themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--‘People Could Lose Their Lives’: Medicine Shortages in Russia Have Left Patients Fending for Themsel

‘People Could Lose Their Lives’: Medicine Shortages in Russia Have Left Patients Fending for Themselves

It was late November in St. Petersburg , and , like many residents of the frigid northern city as winter set in , Taisiya Sheremet caught a cold .
But for the 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patient , common colds don ’ t get better in a few days .
Because the disease primarily affects the respiratory system , a sniffle can lead to a lung infection .
Soon , Sheremet ’ s body temperature had soared and she had lost more than 10 % of her body weight .
Her usual strong antibiotic , Fortum , produced by the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , had vanished from the Russian market earlier in 2019 .
It was only through her role as an Instagram influencer with nearly 60,000 followers that she managed to get a course of the medication from Germany .
“ Without it I would have died , ” Sheremet told The Moscow Times .
“ Because of Instagram , I was able to get the medicine in three days .
But what about everyone else ?
” In 2019 , a slew of imported medicines disappeared from Russian pharmacies .
Doctors treating diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancers have sounded the alarm from within a struggling healthcare system plagued by outdated facilities , a lack of funding and low wages .
While changes in Big Pharma policy can cause a shortage of a specific drug in any country , Russia is a specific case because it has compounded the problem by implementing policies aimed at promoting domestic businesses and cutting spending .
The first of these policies , signed into law in 2013 , regulates the Russian government ’ s purchases of goods including software , construction materials and medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : If two Russian companies are bidding for a government tender , foreign bidders are excluded from the auction .
At the time the law was passed , Alexei Maschan , director of the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology , Oncology and Immunology , called it a “ nasty trick ” played on doctors and their patients .
Foreseeing a shortage of foreign medicines as a consequence of the policy , Maschan ’ s clinic stockpiled medication .
Nonetheless , he now says , as the policy has begun to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run low .
“ The problem is that these protectionist measures have limited Western companies ’ access to the market that worked here for decades and whose drugs worked , ” Maschan told The Moscow Times recently .
“ Not only does this policy lower competitiveness , resulting in lower quality , but our producers currently aren ’ t able to supply the right quantity of the medicines anyway.
” Intensifying the effects of the import substitution policy , the Health Ministry at the beginning of 2019 passed a policy that set prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a study by the Moscow-based Headway Group , which monitors tenders , nearly 30 % of medicine purchases fell through over the first half of last year .
One representative of a Western pharmaceutical company that pulled its medication from the market spoke candidly about the decision on the condition they would not be named .
They said that selling a drug on a foreign market has high costs and that lower prices have made it harder to justify selling in Russia .
“ Think of regulations like the weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we can all agree that the weather is not particularly good in Russia.
” As medications disappear , patients who can afford to have tried to source what they need from abroad .
But this can also bring trouble .
In August , one mother was arrested for smuggling a foreign drug for her son ’ s epilepsy that was no longer registered in Russia .
After an uproar , she was released , and then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered that the drug be made accessible .
Experts , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the structural causes — and that even in the decisions made on a case-by-case basis , they ’ re not always solved efficiently .
In late December , the Health Ministry organized a meeting with stakeholders to try to find a solution for the lack of Fortum .
Weeks later , according to Irina Dmitriyeva , who runs Na Odnom Dykhanii — In One Breath — a non-profit organization dedicated to helping cystic fibrosis patients , those affected are still waiting for an answer .
That ’ s despite GSK saying it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug to cover demand , at least in the short-term .
In his state-of-the-nation address last month , President Vladimir Putin called on his government to resolve the issue , though he didn ’ t offer specifics .
“ These kinds of situations can never happen again , ” he said .
For a disease like cystic fibrosis , time is of the essence , as the average lifespan for patients in Russia is 25 .
Since the beginning of 2020 , six young patients that she knows of that she knows of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is absolutely atypical , ” she said , noting that her organization tracks some 4,000 patients around the country .
“ It ’ s clearly a consequence of what they are being treated with.
” “ People could lose their lives because of political decisions , ” she added .

It was late November in St. Petersburg, and, like many residents of the frigid northern city as winter set in, Taisiya Sheremet caught a cold. But for the 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patient, common colds don’t get better in a few days. Because the disease primarily affects the respiratory system, a sniffle can lead to a lung infection. Soon, Sheremet’s body temperature had soared and she had lost more than 10% of her body weight. Her usual strong antibiotic, Fortum, produced by the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), however, had vanished from the Russian market earlier in 2019. It was only through her role as an Instagram influencer with nearly 60,000 followers that she managed to get a course of the medication from Germany. “Without it I would have died,” Sheremet told The Moscow Times. “Because of Instagram, I was able to get the medicine in three days. But what about everyone else?”
In 2019, a slew of imported medicines disappeared from Russian pharmacies. Doctors treating diseases ranging from diabetes to HIV to blood cancers have sounded the alarm from within a struggling healthcare system plagued by outdated facilities, a lack of funding and low wages. While changes in Big Pharma policy can cause a shortage of a specific drug in any country, Russia is a specific case because it has compounded the problem by implementing policies aimed at promoting domestic businesses and cutting spending. The first of these policies, signed into law in 2013, regulates the Russian government’s purchases of goods including software, construction materials and medical equipment. It contains a key stipulation: If two Russian companies are bidding for a government tender, foreign bidders are excluded from the auction. At the time the law was passed, Alexei Maschan, director of the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, called it a “nasty trick” played on doctors and their patients.
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Foreseeing a shortage of foreign medicines as a consequence of the policy, Maschan’s clinic stockpiled medication. Nonetheless, he now says, as the policy has begun to take effect, they are beginning to run low. “The problem is that these protectionist measures have limited Western companies’ access to the market that worked here for decades and whose drugs worked,” Maschan told The Moscow Times recently. “Not only does this policy lower competitiveness, resulting in lower quality, but our producers currently aren’t able to supply the right quantity of the medicines anyway.” Intensifying the effects of the import substitution policy, the Health Ministry at the beginning of 2019 passed a policy that set prices on government tenders at a minimum rate. According to a study by the Moscow-based Headway Group, which monitors tenders, nearly 30% of medicine purchases fell through over the first half of last year. One representative of a Western pharmaceutical company that pulled its medication from the market spoke candidly about the decision on the condition they would not be named. They said that selling a drug on a foreign market has high costs and that lower prices have made it harder to justify selling in Russia. “Think of regulations like the weather,” the representative said. “I think we can all agree that the weather is not particularly good in Russia.”
As medications disappear, patients who can afford to have tried to source what they need from abroad. But this can also bring trouble. In August, one mother was arrested for smuggling a foreign drug for her son’s epilepsy that was no longer registered in Russia. After an uproar, she was released, and then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered that the drug be made accessible. Experts, however, say that piecemeal measures only paper over the structural causes — and that even in the decisions made on a case-by-case basis, they’re not always solved efficiently. In late December, the Health Ministry organized a meeting with stakeholders to try to find a solution for the lack of Fortum. Weeks later, according to Irina Dmitriyeva, who runs Na Odnom Dykhanii — In One Breath — a non-profit organization dedicated to helping cystic fibrosis patients, those affected are still waiting for an answer. That’s despite GSK saying it is ready to deliver a supply of the drug to cover demand, at least in the short-term. In his state-of-the-nation address last month, President Vladimir Putin called on his government to resolve the issue, though he didn’t offer specifics. “These kinds of situations can never happen again,” he said. For a disease like cystic fibrosis, time is of the essence, as the average lifespan for patients in Russia is 25. Since the beginning of 2020, six young patients that she knows of that she knows of have already died, Dmitriyeva said. “This is absolutely atypical,” she said, noting that her organization tracks some 4,000 patients around the country. “It’s clearly a consequence of what they are being treated with.” “People could lose their lives because of political decisions,” she added.
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themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Russia Puts Jailed Baring Vostok Executives Under House Arrest

