themoscowtimes--2020-08-17--Russia Approaches 930K Coronavirus Cases

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg .
Russia 's fatality rate has remained low @ @ @ @ @ , raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures .
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus @ @ @ @ @ a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Both events were initially postponed due @ @ @ @ @ cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 .
In the capital , masks are mandatory in @ @ @ @ @ but not in the streets .
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Ministry has said it developed a `` safe '' vaccine following clinical trials on a @ @ @ @ @ trials are ongoing , and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed @ @ @ @ @

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


themoscowtimes--2020-08-17--Belarus Vote Challenger Tikhanovskaya Says Ready to Be 'National Leader'

The main challenger in Belarus 's disputed presidential election said Monday that she was ready to take over the country 's leadership after a wave of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko .
`` I did not want to be a politician .
But fate decreed that I 'd find myself on the frontline of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice , '' Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said in a new video from exile in Lithuania .
`` I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period . ''
The video was released after tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday for the biggest demonstration yet in the protests against Lukashenko 's claim to have won the Aug. 9 election with 80 % of the vote .
Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other potential candidates including her husband were jailed , accuses Lukahsenko of rigging the election and has called for a new vote .
Since leaving for neighboring Lithuania last week , under pressure from the government according to her allies , she has been calling for demonstrations and justice for a brutal police crackdown on protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , but it was unclear if she was willing to take on the post of president .
In Monday 's video she said she would do so `` in order for the country to calm down ... so that we release all political prisoners and as soon as possible prepare the legal framework and conditions for organising new presidential elections . ''

The main challenger in Belarus's disputed presidential election said Monday that she was ready to take over the country's leadership after a wave of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. "I did not want to be a politician. But fate decreed that I'd find myself on the frontline of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said in a new video from exile in Lithuania.
"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period." The video was released after tens of thousands took to the streets of Minsk on Sunday for the biggest demonstration yet in the protests against Lukashenko's claim to have won the Aug. 9 election with 80% of the vote. Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other potential candidates including her husband were jailed, accuses Lukahsenko of rigging the election and has called for a new vote.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-17--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia 's `` readiness to provide the needed assistance '' including `` if necessary '' through a military alliance between six ex-Soviet states in a call with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko .
Lukashenko rejected calls to step down in a defiant speech to supporters Sunday .
Shortly later , more than 100,000 Belarusian opposition supporters gathered for the largest protest rally in the country 's recent history in Minsk and other cities .
Russia said Saturday that it has produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine , named Sputnik V , days after President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world to approve a vaccine .
Russia has said that industrial production is expected from September and that it plans to manufacture 5 million doses per month by December or January .
Mass protests in the Khabarovsk region of Russia ’ s Far East sparked by the arrest of its popular governor continued for the 36th consecutive day .
The Kremlin has meanwhile ordered Russian news outlets to double the number of stories undermining ex-Governor Sergei Furgal , the Financial Times reported , in an attempt to manipulate public opinion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were detained and a protest camp dismantled following violent clashes with authorities and chemical workers over an industrial plant built at a natural landmark in central Russia .

President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia's "readiness to provide the needed assistance" including "if necessary" through a military alliance between six ex-Soviet states in a call with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko rejected calls to step down in a defiant speech to supporters Sunday. Shortly later, more than 100,000 Belarusian opposition supporters gathered for the largest protest rally in the country's recent history in Minsk and other cities.
First batch
Russia said Saturday that it has produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine, named Sputnik V, days after President Vladimir Putin announced it had been first in the world to approve a vaccine.
Russia has said that industrial production is expected from September and that it plans to manufacture 5 million doses per month by December or January.
Sixth week of protests
Mass protests in the Khabarovsk region of Russia’s Far East sparked by the arrest of its popular governor continued for the 36th consecutive day.
The Kremlin has meanwhile ordered Russian news outlets to double the number of stories undermining ex-Governor Sergei Furgal, the Financial Times reported, in an attempt to manipulate public opinion and silence dissent.
Saving the mountain
Around 50 environmental activists were detained and a protest camp dismantled following violent clashes with authorities and chemical workers over an industrial plant built at a natural landmark in central Russia.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-17--Norway Arrests Man Suspected of Spying for Russia

