themoscowtimes--2020-11-22--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Nov. 22


themoscowtimes--2020-11-22--Thousands March in Belarus Opposition Rally in Minsk

Tens of thousands of Belarus opposition protesters took to the streets on Sunday , the latest large-scale rally against President Alexander Lukashenko 's contested re-election .
For more than three months Belarus has been gripped by historic weekly opposition rallies following Lukashenko 's reelection to a sixth term in August , which Western governments have refused to recognise .
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through different neighbourhoods in the capital Minsk on Sunday , chanting `` Long live Belarus '' and waving the red and white flags of the opposition , an AFP reporter at the scene said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with armoured vehicles and water cannons before the rally .
Around 70 demonstrators were arrested by the police , according to the Viasna centre for the defence of human rights .
`` I ca n't accept what is going on at the moment , '' one protester , 22-year-old computer scientist Olga Matchits told AFP .
`` I feel like vomiting when I think of the people in power in the country and of the values they are defending . ''
`` They want to drag our dignity into the mud , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's for my dignity , for the future of my children that I have turned out to demonstrate , '' he added .

Tens of thousands of Belarus opposition protesters took to the streets on Sunday, the latest large-scale rally against President Alexander Lukashenko's contested re-election.
For more than three months Belarus has been gripped by historic weekly opposition rallies following Lukashenko's reelection to a sixth term in August, which Western governments have refused to recognise.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through different neighbourhoods in the capital Minsk on Sunday, chanting "Long live Belarus" and waving the red and white flags of the opposition, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Security forces deployed heavily around the city with armoured vehicles and water cannons before the rally.
Around 70 demonstrators were arrested by the police, according to the Viasna centre for the defence of human rights.
"I can't accept what is going on at the moment," one protester, 22-year-old computer scientist Olga Matchits told AFP.
"I feel like vomiting when I think of the people in power in the country and of the values they are defending."
"They want to drag our dignity into the mud," said another prottester, 72-year-old Alexander Ignatov. "It's for my dignity, for the future of my children that I have turned out to demonstrate," he added.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--Putin Signs Law Raising Income Tax for High Earners

Starting next year , the tax rate will rise from 13 % to 15 % on incomes over 5 million rubles ( about $ 65,800/55,370 euros at the current exchange rate ) .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law on increasing income tax for high earners in the first move away from a flat tax system in place since 2001 .
Putin made the announcement in a televised address in late June , a week before the country was due to vote on controversial amendments to the constitution that paved the way for the president to potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform is expected to give state coffers an additional 60 billion rubles , the president said , adding that the money would go towards funding treatment for children with `` severe and rare '' illnesses .
The current flat tax system was introduced in 2001 and was among the key reforms of Putin 's first presidential term .
Modifications to the tax system have been discussed for several years , including the possibility of tax cuts for lower incomes .
The introduction of the flat tax `` made it possible to bring wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to simplify and make understandable the tax administration , '' the president said in June .
But with the `` new quality of administration , the introduction of digital technologies , it has become possible to distribute the tax burden in a more differentiated way , '' he added .

Starting next year, the tax rate will rise from 13% to 15% on incomes over 5 million rubles (about $65,800/55,370 euros at the current exchange rate).
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law on increasing income tax for high earners in the first move away from a flat tax system in place since 2001.
Putin made the announcement in a televised address in late June, a week before the country was due to vote on controversial amendments to the constitution that paved the way for the president to potentially stay in power until 2036.
The reform is expected to give state coffers an additional 60 billion rubles, the president said, adding that the money would go towards funding treatment for children with "severe and rare" illnesses.
The current flat tax system was introduced in 2001 and was among the key reforms of Putin's first presidential term.
Modifications to the tax system have been discussed for several years, including the possibility of tax cuts for lower incomes.
The introduction of the flat tax "made it possible to bring wages and incomes out of the shadows, to simplify and make understandable the tax administration," the president said in June.
But with the "new quality of administration, the introduction of digital technologies, it has become possible to distribute the tax burden in a more differentiated way," he added.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--Siberian Schoolkids Charged With Terror Over Minecraft Plot – Reports