A Russian court on Wednesday released three men who were taken into custody last year in an embezzlement case against @ @ @ @ @ group , placing them under house arrest instead , the RIA news agency reported .
@ @ @ @ @ Baring Vostok executives , were detained a year ago along with their colleagues , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ national Philippe Delpal .
All five deny wrongdoing and say the charges against them are @ @ @ @ @ in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank Vostochny .
The case has rattled @ @ @ @ @ prompted several prominent officials and businessmen to voice concerns about the treatment of the executives @ @ @ @ @ both moved to house arrest last year .
Baring Vostok 's supporters in the case @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday as the court ruled to move executives Vagan Abgaryan , Ivan Zyuzin and Maxim @ @ @ @ @ April 12 , RIA reported .

The men, including two Baring Vostok executives, were detained a year ago along with their colleagues, U.S. investor Michael Calvey and French national Philippe Delpal.
A Russian court on Wednesday released three men who were taken into custody last year in an embezzlement case against the Baring Vostok private equity group, placing them under house arrest instead, the RIA news agency reported.
All five deny wrongdoing and say the charges against them are being used to pressure them in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank Vostochny.
The case has rattled Russia's business community and prompted several prominent officials and businessmen to voice concerns about the treatment of the executives. Calvey and Delpal were both moved to house arrest last year.
Baring Vostok's supporters in the case clapped in the courtroom on Wednesday as the court ruled to move executives Vagan Abgaryan, Ivan Zyuzin and Maxim Vladimirov to house arrest until April 12, RIA reported.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Swimming Pool in Russia’s North Caucasus Must Overturn Ban on Women

The prosecutor 's office in the majority Muslim republic of Dagestan ruled that the Anzhi Arena ’ s actions were illegal and a violation of human rights , although it stopped short of calling the ban discrimination .
A swimming pool in southern Russia that banned women has been ordered to reverse its decision , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday .
“ The restriction on female visitors to the pool contains formal signs of discrimination , but isn ’ t discrimination itself , ” Kommersant quoted a statement from the prosecutor ’ s office as saying .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impairment of women ’ s rights and legitimate interests.
” Men and women in the North Caucasus often visit sports facilities on separate days , but the Anzhi Arena in January prohibited women entirely .
The sports complex said on Instagram that it had introduced the rule for commercial reasons because there were almost no visitors on women ’ s days , but later deleted the post .
Olga Gnezdilova , a lawyer with the Rights Initiative Project , told Kommersant that the ruling is a “ good result , ” despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pool would face fines and a suspension of activities if it defied the ruling , she added .
Anzhi Arena described the 50-meter pool as the North Caucasus region ’ s largest when it opened in the summer of 2019 .

The prosecutor's office in the majority Muslim republic of Dagestan ruled that the Anzhi Arena’s actions were illegal and a violation of human rights, although it stopped short of calling the ban discrimination.
A swimming pool in southern Russia that banned women has been ordered to reverse its decision, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.
“The restriction on female visitors to the pool contains formal signs of discrimination, but isn’t discrimination itself,” Kommersant quoted a statement from the prosecutor’s office as saying. “There is no direct intention aimed at the impairment of women’s rights and legitimate interests.”
Men and women in the North Caucasus often visit sports facilities on separate days, but the Anzhi Arena in January prohibited women entirely. The sports complex said on Instagram that it had introduced the rule for commercial reasons because there were almost no visitors on women’s days, but later deleted the post.
Olga Gnezdilova, a lawyer with the Rights Initiative Project, told Kommersant that the ruling is a “good result,” despite the original ban being obvious discrimination. The pool would face fines and a suspension of activities if it defied the ruling, she added.
Anzhi Arena described the 50-meter pool as the North Caucasus region’s largest when it opened in the summer of 2019.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Queen Elizabeth Puts Moscow Apartment Up for Sale, Reports Say

“ Her Majesty the Queen , who rules over Canada ” is listed as the owner of at least four low-rise block apartments overlooking Christ the Savior Cathedral , Russian media reported last year .
The properties belong to the Canadian government , where Queen Elizabeth is the nominal head of state , Canada ’ s Embassy in Moscow told the Baza news outlet .
An elite apartment registered under Queen Elizabeth II ’ s name is up for sale in central Moscow , the online tabloid 7days.ru reported Tuesday .
One of the four apartments now appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlet did not name the sales agent in charge of the deal , identifying it only as “ the capital ’ s largest real estate agency.
” An unconfirmed report by Moscow ’ s 360 TV broadcaster claimed that British diplomats reside in Queen Elizabeth ’ s properties .
Baza placed the combined value of the four apartments , which it says were purchased in 2002 and 2003 around the time the building was constructed , at 540 million rubles ( $ 8.6 million ) last July .
The Queen last visited Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first reigning British monarch to visit the country .

