themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Russia Marks 600K Coronavirus Cases as Thousands March in V-Day Parade

Russia confirmed 7,176 new coronavirus infections Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 606,881 .
@ @ @ @ @ in new cases have fallen to their lowest levels since April .
Over the past @ @ @ @ @ died , bringing the total toll to 8,513 — a rate considerably lower than in @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic .
A total of 12,393 people recovered over the last 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ of recoveries to 368,822 .
Russia held its landmark Victory Day parade on Red Square @ @ @ @ @ postponed from May 9 due to the coronavirus .
Despite the pandemic , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ the parade , which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis @ @ @ @ @

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Putin’s Grand Plan for Arctic Shipping Might Wreck in Barents Sea

The Northern Sea Route ( NSR ) was again on the agenda as Russia ’ s Arctic Commission convened last week to discuss key developments in the country ’ s north .
The Northern Sea Route covers the waters between the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and the Bering Strait .
The shipping route 's development has been a top priority ever since President Vladimir Putin included it in his `` May Decrees '' in 2018 .
Putin wants annual shipments on the far northern connection between Europe and Asia to reach 80 million tons by 2024 and government officials have now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
In 2017 , a total of 10.7 million tons were transported on the route .
In 2018 , the volume increased to 20.18 million tons and in 2019 to 31.5 million .
But despite plans for a number of major new industrial projects across the region , the road toward 80 million tons is still long and difficult .
In an ingenious bid to inflate volumes , several government representatives have recently proposed to extend the Northern Sea Route to the Barents Sea .
If the seaports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 million ton benchmark would easily be within reach , they argue .
The participants in last week ’ s Arctic Commission meeting decided otherwise .
According to the RBC news website , the Arctic Commission will not extend the territory of the sea route westward nor eastward , as such an extension would require changes in the route 's legal status .

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) was again on the agenda as Russia’s Arctic Commission convened last week to discuss key developments in the country’s north.
The Northern Sea Route covers the waters between the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and the Bering Strait. The shipping route's development has been a top priority ever since President Vladimir Putin included it in his "May Decrees" in 2018.
Putin wants annual shipments on the far northern connection between Europe and Asia to reach 80 million tons by 2024 and government officials have now for grappled with the task for two years.
In 2017, a total of 10.7 million tons were transported on the route. In 2018, the volume increased to 20.18 million tons and in 2019 to 31.5 million.
But despite plans for a number of major new industrial projects across the region, the road toward 80 million tons is still long and difficult.
No route extension
In an ingenious bid to inflate volumes, several government representatives have recently proposed to extend the Northern Sea Route to the Barents Sea. If the seaports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk were included in the NSR, the 80 million ton benchmark would easily be within reach, they argue.
The participants in last week’s Arctic Commission meeting decided otherwise.
According to the RBC news website, the Arctic Commission will not extend the territory of the sea route westward nor eastward, as such an extension would require changes in the route's legal status.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Cubans Lured to Russia Through Old Alliances Left Stranded by Virus

Idalmis Moreno , a nurse with 15 years of clinical experience in her native Cuba , has spent two years trying to gain the migration status in Russia that would allow her to work .
Historical ties and visa-free travel between the countries have made Russia a popular destination for Cuban migrants .
Some , like Moreno , arrive seeking employment through official channels , while others come as tourists and stay to work illegally in construction or buy goods to bring back to Cuba to resell .
But the coronavirus pandemic has left many of them stranded in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartments without official work contracts or knowledge of the language .
“ It ’ s like swimming against the current , ” said Moreno , 56 , who has been providing unofficial medical advice to fellow Cubans during the outbreak .
Russia and Cuba have a long history of economic and cultural ties .
After relations with the United States soured in the wake of the 1959 Cuban Revolution , the communist Latin American nation came to rely heavily on Soviet aid , and its students flocked to Russian universities .
Today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During an official visit to Havana in October , former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev pledged to invest in the country ’ s energy sector and railway system .
Russian tourism to Cuba has also increased in recent years , with nearly 179,000 Russians visiting the island in 2019 .
Since 2018 , Cuban tourists have been able to stay in Russia for up to 90 days without a visa .
This visa exemption makes Russia one of the most popular non-Spanish-speaking destinations for Cuban travelers .
According to the Russian Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 .
Given Cuba ’ s chronic shortages , a new class of entrepreneur has evolved since the government eliminated exit permits in 2013 .
These so-called mulas ( mules ) travel abroad to buy clothing and hard-to-get products like medicine and household appliances .
Cuban citizens are allowed up to 120 kilograms of tax-free imports annually .
Russia may be a distant and expensive destination , but it ’ s still possible to turn a profit .
Spare car parts , for instance , fetch high prices in Cuba , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets .
Other Cubans stay in the country and find cash-in-hand employment .
Cuban middlemen offer plane tickets , housing and a job for a fee of several thousand U.S. dollars .
Russian-speaking Cuban “ businessmen ” charge exorbitant fees for normally free services like visa registration .
“ [ In the process of becoming ] legal in Russia , you easily become the victim of scams , ” said Anna Voronkova , a Russian woman who has volunteered to translate for Cubans receiving medical attention during the pandemic .
Yorgeidys Lavastida ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 25 .
When a Cuban told him he could earn $ 1,500 a month in Russia working in construction , he was sold .
He planned to work for a short time to save money and buy goods for his family .
But when he arrived in Russia and started working he went nearly two months without pay .
“ There was always some excuse , ” he said .
Oscar , who declined to give his real name , said a fellow Cuban swindled him , leaving him stranded without work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be easy to get a job that paid well and that there wouldn ’ t be any problems… All that was a lie , ” he said .
Now Oscar is living in an apartment with seven strangers waiting until international travel resumes .
“ Russia was just a trampoline , ” he said .
Many Cubans travel to Russia under the false impression that the country is a gateway to the European Union .
Traffickers promise them documents that will allow them to continue to Spain or Italy .
When they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Schengen zone , it can be too late to return to Cuba , as some sell their homes to pay for the trip .
When the coronavirus outbreak led the Russian government to suspend international flights and introduce quarantine in late March , Cubans in the country found themselves in dire straits .
With jobs and shopping trips on hold , their savings began to run out .
Videos have appeared in Spanish-language media showing Cubans sleeping in stairwells in Moscow apartment blocks .
On June 3 , a special Azur Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Latin Americans back to their home countries and returned with Russian tourists who had been stranded abroad .
But the $ 630 one-way ticket was too expensive for Cubans working in low-paying jobs in Russia .
The Cuban Consulate in Russia did not immediately respond to requests from The Moscow Times for information on the number of Cuban citizens stranded in Russia on tourist visas .
Although neither the Russian nor the Cuban governments have offered financial support to stranded Cubans , volunteers have pooled resources to help the neediest .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in Moscow for seven years , learned of his compatriots ’ plight , he contacted the Muslim charity Dom Dobroty ( House of Kindness ) , which distributes food to hungry families .
He also launched a Youtube channel where he posts videos teaching Cubans how to navigate Russia ’ s migration procedures .
García said he was motivated to help because of his own struggles as a migrant in Russia .
Through Dom Dobroty , García met Voronkova , who joined the aid campaign for similar reasons .
In 2001 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the 9/11 attacks .
“ I know what it ’ s like when you want to go home but you don ’ t have any money , ” she said .
Together , García , Voronkova and other volunteers bought food and medicine and translated for a group of about 90 Cubans .
Voronkova was struck by strangers ’ willingness to help .
“ The solidarity of the pandemic united people , ” she said .
Donations poured in from Cubans living abroad .
An organization that represents Russian veterans who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed 15,000 rubles .
Sergei Solovyov , a Russian historian specializing in Latin America offered his apartment to Lavastida and four others .
“ I imagined what it must be like to be a family of migrant workers living in a country where you do not know the language , ” he said .

