themoscowtimes--2020-02-18--‘You’ll Infect Us All’: Russian Clinic Turns Away HIV-Positive Patient

More than 1 million people in Russia live with HIV and a record 37,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses there in 2019 .
Violating medical confidentiality is a criminal offense in Russia .
A hospital in Russia 's Urals region has refused to treat an HIV-positive patient after a staff physician shouted that he would “ infect us all here , ” the local 59.ru news outlet reported Monday .
The unnamed male patient visited the clinic in the Perm region town of Nyrob to seek antiretroviral therapy after he was released from prison , where he was diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
“ Step back immediately , we don ’ t have people like you here , ” the physician reportedly shouted at the man .
“ You ’ ll infect us all here !
” Anna Kargapoltseva , a member of the Public Oversight Commission ( POC ) who had brought the patient to the clinic , recounted the physician ’ s words to 59.ru .
“ This Kargapoltseva and her husband must also have AIDS if they work with such people , I need to check her record .
Let this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the physician as saying .
Kargapoltseva said that while the patient is registered with the medical authorities , the closest HIV/AIDS treatment center is 400 kilometers away and the man can not go there without permission from law enforcement authorities .
POC members will now send the man ’ s medication to his home from Perm by bus , Kargapoltseva told 59.ru .
HIV can only be spread from person to person via certain body fluids .
The news comes a week after popular YouTuber Yury Dud ’ s documentary on Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google searches for HIV test-related terms .

More than 1 million people in Russia live with HIV and a record 37,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses there in 2019. Violating medical confidentiality is a criminal offense in Russia.
A hospital in Russia's Urals region has refused to treat an HIV-positive patient after a staff physician shouted that he would “infect us all here,” the local 59.ru news outlet reported Monday.
The unnamed male patient visited the clinic in the Perm region town of Nyrob to seek antiretroviral therapy after he was released from prison, where he was diagnosed with HIV and began taking medication, 59.ru reported.
“Step back immediately, we don’t have people like you here,” the physician reportedly shouted at the man. “You’ll infect us all here!”
Anna Kargapoltseva, a member of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) who had brought the patient to the clinic, recounted the physician’s words to 59.ru.
“This Kargapoltseva and her husband must also have AIDS if they work with such people, I need to check her record. Let this man die faster,” Kargapoltseva cited the physician as saying.
Kargapoltseva said that while the patient is registered with the medical authorities, the closest HIV/AIDS treatment center is 400 kilometers away and the man cannot go there without permission from law enforcement authorities.
POC members will now send the man’s medication to his home from Perm by bus, Kargapoltseva told 59.ru.
HIV can only be spread from person to person via certain body fluids.
The news comes a week after popular YouTuber Yury Dud’s documentary on Russia’s HIV crisis sparked a surge in Google searches for HIV test-related terms.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--Turkey Threatens Action on Syria as Russian-Backed Offensive Pushes Towards Border

Turkey 's President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday a Turkish military operation to push back a Syrian government offensive against rebel strongholds in northwest Syria was now `` a matter of time '' after talks with Russia failed to halt the assault .
Turkish troops have already massed inside Syria ready to act and more were heading to the border area .
The Kremlin , which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad , said a confrontation between Turkish and Syrian forces would be a `` worst-case scenario '' and Russia would keep working to prevent the situation from worsening .
Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces have been battling since December to eradicate the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war .
Nearly one million civilians have fled from airstrikes and artillery barrages towards the frontier , overwhelming relief agencies and alarming Turkey , which is struggling to cope with the 3.6 million Syrian refugees already camped inside its borders .
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday , Erdogan said Turkey was determined to make Idlib a secure zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several rounds of diplomacy had failed to reach an agreement so far , he said .
`` We are entering the last days for the regime to stop its hostility in Idlib .
We are making our final warnings , '' said Erdogan , whose country has the second-largest army in NATO .
`` Turkey has made every preparation to carry out its own operational plans .
I say that we can come at any point .
In other words , the Idlib offensive is only a matter of time . ''

Turkish troops have already massed inside the Idlib region and more were heading to the border area, bringing NATO member Turkey and Russian-backed Syria close to the brink of direct confrontation.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday a military operation by his forces to push back a Syrian government offensive against rebels in northwest Syria was now "a matter of time" after talks with Russia failed to halt the assault.
The Kremlin, which has supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's push with air strikes, said a clash between Turkish and Syrian forces would be a "worst-case scenario" and Russia would work to prevent the situation from worsening.
Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes and special forces have been battling since December to eradicate the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war.
Nearly 1 million civilians have fled from air strikes and artillery barrages towards the closed frontier, overwhelming relief agencies and alarming Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees and says it cannot handle more.
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was determined to make Idlib a secure zone even while talks with Moscow continued. Several rounds of diplomacy had failed to reach an agreement so far, he said.
"We are entering the last days for the regime to stop its hostility in Idlib. We are making our final warnings," said Erdogan, whose country has the second-largest army in NATO.
"Turkey has made every preparation to carry out its own operational plans. I say that we can come at any point. In other words, the Idlib offensive is only a matter of time."
Erdogan on Saturday appeared to move forward his earlier end-of-February deadline for a Syrian withdrawal from Idlib.
Assad has showed no sign of doing so and has predicted the eventual defeat of his foes. They include Turkish-backed rebels and jihadist militants.
Turkish soldiers
An opposition military source told Reuters that 15,000 Turkish soldiers were now in northwest Syria after numerous convoys had poured into the territory in recent days.
"You can't imagine the scale of Turkish reinforcements, half of Reyhanli is now full of Turkish commandoes ready to enter Syria," he said, referring to a Turkish border town. "They are readying their forces for zero hour, operations are expected to start any time."
Ankara and Moscow signed an agreement in 2018 to establish a de-escalation zone in Idlib allowing both sides to set up observation posts. Since the escalation in the conflict, both sides have accused each other of flouting the agreement.
In Moscow on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syrian forces were upholding previous agreements but also reacting to provocations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "If we talk about an operation against legitimate Syrian authorities and armed forces, it is of course a worst-case scenario."
In the past week the Syrian army has seized dozens of towns around Aleppo and the M5 highway linking Damascus to Aleppo.
It was unclear when Ankara and Moscow might resume talks.
Syrian military defector general Ahmad Rahhal said the talks in Moscow on Monday "were humiliating to Turkey" and had angered Ankara.
"The Russians have made a mistake," he told Reuters. "We are heading towards a Turkish military operation in Syria but no one knows exactly when... It may start in waves and gradually build up on several fronts."