“Her Majesty the Queen, who rules over Canada” is listed as the owner of at least four low-rise block apartments overlooking Christ the Savior Cathedral, Russian media reported last year. The properties belong to the Canadian government, where Queen Elizabeth is the nominal head of state, Canada’s Embassy in Moscow told the Baza news outlet.
An elite apartment registered under Queen Elizabeth II’s name is up for sale in central Moscow, the online tabloid 7days.ru reported Tuesday.
One of the four apartments now appears to be on sale, 7days.ru reported.
The outlet did not name the sales agent in charge of the deal, identifying it only as “the capital’s largest real estate agency.”
An unconfirmed report by Moscow’s 360 TV broadcaster claimed that British diplomats reside in Queen Elizabeth’s properties.
Baza placed the combined value of the four apartments, which it says were purchased in 2002 and 2003 around the time the building was constructed, at 540 million rubles ($8.6 million) last July.
The Queen last visited Russia in 1994, making history as the first reigning British monarch to visit the country.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Russian Police Detain and Pressure Convicted Anti-Fascists’ Supporters – Reports

Police in the central Russian city of Penza detained and allegedly pressured a group of activists who had come to support jailed members of an anti-fascist group , Russian media reported Tuesday .
Seven members of the group Set — Russian for “ Network ” — were sentenced to up to 18 years on terrorism charges in Penza on Monday in a case that observers have compared to a Soviet-era show trial .
Olga Misik , Anna Loyko , Sergei Zapolnov and Nikolai Sokolov had come to Penza from Moscow to join other activists in supporting the seven anti-fascists as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers detained the four activists at the Penza train station on suspicion of vandalism and graffiti , the MBKh Media news website reported , citing the police .
Misik wrote that officers had beaten the activists and torn their clothes while they were in custody .
The activists were later released without charges , MBKh Media reported .
Vladislav Barabanov , an activist and ex-defendant in the so-called `` Moscow Case , '' told The Moscow Times that Loyko was punched in the face , her jacket was torn and her mask of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in detention .
Around the same time , officers arrived at the apartment where the activists were staying , the independent Moloko Plus news outlet reported .
The apartment is rented by a brother of one of the convicted Set members .
The officers reportedly said they were responding to a noise complaint .
After the activists inside the apartment refused to open the door , the officers shut off the apartment ’ s electricity and asked the landlord to make the activists leave , MBKh Media reported .
Neither the police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press service responded to The Moscow Times ’ requests for comment .
The seven members of Set — Russian for “ Network ” — from Penza were detained alongside four other members in St. Petersburg in 2017 .
Investigators claim that they planned attacks during the 2018 presidential election and the football World Cup , while rights groups say the case is “ fabricated ” and based on testimonies extracted through torture .
Russia added Set to its list of banned terrorist organizations last year .

Police in the central Russian city of Penza detained and allegedly pressured a group of activists who had come to support jailed members of an anti-fascist group, Russian media reported Tuesday. Seven members of the group Set — Russian for “Network” — were sentenced to up to 18 years on terrorism charges in Penza on Monday in a case that observers have compared to a Soviet-era show trial. Olga Misik, Anna Loyko, Sergei Zapolnov and Nikolai Sokolov had come to Penza from Moscow to join other activists in supporting the seven anti-fascists as their verdicts were being read.
Police officers detained the four activists at the Penza train station on suspicion of vandalism and graffiti, the MBKh Media news website reported, citing the police. Misik wrote that officers had beaten the activists and torn their clothes while they were in custody. The activists were later released without charges, MBKh Media reported. Vladislav Barabanov, an activist and ex-defendant in the so-called "Moscow Case," told The Moscow Times that Loyko was punched in the face, her jacket was torn and her mask of Boris Yeltsin was seized by police while in detention.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Dubai Court Rules Against Superyacht Freeze Order in Divorce Battle

A Dubai appeal court has dismissed a freezing order on a $ 436 million superyacht belonging to a Russian billionaire at the center of one of the world 's costliest divorce battles , according to a copy of the final ruling reviewed by Reuters .
But it is still not clear whether superyacht M.V .
Luna , impounded in 2018 , will be able to depart Dubai after a British court 's freezing order was dismissed on Feb. 5 .
Oil and gas tycoon Farkhad Akhmedov was ordered to pay about 40 % of his fortune to his former wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , in one of the largest divorce settlements in legal history .
But he failed to pay the 453 million pound ( $ 588 million ) divorce bill and the London court granted a worldwide freezing order , under which Akhmedov 's yacht was impounded in the Gulf Arab emirate .
A spokesman for Tatiana Akhmedova , who is trying to enforce the freezing order , said an injunction from the Marshall Islands prevents the yacht from setting sail .
The vessel was still moored on Wednesday , according to Refinitiv @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expedition yacht built for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich before Akhmedov bought it in 2014 , has at least nine decks , space for 50 crew , two helipads , a vast swimming pool and a mini-submarine .

A Dubai appeal court has dismissed a freezing order on a $436 million superyacht belonging to a Russian billionaire at the center of one of the world's costliest divorce battles, according to a copy of the final ruling reviewed by Reuters.
But it is still not clear whether superyacht M.V. Luna, impounded in 2018, will be able to depart Dubai after a British court's freezing order was dismissed on Feb. 5.
Oil and gas tycoon Farkhad Akhmedov was ordered to pay about 40% of his fortune to his former wife Tatiana Akmedova by London's High Court in 2016, in one of the largest divorce settlements in legal history.
But he failed to pay the 453 million pound ($588 million) divorce bill and the London court granted a worldwide freezing order, under which Akhmedov's yacht was impounded in the Gulf Arab emirate.
A spokesman for Tatiana Akhmedova, who is trying to enforce the freezing order, said an injunction from the Marshall Islands prevents the yacht from setting sail.
The vessel was still moored on Wednesday, according to Refinitiv ship tracking data.
Luna, an expedition yacht built for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich before Akhmedov bought it in 2014, has at least nine decks, space for 50 crew, two helipads, a vast swimming pool and a mini-submarine.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Putin Squeezes Belarus Strongman in Drive to Skirt Term Limits