Idalmis Moreno, a nurse with 15 years of clinical experience in her native Cuba, has spent two years trying to gain the migration status in Russia that would allow her to work. Historical ties and visa-free travel between the countries have made Russia a popular destination for Cuban migrants. Some, like Moreno, arrive seeking employment through official channels, while others come as tourists and stay to work illegally in construction or buy goods to bring back to Cuba to resell. But the coronavirus pandemic has left many of them stranded in the Russian capital, often crammed into tiny apartments without official work contracts or knowledge of the language. “It’s like swimming against the current,” said Moreno, 56, who has been providing unofficial medical advice to fellow Cubans during the outbreak.
Russia and Cuba have a long history of economic and cultural ties. After relations with the United States soured in the wake of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the communist Latin American nation came to rely heavily on Soviet aid, and its students flocked to Russian universities. Today, Russia is reasserting its presence in Cuba. During an official visit to Havana in October, former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev pledged to invest in the country’s energy sector and railway system. Russian tourism to Cuba has also increased in recent years, with nearly 179,000 Russians visiting the island in 2019. Since 2018, Cuban tourists have been able to stay in Russia for up to 90 days without a visa. This visa exemption makes Russia one of the most popular non-Spanish-speaking destinations for Cuban travelers. According to the Russian Federal Tourism Agency, 28,000 Cubans visited Russia in 2019. Given Cuba’s chronic shortages, a new class of entrepreneur has evolved since the government eliminated exit permits in 2013. These so-called mulas (mules) travel abroad to buy clothing and hard-to-get products like medicine and household appliances. Cuban citizens are allowed up to 120 kilograms of tax-free imports annually. Russia may be a distant and expensive destination, but it’s still possible to turn a profit. Spare car parts, for instance, fetch high prices in Cuba, where rusty Soviet Ladas still putter along pothole-covered streets. Other Cubans stay in the country and find cash-in-hand employment. Cuban middlemen offer plane tickets, housing and a job for a fee of several thousand U.S. dollars. Russian-speaking Cuban “businessmen” charge exorbitant fees for normally free services like visa registration. “[In the process of becoming] legal in Russia, you easily become the victim of scams,” said Anna Voronkova, a Russian woman who has volunteered to translate for Cubans receiving medical attention during the pandemic.
A rundown home on the outskirts of Moscow inhabited by Cuban migrants. Pedro Luis García's personal archive.
Yorgeidys Lavastida’s monthly salary in Cuba was around $25. When a Cuban told him he could earn $1,500 a month in Russia working in construction, he was sold. He planned to work for a short time to save money and buy goods for his family. But when he arrived in Russia and started working he went nearly two months without pay. “There was always some excuse,” he said. Oscar, who declined to give his real name, said a fellow Cuban swindled him, leaving him stranded without work. “I was told that it would be easy to get a job that paid well and that there wouldn’t be any problems… All that was a lie,” he said. Now Oscar is living in an apartment with seven strangers waiting until international travel resumes. “Russia was just a trampoline,” he said. Many Cubans travel to Russia under the false impression that the country is a gateway to the European Union. Traffickers promise them documents that will allow them to continue to Spain or Italy. When they learn that Russia is not part of the Schengen zone, it can be too late to return to Cuba, as some sell their homes to pay for the trip. When the coronavirus outbreak led the Russian government to suspend international flights and introduce quarantine in late March, Cubans in the country found themselves in dire straits. With jobs and shopping trips on hold, their savings began to run out. Videos have appeared in Spanish-language media showing Cubans sleeping in stairwells in Moscow apartment blocks. On June 3, a special Azur Air flight carried a group of Cubans and other Latin Americans back to their home countries and returned with Russian tourists who had been stranded abroad. But the $630 one-way ticket was too expensive for Cubans working in low-paying jobs in Russia. The Cuban Consulate in Russia did not immediately respond to requests from The Moscow Times for information on the number of Cuban citizens stranded in Russia on tourist visas.
Although neither the Russian nor the Cuban governments have offered financial support to stranded Cubans, volunteers have pooled resources to help the neediest. When Pedro Luis García, who has been living in Moscow for seven years, learned of his compatriots’ plight, he contacted the Muslim charity Dom Dobroty (House of Kindness), which distributes food to hungry families. He also launched a Youtube channel where he posts videos teaching Cubans how to navigate Russia’s migration procedures. García said he was motivated to help because of his own struggles as a migrant in Russia. Through Dom Dobroty, García met Voronkova, who joined the aid campaign for similar reasons. In 2001, she found herself stranded in New York after the 9/11 attacks. “I know what it’s like when you want to go home but you don’t have any money,” she said. Together, García, Voronkova and other volunteers bought food and medicine and translated for a group of about 90 Cubans. Voronkova was struck by strangers’ willingness to help. “The solidarity of the pandemic united people,” she said. Donations poured in from Cubans living abroad. An organization that represents Russian veterans who served in Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis contributed 15,000 rubles. Sergei Solovyov, a Russian historian specializing in Latin America offered his apartment to Lavastida and four others. “I imagined what it must be like to be a family of migrant workers living in a country where you do not know the language,” he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--150K East Ukraine Residents to Vote on Putin’s Constitutional Reforms – Official

