themoscowtimes--2020-12-06--Belarus Opposition Rallies in Scattered Protests

Social media videos showed small groups of protesters gathered in courtyards as others marched through the capital Minsk with the opposition red and white flags .
Opposition protesters in Belarus rallied Sunday in the latest of nearly four months of demonstrations against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko .
In contrast to mass Sunday protests that have taken place since the August vote , the opposition has for weeks sought to foil a toughening crackdown by staging numerous smaller protests .
An AFP journalist saw police dispersing groups of even 10 to 15 people and witnessed three arrests .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop when people have suffered and continue to suffer .
We can not close our eyes to this , '' Svetlana Onufrienko , a 31-year-old lawyer , told AFP .
Minsk police said that around 300 people were taken into police custody during the protests in Minsk .
Water cannon were stationed in the city center and authorities limited connections to networks such as the Telegram messaging app , which protesters use to coordinate .
Belarus has been gripped by massive protests since August after Lukashenko , 66 , won a sixth term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The opposition says the election was rigged and political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya — who ran against Lukashenko in the place of her jailed husband — was the true winner of the vote .
`` Each march is a reminder that Belarusians will not surrender .
We will not allow our rights to be taken away and turn a blind eye to crimes , '' Tikhanovskaya , 38 , wrote on her Telegram channel from exile .
Authorities have cracked down sharply in recent weeks , detaining hundreds of protesters and preventing gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @

Social media videos showed small groups of protesters gathered in courtyards as others marched through the capital Minsk with the opposition red and white flags.
Opposition protesters in Belarus rallied Sunday in the latest of nearly four months of demonstrations against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.
In contrast to mass Sunday protests that have taken place since the August vote, the opposition has for weeks sought to foil a toughening crackdown by staging numerous smaller protests.
An AFP journalist saw police dispersing groups of even 10 to 15 people and witnessed three arrests.
"I cannot understand how we could stop when people have suffered and continue to suffer. We cannot close our eyes to this," Svetlana Onufrienko, a 31-year-old lawyer, told AFP.
Minsk police said that around 300 people were taken into police custody during the protests in Minsk.
Water cannon were stationed in the city center and authorities limited connections to networks such as the Telegram messaging app, which protesters use to coordinate.
Belarus has been gripped by massive protests since August after Lukashenko, 66, won a sixth term as president of the former Soviet republic.
'Will not surrender'
The opposition says the election was rigged and political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya — who ran against Lukashenko in the place of her jailed husband — was the true winner of the vote.
"Each march is a reminder that Belarusians will not surrender. We will not allow our rights to be taken away and turn a blind eye to crimes," Tikhanovskaya, 38, wrote on her Telegram channel from exile.
Authorities have cracked down sharply in recent weeks, detaining hundreds of protesters and preventing gatherings in the center of Minsk.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Turkey Court Orders Release of Russian Reporters – Official

Journalist Alexei Petrushko and cameraman Ivan Malyshkin from Kremlin-friendly NTV channel were arrested by police in Istanbul on Thursday morning @ @ @ @ @ Monday ordered the release of two Russian journalists detained in Istanbul after they were accused @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing drones without authorization , an official said .
A Turkish foreign ministry source said @ @ @ @ @ while filming near a facility for manufacturing drones and were working without accreditation .
The @ @ @ @ @ main court in Caglayan on Monday , the official Anadolu news agency reported , identifying @ @ @ @ @ I.M .
A Turkish official , contacted by AFP , confirmed the news reports that @ @ @ @ @ without providing any details .
Hours before the court ruling , Russian President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ the Kremlin hoped the journalists would be released as soon as possible .

