. 20
— Russia confirmed 27,022 Covid-19 infections and 1,019 deaths.
Dec. 19
— Russia confirmed 27,967 Covid-19 infections and 1,024 deaths.
— Russia could send free shipments of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Africa in the future, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which finances and promotes the jab, has said.
Dec. 18
— Russia confirmed 27,434 Covid-19 infections and 1,076 deaths.
Dec. 17
— Russia confirmed 27,743 Covid-19 infections and 1,080 deaths.
— Russia claimed its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine provides “robust” long-term protection against the Omicron variant, disputing the findings of an independent study which found the Russian jab produced no antibody response whatsoever to the new highly transmissible variant.
Dec. 16
— Russia has detected the Omicron variant in 25 people so far, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russia confirmed 28,486 Covid-19 infections and 1,133 deaths.
— Russian lawmakers approved legislation in a first reading that will require people to show health passes to access public places like bars and restaurants, as the country gears up for a winter Covid wave.
— Russia has not yet provided all the information requested by the WHO to certify the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “It's true that some information needed for certification has not yet been submitted. We had a different understanding of what information was needed and how it has to be submitted, we have different standards, etc," Peskov told journalists, adding that the Kremlin is not worried by the lengthy approval process the vaccine has faced.
Dec. 15
—Russians with coronavirus antibodies from both foreign and domestic vaccines will be able to get a QR code valid for six months, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Monday.
— Russia will scrap the proposed bill that would require QR codes to access public transport, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Dec. 6
— Russia has confirmed its first reported cases of the Omicron variant. The new strain was detected in two people who traveled into the country from South Africa, Russia’s consumer and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said. Another 10 Russians who returned from South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus and their samples are currently being analyzed to determine the variant, the agency added.
Dec. 3
— Russia said it recorded its deadliest month in decades in October, with the total number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic surpassing 810,000.
Dec. 2
— Russia will require citizens entering the country from South Africa or neighboring countries to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival due to the Omicron variant starting Dec. 2, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova announced.
Nov. 30
— Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
— Russians returning from countries with which Moscow has not formally restored air travel will have to quarantine for 14 days, Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor consumer and health watchdog said. The validity of health passes obtained by a negative PCR test will also be reduced from 72 to 48 hours. Popova also advised Russians not to travel abroad for New Year holidays as part of a package of recommendations outlined in response to the Omicron variant.
— Putin has ordered the government to create an updated action plan for the Omicron strain by next week, he said at an investment forum.
Nov. 29
— As many as 1,500 Russian tourists have been left stranded in South Africa as countries scramble to ban flights from the region, media reported Monday.
— The backers of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V said Monday that the jab is effective against the new Omicron coronavirus variant but they were also developing an adapted booster.
Nov. 28
— The new Omicron variant may be spreading across Russia by tourists returning from Egypt, Senator and Honored Doctor of Russia Vladimir Krugly said Sunday. Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which leads the country’s Covid-19 response efforts, later denied Krugly’s claims.
Nov. 25
— St. Petersburg aims to vaccinate 80% of its population by mid-January through vaccination, its Governor Alexander Beglov said Thursday. He said 67% of the city is currently vaccinated.
— Russian lawmakers are seeking to recognize those vaccinated against the coronavirus with foreign jabs, the Izvestia daily reported Thursday.
Nov. 24
— President Vladimir Putin repeated his stance that Covid-19 vaccination should be voluntary as regions and cities tighten restrictions on the unvaccinated.
— He added that he has received a nasal Covid-19 vaccine, days after saying he received a Sputnik Light booster shot.
— Russia has registered a Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced.
Nov. 23
— Russia and Hungary have agreed to mutually recognize each others' vaccination certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, marking the first such agreement between Russia and another country.
Nov. 22
— A Siberian region of Russia has become the first in the country to impose self-isolation rules for residents who haven’t yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.
— The republic of Tatarstan became the first Russian province to enforce QR code passes on public transit earlier Monday.
Nov. 21
— President Vladimir Putin said he had had a third dose of a Covid vaccine. "I had it two hours ago," Putin said on state television channel Rossiya 24, assuring viewers that his booster injection of the Sputnik vaccine had been painless.
Nov. 19
— Russia's herd immunity has surpassed 50%, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
Nov. 17
— Two more Russian coronavirus vaccines are currently undergoing preclinical trials, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. So far, Russia has authorized four vaccines: Sputnik V, the one-dose Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona and CoviVak.
— There is "no end in sight" to the Covid-19 pandemic in Russia yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— A Far East Russian region has become the first in the country to introduce vaccine passports for internal flights as federal lawmakers race to mandate health passes for public transport and other areas.
Nov. 16
— Russia will resume air travel with Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mongolia from Dec. 1, authorities announced. It will also lift all remaining restrictions on flights with Mexico, Cuba and Qatar starting that day. Starting Dec. 12, train connections to Finland will resume.
Nov. 16
— U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has received approval to conduct trials of Paxlovid, a novel oral antiviral treatment aimed at preventing and treating Covid-19. Ninety people in a handful of Russian cities will take part in the trials.
Nov. 12
— Russia will introduce health passes for access to public places, restaurants and intercity trains and planes in a radical move designed to boost Russia's sluggish vaccination campaign.
Nov. 9
— St. Petersburg mandated vaccination against Covid-19 for all residents over 60 years old as well as people with certain chronic illnesses.
— Russia is now the world leader in coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— The developer of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities.
Nov. 8
— Russia’s nationwide paid holiday aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came to an end Monday. Some regions are keeping the restrictions in place and many others are implementing digital passes showing proof of vaccination or recent Covid-19 recovery.
— QR codes proving one's vaccination continue to be valid for one year after vaccination, Russia's Health Ministry and Digital Development Ministry said Monday following reports that the validity period had changed to 6 months.
Nov. 2
— Russia's single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine produces a strong antibody response among recipients, according to research published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik Light is the first dose of Russia's two-dose Sputnik V vaccine, which is the backbone of Russia's domestic vaccination campaign and is being sold around the world.
Nov. 1
— Russian authorities said that doctors were under "extraordinary" strain due to surging coronavirus cases in Europe's worst-hit country.
— The Novgorod region in northwestern Russia has become the first region to extend the non-working week. It will order all non-essential workers to take a mandated paid holiday for an additional week after Nov. 7.
Oct. 27
— The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
— The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.
Oct. 26
— All of Russia's 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said.
— The European Union expects countries including Russia to investigate the sale of fake Covid-19 certificates online and take appropriate measures, an EU spokesperson told RBC. The cybersecurity company Kaspersky said last week that it uncovered counterfeit travel certificates made to look as if they were issued in France or Poland being sold for an average price of $300 on the Telegram messaging app.