Nearly 150,000 residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine with Russian passports will join Russians in voting on a set of constitutional reforms that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule , a Russian official has said .
From June 25 to July 1 , Russians will vote on the constitutional amendments , which contain a controversial clause to “ zero out ” Putin ’ s presidential term limit , allowing him to run for two more six-year terms .
Residents of the eastern Donbass region who hold Russian passports will be able to easily cross the border to cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vodolatsky told the state-run TASS news agency Wednesday .
`` Today , more than 150,000 citizens [ in the Donbass ] already want to vote on the amendments to the Constitution .
...
There ’ s no difficulty in crossing the border for a Russian citizen , '' said Vodolatsky , the First Deputy Chair of the Duma ’ s CIS Affairs and Relations With Russian Nationals Abroad Committee .
Vodolatsky added that while Donbass residents are required to vote on Russian territory , other Russian citizens living abroad can cast their ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has issued Russian citizenship to over 196,000 residents of the Donbass region and neighboring areas of eastern Ukraine that are under Kiev ’ s control since Putin simplified the procedure last year .
Despite a ceasefire signed in 2015 , more than 13,000 people have been killed in six years of bitter war between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass .
Western countries accuse Russia of providing troops , equipment and funding to the separatists and have sanctioned Moscow over its role in the conflict .

Nearly 150,000 residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine with Russian passports will join Russians in voting on a set of constitutional reforms that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule, a Russian official has said. From June 25 to July 1, Russians will vote on the constitutional amendments, which contain a controversial clause to “zero out” Putin’s presidential term limit, allowing him to run for two more six-year terms.
Residents of the eastern Donbass region who hold Russian passports will be able to easily cross the border to cast their ballots, State Duma deputy Viktor Vodolatsky told the state-run TASS news agency Wednesday. "Today, more than 150,000 citizens [in the Donbass] already want to vote on the amendments to the Constitution. ... There’s no difficulty in crossing the border for a Russian citizen," said Vodolatsky, the First Deputy Chair of the Duma’s CIS Affairs and Relations With Russian Nationals Abroad Committee. Vodolatsky added that while Donbass residents are required to vote on Russian territory, other Russian citizens living abroad can cast their ballots at the nearest consulate.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russians Rushing Back to Work as Pre-Virus Life Returns

Since the cancellation of the non-working period , Russia has begun lifting restrictions region-by-region , based on the virus situation in each part of the country .
Russia started easing quarantine restrictions in the middle of May , following a six-week “ non-working period , ” where non-essential workers were either given time off , or told to work from home .
Just 28 % switched to a home office routine , the poll found , 42 % continued going into work , while 30 % stopped working altogether .
Three in four workers who had switched to working from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Work.Ru , cited by business daily RBC , reported Thursday .
Some 68 % are back in the office full-time , 7 % are splitting their time and a quarter are still working from home .
The majority of Russians have stopped working from home and almost immediately returned to offices and workplaces across the country following the relaxation of quarantine measures .
Moscow — the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak — completely cancelled movement restrictions on June 9 .
Shops have been open since June 1 , and bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to fully reopen from Tuesday .
Despite the relaxations , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has called on businesses and employees in the capital to continue working from home , where possible , for “ the coming weeks , if not a month or two , ” warning of the continued risk of infection .
The number of new cases reported in Russia has come down from a peak of over 10,000 in early May , but the country is still reporting more than 7,000 new infections a day , and remains the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Brazil .
Observance of Russia ’ s strict mobility restrictions had already started to wane early in the quarantine period .
Now that many have been officially withdrawn , mobility trackers show Russians racing to return to their pre-virus lifestyle .
Footfall in Moscow ’ s shopping centres is running at three-quarters of its usual level , the Watcom Shopping Index shows .
Yandex ’ s self-isolation index dipped to 0.9 on Tuesday — printing just 0.6 in Moscow .
The index runs from zero to five , with higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the peak of the pandemic , it hit a workday high of 3.5 .
Other data shows how Moscow has gone from one of the quietest cities in Russia to one of the most active in the world .
According to Citymapper , which tracks movement around 40 of the world ’ s largest cities , movement in both Moscow and St. Petersebug was running at around two-thirds of usual levels , while a majority of the other cities had readings below 30 % .

Since the cancellation of the non-working period, Russia has begun lifting restrictions region-by-region, based on the virus situation in each part of the country.
Russia started easing quarantine restrictions in the middle of May, following a six-week “non-working period,” where non-essential workers were either given time off, or told to work from home. Just 28% switched to a home office routine, the poll found, 42% continued going into work, while 30% stopped working altogether.
Three in four workers who had switched to working from home have now returned, a survey by Work.Ru, cited by business daily RBC, reported Thursday. Some 68% are back in the office full-time, 7% are splitting their time and a quarter are still working from home.
The majority of Russians have stopped working from home and almost immediately returned to offices and workplaces across the country following the relaxation of quarantine measures.
Moscow — the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak — completely cancelled movement restrictions on June 9. Shops have been open since June 1, and bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms were allowed to fully reopen from Tuesday.
Despite the relaxations, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has called on businesses and employees in the capital to continue working from home, where possible, for “the coming weeks, if not a month or two,” warning of the continued risk of infection.
The number of new cases reported in Russia has come down from a peak of over 10,000 in early May, but the country is still reporting more than 7,000 new infections a day, and remains the third-most affected country in the world after the U.S. and Brazil.
Observance of Russia’s strict mobility restrictions had already started to wane early in the quarantine period. Now that many have been officially withdrawn, mobility trackers show Russians racing to return to their pre-virus lifestyle.
Footfall in Moscow’s shopping centres is running at three-quarters of its usual level, the Watcom Shopping Index shows. Yandex’s self-isolation index dipped to 0.9 on Tuesday — printing just 0.6 in Moscow. The index runs from zero to five, with higher scores indicating better observance of stay-at-home recommendations. At the peak of the pandemic, it hit a workday high of 3.5.
Other data shows how Moscow has gone from one of the quietest cities in Russia to one of the most active in the world. According to Citymapper, which tracks movement around 40 of the world’s largest cities, movement in both Moscow and St. Petersebug was running at around two-thirds of usual levels, while a majority of the other cities had readings below 30%.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Belarus President Accuses Russia, Poland of Election Interference