Norway 's intelligence service said Monday its agents had arrested a Norwegian man suspected of passing sensitive information to Russia .
`` The man is formally suspected of providing information to a foreign country that could damage fundamental national interests , '' the PST intelligence agency wrote on Twitter .
A PST official later confirmed the country in question was Russia .
`` The person arrested held meetings with an officer from the Russian intelligence agency , '' Line Nyvoll Nygaard told TV2 Nyhetskanalen television .
Meanwhile , DNV GL , a company that provides certification for insurance purposes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewables industries , confirmed the suspect was one of its employees .
`` Through his position ( he ) had access to information which , in our opinion , could be of great interest and significance to other countries and other actors , '' Nyvoll Nygaard said .
The man , aged 50 , was arrested on Saturday in an Oslo restaurant after having met the Russian officer , the PST said .
A judge on Monday ordered the man detained in custody for four weeks , the first two in isolation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any wrongdoing .
He risks up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of espionage .
Russia 's embassy in Oslo has not commented on the arrest .
In its annual report published in February , PST warned of the risk of espionage in several sectors of society -- political , financial , defense and research circles , among others -- singling out Russia , China and Iran as particular threats .
In recent decades several spy cases have marred ties between NATO member Norway and Russia , which share a border @ @ @ @ @

Norway's intelligence service said Monday its agents had arrested a Norwegian man suspected of passing sensitive information to Russia.
"The man is formally suspected of providing information to a foreign country that could damage fundamental national interests," the PST intelligence agency wrote on Twitter.
A PST official later confirmed the country in question was Russia.
"The person arrested held meetings with an officer from the Russian intelligence agency," Line Nyvoll Nygaard told TV2 Nyhetskanalen television.
Meanwhile, DNV GL, a company that provides certification for insurance purposes for the maritime, oil and gas and renewables industries, confirmed the suspect was one of its employees.
"Through his position (he) had access to information which, in our opinion, could be of great interest and significance to other countries and other actors," Nyvoll Nygaard said.
The man, aged 50, was arrested on Saturday in an Oslo restaurant after having met the Russian officer, the PST said.
A judge on Monday ordered the man detained in custody for four weeks, the first two in isolation.
According to his lawyer, he denies any wrongdoing. He risks up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of espionage.
Russia's embassy in Oslo has not commented on the arrest.
In its annual report published in February, PST warned of the risk of espionage in several sectors of society -- political, financial, defense and research circles, among others -- singling out Russia, China and Iran as particular threats.
In recent decades several spy cases have marred ties between NATO member Norway and Russia, which share a border in the Arctic Circle.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-17--Mexican President Says Will Get Russian Vaccine if Effective

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that he would be among the first to receive a Russian coronavirus vaccine if it is shown to be effective .
Russia 's announcement last week that it was the first in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine was met with caution from Western scientists who said it still needed to be proved safe and effective .
`` I would be the first to get vaccinated , because it matters a lot to me , but we have to ... ensure that it 's something effective and that it 's available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his daily news conference .
The Mexican leader added that he would personally reach out to Russia or China if they are first to develop an effective vaccine .
`` In this important matter , there should be no ideologies ... health comes first , '' he said .
The Latin American country has recorded more than 56,000 coronavirus deaths — the world 's third-highest toll — and over half a million infections .
Mexico announced a deal last week with British-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca to manufacture its vaccine now under development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective .

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that he would be among the first to receive a Russian coronavirus vaccine if it is shown to be effective.
Russia's announcement last week that it was the first in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine was met with caution from Western scientists who said it still needed to be proved safe and effective.
"I would be the first to get vaccinated, because it matters a lot to me, but we have to ... ensure that it's something effective and that it's available to everyone," Lopez Obrador said at his daily news conference.
The Mexican leader added that he would personally reach out to Russia or China if they are first to develop an effective vaccine.
"In this important matter, there should be no ideologies... health comes first," he said.
The Latin American country has recorded more than 56,000 coronavirus deaths — the world's third-highest toll — and over half a million infections.
Mexico announced a deal last week with British-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca to manufacture its vaccine now under development if clinical trials show it to be effective.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Protesters Rally at Jail Holding Belarus Vote Challenger's Husband