Investigators in the Krasnoyarsk region announced the arrest of three 14-year-old “ anarchists ” over the summer on suspicion of training at abandoned sites to commit acts of terrorism .
According to information obtained from the regional Federal Security Service ( FSB ) branch , the investigators said the unnamed suspects read banned literature and watched videos on how to make explosives .
Three Siberian schoolchildren have been charged with terrorism over an alleged plot to blow up a virtual security building in the popular block-building game Minecraft , according to reports .
The Baza Telegram news channel , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's security services , reported that the authorities seized the teenagers ’ phones and uncovered a plot to detonate an FSB office they had built on Minecraft .
Two of the schoolkids pleaded guilty , then claimed that investigators obtained their admission under duress with help from a state-appointed attorney , Baza reported Friday .
The third suspect who denied his guilt has been in pre-trial detention for six months , his mother Anna Uvarova told the outlet .
Baza wrote that all three now face heavier punishment under new charges of organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly arrested and their phones seized after two of them hung leaflets in support of Moscow mathematician and anarchist Azat Miftakhov , who is on trial for allegedly attacking a pro-Kremlin political party office .
They hung one of the leaflets on the real FSB building , according to Baza .
The Krasnoyarsk-based ngs24.ru news website cited unnamed law enforcement sources as saying that the teenagers had explosives and planned to detonate the real FSB building .
It also reported that two instead of three ninth-graders are currently in pre-trial detention on the @ @ @

Investigators in the Krasnoyarsk region announced the arrest of three 14-year-old “anarchists” over the summer on suspicion of training at abandoned sites to commit acts of terrorism. According to information obtained from the regional Federal Security Service (FSB) branch, the investigators said the unnamed suspects read banned literature and watched videos on how to make explosives.
Three Siberian schoolchildren have been charged with terrorism over an alleged plot to blow up a virtual security building in the popular block-building game Minecraft, according to reports .
The Baza Telegram news channel, which is said to have links to Russia's security services, reported that the authorities seized the teenagers’ phones and uncovered a plot to detonate an FSB office they had built on Minecraft.
Two of the schoolkids pleaded guilty, then claimed that investigators obtained their admission under duress with help from a state-appointed attorney, Baza reported Friday.
The third suspect who denied his guilt has been in pre-trial detention for six months, his mother Anna Uvarova told the outlet.
Baza wrote that all three now face heavier punishment under new charges of organizing a terrorist group.
The teens were reportedly arrested and their phones seized after two of them hung leaflets in support of Moscow mathematician and anarchist Azat Miftakhov, who is on trial for allegedly attacking a pro-Kremlin political party office. They hung one of the leaflets on the real FSB building, according to Baza.
The Krasnoyarsk-based ngs24.ru news website cited unnamed law enforcement sources as saying that the teenagers had explosives and planned to detonate the real FSB building. It also reported that two instead of three ninth-graders are currently in pre-trial detention on the terror charges.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--NYT's Russia Job Posting 'Russophobic,' Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Says

In its description for the job posted early last week , The New York Times lists its requirements for an ideal candidate along with a description of the job 's location , “ Vladimir Putin ’ s Russia.
” Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has slammed The New York Times ’ job posting for a Russia correspondent , criticizing it for “ political bias ” and “ Russophobia.
” “ It sends out hit squads armed with nerve agents against its enemies , most recently the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny , ” the description reads .
“ It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the West to tarnish its democratic systems , while promoting its faux version of democracy .
It has deployed private military contractors around the globe to secretly spread its influence .
At home , its hospitals are filling up fast with Covid patients as its president hides out in his villa.
” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the job description in a Facebook post on Sunday , accusing the newspaper of “ Russophobia ” and expressing concern for The New York Times ’ Russia-based staff .
“ Does the newspaper even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a correspondent by sending them to work in such inhuman conditions ?
” Zakharova wrote .
She then implied that Russian authorities responsible for issuing visas and accreditations to foreign journalists could prohibit their entry to Russia altogether as a way to ensure their safety .
“ American journalists ’ lives also matter , even if they work for The New York Times , ” the spokeswoman said .
Zakharova advised The New York Times to limit its operations to the U.S. , saying its journalists don ’ t need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies.
” Referencing Nietzsche , she said that “ the American press has been fighting the ‘ monster ’ for so long that it did not notice that it became the monster itself.
” Zakharova has made a number of controversial social media statements in the past .
In September , President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were forced to apologize to Serbia ’ s President Aleksandar Vucic after Zakharova made a Facebook post appearing to mock the Russia-allied nation ’ s leader .