The interference is coming from `` those who live in Poland and those who incite from Russia , '' Lukashenko said at a meeting with newly appointed government officials .
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday accused Russia and Poland of interfering in the upcoming presidential election , claims that were quickly denied by the Kremlin .
Lukashenko said he would discuss the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in the near future but cautioned that the situation remained `` extremely difficult . ''
The strongman leader of authoritarian ex-Soviet Belarus is seeking his sixth term as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 .
Many of his critics have been jailed in recent weeks and opposition figures who enjoy robust support from the public have fought hard to get on the ballot , observers say .
Lukashenko , who just Wednesday was in Moscow , said there are `` horrific fakes '' being spread about him , some in Russian anonymous social media accounts .
`` It 's not ours , the information is coming from Russia , '' he said .
`` There are the most modern false technologies being used , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our domestic affairs . ''
The Kremlin flatly denied allegations it was meddling in the ballot , saying it did not interfere in election campaigns in other countries , particularly close allies .
Russia `` is n't meddling , and is n't going to meddle in the electoral processes of any country , let alone those under way in our ally , Belarus , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
Lukashenko 's main election rival Viktor Babaryko was arrested this month on suspicion of committing financial crimes and the next day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foreign plot to stage a popular uprising in Belarus .
`` Obviously , puppeteers are behind them , '' Lukashenko said of his political opponents .
`` They are from both sides .
They contribute from Poland and from Russia . ''
Deputy head of the opposition BNF party , Alexei Yanukevych , called the accusations of foreign interference `` pure propaganda to discredit the opposition , '' done in the Kremlin style .
`` If Russia is really trying to interfere , why not fight Russia , why fight Belarussian society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run-up to the vote has seen a flurry of opposition activity which has stood in stark contrast to the incumbent 's traditional Soviet approach to campaigning .
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , an international election and war monitor , has not recognized any polls in Belarus as free and fair since 1995 .
Nikolai Kozlov , who leads the oppositional United Civic Party , said Russia has interfered in Belarus elections in the past and `` always on the side of Lukashenko . ''
`` It 's difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he told AFP .
`` Clearly people are ready to vote for anybody but Lukashenko . ''
Lukashenko visited Moscow this week to participate in a military parade to mark 75 years since the Soviet Union 's defeat over Nazi Germany .
Russia and Belarus have long had close trade and military cooperation , but the Kremlin has called for deeper integration while Lukashenko has opposed outright unification .

The interference is coming from "those who live in Poland and those who incite from Russia," Lukashenko said at a meeting with newly appointed government officials.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday accused Russia and Poland of interfering in the upcoming presidential election, claims that were quickly denied by the Kremlin.
Lukashenko said he would discuss the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in the near future but cautioned that the situation remained "extremely difficult."
The strongman leader of authoritarian ex-Soviet Belarus is seeking his sixth term as president in the election scheduled for August 9.
Many of his critics have been jailed in recent weeks and opposition figures who enjoy robust support from the public have fought hard to get on the ballot, observers say.
Lukashenko, who just Wednesday was in Moscow, said there are "horrific fakes" being spread about him, some in Russian anonymous social media accounts.
"It's not ours, the information is coming from Russia," he said.
"There are the most modern false technologies being used, there is interference from abroad into our elections, our domestic affairs."
The Kremlin flatly denied allegations it was meddling in the ballot, saying it did not interfere in election campaigns in other countries, particularly close allies.
Russia "isn't meddling, and isn't going to meddle in the electoral processes of any country, let alone those under way in our ally, Belarus," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
'Pure propaganda'
Lukashenko's main election rival Viktor Babaryko was arrested this month on suspicion of committing financial crimes and the next day the president announced his government had foiled a foreign plot to stage a popular uprising in Belarus.
"Obviously, puppeteers are behind them," Lukashenko said of his political opponents. "They are from both sides. They contribute from Poland and from Russia."
Deputy head of the opposition BNF party, Alexei Yanukevych, called the accusations of foreign interference "pure propaganda to discredit the opposition," done in the Kremlin style.
"If Russia is really trying to interfere, why not fight Russia, why fight Belarussian society?" he told AFP.
The run-up to the vote has seen a flurry of opposition activity which has stood in stark contrast to the incumbent's traditional Soviet approach to campaigning.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an international election and war monitor, has not recognized any polls in Belarus as free and fair since 1995.
Nikolai Kozlov, who leads the oppositional United Civic Party, said Russia has interfered in Belarus elections in the past and "always on the side of Lukashenko."
"It's difficult to say what Russia's position is now," he told AFP. "Clearly people are ready to vote for anybody but Lukashenko."
Lukashenko visited Moscow this week to participate in a military parade to mark 75 years since the Soviet Union's defeat over Nazi Germany.
Russia and Belarus have long had close trade and military cooperation, but the Kremlin has called for deeper integration while Lukashenko has opposed outright unification.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russian Communist Unveils Stalin Statue on WWII Anniversary

A Russian communist businessman has unveiled a monument of Josef Stalin that local authorities dubbed illegal on the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II .
The statue is being unveiled as Russia grapples with how to treat the Soviet leader ’ s legacy and amid a contentious worldwide debate over which historical figures deserve to be celebrated .
Several hundred supporters holding red flags attended the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday in the town of Bor across the river from Nizhny Novgorod , a major city 400 kilometers east of Moscow .
The concrete sculpture with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first in the Nizhny Novgorod region , depicts Stalin standing 3 meters tall in a military coat and cap .
“ This statue is a symbol of the fight against corruption in Bor , ” its owner and head of the local Communist Party branch , Alexei Zorov , said at the ceremony .
Across the river , soldiers and military vehicles paraded down the Lower Volga Embankment to mark the Soviet Union 's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 under Stalin .
Zorov said he plans to build a Stalin museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for erecting the monument .
Municipal authorities said the Stalin sculpture was installed illegally and plan to launch an inspection , the Kommersant business daily reported .
Zorov said that the authorities repeatedly refused to allocate land for the monument .
Stalin was repudiated by the Soviet Union after his death in 1953 .
He is blamed for the deaths of millions due to policies that included the forced collectivization of farms that caused famine as well as mass executions and imprisonment .
Many Russians still associate Stalin with the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in World War II .
In a 2019 poll , Stalin ’ s approval rating hit an all-time high of 70 % among Russians .
President Vladimir Putin has been accused of attempting to restore Stalin ’ s image in recent years , calling him a “ complex figure .
”