Journalist Alexei Petrushko and cameraman Ivan Malyshkin from Kremlin-friendly NTV channel were arrested by police in Istanbul on Thursday morning.
A Turkish court on Monday ordered the release of two Russian journalists detained in Istanbul after they were accused of filming near a facility manufacturing drones without authorization, an official said.
A Turkish foreign ministry source said on Friday they were detained while filming near a facility for manufacturing drones and were working without accreditation.
The journalists appeared before Istanbul's main court in Caglayan on Monday, the official Anadolu news agency reported, identifying them as A.P. and I.M.
A Turkish official, contacted by AFP, confirmed the news reports that the pair were released, without providing any details.
Hours before the court ruling, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin hoped the journalists would be released as soon as possible.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Estonia Builds Barbed Wire Fence on Russian Border – Reports

Estonia began construction of border infrastructure stretching 23.5 kilometers from the Estonian-Latvian-Russian meeting point to the Luhamaa border crossing further north in July .
In addition to a barbed-wire fence , the EU and NATO member plans to build patrol roads and surveillance equipment along the border .
Estonia has installed a barbed-wire fence along an 8-kilometer section of its border with Russia in the first installment of its three-year border infrastructure project , media in the Baltic country reported Monday .
“ There are elements that need to be added , but the fence itself is already standing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police and border guard official , told the ERR broadcaster .
“ Of course , the builders encountered small surprises , but nothing insurmountable .
The construction firm has done a good job and is moving at a fast pace , ” Belitšev was quoted as saying .
Estonia ’ s interior minister Alar Laneman hailed the “ practical and ... very big symbolic and political significance ” of the border section between countries whose ties have soured since Moscow 's 2014 annexation of Crimea .
“ Practically speaking , this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border and we all understand that a well-equipped border furnished with the needed technical means and secured is very important for Estonia and the EU to live safely , ” Laneman was quoted as saying .
Estonia is the only NATO member that lacks a ratified border treaty with Russia despite the terms of an agreement signed in 2005 and a deal signed by foreign ministers in 2014 .
Lawmakers have refused to ratify the border agreement over a dispute surrounding a 1920 Russian-Estonian border treaty undergirding Tallinn ’ s territorial claims , @ @ @ @

Estonia began construction of border infrastructure stretching 23.5 kilometers from the Estonian-Latvian-Russian meeting point to the Luhamaa border crossing further north in July. In addition to a barbed-wire fence, the EU and NATO member plans to build patrol roads and surveillance equipment along the border.
Estonia has installed a barbed-wire fence along an 8-kilometer section of its border with Russia in the first installment of its three-year border infrastructure project, media in the Baltic country reported Monday.
“There are elements that need to be added, but the fence itself is already standing,” Egert Belitšev, a senior Estonian police and border guard official, told the ERR broadcaster.
“Of course, the builders encountered small surprises, but nothing insurmountable. The construction firm has done a good job and is moving at a fast pace,” Belitšev was quoted as saying.
Estonia’s interior minister Alar Laneman hailed the “practical and ... very big symbolic and political significance” of the border section between countries whose ties have soured since Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
“Practically speaking, this is the European Union and NATO’s external border and we all understand that a well-equipped border furnished with the needed technical means and secured is very important for Estonia and the EU to live safely,” Laneman was quoted as saying.
Estonia is the only NATO member that lacks a ratified border treaty with Russia despite the terms of an agreement signed in 2005 and a deal signed by foreign ministers in 2014. Lawmakers have refused to ratify the border agreement over a dispute surrounding a 1920 Russian-Estonian border treaty undergirding Tallinn’s territorial claims, which Moscow rejects.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Putin’s Ex-Son-in-Law Bought $380M Stake in Petrochemicals Giant for $100 – Investigation