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--China 'Dumbstruck’ by Russia’s Coronavirus Entry Ban – Kommersant

Russia announced the temporary entry ban for Chinese tourists , workers , students and private travelers starting Thursday .
The suspension does not affect non-Chinese nationals traveling from China , and Chinese transit passengers will be allowed to pass through Russia .
Chinese diplomats were at a loss after Russia barred entry to Chinese citizens as a coronavirus prevention measure , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday .
“ The decision was made at a time when the number of cases has declined , so it ’ s not clear what logic guided the Russian authorities , ” an unnamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not specify whether it quoted a Chinese or Russian diplomatic source .
While death toll from the coronavirus in mainland China surpassed 2,000 on Wednesday , the number of new cases there has fallen for a second consecutive day .
China ’ s foreign ministry said that Russia had informed Beijing of the entry ban in advance .
It added that it understood that Moscow ’ s steps “ aren ’ t a complete travel ban but are temporary initiatives that will be adjusted or even lifted as soon as the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia is taking “ every measure ” to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus in the country .
Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that it continues to issue business , humanitarian and transit visas to Chinese citizens .
It suspended the issuance of work visas and electronic visas for Chinese citizens earlier this month .
Experts estimate that Russia ’ s tourism industry could lose almost 3 billion rubles ( nearly $ 48 million ) from the entry ban .
The losses could grow tenfold if the ban isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @

Russia announced the temporary entry ban for Chinese tourists, workers, students and private travelers starting Thursday. The suspension does not affect non-Chinese nationals traveling from China, and Chinese transit passengers will be allowed to pass through Russia.
Chinese diplomats were at a loss after Russia barred entry to Chinese citizens as a coronavirus prevention measure, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.
“The decision was made at a time when the number of cases has declined, so it’s not clear what logic guided the Russian authorities,” an unnamed diplomatic source told Kommersant.
The publication did not specify whether it quoted a Chinese or Russian diplomatic source.
While death toll from the coronavirus in mainland China surpassed 2,000 on Wednesday, the number of new cases there has fallen for a second consecutive day.
China’s foreign ministry said that Russia had informed Beijing of the entry ban in advance.
It added that it understood that Moscow’s steps “aren’t a complete travel ban but are temporary initiatives that will be adjusted or even lifted as soon as the situation improves.”
The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia is taking “every measure” to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus in the country.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that it continues to issue business, humanitarian and transit visas to Chinese citizens. It suspended the issuance of work visas and electronic visas for Chinese citizens earlier this month.
Experts estimate that Russia’s tourism industry could lose almost 3 billion rubles (nearly $48 million) from the entry ban. The losses could grow tenfold if the ban isn’t lifted by the summer.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--Russia Relishes Macron Ally Sex Video Scandal Even Amid Detente

State media in Russia is reveling in the scandal of an exiled Russian activist in France who shared a sexually explicit video that punctured the political career of one of Emmanuel Macron ’ s top allies .
Petr Pavlensky and his partner , the woman who reportedly received the explicit messages from Benjamin Griveaux that were released last week , are being questioned as part of an investigation into the videos after Griveaux filed a complaint , AFP reported , citing the French prosecutor .
The 42-year-old married father of three quit Friday as the ruling party ’ s candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes as Macron is trying to improve Europe ’ s relations with Russia , upsetting some of France ’ s partners within the bloc .
While French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said the sophisticated way the Russian artist carried out the leak suggested he hadn ’ t acted alone , in Moscow there was a scathing comment about France ’ s decision to grant political asylum to Pavlensky in 2017 .
The videos appeared to show Griveaux sending messages with an auto-destruct function .
“ The joke is over .
Pavlensky has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin agent ’ , ” the Vesti state-run channel entitled a report on the affair .
President Vladimir Putin , who ’ s seeking to ease the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War sparked by his annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 , has responded eagerly to Macron ’ s offer of strategic dialogue .
At the same time , the French leader criticized Russia for continuing to try and destabilize Europe at this weekend ’ s Munich Security Conference .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitical vision , pragmatism and readiness for dialogue ” despite his “ reservations ” about Russia .
Pavlensky , known for performances that included nailing his scrotum to Moscow ’ s Red Square in 2013 , has been based in France since obtaining asylum .
He served 11 months in a French prison for setting on fire the facade of the Bank of France .

State media in Russia is reveling in the scandal of an exiled Russian activist in France who shared a sexually explicit video that punctured the political career of one of Emmanuel Macron’s top allies.
Petr Pavlensky and his partner, the woman who reportedly received the explicit messages from Benjamin Griveaux that were released last week, are being questioned as part of an investigation into the videos after Griveaux filed a complaint, AFP reported, citing the French prosecutor. The 42-year-old married father of three quit Friday as the ruling party’s candidate for mayor of Paris.
The episode comes as Macron is trying to improve Europe’s relations with Russia, upsetting some of France’s partners within the bloc.
While French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said the sophisticated way the Russian artist carried out the leak suggested he hadn’t acted alone, in Moscow there was a scathing comment about France’s decision to grant political asylum to Pavlensky in 2017. The videos appeared to show Griveaux sending messages with an auto-destruct function.
“The joke is over. Pavlensky has gone from being an amusing character to ‘Kremlin agent’,” the Vesti state-run channel entitled a report on the affair.
Franco-Russian dialogue
President Vladimir Putin, who’s seeking to ease the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War sparked by his annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine in 2014, has responded eagerly to Macron’s offer of strategic dialogue. At the same time, the French leader criticized Russia for continuing to try and destabilize Europe at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday praised Macron for “true political and geopolitical vision, pragmatism and readiness for dialogue” despite his “reservations” about Russia.
Pavlensky, known for performances that included nailing his scrotum to Moscow’s Red Square in 2013, has been based in France since obtaining asylum. He served 11 months in a French prison for setting on fire the facade of the Bank of France.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--How North Korea’s Leader Buys Purebred White Horses From Russia’s Stud Farms

