themoscowtimes--2020-03-09--Russian Ruble Plummets Amid Oil Market Chaos

The Russian ruble plummeted almost 10 % overnight , falling to its lowest level in more than four years , as oil prices crashed following the breakdown of the Russia-Saudi Arabia pact to limit production .
The ruble was trading at a low of 74.9 to $ 1 on Monday morning , after another wild start to the week for financial markets .
Russia ’ s rejection of a renewed round of oil production cuts in the OPEC+ format at a crunch meeting in Vienna on Friday shocked the global energy markets and has prompted analysts to talk of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world ’ s largest energy suppliers .
Benchmark Brent crude fell 30 % to $ 33 a barrel when trading opened on Asian markets following the weekend , the sharpest one-day loss in almost three decades .
Falling oil prices put the Russian ruble under pressure , as Moscow still relies on energy exports for a large portion of its budget .
The so-called budget breakeven rate is $ 50 , while profits on oil sold about $ 42 a barrel are funnelled into Russia ’ s swelling National Welfare Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those levels , Russia will either have to run into its substantial coffers to fund day-to-day government spending or borrow more .
Russia ’ s Finance Ministry confirmed Monday it would sell foreign exchange reserves in a bid to stabilize the ruble , adding : “ The value of liquid assets of the NWF and funds in the account for additional oil and gas revenues stand at more than 10.1 trillion rubles ( $ 150 billion ) or 9.2 % of GDP .
These funds are sufficient to cover the shortfall in income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per barrel for 6-10 years .
”

The Russian ruble plummeted almost 10% Monday, falling to its lowest level in more than four years, as oil prices crashed following the breakdown of the Russia-Saudi Arabia pact to limit production.
The ruble was trading at 75 to $1 on Monday evening in Moscow — a 9.5% drop — after another wild start to the week for financial markets around the world.
Russia’s rejection of a renewed round of oil production cuts in the OPEC+ format at a crunch meeting in Vienna on Friday shocked the global energy markets and has prompted analysts to talk of an “oil price war” between two of the world’s largest energy suppliers.
Benchmark Brent crude oil fell more than 30% to a low of $31.02 a barrel when trading opened on Asian markets Monday morning — the sharpest one-day loss in almost three decades. It climbed back to around $34 a barrel by the time markets closed in the U.S.
Falling oil prices put the Russian ruble under pressure, as Moscow still relies on energy exports for a large portion of its budget. The so-called budget breakeven rate is $50, while profits on oil sold about $42 a barrel are funnelled into Russia’s swelling National Welfare Fund (NWF).
With prices below those levels, Russia will either have to run into its substantial coffers to fund day-to-day government spending or borrow more.
Russia’s Finance Ministry confirmed Monday it would sell foreign exchange reserves in a bid to stabilize the ruble, adding: “The value of liquid assets of the NWF and funds in the account for additional oil and gas revenues stand at more than 10.1 trillion rubles ($150 billion) or 9.2% of GDP. These funds are sufficient to cover the shortfall in income from falling oil prices to $25-30 per barrel for 6-10 years.”


themoscowtimes--2020-03-09--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

The crude oil price plunged around 30 % in early trading Monday following top oil exporter Saudi Arabia 's decision to slash its official selling price and step up production .
That was the biggest percentage drop since 1991 .
The decision was made after a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) and its allies , led by Russia , collapsed in Vienna .
Relatives of victims from the downed 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 protested in front of the Russian Embassy in the Hague a day before four fugitive suspects go on trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and crew .
Family and friends set up white chairs on the lawn opposite the embassy to symbolize the victims and called on Russia to cooperate with the investigation into the crash .
The defendants are at large and are not expected to show up for the hearings at a high-security courtroom near Amsterdam 's Schiphol airport where they will be prosecuted under Dutch law .
Moscow city authorities threatened prison terms of up to five years for people failing to self-isolate in their homes for two weeks after visiting countries hit hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 17 coronavirus cases have been registered in Russia as of Monday .
Two Russian citizens have been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of carrying out a hammer attack last month on a blogger critical of Chechen strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov .
A Russian woman in her thirties is suspected of being an accessory to the attempted murder of Tumso Abdurakhmanov on Feb. 26 in the central Swedish town of Gavle .
President Vladimir Putin has approved a 2019-25 state migration policy that envisions softening naturalization eligibility requirements to migrants “ mentally and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the new policy simplifies procedures for vulnerable migrants , as well as those with “ positive social ties to Russia.
” Putin , instead of the Interior Ministry , also personally grants Russian citizenship to “ especially valuable ” foreigners .

Price war The crude oil price plunged around 30% in early trading Monday following top oil exporter Saudi Arabia's decision to slash its official selling price and step up production. That was the biggest percentage drop since 1991. The decision was made after a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, led by Russia, collapsed in Vienna. 298 chairs Relatives of victims from the downed 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 protested in front of the Russian Embassy in the Hague a day before four fugitive suspects go on trial charged with the murder of 298 passengers and crew.
news Everything You Need to Know About the MH17 Trial Read more
Family and friends set up white chairs on the lawn opposite the embassy to symbolize the victims and called on Russia to cooperate with the investigation into the crash. The defendants are at large and are not expected to show up for the hearings at a high-security courtroom near Amsterdam's Schiphol airport where they will be prosecuted under Dutch law. Quarantine jail Moscow city authorities threatened prison terms of up to five years for people failing to self-isolate in their homes for two weeks after visiting countries hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. A total of 17 coronavirus cases have been registered in Russia as of Monday. Hammer crime Two Russian citizens have been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of carrying out a hammer attack last month on a blogger critical of Chechen strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
news Two Russians Arrested for Assassination Attempt on Chechen Dissident Blogger Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-03-09--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | March 9

There have been 17 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 3,000 people continues to spread around the world , Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk , including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border with China and temporarily banning Chinese citizens from entering the country .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s response to the coronavirus — Moscow city authorities threatened prison terms of up to five years on Sunday for people failing to self-isolate in their homes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus outbreak .
— Russia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus , taking the total number to 17 — three of whom have since recovered .
— Russia has reported six new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours , including five in Moscow and one in Nizhny Novgorod 400 kilometers east of the capital .
All six cases were contracted in Italy , one of several virus hubs outside China , the authorities said .
— Russian officials have conducted more than 51,000 tests for the coronavirus nationwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seven cases have been confirmed , including two Chinese nationals who have since recovered .
— Seven Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were placed in a two-week quarantine in Russia 's Far East have been discharged .
Two other quarantined patients are awaiting test results .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a “ high alert regime , ” ordering self-isolation for Russians returning from China , South Korea , Iran , France , Germany , Italy and Spain .
— Russia cancelled its flagship annual St Petersburg International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against coronavirus , the Interfax news agency cited First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as saying on Thursday .
The forum , usually chaired by President Vladimir Putin , was due to be held in St Petersburg on June 3-6 .
— Russia 's state carrier Aeroflot said it would suspend its flights to and from Hong Kong amid fears over coronavirus .
The airline will continue flying from Moscow to Hong Kong until March 7 and from Hong Kong to Moscow until March 8 , after which those services will be suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency plan that envisions a near shutdown of the Russian capital in case of a coronavirus outbreak .
— Officials confirmed a seventh coronavirus infection in the country .
The patient is an Italian citizen who had arrived to Russia on Feb. 29 , asked for medical help on March 2 and tested positive for the virus .
He is being treated at an undisclosed hospital .
— Russian businesses have started to cancel foreign business trips and participation in international conferences after a recommendation from the Health Ministry to restrict foreign travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St. Petersburg have been placed under quarantine and prohibited from leaving the building after the hospitalization of an Italian exchange student who had been living there .
The number of patients in the city that are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms has nearly doubled to 44 people .
— Two Russian citizens have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates , the country 's health ministry said .
— Russia has temporarily banned the export of medical masks , gloves , bandages and protective suits .
— President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus were being sent to Russia from abroad to spread panic .
He urged the government to ensure that citizens were correctly informed about the situation in Russia .
— Russian gas giant Gazprom has suspended foreign trips for its staff due to the coronavirus outbreak , a company spokesman said .
— The Moscow metro has begun random checks of passengers ' temperatures at station entrances , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— A Russian national who was quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy , a hub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , the state-run RIA Novosti reported .
The man , 29-year-old Moscow resident David Berov , is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country .
— The impact of coronavirus on the Russian economy will be deeper than originally expected , Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said .
The ruble 's depreciation and stock market decline have gained momentum since mid-February due to the fast-spreading coronavirus and concerns about its economic impact , which sent oil prices crashing .
— Schools across Moscow have canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the flu and respiratory infections , the city ’ s education officials said in a Feb. 28 letter cited by Interfax .
— Moscow authorities are deporting 88 foreign nationals who violated quarantine measures imposed on them as a precaution against coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency cited Moscow 's deputy mayor as saying .
— A Russian citizen has tested positive with coronavirus in Azerbaijan after arriving there from Iran , Interfax reported .
It marks the fourth case of coronavirus among Russian citizens and the first infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily barred Iranian citizens from entering Russia and said it would also restrict the entry of South Korean citizens from March 1 as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus , decrees published online showed .
— The government also said it would not allow in any foreign citizens traveling from Iran or South Korea , and ordered the Foreign Ministry to suspend the issue of visas to Iranian citizens .
— Russia will suspend its train service from Moscow to the southern French city of Nice starting March 4 , the state-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transport Ministry .
The ministry said the train link would be suspended until further notice as part of wider measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Russia .
— Moscow authorities have identified 88 people who violated the city 's self-isolation orders after returning from China , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
The Russian capital deployed its facial recognition network to enforce the quarantine .
— Russia has developed five prototypes for a coronavirus vaccine , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Russia 's Federal Tourism Agency recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , South Korea and Iran until the outbreaks of coronavirus there are brought under control .
— Moscow will suspend flights between Russia and South Korea from March 1 over coronavirus fears , except those operated by Aeroflot and Aurora , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Golikova said Russia would also stop issuing visas to some Iranian citizens from Feb. 28 and was advising Russians against traveling to Italy .
— Other restrictions related to the outbreak which have been previously announced will be extended by one month to April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Embassy in Russia has reportedly asked Moscow authorities to stop the profiling of Chinese nationals on the city 's public transport .
According to Novaya Gazeta , the embassy 's letter said that Moscow police and subway workers had begun questioning passengers believed to be Chinese to check for signs of coronavirus , something that is n't being done anywhere else in the world .
— Two Russian citizens are among the hundreds of tourists being quarantined in a seaside resort on Tenerife , one of the Canary Islands , after an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for coronavirus , Interfax reported .
— Seven Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been placed in a two-week quarantine in a Vladivostok hospital .
— Nearly all of the 25 Ukrainian nationals onboard the quarantined ship have refused to be evacuated to their home country after violent protests against coronavirus evacuees broke out there .
— Around 2,500 people arriving from China have been ordered placed under quarantine for the coronavirus and monitored by the Russian capital ’ s facial-recognition technology , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .

