themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--Family of American 'Spy' Imprisoned in Russia Expects Trade

David Whelan , the brother of Paul Whelan , the ex-Marine given the stiff prison sentence on Monday , said his brother was no spy and that Moscow arrested him as leverage against Washington .
The brother of the American sentenced by a Russian court to 16 years in prison for espionage said Tuesday he believes Moscow wants to exchange him for a notorious arms dealer or Russian diplomatic properties shuttered by Washington .
The Russians have publicly mentioned getting the United States to release arms trader Viktor Bout , known as the `` Merchant of Death '' for supplying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko from a U.S. prisons , Whelan said .
They also want to resume using rural estates in Long Island and Maryland , and the Russian consulate in San Francisco , which were shut by Washington as punishment for Moscow 's interference in the 2016 presidential election .
`` There 's a reason [ Russia ] kept my brother .
And that was to extract a concession , '' David Whelan told AFP .
`` There are a handful of people that they are interested in seeing released .
Viktor Bout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been number two . ''
He said Russia could also be interested in getting back hackers arrested and jailed by the United States , and also a woman , Bogdana Osipova , who was sentenced to prison in Kansas last year for kidnapping after she sent the children she had with her American ex-husband to Russia .
A security official in a U.S. auto parts company , Paul Whelan , was arrested and charged with espionage while he was in Russia for a wedding in December 2018 .
He allegedly received from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russian state secrets on it .
Whelan , who has visited Russia several times and befriended some Russians , denies spying and said the device contained pictures of churches .
His arrest was initially viewed as a tit-for-tat after the United States arrested Maria Butina in July that year on spying-related charges .
Days before Whelan 's arrest , Butina pleaded guilty to illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government , and was given an 18-month sentence , which included the time she had already been held in jail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Since then , David Whelan said , the Russian government has hinted at exchanges in public comments and on Foreign Ministry and other official social media accounts .
`` It 's hostage diplomacy , '' he said .
`` They take citizens as pawns , and then attempt to extract a concession in exchange for returning the citizen , '' he said .
He said the U.S. State Department has been deeply critical of his brother 's treatment and sentence , but will not say if it is in discussions on @ @ @ @ @

David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, the ex-Marine given the stiff prison sentence on Monday, said his brother was no spy and that Moscow arrested him as leverage against Washington.
The brother of the American sentenced by a Russian court to 16 years in prison for espionage said Tuesday he believes Moscow wants to exchange him for a notorious arms dealer or Russian diplomatic properties shuttered by Washington.
The Russians have publicly mentioned getting the United States to release arms trader Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death" for supplying diverse rebel groups, and alleged drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko from a U.S. prisons, Whelan said.
They also want to resume using rural estates in Long Island and Maryland, and the Russian consulate in San Francisco, which were shut by Washington as punishment for Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"There's a reason [Russia] kept my brother. And that was to extract a concession," David Whelan told AFP.
"There are a handful of people that they are interested in seeing released. Viktor Bout has been number one. Konstantin Yaroshenko has been number two."
He said Russia could also be interested in getting back hackers arrested and jailed by the United States, and also a woman, Bogdana Osipova, who was sentenced to prison in Kansas last year for kidnapping after she sent the children she had with her American ex-husband to Russia.
Tit-for-tat case?
A security official in a U.S. auto parts company, Paul Whelan, was arrested and charged with espionage while he was in Russia for a wedding in December 2018.
He allegedly received from a Russian friend a USB thumb drive with Russian state secrets on it.
Whelan, who has visited Russia several times and befriended some Russians, denies spying and said the device contained pictures of churches.
His arrest was initially viewed as a tit-for-tat after the United States arrested Maria Butina in July that year on spying-related charges.
Days before Whelan's arrest, Butina pleaded guilty to illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government, and was given an 18-month sentence, which included the time she had already been held in jail.
She was released and deported in October 2019.
Hostage diplomacy
Since then, David Whelan said, the Russian government has hinted at exchanges in public comments and on Foreign Ministry and other official social media accounts.
"It's hostage diplomacy," he said.
"They take citizens as pawns, and then attempt to extract a concession in exchange for returning the citizen," he said.
He said the U.S. State Department has been deeply critical of his brother's treatment and sentence, but will not say if it is in discussions on some sort of trade.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 550K as Putin Eyes Victory Parade, Constitution Vote