In its description for the job posted early last week, The New York Times lists its requirements for an ideal candidate along with a description of the job's location, “Vladimir Putin’s Russia.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has slammed The New York Times’ job posting for a Russia correspondent, criticizing it for “political bias” and “Russophobia.”
“It sends out hit squads armed with nerve agents against its enemies, most recently the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny,” the description reads. “It has its cyber agents sow chaos and disharmony in the West to tarnish its democratic systems, while promoting its faux version of democracy. It has deployed private military contractors around the globe to secretly spread its influence. At home, its hospitals are filling up fast with Covid patients as its president hides out in his villa.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the job description in a Facebook post on Sunday, accusing the newspaper of “Russophobia” and expressing concern for The New York Times’ Russia-based staff.
“Does the newspaper even have the right to risk the life of a correspondent by sending them to work in such inhuman conditions?” Zakharova wrote.
She then implied that Russian authorities responsible for issuing visas and accreditations to foreign journalists could prohibit their entry to Russia altogether as a way to ensure their safety.
“American journalists’ lives also matter, even if they work for The New York Times,” the spokeswoman said.
Zakharova advised The New York Times to limit its operations to the U.S., saying its journalists don’t need to be physically present in Russia to “spread lies.”
Referencing Nietzsche, she said that “the American press has been fighting the ‘monster’ for so long that it did not notice that it became the monster itself.”
Zakharova has made a number of controversial social media statements in the past. In September, President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were forced to apologize to Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic after Zakharova made a Facebook post appearing to mock the Russia-allied nation’s leader.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--7 Die From Drinking Hand Sanitizer at Party in Russia

Nine people consumed the hand rub from a five-liter container that they purchased from a local store , the regional branch of consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement Friday .
The sanitizer contained 69 % methanol , a non-drinking alcohol that is deadly to humans in doses of 30 grams or more , it added .
At least seven people in the Far East Russian republic of Sakha have died from drinking hand sanitizer at a party , authorities and news reports have said .
Three people , two men aged 27 and 59 and one woman aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the spot .
Six others were medevaced to the Sakha capital of Yakutsk , four of whom did not survive .
A man and a woman remain connected to a mechanical ventilator in a coma , health officials said Monday .
The state-run REN TV news outlet reported that the group of friends had consumed the hand sanitizer during a dinner party .
The republic of Sakha ’ s branch of Rospotrebnadzor said it had ordered stores and pharmacies to take the methanol-containing hand sanitizer off the shelves .
Rospotrebnadzor said more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sold throughout the republic of Sakha some 5,300 kilometers east of Moscow .
In its statement , Rospotrebnadzor pleaded with residents to avoid drinking hand sanitizer .
The latest poisoning follows two deadly “ surrogate alcohol ” scandals in 2016-17 where dozens died in Russia after consuming non-drinkable alcohol as an inexpensive substitute for vodka .
The World Health Organization said this fall that higher taxes and minimum unit prices have helped Russia ’ s alcohol consumption to decline and life expectancy to increase since 2003 .

Nine people consumed the hand rub from a five-liter container that they purchased from a local store, the regional branch of consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement Friday. The sanitizer contained 69% methanol, a non-drinking alcohol that is deadly to humans in doses of 30 grams or more, it added.
At least seven people in the Far East Russian republic of Sakha have died from drinking hand sanitizer at a party, authorities and news reports have said .
Three people, two men aged 27 and 59 and one woman aged 41, were reported to have died on the spot. Six others were medevaced to the Sakha capital of Yakutsk, four of whom did not survive.
A man and a woman remain connected to a mechanical ventilator in a coma, health officials said Monday.
The state-run REN TV news outlet reported that the group of friends had consumed the hand sanitizer during a dinner party.
Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into manslaughter.
The republic of Sakha’s branch of Rospotrebnadzor said it had ordered stores and pharmacies to take the methanol-containing hand sanitizer off the shelves.
Rospotrebnadzor said more than 200 liters of the sanitizer had been sold throughout the republic of Sakha some 5,300 kilometers east of Moscow.
In its statement, Rospotrebnadzor pleaded with residents to avoid drinking hand sanitizer.
The latest poisoning follows two deadly “surrogate alcohol” scandals in 2016-17 where dozens died in Russia after consuming non-drinkable alcohol as an inexpensive substitute for vodka.
The World Health Organization said this fall that higher taxes and minimum unit prices have helped Russia’s alcohol consumption to decline and life expectancy to increase since 2003.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--Russia Plans Biometric Database for Citizens, Foreigners – TASS