On a chilly April morning in 2019 , four North Korean men arrived unannounced at the Verona stud farm in Moscow ’ s elite suburb of Rublyovka in search of a perfect white Welsh pony for the son of their Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un .
They settled on Sansa , an exceptional three-year-old that had won awards across Russia .
“ One of the men , a jockey , took a ride and was sold right away .
He called her ‘ a sweetie ’ , ” Verona ’ s director Maria Muraveynik told The Moscow Times in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months later , the same group visited the neighboring Moscow Stud Farm No .
1 , founded by the first Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and known for breeding Russia ’ s most famous horse , the Orlov Trotter , developed in the late 18th century by Russian aristocrat Alexei Orlov .
They bought two white animals — named Druzhba and Dubrovnik — for 1.5 million rubles ( $ 23,400 ) .
Russia supports the UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea however the export of horses and other livestock is not prohibited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korean mythology and political culture , culminating in Chollima , a mythical winged horse that has inspired statues in the country ’ s cities and appeared on currency and postage stamps .
Last year , Kim ’ s love of horses received worldwide attention , when he twice rode a white stallion up the country ’ s sacred Mount Paektu , a move experts said was steeped in symbolism .
Maria Andreeyeva , director of Moscow-based horse logistics agency Gandicap , said she immediately recognized the animal as an Orlov Trotter she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 .
Netherlands-based North Korea historian Casper van der Veen told The Moscow Times that by riding a white horse Kim was cultivating a domestic image of closeness to his grandfather and the country ’ s founder Kim Il Sung — who is seen as a godlike figure .
“ Kim Il Sung in his memoirs described a pure white horse as his trusted ally and friend during the Korean revolution , ” Van der Veen said .
Igor Gershtanskiy , 65 , a veteran Russian horse breeder and Moscow Stud Farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales , said that while he has been working with North Korean “ since the 90s , ” cooperation has increased over the past three years , with the farm selling six Orlov Trotters since 2017 .
According to customs data first reported by South Korea-based outlet NK News , Russia exported a total of 12 horses and ponies worth just over $ 75,000 to North Korea in 2019 alone .
The deals were finalized in late October 2019 , and organized by Andreeyeva .
She told The Moscow Times that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinate the purchase of the animals with private and state-run stud farms .
“ Once all the papers were ready , I chartered a plane for the horses to fly from Moscow ’ s Sheremetyevo airport straight to Pyongyang , ” she said .
Andreeyeva added that the North Korean scouts have , over the years , spent a lot of time and resources travelling around Russia looking for the “ best white horses ” they can find .
According to Russian federal customs service data viewed by The Moscow Times , North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s poorest countries , imported 138 horses at a cost of $ 584,302 between 2010 and 2019 .
“ For this particular purchase they went to six different stables , ” Andreeyeva said , adding that the North Korean ’ s were “ tough customers ” because they “ do their research.
” Experts say the horses are not just being used for propaganda purposes in North Korea , they are also gifts for loyal members of Kim ’ s inner circle .
As the country finds itself under increased international isolation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been harder to find , and Russian thoroughbred horses can be used as substitutes .

On a chilly April morning in 2019, four North Korean men arrived unannounced at the Verona stud farm in Moscow’s elite suburb of Rublyovka in search of a perfect white Welsh pony for the son of their Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un. They settled on Sansa, an exceptional three-year-old that had won awards across Russia. “One of the men, a jockey, took a ride and was sold right away. He called her ‘a sweetie’,” Verona’s director Maria Muraveynik told The Moscow Times in an interview in her medal- and statuette-filled office. A few months later, the same group visited the neighboring Moscow Stud Farm No. 1, founded by the first Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and known for breeding Russia’s most famous horse, the Orlov Trotter, developed in the late 18th century by Russian aristocrat Alexei Orlov. They bought two white animals — named Druzhba and Dubrovnik — for 1.5 million rubles ($23,400). Russia supports the UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea. However, the export of horses and other livestock is not prohibited.
Award-winning Welsh pony Sansa, bought by North Korea in October 2019. prokoni.ru
Horses have great symbolic power in North Korean mythology and political culture, culminating in Chollima, a mythical winged horse that has inspired statues in the country’s cities and appeared on currency and postage stamps. Last year, Kim’s love of horses received worldwide attention, when he twice rode a white stallion up the country’s sacred Mount Paektu, a move experts said was steeped in symbolism. Maria Andreeyeva, director of Moscow-based horse logistics agency Gandicap, said she immediately recognized the animal as an Orlov Trotter she had helped to fly to the country in 2015. Netherlands-based North Korea historian Casper van der Veen told The Moscow Times that by riding a white horse Kim was cultivating a domestic image of closeness to his grandfather and the country’s founder Kim Il Sung — who is seen as a godlike figure. “Kim Il Sung in his memoirs described a pure white horse as his trusted ally and friend during the Korean revolution,” Van der Veen said. Igor Gershtanskiy, 65, a veteran Russian horse breeder and Moscow Stud Farm No. 1’s head of sales, said that while he has been working with North Koreans “since the 90s,” cooperation has increased over the past three years, with the farm selling six Orlov Trotters since 2017. According to customs data first reported by South Korea-based outlet NK News, Russia exported a total of 12 horses and ponies worth just over $75,000 to North Korea in 2019 alone. The deals were finalized in late October 2019, and organized by Andreeyeva. She told The Moscow Times that she was approached by the North Korean Embassy to coordinate the purchase of the animals with private and state-run stud farms. “Once all the papers were ready, I chartered a plane for the horses to fly from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport straight to Pyongyang,” she said.
Last year, Kim’s Russian horses received worldwide attention when he twice rode a white stallion up the country’s sacred Mount Paektu, a move experts said was steeped in symbolism. Korean Central News Agency / Zuma / TASS
Andreeyeva added that the North Korean scouts have, over the years, spent a lot of time and resources travelling around Russia looking for the “best white horses” they can find. According to Russian federal customs service data viewed by The Moscow Times, North Korea, one of the world’s poorest countries, imported 138 horses at a cost of $584,302 between 2010 and 2019. “For this particular purchase they went to six different stables,” Andreeyeva said, adding that the North Koreans were “tough customers” because they “do their research.” Experts say the horses are not just being used for propaganda purposes in North Korea, they are also gifts for loyal members of Kim’s inner circle. As the country finds itself under increased international isolation, presents including luxury goods from the West have been harder to find, and Russian thoroughbred horses can be used as substitutes.
Moscow Stud Farm No. 1, founded by the first Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and known for breeding Russia’s most famous horse, the Orlov Trotter. Pjotr Sauer / MT