Vladimir Putin ’ s surprise firing of Russia ’ s government and unveiling of constitutional changes that would weaken the presidency may only be Plan B for retaining power after his final term ends in 2024 .
In the month before Putin ’ s Jan. 15 announcement , he ’ d pushed hard to convince his longer-serving counterpart in Belarus , Alexander Lukashenko , to revive a moribund agreement to create a superstate between the neighboring former Soviet republics , two Kremlin officials said .
So far , Plan A has failed , even after another face-to-face between the leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former collective farm boss who ’ s run his country of 10 million like a personal fiefdom for a quarter century , is paying the price for rejecting Putin .
On Jan. 1 , Putin started squeezing the lifeblood of Belarus ’ s economy — cheap crude oil , which Belarus refines and exports for badly needed hard currency .
Russian oil supplies to Belarus plunged by three-fourths in January and officials in Moscow say flows may stop altogether if Lukashenko doesn ’ t agree with its producers on market prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sidestep term limits by becoming the leader of a new “ Union State.
” Lukashenko , though once a supporter of the merger , is adamantly opposed , people close to the Kremlin said .
The idea was first agreed in principle in 1999 between Lukashenko and Russia ’ s then-ailing president , Boris Yeltsin .
“ Putin sees himself as a world leader and it ’ s very hard for him to disassociate himself from the role of president , ” said Gleb Pavlovsky , a Kremlin adviser from 2000 to 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocating would give him some oversight over his successor as head of a strengthened State Council , the “ ideal option is Belarus , ” he said .
The standoff is becoming an issue of international concern , especially in light of Russia ’ s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in the wake of the overthrow of a Putin ally in Kiev in 2014 .
The Defense Ministry in Lithuania , which borders both Russia and Belarus , warned in its 2020 threat assessment that Lukashenko has few cards left to play to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeper political integration.
” The Lithuanian report followed the first visit to Minsk by a U.S. secretary of state , Mike Pompeo , since 1994 .
Pompeo told Lukashenko on Feb. 1 that American companies stood ready to meet Belarus ’ s oil needs at competitive prices .

Vladimir Putin’s surprise firing of Russia’s government and unveiling of constitutional changes that would weaken the presidency may only be Plan B for retaining power after his final term ends in 2024. In the month before Putin’s Jan. 15 announcement, he’d pushed hard to convince his longer-serving counterpart in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to revive a moribund agreement to create a superstate between the neighboring former Soviet republics, two Kremlin officials said. So far, Plan A has failed, even after another face-to-face between the leaders in Sochi last Friday. And Lukashenko, a former collective farm boss who’s run his country of 10 million like a personal fiefdom for a quarter century, is paying the price for rejecting Putin. On Jan. 1, Putin started squeezing the lifeblood of Belarus’s economy — cheap crude oil, which Belarus refines and exports for badly needed hard currency. Russian oil supplies to Belarus plunged by three-fourths in January and officials in Moscow say flows may stop altogether if Lukashenko doesn’t agree with its producers on market prices. Absorbing Belarus would allow Putin to sidestep term limits by becoming the leader of a new “Union State.” Lukashenko, though once a supporter of the merger, is adamantly opposed, people close to the Kremlin said. The idea was first agreed in principle in 1999 between Lukashenko and Russia’s then-ailing president, Boris Yeltsin. “Putin sees himself as a world leader and it’s very hard for him to disassociate himself from the role of president,” said Gleb Pavlovsky, a Kremlin adviser from 2000 to 2011. While the constitutional amendments Putin is advocating would give him some oversight over his successor as head of a strengthened State Council, the “ideal option is Belarus,” he said. Pompeo visit The standoff is becoming an issue of international concern, especially in light of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in the wake of the overthrow of a Putin ally in Kiev in 2014. The Defense Ministry in Lithuania, which borders both Russia and Belarus, warned in its 2020 threat assessment that Lukashenko has few cards left to play to resist Putin’s pursuit of “deeper political integration.” The Lithuanian report followed the first visit to Minsk by a U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, since 1994. Pompeo told Lukashenko on Feb. 1 that American companies stood ready to meet Belarus’s oil needs at competitive prices.
That marked a stark turnaround from previous U.S. administrations. In 2005, Condoleezza Rice, then-President George W. Bush‘s secretary of state, called Lukashenko’s Belarus “Europe’s last dictatorship.” The following year, Bush imposed sanctions on Lukashenko’s “regime” for undermining “democratic processes,” penalties that were prolonged and widened by the Obama administration. Lukashenko, 65, has proven deft at playing East and West off one another to maintain his country’s independence. Addressing voters ahead of presidential elections in August, he said Pompeo’s visit created a “scandal” in Russia, so imagine the reaction if he decided to become friends with U.S. President Donald Trump. “If Trump comes tomorrow, what will they do then?” Lukashenko said in remarks posted on his website. “We are establishing relations with the greatest empire, the leading country in the world.” ‘Never!’ Lukashenko said in an interview with Russia’s leading talk radio station on Dec. 24 that Putin once offered him a parliamentary job in Moscow if he allowed their two countries to unite. Asked by Ekho Moskvy about getting dragged into Putin’s plans for staying in power after 2024, the Belarusian leader said, “I’m not involved in this and I will never be. And I told this to your president. I don’t need anyone to give me some parliament post in Russia -- even if they convict me and bring me there in handcuffs! Never!”


themoscowtimes--2020-02-12--Russian Submarine Officer in Syria Fired for Drunken Anti-Putin Swearing

Captain lieutenant Oleg Lavrenchuk was said to have consumed alcohol with five other service members in June 2019 after finding out that their tour in Syria would be extended .
Lavrenchuk initially got off with a warning after admitting his guilt , but was later fired “ for gross misconduct.
” A Russian submarine officer in Syria has been discharged for drinking and cursing at President Vladimir Putin ’ s portrait , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday .
“ Lavrenchuk used foul language toward the military commandants as well as the portrait of Russia ’ s supreme commander , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 17-year Russian Navy veteran reportedly had two and a half years left until retirement .
At least two military courts have struck down Lavrenchuk ’ s appeals for reinstatement .
Lavrenchuk ’ s lawyers claimed that his commanding officers failed to take into account his good character and clean disciplinary record .
They also maintained that Lavrenchuk and his fellow servicemen drank “ during off-duty hours , which did not affect the unit ’ s combat readiness.
” The court documents were reported to have said that Lavrenchuk “ could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was depressed after finding out that his long tour of duty outside Russia was extended.
” Russia maintains a permanent military presence in Syria , which is gripped by a nine-year civil war , with a naval base on the Mediterranean and an airbase in the country ’ s northwest .