— Authorities in annexed Crimea said they plan to purchase mobile refrigerators to store bodies in the city of Simferopol as Covid-19 deaths continue to rise and the city's morgues are overwhelmed.
Oct. 25
— Russian authorities were investigating nurses and a doctor in St. Petersburg accused of selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates, as the country faces a deadly new wave. The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said a doctor and three nurses are suspected of pocketing at least 100,000 rubles ($1,430) from 12 people after selling official certificates without having administered jabs.
— President Vladimir Putin instructed regional leaders to order restaurants to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to ban all entertainment events.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin imposed a partial citywide lockdown between Oct. 28-Nov. 7 to stem the spread of the virus.
— The restrictions suspend businesses, services, catering, sports, recreation, entertainment and film screenings with the exception of the sale of essential goods like medicines and food. Mass events, except those authorized by health officials, will be banned, and theater and museum attendance will be capped at 50% with mask-wearing and digital-code rules in place. In-person public services will be suspended and kindergarteners and school students sent home between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7.
The Moscow region introduced identical restrictions shortly after Sobyanin’s announcement.
— President Vladimir Putin will not meet people face-to-face during Russia's nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on Oct. 30 designed to curb Covid infections amid record deaths, his spokesman said.
— The pace of vaccinations in Russia has accelerated following a string of regions imposing vaccine mandates for workers in certain sectors of the economy and vaccine passports for entry into indoor venues, according to the Gogov website which tracks vaccine uptake across the country. It estimates Russia is administering more than 300,000 first doses each day — up from around 120,000 a day earlier October.
Oct. 23
— Russia's second city St. Petersburg will impose a partial lockdown from Oct. 30-Nov. 7, authorities announced.
Oct. 21
— Sochi is bracing for an influx of tourists during public holidays starting Oct. 30 designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Occupancy rates in hotels are set to be at least 75%, the city’s mayor said — equivalent to peak summer months at the Black Sea resort. The city has introduced vaccine passports for entry into restaurants and bars in a bid to stop the spread of the virus despite the mass inflow of tourists.
— Russia has detected a new sub-variant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which risks compounding the country’s spiraling infections and deaths, a senior Russian government scientist warned.
— The European Union’s drug regulator will not approve Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine until at least the first months of 2022, Reuters reported.
Oct. 20
— President Vladimir Putin announced a non-working week in Russia from Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Putin pleaded with Russians to get vaccinated and said the public holidays could be extended further if cases do not start to fall.
— Nationwide, 87% of hospital beds reserved for coronavirus patients are occupied, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said in a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Oct. 19
— Some 1,100 medical staff died from Covid-19 in Russia during the first six months of 2021, the chair of the State Duma’s budget committee said. That is more than twice the number who succumbed to the virus in 2020, he added.
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has backed plans for a nationwide non-working week starting Oct. 30. The proposal was put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova during a televised government meeting. Mishustin said the strict measures — effectively a paid vacation or orders for workers at non-essential businesses to stop going into their place of work — were “now necessary” given increased numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Golikova said some regions should introduce the non-working week earlier, on Oct. 23 and also called for unvaccinated pensioners to start self-isolating at home.
Oct. 18
— Russia's second city, St. Petersburg, announced it would tighten restrictions to battle a surge in Covid-19 cases, introducing a health pass to regulate access to crowd events.
— Moscow authorities will start fining public transport passengers whose face masks do not cover their nose and mouth, a transit official said.
— South Africa's health products regulator said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men. The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus — a type of virus that causes respiratory infections — known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
— Russia will allow family members of foreigners who live in Russia to enter the country, the Foreign Ministry said. The relaxation will allow people from countries not yet on Russia’s designated list of open countries to receive a special entry permit to come to Russia, provided they have a close relative living in Russia.
Oct. 16
— According to Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, 38 of Russia’s 85 regions have introduced vaccine mandates for certain categories of citizens and employees working in designated sectors of the economy, such as retail and hospitality.
Oct. 15
— Russia will resume regular air travel with the Bahamas, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Slovenia, Tunisia, Sweden and Thailand starting Nov. 9, the national Covid-19 headquarters announced.
Oct. 14
— Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has called on doctors who are self-isolating or even retired due to the pandemic to get vaccinated and return to work due to record increases in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Oct. 12
— The Moscow region that surrounds the capital has imposed vaccine mandates for sales, food, transport, public service, hair salon and fitness club employees.
— Roughly 235,000 of Russia's 255,000 Covid hospital beds nationwide are occupied, with 6,000 patients on ventilators, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
— Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad has suspended planned medical procedures as it battles an “extremely difficult” surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The central Mari El region also canceled routine operations and medical treatment from Tuesday, warning that it had run out of free hospital beds and may soon have to start treating patients in corridors.
Oct. 11
— The Kremlin described Russia's Covid fatality toll as "high" and the country's vaccination rate as "unacceptably" low, even as it rejected new restrictions so as to protect the economy.
— Moscow launched free express coronavirus tests at 20 locations across the city, as the capital continues to battle with rising infection rates. The tests give a result in 15 minutes, but are less effective than the gold standard PCR tests. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said rapid testing would allow “socially responsible citizens” to ensure they are not spreading the virus.
— The Leningrad region that surrounds St. Petersburg will require residents to present QR codes proving their vaccination status or a negative PCR test in order to enter theaters, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms through Nov. 15.
Oct. 8
— Russia reported 65,000 excess fatalities in August in a 45% jump on pre-pandemic mortality rates, official data showed. The country's overall number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus stands at 660,000.
— EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer said that the country "has repeatedly postponed" the timing of the inspection requested by the European Medicines Agency which has slowed down the approval process of the vaccine in the EU. The Russian Ministry of Health responded by saying that it presented the EU with all the necessary documents that the block requested.
Oct. 7
— A World Health Organization delegation will visit Russia this month as part of its approval procedure for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriyev said.
— The problem behind WHO's suspension of Sputnik V's approval process has been resolved, said Mariangela Simao, WHO's assistant director general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced that mass PCR testing will be introduced in Russia's capital in 1-2 weeks.
— Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said the federal government recommends Russian regions introduce QR-codes for attending mass events, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Oct. 4
— Russia’s top cabinet official on Monday criticized the country's stalling vaccination rates for failing to slow the spread of Covid-19 as Russians die in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-17--Russia Welcomes 20% More Tourists in 2019