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--8 Jehovah’s Witnesses Charged With ‘Extremism’ in Russia’s Jewish Region

Birobidzhan , a city in the Jewish autonomous district , was among a handful of cities to label the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses as an “ extremist ” group in 2016 .
A year later , Russia ’ s Supreme Court declared the religious group to be “ extremist ” and banned its estimated 400 branches across the country .
Authorities in Russia ’ s Far East have charged eight Jehovah ’ s Witnesses with extremism earlier this month , bringing the number of worshippers facing criminal prosecution there to 22 , the religious organization said Tuesday .
The regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuses the eight believers of “ renewing the activities of the abolished local religious organization ” in Birobidzhan , the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia said in a statement .
They face a maximum prison sentence of six years if their case reaches the court and they are found guilty .
Five of the defendants ’ husbands and fathers are already facing extremism charges in Birobidzhan , the organization said .
Trials are underway for two of the defendants .
At least nine Jehovah ’ s Witnesses have been given prison sentences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 .
Authorities carried out hundreds of raids and several Jehovah ’ s Witnesses allege that law enforcement officers tortured them in detention .

Birobidzhan, a city in the Jewish autonomous district, was among a handful of cities to label the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist” group in 2016. A year later, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the religious group to be “extremist” and banned its estimated 400 branches across the country.
Authorities in Russia’s Far East have charged eight Jehovah’s Witnesses with extremism earlier this month, bringing the number of worshippers facing criminal prosecution there to 22, the religious organization said Tuesday.
The regional Federal Security Service (FSB) branch accuses the eight believers of “renewing the activities of the abolished local religious organization” in Birobidzhan, the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia said in a statement.
They face a maximum prison sentence of six years if their case reaches the court and they are found guilty.
Five of the defendants’ husbands and fathers are already facing extremism charges in Birobidzhan, the organization said. Trials are underway for two of the defendants.
At least nine Jehovah’s Witnesses have been given prison sentences in Russia since the group was banned in 2017. Authorities carried out hundreds of raids and several Jehovah’s Witnesses allege that law enforcement officers tortured them in detention.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--U.S. Arrests Mexican Citizen Allegedly Recruited by Russia

U.S. authorities in Miami arrested a Mexican citizen who had been recruited by a Russian government official to locate and @ @ @ @ @ of the car of a `` U.S. government source , '' the U.S. Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes , a resident of Singapore , was arrested on Sunday after he @ @ @ @ @ with his wife to take a flight to Mexico City , the Justice Department said @ @ @ @ @ Russian government official had recruited Fuentes last year , and in a meeting in Russia @ @ @ @ @ with a physical description of a U.S. government source 's car and instructed him to @ @ @ @ @ its license plate number , the Justice Department said .
The statement did not give @ @ @ @ @

U.S. authorities in Miami arrested a Mexican citizen who had been recruited by a Russian government official to locate and obtain the license plate number of the car of a "U.S. government source," the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.
Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, a resident of Singapore, was arrested on Sunday after he arrived at Miami International Airport with his wife to take a flight to Mexico City, the Justice Department said in a statement.
A Russian government official had recruited Fuentes last year, and in a meeting in Russia earlier this month provided him with a physical description of a U.S. government source's car and instructed him to locate the car and obtain its license plate number, the Justice Department said.
The statement did not give details about the source.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--Ukraine Bans Movies Starring Zelenskiy, Seagal, Depardieu

The Ukrainian state film agency said it banned a total of five movies in 2019 , three of which were banned to comply with a request by Ukraine ’ s security service .
Ukraine ’ s film authority has banned the distribution of several movies over national security concerns , including a Russian-Ukrainian romantic comedy featuring Ukraine ’ s current president , it said Tuesday .
Two of the blacklisted movies are the decade-old French fantasy “ Trouble at Timpetill ” and the Hollywood action film “ Machete.
” Ukraine ’ s film agency said it banned the movies because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the latter features American martial artist Steven Seagal .
Both veteran actors hold Russian passports and are banned from entering Ukraine as national security risks .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy , the actor and comedian who swept to power last year as a political novice , stars in the third banned movie .
Ukraine ’ s film agency said it banned the 2012 romcom “ 8 First Dates ” because it features Russian actress and comedian Yekaterina Varnava in a supporting role .
The Ukrainian film agency said it also banned two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directors based on an expert commission ’ s ruling .
Ukraine began banning Russian films after Moscow annexed Crimea and conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces broke out in the country ’ s east in 2014 .

The Ukrainian state film agency said it banned a total of five movies in 2019, three of which were banned to comply with a request by Ukraine’s security service.
Ukraine’s film authority has banned the distribution of several movies over national security concerns, including a Russian-Ukrainian romantic comedy featuring Ukraine’s current president, it said Tuesday.
Two of the blacklisted movies are the decade-old French fantasy “Trouble at Timpetill” and the Hollywood action film “Machete.”
Ukraine’s film agency said it banned the movies because the former features French actor Gerard Depardieu and the latter features American martial artist Steven Seagal. Both veteran actors hold Russian passports and are banned from entering Ukraine as national security risks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the actor and comedian who swept to power last year as a political novice, stars in the third banned movie. Ukraine’s film agency said it banned the 2012 romcom “8 First Dates” because it features Russian actress and comedian Yekaterina Varnava in a supporting role.
The Ukrainian film agency said it also banned two short films made by two young Russian directors based on an expert commission’s ruling.
Ukraine began banning Russian films after Moscow annexed Crimea and conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces broke out in the country’s east in 2014.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--Russian Artist Under Investigation Over French Sexting Row