Russia has confirmed 18,315,292 cases of coronavirus and 378,784 deaths , according to the national coronavirus information center. Russia’s total excess fatality count since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is at least 995,000. Under half the population is fully vaccinated.
— QR codes will be issued to Russians who test positive for Covid-19 antibodies, regardless of their vaccination status.
— Russians will be able to take an antibody test to obtain a coronavirus health pass from Feb. 21, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.
— Russia reported more than 200,000 new Covid-19 infections for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— After a three-day decline, Russia saw an an increase of Covid-19 infections with a total of 179,284 new infections and 748 deaths.
Russians and foreigners will be able to receive a coronavirus QR-code health pass based on the results of an antibody test from Monday.
Russia reported 137,642 new Covid-19 infections and 785 deaths over the last 24 hours.
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Feb. 10
— Russia reported a total of 197,076 new infections and 701 deaths.
Feb. 9
— Russia reported a total of 183,103 new infections and 669 deaths.
Feb. 8
— Russia reported a total of 165,643 new infections and 698 deaths.
— Almost 12,000 children with Covid-19 are currently being treated in hospitals, while children make up about 20% of the country's total number of coronavirus cases, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced.
Feb. 7
— Russia reported 171,905 new coronavirus infections and 609 deaths.
Feb. 6
— Russia reported a record 180,071 new coronavirus infections and 661 deaths.
Feb. 5
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 177,282 new infections and 714 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
Feb. 4
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 168,201 new infections and 682 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has a 70.5% efficacy against the Delta variant of the coronavirus six months after vaccination, the jab’s developers said Friday. The findings were published as part of the results of Phase 3 medical trials into the vaccine. Omicron has displaced Delta as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Moscow and is sweeping rapidly across the country.
Feb. 3
— Russia reported a new record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 155,768 new infections and 667 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia plans to cancel mandatory isolation requirements for people who come into contact with somebody infected with Covid-19, Anna Popova, the head of the Rospotrebnadzor consumer health watchdog said Friday. She said the forced quarantine rules “have lost their reasoning” with the surge in Omicron cases.
Feb. 2
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 141,883 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 678 fatalities.
Feb. 1
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 125,836 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 663 fatalities.
— Russia's Labor Ministry has recommended that all enterprises send as many of their employees to remote work as possible due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
— A growing number of Russian regions are re-introducing coronavirus lockdown measures due to the surging Omicron variant, even as the Kremlin on Monday repeated that there will be no nationwide lockdown due to the variant’s spread. Fifteen regions across the country have suspended routine medical care due to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations, while five regions have sent schoolchildren to remote learning and four regions banned mass gatherings. The Tula region south of Moscow took the most drastic step in the latest virus surge by announcing a 10-day regionwide holiday.
Jan. 31
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 124,070 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 621 fatalities.
— Russia’s excess fatalities reached 995,000 by the end of 2021, according to The Moscow Times’ analysis of official statistics. The country also saw its largest natural population decline since the end of the Soviet Union, registering a fall of more than one million in 2021, the Rosstat statistics service said Friday.
Jan. 30
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 121,228 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 617 fatalities.
Jan. 29
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time ever. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 113,112 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 668 fatalities.
— Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "clear that the real number of people who have Covid-19 is slightly higher than the official statistics."
— Moscow does not plan to introduce new lockdown measures in response to the Omicron variant, the RBC news website reported, citing two sources close to the Mayor's Office.
Jan. 28
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the eighth day running. A total of 98,040 new infections and 673 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
Jan. 27
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the seventh day running. A total of 88,816 new infections and 665 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
— The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the capital jumped 22% on Thursday and is now running close to peaks recorded during the two previous waves of the virus in 2021.
Jan. 26
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the sixth day running. A total of 74,692 new infections and 657 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Children in St. Petersburg will be barred from sporting, cultural and entertainment establishments from Jan. 28-Feb. 13, city authorities announced.
— Russia has cut the quarantine period for people infected with Covid-19 from 14 to seven days, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Tuesday.
Jan. 25
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fifth day running. A total of 67,809 new infections and 681 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Around 70% of people infected with the Omicron variant in Russia are unvaccinated, said Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog, in a televised meeting.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was likely to see growing coronavirus cases for at least two more weeks, as the Omicron variant fuels a record rise in infections.
Jan. 24
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fourth day running. A total of 65,109 new infections and 655 deaths were recorded.
Jan. 23
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the third day running. A total of 63,205 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 679 deaths.
Jan. 22
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread across the country. A total of 57,212 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 681 deaths.
Jan. 21
— Amid rising cases, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on extended a requirement for businesses in the capital to ensure 30% of their employers were working from home.
— Russia plans to cut the isolation period from 14 to seven days for those infected with Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russian lawmakers have agreed to withdraw from consideration an unpopular bill for QR-code health passes to enter public spaces, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
Jan. 19
— Russia reported 33,899 new Covid-19 infections and 698 deaths.
— Cases in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg set a new record high Wednesday with 4,382 new confirmed cases. In Moscow, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Omicron has become the dominant strain, new infections set their third-highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday of 8,795.
Jan. 18
— Russia reported 31,252 new Covid-19 infections and 688 deaths.
Jan. 17
— Russia reported 30,726 new Covid-19 infections and 670 deaths.
— The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still awaiting additional documentation on Sputnik V before it can proceed with the vaccine approval process, the EU’s Ambassador to Moscow said Monday. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia said Sunday the vaccine’s developers had submitted all the required information needed for its approval process, and further inspections will take place in February, though other WHO officials later appeared to contradict this, saying they were still waiting for a full data package from Russia.
Jan. 16
— Russia reported 29,230 new Covid-19 infections and 686 deaths.
Jan. 15
— Russia reported 27,179 new Covid-19 infections and 723 deaths.
Jan. 14
— Russia reported 23,820 new Covid-19 cases and 739 deaths
— Russia will delay controversial legislation over the use of coronavirus health passes for access to public spaces, officials said Friday, citing “new challenges” presented by the Omicron variant.
— Foreigners will be able to obtain a coronavirus health pass — QR code — in Russia by taking an antibody test, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday. The passes will be valid for six months.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday that Omicron had become the dominant coronavirus strain in the Russian capital, accounting for more than half of all new infections.
Jan. 13
— Russia reported 21,155 new Covid-19 infections — a 17.8% increase overnight — and 740 deaths.
Jan. 12
— Russia reported 17,946 new Covid-19 infections and 745 deaths.
— Russia has so far confirmed 698 official cases of the Omicron variant, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced at a meeting on Wednesday.
— President Vladimir Putin said health authorities only have “a couple of weeks” to prepare for the next wave of the pandemic.
— Russia delivered fewer than 80 million doses of its Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines to other countries in 2021, according to Unicef data cited by The Washington Post. The jab’s developers had initially planned to export doses for more than 500 million people, but have been beset by production and delivery delays. The vaccine has also yet to be approved by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Jan. 11
— Russia reported 17,525 new Covid-19 infections and 783 deaths.
— The presence of the Omicron variant in the Russian capital is already “significant,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. He warned that the city would see a major increase in infections within 7-10 days, adding that “it is quite possible that we will face a worse situation than in previous waves.”
— Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the military to limit vacations and trips abroad for servicemen and women due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Russia will be “covered” by the Omicron variant and should brace for a “very high” number of Covid-19 cases, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the state-run Gamaleya Institute which developed the country’s Sputnik V vaccine, said.
Jan. 10
— Russia confirmed 15,830 Covid-19 infections and 741 deaths.
Jan. 9
— Russia confirmed 16,246 Covid-19 infections and 763 deaths.
Jan. 8
— Russia confirmed 16,568 Covid-19 infections and 796 deaths.
Jan. 7
— Russia confirmed 16,735 Covid-19 infections and 787 deaths.
Jan. 6
— Russia confirmed 15,316 Covid-19 infections and 802 deaths.
Jan.5
— Russia confirmed 15,772 Covid-19 infections and 828 deaths.
Jan. 4
— Russia confirmed 15,903 Covid-19 infections and 834 deaths.
Jan. 3
— Russia confirmed 16,343 Covid-19 infections and 835 deaths.
Jan. 2
— Russia confirmed 18,233 Covid-19 infections and 811 deaths.
Jan. 1
— Russia confirmed 19,751 Covid-19 infections and 847 deaths.
Dec. 31
— Russia confirmed 20,638 Covid-19 infections and 912 deaths.
— Russia recorded more than 115,000 excess deaths during November 2021, according to official statistics published Thursday — a new record high since the start of the pandemic.
— Russia's Health Ministry on Thursday advised Russians against traveling abroad for the New Year holiday due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Over 100 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Russia, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said Thursday.
Dec. 30
— Russia confirmed 21,073 Covid-19 infections and 926 deaths. Cases in Moscow rose from 1,798 on Wednesday to 2,661 on Thursday, a nearly 50% increase.
Dec. 29
— Russia confirmed 21,119 Covid-19 infections and 932 deaths.
Dec. 28
— Russia confirmed 21,922 Covid-19 infections and 935 deaths.
Dec. 27
— Russia confirmed 23,210 Covid-19 infections and 937 deaths.
Dec. 26
— Russia confirmed 23,721 Covid-19 infections and 968 deaths.
Dec. 25
— Russia confirmed 24,946 Covid-19 infections and 981 deaths.
Dec. 24
— Russia confirmed 24,703 Covid-19 infections and 998 deaths.
Dec. 23
— Russia confirmed 25,667 Covid-19 infections and 1,002 deaths.
— Moscow confirmed over 3,000 new Covid cases, a 60% jump compared to Wednesday.
Dec. 22
— Russia on Wednesday confirmed 25,264 Covid-19 infections and 1,020 deaths.
Dec. 21
— Russia on Tuesday confirmed 25,907 Covid-19 infections and 1,027 deaths.
— Russia has detected 41 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far, health authorities said Tuesday.
Dec. 20
— Russia confirmed 27,022 Covid-19 infections and 1,019 deaths.
Dec. 19
— Russia confirmed 27,967 Covid-19 infections and 1,024 deaths.
— Russia could send free shipments of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Africa in the future, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which finances and promotes the jab, has said.
Dec. 18
— Russia confirmed 27,434 Covid-19 infections and 1,076 deaths.
Dec. 17
— Russia confirmed 27,743 Covid-19 infections and 1,080 deaths.
— Russia claimed its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine provides “robust” long-term protection against the Omicron variant, disputing the findings of an independent study which found the Russian jab produced no antibody response whatsoever to the new highly transmissible variant.
Dec. 16
— Russia has detected the Omicron variant in 25 people so far, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russia confirmed 28,486 Covid-19 infections and 1,133 deaths.
— Russian lawmakers approved legislation in a first reading that will require people to show health passes to access public places like bars and restaurants, as the country gears up for a winter Covid wave.
— Russia has not yet provided all the information requested by the WHO to certify the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “It's true that some information needed for certification has not yet been submitted. We had a different understanding of what information was needed and how it has to be submitted, we have different standards, etc," Peskov told journalists, adding that the Kremlin is not worried by the lengthy approval process the vaccine has faced.
Dec. 15
—Russians with coronavirus antibodies from both foreign and domestic vaccines will be able to get a QR code valid for six months, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Monday.
— Russia will scrap the proposed bill that would require QR codes to access public transport, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Dec. 6
— Russia has confirmed its first reported cases of the Omicron variant. The new strain was detected in two people who traveled into the country from South Africa, Russia’s consumer and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said. Another 10 Russians who returned from South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus and their samples are currently being analyzed to determine the variant, the agency added.
Dec. 3
— Russia said it recorded its deadliest month in decades in October, with the total number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic surpassing 810,000.
Dec. 2
— Russia will require citizens entering the country from South Africa or neighboring countries to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival due to the Omicron variant starting Dec. 2, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova announced.
Nov. 30
— Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
— Russians returning from countries with which Moscow has not formally restored air travel will have to quarantine for 14 days, Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor consumer and health watchdog said. The validity of health passes obtained by a negative PCR test will also be reduced from 72 to 48 hours. Popova also advised Russians not to travel abroad for New Year holidays as part of a package of recommendations outlined in response to the Omicron variant.
— Putin has ordered the government to create an updated action plan for the Omicron strain by next week, he said at an investment forum.
Nov. 29
— As many as 1,500 Russian tourists have been left stranded in South Africa as countries scramble to ban flights from the region, media reported Monday.
— The backers of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V said Monday that the jab is effective against the new Omicron coronavirus variant but they were also developing an adapted booster.
Nov. 28
— The new Omicron variant may be spreading across Russia by tourists returning from Egypt, Senator and Honored Doctor of Russia Vladimir Krugly said Sunday. Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which leads the country’s Covid-19 response efforts, later denied Krugly’s claims.
Nov. 25
— St. Petersburg aims to vaccinate 80% of its population by mid-January through vaccination, its Governor Alexander Beglov said Thursday. He said 67% of the city is currently vaccinated.
— Russian lawmakers are seeking to recognize those vaccinated against the coronavirus with foreign jabs, the Izvestia daily reported Thursday.
Nov. 24
— President Vladimir Putin repeated his stance that Covid-19 vaccination should be voluntary as regions and cities tighten restrictions on the unvaccinated.
— He added that he has received a nasal Covid-19 vaccine, days after saying he received a Sputnik Light booster shot.
— Russia has registered a Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced.
Nov. 23
— Russia and Hungary have agreed to mutually recognize each others' vaccination certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, marking the first such agreement between Russia and another country.
Nov. 22
— A Siberian region of Russia has become the first in the country to impose self-isolation rules for residents who haven’t yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.
— The republic of Tatarstan became the first Russian province to enforce QR code passes on public transit earlier Monday.
Nov. 21
— President Vladimir Putin said he had had a third dose of a Covid vaccine. "I had it two hours ago," Putin said on state television channel Rossiya 24, assuring viewers that his booster injection of the Sputnik vaccine had been painless.
Nov. 19
— Russia's herd immunity has surpassed 50%, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
Nov. 17
— Two more Russian coronavirus vaccines are currently undergoing preclinical trials, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. So far, Russia has authorized four vaccines: Sputnik V, the one-dose Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona and CoviVak.
— There is "no end in sight" to the Covid-19 pandemic in Russia yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— A Far East Russian region has become the first in the country to introduce vaccine passports for internal flights as federal lawmakers race to mandate health passes for public transport and other areas.
Nov. 16
— Russia will resume air travel with Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mongolia from Dec. 1, authorities announced. It will also lift all remaining restrictions on flights with Mexico, Cuba and Qatar starting that day. Starting Dec. 12, train connections to Finland will resume.
Nov. 16
— U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has received approval to conduct trials of Paxlovid, a novel oral antiviral treatment aimed at preventing and treating Covid-19. Ninety people in a handful of Russian cities will take part in the trials.
Nov. 12
— Russia will introduce health passes for access to public places, restaurants and intercity trains and planes in a radical move designed to boost Russia's sluggish vaccination campaign.
Nov. 9
— St. Petersburg mandated vaccination against Covid-19 for all residents over 60 years old as well as people with certain chronic illnesses.
— Russia is now the world leader in coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— The developer of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities.
Nov. 8
— Russia’s nationwide paid holiday aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came to an end Monday. Some regions are keeping the restrictions in place and many others are implementing digital passes showing proof of vaccination or recent Covid-19 recovery.
— QR codes proving one's vaccination continue to be valid for one year after vaccination, Russia's Health Ministry and Digital Development Ministry said Monday following reports that the validity period had changed to 6 months.
Nov. 2
— Russia's single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine produces a strong antibody response among recipients, according to research published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik Light is the first dose of Russia's two-dose Sputnik V vaccine, which is the backbone of Russia's domestic vaccination campaign and is being sold around the world.
Nov. 1
— Russian authorities said that doctors were under "extraordinary" strain due to surging coronavirus cases in Europe's worst-hit country.
— The Novgorod region in northwestern Russia has become the first region to extend the non-working week. It will order all non-essential workers to take a mandated paid holiday for an additional week after Nov. 7.
Oct. 27
— The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
— The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.
Oct. 26
— All of Russia's 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said.
— The European Union expects countries including Russia to investigate the sale of fake Covid-19 certificates online and take appropriate measures, an EU spokesperson told RBC. The cybersecurity company Kaspersky said last week that it uncovered counterfeit travel certificates made to look as if they were issued in France or Poland being sold for an average price of $300 on the Telegram messaging app.
— Authorities in annexed Crimea said they plan to purchase mobile refrigerators to store bodies in the city of Simferopol as Covid-19 deaths continue to rise and the city's morgues are overwhelmed.
Oct. 25
— Russian authorities were investigating nurses and a doctor in St. Petersburg accused of selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates, as the country faces a deadly new wave. The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said a doctor and three nurses are suspected of pocketing at least 100,000 rubles ($1,430) from 12 people after selling official certificates without having administered jabs.
— President Vladimir Putin instructed regional leaders to order restaurants to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to ban all entertainment events.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin imposed a partial citywide lockdown between Oct. 28-Nov. 7 to stem the spread of the virus.
— The restrictions suspend businesses, services, catering, sports, recreation, entertainment and film screenings with the exception of the sale of essential goods like medicines and food. Mass events, except those authorized by health officials, will be banned, and theater and museum attendance will be capped at 50% with mask-wearing and digital-code rules in place. In-person public services will be suspended and kindergarteners and school students sent home between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7.
The Moscow region introduced identical restrictions shortly after Sobyanin’s announcement.
— President Vladimir Putin will not meet people face-to-face during Russia's nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on Oct. 30 designed to curb Covid infections amid record deaths, his spokesman said.
— The pace of vaccinations in Russia has accelerated following a string of regions imposing vaccine mandates for workers in certain sectors of the economy and vaccine passports for entry into indoor venues, according to the Gogov website which tracks vaccine uptake across the country. It estimates Russia is administering more than 300,000 first doses each day — up from around 120,000 a day earlier October.
Oct. 23
— Russia's second city St. Petersburg will impose a partial lockdown from Oct. 30-Nov. 7, authorities announced.
Oct. 21
— Sochi is bracing for an influx of tourists during public holidays starting Oct. 30 designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Occupancy rates in hotels are set to be at least 75%, the city’s mayor said — equivalent to peak summer months at the Black Sea resort. The city has introduced vaccine passports for entry into restaurants and bars in a bid to stop the spread of the virus despite the mass inflow of tourists.
— Russia has detected a new sub-variant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which risks compounding the country’s spiraling infections and deaths, a senior Russian government scientist warned.
— The European Union’s drug regulator will not approve Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine until at least the first months of 2022, Reuters reported.
Oct. 20
— President Vladimir Putin announced a non-working week in Russia from Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Putin pleaded with Russians to get vaccinated and said the public holidays could be extended further if cases do not start to fall.
— Nationwide, 87% of hospital beds reserved for coronavirus patients are occupied, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said in a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Oct. 19
— Some 1,100 medical staff died from Covid-19 in Russia during the first six months of 2021, the chair of the State Duma’s budget committee said. That is more than twice the number who succumbed to the virus in 2020, he added.
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has backed plans for a nationwide non-working week starting Oct. 30. The proposal was put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova during a televised government meeting. Mishustin said the strict measures — effectively a paid vacation or orders for workers at non-essential businesses to stop going into their place of work — were “now necessary” given increased numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Golikova said some regions should introduce the non-working week earlier, on Oct. 23 and also called for unvaccinated pensioners to start self-isolating at home.
Oct. 18
— Russia's second city, St. Petersburg, announced it would tighten restrictions to battle a surge in Covid-19 cases, introducing a health pass to regulate access to crowd events.
— Moscow authorities will start fining public transport passengers whose face masks do not cover their nose and mouth, a transit official said.
— South Africa's health products regulator said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men. The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus — a type of virus that causes respiratory infections — known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
— Russia will allow family members of foreigners who live in Russia to enter the country, the Foreign Ministry said. The relaxation will allow people from countries not yet on Russia’s designated list of open countries to receive a special entry permit to come to Russia, provided they have a close relative living in Russia.
Oct. 16
— According to Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, 38 of Russia’s 85 regions have introduced vaccine mandates for certain categories of citizens and employees working in designated sectors of the economy, such as retail and hospitality.
Oct. 15
— Russia will resume regular air travel with the Bahamas, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Slovenia, Tunisia, Sweden and Thailand starting Nov. 9, the national Covid-19 headquarters announced.
Oct. 14
— Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has called on doctors who are self-isolating or even retired due to the pandemic to get vaccinated and return to work due to record increases in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Oct. 12
— The Moscow region that surrounds the capital has imposed vaccine mandates for sales, food, transport, public service, hair salon and fitness club employees.
— Roughly 235,000 of Russia's 255,000 Covid hospital beds nationwide are occupied, with 6,000 patients on ventilators, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
— Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad has suspended planned medical procedures as it battles an “extremely difficult” surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The central Mari El region also canceled routine operations and medical treatment from Tuesday, warning that it had run out of free hospital beds and may soon have to start treating patients in corridors.
Oct. 11
— The Kremlin described Russia's Covid fatality toll as "high" and the country's vaccination rate as "unacceptably" low, even as it rejected new restrictions so as to protect the economy.
— Moscow launched free express coronavirus tests at 20 locations across the city, as the capital continues to battle with rising infection rates. The tests give a result in 15 minutes, but are less effective than the gold standard PCR tests. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said rapid testing would allow “socially responsible citizens” to ensure they are not spreading the virus.
— The Leningrad region that surrounds St. Petersburg will require residents to present QR codes proving their vaccination status or a negative PCR test in order to enter theaters, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms through Nov. 15.
Oct. 8
— Russia reported 65,000 excess fatalities in August in a 45% jump on pre-pandemic mortality rates, official data showed. The country's overall number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus stands at 660,000.
— EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer said that the country "has repeatedly postponed" the timing of the inspection requested by the European Medicines Agency which has slowed down the approval process of the vaccine in the EU. The Russian Ministry of Health responded by saying that it presented the EU with all the necessary documents that the block requested.
Oct. 7
— A World Health Organization delegation will visit Russia this month as part of its approval procedure for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriyev said.
— The problem behind WHO's suspension of Sputnik V's approval process has been resolved, said Mariangela Simao, WHO's assistant director general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced that mass PCR testing will be introduced in Russia's capital in 1-2 weeks.
— Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said the federal government recommends Russian regions introduce QR-codes for attending mass events, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Oct. 4
— Russia’s top cabinet official on Monday criticized the country's stalling vaccination rates for failing to slow the spread of Covid-19 as Russians die in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-09--MH17 Trial Begins With Emotion and Legal Technicalities

