themoscowtimes--2020-09-13--Navalny's Allies Claim Symbolic Council Seat Wins in Regional Polls

In several dozen of the country 's 85 regions , Russians voted for regional governors and lawmakers in regional and city legislatures as well as in several by-elections for national MPs .
Allies of poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Sunday they had secured city council seats in Siberia as independent monitors condemned a reported `` stream '' of voting irregularities in regional polls .
The polls came a year ahead of parliamentary elections and are seen as a test for the Kremlin , as the ruling party faces sinking popularity and simmering public anger over economic woes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin 's electoral machine , Navalny and his team have urged Russians to vote tactically by backing the strongest candidates against the ruling party United Russia .
Some of the highest-profile campaigns have taken place in Novosibirsk , Russia 's third-largest city , and neighboring Tomsk where Navalny traveled last month .
On Sunday night , his team said that the heads of Navalny 's offices for Novosibirsk and Tomsk both secured city council seats .
Navalny had been in Siberia to promote his `` Smart Voting '' campaign when he was poisoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerve agent .
Ksenia Fadeyeva , the 28-year-old head of Navalny 's Tomsk office , said she won a city council seat along with another Navalny ally .
`` This is the first victory of a Navalny office head , '' Ivan Zhdanov , director of the opposition politician 's Anti-Corruption Foundation , said on Twitter .
`` It was in Tomsk where Navalny was poisoned . ''
In Novosibirsk , the 37-year-old head of Navalny 's local office , Sergei Boiko , also won a council seat .
To counter United Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created an opposition alliance , which has put forward around 30 candidates for the city legislature .
Voter Damir Adgamov , a 26-year-old dental technician , said he backed Boiko 's coalition after watching Navalny 's videos on YouTube .
`` I decided to try , '' he said .
`` I do n't know if things will be better with Navalny or Boiko or worse , but at least we 'll see . ''
Vladimir Semyonov , a 57-year-old retired army officer , said he had also voted for an opposition candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do n't have stagnation '' .
Boiko said his supporters had recorded dozens of violations , including an attempt to illegally remove observers while a safe containing early votes at one polling station had its seals broken .
United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev praised the party 's electoral successes , saying that according to exit polls it was heading for victory in regional legislatures .
According to initial results , a second-round runoff was not expected in any of 18 regions that elected governors .
Officials are expected to announce the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large turnouts in two days of early voting , with more than 50 % of the electorate casting ballots early in the far eastern Jewish Autonomous Region and in Tatarstan .
The independent election monitor group Golos said it had received a `` stream of reports '' that observers had been denied their legal rights to view documents and submit complaints , with conflicts sometimes ending in `` fisticuffs . ''
It had also received reports of ballot stuffing and officials switching ballot papers cast by real voters for ones they had filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time , elections in the country were held over three days and some polling stations for early voting were open-air .
Navalny 's ally Leonid Volkov said the scheme was thought up to combat the tactical voting system .
`` At night , God alone knows what happens to the ballots and it 's not clear how to monitor and count this , '' he said .
Electoral chief Ella Pamfilova denounced such `` unobjective and mean '' accusations .
`` Currently we do not see that many violations , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first used this summer for a national vote on constitutional amendments that made it possible for Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Political analysts say the results of the polls will help the Kremlin determine whether the unpopular ruling party needs to be reformed .
The poisoning of Navalny could have also influenced voters .
After he was evacuated from Siberia to Berlin , German doctors said Navalny had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
His associates believe the use of the banned chemical weapon shows that only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now out of a medically induced coma and reacting to speech , the Berlin hospital treating him said on Monday .

In several dozen of the country's 85 regions, Russians voted for regional governors and lawmakers in regional and city legislatures as well as in several by-elections for national MPs.
Allies of poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Sunday they had secured city council seats in Siberia as independent monitors condemned a reported "stream" of voting irregularities in regional polls.
The polls came a year ahead of parliamentary elections and are seen as a test for the Kremlin, as the ruling party faces sinking popularity and simmering public anger over economic woes.