The Paris prosecutor 's office said Pavlensky had been released from a police station on Tuesday evening after having been brought in for questioning on Sunday .
Russian artist Pyotr Pavlensky was put under formal investigation on Tuesday after the publication of an online sexual chat that caused one of French President Emmanuel Macron 's closest lieutenants to pull out of the race to become mayor of Paris .
Pavlensky , who has lived in France since 2017 , faces charges of privacy violation .
His girlfriend was also placed under formal investigation , the prosecutor 's office said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other .
Benjamin Griveaux , 42 , a key member of Emmanuel Macron 's LREM party , said last week he had decided to withdraw from the municipal election next month .
Pavlensky had claimed he had published screenshots of an online chat which he said was between Griveaux and a woman who is not his wife .
The chat included a video showing a man 's genitals .
Griveaux has not disputed that he sent the messages .
In France , a formal investigation may or may not lead to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister , Agnes Buzyn , to revive his efforts to win control of the Paris city hall .
French politicians from all sides denounced the leak of private material , which many said constituted an unacceptable Americanization of politics in France , where politicians ' private lives have long been considered off-limits .
Pavlensky is best known for works of performance art including nailing his scrotum to the ground in Moscow 's Red Square and setting fire to doors at the headquarters of Russia 's state security agency and the Bank of France @

The Paris prosecutor's office said Pavlensky had been released from a police station on Tuesday evening after having been brought in for questioning on Sunday.
Russian artist Pyotr Pavlensky was put under formal investigation on Tuesday after the publication of an online sexual chat that caused one of French President Emmanuel Macron's closest lieutenants to pull out of the race to become mayor of Paris.
Pavlensky, who has lived in France since 2017, faces charges of privacy violation.
His girlfriend was also placed under formal investigation, the prosecutor's office said, adding they were not permitted to contact each other.
Benjamin Griveaux, 42, a key member of Emmanuel Macron's LREM party, said last week he had decided to withdraw from the municipal election next month.
Pavlensky had claimed he had published screenshots of an online chat which he said was between Griveaux and a woman who is not his wife.
The chat included a video showing a man's genitals. Griveaux has not disputed that he sent the messages.
In France, a formal investigation may or may not lead to a trial.
Macron has since picked health minister, Agnes Buzyn, to revive his efforts to win control of the Paris city hall.
French politicians from all sides denounced the leak of private material, which many said constituted an unacceptable Americanization of politics in France, where politicians' private lives have long been considered off-limits.
Pavlensky is best known for works of performance art including nailing his scrotum to the ground in Moscow's Red Square and setting fire to doors at the headquarters of Russia's state security agency and the Bank of France.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-19--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 19

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who have since recovered .
The first Russian citizen has also been infected with the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 2,000 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including around two dozen Russian nationals , began disembarking the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan on Wednesday .
— The 144 Russians evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China have left a quarantine area in Siberia ’ s Tyumen region following a 14-day quarantine .
— Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens to its territory starting from Feb. 20 .
The temporary suspension will be for Chinese citizens entering Russia for employment , private , educational and tourist purposes .
— Russian national carrier Aeroflot said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China due to lower demand amid the coronavirus outbreak .
— A Russian passenger onboard the quarantined Diamond Princess ship was diagnosed with the new coronavirus , marking the first infection of a Russian citizen , Russia ’ s Embassy in Japan said Monday .
— Russia discharged a Chinese national from the hospital in the Siberian city of Chita on Wednesday after he recovered from a coronavirus infection , the second of Russia 's two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover .
The other victim , also a Chinese national , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and been released from quarantine in Siberia 's Tyumen region .
— Russia 's Transport Ministry is proposing to offer airlines 1.6 billion rubles ( $ 25.05 million ) in compensation for the grounding of flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak .
— The coronavirus outbreak may delay Russia 's delivery of S-400 air defense systems to China , the state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport said .
— The number of payments made in Russia through the Chinese Alipay payment system was down 73 % in the first week of February compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Russia 's Interior Ministry opened a criminal case of hooliganism after a Moscow man was filmed pretending to have a seizure on the metro while his two accomplices shouted that he was infected with the coronavirus .
The man has been detained while his accomplices are wanted , the Interior Ministry said .
— Russian authorities have quarantined a top Chinese diplomat as a safety precaution against coronavirus shortly after he arrived in Russia to take up his new post , Interfax reported .
— China ’ s Hainan Airlines and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100 Russian pilots amid wider cuts to foreign staff as the coronavirus outbreak has led to reduced travel into and out of China , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
— Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region 1,500 kilometers east of Moscow walked back plans to set up a quarantine center after local residents formed a human shield to prevent entry to Chinese nationals .
— Prisoners in the Kursk region have begun making face masks to be used in correctional facilities after a spike in demand , Interfax cited the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The masks made at penitentiary production sites are in no way inferior to those from the pharmacy , '' the regional penitentiary service was quoted as saying .
— The Kremlin has started checking the body temperatures of individuals attending events with President Vladimir Putin as a `` precautionary measure , '' spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday .

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--2020-02-20--Turkey Says Syrian Air Strikes Kill Two Turkish Soldiers Near Idlib

Turkey said on Thursday that two Turkish soldiers were killed and another five were wounded in Syrian government airstrikes near @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday , adding that more than 50 Syrian forces had been killed in retaliation @ @ @ @ @ day after President Tayyip Erdogan warned of an imminent Turkish military offensive in Idlib , @ @ @ @ @ by Russia air power , have mounted an offensive to capture the region .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ soldiers were killed in Syrian attacks , prompting Erdogan to say that Turkey will strike @ @ @ @ @ in Syria if another soldier was hurt .
In a statement , the defense ministry @ @ @ @ @ armored personnel carriers , two armored trucks and one howitzer were also destroyed in retaliation @ @ @ @ @ Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the soldiers , who were in Idlib to `` establish @ @ @ @ @ operations , '' were killed by `` an attack carried out by the ( Syrian @ @ @ @