Kirill Shamalov acquired 3.8 % of petrochemicals producer Sibur through a web of offshore companies months after marrying Katerina Tikhonova in February 2013 , iStories reported , citing private emails obtained through a massive data breach .
Multiple media reports have identified Tikhonova as the younger of Putin ’ s two daughters .
President Vladimir Putin ’ s former son-in-law purchased $ 380 million worth of shares in Russia ’ s top petrochemicals company for $ 100 after marrying the president ’ s daughter , according to a report by the iStories investigative outlet .
Shamalov previously estimated Sibur ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning that the $ 100 he had paid was 3.8 million times below market value .
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny characterized the $ 100 purchase as a “ $ 380 million wedding gift.
” Navalny had tried unsuccessfully to sue Putin over a 2015 $ 1.75 billion low-interest state loan to Sibur , when Shamalov was the company ’ s second-largest shareholder with a 21.3 % stake .
Shamalov said at the time that he had gained his initial 4.3 % stake in Sibur as part of a management stock-option plan .
Sibur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the deal to iStories and its technical partner , the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project ( OCCRP ) .
“ The conditions of the purchase [ … ] didn ’ t differ from the conditions of purchases by other managers , ” OCCRP quoted Konov as saying .
“ There were no exclusive conditions for Shamalov.
” Shamalov reportedly divorced Tikhonova in 2018 after selling 17 % of Sibur ’ s shares to its main owner and dropping off the Forbes list of billionaires .
Putin , who has been divorced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or denied the identities of his daughters .
A report published in late November claimed that Putin is also the father of a secretive St. Petersburg millionaire ’ s 17-year-old daughter .
The Kremlin on Monday called the media investigations into Putin ’ s family “ lies that are unable to reach their goal.
” Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin was aware of the source of the latest stories but did not plan to name it publicly .

Kirill Shamalov acquired 3.8% of petrochemicals producer Sibur through a web of offshore companies months after marrying Katerina Tikhonova in February 2013, iStories reported, citing private emails obtained through a massive data breach. Multiple media reports have identified Tikhonova as the younger of Putin’s two daughters.
President Vladimir Putin’s former son-in-law purchased $380 million worth of shares in Russia’s top petrochemicals company for $100 after marrying the president’s daughter, according to a report by the iStories investigative outlet.
Shamalov previously estimated Sibur’s value at $10 billion, meaning that the $100 he had paid was 3.8 million times below market value.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny characterized the $100 purchase as a “$380 million wedding gift.” Navalny had tried unsuccessfully to sue Putin over a 2015 $1.75 billion low-interest state loan to Sibur, when Shamalov was the company’s second-largest shareholder with a 21.3% stake.
Shamalov said at the time that he had gained his initial 4.3% stake in Sibur as part of a management stock-option plan. Sibur chief executive Dmitry Konov confirmed the terms of the deal to iStories and its technical partner, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
“The conditions of the purchase […] didn’t differ from the conditions of purchases by other managers,” OCCRP quoted Konov as saying. “There were no exclusive conditions for Shamalov.”
Shamalov reportedly divorced Tikhonova in 2018 after selling 17% of Sibur’s shares to its main owner and dropping off the Forbes list of billionaires.
Putin, who has been divorced since 2013, has never publicly confirmed or denied the identities of his daughters. A report published in late November claimed that Putin is also the father of a secretive St. Petersburg millionaire’s 17-year-old daughter.
The Kremlin on Monday called the media investigations into Putin’s family “lies that are unable to reach their goal.” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin was aware of the source of the latest stories but did not plan to name it publicly.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Russia Urges Release of Reporters Detained in Turkey

Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russian diplomats were in contact with Turkish representatives to secure the release of two journalists working @ @ @ @ @ in the near future . ''
President Vladimir Putin 's spokesman said on Monday the @ @ @ @ @ journalists detained in Turkey will be released as soon as possible .
`` We hope @ @ @ @ @ able to resolve this incident , '' Peskov said .
NTV said last week that @ @ @ @ @ Ivan Malyshkin were arrested by police in Istanbul on Thursday morning .
A Turkish foreign @ @ @ @ @ detained while filming near a facility for manufacturing drones and were working without accreditation .
@ @ @ @ @ take all possible steps '' to help them .
Moscow and Ankara have agreed to @ @ @ @ @ over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after a six-week war between Armenia and Azerbaijan that claimed @ @ @ @ @ tensions between the two rose during the conflict , Russia accusing Turkey of deploying Syrian @ @ @ @ @ .

Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russian diplomats were in contact with Turkish representatives to secure the release of two journalists working with Kremlin-friendly NTV channel "in the near future."
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Monday the Kremlin hopes that two Russian journalists detained in Turkey will be released as soon as possible.
"We hope through dialogue we will be able to resolve this incident," Peskov said.
NTV said last week that journalist Alexei Petrushko and cameraman Ivan Malyshkin were arrested by police in Istanbul on Thursday morning.
A Turkish foreign ministry source said they were detained while filming near a facility for manufacturing drones and were working without accreditation.
Peskov said Russia would "take all possible steps" to help them.
Moscow and Ankara have agreed to jointly monitor a Russian-mediated truce over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after a six-week war between Armenia and Azerbaijan that claimed over 5,000 lives.
But tensions between the two rose during the conflict, Russia accusing Turkey of deploying Syrian fighters to combat Armenian forces.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Don’t Perform Exorcisms at Home, Russian Orthodox Church Warns

The Russian Orthodox Church has warned worshippers against performing exorcisms at home , saying that casting out demons should be left to members of the clergy .
Metropolitan Hilarion , who heads the church ’ s Department of External Relations , made the comments in reaction to a viral video showing parents attempting to expel a demon from their 10-year-old son with holy water and garlic in the Volgograd region .
In the video , the parents can be seen taking turns trying to restrain the screaming boy and pushing his face into the couch .
“ If questions arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of this or that person , first of all , you need to turn to the priests .
Any [ personal ] initiative in this is completely unacceptable , ” Metropolitan Ilarion said during a news program on the state-run Rossia 24 broadcaster Saturday .
The state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited the abbess of the local monastery in the Volgograd region as saying that the 10-year-old in the exorcism video was “ a normal , healthy boy who was ready to make contact , talk with a priest and confess.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the actions of these parents and the teachings and practice of the Church . ''
The Russian Orthodox Church strictly prohibits performing any type of exorcism on children and mental health disorders should never be confused with demonic possession , he said .
Proper exorcisms usually performed by a priest only after being granted a special blessing from a bishop .
During the ritual , a priest reads special prayers for casting out the demons , Metropolitan Ilarion explained .
At least two people have died as a result of exorcisms in @ @ @ @

The Russian Orthodox Church has warned worshippers against performing exorcisms at home, saying that casting out demons should be left to members of the clergy.
Metropolitan Hilarion, who heads the church’s Department of External Relations, made the comments in reaction to a viral video showing parents attempting to expel a demon from their 10-year-old son with holy water and garlic in the Volgograd region. In the video, the parents can be seen taking turns trying to restrain the screaming boy and pushing his face into the couch.
“If questions arise as to whether demons should be driven out of this or that person, first of all, you need to turn to the priests. Any [personal] initiative in this is completely unacceptable,” Metropolitan Ilarion said during a news program on the state-run Rossia 24 broadcaster Saturday.
The state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited the abbess of the local monastery in the Volgograd region as saying that the 10-year-old in the exorcism video was “a normal, healthy boy who was ready to make contact, talk with a priest and confess.”
Metropolitan Hilarion condemned "the blatant discrepancy between the actions of these parents and the teachings and practice of the Church."
The Russian Orthodox Church strictly prohibits performing any type of exorcism on children and mental health disorders should never be confused with demonic possession, he said.
Proper exorcisms usually performed by a priest only after being granted a special blessing from a bishop. During the ritual, a priest reads special prayers for casting out the demons, Metropolitan Ilarion explained.
At least two people have died as a result of exorcisms in Russia since 2011.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Russia Blames ‘Revisionist’ U.S. for Disputed Islanders’ Visas

Russians born on the islands of Habomai , Shikotan , Kunashiri and Etorofu have been required to name Japan as their birthplace to receive permanent residency known as green cards since 2018 , Japan ’ s Hokkaido Shimbun reported earlier , citing the U.S. State Department .
The dispute over the Russian-held islands , which Russia calls the Kurils and Japan claims as the Northern Territories , has kept the sides from striking a formal peace treaty to end World War II .
The United States exercises World War II “ revisionism ” by classifying Russian visa-seekers born on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Japanese nationals , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said Sunday .
“ The Kuril Islands were handed to the U.S.S.R. as part of a 1945 decision .
Today , the State Department challenges the results of World War II , encouraging revanchism , ” the Foreign Ministry said in a tweet .
“ Do we need more proof that the U.S. is a revisionist power ?
” it asked , telling Washington to “ know your borders and ‘ red lines ’ ” in a post on its official Telegram channel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s sovereignty over the disputed islands .
A Russian state media translation of the Hokkaido Shimbun report noted that Japan ’ s foreign ministry was unaware of that recognition .
The State Department , the report said , issued the classification to help Russian green-card applicants from the Kurils “ avoid mistakes in applying for U.S. visas and encounter fewer rejections.
” A set of constitutional changes enacted by President Vladimir Putin this summer includes a clause banning territorial concessions , which is viewed as being designed to allow Russia to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-funded poll in early 2019 said that 96 % of the islands ’ adult population opposed ceding the islands to Japan .