Protesters rallied outside a prison in Minsk on Tuesday where the husband of Belarus 's main opposition figure is being @ @ @ @ @ disputed presidential elections entered their 10th day .
Several hundred people gathered outside the walls @ @ @ @ @ mark the 42nd birthday of Sergei Tikhanovsky , a popular blogger who was imprisoned alongside @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Lukashenko ahead of the August 9 election .
Holding red-and-white balloons in the colors @ @ @ @ @ protesters clapped and chanted `` happy birthday '' to Tikhanovsky .
Tikhanovsky 's wife , @ @ @ @ @ to run in his place but fled to neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations and a brutal crackdown on street protests .
Belarus investigators have accused Tikhanovsky of @ @ @ @ @ and calls to use violence against law enforcement officers .

Several hundred people gathered outside the walls of the detention center to mark the 42nd birthday of Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular blogger who was imprisoned alongside other rivals of longtime ruler Alexander Lukashenko ahead of the Aug. 9 election.
Protesters rallied outside a prison in Minsk on Tuesday where the husband of Belarus's main opposition figure is being held, as protests against disputed presidential elections entered their 10th day.
Holding red-and-white balloons in the colors of the opposition, the protesters clapped and chanted "happy birthday" to Tikhanovsky.
Tikhanovsky's wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was allowed to run in his place but fled to neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the fraught elections that sparked massive demonstrations and a brutal crackdown on street protests.
Belarus investigators have accused Tikhanovsky of inciting "social hostility" and calls to use violence against law enforcement officers.
In a video message on Tuesday, Tikhanovskaya said her husband was spending his birthday in prison accused of "a crime he did not commit."
"All of this blatant lawlessness and injustice shows how this rotting system works, in which one person controls everything, one person who has kept the country in fear for 26 years, one person who stole Belarusians of their choice," she said.
Tikhanovskaya, 37, has demanded the authorities release all detainees, remove security forces from the streets and open criminal cases against those who ordered the crackdown.
She has also said she will organize new elections if Lukashenko steps down.
The opposition has formed a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power, and it is due to convene Tuesday.
Belarus's 65-year-old authoritarian leader is coming under increasing pressure after days of protests and walkouts.
Lukashenko has dismissed calls to resign and rejected holding a new vote, telling protesters on Monday that "Until you kill me, there will be no elections."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Lukashenko Awards ‘Impeccable Service’ Medals to Security Forces Following Protest Crackdown

Up to 7,000 people have been detained , hundreds injured and two have died in the days of protests against the Aug. 9 election results which showed an overwhelming victory for Lukashenko .
Belarusian investigators said they received more than 600 complaints of injuries during arrest and 100 reports of injury inside detention cells .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has handed out medals to more than 300 members of the security forces for “ impeccable service ” days after a violent crackdown on post-election protesters .
Lukashenko awarded riot officers , police van drivers , prison guards and others for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to the order published early Tuesday .
The order signed by Lukashenko is dated Aug. 13 , the last day of police violence and detentions against anti-Lukashenko protesters .
Detainees have since been slowly released following public pressure from a growing wave of demonstrations and high-profile condemnations .
Many of them have given disturbing accounts of beatings , humiliation and torture in detention .
The European Union last week announced that it will draw up new sanctions `` against those responsible for the violence , arrests and fraud in connection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cracksdown , Belarus Interior Minister Yury Karayev apologized on state television for the arrest of innocent people .
Around 122 people are still being held in detention in Minsk and other cities as of Monday , according to prosecutors .
Belarusian investigators said they are also looking into 124 reports of violence against law enforcement officials during protests .