Captain lieutenant Oleg Lavrenchuk was said to have consumed alcohol with five other service members in June 2019 after finding out that their tour in Syria would be extended. Lavrenchuk initially got off with a warning after admitting his guilt, but was later fired “for gross misconduct.”
A Russian submarine officer in Syria has been discharged for drinking and cursing at President Vladimir Putin’s portrait, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.
“Lavrenchuk used foul language toward the military commandants as well as the portrait of Russia’s supreme commander,” Kommersant quoted court documents as saying.
The 17-year Russian Navy veteran reportedly had two and a half years left until retirement.
At least two military courts have struck down Lavrenchuk’s appeals for reinstatement.
Lavrenchuk’s lawyers claimed that his commanding officers failed to take into account his good character and clean disciplinary record. They also maintained that Lavrenchuk and his fellow servicemen drank “during off-duty hours, which did not affect the unit’s combat readiness.”
The court documents were reported to have said that Lavrenchuk “could not refrain from drinking alcohol, since he was depressed after finding out that his long tour of duty outside Russia was extended.”
Russia maintains a permanent military presence in Syria, which is gripped by a nine-year civil war, with a naval base on the Mediterranean and an airbase in the country’s northwest.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russian Scientist Sentenced to 7.5 Years for Treason

Alexei Temirev , a Doctor of Technical Sciences from the city of Novocherkassk , was detained in July 2018 and his case files were classified .
Investigators accused him of sending state secrets to authorities in Vietnam , the RBC news website cited his lawyer Anna Polozova as saying .
A court in southern Russia has sentenced a scientist to seven and a half years in prison for treason , the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday .
The Rostov regional court convicted Temirev of high treason , a charge that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was convicted for sending information about submarine power supply equipment he had created with his Vietnamese graduate student .
She maintained that this information was not classified .
“ It ’ s in the public domain , in a book that any library has , ” she said .
Temirev may have been arrested in connection with a leak of classified information about “ sensitive research for the creation of weapons and military equipment for the Navy , ” the Kommersant business daily reported after he was detained .
Temirev had been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides technology to the Russian Navy , including a battery monitoring and diagnostics system that is installed on Varshavyanka diesel-electric submarines .

Alexei Temirev, a Doctor of Technical Sciences from the city of Novocherkassk, was detained in July 2018 and his case files were classified. Investigators accused him of sending state secrets to authorities in Vietnam, the RBC news website cited his lawyer Anna Polozova as saying.
A court in southern Russia has sentenced a scientist to seven and a half years in prison for treason, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday.
The Rostov regional court convicted Temirev of high treason, a charge that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.
Polozova told RBC that her client was convicted for sending information about submarine power supply equipment he had created with his Vietnamese graduate student. She maintained that this information was not classified.
“It’s in the public domain, in a book that any library has,” she said.
Temirev may have been arrested in connection with a leak of classified information about “sensitive research for the creation of weapons and military equipment for the Navy,” the Kommersant business daily reported after he was detained.
Temirev had been the head of Mechatronica, a company that provides technology to the Russian Navy, including a battery monitoring and diagnostics system that is installed on Varshavyanka diesel-electric submarines.
The scientist didn’t appeal the court’s decision, TASS reported.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russia Fines Twitter and Facebook $63,000 Each Over Data Law

A Russian court on Thursday fined social media companies Twitter and Facebook 4 million rubles ( $ 62,845 ) each @ @ @ @ @ with a Russian data law , the state-run RIA news agency reported .
The Tagansky @ @ @ @ @ Facebook for its refusal to put its server holding data about Russian citizens on Russian @ @ @ @ @ an identical fine for the same offense .

A Russian court on Thursday fined social media companies Twitter and Facebook 4 million rubles ($62,845) each for their failure to comply with a Russian data law, the state-run RIA news agency reported.
The Tagansky District Court in Moscow fined Facebook for its refusal to put its server holding data about Russian citizens on Russian territory after earlier handing Twitter an identical fine for the same offense.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russia Adds U.S. News Site RFE/RL to ‘Foreign Agent’ Roster

President Vladimir Putin signed the law in November 2017 , allowing the “ foreign agent ” designation to be placed on news outlets that receive funding from abroad .
Russian lawmakers said they acted in response to U.S. pressure for Kremlin-funded media to register under anti-propaganda laws , a claim that RFE/RL ’ s parent company called “ severely ” misguided .
Russia has added the legal entity of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty news organization to its list of “ foreign agent ” media Wednesday under a controversial law that requires listed outlets to disclose their funding sources .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 11th news organization to be added to Russia ’ s roster of “ foreign agents.
” The list is entirely made up of RFE/RL ’ s Russian-language regional branches and other U.S.-funded outlets , including the Voice of America broadcaster and their joint project Current Time TV .
RFE/RL said it had filed the paperwork to register its Russian-language service , known as Radio Svoboda , as a “ foreign agent ” with Russia ’ s tax authorities last month .
Russia has gradually expanded its “ foreign agent ” law targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” organizations and media outlets .
A December 2019 law also expanded the “ foreign agent ” label to encompass individual journalists and bloggers .

President Vladimir Putin signed the law in November 2017, allowing the “foreign agent” designation to be placed on news outlets that receive funding from abroad. Russian lawmakers said they acted in response to U.S. pressure for Kremlin-funded media to register under anti-propaganda laws, a claim that RFE/RL’s parent company called “severely” misguided.
Russia has added the legal entity of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty news organization to its list of “foreign agent” media Wednesday under a controversial law that requires listed outlets to disclose their funding sources.
RFE/RL’s Russian legal entity becomes the 11th news organization to be added to Russia’s roster of “foreign agents.”
The list is entirely made up of RFE/RL’s Russian-language regional branches and other U.S.-funded outlets, including the Voice of America broadcaster and their joint project Current Time TV.
RFE/RL said it had filed the paperwork to register its Russian-language service, known as Radio Svoboda, as a “foreign agent” with Russia’s tax authorities last month.
Russia has gradually expanded its “foreign agent” law targeting NGOs since 2012 to include “undesirable” organizations and media outlets. A December 2019 law also expanded the “foreign agent” label to encompass individual journalists and bloggers.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Google Searches for HIV Tests Soar by 5,000% After Russian Blogger’s Doc

Russians flocked to Google for information about HIV tests after an influential YouTuber ’ s documentary shed light on the scale of the country ’ s HIV epidemic this week .
Journalist Yury Dud ’ s two-hour documentary addresses what he refers to as an ignored issue that “ affects each and every one ” of his millions of subscribers .
Almost 8 million people viewed Dud ’ s HIV documentary in the 48 hours since it went online Tuesday .
“ We filmed this episode to add knowledge and make life a little easier for those with HIV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of searches for Russian-language terms relating to HIV tests was up by a combined 5,500 % around the world by Wednesday evening , according to a Google Trends screenshot shared by Ukrainian HIV campaigner Inna Gavrilova .
She attributes the spike in users ’ interest to Dud ’ s popularity .
HIV was Russia ’ s second-most-searched term on Tuesday , the day Dud ’ s documentary came out .
More than 1 million people in Russia live with HIV and a record 37,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses there in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia risked developing an out-of-control HIV epidemic after data showed a record number of new cases in 2017 .
Most came from heterosexual sex as the disease spread outside high-risk groups .
Russia ’ s Health Ministry has argued that the increase in Russia 's HIV-positive population indicates that fewer people die from complications linked with the disease .