A Russian communist businessman has unveiled a monument of Josef Stalin that local authorities dubbed illegal on the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II. The statue is being unveiled as Russia grapples with how to treat the Soviet leader’s legacy and amid a contentious worldwide debate over which historical figures deserve to be celebrated.
Several hundred supporters holding red flags attended the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday in the town of Bor across the river from Nizhny Novgorod, a major city 400 kilometers east of Moscow. The concrete sculpture with a bronze finish, which residents says is the first in the Nizhny Novgorod region, depicts Stalin standing 3 meters tall in a military coat and cap. “This statue is a symbol of the fight against corruption in Bor,” its owner and head of the local Communist Party branch, Alexei Zorov, said at the ceremony. Across the river, soldiers and military vehicles paraded down the Lower Volga Embankment to mark the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 under Stalin. Zorov said he plans to build a Stalin museum on the land he had specifically purchased for erecting the monument.
news Siberian Communists Unveil Stalin Monument Amid Controversy Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Aeroflot Still Flying Abroad Despite Russia's International Travel Ban – Vedomosti

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March to slow the coronavirus , allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other government-authorized flights .
Aeroflot has suspended ticket sales for international flights until Aug. 1 , when it said there would be more clarity about when Russia would lift its ban .
Russia ’ s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights due to the coronavirus pandemic , the Vedomosti business daily reported Wednesday .
Aeroflot has been operating flights to New York , Paris , London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since at least early June , Vedomosti cited unnamed employees of three airlines including Aeroflot as saying .
“ These flights are officially registered as cargo , but tickets are sold with permission from Rosaviatsia [ Russia ’ s Federal Air Transport Agency ] , ” two Aeroflot representatives were quoted as saying .
Demand for the semi-legal flights is high despite a lack of advertising , Vedomosti reported , adding that passengers learn about them through word of mouth .
Tickets go on sale less than a week before the flights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within Russia .
The flights are said to return empty .
Vedomosti ’ s sources say that Aeroflot sells tickets to passengers who hold EU citizenship or permanent residency .
Thousands of Russians thought to be either dual nationals or those with permanent residency have reportedly traveled abroad despite border closures imposed at the height of the coronavirus crisis in April .
The European Union , which reopens outside borders next Wednesday , is reportedly considering an initial ban on Russian , American and Brazilian travelers because of their countries ’ high Covid-19 @ @

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March to slow the coronavirus, allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other government-authorized flights. Aeroflot has suspended ticket sales for international flights until Aug. 1, when it said there would be more clarity about when Russia would lift its ban.
Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vedomosti business daily reported Wednesday.
Aeroflot has been operating flights to New York, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Seoul and Tel Aviv since at least early June, Vedomosti cited unnamed employees of three airlines including Aeroflot as saying.
“These flights are officially registered as cargo, but tickets are sold with permission from Rosaviatsia [Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency],” two Aeroflot representatives were quoted as saying.
Demand for the semi-legal flights is high despite a lack of advertising, Vedomosti reported, adding that passengers learn about them through word of mouth.
Tickets go on sale less than a week before the flights and are exponentially more expensive than similar flights within Russia. The flights are said to return empty.
Vedomosti’s sources say that Aeroflot sells tickets to passengers who hold EU citizenship or permanent residency.
Thousands of Russians thought to be either dual nationals or those with permanent residency have reportedly traveled abroad despite border closures imposed at the height of the coronavirus crisis in April. The European Union, which reopens outside borders next Wednesday, is reportedly considering an initial ban on Russian, American and Brazilian travelers because of their countries’ high Covid-19 caseloads.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russia Peddles Putin’s WWII Essay to German Historians – DW

Russian diplomats have been accused of attempting to influence academic freedom by sending President Vladimir Putin ’ s recent essay on World War II to German historians for future research , the Deutsche Welle broadcaster reported Wednesday .
Putin 's 9,000-word screed , published last week in a U.S. magazine , defends the Soviet non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany and blames Western powers for appeasing the Nazis .
Governments in Eastern Europe and historians have accused the Russian president of falsifying facts to advance a more favorable narrative over Stalin-era mass repressions and the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving copies of Putin ’ s essay in an email sent by the Russian Embassy in Berlin , according to DW , which said it obtained a copy of the email .
The email was sent on June 22 , the date when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 .
The embassy urged German historians to “ ‘ use the Vladimir Putin article for future writings on history ’ as there was sure to be ‘ great interest ’ in the article among academics , ” DW reported .
Julia Obertreis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , bristled at “ any unsolicited reading tips from diplomatic posts ” in a Twitter post .
“ There is no way to stop ruling governments from playing politics with history .
But this attempt at influence by the Russian embassy is unacceptable in terms of scientific freedom , ” Obertreis told DW .
Other professors described the Russian embassy ’ s email as “ bewildering ” and “ irritating.
” Putin ’ s article had already “ caused big waves in German media and among politicians and society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin said in response to the outcry .
“ In this context , the embassy thought it appropriate to provide the entire article for those in society and academia who may be interested in this subject , ” it said .
Putin has increasingly sought to assert a different interpretation of World War II ’ s causes than the dominant narrative in the West .
On Wednesday , he staged a massive military parade on Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in a renewed effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army had n't come to defend it , '' Putin said in an address to troops .

Russian diplomats have been accused of attempting to influence academic freedom by sending President Vladimir Putin’s recent essay on World War II to German historians for future research, the Deutsche Welle broadcaster reported Wednesday. Putin's 9,000-word screed, published last week in a U.S. magazine, defends the Soviet non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany and blames Western powers for appeasing the Nazis. Governments in Eastern Europe and historians have accused the Russian president of falsifying facts to advance a more favorable narrative over Stalin-era mass repressions and the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.
A number of German historians have reported receiving copies of Putin’s essay in an email sent by the Russian Embassy in Berlin, according to DW, which said it obtained a copy of the email. The email was sent on June 22, the date when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. The embassy urged German historians to “‘use the Vladimir Putin article for future writings on history’ as there was sure to be ‘great interest’ in the article among academics,” DW reported. Julia Obertreis, a professor of East European history at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, bristled at “any unsolicited reading tips from diplomatic posts” in a Twitter post. “There is no way to stop ruling governments from playing politics with history. But this attempt at influence by the Russian embassy is unacceptable in terms of scientific freedom,” Obertreis told DW.
"...schlagen wir Ihnen vor, den Artikel von Wladimir Putin künftig bei der Vorbereitung von historischen Beiträgen zu nutzen". Bin irritiert von einer E-Mail der Pressestelle der Russ. Botschaft, die gerade kam. Kein wissenschaftlicher Text zum Thema ohne Putin-Zitat mehr...?!? pic.twitter.com/ye716DC1Fa — Julia Obertreis (@JuliaObertreis) June 22, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--As Russia’s Constitution Reform Vote Kicks Off, Election Watchdog Decries ‘Manipulative’ Process