Turkey said two of its soldiers were killed and five others wounded in Syrian government air strikes in northwest Syria on Thursday, bringing Turkish military fatalities to 15 so far this month in the Idlib region.
Turkey's defense ministry said more than 50 Syrian forces members had been killed in retaliation in Idlib, where nearly a million citizens have been displaced since early December.
The attacks come a day after President Tayyip Erdogan warned of an imminent Turkish military offensive in Idlib, where Syrian forces backed by Russia air power have mounted an offensive to capture the rebel-held region after the country's nine-year war.
Earlier this month, 13 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib after Syrian attacks, prompting Erdogan to warn that Turkey will strike Syrian forces "anywhere" in Syria if another soldier was hurt.
In a statement, the defense ministry said five tanks, two armored personnel carriers, two armored trucks and one howitzer were also destroyed in retaliation. It said designated targets had been hit and were still being targeted.
Later, Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the soldiers were killed by "an attack carried out by the (Syrian) regime."
The attacks come amid clashes between Turkey-backed rebels and Syrian forces in Idlib, the last rebel-held enclave in the country. Turkish artillery provided cover for rebels looking to capture the town of Nairab in Idlib, prompting Russia to accuse Turkey of supporting militants in the region.
Turkey, which backs rebels looking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and already hosts 3.7 million Syrian refugees, has said it cannot handle another wave of migrants and has closed its border.
Ankara and Moscow have held talks to stop the escalation in Idlib but have yet to reach a solution. Turkish officials on Thursday were optimistic that an agreement could be reached, saying the talks had not been "completely without a result."
But the escalation of violence in Idlib and the risk of a direct confrontation between Turkey and Russian-led Syrian forces has sent Turkish financial markets skidding.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Georgia, Backed by U.S. and Britain, Blames Russia for 'Paralyzing' Cyberattack

Britain and the United States joined Georgia on Thursday in blaming Russia for a large-scale cyberattack last year that knocked thousands of Georgian websites offline and disrupted national television broadcasts .
State , private and media websites were taken out by the attack on Oct. 28 , including those belonging to the Georgian president 's office and two private television stations .
Georgia 's foreign ministry said the cyberattack , which defaced websites to display an image of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili , was planned and carried out by the Russian military .
The attack `` was intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupting and paralyzing the functionality of various organizations , thereby causing anxiety among the general public , '' said foreign ministry spokesman Vladimer Konstantinidi .
In supporting statements , Britain and the United States attributed the attack specifically to a unit of Russia 's military intelligence service , commonly known as the GRU .
Western countries have accused the GRU of orchestrating a spree of destructive in cyberattacks in recent years , including hacks that took down parts of the Ukrainian energy grid and crippled businesses worldwide in 2017 .
Russia 's Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RIA news agency reported .
`` Russia did not plan and is not planning to interfere in Georgia 's internal affairs in any way , '' RIA cited Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying .
Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations .
Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations .
The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday 's announcement .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack `` directly affected the Georgian population , disrupted operations of several thousand Georgian government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least two major television stations . ''
Britain 's foreign minister , Dominic Raab , said : `` The GRU 's reckless and brazen campaign of cyberattacks against Georgia , a sovereign and independent nation , is totally unacceptable . ''
The attack is the latest alleged attempt by Russia to undermine and destabilize the former Soviet Republic of Georgia since a short-lived war between the two countries in 2008 over a breakaway Georgian region .

Britain and the United States joined Georgia on Thursday in blaming Russia for a large-scale cyber attack last year that knocked thousands of Georgian websites offline and disrupted national television broadcasts.
Up to 15,000 state, private and media websites were taken out by unknown hackers on Oct. 28, including those belonging to the Georgian president's office and two private television stations.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry said it had now concluded the cyberattack, which defaced websites to display an image of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, was planned and carried out by the Russian military.
The attack "was intended to harm Georgian citizens and government structures by disrupting and paralysing the functionality of various organisations, thereby causing anxiety among the general public," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Vladimer Konstantinidi.
Russia's Foreign Ministry denied the allegations. "Russia did not plan and is not planning to interfere in Georgia's internal affairs in any way," the RIA news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying.
Britain and the United States attributed the attack specifically to Unit 74455 of Russia's military intelligence service, commonly known as the GRU. Up to 12 other countries are also expected to issue supporting statements, officials said.
Western countries have accused the GRU of orchestrating a spree of destructive cyberattacks in recent years, including hacks that took down parts of the Ukrainian energy grid and crippled businesses worldwide in 2017.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the accusations but U.S. and British officials say they believe naming and shaming the hackers will help deter Moscow from launching similar attacks in the future.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack "directly affected the Georgian population, disrupted operations of several thousand Georgian government and privately-run websites and interrupted the broadcast of at least two major television stations."
Britain's foreign minister, Dominic Raab, said: "The GRU's reckless and brazen campaign of cyberattacks against Georgia, a sovereign and independent nation, is totally unacceptable."
The attack is the latest alleged attempt by Russia to undermine and destabilise the former Soviet Republic since a short-lived war between the two countries in 2008 over a breakaway Georgian region.
Western officials said it was the first significant example of the GRU using hacking to "disrupt or destroy" since two cyberattacks on Ukraine in 2017, and they were worried the digital assault on Georgia would escalate if left unchallenged.
"We do not want Georgia to become Russia's next cyber-range," said Paul Chichester, director of operations at Britain's National Cyber Security Centre, part of the GCHQ signals intelligence agency.
"This attribution today is seeking to send a clear message: we believe this sort of activity is unacceptable."