Up to 7,000 people have been detained, hundreds injured and two have died in the days of protests against the Aug. 9 election results which showed an overwhelming victory for Lukashenko. Belarusian investigators said they received more than 600 complaints of injuries during arrest and 100 reports of injury inside detention cells.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has handed out medals to more than 300 members of the security forces for “impeccable service” days after a violent crackdown on post-election protesters.
Lukashenko awarded riot officers, police van drivers, prison guards and others for “exemplary performance of official duties,” according to the order published early Tuesday.
The order signed by Lukashenko is dated Aug. 13, the last day of police violence and detentions against anti-Lukashenko protesters.
Detainees have since been slowly released following public pressure from a growing wave of demonstrations and high-profile condemnations. Many of them have given disturbing accounts of beatings, humiliation and torture in detention.
The European Union last week announced that it will draw up new sanctions "against those responsible for the violence, arrests and fraud in connection with the election" in Belarus.
Following the cracksdown, Belarus Interior Minister Yury Karayev apologized on state television for the arrest of innocent people.
Around 122 people are still being held in detention in Minsk and other cities as of Monday, according to prosecutors.
Belarusian investigators said they are also looking into 124 reports of violence against law enforcement officials during protests.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--As Discontent Grows at Home, Russia’s Opposition Is Watching Belarus

During his weekly YouTube talk show Thursday , Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny summed up how Russia ’ s opposition feels about the protests that are raging on either end of the post-Soviet space with one of the internet ’ s most popular memes : the distracted boyfriend .
In the version of the meme the de facto Russian opposition leader shared , the boyfriend , who while walking hand-in-hand with his girlfriend turns to check out another woman passing in the other direction , is the opposition .
The girlfriend is Khabarovsk , a city near the border with China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued for more than six weeks .
And the other woman is Belarus , where an unprecedented uprising against Alexander Lukashenko , who has ruled the country since 1994 , has swung Russia ’ s attention all the way from the east to its western border .
“ It ’ s a little uncomfortable for any Russian politician , ” Navalny said .
“ Just recently any opposition politician or Russian media was saying Khabarovsk , Khabarovsk , Khabarovsk , Khabarovsk , you are the most important political development .
Which is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it and is now only talking about Belarus.
” That ’ s because what ’ s happening in Belarus — a country that shares not only a border with Russia but also a language and cultural elements — has significant implications for Russia ’ s own domestic political life .
As protests that erupted after a presidential election last Sunday that was widely viewed as rigged in Lukashenko ’ s favor have pushed his regime to the brink , opposition-minded Russians have begun wondering whether the same can be repeated at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious , ” said Andrei Kolesnikov , chair of the Russian Domestic Politics program at the Carnegie Moscow Center .
“ It ’ s a danger to the Kremlin because it ’ s a democratic infection that could spread.
” That desire for a more democratic government is precisely what triggered protests in Khabarovsk , after residents felt their vote had been ignored when their popular governor Sergei Furgal was arrested on July 10 on several 15-year-old murder charges .
Voters felt the move was politically motivated payback for their election of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling United Russia party .
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the city of 600,000 each successive Saturday , with smaller rallies held every day for 39 consecutive days in a protest movement that is unprecedented for Russia .
Large opposition rallies in the regions are rare , and when they take place in Moscow the Kremlin paints them as discontent among a liberal elite that is not representative of the nation as a whole .
Yet beyond small rallies in solidarity in several other Russian cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trigger a wider movement , despite protesters there having stated that as their goal .
Yulia Galyamina , a Moscow municipal deputy who helped lead large protests in the capital over fair local elections last summer , doesn ’ t believe a nationwide protest movement is ripe , as it is in neighboring Belarus .
“ I don ’ t think we should take to the streets right now in Moscow , ” she said .
“ People have called for this , but a lot of people will just get detained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda in Khabarovsk is ultimately more of a local issue.
” Galyamina , 47 , is not shy when it comes to the street protest .
She was one of the few opposition voices encouraging people to rally against a constitutional reform vote that ended on July 1 and handed President Vladimir Putin the opportunity to remain in office until 2036 .
But that demonstration in Moscow on July 15 attracted only several hundred people , over 140 of whom were detained .
Galyamina nonetheless believes that the protest mood in Russia is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has dropped to its lowest level since he came to power in 2000 , has nowhere to go but down .
The Belarus scenario , she said , is several years away .
“ The example of Belarus is inspiring to people because it shows that you are not helpless , that you can get out of the vicious cycle , ” Galyamina said .
“ A lot of people are against what ’ s happening in our country but don ’ t feel we can do anything about it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in what ’ s happening in Belarus , a similar country with a similar governing structure , Galyamina added , underscores that people in Russia do want change .
One indicator of that interest is the Belarusian Nexta Live channel on the Telegram messaging app .
Since the beginning of the protests , the channel , which posts a constant stream of updates , has become the most popular Telegram channel in the Russian language with 2.2 million subscribers and counting .
Still , Galyamina said , “ the Belarus example also shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come out , but it will be the people that decide.
” Street protests may nonetheless be on the horizon for Russia .
In his show , Navalny , who has organized some of the largest rallies in Moscow in recent years , said the Belarus example shows that participating in elections is important , but only if people also take to the streets .
“ In response to injustice , you go and defend your rights , ” Navalny said .
“ That ’ s the key lesson of Belarus.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Putin will intervene in Belarus to protect Russia ’ s interests , Tatiana Stanovaya , founder of the R.Politik analysis project , said that the Russian authorities are also taking stock of what ’ s happening next door when it comes to their own domestic politics .
“ The Belarus factor increases the political risks inside Russia , ” she said .
“ It ’ s being taken as an added destabilizing threat.
” The authorities , Stanovaya said , will try to ensure they avoid moves that may lead to mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve also lost the understanding of what might trigger that .
One recent move that political analysts say the Kremlin didn ’ t expect to spark such widespread discontent ?
Removing Furgal from his post in Khabarovsk .
“ They don ’ t have the feeling at their fingertips of what ’ s happening with the people , ” she said .
“ So they will be doing this practically blind.
” Alexander Baunov , a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center , said events in Belarus will also confirm to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is better than waiting until the last moment .
Baunov has argued that Putin ’ s move to give himself another two possible presidential terms was more about giving him a chance to maneuver than to ensure that he will rule for another 16 years .
“ Putin understands that 20 years is close to the limit , ” Baunov said .
“ I still think this transition will happen in 2024 or earlier .
”