SCHIPHOL , The Netherlands — In a crowded and heavily guarded court near Schiphol , the airport MH17 took off from six years ago , a murder trial opened against four men charged with the killing of 298 victims on the ill-fated flight .
The first day of proceedings saw the head judge , the prosecutors and defense team present their opening statements in a courtroom filled with journalists from around the world and family members of the dead .
`` Many people have long waited for this day , '' Head Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said in his opening remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of the suspects would be present for the hearings .
Russians Sergey Dubinsky , Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin , and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko all held senior posts in the pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine in 2014 , and are suspected of being instrumental in the downing of flight MH17 using a Russian BUK missile system .
Steenhuis said Pulatov is the sole suspect who has asked to be represented in court .
A representative of the court told The Moscow Times that the three suspects will not be given a defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team was present in court , however his lawyers said they had no time to file a statement of objections because they have not had enough time to discuss the file with the defendant .
The two Dutch lawyers defending Pulatov stressed the need for a proper defense opportunity and asked the judges not to fall into the trap of wanting to “ punish their client.
” In their opening statements , the defense team questioned Ukraine ’ s decision to keep airspace open above 9,754 meters at the time of the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it went against international advice .
The judge early on ruled that the trial of the four suspects could continue despite none of the four suspects being present .
The court decided that the indictment sent to it was valid , timely , and that enough had been done to make the suspects aware of the charges .
The mood in the courtroom darkened during opening statements from prosecutor Dedy Woei-a-Tsoi , who took 20 minutes to solemnly read out the names of those who died when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the victims told The Moscow Times they found the reading “ moving ” and “ intense.
” The judges said 49 relatives are expected to testify during the hearings .
`` The silence in this court during the reading of all the names of the victims makes the impact of [ the MH-17 disaster ] clear once again , '' said Steenhuis .
In their opening statements , the prosecution , quoting Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn , argued that it is of essence to find out the truth of what happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they will focus on the four suspects they believe were the main culprits involved in the downing of the passenger plane , adding that it is unlikely they will bring more cases .
The prosecution further argued that Russia-backed rebels in Donetsk suspected of the MH17 shooting were “ not entitled to claim combat immunity , ” and should therefore be tried under ordinary criminal law .
“ A mandate — or immunity — for deadly violence is only exceptionally provided .
To date , the defendants in this case have never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular military personnel acting on behalf of a state in Ukraine , ” the prosecutor said .
While the trial is being conducted in Dutch , the judge and the prosecutors repeatedly stressed that the case is of international significance .
A live English translation was provided while a live stream could be accessed around the world .
On Russian state media , the start of the trial received limited attention , as the country is being rocked by a currency crisis .
The Kremlin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the court @ @