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 20

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 2,000 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 .
Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who have since recovered .
The first three Russian citizens have also been infected with the coronavirus onboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan .
Below are the latest updates on Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anton Siluanov told the RBC news website on Thursday that the coronavirus had caused a drop in Chinese trade with Russia of 1 billion rubles ( $ 15.68 million ) a day .
— Two Russian citizens from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus , bringing the total number of infected Russian nationals to three .
— Hundreds of people , including around two dozen Russian nationals , began disembarking the quarantined cruise ship off Japan on Wednesday .
— The 144 Russians evacuated from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have left a quarantine area in Siberia ’ s Tyumen region following a 14-day quarantine .
— Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens to its territory starting from Feb. 20 .
The temporary suspension will be for Chinese citizens entering Russia for employment , private , educational and tourist purposes .
— Russian national carrier Aeroflot said that it is suspending some flights to China due to lower demand amid the coronavirus outbreak .
— Russia discharged a Chinese national from the hospital in the Siberian city of Chita on Wednesday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second of Russia 's two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover .
The other victim , also a Chinese national , was also said by authorities to have recovered and been released from quarantine in Siberia 's Tyumen region .
— Russia 's Transport Ministry is proposing to offer airlines 1.6 billion rubles ( $ 25.05 million ) in compensation for the grounding of flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak .
— The coronavirus outbreak may delay Russia 's delivery of S-400 air defense systems to China , the state-owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of payments made in Russia through the Chinese Alipay payment system was down 73 % in the first week of February compared to the same time last year .
— Russia 's Interior Ministry opened a criminal case of hooliganism after a Moscow man was filmed pretending to have a seizure on the metro while his two accomplices shouted that he was infected with the coronavirus .
The man has been detained while his accomplices are wanted , the Interior Ministry said .
— Russian authorities have quarantined a top Chinese diplomat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he arrived in Russia to take up his new post , Interfax reported .
— China ’ s Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines plan to lay off more than 100 Russian pilots amid wider cuts to foreign staff as the coronavirus outbreak has led to reduced travel into and out of China , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
— Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region 1,500 kilometers east of Moscow walked back plans to set up a quarantine center after local residents formed a human shield to prevent entry to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kursk region have begun making face masks to be used in correctional facilities after a spike in demand , Interfax cited the region 's penitentiary service as saying .
— The Kremlin has started checking the body temperatures of individuals attending events with President Vladimir Putin as a `` precautionary measure , '' spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
— President Vladimir Putin proposed stripping pharmacies of their licenses if they raise prices for anti-virus masks amid the coronavirus outbreak .
— Russia said it will take between eight and 10 months to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Minister Mikhail Murashko as saying .
— Russia has set up a quarantine area in Siberia 's Tyumen region for Russians being evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak .
All evacuated citizens will be held in quarantine for 14 days .
— Russia will temporarily restrict the entry of foreigners arriving from China , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
She said the restrictions would not , however , apply to Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport , the capital 's main international airport .
— Russia may deport foreign citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said .
— Russia postponed the Russian Investment Forum in the Black Sea city of Sochi due to coronavirus concerns .
The forum , which is attended by a string of high-ranking officials and foreign investors , had been set to take place Feb. 12-14 .


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Russian Lawmakers Propose Special Governing Status for Arctic

Russia 's far northern territories , border areas and closed military towns could be directly governed by the federal government in Moscow , a leading member of the parliamentary group that is drafting a package of amendments to Russia 's Constitution has said .
Senator Andrei Klishas suggested subjecting parts of the country ’ s Arctic territories and other areas directly to federal rule , as Russia 's regional governments are not sufficiently capable of managing strategically important areas of the north .
The idea was initially proposed by Sergei Kharitonov , chair of the regional government in Tula , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klishas embraced the idea and now appears ready to promote it in his work on the new Constitution .
In his personal blog , Klishas said that the question deserves serious consideration and that there are a number of examples from abroad that can serve as models .
Special-status areas subjected to direct federal management could be closed administrative-territorial units , specially protected natural territories and the Arctic zone , he argued .
Klishas is co-chair of the working group that now is in the process of creating a new draft Russian Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 immediately following President Vladimir Putin ’ s address to lawmakers in which he proposed amending Russia 's Constitution .
It includes 75 people from a wide range of groups and professions .
None of them are representatives of northern Russian regions .
Klishas ’ proposal appears to have won support from Valentina Matviyenko , speaker of the upper-house Federation Council .
According to Kommersant , Matvienko requested several parliament committees to look into the issue .
Strong voices in the State Duma , the lower house of parliament , also support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman of the Duma committee on federal structure and local governance .
According to Didenko , the establishment of similar federal territories has been discussed in his committee for a long time .
It is logical to establish such special-status areas in parts of the Arctic , border areas and other territories of special strategic importance , and also in areas of hydrocarbon extraction and seaports , he told Kommersant .
`` Considering that these are municipalities almost without inhabitants , they have village infrastructure , modest incomes and the local governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their responsibilities , '' he said .
`` Because of the importance of these territories for the state , they can be directly subjected to the federal center , '' he maintained .
However , the proposal to revise local governance in the Arctic is just one of many ideas now swirling around in Moscow government offices .
According to Pavel Krashennikov , a member of the State Duma who plays a key role in drafting the new Constitution , more than 500 ideas and proposals have been submitted to the parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group are stormy and emotional , Krashennikov said in this week ’ s meeting with Putin .
`` But at the same time , we are not forgetting that the main task of the new legislation is to provide development of society , decent living standards for citizens and enhanced state efficiency , '' he said .

Russia's far northern territories, border areas and closed military towns could be directly governed by the federal government in Moscow, a leading member of the parliamentary group that is drafting a package of amendments to Russia's Constitution has said.
Senator Andrei Klishas suggested subjecting parts of the country’s Arctic territories and other areas directly to federal rule, as Russia's regional governments are not sufficiently capable of managing strategically important areas of the north.
The idea was initially proposed by Sergei Kharitonov, chair of the regional government in Tula, the Kommersant business daily reported. But Klishas embraced the idea and now appears ready to promote it in his work on the new Constitution.
Moscow rule
In his personal blog, Klishas said that the question deserves serious consideration and that there are a number of examples from abroad that can serve as models.
Special-status areas subjected to direct federal management could be closed administrative-territorial units, specially protected natural territories and the Arctic zone, he argued.
Klishas is co-chair of the working group that now is in the process of creating a new draft Russian Constitution.
The group was established on Jan. 15 immediately following President Vladimir Putin’s address to lawmakers in which he proposed amending Russia's Constitution. It includes 75 people from a wide range of groups and professions. None of them are representatives of northern Russian regions.
Parliamentary support
Klishas’ proposal appears to have won support from Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the upper-house Federation Council. According to Kommersant, Matvienko requested several parliament committees to look into the issue.
Strong voices in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, also support the proposal. Among them is Alexei Didenko, chairman of the Duma committee on federal structure and local governance.
According to Didenko, the establishment of similar federal territories has been discussed in his committee for a long time. It is logical to establish such special-status areas in parts of the Arctic, border areas and other territories of special strategic importance, and also in areas of hydrocarbon extraction and seaports, he told Kommersant.
"Considering that these are municipalities almost without inhabitants, they have village infrastructure, modest incomes and the local governments do not have the funding to follow up their responsibilities," he said.
"Because of the importance of these territories for the state, they can be directly subjected to the federal center," he maintained.
Putin’s Constitution
However, the proposal to revise local governance in the Arctic is just one of many ideas now swirling around in Moscow government offices. According to Pavel Krashennikov, a member of the State Duma who plays a key role in drafting the new Constitution, more than 500 ideas and proposals have been submitted to the parliamentary working group.
Discussions in the working group are stormy and emotional, Krashennikov said in this week’s meeting with Putin.
"But at the same time, we are not forgetting that the main task of the new legislation is to provide development of society, decent living standards for citizens and enhanced state efficiency," he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Russian-U.S. ‘Road Rage’ Incident Filmed in Syria