Russians born on the islands of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu have been required to name Japan as their birthplace to receive permanent residency known as green cards since 2018, Japan’s Hokkaido Shimbun reported earlier, citing the U.S. State Department. The dispute over the Russian-held islands, which Russia calls the Kurils and Japan claims as the Northern Territories, has kept the sides from striking a formal peace treaty to end World War II.
The United States exercises World War II “revisionism” by classifying Russian visa-seekers born on a disputed island chain in the Far East as Japanese nationals, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
“The Kuril Islands were handed to the U.S.S.R. as part of a 1945 decision. Today, the State Department challenges the results of World War II, encouraging revanchism,” the Foreign Ministry said in a tweet.
“Do we need more proof that the U.S. is a revisionist power?” it asked, telling Washington to “know your borders and ‘red lines’” in a post on its official Telegram channel.
The U.S. has said it recognizes Japan’s sovereignty over the disputed islands. A Russian state media translation of the Hokkaido Shimbun report noted that Japan’s foreign ministry was unaware of that recognition.
The State Department, the report said, issued the classification to help Russian green-card applicants from the Kurils “avoid mistakes in applying for U.S. visas and encounter fewer rejections.”
A set of constitutional changes enacted by President Vladimir Putin this summer includes a clause banning territorial concessions, which is viewed as being designed to allow Russia to keep the Kurils and Crimea.
A Russian state-funded poll in early 2019 said that 96% of the islands’ adult population opposed ceding the islands to Japan.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Putin Creates New Position for Chubais

Putin Creates New Position for Chubais

`` Anatoly Borisovich Chubais will be appointed as special representative to the President of the Russian Federation for relations with international organizations to achieve sustainable development goals , '' said the Kremlin decree published Friday evening .
Anatoly Chubais has been named President Vladimir Putin ’ s new point man on sustainable development and coordination with international organizations after stepping down as Rusnano CEO last week .
The Kremlin ’ s statement gave no further details on the new position created specifically for Chubais .
The position of special representative to the president does not necessarily grant Chubais any administrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts as saying .
Some political analysts saw this as a position created “ to save face ” while others saw it as a step toward Russia ’ s goal to tackle climate change and fulfill its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement .
“ More than once in my life , I had to do what is important for the country , although not very pleasant for me .
This time , it seems that the upcoming business is really significant for the country and interesting to me personally , ” Chubais @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment .
In a surprise announcement last week , Putin named Sergei Kulikov , the head of the Military-Industrial Commission and a former director of state conglomerate Rostec , as Chubais ’ replacement as leader of state nanotechnology company Rusnano .
Chubais , a political veteran largely responsible for the privatization of Russian markets in the 1990s , had led Rusnano since 2011 .
In 1995-1996 , Chubais was the Russian governor of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development .

"Anatoly Borisovich Chubais will be appointed as special representative to the President of the Russian Federation for relations with international organizations to achieve sustainable development goals," said the Kremlin decree published Friday evening.
Anatoly Chubais has been named President Vladimir Putin’s new point man on sustainable development and coordination with international organizations after stepping down as Rusnano CEO last week.
The Kremlin’s statement gave no further details on the new position created specifically for Chubais.
The position of special representative to the president does not necessarily grant Chubais any administrative power, the RBC news website cited experts as saying.
Some political analysts saw this as a position created “to save face” while others saw it as a step toward Russia’s goal to tackle climate change and fulfill its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.
“More than once in my life, I had to do what is important for the country, although not very pleasant for me. This time, it seems that the upcoming business is really significant for the country and interesting to me personally,” Chubais said in a Facebook post following his appointment.
In a surprise announcement last week, Putin named Sergei Kulikov, the head of the Military-Industrial Commission and a former director of state conglomerate Rostec, as Chubais’ replacement as leader of state nanotechnology company Rusnano.
Chubais, a political veteran largely responsible for the privatization of Russian markets in the 1990s, had led Rusnano since 2011. In 1995-1996, Chubais was the Russian governor of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-07--Russia Suggests Domestic Travel Ban to Slow Coronavirus