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8 , a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks .
Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic .
President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay on at the Kremlin beyond his current term .
Critics have cast doubt on Russia 's low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting to play down the scale of the crisis .
Russia attributes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing which has identified many cases with mild or no coronavirus symptoms .
The Health Ministry is now adjusting how it reports numbers to include all deaths believed to be related to the virus even if the direct cause of death was another condition or the patient tested negative .
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin , a liberal politician known for his outspoken comments , said Russia 's health system requires more funds and modernization in many regions .
`` Medicine is significantly underfunded even according to the current norms and also it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who heads the Audit Chamber that examines government spending , said in an interview with the state-run TASS state news agency .
`` We will carry out a check and show these figures , '' he added .
Nevertheless the economist said Russia `` is not doing a bad job with the pandemic , '' crediting the role of the military , which has built emergency facilities .

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


themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--Coronavirus-Denying Russian Priest Captures Church With Cossack Fighters

Religious authorities barred Father Sergei , the ultraconservative spiritual leader of the Sredneuralsk women ’ s monastery in central Russia , from public ministry in April for disobeying orders to follow health guidelines .
Monasteries across Russia have been beset by Covid-19 cases amid Russia ’ s outbreak .
A prominent Russian Orthodox priest who was barred from preaching for his anti-coronavirus views has laid siege to a women ’ s monastery , the 66.ru news website reported Tuesday .
Father Sergei chased out the Sredneuralsk monastery ’ s installed leader and set up a perimeter of Cossack fighters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 66.ru .
“ Father Sergei literally removed the mother superior from management , ” the Yekaterinburg diocese told the outlet .
He is now reportedly refusing to let in journalists as well as a priest sent by the local church leadership to replace Mother Superior Varvara , who had led the Sredneuralsk monastery since its founding in 2005 .
“ I ’ m not going anywhere ... they ’ ll have to chase me out with police and the National Guard , ” Father Sergei said Wednesday .
The diocese said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abbesses left the monastery voluntarily “ to avoid unnecessary infighting , to which Father Sergei is prone , and give him a chance to come to his senses , ” Interfax reported .
Religious leaders in Moscow condemned Father Sergei ’ s seizure of the monastery but did not outline steps to recapture it .
“ We hope that someone from his congregation will take stock of the situation and make the right decision not to damage their own security and spiritual well-being , ” he said .
Father Sergei is known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Russian lawmaker and former Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya .
The ex-policeman changed his secular name to Nikolai Romanov , in honor of Russia ’ s last emperor , and previously spent 13 years in prison for murder .
Father Sergei now faces an ecclesiastical court for defying bans on public ministry as well as a secular court on suspicion of inciting hatred .
During its first session this week , Father Sergei accused Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill of betraying the faith .

Religious authorities barred Father Sergei, the ultraconservative spiritual leader of the Sredneuralsk women’s monastery in central Russia, from public ministry in April for disobeying orders to follow health guidelines. Monasteries across Russia have been beset by Covid-19 cases amid Russia’s outbreak.
A prominent Russian Orthodox priest who was barred from preaching for his anti-coronavirus views has laid siege to a women’s monastery, the 66.ru news website reported Tuesday.
Father Sergei chased out the Sredneuralsk monastery’s installed leader and set up a perimeter of Cossack fighters to guard the site, according to Yekaterinburg’s 66.ru.
“Father Sergei literally removed the mother superior from management,” the Yekaterinburg diocese told the outlet.
He is now reportedly refusing to let in journalists as well as a priest sent by the local church leadership to replace Mother Superior Varvara, who had led the Sredneuralsk monastery since its founding in 2005.
“I’m not going anywhere... they’ll have to chase me out with police and the National Guard,” Father Sergei said Wednesday.
The diocese said Mother Superior Varvara and a number of abbesses left the monastery voluntarily “to avoid unnecessary infighting, to which Father Sergei is prone, and give him a chance to come to his senses,” Interfax reported.
Religious leaders in Moscow condemned Father Sergei’s seizure of the monastery but did not outline steps to recapture it.
“His actions entail real violence,” church representative Vakhtang Kipshidze told the Open Media news website.
“We hope that someone from his congregation will take stock of the situation and make the right decision not to damage their own security and spiritual well-being,” he said.
Father Sergei is known as the former confessor of several public figures including Russian lawmaker and former Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya. The ex-policeman changed his secular name to Nikolai Romanov, in honor of Russia’s last emperor, and previously spent 13 years in prison for murder.
Father Sergei now faces an ecclesiastical court for defying bans on public ministry as well as a secular court on suspicion of inciting hatred. During its first session this week, Father Sergei accused Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill of betraying the faith.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--Moscow Breaks 128-Year Heat Record