During a company-wide meeting this month at Moscow-region state-run television station Yegoryevsk Today , the chief editor issued a directive .
Staffers were to de-register from the polling stations where they usually vote and re-register at the one in the town of Yegoryevsk .
“ There you can do what you wish , but tomorrow you need to be on my list , ” a woman who is purportedly the editor can be heard telling her staff — some of whom grumble audibly — in a recording sent to the independent election monitoring organization Golos , or Voice .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m just warning you .
Especially during a pandemic : no bonus , no job.
” “ We all live under this government and sometimes we have to step on our own throats , ” she adds .
On Thursday , polls opened nationwide for a vote on amendments to Russia ’ s Constitution , one of which could hand President Vladimir Putin , who was first elected in 2000 , the opportunity to remain in office until 2036 .
Voting on the package of amendments — yes or no to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , which Putin has declared a national holiday to allow Russians to head to polling stations throughout the day .
But ahead of the referendum , which needs more than 50 % yes votes to pass the amendments , Golos warned that the voting procedure may not be entirely free .
In an interview this week , Grigory Melkonyants , a co-chairman of the group , described the vote as the “ most manipulative ” and “ least transparent ” in the country ’ s history — aside from elections during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Soviet Union in 1991 .
“ We ’ ve never had this many complaints from people telling us they are being pressured to vote , ” Melkonyants said , referring to a common practice ahead of elections in Russia , which is nonetheless forbidden by law .
Evidence that companies are mobilizing their employees ahead of the vote has surfaced in recent days , including complaints from librarians at state-run libraries in St. Petersburg and doctors treating coronavirus patients in Arkhangelsk in Russia ’ s north and Vladivostok in the Far East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Not only are companies mobilizing their employees to vote , they are also working to track them to ensure that they have voted , as appears to be the case with Yegoryevsk Today .
This week , Reuters found a scheme assigning QR codes to people lured to register to vote by the opportunity to win a car or an apartment in a polling station raffle , while the Meduza news website reported that some companies are getting the QR codes not just from voluntary raffle signups , but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a website .
A high turnout would improve the already high chances of the constitutional overhaul passing , analysts say .
According to pre-referendum polling by the state-run VtSIOM pollster , between 67 and 71 % of Russians support the amendments .
In stark opposition to Melkonyats , head of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova told the state-run Rossiya 24 television channel this week that the commission has “ never had this few complaints ” ahead of a vote .
In addition to voter coercion , Melkonyants laid out a list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big question mark ” hovering over the results of the vote next week .
The main ones , he said , concern the authorities using the pandemic “ to their advantage.
” By spreading out the vote over seven days and allowing at-home and electronic voting — all ostensibly to limit coronavirus infections by thinning out crowds at polling stations — the authorities are limiting independent observers ’ abilities to track voter fraud , Melkonyants said .
As most observers are volunteers , many will have to ask their employers for time off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-run companies have reported having their requests denied .
If the volunteers do manage to get to polling stations , he said it will be difficult to see if voters are voting for themselves or “ stuffing the ballot under the guise of someone else.
” “ Mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines means observers won ’ t be able to verify a voter ’ s identity , ” Melkonyants said .
Then there is the fact that ballots will be kept at polling stations overnight .
“ This leaves a dark zone in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening , ” Melkonyants said .
“ It opens up the possibility for mass tampering.
” On top of this , observers this time around — unlike in past elections — are not being allowed to freely visit whichever polling stations they please , instead having to wait for approval from local election commissions specifying an allotted polling station .
Moreover , the Central Election Commission will not be requiring video recording at each polling station that observers can later check for possible fraud .
Nor will it be publishing voter data for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my mind is to make the voting maximally non-transparent , ” Melkonyants said .
“ This very seriously influences our trust in the results.
” Right on cue , after polls opened on Thursday , a journalist with the independent Dozhd television channel reported that he had managed to vote twice — first at his polling station , then online .
Aside from all these concerns , Melkonyants also noted that a flaw is built into the referendum itself : the bundling of completely unrelated amendments — from writing God into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enshrining social protections like a guaranteed minimum wage — together as one yes-or-no vote .
If the purpose of a vote is to determine the will of the electorate , this clouds the authorities ’ ability to do so , he said .
“ A person might want to vote yes to one amendment but no to another , ” Melkonyants said .
Critics have said that the numerous amendments are a smoke screen to obscure the fact that the main purpose of the referendum is to give Putin the opportunity to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Notably , ahead of the vote , the authorities have focused on advertising all amendments but that one .
For all of these reasons , Russia ’ s most prominent Kremlin critic and de facto opposition leader Alexei Navalny has called on his supporters to boycott the vote — adding even more likelihood the reforms will pass easily .
“ Voting on the amendments is illegal , meaningless and dangerous to the health of you and your loved ones , ” Navalny wrote on his blog earlier this month .
Although new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and outbreaks are growing in some regions , Russia has mostly lifted its lockdown restrictions .
Critics have said that the reason is to make sure that the Kremlin can push through the constitutional overhaul before discontent over its coronavirus response gains momentum .
According to the latest polling by the independent Levada Center , Putin ’ s approval rating has fallen to 59 % , its lowest ever .
Last month , the group ’ s deputy director Denis Volkov cited dissatisfaction over Russia ’ s economic response to the pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That discontent could fester if economic recovery is protracted .
In an interview on the eve of the vote , Ivan Zhdanov , head of Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation , told The Moscow Times that the group is unlikely to call people to street protests — one of its common tools — no matter next week ’ s results .
Although he believes Putin ’ s falling ratings and people ’ s growing anger will be compounded by the feeling of being “ lied to ” by a dishonest constitutional vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long game .
“ This vote isn ’ t some important event to focus on , ” he said .
“ Putin was always going to find a way to stay in power past 2024 .
The question was just how.
” “ It ’ s an illusion that we could go and vote no , ” Zhdanov added , predicting that the result will end up being in the range of 75 % for to 25 % against .
That result , accordingly to political scientist Yekaterina Schulmann , could see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
“ It will be almost impossible for the organizers of the voting to sell it as a political win , ” she said .
“ If the vote goes through by 55 % , it will be tantamount to losing and will be a hit to the political authority of the regime .
If it goes through by 70 % , it will be perceived as a result of mass falsification .
”