A bystander caught the moment when a U.S. Oshkosh M-ATV ran what appears to be a Russian Tigr armored car off the busy road as it attempted to overtake the U.S. convoy .
The vehicles appear to collide , and a passerby is seen narrowly escaping being hit by the Tigr .
A road rage incident between Russian and U.S. combat vehicles was caught on video in Syria at a time of heightened tensions between the two forces in the war-torn country .
A Syrian researcher who shared the 45-second clip online wrote that the incident took place in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the confrontation in a conference call with reporters Thursday , deferring queries to the Defense Ministry .
The U.S.-led coalition in Syria and Iraq said it was reviewing the incident , the Military Times reported , citing spokesman Col. Myles Caggins .
“ The Coalition ’ s goal is to de-escalate any unplanned encounters with other forces operating in northeastern Syria , ” Caggins told the news website .
U.S. Central Command said it was also looking into the video , the Military Times cited spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest episode follows a series of standoffs between U.S. and Russian troops in Syria in recent weeks .
The U.S. special envoy for Syria has accused Russia of violating the terms of de-confliction in what he characterized as an attempt to challenge the U.S. presence there .
Russia , a staunch ally of the Syrian government , launched a military air campaign in Syria in 2015 to help Damascus recapture parts of the country from rebels .
Moscow has long insisted that the U.S. military presence in Syria is illegal .

A bystander caught the moment when a U.S. Oshkosh M-ATV ran what appears to be a Russian Tigr armored car off the busy road as it attempted to overtake the U.S. convoy. The vehicles appear to collide, and a passerby is seen narrowly escaping being hit by the Tigr.
A road rage incident between Russian and U.S. combat vehicles was caught on video in Syria at a time of heightened tensions between the two forces in the war-torn country.
A Syrian researcher who shared the 45-second clip online wrote that the incident took place in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the confrontation in a conference call with reporters Thursday, deferring queries to the Defense Ministry.
The U.S.-led coalition in Syria and Iraq said it was reviewing the incident, the Military Times reported, citing spokesman Col. Myles Caggins.
“The Coalition’s goal is to de-escalate any unplanned encounters with other forces operating in northeastern Syria,” Caggins told the news website.
U.S. Central Command said it was also looking into the video, the Military Times cited spokesman Capt. William Urban as saying.
The latest episode follows a series of standoffs between U.S. and Russian troops in Syria in recent weeks. The U.S. special envoy for Syria has accused Russia of violating the terms of de-confliction in what he characterized as an attempt to challenge the U.S. presence there.
Russia, a staunch ally of the Syrian government, launched a military air campaign in Syria in 2015 to help Damascus recapture parts of the country from rebels. Moscow has long insisted that the U.S. military presence in Syria is illegal.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Russia Gets Tough on Coronavirus. And What Does Surkov's Departure Say About Modern Russia

From today — that ’ s Thursday the 20th of February — most Chinese citizens will be temporarily blocked from @ @ @ @ @ Moscow ’ s latest moves to contain the spread of coronavirus .
The ban covers @ @ @ @ @ Russia on employment , tourist and student visas .
to discuss Russia ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ spread is Alexander Gabuev , chair of the Asia-Pacific program

From today — that’s Thursday the 20th of February — most Chinese citizens will be temporarily blocked from entering Russia as part of Moscow’s latest moves to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The ban covers all Chinese citizens traveling to Russia on employment, tourist and student visas.
to discuss Russia’s latest moves to stop the coronavirus spread is Alexander Gabuev , chair of the Asia-Pacific program
at Carnegie Moscow Center.


themoscowtimes--2020-02-20--Black Smog Raises Siberian City’s Alarms

Smog-plagued Krasnoyarsk declared its second weather emergency in two months Friday as the Siberian city continues to reel from air pollution .
Some 4,100 kilometers east of Moscow , Krasnoyarsk regularly appears near the top of Russia ’ s annual air pollution rankings .
The city ’ s authorities have regularly declared smog emergencies — measures that include advising residents to leave — in the past decade , with states of emergency sometimes in place for up to two months in a given year .
Smog hangs over low-lying Krasnoyarsk because there ’ s no wind to blow away smog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other pollutants , Russia ’ s Hydrometeorology Center says .
On Monday , it was reported that Krasnoyarsk briefly topped the independent air quality monitor AirVisual ’ s list of the world ’ s most polluted cities .
Environmental activists have announced a citywide rally against industrial pollution to take place on March 29 .
Popular blogger Alexander Gorbunov , whose frank and foul-mouthed posts have earned him millions of social media followers , wrote : “ My DMs are full of photos and videos from Krasnoyarsk.
” “ People are writing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no one cares , ” Gorbunov , who goes by the pen name StalinGulag , wrote Thursday .

Smog-plagued Krasnoyarsk declared its second weather emergency in two months Friday as the Siberian city continues to reel from air pollution. Some 4,100 kilometers east of Moscow, Krasnoyarsk regularly appears near the top of Russia’s annual air pollution rankings. The city’s authorities have regularly declared smog emergencies — measures that include advising residents to leave — in the past decade, with states of emergency sometimes in place for up to two months in a given year.
Smog hangs over low-lying Krasnoyarsk because there’s no wind to blow away smog particles from the local coal-fired plant and other pollutants, Russia’s Hydrometeorology Center says. On Monday, it was reported that Krasnoyarsk briefly topped the independent air quality monitor AirVisual’s list of the world’s most polluted cities. Environmental activists have announced a citywide rally against industrial pollution to take place on March 29.