In an effort to fight President Vladimir Putin's electoral machine, Navalny and his team have urged Russians to vote tactically by backing the strongest candidates against the ruling party United Russia.
Some of the highest-profile campaigns have taken place in Novosibirsk, Russia's third-largest city, and neighboring Tomsk where Navalny travelled last month.
On Sunday night, his team said that the heads of Navalny's offices for Novosibirsk and Tomsk both secured city council seats.
Navalny had been in Siberia to promote his "Smart Voting" campaign when he was poisoned with what Germany says was a Novichok nerve agent.
'First victory'
Ksenia Fadeyeva, the 28-year-old head of Navalny's Tomsk office, said she won a city council seat along with another Navalny ally.
"This is the first victory of a Navalny office head," Ivan Zhdanov, director of the opposition politician's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on Twitter.
"It was in Tomsk where Navalny was poisoned."
In Novosibirsk, the 37-year-old head of Navalny's local office, Sergei Boiko, also won a council seat.
To counter United Russia and the Communist Party, Boiko has created an opposition alliance, which has put forward around 30 candidates for the city legislature.
Voter Damir Adgamov, a 26-year-old dental technician, said he backed Boiko's coalition after watching Navalny's videos on YouTube.
"I decided to try," he said. "I don't know if things will be better with Navalny or Boiko or worse, but at least we'll see."
Vladimir Semyonov, a 57-year-old retired army officer, said he had also voted for an opposition candidate, "to change something, so we don't have stagnation."
Boiko said his supporters had recorded dozens of violations, including an attempt to illegally remove observers while a safe containing early votes at one polling station had its seals broken.
Ballot stuffing
United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev praised the party's electoral successes, saying that according to exit polls it was heading for victory in regional legislatures.
According to initial results, a second-round runoff was not expected in any of 18 regions that elected governors.
Officials are expected to announce the first results on Monday.
Several regions recorded large turnouts in two days of early voting, with more than 50 percent of the electorate casting ballots early in the far eastern Jewish Autonomous Region and in Tatarstan.
The independent election monitor group Golos said it had received a "stream of reports" that observers had been denied their legal rights to view documents and submit complaints, with conflicts sometimes ending in "fisticuffs."
It had also received reports of ballot stuffing and officials switching ballot papers cast by real voters for ones they had filled in, the group added.
For the first time, elections in the country were held over three days and some polling stations for early voting were open-air.
Navalny's ally Leonid Volkov said the scheme was thought up to combat the tactical voting system.
"At night, God alone knows what happens to the ballots and it's not clear how to monitor and count this," he said.
Electoral chief Ella Pamfilova denounced such "unobjective and mean" accusations.
"Currently we do not see that many violations," she said.
The three-day system was first used this summer for a national vote on constitutional amendments that made it possible for Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Political analysts say the results of the polls will help the Kremlin determine whether the unpopular ruling party needs to be reformed. The poisoning of Navalny could have also influenced voters.
After he was evacuated from Siberia to Berlin, German doctors said Navalny had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.
His associates believe the use of the banned chemical weapon shows that only the Russian state could be responsible.
Navalny is now out of a medically induced coma and reacting to speech, the Berlin hospital treating him said on Monday.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-13--Tens of Thousands Rally in Belarus Despite Mass Arrests

More than 100,000 people are estimated to have marched in Minsk on each of the past four weekends to demand Lukashenko resign over a disputed Aug. 9 presidential election , which he claimed to have won by a landslide .
Riot police harshly detained more than 400 demonstrators in Belarus on Sunday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets , on the eve of crunch talks between strongman Alexander Lukashenko and his main ally , Russia 's Vladimir Putin .
What 's up , Sasha ?
We 're coming for you !
pic.twitter.com/Yz0XP5JTYL AFP journalists said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration , with huge crowds flooding the streets despite an intensifying police crackdown .
Masked police officers in uniform and plain clothes violently detained people who gathered for the `` March of Heroes '' demonstration , pushing or punching them , video posted on the Belarusian news site Tut.by showed .