More than 5 million tourists visited Russia in January-December 2019 , according to ATOR ’ s breakdown of Federal Security Service ( FSB ) border service data , up from 4.2 million tourists the previous year .
The numbers come as Russia moves to simplify visa requirements for citizens of 53 countries next year and boost its tourism revenue .
Tourist arrivals to Russia have surged by 20.5 % in 2019 , according to official figures cited by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia ( ATOR ) on Monday .
Country-specific figures showed increasing tourist arrivals in Russia from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top five countries where tourists came from remained unchanged since 2018 .
China supplied the highest share of inbound visitors at 1.5 million tourists , an increase of 19 % from 2018 .
Russia has introduced visa-free travel for Chinese tour groups and hired Chinese-speaking staff at airports and train stations to accommodate the surge .
Germany accounted for the second-most visitors with more than 520,000 tourists , an increase of 15.7 % from 2018 .
South Korea contributed the third-most visitors at more than 413,000 tourists , an increase of 20.8 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fourth with 241,000 American tourists last year , up by 6 % from 2018 .
Israel rounded out the top five with 199,000 inbound tourists , an increase of 21.7 % in a year .
Almost 33 million foreigners visited Russia overall , not only for tourism .

More than 5 million tourists visited Russia in January-December 2019, according to ATOR’s breakdown of Federal Security Service (FSB) border service data, up from 4.2 million tourists the previous year. The numbers come as Russia moves to simplify visa requirements for citizens of 53 countries next year and boost its tourism revenue.
Tourist arrivals to Russia have surged by 20.5% in 2019, according to official figures cited by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) on Monday.
Country-specific figures showed increasing tourist arrivals in Russia from all continents except Latin America. The top five countries where tourists came from remained unchanged since 2018.
China supplied the highest share of inbound visitors at 1.5 million tourists, an increase of 19% from 2018. Russia has introduced visa-free travel for Chinese tour groups and hired Chinese-speaking staff at airports and train stations to accommodate the surge.
Germany accounted for the second-most visitors with more than 520,000 tourists, an increase of 15.7% from 2018. South Korea contributed the third-most visitors at more than 413,000 tourists, an increase of 20.8% from 2018.
The United States came in fourth with 241,000 American tourists last year, up by 6% from 2018.
Israel rounded out the top five with 199,000 inbound tourists, an increase of 21.7% in a year.
Almost 33 million foreigners visited Russia overall, not only for tourism.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-17--Russia Managing Libya Conflict ‘at Highest Level,’ Turkey’s Erdogan Says

Erdogan , whose country backs Libya ’ s internationally recognized government , has publicly accused the Kremlin-linked Wagner mercenary group of supporting Libya ’ s rival faction headed by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar .
Russia has repeatedly denied its military presence in Libya .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russia was managing the conflict in Libya `` at the highest level , '' Turkey ’ s NTV broadcaster reported Saturday .
`` Russia is currently managing the war there at the highest level , '' NTV quoted Erdogan as saying on board a presidential plane .
Erdogan reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wagner , whom he did not name , meeting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov .
“ They ’ re now directing Wagner there , ” NTV quoted Erdogan as saying .
“ They still get up and say that [ they ] don ’ t have a relationship with it.
” While it is unclear which photograph Erdogan was said to have displayed , Shoigu and Gerasimov have been filmed meeting Haftar in 2018 with the reported head of Wagner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also accused unspecified Western countries of supporting Haftar , whose campaign to take over the Libyan capital of Tripoli is approaching the one-year mark .
Ankara would continue to support Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj 's internationally recognized government , Erdogan was quoted as saying .
Turkey and al-Serraj ’ s government signed a security agreement in November .
The Kremlin on Monday again denied sending troops to Libya .
BBC Russia reported last week on the burial of a Russian national who it alleged may have been a uniformed soldier fighting in Libya @

Erdogan, whose country backs Libya’s internationally recognized government, has publicly accused the Kremlin-linked Wagner mercenary group of supporting Libya’s rival faction headed by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. Russia has repeatedly denied its military presence in Libya.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russia was managing the conflict in Libya "at the highest level," Turkey’s NTV broadcaster reported Saturday.
"Russia is currently managing the war there at the highest level," NTV quoted Erdogan as saying on board a presidential plane.
Erdogan reportedly displayed a photograph showing the head of Wagner, whom he did not name, meeting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
“They’re now directing Wagner there,” NTV quoted Erdogan as saying. “They still get up and say that [they] don’t have a relationship with it.”
While it is unclear which photograph Erdogan was said to have displayed, Shoigu and Gerasimov have been filmed meeting Haftar in 2018 with the reported head of Wagner, the sanctioned businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Erdogan also accused unspecified Western countries of supporting Haftar, whose campaign to take over the Libyan capital of Tripoli is approaching the one-year mark.
Ankara would continue to support Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj's internationally recognized government, Erdogan was quoted as saying. Turkey and al-Serraj’s government signed a security agreement in November.
The Kremlin on Monday again denied sending troops to Libya.
BBC Russia reported last week on the burial of a Russian national who it alleged may have been a uniformed soldier fighting in Libya.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-17--Murmansk Commandos Conduct Anti-Terrorism Drills Onboard Nuclear Icebreakers

Key law enforcement authorities of Russia 's Arctic region joined forces in anti-terrorism exercises onboard two retired nuclear-powered icebreakers docked @ @ @ @ @ It has been several years since the Sovetsky Soyuz and Sibir icebreaking vessels were last @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic .
The two nuclear-engine vessels were taken out of service in 2010 and @ @ @ @ @ exercise held on the vessels last Friday was still considered of significant relevance for the @ @ @ @ @ training simulated tactical combat against forces that had `` illegally interfered in the management of @ @ @ @ @ Atomflot , '' the local Murman.ru news website reported Friday .
Troops from the Federal @ @ @ @ @ ) Border Guard Service and National Guard ( Rosgvardia ) units took part in the @ @ @ @ @ Coast Guard and aviation from the Northern Fleet also took part in the exercises , @ @ @ @ @

Key law enforcement authorities of Russia's Arctic region joined forces in anti-terrorism exercises onboard two retired nuclear-powered icebreakers docked in the Kola Bay.
It has been several years since the Sovetsky Soyuz and Sibir icebreaking vessels were last in the icy waters of the Arctic. The two nuclear-engine vessels were taken out of service in 2010 and 1992 respectively.
But the exercise held on the vessels last Friday was still considered of significant relevance for the participating anti-terror troops. The training simulated tactical combat against forces that had "illegally interfered in the management of a floating commercial object at Atomflot," the local Murman.ru news website reported Friday.
Troops from the Federal Security Service's (FSB) Border Guard Service and National Guard (Rosgvardia) units took part in the training. Forces from the Coast Guard and aviation from the Northern Fleet also took part in the exercises, the news agency reported.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-17--Russia Should Drop ‘Terrorist’ Soviet Legacy, Constitutional Court Judge Says

A Russian Constitutional Court judge has said that modern Russia should renounce its status as a successor state to the Soviet Union , the Kommersant business daily reported Monday .
Judge Konstantin Aranovsky expressed his opinion as an addition to a December ruling that awarded restitution to the children of the victims of Stalin ’ s repressions .
While he agreed with the ruling , he argued that Russia ’ s law on rehabilitating the victims of Soviet repressions shouldn ’ t be interpreted as the perpetrator awarding compensation .
“ Russia doesn ’ t carry on [ the Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , but replaces a state that was once created illegally , requiring it to reckon with the consequences of its activities , including political repression , ” Aranovsky wrote .
“ This makes succession — with the transfer of the Communist Soviet regime ’ s commitments to repressive and terrorist acts to Russia — disputable , ” he continued .
Judge Aranovsky added that he doesn ’ t believe that Russia should give up its membership in international bodies .
Russia inherited its UN Security Council seat from the U.S.S.R. in 1991 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of its judges have the right to express their opinions if they differ from the court , the state-run news agency TASS reported .
Those opinions carry no legal weight , the court told TASS .
The Kremlin dismissed Aranovsky ’ s comments as his personal opinion .
Russia remains legally and in practice the successor state of the Soviet Union , President Vladimir Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday .
Although Stalin sent as many as 12 million Soviet citizens to the gulag labor camps , Russians increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his repressions fade .
The Kremlin has in recent years advocated pride in Russia ’ s Soviet past , with Putin criticizing attempts to demonize Stalin as veiled attacks on Russia .

A Russian Constitutional Court judge has said that modern Russia should renounce its status as a successor state to the Soviet Union, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday. Judge Konstantin Aranovsky expressed his opinion as an addition to a December ruling that awarded restitution to the children of the victims of Stalin’s repressions. While he agreed with the ruling, he argued that Russia’s law on rehabilitating the victims of Soviet repressions shouldn’t be interpreted as the perpetrator awarding compensation.
“Russia doesn’t carry on [the Soviet Union’s legal system] in law, but replaces a state that was once created illegally, requiring it to reckon with the consequences of its activities, including political repression,” Aranovsky wrote. “This makes succession — with the transfer of the Communist Soviet regime’s commitments to repressive and terrorist acts to Russia — disputable,” he continued. Judge Aranovsky added that he doesn’t believe that Russia should give up its membership in international bodies. Russia inherited its UN Security Council seat from the U.S.S.R. in 1991. The Constitutional Court later said that any of its judges have the right to express their opinions if they differ from the court, the state-run news agency TASS reported. Those opinions carry no legal weight, the court told TASS.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russia to Immortalize 2018 World Cup With New Monument

Nikolskaya Ulitsa , a quiet street steps away from Red Square , quickly turned into party central for tens of thousands of visitors from around the world during the tournament in the summer of 2018 .
Russia plans to commemorate the football World Cup it hosted two years ago with a monument installed at a popular gathering spot for fans in central Moscow , its architect has said .
Sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov , whose works include monuments to AK-47 designer Mikhail Kalashnikov and “ Little Green Men ” in annexed Crimea , recently won the contest to immortalize the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the World Cup will stand 5 meters tall and cost 5.7 million rubles ( $ 90,000 ) , Shcherbakov told Moskva News Agency on Thursday .
The prominent sculptor described the elaborate construction as “ a ball spinning around the globe ” with the names of the 32 national teams that competed in the tournament inscribed on its trail .
The monument will also feature stands with the names of the 11 Russian cities that hosted the FIFA World Cup , Shcherbakov said .
“ It will be a small complex where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take pictures , ” Shcherbakov was quoted as saying .
The World Cup monument is expected to be unveiled on Nikolskaya Ulitsa sometime in 2020 , Shcherbakov said .

