themoscowtimes--2020-04-15--Russians Face Trial for Iron-Bar Attack on English Fan

Mikhail Ivkine , 34 , and Pavel Kosov , 33 , risk up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty of the attack on Andrew Bache .
The trial is expected to take place before March 2021 .
Two Russians will face trial in France over a vicious assault that left an English fan partially paralyzed during Euro 2016 , a judicial source said on Wednesday .
Street battles ahead of the Russia-England match in the French port city of Marseille on June 11 , 2016 , left 35 people injured , including two England fans who suffered serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifties , was left paralyzed on the left side of his body after being hit around the head with an iron bar .
Ivkine and Kosov , both from Moscow , do not contest hitting Bache , but they claim they were provoked by English supporters .
They also claim they were not to blame for the extent of the victim 's injuries .
The pair have been held in custody since 2018 after being tracked on social media by a joint French and British investigation .
Kosov was arrested in Cologne and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their way to attend a match in Spain between Spartak Moscow and Athletic Bilbao .

Mikhail Ivkine, 34, and Pavel Kosov, 33, risk up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty of the attack on Andrew Bache. The trial is expected to take place before March 2021.
Two Russians will face trial in France over a vicious assault that left an English fan partially paralyzed during Euro 2016, a judicial source said on Wednesday.
Street battles ahead of the Russia-England match in the French port city of Marseille on June 11, 2016, left 35 people injured, including two England fans who suffered serious injuries.
Bache, now in his fifties, was left paralyzed on the left side of his body after being hit around the head with an iron bar.
Ivkine and Kosov, both from Moscow, do not contest hitting Bache, but they claim they were provoked by English supporters. They also claim they were not to blame for the extent of the victim's injuries.
The pair have been held in custody since 2018 after being tracked on social media by a joint French and British investigation.
Kosov was arrested in Cologne and Ivkine in Munich in February 2018 on their way to attend a match in Spain between Spartak Moscow and Athletic Bilbao.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-15--Russian Veterans Urge Putin to Postpone WWII Parade Over Virus

Russia has so far not dropped plans to hold a massive parade with thousands of troops marching through Red Square on May 9 , despite a national lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic and a ban on large public events .
Russian veterans on Wednesday urged President Vladimir Putin to postpone a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II , due to the coronavirus risk to participants .
Before the pandemic , world leaders including France 's Emmanuel Macron were expected to attend the parade that was set to last an hour and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest missile systems .
World War II veterans from all over Russia have been invited to watch and take part in events over four days , defense minister Sergei Shoigu said in February , but the plans have seemed increasingly unrealistic given the current virus situation .
Russia has seen cases of the coronavirus grow swiftly in recent days .
On Wednesday the number of confirmed cases rose to 24,490 while 198 people have died .
An appeal signed by the heads of three veterans ' organizations was sent to Putin , Interfax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense committee of the lower house of parliament , Vladimir Shamanov .
`` Unfortunately based on the current situation in the world , it 's impossible to guarantee health and safety while holding the parade , '' said Shamanov , who signed the letter as head of the Russian Association of Heroes , a group of highly decorated military veterans .
The call by veterans appeared to be a formality that would allow the Kremlin to cancel the event without losing face .
Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov at the weekend raised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , '' in a televised comment .
The letter from veterans calls for Putin to `` take a difficult but , as we see it , fair decision to hold the military parade on another date . ''
It said the event should be held `` when the epidemiological situation will allow the parade not to be a threat but a real celebration of peace and security for all its participants . ''
The military parade is overseen by Putin , who gives a speech to troops .
It usually involves thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square includes World War II veterans .