During a company-wide meeting this month at Moscow-region state-run television station Yegoryevsk Today, the chief editor issued a directive. Staffers were to de-register from the polling stations where they usually vote and re-register at the one in the town of Yegoryevsk. “There you can do what you wish, but tomorrow you need to be on my list,” a woman who is purportedly the editor can be heard telling her staff — some of whom grumble audibly — in a recording sent to the independent election monitoring organization Golos, or Voice. “There may be various consequences, I’m just warning you. Especially during a pandemic: no bonus, no job.” “We all live under this government and sometimes we have to step on our own throats,” she adds. On Thursday, polls opened nationwide for a vote on amendments to Russia’s Constitution, one of which could hand President Vladimir Putin, who was first elected in 2000, the opportunity to remain in office until 2036. Voting on the package of amendments — yes or no to all — will run through Wednesday, July 1, which Putin has declared a national holiday to allow Russians to head to polling stations throughout the day. But ahead of the referendum, which needs more than 50% yes votes to pass the amendments, Golos warned that the voting procedure may not be entirely free. In an interview this week, Grigory Melkonyants, a co-chairman of the group, described the vote as the “most manipulative” and “least transparent” in the country’s history — aside from elections during the initial rocky years after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. “We’ve never had this many complaints from people telling us they are being pressured to vote,” Melkonyants said, referring to a common practice ahead of elections in Russia, which is nonetheless forbidden by law.
Evidence that companies are mobilizing their employees ahead of the vote has surfaced in recent days, including complaints from librarians at state-run libraries in St. Petersburg and doctors treating coronavirus patients in Arkhangelsk in Russia’s north and Vladivostok in the Far East, as The Moscow Times reported earlier this week. Not only are companies mobilizing their employees to vote, they are also working to track them to ensure that they have voted, as appears to be the case with Yegoryevsk Today. This week, Reuters found a scheme assigning QR codes to people lured to register to vote by the opportunity to win a car or an apartment in a polling station raffle, while the Meduza news website reported that some companies are getting the QR codes not just from voluntary raffle signups, but by uploading a list of their employees to a website. A high turnout would improve the already high chances of the constitutional overhaul passing, analysts say. According to pre-referendum polling by the state-run VtSIOM pollster, between 67 and 71% of Russians support the amendments. In stark opposition to Melkonyats, head of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova told the state-run Rossiya 24 television channel this week that the commission has “never had this few complaints” ahead of a vote. Question marks In addition to voter coercion, Melkonyants laid out a list of factors he said will leave a “big question mark” hovering over the results of the vote next week. The main ones, he said, concern the authorities using the pandemic “to their advantage.” By spreading out the vote over seven days and allowing at-home and electronic voting — all ostensibly to limit coronavirus infections by thinning out crowds at polling stations — the authorities are limiting independent observers’ abilities to track voter fraud, Melkonyants said. As most observers are volunteers, many will have to ask their employers for time off. Melkonyants said those that work at state-run companies have reported having their requests denied. If the volunteers do manage to get to polling stations, he said it will be difficult to see if voters are voting for themselves or “stuffing the ballot under the guise of someone else.” “Mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines means observers won’t be able to verify a voter’s identity,” Melkonyants said.
Then there is the fact that ballots will be kept at polling stations overnight. “This leaves a dark zone in which we won’t know what is happening,” Melkonyants said. “It opens up the possibility for mass tampering.” On top of this, observers this time around — unlike in past elections — are not being allowed to freely visit whichever polling stations they please, instead having to wait for approval from local election commissions specifying an allotted polling station. Moreover, the Central Election Commission will not be requiring video recording at each polling station that observers can later check for possible fraud. Nor will it be publishing voter data for specific polling stations. “The motivation in my mind is to make the voting maximally non-transparent,” Melkonyants said. “This very seriously influences our trust in the results.” Right on cue, after polls opened on Thursday, a journalist with the independent Dozhd television channel reported that he had managed to vote twice — first at his polling station, then online.
Aside from all these concerns, Melkonyants also noted that a flaw is built into the referendum itself: the bundling of completely unrelated amendments — from writing God into the Constitution to defining marriage as heterosexual to enshrining social protections like a guaranteed minimum wage — together as one yes-or-no vote. If the purpose of a vote is to determine the will of the electorate, this clouds the authorities’ ability to do so, he said. “A person might want to vote yes to one amendment but no to another,” Melkonyants said. Critics have said that the numerous amendments are a smoke screen to obscure the fact that the main purpose of the referendum is to give Putin the opportunity to run for president again in 2024 and 2030. Notably, ahead of the vote, the authorities have focused on advertising all amendments but that one. Opposition plans For all of these reasons, Russia’s most prominent Kremlin critic and de facto opposition leader Alexei Navalny has called on his supporters to boycott the vote — adding even more likelihood the reforms will pass easily. “Voting on the amendments is illegal, meaningless and dangerous to the health of you and your loved ones,” Navalny wrote on his blog earlier this month. Although new daily coronavirus infections remain in the thousands and outbreaks are growing in some regions, Russia has mostly lifted its lockdown restrictions. Critics have said that the reason is to make sure that the Kremlin can push through the constitutional overhaul before discontent over its coronavirus response gains momentum. According to the latest polling by the independent Levada Center, Putin’s approval rating has fallen to 59%, its lowest ever. Last month, the group’s deputy director Denis Volkov cited dissatisfaction over Russia’s economic response to the pandemic as the main reason for the drop. That discontent could fester if economic recovery is protracted.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--U.S. Embassy in Moscow Flies Gay Pride Flag

Starting Thursday , Russians will vote on a set of constitutional amendments that would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia ’ s basic law .
The provision has been criticized by Russian LGBT activists , who say it would effectively prevent gay marriage from ever being legalized .
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has hung a rainbow flag on its front facade , photos posted on social media Thursday show .
`` LGBTI rights are human rights .
Human rights are universal , '' the embassy wrote on its Instagram .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hatred , prejudice and persecution . ''
Thursday also marks the 42nd anniversary of the rainbow flag ’ s first appearance as a gay pride symbol at the 1978 Pride parade in San Francisco .
Displays of the rainbow flag are uncommon in Russia , where the display of “ homosexual propaganda toward minors ” is outlawed and intolerant attitudes toward the LGBT community persist .
The U.S. has long been critical of Russia 's gay rights record .
President Vladimir Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Kremlin staff had n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but added that `` in any event , any display of propaganda of non-traditional sexual minorities in our country is not allowed by law . ''
Earlier this month , U.S. President Donald Trump banned the country ’ s embassies from flying the rainbow flag during June , which is celebrated as LGBT Pride month around the world .
Because the ban only applies to official flagpoles , embassies have placed the flag inside their buildings and hung it on exterior walls as workarounds .