Nikolskaya Ulitsa, a quiet street steps away from Red Square, quickly turned into party central for tens of thousands of visitors from around the world during the tournament in the summer of 2018.
Russia plans to commemorate the football World Cup it hosted two years ago with a monument installed at a popular gathering spot for fans in central Moscow, its architect has said.
Sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov, whose works include monuments to AK-47 designer Mikhail Kalashnikov and “Little Green Men” in annexed Crimea, recently won the contest to immortalize the World Cup on Nikolskaya.
The bronze monument to the World Cup will stand 5 meters tall and cost 5.7 million rubles ($90,000), Shcherbakov told Moskva News Agency on Thursday.
The prominent sculptor described the elaborate construction as “a ball spinning around the globe” with the names of the 32 national teams that competed in the tournament inscribed on its trail.
The monument will also feature stands with the names of the 11 Russian cities that hosted the FIFA World Cup, Shcherbakov said.
“It will be a small complex where people will be able to meet and take pictures,” Shcherbakov was quoted as saying.
The World Cup monument is expected to be unveiled on Nikolskaya Ulitsa sometime in 2020, Shcherbakov said.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russia to Consider Making Ex-Presidents Immune from Prosecution

Russian presidents could be made immune from criminal prosecution once they leave office under proposed constitutional reforms , a senior @ @ @ @ @ The proposal , made by a parliamentary working group , comes after President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ to the political system that would shift some powers away from the presidency .
Putin @ @ @ @ @ followed by a government shake-up , are widely seen as a way to allow him @ @ @ @ @ power after his term ends in 2024 .
The proposals by the parliamentary working group @ @ @ @ @ making former presidents immune from criminal prosecution , said Pavel Krashennikov , the group 's @ @ @ @ @ of Russia , having ceased to exercise his powers , has immunity .
We have @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said at a working group meeting , the state-run RIA news agency @ @ @ @ @ Peskov told reporters he would not comment on the working group 's proposal at this @ @

Russian presidents could be made immune from criminal prosecution once they leave office under proposed constitutional reforms, a senior lawmaker said on Tuesday.
The proposal, made by a parliamentary working group, comes after President Vladimir Putin last month announced sweeping reforms to the political system that would shift some powers away from the presidency.
Putin's initiatives, which were followed by a government shake-up, are widely seen as a way to allow him to extend his grip on power after his term ends in 2024.
The proposals by the parliamentary working group assessing Putin's reforms include making former presidents immune from criminal prosecution, said Pavel Krashennikov, the group's co-chair.
"The president of Russia, having ceased to exercise his powers, has immunity. We have this (proposed reform)," he said at a working group meeting, the state-run RIA news agency reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he would not comment on the working group's proposal at this stage.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russia Ordered to Pay $50Bln to Yukos Shareholders

A Dutch appeals court Tuesday ordered that the Russian government pay $ 50 billion to former shareholders in the defunct Russian oil giant Yukos .
The decision overturned a previous ruling from a lower court .
Immediately after the ruling , Russian officials said they would appeal the decision , lining up a final showdown over the multi-billion dollar dispute at The Netherlands ’ Supreme Court .
In April 2016 , The Hague 's District Court had overturned a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which ordered the Russian state to compensate shareholders in the company once owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decision reinstates the original ruling , which was laid down in 2014 , following complaints first lodged in 2005 .
The case was brought by GML , a pension fund representing former Yukos employees which was the majority shareholder in Yukos before the firm ’ s assets were seized by Russian authorities and auctioned off to Russia ’ s state-owned oil giant Rosneft in 2003-04 .
It was widely seen as a politically-motivated takeover by the Kremlin targeting Khodorkovsky .
The mandated payout does not concern Khodorkovsky ’ s previous share in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a GML spokesperson said : “ This is a victory for the rule of law .
The independent courts of a democracy have shown their integrity and served justice .
A brutal kleptocracy has been held to account .
”

A Dutch appeals court Tuesday ordered that the Russian government pay $50 billion to former shareholders in the defunct Russian oil giant Yukos.
The decision overturned a previous ruling from a lower court. Immediately after the ruling, Russian officials said they would appeal the decision, lining up a final showdown over the multi-billion dollar dispute at The Netherlands’ Supreme Court.
In April 2016, The Hague's District Court had overturned a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which ordered the Russian state to compensate shareholders in the company once owned by fallen oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Tuesday’s decision reinstates the original ruling, which was laid down in 2014, following complaints first lodged in 2005.
The case was brought by GML, a pension fund representing former Yukos employees which was the majority shareholder in Yukos before the firm’s assets were seized by Russian authorities and auctioned off to Russia’s state-owned oil giant Rosneft in 2003-04. It was widely seen as a politically-motivated takeover by the Kremlin targeting Khodorkovsky. The mandated payout does not concern Khodorkovsky’s previous share in Yukos.
In response to the verdict, a GML spokesperson said: “This is a victory for the rule of law. The independent courts of a democracy have shown their integrity and served justice. A brutal kleptocracy has been held to account.”
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Fighting Flares in Eastern Ukraine, Kiev and Rebels Blame Each Other

The violence was some of the worst since a Paris summit in December tried to narrow positions between Kiev and the separatists on implementing a peace deal , and it comes ahead of a possible second summit on the same issue in Berlin .
A Ukrainian solder was killed and four others injured on Tuesday when heavy fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine , the country 's military said , as it and Russian-backed separatists blamed each other for the flare-up .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would convene a national security council meeting to discuss the latest flare-up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not just a cynical provocation ... it is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in the Donbass , which had begun to move through small but continuous steps , '' Zelenskiy said in a statement .
He later said he did not believe the fighting would stymie efforts to end the conflict , in which more than 13,000 people have been killed since 2014 despite a 2015 ceasefire deal .
Announcing the death of one of its soldiers , Ukraine 's military also accused Russian-backed forces of using heavy shelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the separatists accused Ukrainian government forces of attacking first , saying a small group of soldiers had tried and failed to break through their lines .
It said the group had stumbled into a minefield which had left two Ukrainian soldiers dead and three others injured .
Ukrainian forces had then shelled civilian areas , they said .
The Kremlin said it had seen reports of the clashes and was looking into them .
It said it did not know what had triggered the violence .
Ukraine , Western countries and NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons to prop up separatist fighters in Donbass , a charge that Moscow has denied .
Zelenskiy came to power last year promising to end the conflict .
Since then , Ukraine and Russia have implemented some confidence-building measures , including prisoner swaps and phased troop withdrawals in designated areas .
Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone last week , the Ukrainian leader 's office said .