Russians flocked to Google for information about HIV tests after an influential YouTuber’s documentary shed light on the scale of the country’s HIV epidemic this week. Journalist Yury Dud’s two-hour documentary addresses what he refers to as an ignored issue that “affects each and every one” of his millions of subscribers. Almost 8 million people viewed Dud’s HIV documentary in the 48 hours since it went online Tuesday.
“We filmed this episode to add knowledge and make life a little easier for those with HIV,” Dud says in the video. The number of searches for Russian-language terms relating to HIV tests was up by a combined 5,500% around the world by Wednesday evening, according to a Google Trends screenshot shared by Ukrainian HIV campaigner Inna Gavrilova. She attributes the spike in users’ interest to Dud’s popularity.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russian Pranksters Scare Population with Coronavirus Pranks

As the coronavirus epidemic continues its rapid spread worldwide , Russian pranksters have been staging coronavirus scares in public places @ @ @ @ @ seizures and even dressing up in hazmat suits to detain 'sick ' people .
One @ @ @ @ @ Moscow metro on Feb. 2 when he collapsed on the floor of a metro car @ @ @ @ @ prompting police to later detain him .
He now faces up to five years in @ @ @ @ @ only been two reported cases of the coronavirus in Russia so far , public anxiety @ @ @ @ @ people wearing medical masks as a precaution .

As the coronavirus epidemic continues its rapid spread worldwide, Russian pranksters have been staging coronavirus scares in public places, pretending to have virus-induced seizures and even dressing up in hazmat suits to detain 'sick' people.
One man caused panic on the Moscow metro on Feb. 2 when he collapsed on the floor of a metro car and faked a seizure, prompting police to later detain him.
He now faces up to five years in jail.
While there have only been two reported cases of the coronavirus in Russia so far, public anxiety is high, with many people wearing medical masks as a precaution.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Kremlin Critic Faces Jail for Medvedev Bribery Investigation

A vocal Kremlin critic faces up to two years in prison for defying an order to take down a video @ @ @ @ @ .
Ivan Zhdanov , the head of opposition leader Alexei Navalny ’ s anti-corruption group @ @ @ @ @ with failing to delete the bombshell 2017 video implicating then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in illicit @ @ @

A vocal Kremlin critic faces up to two years in prison for defying an order to take down a video investigation alleging high-level government corruption.
Ivan Zhdanov, the head of opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption group, was charged in August with failing to delete the bombshell 2017 video implicating then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in illicit property deals.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Putin Keeps Stalin’s Crimes Under Wraps in WWII Battle With West

As Russia prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory , President Vladimir Putin is stepping up his defense of Josef Stalin and digging in against calls to open up secret archives on the Soviet state ’ s killing of millions of its own citizens .
People in places such as Butovo where more than 20,000 victims lie in a mass grave in a former Czarist-era estate about 32 kilometers outside Moscow .
Some were gassed to death in the back of trucks that transported them in their underwear to the killing grounds during Stalin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We need to know the truth , ” said Kirill Kaleda , a Russian Orthodox priest whose grandfather was among those killed and who ’ s part of a campaign for full disclosure of the fate of victims of Stalin ’ s repression .
“ We shouldn ’ t try to cover it up.
” With the Kremlin inviting world leaders to major commemorations in May of the victory in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War , Putin is cranking up his rhetoric against western powers over the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , Russia denounced a European Parliament resolution that equated Nazi Germany with the Soviet Union and said the pact ’ s secret deal to carve up Poland and the Baltic States “ paved the way ” for war .
The president ’ s prickliness over Stalin ’ s historical legacy reflects his view of the Soviet role in WWII , in which 27 million of its people died , including a brother he never knew during the Nazi siege of Leningrad , now St. Petersburg .
He ’ s made the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally Russians behind his vision of a powerful nation that ’ s unapologetic about its past and able to stand up to the West after the Soviet superpower ’ s humiliating collapse .
It ’ s a vision that flies in the face of the mass repressions under Stalin and the history of Soviet occupation of eastern Europe following the war .
Preparations for the WWII anniversary are also taking place in parallel with constitutional changes Putin ’ s pushing through that may allow him to continue ruling Russia after the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has stoked patriotism to retain public support in the confrontation with the U.S. and its allies over his 2014 annexation of Crimea and military intervention in eastern Ukraine , as Russians have endured five years of falling incomes amid international sanctions .
While he has criticized Stalin ’ s “ personality cult ” and labeled his methods “ unacceptable , ” Putin accused the West of exploiting the issue to tarnish the Soviet Union and Russia in a 2017 interview with U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone , saying the Communist leader had been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Soviet record threatens to undermine Russian efforts to ease tensions with the West .
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson are considering Putin ’ s invitation to attend the annual Red Square military parade in Moscow on May 9 .
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he ’ ll go .
Putin told leaders of former Soviet republics in December that the Kremlin had to sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact to buy time to build up the country ’ s defenses after Britain and France betrayed Moscow by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They want to shift the blame for unleashing World War II from the Nazis to the Communists , ” Putin said in the address broadcast on state TV .
He has also repeatedly lashed out at Poland , accusing it of “ conspiring ” with Hitler and calling the Polish ambassador to Nazi Germany “ an anti-Semitic pig ” during a Dec. 24 meeting with Russian defense chiefs .
While Putin bolstered his arguments by brandishing documents from the Soviet archives , the former KGB colonel has been much less willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repressions by Stalin ’ s secret police , the NKVD .
At a December meeting of his human rights council , Putin responded skeptically to a call to create a public database of information on the killings under Stalin , saying there were “ big risks ” in opening up NKVD records .
“ We know how the NKVD worked in the Thirties , ” the president said .
“ It may not always be pleasant for relatives to open the cases of their ancestors.
” Putin all-but closed off access to KGB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half of relative openness following the 1991 collapse of Communism .
He visited Butovo in 2007 .
The 20,762 buried victims — which included 1,000 Orthodox priests , the leader of the Soviet Jewish community , a theatrical troupe from the Baltics and prominent Russians — were identified thanks to a liberal-minded intelligence chief in Moscow in the early 1990s and testimony from a senior former KGB officer .
Putin was “ clearly nervous , ” said Kaleda , who accompanied the Russian leader and now runs the site where a granite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was inaugurated in 2017 .
“ For him this wasn ’ t an easy visit — he said the cream of the nation had been wiped out.
” Documents on display at Butovo include the description of prisoners dying from carbon monoxide gas released into trucks , from a witness at the trial of a former security chief involved in the killings .
There may be 30,000 buried at the site in all , Kaleda said .
Similar mass graves exist across the former Soviet Union but only a handful have been unearthed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until his death in 1953 , the secret police imprisoned , deported or executed almost 27 million citizens during waves of repression , according to the state-funded GULAG History Museum .
Millions more perished from famine after widespread state confiscation of grain and farmland under Stalin ’ s policy of forced collectivization .