Police also resorted to the use of a pump action shotgun , firing a `` warning shot '' in the air during a scuffle , the interior ministry said .
Access to mobile internet was limited and central metro stations closed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles and barbed wire into the centre ahead of the protest .
`` More than 400 people were detained in various districts of the capital , '' the interior ministry said in a statement , adding that those detained were carrying flags and `` offensive '' placards .
Thousands of demonstrators planning to head towards Lukashenko 's Palace of Independence residence and a second at the upscale Drozdy compound were blocked by police , with some officers seen dragging people across the tarmac .
Thousands more protesters took to the streets in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where police used water cannon against demonstrators .
Belarusians have been demonstrating against Lukashenko 's disputed re-election for a month , with the protest movement showing no sign of dying down .
`` I came out for freedom and I am going to protest until we win it through peaceful means , '' 60-year-old marcher Oleg Zimin told AFP .
He said he did not vote for Lukashenko last month .
`` He always lied to us , '' he said .
The opposition urged Lukashenko not to `` sell the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Putin since demonstrations began , which is set to take place in Russia on Monday .
`` This country is not for sale , '' read one placard at the march .
`` Putin , do n't grab ( Belarus ) or you 'll choke , '' said another .
Andrei Gorbachevsky , a 29-year-old doctor , accused Putin of treating Belarus as if it were a Russian province .
`` He is supporting Lukashenko 's regime , he 's playing a strange game and that 's why our people no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin and Lukashenko are set to meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi , with the Kremlin saying the talks will cover plans for closer integration between the neighboring countries as well as key trade and energy projects .
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus , and Moscow has accompanied its offers of military and economic aid with calls for tighter integration .
Analysts say Putin may seek to exploit Lukashenko 's political vulnerability to wring concessions from him , but any agreements compromising Belarus 's sovereignty and independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sunday 's demonstration came as Lukashenko 's security forces have stepped up arrests of senior opposition figures who are still in Belarus .
After a massive protest last Sunday , Maria Kolesnikova , one of three prominent women opposition figures , was jailed after she resisted expulsion and tore up her passport .
More than 600 people were detained last Sunday , while on Saturday riot police violently detained dozens of women demonstrators during a smaller protest in Minsk .
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who the protest movement says won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring EU member Lithuania , paid tribute to demonstrators ahead of the march .
`` Over the past month we have become a truly heroic people , '' Tikhanovskaya , a political unknown until the election , said in a video address .
Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years , has refused to step down and has turned to Russia for support to remain in power .
His security forces have detained thousands of protesters , many of whom have accused police of beatings and torture .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday , the United States said it would impose new sanctions on Belarusian figures within days and warned Moscow that continuing to back the strongman would only alienate Belarusians .

More than 100,000 people are estimated to have marched in Minsk on each of the past four weekends to demand Lukashenko resign over a disputed Aug. 9 presidential election, which he claimed to have won by a landslide.
Riot police harshly detained more than 400 demonstrators in Belarus on Sunday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets, on the eve of crunch talks between strongman Alexander Lukashenko and his main ally, Russia's Vladimir Putin.
What's up, Sasha? We're coming for you! pic.twitter.com/Yz0XP5JTYL
AFP journalists said a similar number took part in the latest demonstration, with huge crowds flooding the streets despite an intensifying police crackdown.
Masked police officers in uniform and plain clothes violently detained people who gathered for the "March of Heroes" demonstration, pushing or punching them, video posted on the Belarusian news site Tut.by showed.
Police also resorted to the use of a pump action shotgun, firing a "warning shot" in the air during a scuffle, the interior ministry said.
Access to mobile internet was limited and central metro stations closed, with authorities moving police vans, military vehicles and barbed wire into the centre ahead of the protest.
Dragged on tarmac
"More than 400 people were detained in various districts of the capital," the interior ministry said in a statement, adding that those detained were carrying flags and "offensive" placards.