SCHIPHOL, The Netherlands — In a crowded and heavily guarded court near Schiphol, the airport MH17 took off from six years ago, a murder trial opened against four men charged with the killing of 298 victims on the ill-fated flight. The first day of proceedings saw the head judge, the prosecutors and defense team present their opening statements in a courtroom filled with journalists from around the world and family members of the dead. "Many people have long waited for this day," Head Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said in his opening remarks, before confirming earlier media reports that none of the suspects would be present for the hearings. Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko all held senior posts in the pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine in 2014, and are suspected of being instrumental in the downing of flight MH17 using a Russian BUK missile system. Steenhuis said Pulatov is the sole suspect who has asked to be represented in court. A representative of the court told The Moscow Times that the three suspects will not be given a defense representative. Pulatov’s Dutch defense team was present in court, however his lawyers said they had no time to file a statement of objections because they have not had enough time to discuss the file with the defendant.
news Everything You Need to Know About the MH17 Trial Read more
The two Dutch lawyers defending Pulatov stressed the need for a proper defense opportunity and asked the judges not to fall into the trap of wanting to “punish their client.” In their opening statements, the defense team questioned Ukraine’s decision to keep airspace open above 9,754 meters at the time of the shooting down of the plane, arguing that it went against international advice. Trial in absentia The judge early on ruled that the trial of the four suspects could continue despite none of the four suspects being present. The court decided that the indictment sent to it was valid, timely, and that enough had been done to make the suspects aware of the charges. The mood in the courtroom darkened during opening statements from prosecutor Dedy Woei-a-Tsoi, who took 20 minutes to solemnly read out the names of those who died when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine, most of them Dutch nationals. Family members of the victims told The Moscow Times they found the reading “moving” and “intense.” The judges said 49 relatives are expected to testify during the hearings. "The silence in this court during the reading of all the names of the victims makes the impact of [the MH-17 disaster] clear once again," said Steenhuis.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Kremlin Says Trump Cannot Visit Russia for Victory Day in May