During his weekly YouTube talk show Thursday, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny summed up how Russia’s opposition feels about the protests that are raging on either end of the post-Soviet space with one of the internet’s most popular memes: the distracted boyfriend. In the version of the meme the de facto Russian opposition leader shared, the boyfriend, who while walking hand-in-hand with his girlfriend turns to check out another woman passing in the other direction, is the opposition. The girlfriend is Khabarovsk, a city near the border with China, where massive anti-Kremlin protests have now continued for more than six weeks. And the other woman is Belarus, where an unprecedented uprising against Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, has swung Russia’s attention all the way from the east to its western border. “It’s a little uncomfortable for any Russian politician,” Navalny said. “Just recently any opposition politician or Russian media was saying Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk, you are the most important political development. Which is still true, but everyone’s forgotten about it and is now only talking about Belarus.” That’s because what’s happening in Belarus — a country that shares not only a border with Russia but also a language and cultural elements — has significant implications for Russia’s own domestic political life. As protests that erupted after a presidential election last Sunday that was widely viewed as rigged in Lukashenko’s favor have pushed his regime to the brink, opposition-minded Russians have begun wondering whether the same can be repeated at home. “The Belarus example could be contagious,” said Andrei Kolesnikov, chair of the Russian Domestic Politics program at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “It’s a danger to the Kremlin because it’s a democratic infection that could spread.”
That desire for a more democratic government is precisely what triggered protests in Khabarovsk, after residents felt their vote had been ignored when their popular governor Sergei Furgal was arrested on July 10 on several 15-year-old murder charges. Voters felt the move was politically motivated payback for their election of a politician in 2018 who did not represent the ruling United Russia party. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the city of 600,000 each successive Saturday, with smaller rallies held every day for 39 consecutive days in a protest movement that is unprecedented for Russia. Large opposition rallies in the regions are rare, and when they take place in Moscow the Kremlin paints them as discontent among a liberal elite that is not representative of the nation as a whole. Yet beyond small rallies in solidarity in several other Russian cities, the Khabarovsk protests have failed to trigger a wider movement, despite protesters there having stated that as their goal. Yulia Galyamina, a Moscow municipal deputy who helped lead large protests in the capital over fair local elections last summer, doesn’t believe a nationwide protest movement is ripe, as it is in neighboring Belarus. “I don’t think we should take to the streets right now in Moscow,” she said. “People have called for this, but a lot of people will just get detained, and that’s it. The agenda in Khabarovsk is ultimately more of a local issue.”
Galyamina, 47, is not shy when it comes to the street protest. She was one of the few opposition voices encouraging people to rally against a constitutional reform vote that ended on July 1 and handed President Vladimir Putin the opportunity to remain in office until 2036. But that demonstration in Moscow on July 15 attracted only several hundred people, over 140 of whom were detained. Galyamina nonetheless believes that the protest mood in Russia is growing and Putin’s approval rating, which has dropped to its lowest level since he came to power in 2000, has nowhere to go but down. The Belarus scenario, she said, is several years away. “The example of Belarus is inspiring to people because it shows that you are not helpless, that you can get out of the vicious cycle,” Galyamina said. “A lot of people are against what’s happening in our country but don’t feel we can do anything about it.” The fact that Russians are so interested in what’s happening in Belarus, a similar country with a similar governing structure, Galyamina added, underscores that people in Russia do want change. One indicator of that interest is the Belarusian Nexta Live channel on the Telegram messaging app. Since the beginning of the protests, the channel, which posts a constant stream of updates, has become the most popular Telegram channel in the Russian language with 2.2 million subscribers and counting. Still, Galyamina said, “the Belarus example also shows that the opposition can call for people to come out, but it will be the people that decide.”