Thousands of demonstrators planning to head towards Lukashenko's Palace of Independence residence and a second at the upscale Drozdy compound were blocked by police, with some officers seen dragging people across the tarmac.
Thousands more protesters took to the streets in other cities including Gomel, Grodno and Brest, where police used water cannon against demonstrators.
Belarusians have been demonstrating against Lukashenko's disputed re-election for a month, with the protest movement showing no sign of dying down.
"I came out for freedom and I am going to protest until we win it through peaceful means," 60-year-old marcher Oleg Zimin told AFP.
He said he did not vote for Lukashenko last month. "He always lied to us," he said.
The opposition urged Lukashenko not to "sell the country" ahead of his first face-to-face meeting with Putin since demonstrations began, which is set to take place in Russia on Monday.
'Not for sale'
"This country is not for sale," read one placard at the march. "Putin, don't grab (Belarus) or you'll choke," said another.
Andrei Gorbachevsky, a 29-year-old doctor, accused Putin of treating Belarus as if it were a Russian province.
"He is supporting Lukashenko's regime, he's playing a strange game and that's why our people no longer trust him," he said.
Putin and Lukashenko are set to meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, with the Kremlin saying the talks will cover plans for closer integration between the neighboring countries as well as key trade and energy projects.
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its offers of military and economic aid with calls for tighter integration.
Analysts say Putin may seek to exploit Lukashenko's political vulnerability to wring concessions from him, but any agreements compromising Belarus's sovereignty and independence are likely to enrage Belarusian protesters further.
Sunday's demonstration came as Lukashenko's security forces have stepped up arrests of senior opposition figures who are still in Belarus.
After a massive protest last Sunday, Maria Kolesnikova, one of three prominent women opposition figures, was jailed after she resisted expulsion and tore up her passport.
More than 600 people were detained last Sunday, while on Saturday riot police violently detained dozens of women demonstrators during a smaller protest in Minsk.
'Heroic people'
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who the protest movement says won the vote but was forced into exile in neighboring EU member Lithuania, paid tribute to demonstrators ahead of the march.
"Over the past month we have become a truly heroic people," Tikhanovskaya, a political unknown until the election, said in a video address.
Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, has refused to step down and has turned to Russia for support to remain in power.
His security forces have detained thousands of protesters, many of whom have accused police of beatings and torture. Several people have died in the crackdown.
On Friday, the United States said it would impose new sanctions on Belarusian figures within days and warned Moscow that continuing to back the strongman would only alienate Belarusians.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-14--Macron Urges Putin To Shed Light on 'Attempted Murder' of Navalny – Presidency

Macron told Putin in telephone talks that it is `` imperative that all light be shed , without delay , on the circumstances of this attempted murder and who is responsible , '' the French presidency said in a statement .
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to urgently shed light on the `` attempted murder '' of opposition figure Alexei Navalny , after French tests confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent , the Elysee said .
He also informed Putin that France 's own analysis had confirmed Germany 's conclusion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent `` in contravention of international norms on using chemical weapons . ''
The German government had said earlier that laboratories in France and Sweden confirmed its own findings that Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
Macron has over the last year pursued a policy of rapprochement with Russia , seeking progress notably on ending the conflict in Ukraine , a strategy that has raised eyebrows among some of France 's EU allies .
But analysts say the poisoning of Navalny — who is still being treated in Germany after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Siberia — has dealt a heavy blow to Moscow-Paris ties .
France has from the onset of the crisis backed the tough language of its ally Germany , which has warned that suspicion for the poisoning will fall on the Russian state if Moscow fails to explain what happened .
According to the Elysee , Macron on Monday `` expressed his full solidarity with Germany over the steps to be taken and the consequences to be drawn from the situation . ''
`` Clarification is required from Russia as part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
With Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Russia on Monday for the first time since protests erupted over his disputed election victory last month , Macron and Putin also discussed the situation in Russia 's smaller neighbor .