Russia has so far not dropped plans to hold a massive parade with thousands of troops marching through Red Square on May 9, despite a national lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic and a ban on large public events.
Russian veterans on Wednesday urged President Vladimir Putin to postpone a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II, due to the coronavirus risk to participants.
Before the pandemic, world leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron were expected to attend the parade that was set to last an hour and a half and include 15,000 troops and the latest missile systems.
World War II veterans from all over Russia have been invited to watch and take part in events over four days, defense minister Sergei Shoigu said in February, but the plans have seemed increasingly unrealistic given the current virus situation.
Russia has seen cases of the coronavirus grow swiftly in recent days. On Wednesday the number of confirmed cases rose to 24,490 while 198 people have died.
An appeal signed by the heads of three veterans' organizations was sent to Putin, Interfax reported, citing the head of the defense committee of the lower house of parliament, Vladimir Shamanov.
"Unfortunately based on the current situation in the world, it's impossible to guarantee health and safety while holding the parade," said Shamanov, who signed the letter as head of the Russian Association of Heroes, a group of highly decorated military veterans.
The call by veterans appeared to be a formality that would allow the Kremlin to cancel the event without losing face.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov at the weekend raised the possibility the parade could be held "later," in a televised comment.
The letter from veterans calls for Putin to "take a difficult but, as we see it, fair decision to hold the military parade on another date."
It said the event should be held "when the epidemiological situation will allow the parade not to be a threat but a real celebration of peace and security for all its participants."
The military parade is overseen by Putin, who gives a speech to troops. It usually involves thousands of soldiers and the audience on Red Square includes World War II veterans.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-15--In 4th Coronavirus Address, Putin Calls for Stronger Business Support

The president has previously come under fire from economists and business leaders for not offering a comprehensive support package for businesses sooner , as Russia is now in the third week of a national shutdown which has shuttered most non-essential shops , restaurants and other service businesses .
Reforms to the government-backed system of interest-free salary loans for firms , which has recieved criticism since it launched with businesses and consumers reporting high refusal rates and difficulty accessing credit .
In the Russian president ’ s fourth televised statement in as many weeks about the coronavirus pandemic , he promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the nationwide lockdown , including small and medium-sized businesses and airlines .
President Vladimir Putin announced a new package of measures to support Russia ’ s businesses hit by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday .
A government survey of businesses outside Moscow found more than half had been forced to shut down work and most were having trouble paying staff , the Kremlin ’ s business ombudsman Boris Titov wrote on Facebook .
Meanwhile , leading liberal economists called on the government to go significantly further ahead of Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank to launch a quantitative easing program and for direct cash payments to citizens .
In his address , Putin also ordered the government to complete a list of companies deemed “ systemically important ” to the Russian economy , which would then be eligible for further direct support from the state .
The list currently has 646 of the country ’ s largest companies , accounting for the majority of the Russian workforce .
Businesses eligible for payouts per employee will not be able to apply until the beginning of next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made on May 18 , Putin said .
Despite the new measures , Russia ’ s package of emergency economic measures remains modest .
Sofya Donets , economist at Renaissance Capital , estimates the new program unveiled today takes the government ’ s spending on support for businesses and the economy to around 1.5-2 % of GDP , up only 0.3 percentage points .
That compares to levels topping 10 % of GDP in the U.S. and similarly large commitments in other western European countries .
Alexei Kudrin , head of Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to unleash a stimulus package worth at least 7 % of Russia ’ s GDP to save the economy — more than four times the current level .
“ The small scale of economic support measures will deepen the recession , ” Christopher Granville , managing director of TS Lombard said in a research note Wednesday .
He added that “ the design of much of this support , such as it is , seems liable to aggravate structural problems in the Russian economy .
This threatened blow to growth potential would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes , that much more painful and halting.
” Earlier this week , Putin warned that Russia ’ s coronavirus situation is worsening , saying “ the number of people who are getting sick is increasing , with more cases of severe illness.
” In previous addresses , Putin enacted a nationwide “ non-working ” period to slow the spread of the virus and announced some measures to support businesses but delegated most decision-making authority to regional officials .