The violence was some of the worst since a Paris summit in December tried to narrow positions between Kiev and the separatists on implementing a peace deal, and it comes ahead of a possible second summit on the same issue in Berlin.
A Ukrainian solder was killed and four others injured on Tuesday when heavy fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine, the country's military said, as it and Russian-backed separatists blamed each other for the flare-up.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would convene a national security council meeting to discuss the latest flare-up in the country's Donbass region.
"This is not just a cynical provocation... it is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in the Donbass, which had begun to move through small but continuous steps," Zelenskiy said in a statement.
He later said he did not believe the fighting would stymie efforts to end the conflict, in which more than 13,000 people have been killed since 2014 despite a 2015 ceasefire deal.
Announcing the death of one of its soldiers, Ukraine's military also accused Russian-backed forces of using heavy shelling to try to breach Ukrainian lines.
But the separatists accused Ukrainian government forces of attacking first, saying a small group of soldiers had tried and failed to break through their lines. It said the group had stumbled into a minefield which had left two Ukrainian soldiers dead and three others injured.
Ukrainian forces had then shelled civilian areas, they said.
The Kremlin said it had seen reports of the clashes and was looking into them. It said it did not know what had triggered the violence.
Ukraine, Western countries and NATO accuse Russia of sending troops and heavy weapons to prop up separatist fighters in Donbass, a charge that Moscow has denied.
Zelenskiy came to power last year promising to end the conflict. Since then, Ukraine and Russia have implemented some confidence-building measures, including prisoner swaps and phased troop withdrawals in designated areas.
Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone last week, the Ukrainian leader's office said.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Turkey Rejoins Joint Russian Patrols in Syria

Turkish servicemen stopped showing up for joint patrols on Feb. 3 , the Russian military had said .
Tensions flared up between Russia and Turkey after the killing of Turkish troops by Russian-backed Syrian government forces in the rebel enclave of Idlib two weeks ago .
Turkish forces have resumed joint patrols of northeastern Syria with Russia following a two-week pause in which Moscow and Ankara traded barbs over a Russian-backed assault in Syria ’ s last rebel stronghold .
Monday ’ s Russian-Turkish patrol covered eight towns in Hasakah province , the Russian military said .
Russian patrols continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia ’ s military said Russian warplanes have also carried out air patrols around the Hasakah city of Qamishli near the Turkish border .
Syrian volunteers said Russian airstrikes damaged two hospitals in the northern province of Aleppo .
Turkey and Russia began a new round of talks in Moscow on Monday after several demands by Ankara that Syrian government forces back down and a ceasefire be put in place .
Backed by Russian airstrikes and aided by pro-Iranian militias , Syrian forces have intensified their campaign to recapture the Aleppo countryside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's far northwest since the start of the year .
The United Nations said Monday that over 875,000 Syrians , mostly children and women , have now fled towns and villages targeted by the heavy aerial bombing campaign since Dec. 1 .
More than 40,000 have been displaced in the last four days alone from western Aleppo province , the scene of heavy fighting , said UN spokesman David Swanson .

Turkish servicemen stopped showing up for joint patrols on Feb. 3, the Russian military had said . Tensions flared up between Russia and Turkey after the killing of Turkish troops by Russian-backed Syrian government forces in the rebel enclave of Idlib two weeks ago.
Turkish forces have resumed joint patrols of northeastern Syria with Russia following a two-week pause in which Moscow and Ankara traded barbs over a Russian-backed assault in Syria’s last rebel stronghold.
Monday’s Russian-Turkish patrol covered eight towns in Hasakah province, the Russian military said. Russian patrols continued alone in Raqqa province, it added.
Russia’s military said Russian warplanes have also carried out air patrols around the Hasakah city of Qamishli near the Turkish border.
Syrian volunteers said Russian airstrikes damaged two hospitals in the northern province of Aleppo.
Turkey and Russia began a new round of talks in Moscow on Monday after several demands by Ankara that Syrian government forces back down and a ceasefire be put in place.
Backed by Russian airstrikes and aided by pro-Iranian militias, Syrian forces have intensified their campaign to recapture the Aleppo countryside and parts of neighboring Idlib province in the country's far northwest since the start of the year.
The United Nations said Monday that over 875,000 Syrians, mostly children and women, have now fled towns and villages targeted by the heavy aerial bombing campaign since Dec. 1.
More than 40,000 have been displaced in the last four days alone from western Aleppo province, the scene of heavy fighting, said UN spokesman David Swanson.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--World’s Only Nuclear-Powered Civilian Ship Gears Up for Russian Antarctic Voyage

The cargo ship will transport construction materials to the station located 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole , Rosatom , Russia ’ s state nuclear corporation , said in a Facebook post .
The Sevmorput , the world ’ s only nuclear-powered cargo ship , is currently preparing for a voyage to Russia ’ s Vostok research station on the coast of Antarctica .
The ship is set to deliver the cargo on the Antarctic coast , where it will be transported to inland Princess Elizabeth Land .
The 260-meter-long boat had previously been dry-docked in St. Petersburg for maintenance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Barents Sea port of Murmansk at the end of February for her return voyage .
Founded by the Soviet Union in 1957 , Vostok Station is located in what is believed to be the coldest place on earth , with the lowest reliably measured temperature of minus 89 degrees Celsius .
The only previous use of nuclear energy in Antarctica was at the U.S. nuclear power reactor at McMurdo Station , which was in operation from 1964-1972 .
Article V of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty bans the disposal of nuclear waste @ @ @ @

The cargo ship will transport construction materials to the station located 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole, Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, said in a Facebook post.
The Sevmorput, the world’s only nuclear-powered cargo ship, is currently preparing for a voyage to Antarctica to supply Russia’s Vostok research station.
The ship is set to deliver the cargo on the Antarctic coast, where it will be transported to inland Princess Elizabeth Land, where the Vostok Station is located.
The 260-meter-long boat had previously been dry-docked in St. Petersburg for maintenance, and is expected to sail back to the Barents Sea port of Murmansk at the end of February for her return voyage.
Founded by the Soviet Union in 1957, Vostok Station is located in what is believed to be the coldest place on earth, with the lowest reliably measured temperature of minus 89 degrees Celsius.
The only previous use of nuclear energy in Antarctica was at the U.S. nuclear power reactor at McMurdo Station, which was in operation from 1964-1972. Article V of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty bans the disposal of nuclear waste on the continent.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--4 in 5 Russians View West as a Friend – Poll

Only 3 % of Russian respondents said they see the West as Russia ’ s enemy , Levada said .
Another 16 % said they view the West as a rival .
Almost 80 % of Russians believe that Russia and the West should become friends and partners , according to the results of an independent Levada Center poll published Tuesday .
Two-thirds of Levada ’ s respondents ( 67 % ) said Russia should treat the West as a “ partner , ” while 11 % said Russia should treat the West as a “ friend , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breakdown of the data .
Russians view the European Union more favorably than the United States , with 49 % expressing positive opinions toward the former and 42 % toward the latter .
Negative views of the EU and the U.S. were split among Russian respondents at 37 % and 46 % , respectively .
When asked about NATO , 61 % of the respondents said its member countries should not fear Russia and 44 % said that Russia should not fear NATO members .
Conversely , 35 % of the respondents told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloc should fear Russia and 52 % percent said Russia should fear NATO member states .
Levada sociologist Karina Pipia told Kommersant that the latest results point toward Russians ’ “ mass fatigue of foreign policy confrontation and an unwillingness to fight with anyone.
” Russia ’ s relations with the West plummeted to Cold War-era lows after Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and conflict broke out between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government forces in 2014 .
The Levada poll also showed an uptick in the share of Russian respondents who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 18 % to 24 % .
The share of Russians who view China positively declined from 72 % to 65 % in what sociologists linked to coronavirus fears .
Levada conducted the survey among 1,603 respondents in 50 Russian regions on Jan. 23-29 .