Macron told Putin , who was to meet Lukashenko in the southern Russian resort of Sochi , that foreign meddling was not welcome in the crisis .
`` He ( Macron ) reaffirmed the need to support a political solution that respects the deep aspirations of the Belarusian people , without outside interference , @ @ @ @ @

Macron told Putin in telephone talks that it is "imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances of this attempted murder and who is responsible," the French presidency said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to urgently shed light on the "attempted murder" of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, after French tests confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent, the Elysee said.
He also informed Putin that France's own analysis had confirmed Germany's conclusion that Navalny was poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent "in contravention of international norms on using chemical weapons."
The German government had said earlier that laboratories in France and Sweden confirmed its own findings that Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.
Macron has over the last year pursued a policy of rapprochement with Russia, seeking progress notably on ending the conflict in Ukraine, a strategy that has raised eyebrows among some of France's EU allies.
But analysts say the poisoning of Navalny — who is still being treated in Germany after falling ill last month on a flight in Siberia — has dealt a heavy blow to Moscow-Paris ties.
France has from the onset of the crisis backed the tough language of its ally Germany, which has warned that suspicion for the poisoning will fall on the Russian state if Moscow fails to explain what happened.
According to the Elysee, Macron on Monday "expressed his full solidarity with Germany over the steps to be taken and the consequences to be drawn from the situation."
"Clarification is required from Russia as part of a credible and transparent investigation," he added.
With Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Russia on Monday for the first time since protests erupted over his disputed election victory last month, Macron and Putin also discussed the situation in Russia's smaller neighbor.
Macron told Putin, who was to meet Lukashenko in the southern Russian resort of Sochi, that foreign meddling was not welcome in the crisis.
"He (Macron) reaffirmed the need to support a political solution that respects the deep aspirations of the Belarusian people, without outside interference," the Elysee said.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-14--Belarus Opposition Leader Criticizes Putin’s Talks With ‘Usurper’ Lukashenko

Tikhanovskaya ’ s statement comes ahead of one-on-one talks between Putin and Lukashenko in Russia ’ s Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday .
The talks follow a month of mass protests that broke out after Lukashenko , who has ruled Belarus for 26 years , claimed a landslide victory in a disputed presidential election .
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskya has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin 's decision to hold talks with “ usurper ” Alexander Lukashenko rather than the Belarusian people .
“ No agreements made in Sochi will be considered legitimate , ” Tikhanovskaya said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ All accords signed with the illegitimate Lukashenko will be reconsidered by the new government because the Belarusian people refused Lukashenko their trust and electoral support.
” Tikhanovskaya claims to have won the Aug. 9 presidential election and fled to neighboring Lithuania following the election under pressure from the authorities .
While Western governments have rejected the official election results that handed Lukashenko his sixth term , Moscow has thrown its support behind the man commonly referred to as “ Europe ’ s last dictator.
” Putin and Lukashenko are expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as key trade and energy projects .
The leaders do not plan to sign any agreements or hold a press conference after today ’ s talks , the Kremlin has said .
Tens of thousands of Belarusians rallied against Lukashenko and his harsh crackdown on the opposition on Sunday .
Many demonstrators also carried signs with anti-integration slogans , accusing the Russian leader of attempts to “ grab ” Belarus .
Tikhanovskaya herself has stressed that Belarus ' protest movement is not anti-Russian .

Tikhanovskaya’s statement comes ahead of one-on-one talks between Putin and Lukashenko in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday. The talks follow a month of mass protests that broke out after Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, claimed a landslide victory in a disputed presidential election.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskya has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to hold talks with “usurper” Alexander Lukashenko rather than the Belarusian people.
“No agreements made in Sochi will be considered legitimate,” Tikhanovskaya said in a message on her official Telegram channel. “All accords signed with the illegitimate Lukashenko will be reconsidered by the new government because the Belarusian people refused Lukashenko their trust and electoral support.”
Tikhanovskaya claims to have won the Aug. 9 presidential election and fled to neighboring Lithuania following the election under pressure from the authorities.