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the United States had told Moscow that U.S. President Donald Trump would not travel @ @ @ @ @ Day on May 9 .
Putin presides over an annual parade on May 9 to @ @ @ @ @ victory over Nazi Germany and uses the occasion to show off the country 's military @ @

Putin presides over an annual parade on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union's World War Two victory over Nazi Germany and uses the occasion to show off the country's military hardware.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the United States had told Moscow that U.S. President Donald Trump would not travel to Russia to mark Victory Day on May 9.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow did not yet know who would represent the United States at the commemorative event.
Trump had wrestled with the decision on whether to go, U.S. officials said. He had wanted to go but faced pressure from advisers not to embark on such a journey.
The first two years of Trump's presidency were consumed with an investigation into whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russia in 2016.
Trump survived the Russia probe, only to be impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives for seeking to pressure Ukraine into investigating Democratic rival Joe Biden. The Republican-led Senate acquitted him of the allegations in February.
While Trump has maintained sanctions on Russia, he has faced criticism from Democrats over what they consider a softer attitude toward Putin, who the president says he wants to get along with.
Former National Security Council Russia expert Fiona Hill told CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview broadcast on Sunday that Trump has a reason for not criticizing Putin.
"President Trump understands that President Putin does not like to be insulted. Putin takes it very personally. He harbors a grudge. He doesn't forget. And he will find some way of getting some degree of revenge," she said.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Turkish, Russian Forces to Patrol Either Side of New Syrian Corridor

The two countries back opposing sides in Syria 's nine-year war , with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups .
Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed .
Agreement on the corridor was part of a ceasefire deal reached by Turkey and Russia last week to halt a conflict in Idlib which displaced nearly a million people in three months and created the risk of a military clash between Turkey and Russia .
Turkey 's military will patrol to the north of a security corridor being set up around a highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian forces will patrol the southern side , Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday .
The deal cemented gains by Russian-backed forces over Turkish-backed rebels but stemmed the advances of Assad 's forces and eased Ankara 's greatest fear - an influx of more Syrian migrants to join the 3.6 million already in Turkey .
A Russian military delegation arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for talks on details of the accord , Cavusoglu said in an interview with state-owned Anadolu news agency .
The specifics of the corridor , stretching 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and south of the east-west M4 highway , are due to be agreed within seven days of the deal .
Under the agreement , joint Turkish-Russian patrols were to begin along the highway itself on March 15 .
It was not clear what would happen to the pocket of rebels which it will create to the south of the highway .
Cavusoglu said Russia would ensure that Syrian government forces do not try to enter the corridor along the M4 and that Turkey-back rebels would remain in place .
He also said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceasefire by Syrian government forces on Monday and that the Russians had sent them a strong warning .

The two countries back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year war, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed.
Agreement on the corridor was part of a ceasefire deal reached by Turkey and Russia last week to halt a conflict in Idlib which displaced nearly a million people in three months and created the risk of a military clash between Turkey and Russia.
Turkey's military will patrol to the north of a security corridor being set up around a highway in northwest Syria's Idlib province and Russian forces will patrol the southern side, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.
The deal cemented gains by Russian-backed forces over Turkish-backed rebels but stemmed the advances of Assad's forces and eased Ankara's greatest fear - an influx of more Syrian migrants to join the 3.6 million already in Turkey.
A Russian military delegation arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for talks on details of the accord, Cavusoglu said in an interview with state-owned Anadolu news agency. The specifics of the corridor, stretching 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) north and south of the east-west M4 highway, are due to be agreed within seven days of the deal.
Under the agreement, joint Turkish-Russian patrols were to begin along the highway itself on March 15. It was not clear what would happen to the pocket of rebels which it will create to the south of the highway.
Cavusoglu said Russia would ensure that Syrian government forces do not try to enter the corridor along the M4 and that Turkey-back rebels would remain in place.
He also said there had been a small violation of the ceasefire by Syrian government forces on Monday and that the Russians had sent them a strong warning.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Russia Eyes Early Parliament Elections Amid Putin's Power Shake-Up