Only 3% of Russian respondents said they see the West as Russia’s enemy, Levada said. Another 16% said they view the West as a rival.
Almost 80% of Russians believe that Russia and the West should become friends and partners, according to the results of an independent Levada Center poll published Tuesday.
Two-thirds of Levada’s respondents (67%) said Russia should treat the West as a “partner,” while 11% said Russia should treat the West as a “friend,” according to the Kommersant business daily’s breakdown of the data.
Russians view the European Union more favorably than the United States, with 49% expressing positive opinions toward the former and 42% toward the latter. Negative views of the EU and the U.S. were split among Russian respondents at 37% and 46%, respectively.
When asked about NATO, 61% of the respondents said its member countries should not fear Russia and 44% said that Russia should not fear NATO members.
Conversely, 35% of the respondents told Levada that members of the Western military bloc should fear Russia and 52% percent said Russia should fear NATO member states.
Levada sociologist Karina Pipia told Kommersant that the latest results point toward Russians’ “mass fatigue of foreign policy confrontation and an unwillingness to fight with anyone.”
Russia’s relations with the West plummeted to Cold War-era lows after Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and conflict broke out between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government forces in 2014.
The Levada poll also showed an uptick in the share of Russian respondents who view China negatively since November 2019, from 18% to 24%. The share of Russians who view China positively declined from 72% to 65% in what sociologists linked to coronavirus fears.
Levada conducted the survey among 1,603 respondents in 50 Russian regions on Jan. 23-29.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Ireland Suspects Russian Agents of Inspecting Undersea Cables – The Times

Britain and the United States have warned that the Russian Navy could disrupt over $ 10 trillion in daily transactions by attacking the fiber-optic cables crossing the world ’ s seas and oceans .
Last year , Britain banned the export of submarines to Russia over national security risks including the alleged ability to cut the undersea cables which carry most global internet communications .
Ireland ’ s police believes Russia has dispatched agents there to inspect undersea cables , raising concerns that they could tap or damage the cables at their weak points and thwart global communications , Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agents sent to Ireland to map the precise location of the seabed cables connecting Britain , Europe and the U.S. are believed to be with Russia ’ s GRU military intelligence agency , The Times cited unnamed Irish police and military sources as saying .
Irish police and military also suspect the GRU of using the country as a base for gathering intelligence on British and European targets .
Russia could be engaged in industrial espionage in Ireland , one of Europe ’ s leading tech hubs with internet giants Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , The Times reported .
“ [ Russia ] may wish to show their capability in order to threaten the West , '' John Sipher , a retired senior CIA agent who oversaw operations in Russia , was quoted as saying .
Security expert Mark Galeotti classified Ireland as “ a relatively soft target ” with nonexistent counterintelligence capacity and a high concentration of global internet assets .
`` This is the new battle space of the future , '' The Times quoted Galeotti as saying .
In 2015 , Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deepwater naval forces can “ both cut the special communication cables on the ocean floor and scan the signals they carry ” in the event of active hostilities .

Britain and the United States have warned that the Russian Navy could disrupt over $10 trillion in daily transactions by attacking the fiber-optic cables crossing the world’s seas and oceans. Last year, Britain banned the export of submarines to Russia over national security risks including the alleged ability to cut the undersea cables which carry most global internet communications.
Ireland’s police believes Russia has dispatched agents there to inspect undersea cables, raising concerns that they could tap or damage the cables at their weak points and thwart global communications, Britain’s The Times newspaper reported Sunday.
The agents sent to Ireland to map the precise location of the seabed cables connecting Britain, Europe and the U.S. are believed to be with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, The Times cited unnamed Irish police and military sources as saying.
Irish police and military also suspect the GRU of using the country as a base for gathering intelligence on British and European targets. Russia could be engaged in industrial espionage in Ireland, one of Europe’s leading tech hubs with internet giants Google, Facebook and Twitter housing offices there, The Times reported.
“[Russia] may wish to show their capability in order to threaten the West," John Sipher, a retired senior CIA agent who oversaw operations in Russia, was quoted as saying.
Security expert Mark Galeotti classified Ireland as “a relatively soft target” with nonexistent counterintelligence capacity and a high concentration of global internet assets.
"This is the new battle space of the future," The Times quoted Galeotti as saying.
In 2015, Russia’s Defense Ministry-owned news channel said that Russia’s deepwater naval forces can “both cut the special communication cables on the ocean floor and scan the signals they carry” in the event of active hostilities.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russian Spy Agency Played Role in Berlin Murder of Georgian Man – Bellingcat

Russia 's FSB security service planned and organised the murder of a Georgian man in Berlin last summer , a @ @ @ @ @ from Germany and Moscow , the investigative website Bellingcat has said .
Citing mobile phone @ @ @ @ @ conducted with Der Spiegel and The Insider , Bellingcat published information it said showed the @ @ @ @ @ with false identity papers by the FSB , the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to a request for comment .
Russia has denied involvement in the killing @ @ @ @ @ known as Zelimkhan Khangoshvili , was a former Chechen rebel who had fought against Russian @ @ @ @ @ dead on Aug. 23 in a Berlin park .

Russia's FSB security service planned and organized the murder of a Georgian man in Berlin last summer, a killing that triggered diplomatic expulsions from Germany and Moscow, the investigative website Bellingcat has said.
Citing mobile phone metadata and a months-long investigation conducted with Der Spiegel and The Insider, Bellingcat published information it said showed the assassin was trained and supplied with false identity papers by the FSB, the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB.
The FSB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia has denied involvement in the killing.
The Russian-Georgian victim, known as Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was a former Chechen rebel who had fought against Russian forces. He was shot dead on Aug. 23 in a Berlin park.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 18

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who have since recovered .
The first Russian citizen has also been infected with the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,800 people continues to spread around the world , Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk , including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border and suspending e-visas and work visas for Chinese nationals .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it is suspending some flights to China due to lower demand amid the coronavirus outbreak .
The carrier will fly to Beijing and Shanghai once instead of twice a day from Tuesday to March 28 , the company said on its website .
Aeroflot also suspended some flights to the southern city of Guangzhou on Monday and to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong , starting from March 1 , but still will keep flying four times a week to each city .
— A Russian passenger onboard the quarantined Diamond Princess ship has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first infection of a Russian citizen , Russia ’ s Embassy in Japan said Monday .
— Two men in the city of Chelyabinsk have been fined for hooliganism after they filmed a video in which they pretend to shoot and kill a person infected with coronavirus in a public park , the Znak.com news website reported .
The men wore white hazmat suits and face masks while simulating the shooting of the third person , who was n't actually infected .
— Russia discharged a Chinese national from the hospital in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he recovered from a coronavirus infection , the second of Russia 's two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover .
The other victim , also a Chinese national , was also said by authorities to have recovered and been released from quarantine in Siberia 's Tyumen region .
— Russia 's Transport Ministry is proposing to offer airlines 1.6 billion rubles ( $ 25.05 million ) in compensation for the grounding of flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak .
— The coronavirus outbreak may delay Russia 's delivery of S-400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport said .
— The number of payments made in Russia through the Chinese Alipay payment system was down 73 % in the first week of February compared to the same time last year .
— Russia 's Interior Ministry opened a criminal case of hooliganism after a Moscow man was filmed pretending to have a seizure on the metro while his two accomplices shouted that he was infected with the coronavirus .
The man has been detained while his accomplices are wanted , the Interior Ministry said .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomat as a safety precaution against coronavirus shortly after he arrived in Russia to take up his new post , Interfax reported .
— China ’ s Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines plan to lay off more than 100 Russian pilots amid wider cuts to foreign staff as the coronavirus outbreak has led to reduced travel into and out of China , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
— Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region 1,500 kilometers east of Moscow walked back plans to set up a quarantine center after local residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chinese nationals .
— Prisoners in the Kursk region have begun making face masks to be used in correctional facilities after a spike in demand , Interfax cited the region 's penitentiary service as saying Friday .
`` The masks made at penitentiary production sites are in no way inferior to those from the pharmacy , '' the regional penitentiary service was quoted as saying .
— The Kremlin has started checking the body temperatures of individuals attending events with President Vladimir Putin as a `` precautionary measure , '' spokesman Dmitry @ @ @ @