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Russia Surpasses 930K Coronavirus Cases

Russia Surpasses 930K Coronavirus Cases


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Russian Energy Minister Contracts Coronavirus

Novak is at least the fifth Russian cabinet member to contract Covid-19 since the outbreak hit the country in March .
He had been set to accompany Mishustin on a working trip to Russia ’ s Far East this week when he learned of his diagnosis after arriving .
“ He flew in [ to the Far East ] and then flew back to Moscow without ever taking part .
God grant him health , ” Mishustin said , according to Interfax .
An Energy Ministry official told the RBC news website that Novak is asymptomatic and will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join an upcoming ministers ’ session of oil-producing countries via videoconference .
An entire pool of journalists covering Mishustin ’ s Far East trip was also sent back to Moscow after some of them tested positive for Covid-19 .
In addition to Mishustin , Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova , Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev and Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov have all come down with Covid-19 .
Deputy Prime Minister and presidential envoy to the Far East Yury Trutnev tested positive and went into isolation last week .
News of high-level officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin testing positive for Covid-19 sparked fears that the president himself was at risk of getting infected .
Putin ’ s spokesman , who was hospitalized with the coronavirus in May , has said that the president tests regularly for Covid-19 .
Russia has confirmed some 930,000 coronavirus cases , the fourth-highest caseload in the world .

Novak is at least the fifth Russian cabinet member to contract Covid-19 since the outbreak hit the country in March. He had been set to accompany Mishustin on a working trip to Russia’s Far East this week when he learned of his diagnosis after arriving.
“He flew in [to the Far East] and then flew back to Moscow without ever taking part. God grant him health,” Mishustin said, according to Interfax.
An Energy Ministry official told the RBC news website that Novak is asymptomatic and will continue to perform his duties remotely. He will join an upcoming ministers’ session of oil-producing countries via videoconference.
An entire pool of journalists covering Mishustin’s Far East trip was also sent back to Moscow after some of them tested positive for Covid-19.
In addition to Mishustin, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev and Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov have all come down with Covid-19.
Deputy Prime Minister and presidential envoy to the Far East Yury Trutnev tested positive and went into isolation last week.
News of high-level officials who came into close contact with President Vladimir Putin testing positive for Covid-19 sparked fears that the president himself was at risk of getting infected. Putin’s spokesman, who was hospitalized with the coronavirus in May, has said that the president tests regularly for Covid-19.
Russia has confirmed some 930,000 coronavirus cases, the fourth-highest caseload in the world.