Russian lawmakers will consider holding early parliamentary elections this year , the speaker of Russia ’ s lower house of parliament has said on the day of a key vote for President Vladimir Putin ’ s sweeping constitutional amendments Tuesday .
The State Duma elections were originally scheduled for September 2021 .
State Duma lawmaker Alexander Karelin , a representative from the ruling United Russia party , said that Putin ’ s constitutional overhaul to be voted on Tuesday “ grants us greater powers.
” “ That ’ s why I believe it would be fair to hold new elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the Duma ’ s opening session broadcast live on its website .
Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that lawmakers will consider Karelin ’ s proposal for early State Duma elections during the ongoing session .
Volodin previously dismissed media reports of early Duma elections as “ absolutely contrived , just fake ” in January .
Shortly before Karelin ’ s proposal , firebrand lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky suggested Sept. 20 , 2020 , as the date of the next parliamentary vote .
Zhirinovsky added that , under his proposal , Russia should scrap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decisionmaking body known as the State Council .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin plans to consider and address the early election initiative in the near future .
Putin set off a political storm in January when he suddenly proposed changes to the Constitution and dismissed his longtime ally Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister .
Soon after , the State Duma unanimously approved the constitutional reform bill in a first reading , after less than two hours of debate .
A third and final reading may also take place as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will vote on the constitutional reforms once the legislation has been approved by both houses of parliament .
The plebiscite has been set for April 22 .
Putin , 67 , has been in power for two decades and is required by the Constitution to step down from the presidency in 2024 after his fourth Kremlin term ends .
Observers say the constitutional reforms could grant him the ability to extend his power past his term limit .

Update: Karelin removed his amendment from consideration after Putin rejected the proposal in a surprise Duma speech. Russian lawmakers will consider holding early parliamentary elections this year, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament has said on the day of a key vote for President Vladimir Putin’s sweeping constitutional amendments Tuesday. The State Duma elections were originally scheduled for September 2021.
State Duma lawmaker Alexander Karelin, a representative from the ruling United Russia party, said that Putin’s constitutional overhaul to be voted on Tuesday “grants us greater powers.” “That’s why I believe it would be fair to hold new elections under our new capabilities,” Karelin said at the Duma’s opening session broadcast live on its website. Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that lawmakers will consider Karelin’s proposal for early State Duma elections during the ongoing session. Volodin previously dismissed media reports of early Duma elections as “absolutely contrived, just fake” in January. Shortly before Karelin’s proposal, firebrand lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky suggested Sept. 20, 2020, as the date of the next parliamentary vote. Zhirinovsky added that, under his proposal, Russia should scrap presidential elections and delegate that authority to a decisionmaking body known as the State Council. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin plans to consider and address the early election initiative in the near future.
news Putin Says Will Not Bend Law to Extend Grip on Power Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Russia’s Central Bank Steps Up To Support Ruble

With benchmark Brent crude oil currently priced around $ 35 per barrel , the regulator will sell around $ 1 billion of foreign reserves a month , Elina Ribakova , deputy chief economist of the Institute of International Finance calculated .
The ruble was up almost 4 % , trading at 72 to $ 1 , but still noticeably weaker than the 60-65 range which the currency held at during the first two months of the year .
The bank started selling foreign currency reserves — in other words , buying rubles — Tuesday , adding that it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial stability.
” Russia ’ s Central Bank has swept in to help support the Russian ruble and push the currency up from its four-year low against the U.S. dollar .
Some traders were unconvinced by the uptick in oil prices , which have picked up from a low of $ 31 per barrel Monday .
“ The moves higher most certainly look like bear market bounces and are built on foundations of sand that could easily give way , ” said OANDA ’ s Jeffrey Halley .
The exact level of foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fiscal rule ” — a system which Moscow introduced to reduce the impact oil price swings have on the ruble .
Under the rule , revenues from sales of oil above $ 42.40 per barrel are used to buy foreign currencies and are stashed in Russia ’ s National Welfare Fund ( NWF ) , while when prices slip below the benchmark , the NWF starts selling reserves and buying rubles instead .
The Central Bank also said it would boost the amount of liquidity it offers Russian banks to ensure they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The buffers are paying off , ” said Nordea ’ s chief Russia economist Tatiana Evdokimova .
“ Ruble volatility is much lower than in both 2008 and 2014.
” “ These actions strengthen the idea that the markets will adjust today .
We can only be glad that yesterday the markets were closed , ” said Loko Invest ’ s Kirill Tremasov .
Russia ’ s Finance Ministry has struck a defiant tone in the wake of market turmoil prompted by the breakdown of the Russia-OPEC deal to limit oil production .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the NWF — $ 150 billion — to deal with low oil prices for the next decade , in a pointed message to Saudi Arabia over the emerging oil price war .
Riyadh responded to the end of the oil alliance with Moscow by announcing a huge increase in oil production Tuesday and slashing prices for its customers .

With benchmark Brent crude oil currently priced around $35 per barrel, the regulator will sell around $1 billion of foreign reserves a month, Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist of the Institute of International Finance calculated.
The ruble was up almost 4%, trading at 72 to $1, but still noticeably weaker than the 60-65 range which the currency held at during the first two months of the year.
The bank started selling foreign currency reserves — in other words, buying rubles — Tuesday, adding that it was “ready to use additional tools to maintain financial stability.”
Russia’s Central Bank has swept in to help support the Russian ruble and push the currency up from its four-year low against the U.S. dollar.
Some traders were unconvinced by the uptick in oil prices, which have picked up from a low of $31 per barrel Monday. “The moves higher most certainly look like bear market bounces and are built on foundations of sand that could easily give way,” said OANDA’s Jeffrey Halley.
The exact level of foreign currency purchases is dictated by the so-called “fiscal rule” — a system which Moscow introduced to reduce the impact oil price swings have on the ruble. Under the rule, revenues from sales of oil above $42.40 per barrel are used to buy foreign currencies and are stashed in Russia’s National Welfare Fund (NWF), while when prices slip below the benchmark, the NWF starts selling reserves and buying rubles instead.
The Central Bank also said it would boost the amount of liquidity it offers Russian banks to ensure they have access to sufficient cash.
“The buffers are paying off,” said Nordea’s chief Russia economist Tatiana Evdokimova. “Ruble volatility is much lower than in both 2008 and 2014.”
“These actions strengthen the idea that the markets will adjust today. We can only be glad that yesterday the markets were closed,” said Loko Invest’s Kirill Tremasov.
Russia’s Finance Ministry has struck a defiant tone in the wake of market turmoil prompted by the breakdown of the Russia-OPEC deal to limit oil production. It claims it has enough liquid reserves in the NWF — $150 billion — to deal with low oil prices for the next decade, in a pointed message to Saudi Arabia over the emerging oil price war.
Riyadh responded to the end of the oil alliance with Moscow by announcing a huge increase in oil production Tuesday and slashing prices for its customers.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Hundreds of ‘Rabid’ Dogs and Cats Killed at Russian Shelter

The news came after an animal rights group found empty dog and cat cages at the facility in the city of Yakutsk .
They later discovered the carcasses of what the activists said were 100 dogs and a few cats with their throats slit at the temporary shelter .
Veterinarians in Far East Russia have put down around 200 stray animals who they said had come into contact with a rabid dog , authorities announced Monday .
The Russian republic of Sakha ’ s veterinary department said the shelter was placed under quarantine last Tuesday , March 3 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for rabies .
“ Veterinarians euthanized 153 dogs and 48 cats that may have been infected by the infected animal , ” it said in a statement .
Sakha ’ s veterinary department said the carcasses discovered by animal rights activists belonged to dogs who had died from other causes in addition to euthanasia and were being prepared for disposal .
The department dismissed reports of the animals being brutally killed by veterinarians as “ not true.
” The mayor of Yakutsk , 8,000 kilometers east of Moscow , and the governor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ euthanization .
Animal rights activists previously accused the temporary shelter of holding the animals in freezing temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius .

The news came after an animal rights group found empty dog and cat cages at the facility in the city of Yakutsk. They later discovered the carcasses of what the activists said were 100 dogs and a few cats with their throats slit at the temporary shelter.
Veterinarians in Far East Russia have put down around 200 stray animals who they said had come into contact with a rabid dog, authorities announced Monday.
The Russian republic of Sakha’s veterinary department said the shelter was placed under quarantine last Tuesday, March 3, after one of the dogs there tested positive for rabies.
“Veterinarians euthanized 153 dogs and 48 cats that may have been infected by the infected animal,” it said in a statement.
Sakha’s veterinary department said the carcasses discovered by animal rights activists belonged to dogs who had died from other causes in addition to euthanasia and were being prepared for disposal. The department dismissed reports of the animals being brutally killed by veterinarians as “not true.”
The mayor of Yakutsk, 8,000 kilometers east of Moscow, and the governor of Sakha have announced separate inspections into the euthanization.
Animal rights activists previously accused the temporary shelter of holding the animals in freezing temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Russian Stock Market Plunges, Oil Shares Hit Hard

The Russian stock market plunged 10 % on opening Tuesday morning , following the rout on global financial markets Monday @ @ @ @ @ companies were hit hardest , with giants Rosneft and Lukoil leading the loserboard with falls @ @ @ @ @ .
The fall appeared softer than traders had been anticipating , however , as the @ @ @ @ @ shares came back slightly to stand down around 7.5 % by mid-morning in Moscow , @ @ @ @ @ a complete halt to trading were not required .
The drop took the market to @ @ @ @ @ months , wiping out gains which had seen Russia crowned one of the best performing @ @ @ @ @

The Russian stock market plunged 10% on opening Tuesday morning, following the rout on global financial markets Monday.
Russia’s oil companies were hit hardest, with giants Rosneft and Lukoil leading the loserboard with falls of more than 10%.
The fall appeared softer than traders had been anticipating, however, as the MOEX Index of leading Russian shares had recovered more than half of the initial drop by afternoon, and emergency measures such as a complete halt to trading were not required.
The drop took the market to its lowest level in 10 months, wiping out gains which had seen Russia crowned one of the best performing stock markets of 2019.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--MH17 Trial Live Updates | March 10

MH17 Trial Live Updates | March 10

SCHIPHOL , The Netherlands — A court in the Netherlands is conducting a landmark hearing to try to determine criminal responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 six years ago .
The Moscow Times is covering the MH17 trial live from the courtroom in The Netherlands .
Follow along here : 12.15 : The prosecution continues its presentation .
They are very critical of Russian actions vis-a-vis the investigations .
Prosecutor Russia of manipulating and fabricating evidence .
Prosecution tells the account of an anonymous witness ( # 58 ) who says he was a Russian volunteer in 2014 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downing of Mh17 he was near Snizhne , Ukraine at the moment the missile was launched , where he was told to guard the site .
The witness was happy they brought down the plane until they realized a civilian plane has been shot .
10.30 : Day 2 of the MH17 trial starts .
The prosecution starts with a presentation of the status of the current investigations on MH17 .
The prosecution rejects Russia 's claims that Ukraine had veto rights on what information the JIT included in the file used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how all the evidence was “ carefully and holistically ” gathered .
The prosecution says that overwhelming evidence points to the fact that MH17 was shot by a BUK missile in the non-Ukrainian controlled territory near Pervomaysk , Ukraine .
The prosecution reads statements from witnesses who have asked to remain anonymous .
“ I am scared for my life if my name is published , ” one witness statement said .
The prosecution says Oleg Pulatov will not be allowed to make his hearing via videoconference as The Netherlands does not allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
14.45 : Oleg Pulatov 's defense team gives its opening statement .
Says that they do not yet have a full grasp of the entire `` dossier , '' but says there are many aspects that require additional investigation .
`` We were shocked by the tragedy .
But our role is to speak not on behalf of the relatives , but on behalf of Oleg Pulatov . ''
The defense questioned Ukraine ’ s decision to keep the airspace open above 9,754 meters , arguing it went against international advice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely they will commence with more cases than those against the four defendants , who they believe are the most important perpetrators .
Prosecutors do n't think that the four suspects `` pushed the button '' that launched the BUK missile that brought down the plane , but they say the suspects played an important role in coordinating the shooting and can be held responsible for launching the BUK .
In opening statements , the prosecution argues that Russia-backed rebels in Donetsk suspected of the MH17 shooting were “ not entitled to claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tried under ordinary criminal law .
12.20 : Prosecutors open the case by slowly reading out all 298 names of those killed aboard MH17 .
It takes over 20 minutes to read all of them .
Many of those killed included multiple members of the same families .
Court takes a lunch break .
11.45 : The judge officially confirmed that none of the suspects are present in the courtroom , adding that Pulatov is the sole suspect who has asked to be represented in court .
Oleg Pulatov 's defense said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement of objections because it has not had the appropriate time to discuss the file with the defendant .
The court will allow Pulatov to file objections at its June 2020 session .
The judge said Pulatov is aware of the charges against him .
The judge said the prosecution has sent indictments to the other three suspects , Igor Girkin , Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov ; and described attempts to contact them .
The court said enough has been done to make them aware of the indictments .
Judge rules that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore , continue despite none of them turning up at court in The Netherlands .
1035 : The presiding judge has said the court will be taking a 30-minute break due to technical problems that are reportedly linked to English translation issues inside the courtroom .
Prior to that , the judge announced that 49 relatives of the MH17 victims have come forward and want to testify during the hearing .
1000 : Head judge Hendrik Steenhuis has opened the MH17 process and is now giving an introduction .
The trial will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there will be no translation into Russian .
“ Many have longed for this process for a long time , ” Steenhuis said .
The defendants , who are still at large , face charges of murder , obtaining a missile launcher and shooting down the jetliner as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur , killing all 298 passengers and crew .
The four suspects are not expected to appear in court .
This morning , BBC Russia reported that one of the suspects , Oleg Pulatov , has agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also the sole suspect who has asked to be represented in court .

SCHIPHOL, The Netherlands — The presiding judge in the MH17 murder trial on Tuesday postponed the hearings until March 23, when the court will decide on how the trial should proceed following judical requests from the defense and relatives of the victims of the plane crash.
Monday was the first day of the long awaited trial. Dutch prosecutors allege that the defendants, three Russians and a Ukrainian who are being tried in absentia, were instrumental in the 2014 shooting down of the passenger plane that killed all 298 people on board, most of them Dutch nationals.
The defendants — Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko — held senior posts in the pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine in 2014, according to prosecutors.
The four face preliminary charges of the murder of 298 people and of causing the aircraft to crash. The suspects are believed to be in Russia.
On Tuesday, the court decided to adjourn until March 23 after the defense team for Russian suspect Oleg Pulatov asked for additional time to analyze the case while a lawyer representing many of the family members of the victims asked to have access to the case file.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Russia Hires Britons for ‘Intelligence Operations’ – Guardian

The claims are based on U.S.-born financier Bill Browder ’ s Sept. 2018 testimony submitted to the British parliament for its report on alleged Russian interference in Britain ’ s politics .
London postponed the report ’ s publication until after Britain ’ s Dec. 12 , 2019 , general election and has yet to publish it .
The Russian government has allegedly hired British politicians , former intelligence officers and PR firms to advance its interests in Britain ’ s politics and form a `` western buffer network , '' The Guardian reported Monday .
“ What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is indirectly hiring British nationals to assist them in its intelligence operations , ” Browder , once the biggest foreign money manager in Moscow , told The Guardian .
Russia allegedly deploys its clients , who Browder claims are both witting and unwitting intermediaries , to attack Putin critics , “ enhance Russian propaganda and disinformation ” and “ facilitate and conceal massive money-laundering operations.
” The Kremlin dismissed the claims as “ groundless ” and “ maniac-style Russophobia.
” Browder is spearheading a global campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison .
Browder-funded Hermitage Capital has successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress and other European countries to pass legislation freezing assets and denying visas to Russian officials allegedly involved in the Magnitsky case .
The financier named Andrei Pavlov , a corporate lawyer hit by Magnitsky sanctions , as one example of a Russian national who has hired at least three British firms to lobby against EU sanctions and gather intelligence .
Russia casts Browder as a criminal , while Browder casts Russia as a criminal state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest Browder , who was sentenced in absentia by a Russian court to nine years in prison for deliberate bankruptcy and tax evasion .
Browder says he is the victim of a vendetta by corrupt officials in the Russian state and denies all the charges .
Interpol has rejected several Russian requests for Browder ’ s arrest .