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russia Hands 21-Year-Old Moscow Protester Suspended Sentence in Legal Victory

A Moscow court has handed 21-year-old student Andrei Barshai a three-year suspended sentence on charges of assaulting a police officer during last summer ’ s opposition protests , the Mediazona news website reported .
Investigators accused the Moscow Aviation Institute student of pushing a National Guard officer during an unauthorized opposition rally on July 27 .
That rally against the exclusion of opposition candidates on the Moscow city council ballot became part of the largest sustained protest movement in the Russian capital in years .
The Meshchansky district court found Barshai guilty and ordered him to a three-year suspended sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sentence will allow him to avoid imprisonment .
Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Barshai to three and a half years in prison .
Charges of assaulting a police officer carry a maximum sentence of five years .
In his final statement , Barshai apologized to the National Guard officer he pushed .
`` I would also like to add that over the past four months of imprisonment I have lost many things in my life .
What I have gained inspires fear in me , '' Mediazona quoted Barshai as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out lighter sentences for the activists and bystanders who were criminally charged following the protests , a move seen by observers as a response to widespread public outcry over the prosecutions .
Several of them were jailed from two to five years , triggering public backlash and calls to drop prosecutions in what Russian news media call the “ Moscow Case.
” Others , like actor Pavel Ustinov and student Yegor Zhukov , received suspended sentences , widely seen as the lightest possible punishment in a legal system that rarely issues not-guilty verdicts @

A Moscow court has handed 21-year-old student Andrei Barshai a three-year suspended sentence on charges of assaulting a police officer during last summer’s opposition protests, the Mediazona news website reported. Investigators accused the Moscow Aviation Institute student of pushing a National Guard officer during an unauthorized opposition rally on July 27. That rally against the exclusion of opposition candidates on the Moscow city council ballot became part of the largest sustained protest movement in the Russian capital in years.
— Как ощущения?
— Вау!.. Хочется погладить кота
Андрей Баршай на свободе!
Видео: Мария Ефимова / @novaya_gazeta pic.twitter.com/OoQOPXbeSf — Новая Газета (@novaya_gazeta) February 18, 2020
The Meshchansky district court found Barshai guilty and ordered him to a three-year suspended sentence on Tuesday night, Mediazona reported. The sentence will allow him to avoid imprisonment. Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Barshai to three and a half years in prison. Charges of assaulting a police officer carry a maximum sentence of five years. In his final statement, Barshai apologized to the National Guard officer he pushed. "I would also like to add that over the past four months of imprisonment I have lost many things in my life. What I have gained inspires fear in me," Mediazona quoted Barshai as saying.
news Russia Hands Student Protester Zhukov Suspended Sentence After Outcry Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Putin Sacks Prominent Kremlin Ideologue, Ukraine Hardliner

Putin fired Vladislav Surkov , seen as a hardliner by many in Kiev , in a terse two-line statement on the Kremlin website .
His sacking , which coincided with a flare-up in fighting in eastern Ukraine , had been rumored for weeks .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday dismissed a veteran , once close adviser who until recently managed Moscow 's relations with war-torn Ukraine .
The decree was issued a week after the Kremlin said a senior Ukrainian-born Russian official , Dmitry Kozak , was now in charge of managing Moscow 's relations with Ukraine , effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kiev unravelled after Russia annexed Ukraine 's Crimea region in 2014 and Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in Donbass , eastern Ukraine , that has killed more than 13,000 people .
Russia denies any role in the conflict .
Moscow and Kiev are wrangling over how to implement a peace deal on Donbass , but major disagreements remain and full normalization is far off .
Alexei Chesnakov , a political analyst who used to work for Surkov in Russia 's presidential administration , announced last month that Surkov had resigned `` because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` The decision was made by Surkov and will not change .
I know it from Surkov himself , '' he said .
Another source close to Surkov told Reuters that Surkov had reacted sharply to Kozak 's appointment .

Putin fired Vladislav Surkov, seen as a hardliner by many in Kiev, in a terse two-line statement on the Kremlin website. His sacking, which coincided with a flare-up in fighting in eastern Ukraine, had been rumored for weeks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday dismissed a veteran, once close adviser who until recently managed Moscow's relations with war-torn Ukraine.
The decree was issued a week after the Kremlin said a senior Ukrainian-born Russian official, Dmitry Kozak, was now in charge of managing Moscow's relations with Ukraine, effectively sidelining Surkov.
Relations between Moscow and Kiev unravelled after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in Donbass, eastern Ukraine, that has killed more than 13,000 people.
Russia denies any role in the conflict.
Moscow and Kiev are wrangling over how to implement a peace deal on Donbass, but major disagreements remain and full normalization is far off.
Alexei Chesnakov, a political analyst who used to work for Surkov in Russia's presidential administration, announced last month that Surkov had resigned "because of a change in policy regarding Ukraine."
"The decision was made by Surkov and will not change. I know it from Surkov himself," he said.
Another source close to Surkov told Reuters that Surkov had reacted sharply to Kozak's appointment.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--Russia Bars Entry of Chinese Citizens Amid Coronavirus Threat

Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens to its territory starting from Feb. 20 , Russian authorities in charge of @ @ @ @ @ .
Travel restrictions of some form to prevent the spread of the disease , which @ @ @ @ @ 1,800 people , have been imposed by many countries to ease the risks of its @ @ @ @ @ be for Chinese citizens entering Russia for employment , private , educational and tourist purposes @ @ @ @ @ temporary , the statement said .
`` The restrictions will not affect transit passengers , @ @ @ @ @ China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily @ @ @ @ @ , but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still @ @ @ @ @

Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens to its territory starting from Feb. 20, Russian authorities in charge of coronavirus prevention said on Tuesday.
Travel restrictions of some form to prevent the spread of the disease, which has now killed more than 1,800 people, have been imposed by many countries to ease the risks of its spread.
The suspension will be for Chinese citizens entering Russia for employment, private, educational and tourist purposes. The suspension will be temporary, the statement said.
"The restrictions will not affect transit passengers," Russian authorities added.
China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--U.S. Sanctions Russia's Rosneft Over Venezuela Support

The action freezes any U.S.-held assets of the Geneva-based trading unit of the Russian oil giant and its chairman of the board of directors and president , Didier Casimiro .
The United States also issued a general license allowing companies 90 days to wind down their transactions with the company , according to a notice on the Treasury Department 's website .
The sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department increase the pressure on Russia , which the United States sees as the main backer of Maduro 's government .
The Trump administration has accused the subsidiary , Rosneft Trading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil sector and actively evading American sanctions .
The United States on Tuesday tightened financial restrictions on Venezuela , blacklisting a subsidiary of Russian oil firm Rosneft that President Donald Trump 's administration has said provides a lifeline to President Nicolas Maduro 's government .
The United States last year recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the OPEC nation 's legitimate interim president and began ratcheting up sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Maduro 's government .
A year later , Maduro remains in power , backed by the military as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosneft Trading S.A. and its president brokered the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
`` The United States is determined to prevent the looting of Venezuela ’ s oil assets by the corrupt Maduro regime . ''
The decision to sanction Rosneft Trading SA was cleared by Trump , a senior administration official said , and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday discussed the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich security conference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the growing and increasingly central role of Rosneft in the affairs of Venezuela , particularly in the course of the last year , '' the official told reporters in a conference call .
The United States has also reiterated its call to all companies in the world to cease business with the Maduro government and added that Tuesday 's step was part of a wider campaign .
But it was unclear whether Tuesday 's move will reduce export revenue flowing to Maduro 's government , which continues to enjoy Moscow 's backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
The United States has implemented a broad sanctions program against Maduro 's government and has urged the armed forces to turn against him .
Maduro has held on to power despite the country 's economic crisis in large part because of support from the military .
He accuses the United States of preparing an invasion .
Venezuela 's military on Saturday held exercises that deployed civilian militia and armored vehicles in the capital Caracas and around the country , an effort by Maduro to show strength before the U.S. move to @ @