As Russia prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory, President Vladimir Putin is stepping up his defense of Josef Stalin and digging in against calls to open up secret archives on the Soviet state’s killing of millions of its own citizens. People in places such as Butovo where more than 20,000 victims lie in a mass grave in a former Czarist-era estate about 32 kilometers outside Moscow. Some were gassed to death in the back of trucks that transported them in their underwear to the killing grounds during Stalin’s “Great Terror” of 1937-38. “We need to know the truth,” said Kirill Kaleda, a Russian Orthodox priest whose grandfather was among those killed and who’s part of a campaign for full disclosure of the fate of victims of Stalin’s repression. “We shouldn’t try to cover it up.” With the Kremlin inviting world leaders to major commemorations in May of the victory in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War, Putin is cranking up his rhetoric against western powers over the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact between Stalin and Hitler. In September, Russia denounced a European Parliament resolution that equated Nazi Germany with the Soviet Union and said the pact’s secret deal to carve up Poland and the Baltic States “paved the way” for war. The president’s prickliness over Stalin’s historical legacy reflects his view of the Soviet role in WWII, in which 27 million of its people died, including a brother he never knew during the Nazi siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg.
He’s made the war victory the center of ideological efforts to rally Russians behind his vision of a powerful nation that’s unapologetic about its past and able to stand up to the West after the Soviet superpower’s humiliating collapse. It’s a vision that flies in the face of the mass repressions under Stalin and the history of Soviet occupation of eastern Europe following the war. Preparations for the WWII anniversary are also taking place in parallel with constitutional changes Putin’s pushing through that may allow him to continue ruling Russia after the end of his presidential term in 2024. Stoked patriotism Putin has stoked patriotism to retain public support in the confrontation with the U.S. and its allies over his 2014 annexation of Crimea and military intervention in eastern Ukraine, as Russians have endured five years of falling incomes amid international sanctions. While he has criticized Stalin’s “personality cult” and labeled his methods “unacceptable,” Putin accused the West of exploiting the issue to tarnish the Soviet Union and Russia in a 2017 interview with U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone, saying the Communist leader had been “excessively demonized.” His defense of Stalin and the Soviet record threatens to undermine Russian efforts to ease tensions with the West. U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson are considering Putin’s invitation to attend the annual Red Square military parade in Moscow on May 9. French President Emmanuel Macron has said he’ll go. Putin told leaders of former Soviet republics in December that the Kremlin had to sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact to buy time to build up the country’s defenses after Britain and France betrayed Moscow by reaching the 1938 Munich Agreement with Hitler. “They want to shift the blame for unleashing World War II from the Nazis to the Communists,” Putin said in the address broadcast on state TV. He has also repeatedly lashed out at Poland, accusing it of “conspiring” with Hitler and calling the Polish ambassador to Nazi Germany “an anti-Semitic pig” during a Dec. 24 meeting with Russian defense chiefs.
While Putin bolstered his arguments by brandishing documents from the Soviet archives, the former KGB colonel has been much less willing to allow access to the details of repressions by Stalin’s secret police, the NKVD. ‘Big risks’ At a December meeting of his human rights council, Putin responded skeptically to a call to create a public database of information on the killings under Stalin, saying there were “big risks” in opening up NKVD records. “We know how the NKVD worked in the Thirties,” the president said. “It may not always be pleasant for relatives to open the cases of their ancestors.” Putin all-but closed off access to KGB archives in 2006 after a decade and a half of relative openness following the 1991 collapse of Communism. He visited Butovo in 2007. The 20,762 buried victims — which included 1,000 Orthodox priests, the leader of the Soviet Jewish community, a theatrical troupe from the Baltics and prominent Russians — were identified thanks to a liberal-minded intelligence chief in Moscow in the early 1990s and testimony from a senior former KGB officer. Putin was “clearly nervous,” said Kaleda, who accompanied the Russian leader and now runs the site where a granite memorial engraved with names and execution dates was inaugurated in 2017. “For him this wasn’t an easy visit — he said the cream of the nation had been wiped out.” Documents on display at Butovo include the description of prisoners dying from carbon monoxide gas released into trucks, from a witness at the trial of a former security chief involved in the killings. There may be 30,000 buried at the site in all, Kaleda said. Mass graves Similar mass graves exist across the former Soviet Union but only a handful have been unearthed. During Stalin’s three-decade rule until his death in 1953, the secret police imprisoned, deported or executed almost 27 million citizens during waves of repression, according to the state-funded GULAG History Museum. Millions more perished from famine after widespread state confiscation of grain and farmland under Stalin’s policy of forced collectivization.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russia Accuses Turkey of Breaking Syria Deals, Rejects Erdogan Claim

Russia on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Moscow on Syria and of aggravating the situation in Idlib where Syrian forces have made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in a nine-year war .
That offensive has fueled violence in Idlib , in northwest Syria and bordering Turkey , forcing thousands of civilians to flee and drawing in the Turkish military which has seen 13 of its soldiers killed by Syrian shelling in the last 10 days .
In one of the strongest signs yet that Syria is placing relations between Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ankara , which backs Syrian anti-government rebels , under increasing strain , the Kremlin , the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Defense Ministry all accused Turkey of bad faith .
The Kremlin said Turkey had failed to deliver on a promise to neutralise militants in Idlib , something it called unacceptable , the Foreign Ministry reminded Ankara its forces were in Syria without the blessing of the Syrian government , and the Defence Ministry said Turkish troops were seriously aggravating the situation on the ground in Idlib .
The Defense Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who said Russian forces and Iran-backed militias were `` constantly attacking the civilian people , carrying out massacres , spilling blood . ''
`` Statements by Turkish representatives about alleged attacks by Russian forces on civilians in the Idlib de-escalation zone do not correspond with reality , '' the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement .
`` The real reason for the crisis in the Idlib de-escalation zone unfortunately is the non-fulfilment by our Turkish colleagues of their undertakings to separate moderate opposition militants from terrorists . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and armour in Idlib was making the situation there much worse , as was the transport of weapons and ammunition across the Syrian-Turkish border .