The president has previously come under fire from economists and business leaders for not offering a comprehensive support package for businesses sooner, as Russia is now in the third week of a national shutdown which has shuttered most non-essential shops, restaurants and other service businesses.
Reforms to the government-backed system of interest-free salary loans for firms, which has recieved criticism since it launched with businesses and consumers reporting high refusal rates and difficulty accessing credit.
In the Russian president’s fourth televised statement in as many weeks about the coronavirus pandemic, he promised direct financial support to businesses hit hardest by the nationwide lockdown, including small and medium-sized businesses and airlines.
President Vladimir Putin announced a new package of measures to support Russia’s businesses hit by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday.
A government survey of businesses outside Moscow found more than half had been forced to shut down work and most were having trouble paying staff, the Kremlin’s business ombudsman Boris Titov wrote on Facebook. Meanwhile, leading liberal economists called on the government to go significantly further ahead of Putin's speech, pushing for the Central Bank to launch a quantitative easing program and for direct cash payments to citizens.
In his address, Putin also ordered the government to complete a list of companies deemed “systemically important” to the Russian economy, which would then be eligible for further direct support from the state. The list currently has 646 of the country’s largest companies, accounting for the majority of the Russian workforce.
Businesses eligible for payouts per employee will not be able to apply until the beginning of next month, with the first payments to be made on May 18, Putin said.
A modest package
Despite the new measures, Russia’s package of emergency economic measures remains modest.
Sofya Donets, economist at Renaissance Capital, estimates the new program unveiled today takes the government’s spending on support for businesses and the economy to around 1.5-2% of GDP, up only 0.3 percentage points.
That compares to levels topping 10% of GDP in the U.S. and similarly large commitments in other western European countries.
Alexei Kudrin, head of Russia’s Audit Chamber said Monday the government needs to unleash a stimulus package worth at least 7% of Russia’s GDP to save the economy — more than four times the current level.
“The small scale of economic support measures will deepen the recession,” Christopher Granville, managing director of TS Lombard said in a research note Wednesday.
He added that “the design of much of this support, such as it is, seems liable to aggravate structural problems in the Russian economy. This threatened blow to growth potential would make the recovery, when it finally comes, that much more painful and halting.”
Earlier this week, Putin warned that Russia’s coronavirus situation is worsening, saying “the number of people who are getting sick is increasing, with more cases of severe illness.” In previous addresses, Putin enacted a nationwide “non-working” period to slow the spread of the virus and announced some measures to support businesses but delegated most decision-making authority to regional officials.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-15--TV Doctor to Head Russia’s Coronavirus Information Center

Myasnikov , who frequently appears as an expert on pro-Kremlin pundit Vladimir Solovyov ’ s program , has become known for his optimistic outlook toward the pandemic .
He previously predicted that it would be `` impossible '' for the virus to spread to Russia .
Prominent Russian doctor and media personality Alexander Myasnikov will take charge of the national coronavirus information center , BBC Russia reported Wednesday .
The doctor later confirmed that he had been appointed as the head of Russia ’ s coronavirus information center and has already begun to work in the role .
Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informing citizens about the threat of the virus and sharing treatment and prevention methods .
As its head , Myasnikov will also be responsible for cracking down on “ fake news ” about the coronavirus outbreak in Russia .
Myasnikov is close to Moscow City Hall ’ s leadership , BBC Russia reported .
He was previously an adviser to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin during the capital ’ s 2018 mayoral election as well as an adviser to President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 presidential election .
He also heads the Moscow Public Chamber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy commission .
Myasnikov claimed in February that the coronavirus could be helpful for Russians because it had encouraged people to start washing their hands and wearing face masks .
He also said the Russian healthcare system was better prepared for taking on the pandemic than healthcare systems in the West .
In March , Myasnikov forecast that the coronavirus pandemic would subside by mid-April , describing it as a “ seasonal phenomenon.
” He later backtracked on this statement and recommended waiting for “ herd immunity ” to emerge .

Myasnikov, who frequently appears as an expert on pro-Kremlin pundit Vladimir Solovyov’s program, has become known for his optimistic outlook toward the pandemic. He previously predicted that it would be "impossible" for the virus to spread to Russia.
Prominent Russian doctor and media personality Alexander Myasnikov will take charge of the national coronavirus information center, BBC Russia reported Wednesday.
The doctor later confirmed that he had been appointed as the head of Russia’s coronavirus information center and has already begun to work in the role.
Russia’s coronavirus information center is tasked with informing citizens about the threat of the virus and sharing treatment and prevention methods. As its head, Myasnikov will also be responsible for cracking down on “fake news” about the coronavirus outbreak in Russia.
Myasnikov is close to Moscow City Hall’s leadership, BBC Russia reported. He was previously an adviser to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin during the capital’s 2018 mayoral election as well as an adviser to President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 presidential election.
He also heads the Moscow Public Chamber’s health, demography and social policy commission.
Myasnikov claimed in February that the coronavirus could be helpful for Russians because it had encouraged people to start washing their hands and wearing face masks. He also said the Russian healthcare system was better prepared for taking on the pandemic than healthcare systems in the West.
In March, Myasnikov forecast that the coronavirus pandemic would subside by mid-April, describing it as a “seasonal phenomenon.” He later backtracked on this statement and recommended waiting for “herd immunity” to emerge.