The action freezes any U.S.-held assets of the Geneva-based trading unit of the Russian oil giant and its chairman of the board of directors and president, Didier Casimiro.
The United States also issued a general license allowing companies 90 days to wind down their transactions with the company, according to a notice on the Treasury Department's website .
The sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department increase the pressure on Russia, which the United States sees as the main backer of Maduro's government. The Trump administration has accused the subsidiary, Rosneft Trading SA, of propping up the Venezuelan oil sector and actively evading American sanctions.
The United States on Tuesday tightened financial restrictions on Venezuela, blacklisting a subsidiary of Russian oil firm Rosneft that President Donald Trump's administration has said provides a lifeline to President Nicolas Maduro's government.
The United States last year recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the OPEC nation's legitimate interim president and began ratcheting up sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Maduro's government. A year later, Maduro remains in power, backed by the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba.
"Rosneft Trading S.A. and its president brokered the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States is determined to prevent the looting of Venezuela’s oil assets by the corrupt Maduro regime."
Rosneft declined to comment.
The decision to sanction Rosneft Trading SA was cleared by Trump, a senior administration official said, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday discussed the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich security conference in Germany.
"This is a reaction to the growing and increasingly central role of Rosneft in the affairs of Venezuela, particularly in the course of the last year," the official told reporters in a conference call.
The United States has also reiterated its call to all companies in the world to cease business with the Maduro government and added that Tuesday's step was part of a wider campaign.
But it was unclear whether Tuesday's move will reduce export revenue flowing to Maduro's government, which continues to enjoy Moscow's backing in a stand-off reminiscent of the Cold War.
The United States has implemented a broad sanctions program against Maduro's government and has urged the armed forces to turn against him. Maduro has held on to power despite the country's economic crisis in large part because of support from the military. He accuses the United States of preparing an invasion.
Venezuela's military on Saturday held exercises that deployed civilian militia and armored vehicles in the capital Caracas and around the country, an effort by Maduro to show strength before the U.S. move to escalate sanctions


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--High Suicide Rate Plagues Russian Military, Lawmaker Says

Overall deaths in the Russian Armed Forces have decreased by 29 % between 2015-2019 , State Duma deputy Valery Rashkin told Interfax without providing figures for each cause of death .
Suicides and fatal road accidents make up a high share of deaths in Russia ’ s military despite declining overall figures , according to Defense Ministry data cited by lawmakers Tuesday .
The Russian military is concerned about the high rate of suicides and traffic accident deaths , as well as deaths from safety rules violations , plane crashes and drownings , Rashkin said .
The Mother ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of deaths among military conscripts are suicides , while only 4 % happen in the line of duty .
Official data puts the number of Russian army personnel at 1.9 million , about 80 % of whom are conscripts .
Rashkin said he obtained the data from Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov as part of an official request .
Gerasimov ’ s report comes amid renewed focus on the Russian military ’ s hazing culture that has survived despite widespread reforms introduced over a year ago .
Last year , a Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight fellow soldiers on hazing .
Around 12 % of all crimes committed within the ranks in 2019 were related to hazing , Rashkin said , noting that these tend to be the most high-profile crimes .

Overall deaths in the Russian Armed Forces have decreased by 29% between 2015-2019, State Duma deputy Valery Rashkin told Interfax without providing figures for each cause of death.
Suicides and fatal road accidents make up a high share of deaths in Russia’s military despite declining overall figures, according to Defense Ministry data cited by lawmakers Tuesday.
The Russian military is concerned about the high rate of suicides and traffic accident deaths, as well as deaths from safety rules violations, plane crashes and drownings, Rashkin said.
The Mother’s Right nonprofit estimates that up to 44% of deaths among military conscripts are suicides, while only 4% happen in the line of duty. Official data puts the number of Russian army personnel at 1.9 million, about 80% of whom are conscripts.
Rashkin said he obtained the data from Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov as part of an official request.
Gerasimov’s report comes amid renewed focus on the Russian military’s hazing culture that has survived despite widespread reforms introduced over a year ago. Last year, a Russian conscript blamed his shooting spree that killed eight fellow soldiers on hazing.
Around 12% of all crimes committed within the ranks in 2019 were related to hazing, Rashkin said, noting that these tend to be the most high-profile crimes.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--2nd Russian Cruise Ship Passenger Hospitalized With Coronavirus Suspicions

Both of them have been hospitalized , the embassy said in a post on Facebook .
The embassy said that a Russian woman earlier said to have been diagnosed with coronavirus on the cruise ship docked in Japan does not have the virus , but that her husband , who is also on board , had tested positive .
A second Russian citizen from the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus infection , Russia ’ s Embassy in Japan said Tuesday .
“ He has no symptoms and feels fine , ” it said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical facilities .
“ His wife , given the high risk of infection , was admitted to a hospital , ” the embassy said .
The husband is thought to be the first Russian national to contract the virus .
Russia has confirmed two cases of the virus within its borders , both Chinese nationals who have since recovered .
The embassy said earlier Tuesday it was working with Japan on organizing the return of the estimated two dozen Russians after the Diamond Princess quarantine ends in the coming days .
The cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew , has been quarantined in Yokohama since Feb. 3 , after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong before it traveled to Japan was diagnosed with the virus .
Passengers still on the ship , about half of whom are Japanese , have expressed frustration over the quarantine and authorities in Australia , Canada , Italy and South Korea are also planning to evacuate citizens from the cruise liner .
The total number of infected passengers rose to 542 , according to Japan ’ s health ministry , after a further 88 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Diamond Princess .

Both of them have been hospitalized, the embassy said in a post on Facebook.
The embassy said that a Russian woman earlier said to have been diagnosed with coronavirus on the cruise ship docked in Japan does not have the virus, but that her husband, who is also on board, had tested positive.
A second Russian citizen from the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus infection, Russia’s Embassy in Japan said Tuesday.
“He has no symptoms and feels fine,” it said.
The two have been placed in separate medical facilities. “His wife, given the high risk of infection, was admitted to a hospital,” the embassy said.
The husband is thought to be the first Russian national to contract the virus. Russia has confirmed two cases of the virus within its borders, both Chinese nationals who have since recovered.
The embassy said earlier Tuesday it was working with Japan on organizing the return of the estimated two dozen Russians after the Diamond Princess quarantine ends in the coming days.
The cruise ship, carrying some 3,700 passengers and crew, has been quarantined in Yokohama since Feb. 3, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong before it traveled to Japan was diagnosed with the virus.
Passengers still on the ship, about half of whom are Japanese, have expressed frustration over the quarantine and authorities in Australia, Canada, Italy and South Korea are also planning to evacuate citizens from the cruise liner.
The total number of infected passengers rose to 542, according to Japan’s health ministry, after a further 88 people tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.