themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Which Coronavirus Restrictions Is Moscow Lifting?

Moscow officials announced plans to lift coronavirus restrictions starting Tuesday despite the Russian capital continuing to see about 2,000 new infections each day .
The city of 12.7 million , which has been under lockdown since late March , is the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak with more than 197,000 cases .
Its new case numbers have gradually fallen from a peak of more than 6,000 per day in early May and are currently around 2,000 per day .
Moscow had already taken some steps to reopen the city and revive the economy , including restarting the construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening non-food shops on June 1 .
The city 's move comes as Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced the first steps to allow Russia 's citizens to travel beyond its borders after they closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Below is a brief overview of the restrictions and closures that authorities plan to lift for Muscovites of all ages starting Tuesday , according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin : — Self-isolation rules , QR code permits for private and public transport , scheduled walks will be canceled .
— Film and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circuses and concert halls Which restrictions are staying in place ?
— Residents are still required to wear masks and gloves outdoors and in public buildings .
— They are also still advised to maintain a 1.5-meter distance from others at all times .
— “ Each of us , like before , must abide by the regime of personal safety and respect for those around us .
And open enterprises must strictly comply with sanitary requirements , ” Sobyanin said .

Moscow officials announced plans to lift coronavirus restrictions starting Tuesday despite the Russian capital continuing to see about 2,000 new infections each day.
The city of 12.7 million, which has been under lockdown since late March, is the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak with more than 197,000 cases. Its new case numbers have gradually fallen from a peak of more than 6,000 per day in early May and are currently around 2,000 per day.
Moscow had already taken some steps to reopen the city and revive the economy, including restarting the construction industry and factories from May 12 and reopening non-food shops on June 1.
The city's move comes as Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced the first steps to allow Russia's citizens to travel beyond its borders after they closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Below is a brief overview of the restrictions and closures that authorities plan to lift for Muscovites of all ages starting Tuesday, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin:
June 9:
— Self-isolation rules, QR code permits for private and public transport, scheduled walks will be canceled.
— Hairdressers, employment agencies, vet clinics and photo studios
— Carsharing services
— Cemeteries
— Film and recording studios, rehearsals for theaters, circuses and concert halls
June 16:
— Rental services
— Outdoor terrace dining
— Museums, exhibition halls, libraries and zoos
— Real estate, ad and consulting agencies
— Dentists
June 23:
— Indoor dining
— Gyms, swimming pools, public sports and recreation facilities, including street benches
— Social welfare offices, state and private kindergartens
— River cruises
Which restrictions are staying in place?
— Residents are still required to wear masks and gloves outdoors and in public buildings.
— They are also still advised to maintain a 1.5-meter distance from others at all times.
— “Each of us, like before, must abide by the regime of personal safety and respect for those around us. And open enterprises must strictly comply with sanitary requirements,” Sobyanin said.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-08--Skripals Relocate to New Zealand Following Russian Poisoning Attempt  – Reports

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia have relocated to New Zealand two years after suffering a near-fatal poisoning attempt that Britain pins on Russia , The Sunday Times reported Sunday .
Sergei , 68 , and Yulia , 35 , were exposed to military-grade nerve agent Novichok in the British city of Salisbury in March 2018 .
British officials linked Russia 's GRU military intelligence agency to the assassination attempt , plunging relations between Russia and the West to their lowest point in years .
The Skripals were given new identities and support to start their new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly under their real names again , The Times reported , citing senior British officials .
No further details about the Skripals ’ new life were given .
“ We do not comment on intelligence matters , ” The Times quoted a Home Office source as saying .
Sergei Skripal is a former GRU officer who in 2004 was convicted of treason in Moscow for his work as a double agent for British intelligence .
Sentenced to 13 years in a Russian penal colony , he was freed during a spy swap between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relocated to Salisbury in 2010 and lived openly under his real identity .
He and his daughter had been taken by security services to a secret location shortly after they were discharged from the hospital in 2018 .
According to The Times , Sergei continues to stay in contact with his former neighbors in Salisbury .
In December , the neighbors received a Christmas card from the Skripals with no return address .
“ It ’ s nice to know they are thinking of us .
But I don ’ t expect we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Times quoted the Skripals ' neighbor Ross Cassidy as saying .
Cassidy said that Sergei was always on alert and could never fully enjoy a calm life in Salisbury .
“ I ’ ll never for the life of me understand why they didn ’ t give him a pseudonym , ” The Sunday Times quoted Cassidy as saying .
Moscow has repeatedly denied its involvement in the poisoning attempt .

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia have relocated to New Zealand two years after suffering a near-fatal poisoning attempt that Britain pins on Russia, The Sunday Times reported Sunday. Sergei, 68, and Yulia, 35, were exposed to military-grade nerve agent Novichok in the British city of Salisbury in March 2018. British officials linked Russia's GRU military intelligence agency to the assassination attempt, plunging relations between Russia and the West to their lowest point in years.
The Skripals were given new identities and support to start their new life overseas and will likely never appear publicly under their real names again, The Times reported, citing senior British officials. No further details about the Skripals’ new life were given. “We do not comment on intelligence matters,” The Times quoted a Home Office source as saying.