Russia on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Moscow on Syria and of aggravating the situation in Idlib where Syrian forces have made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in a nine-year war.
That offensive has fueled violence in Idlib, in northwest Syria and bordering Turkey, forcing thousands of civilians to flee and drawing in the Turkish military which has seen 13 of its soldiers killed by Syrian shelling in the last 10 days.
In one of the strongest signs yet that Syria is placing relations between Moscow, which backs the Syrian government, and Ankara, which backs Syrian anti-government rebels, under increasing strain, the Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Defense Ministry all accused Turkey of bad faith.
The Kremlin said Turkey had failed to deliver on a promise to neutralise militants in Idlib, something it called unacceptable, the Foreign Ministry reminded Ankara its forces were in Syria without the blessing of the Syrian government, and the Defence Ministry said Turkish troops were seriously aggravating the situation on the ground in Idlib.
The Defense Ministry also flatly rejected an allegation made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who said Russian forces and Iran-backed militias were "constantly attacking the civilian people, carrying out massacres, spilling blood."
Non-fulfillment
"Statements by Turkish representatives about alleged attacks by Russian forces on civilians in the Idlib de-escalation zone do not correspond with reality," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"The real reason for the crisis in the Idlib de-escalation zone unfortunately is the non-fulfilment by our Turkish colleagues of their undertakings to separate moderate opposition militants from terrorists."
It said the presence of Turkish troops and armour in Idlib was making the situation there much worse, as was the transport of weapons and ammunition across the Syrian-Turkish border.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Russia Says It Prevented ‘Escalation’ of U.S.-Syria Clash

U.S. soldiers killed one person in Syria ’ s Hasakah region after their vehicles were stopped at a checkpoint , according to Syrian and Turkish media .
The shooting was reportedly followed by U.S. airstrikes on a village in rural Qamishli near the Turkish border .
Russian forces have mediated an armed conflict between pro-regime and U.S. troops in northeastern Syria , the Russian military said Wednesday following a deadly incident .
The Russian military in Syria said the clashes erupted because the U.S. convoy “ deviated from its route.
” It identified the victim as a 14-year-old civilian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevented thanks only to the efforts of Russian servicemen who arrived at the scene , ” the military said in a daily bulletin .
The U.S.-led coalition in Syria said its patrol troops “ returned fire ” after coming “ under small arms fire from unknown individuals ” at the pro-Syrian regime checkpoint .
It later said a U.S. soldier suffered a “ minor superficial scratch ” in the incident .
The U.S.-Syrian clashes follow a series of standoffs between U.S. and Russian troops in Syria in recent weeks .
America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violating the terms of de-confliction in what he characterized as an attempt to challenge the U.S. presence there .
Russia , a staunch ally of the Syrian government , launched a military air campaign in Syria in 2015 to help Damascus recapture parts of the country from rebels .
Moscow has long insisted that the U.S. military presence in Syria is illegal .

U.S. soldiers killed one person in Syria’s Hasakah region after their vehicles were stopped at a checkpoint, according to Syrian and Turkish media. The shooting was reportedly followed by U.S. airstrikes on a village in rural Qamishli near the Turkish border.
Russian forces have mediated an armed conflict between pro-regime and U.S. troops in northeastern Syria, the Russian military said Wednesday following a deadly incident.
The Russian military in Syria said the clashes erupted because the U.S. convoy “deviated from its route.” It identified the victim as a 14-year-old civilian.
“Further escalation of the conflict was prevented thanks only to the efforts of Russian servicemen who arrived at the scene,” the military said in a daily bulletin.
The U.S.-led coalition in Syria said its patrol troops “returned fire” after coming “under small arms fire from unknown individuals” at the pro-Syrian regime checkpoint. It later said a U.S. soldier suffered a “minor superficial scratch” in the incident.
The U.S.-Syrian clashes follow a series of standoffs between U.S. and Russian troops in Syria in recent weeks. America’s special envoy for Syria has accused Russia of violating the terms of de-confliction in what he characterized as an attempt to challenge the U.S. presence there.
Russia, a staunch ally of the Syrian government, launched a military air campaign in Syria in 2015 to help Damascus recapture parts of the country from rebels.
Moscow has long insisted that the U.S. military presence in Syria is illegal.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-13--Dutch Refused Moscow's Request to Try Russian MH17 Suspects There, Minister Says

The first court hearing in the Dutch case against the three Russian suspects and one Ukrainian is scheduled for March 9 .
If the case eventually goes to trial , the four may be tried in absentia under Dutch law .
The Netherlands refused a request by Moscow to consider allowing Russia to prosecute three Russian nationals identified as suspects in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 , the Dutch justice minister revealed on Wednesday .
The Netherlands is leading an investigation into MH17 being shot down on July 17 , 2014 , killing all 298 people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dutch .
The plane was flying over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on a journey to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam .
Dutch Minister of Justice Ferd Grapperhaus , in a letter to parliament about the progress of the case , said Russia made the request last October .
`` The justice minister answered that the transfer of prosecution of the three Russian suspects was not an option for the Dutch authorities and will not be considered , '' the letter said .
Investigators say the missile that hit the airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian military base in Kursk , just across the border .
Moscow denies wrongdoing .
Russia does not extradite its own citizens , so none of the Russian suspects are expected to appear in a Dutch court .
However , a Dutch law firm has said that one of the Russian suspects in the case has asked it to represent him .

The first court hearing in the Dutch case against the three Russian suspects and one Ukrainian is scheduled for March 9. If the case eventually goes to trial, the four may be tried in absentia under Dutch law.
The Netherlands refused a request by Moscow to consider allowing Russia to prosecute three Russian nationals identified as suspects in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, the Dutch justice minister revealed on Wednesday.
The Netherlands is leading an investigation into MH17 being shot down on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. Two-thirds of the passengers were Dutch. The plane was flying over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on a journey to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.
Dutch Minister of Justice Ferd Grapperhaus, in a letter to parliament about the progress of the case, said Russia made the request last October.
"The justice minister answered that the transfer of prosecution of the three Russian suspects was not an option for the Dutch authorities and will not be considered," the letter said.
Investigators say the missile that hit the airline came from a launcher transported from a Russian military base in Kursk, just across the border.
Moscow denies wrongdoing. Russia does not extradite its own citizens, so none of the Russian suspects are expected to appear in a Dutch court. However, a Dutch law firm has said that one of the Russian suspects in the case has asked it to represent him.