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has hung a rainbow flag on its front facade, photos posted on social media Thursday show. Starting Thursday, Russians will vote on a set of constitutional amendments that would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia’s basic law. The provision has been criticized by Russian LGBT activists, who say it would effectively prevent gay marriage from ever being legalized.
"LGBTI rights are human rights. Human rights are universal," the embassy wrote on its Instagram. "Everyone deserves to live free from hatred, prejudice and persecution." Thursday also marks the 42nd anniversary of the rainbow flag’s first appearance as a gay pride symbol at the 1978 Pride parade in San Francisco. Displays of the rainbow flag are uncommon in Russia, where the display of “homosexual propaganda toward minors” is outlawed and intolerant attitudes toward the LGBT community persist. The U.S. has long been critical of Russia's gay rights record.
Ого! Посольство США в Москве сегодня утро вывесило огромный флаг ЛГБТ 🏳🌈 со стороны Садового кольца.
По Венской конвенции 1961 года, территория посольства экстерриториальна и на ней не действуют законы РФ pic.twitter.com/3g3a0T5N5C — Ilya Klishin (@Vorewig) June 25, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 613K as Constitutional Vote Begins

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8 , a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks .
Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic .
President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay on at the Kremlin beyond his current term .
Critics have cast doubt on Russia 's low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting to play down the scale of the crisis .
Russia attributes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing which has identified many cases with mild or no coronavirus symptoms .
The Health Ministry is now adjusting how it reports numbers to include all deaths believed to be related to the virus even if the direct cause of death was another condition or the patient tested negative .
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin , a liberal politician known for his outspoken comments , said Russia 's health system requires more funds and modernization in many regions .
`` Medicine is significantly underfunded even according to the current norms and also it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who heads the Audit Chamber that examines government spending , said in an interview with the state-run TASS state news agency .
`` We will carry out a check and show these figures , '' he added .
Nevertheless the economist said Russia `` is not doing a bad job with the pandemic , '' crediting the role of the military , which has built emergency facilities .


themoscowtimes--2020-06-25--Explainer: What Are Russians Voting for in Putin’s Constitution Poll?

Millions of Russians are set to go to the polls starting Thursday to vote on a package of constitutional amendments proposed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year .
Putin unleashed a political storm in January with the plan to overhaul the Russian Constitution for the first time since 1993 .
His proposal triggered the cabinet ’ s resignation and the appointment of a new , technocratic prime minister .
The June 25-July 1 plebiscite on the reforms was initially scheduled for April 22 before the coronavirus pandemic scuttled the plans .
Lawmakers , the Constitutional Court and Putin himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kremlin has said they won ’ t go into effect unless a majority of the public votes in their favor .
The Moscow Times looks at some of the key political and social changes which will be enshrined in Russia ’ s new Constitution if Russians vote in their favor : The amendments pave the way for Putin to rule for 12 more years by allowing a sitting or a former president to run for office no matter how many terms they have previously held .
Putin , who has served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , could serve two more six-year terms after his current stint ends in 2024 .
Putin , 67 , has not ruled out running for office again .
Critics have accused authorities of omitting this provision in information guides for voters .
The clause “ resetting ” Putin ’ s presidential terms to zero did not appear until lawmaker Valentina Tereshkova , the first woman in space , proposed it , with Putin approving it in a carefully choreographed move .
The amendments prioritize the Russian Constitution over international treaties and other acts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe ’ s top human rights court , where Russia remains the runaway leader in the number of cases and has amassed millions of euros in fines for violating citizens ’ rights .
Europe ’ s constitutional advisory body urged Russia to remove or reword the clause , but a senator who pushed through the reforms made clear Friday that Russia won ’ t tweak the amendments despite the European advisory body ’ s position .
The amendments would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most widely discussed constitutional changes among the Russian public .
A recent online ad promotes the vote by depicting a dystopian future in Russia where gay couples could adopt children .
Russia has already officially banned gay adoptions amid a slew of anti-gay laws .

Millions of Russians are set to go to the polls starting Thursday to vote on a package of constitutional amendments proposed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
Putin unleashed a political storm in January with the plan to overhaul the Russian Constitution for the first time since 1993. His proposal triggered the cabinet’s resignation and the appointment of a new, technocratic prime minister.
The June 25-July 1 plebiscite on the reforms was initially scheduled for April 22 before the coronavirus pandemic scuttled the plans. Lawmakers, the Constitutional Court and Putin himself backed the changes in March, but the Kremlin has said they won’t go into effect unless a majority of the public votes in their favor.
The Moscow Times looks at some of the key political and social changes which will be enshrined in Russia’s new Constitution if Russians vote in their favor:
Putin 2036
The amendments pave the way for Putin to rule for 12 more years by allowing a sitting or a former president to run for office no matter how many terms they have previously held.
Putin, who has served as either president or prime minister since 1999, could serve two more six-year terms after his current stint ends in 2024. Putin, 67, has not ruled out running for office again.
Critics have accused authorities of omitting this provision in information guides for voters. The clause “resetting” Putin’s presidential terms to zero did not appear until lawmaker Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, proposed it, with Putin approving it in a carefully choreographed move.
National law
The amendments prioritize the Russian Constitution over international treaties and other acts.
Experts view the change as targeting Europe’s top human rights court, where Russia remains the runaway leader in the number of cases and has amassed millions of euros in fines for violating citizens’ rights.
Europe’s constitutional advisory body urged Russia to remove or reword the clause, but a senator who pushed through the reforms made clear Friday that Russia won’t tweak the amendments despite the European advisory body’s position.
Heterosexual marriage
The amendments would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia’s basic law, one of the most widely discussed constitutional changes among the Russian public.
A recent online ad promotes the vote by depicting a dystopian future in Russia where gay couples could adopt children. Russia has already officially banned gay adoptions amid a slew of anti-gay laws.