Despite infection rates and daily deaths nearly tripling since the country 's first wave , Russian authorities have so far eschewed a mass lockdown similar to the one imposed in spring .
Russia ’ s health minister has proposed reinstating a ban on domestic travel to slow the record-breaking spread of the coronavirus , the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday .
`` The Russian Health Ministry does not propose the introduction of any additional restrictions on the movement of citizens across the territory of Russia , '' assistant to the minister Alexei Kuznetsov said .
Update : Murashko 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken out of context and he had only been discussing travel restrictions in a general sense , a Health Ministry official told the RBC news website .
“ The second wave is showing us that the emerging hotbeds within the country probably require consideration of certain restrictions on the movement of individuals , ” TASS quoted Health Minister Mikhail Murashko as saying .
According to TASS , Murashko said Russians should be banned from traveling between the country ’ s 85 federal subjects , as well as within their own regions , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The measure is needed , he said , until the epidemic is brought under control with medicine .
“ We have an epidemic process today that ’ s not yet fully affected pharmaceutically , at least not as we would like , ” Murashko said at a medical conference .
“ Until we learn to actively manage it pharmaceutically , we ’ ll have to use measures such as anti-epidemic restrictions , lockdowns and others , ” he was quoted as saying .
“ It ’ s a forced but permissible measure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population.
” A Health Ministry official later told the RBC news website that Murashko 's words were taken out of context and he had only been discussing travel restrictions in a general sense .
Russia has confirmed 2.46 million cases of coronavirus and more than 43,000 deaths after reporting a new record of over 29,000 infections and 457 deaths Sunday .
Murashko ’ s proposal comes after Moscow began mass vaccination against Covid-19 with a domestic vaccine over the weekend .
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide vaccine drive to start later @ @ @

Despite infection rates and daily deaths nearly tripling since the country's first wave, Russian authorities have so far eschewed a mass lockdown similar to the one imposed in spring.
Russia’s health minister has proposed reinstating a ban on domestic travel to slow the record-breaking spread of the coronavirus, the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday.
"The Russian Health Ministry does not propose the introduction of any additional restrictions on the movement of citizens across the territory of Russia," assistant to the minister Alexei Kuznetsov said.
Update: Murashko's words on restricting travel between regions were taken out of context and he had only been discussing travel restrictions in a general sense, a Health Ministry official told the RBC news website.
“The second wave is showing us that the emerging hotbeds within the country probably require consideration of certain restrictions on the movement of individuals,” TASS quoted Health Minister Mikhail Murashko as saying.
According to TASS, Murashko said Russians should be banned from traveling between the country’s 85 federal subjects, as well as within their own regions, to limit the spread of the infection. The measure is needed, he said, until the epidemic is brought under control with medicine.
“We have an epidemic process today that’s not yet fully affected pharmaceutically, at least not as we would like,” Murashko said at a medical conference.
“Until we learn to actively manage it pharmaceutically, we’ll have to use measures such as anti-epidemic restrictions, lockdowns and others,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s a forced but permissible measure to preserve the life and health of the population.”
A Health Ministry official later told the RBC news website that Murashko's words were taken out of context and he had only been discussing travel restrictions in a general sense.
Russia has confirmed 2.46 million cases of coronavirus and more than 43,000 deaths after reporting a new record of over 29,000 infections and 457 deaths Sunday.
Murashko’s proposal comes after Moscow began mass vaccination against Covid-19 with a domestic vaccine over the weekend. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide vaccine drive to start later this week.