While Western governments have rejected the official election results that handed Lukashenko his sixth term, Moscow has thrown its support behind the man commonly referred to as “Europe’s last dictator.”
Putin and Lukashenko are expected to discuss further integration between their countries as well as key trade and energy projects. The leaders do not plan to sign any agreements or hold a press conference after today’s talks, the Kremlin has said.
Tens of thousands of Belarusians rallied against Lukashenko and his harsh crackdown on the opposition on Sunday. Many demonstrators also carried signs with anti-integration slogans, accusing the Russian leader of attempts to “grab” Belarus.
Tikhanovskaya herself has stressed that Belarus' protest movement is not anti-Russian.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-14--Remote Learning Takes Toll on Russian Schoolkids' Mental Health – Poll

Russian schools went on a three-week holiday in mid-March at the start of the pandemic , switching to distance learning entirely as the number of cases spiked across the country .
Schools in some regions have gone into quarantine in recent weeks as Russia resumed in-person teaching for the fall semester .
Online learning in the coronavirus era has affected the mental health of an overwhelming majority of Russian schoolchildren , according to a survey cited by the RBC news website Monday .
According to a survey by the Health Ministry ’ s national children ’ s health research center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian schoolchildren reported “ adverse borderline mental responses ” to distance learning and self-isolation .
A majority of the schoolchildren surveyed ( 55.8 % ) said they experienced disordered sleep , 42.2 % depression and 41.6 % abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy .
Nearly seven out of 10 schoolchildren ( 69.2 % ) reported limiting their movements and staying home during the pandemic , and one-quarter ( 25.4 % ) complained of getting less than seven hours of sleep .
Almost all of the young respondents ( 99.2 % ) said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for school ( 73.1 % ) or other purposes ( 89.2 % ) .
“ The data indicates the need for mass psychological support for children and adolescents , ” RBC wrote .
Almost two in five Russian schoolchildren ( 36.7 % ) said they viewed the coronavirus lockdown negatively , more than one in five ( 21.2 % ) called it unbearable , while 16.8 % said they liked it .
The research center conducted the online survey among almost 30,000 Russian middle- and high school students between late April and late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education watchdog Rosobrnadzor reiterated Monday that it won ’ t require schools to go back to distance learning because health officials do not expect a second Covid-19 wave .
Russia has confirmed more than 1 million coronavirus cases and more than 18,500 deaths .

Russian schools went on a three-week holiday in mid-March at the start of the pandemic, switching to distance learning entirely as the number of cases spiked across the country. Schools in some regions have gone into quarantine in recent weeks as Russia resumed in-person teaching for the fall semester.
Online learning in the coronavirus era has affected the mental health of an overwhelming majority of Russian schoolchildren, according to a survey cited by the RBC news website Monday.
According to a survey by the Health Ministry’s national children’s health research center cited by RBC, 83.8% of Russian schoolchildren reported “adverse borderline mental responses” to distance learning and self-isolation.
A majority of the schoolchildren surveyed (55.8%) said they experienced disordered sleep, 42.2% depression and 41.6% abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy.
Nearly seven out of 10 schoolchildren (69.2%) reported limiting their movements and staying home during the pandemic, and one-quarter (25.4%) complained of getting less than seven hours of sleep.
Almost all of the young respondents (99.2%) said they used smartphones and other gadgets daily for school (73.1%) or other purposes (89.2%).
“The data indicates the need for mass psychological support for children and adolescents,” RBC wrote.
Almost two in five Russian schoolchildren (36.7%) said they viewed the coronavirus lockdown negatively, more than one in five (21.2%) called it unbearable, while 16.8% said they liked it.
The research center conducted the online survey among almost 30,000 Russian middle- and high school students between late April and late May.
Meanwhile, Russia’s education watchdog Rosobrnadzor reiterated Monday that it won’t require schools to go back to distance learning because health officials do not expect a second Covid-19 wave.
Russia has confirmed more than 1 million coronavirus cases and more than 18,500 deaths.