The claims are based on U.S.-born financier Bill Browder’s Sept. 2018 testimony submitted to the British parliament for its report on alleged Russian interference in Britain’s politics. London postponed the report’s publication until after Britain’s Dec. 12, 2019, general election and has yet to publish it.
The Russian government has allegedly hired British politicians, former intelligence officers and PR firms to advance its interests in Britain’s politics and form a "western buffer network," The Guardian reported Monday.
“What’s most shocking is that the Russian government is indirectly hiring British nationals to assist them in its intelligence operations,” Browder, once the biggest foreign money manager in Moscow, told The Guardian.
Russia allegedly deploys its clients, who Browder claims are both witting and unwitting intermediaries, to attack Putin critics, “enhance Russian propaganda and disinformation” and “facilitate and conceal massive money-laundering operations.”
The Kremlin dismissed the claims as “groundless” and “maniac-style Russophobia.”
Browder is spearheading a global campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the 2009 death of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison.
Browder-funded Hermitage Capital has successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress and other European countries to pass legislation freezing assets and denying visas to Russian officials allegedly involved in the Magnitsky case.
The financier named Andrei Pavlov, a corporate lawyer hit by Magnitsky sanctions, as one example of a Russian national who has hired at least three British firms to lobby against EU sanctions and gather intelligence.
Russia casts Browder as a criminal, while Browder casts Russia as a criminal state. Russia has repeatedly asked Interpol to arrest Browder, who was sentenced in absentia by a Russian court to nine years in prison for deliberate bankruptcy and tax evasion.
Browder says he is the victim of a vendetta by corrupt officials in the Russian state and denies all the charges. Interpol has rejected several Russian requests for Browder’s arrest.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | March 10

There have been 20 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people continues to spread around the world , Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk , including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border with China , ordering people returning from high-risk areas to self-quarantine and temporarily banning Chinese citizens from entering the country .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s response to the coronavirus — Russia 's consumer safety watchdog recommended that people avoid public transport , shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour as a precaution against the coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency reported .
`` Refrain from visiting public places : shopping centers , sports and entertainment events and transport during rush hour , '' the Rospotrebnadzor watchdog was quoted as saying .
Another three people in Moscow have been diagnosed with coronavirus overnight , the RBC news website reported , citing a report from city officials it obtained .
The three individuals had recently visited Italy .
—Moscow city authorities threatened prison terms of up to five years for people failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after visiting countries hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak .
— Russia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus , taking the total number to 17 — three of whom have since recovered .
— Russia has reported six new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours , including five in Moscow and one in Nizhny Novgorod 400 kilometers east of the capital .
All six cases were contracted in Italy , one of several virus hubs outside China , the authorities said .
— Russian officials have conducted more than 51,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer protection watchdog said .
— Seven Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were placed in a two-week quarantine in Russia 's Far East have been discharged .
Two other quarantined patients are awaiting test results .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a “ high alert regime , ” ordering self-isolation for Russians returning from China , South Korea , Iran , France , Germany , Italy and Spain .
—Russia canceled its flagship annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum this year as a precaution against coronavirus , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Andrei Belousov as saying .
The forum , usually chaired by President Vladimir Putin , was due to be held in St Petersburg on June 3-6 .
—Russia 's state carrier Aeroflot said it would suspend its flights to and from Hong Kong amid fears over coronavirus .
The airline will continue flying from Moscow to Hong Kong until March 7 and from Hong Kong to Moscow until March 8 , after which those services will be suspended .
— Moscow authorities have drafted an emergency plan that envisions a near shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coronavirus outbreak .
— Officials confirmed a seventh coronavirus infection in the country .
The patient is an Italian citizen who had arrived to Russia on Feb. 29 , asked for medical help on March 2 and tested positive for the virus .
He is being treated at an undisclosed hospital .
— Russian businesses have started to cancel foreign business trips and participation in international conferences after a recommendation from the Health Ministry to restrict foreign travel .
— Students at a university dormitary in St. Petersburg have been placed under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the hospitalization of an Italian exchange student who had been living there .
The number of patients in the city that are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms has nearly doubled to 44 people .
— Two Russian citizens have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates , the country 's health ministry said .
— Russia has temporarily banned the export of medical masks , gloves , bandages and protective suits .
— President Vladimir Putin said that fake news reports about coronavirus were being sent to Russia from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government to ensure that citizens were correctly informed about the situation in Russia .
— Russian gas giant Gazprom has suspended foreign trips for its staff due to the coronavirus outbreak , a company spokesman said .
— The Moscow metro has begun random checks of passengers ' temperatures at station entrances , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— A Russian national who was quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy , a hub for the coronavirus outbreak , has the coronavirus .
The man , 29-year-old Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country .
— The impact of coronavirus on the Russian economy will be deeper than originally expected , Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said .
The ruble 's depreciation and stock market decline have gained momentum since mid-February due to the fast-spreading coronavirus and concerns about its economic impact , which sent oil prices crashing .
— Schools across Moscow have canceled swimming classes and large-scale events to prevent the spread of the flu and respiratory infections , the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter cited by Interfax .
— Moscow authorities are deporting 88 foreign nationals who violated quarantine measures imposed on them as a precaution against coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency cited Moscow 's deputy mayor as saying .
— A Russian citizen has tested positive with coronavirus in Azerbaijan after arriving there from Iran , Interfax reported .
It marks the fourth case of coronavirus among Russian citizens and the first infection in Azerbaijan .
— The Russian government temporarily barred Iranian citizens from entering Russia and said it would also restrict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 1 as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus , decrees published online showed .
— The government also said it would not allow in any foreign citizens traveling from Iran or South Korea , and ordered the Foreign Ministry to suspend the issue of visas to Iranian citizens .
— Russia will suspend its train service from Moscow to the southern French city of Nice starting March 4 , the state-run TASS news agency reported , citing the Transport Ministry .
The ministry said the train link would be suspended until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Russia .
— Moscow authorities have identified 88 people who violated the city 's self-isolation orders after returning from China , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
The Russian capital deployed its facial recognition network to enforce the quarantine .
— Russia has developed five prototypes for a coronavirus vaccine , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Russia 's Federal Tourism Agency recommended national tour operators suspend tours to Italy , South Korea and Iran until the outbreaks of coronavirus there are brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights between Russia and South Korea from March 1 over coronavirus fears , except those operated by Aeroflot and Aurora , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Golikova said Russia would also stop issuing visas to some Iranian citizens from Feb. 28 and was advising Russians against traveling to Italy .
— Other restrictions related to the outbreak which have been previously announced will be extended by one month to April 1 , Golikova said .


themoscowtimes--2020-03-10--FBI Arrests Russian Accused of Heading Hacker 'Storefront'

U.S. authorities have arrested a Russian national who ran a hacker `` storefront '' that took in at least $ 17 million by selling stolen personal data and other illegal products and services , according to court records .
The FBI arrested Kirill Victorovich Firsov , described as `` a Russian cyber hacker , '' and the administrator of the deer.io platform `` which catered to hackers , '' according to a criminal complaint .
Court documents showed Firsov was arrested upon arriving at a New York airport on Saturday .
The arrest was first reported by the website ZDNet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's arrest said that since 2013 Firsov operated the deer.io platform , including `` virtual stores '' that sold `` a variety of hacked and/or compromised US and international financial and corporate data , '' including stolen user names and passwords from computers in the Untied States and elsewhere .
Investigators described deer.io as `` a turnkey online storefront design and hosting platform , from which cybercriminals can advertise and sell their products , '' the complaint said .
`` Thus far , law enforcement has found no legitimate business advertising its services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' which was hosted in Russia , out of the reach of US law enforcement .
The document said a cybercriminal who wants to sell contraband or offer criminal services can purchase a storefront on deer.io for the equivalent of $ 12.50 per month .
To verify that the service was selling real data , the FBI purchased data from more than 3,000 hacked accounts for less than $ 700 in bitcoin and identified names , dates of birth and US social security numbers for people living in California .
The court records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the criminal complaint in federal court in New York .

U.S. authorities have arrested a Russian national who ran a hacker "storefront" that took in at least $17 million by selling stolen personal data and other illegal products and services, according to court records.
The FBI arrested Kirill Victorovich Firsov, described as "a Russian cyber hacker," and the administrator of the deer.io platform "which catered to hackers," according to a criminal complaint.
Court documents showed Firsov was arrested upon arriving at a New York airport on Saturday. The arrest was first reported by the website ZDNet.
A criminal complaint unsealed after Firsov's arrest said that since 2013 Firsov operated the deer.io platform, including "virtual stores" that sold "a variety of hacked and/or compromised US and international financial and corporate data," including stolen user names and passwords from computers in the Untied States and elsewhere.
Investigators described deer.io as "a turnkey online storefront design and hosting platform, from which cybercriminals can advertise and sell their products," the complaint said.
"Thus far, law enforcement has found no legitimate business advertising its services and/or products through a deer.io storefront," which was hosted in Russia, out of the reach of US law enforcement.
The document said a cybercriminal who wants to sell contraband or offer criminal services can purchase a storefront on deer.io for the equivalent of $12.50 per month.
To verify that the service was selling real data, the FBI purchased data from more than 3,000 hacked accounts for less than $700 in bitcoin and identified names, dates of birth and US social security numbers for people living in California.
The court records showed Firsov would appear to face charges in the criminal complaint in federal court in New York.