Russia ’ s Interior Ministry told the state-run TASS news agency it plans to develop the centralized biometric database in 2021-23 .
Russia plans to create a national biometric database to identify both citizens and foreign nationals via face recognition and fingerprints , state media reported Sunday .
The database will allow the authorities to identify individuals or bodies through Russia ’ s federal genetic identification search system , the official said .
The database will include the biometric data of Russian citizens and foreigners as well as stateless people .
The announcement comes after the RBC news website reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to develop artificial intelligence to find serial criminals via DNA-based facial composites created by a neural network .
Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev reportedly first announced plans to create a biometric database in 2014 .
The system is expected to integrate biometric identification with traffic surveillance and wanted lists .
In 2017 , Russia passed a law allowing the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service ( FSB ) to gain access to bank customers ’ biometric data , including facial images and voice recordings , without their consent .
The remote bank account verification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data to iris recognition , as well as palm and fingerprint scanning .

Russia’s Interior Ministry told the state-run TASS news agency it plans to develop the centralized biometric database in 2021-23.
Russia plans to create a national biometric database to identify both citizens and foreign nationals via face recognition and fingerprints, state media reported Sunday.
The database will allow the authorities to identify individuals or bodies through Russia’s federal genetic identification search system, the official said.
The database will include the biometric data of Russian citizens and foreigners as well as stateless people.
The announcement comes after the RBC news website reported last week that the Interior Ministry plans to develop artificial intelligence to find serial criminals via DNA-based facial composites created by a neural network.
Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev reportedly first announced plans to create a biometric database in 2014. The system is expected to integrate biometric identification with traffic surveillance and wanted lists.
In 2017, Russia passed a law allowing the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB) to gain access to bank customers’ biometric data, including facial images and voice recordings, without their consent. The remote bank account verification operator has said it could expand the data to iris recognition, as well as palm and fingerprint scanning.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-23--Russia Confirms Record 25K Coronavirus Cases

Health officials reported 25,173 new infections across Russia 's 85 regions Monday , bringing the national total to 2,114,502 cases .
The country surpassed 2 million cases three days ago .
Russia has confirmed more than 25,000 new coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic hit earlier this year .
Over 23 % of those infected did not exhibit symptoms , Russia ’ s national coronavirus information center said .
Officials say infection rates per 100,000 people have more than doubled from 6.1 in October to 15.3 in November .
The information center 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods , after reporting 361 deaths in the past 24 hours .
The virus has increasingly strained hospitals in the regions as the second wave has intensified , with severe shortages of hospital beds , staff and medicine reported across the country .
President Vladimir Putin last week described the surge in infections and deaths as “ alarming , ” acknowledging that patients in several regions experienced long waiting times for ambulances .
He noted however that authorities were in control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has re-imposed a nationwide mask mandate and advised regional leaders to restrict hours for bars , nightclubs and other late-night establishments but has held off on wider lockdown measures , citing the need to keep businesses open .
Russia ’ s coronavirus information center said 16,002 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours , bringing total recoveries to 1,611,445 .

Health officials reported 25,173 new infections across Russia's 85 regions Monday, bringing the national total to 2,114,502 cases. The country surpassed 2 million cases three days ago.
Russia has confirmed more than 25,000 new coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic hit earlier this year.
Over 23% of those infected did not exhibit symptoms, Russia’s national coronavirus information center said. Officials say infection rates per 100,000 people have more than doubled from 6.1 in October to 15.3 in November.
The information center's total coronavirus death toll rose to 36,540, a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods, after reporting 361 deaths in the past 24 hours.
The virus has increasingly strained hospitals in the regions as the second wave has intensified, with severe shortages of hospital beds, staff and medicine reported across the country.
President Vladimir Putin last week described the surge in infections and deaths as “alarming,” acknowledging that patients in several regions experienced long waiting times for ambulances. He noted however that authorities were in control of the situation.
In recent weeks Russia has re-imposed a nationwide mask mandate and advised regional leaders to restrict hours for bars, nightclubs and other late-night establishments but has held off on wider lockdown measures, citing the need to keep businesses open.
Russia’s coronavirus information center said 16,002 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing total recoveries to 1,611,445.