Moscow Breaks 128-Year Heat Record

Russia ’ s Hydrometeorology Center said that beat the previous record of 30.8 C set on the same day in @ @ @ @ @ The scorching temperature hit at 4 p.m. in the capital .
Moscow experienced its hottest @ @ @ @ @ a century after temperatures hit 31.1 degrees Celsius Wednesday .
Temperatures in Moscow will drop @ @ @ @ @ until the end of the week , the hydrometeorology center said .
The record heat @ @ @ @ @ saw its warmest winter since records began 140 years ago .
2019 was also the @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
Russia is warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of @ @ @ @ @ Russian meteorologists and environmental authorities .

Russia’s Hydrometeorology Center said that beat the previous record of 30.8 C set on the same day in 1892, Interfax reported . The scorching temperature hit at 4 p.m. in the capital.
Moscow experienced its hottest June 17 in more than a century after temperatures hit 31.1 degrees Celsius Wednesday.
Temperatures in Moscow will drop below 20 C from Thursday until the end of the week, the hydrometeorology center said.
The record heat comes after the Russian capital saw its warmest winter since records began 140 years ago.
2019 was also the hottest year ever registered in Russia.
Russia is warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the world, according to Russian meteorologists and environmental authorities.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--Russia Says Has Removed Fuel From River Hit by Arctic Spill

Russia has finished clearing fuel from the surface of a river hit by a massive diesel spill in the Arctic @ @ @ @ @ clean-up could take years , officials said Wednesday .
After more than 700 people were @ @ @ @ @ , officials said the operation had removed the main spill from the surface of the @ @ @ @ @ Ambarnaya .
The Marine Rescue Service told RIA Novosti news agency : `` We have @ @ @ @ @ collecting petroleum products . ''
Krasnoyarsk regional governor Alexander Uss said Wednesday a state of @ @ @ @ @ lifted from Saturday and regional officials would take charge .
`` I imagine it could @ @ @ @ @ task of completely regenerating the territory is completely doable , '' he said .

Russia has finished clearing fuel from the surface of a river hit by a massive diesel spill in the Arctic region, but the full clean-up could take years, officials said Wednesday. After more than 700 people were deployed to clear the pollution, officials said the operation had removed the main spill from the surface of the most-polluted waterway, the River Ambarnaya. The Marine Rescue Service told RIA Novosti news agency: "We have completed the active phase of collecting petroleum products." Krasnoyarsk regional governor Alexander Uss said Wednesday a state of national emergency situation would be lifted from Saturday and regional officials would take charge. "I imagine it could take years, but this task of completely regenerating the territory is completely doable," he said.
More than 21,000 tonnes of diesel leaked into soil and rivers after a fuel reservoir collapsed on May 29 at a power plant near the Siberian city of Norilsk. The accident took place at a power plant owned by a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel, which has said the collapse may have been caused by melting permafrost due to climate change. Greenpeace Russia says it is the first such large-scale spill in the region beyond the Arctic Circle. President Vladimir Putin declared an emergency situation after the accident and the head of Norilsk Nickel, oligarch Vladimir Potanin, promised to pay the costs of the clean-up. The operation involved trapping floating diesel with booms on the water surface. Around 31,000 cubic metres of fuel-polluted water was removed as part of the operation, the emergencies ministry said. Work is continuing to clean smaller waterways, including with the use of sorbents, a material to soak up fuel along the river banks and remove oil residue from surfaces.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-17--U.S. Escorts Russian Nuclear-Capable Bombers Near Alaska, Moscow Says

The U.S. scrambled F-22 Raptors to escort the four Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers during their flight near the Bering Strait , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
U.S. fighter jets intercepted four Russian nuclear-capable bombers off the coast of Alaska for the second time in a week , the Russian military said Wednesday .
The Tu-95MS bombers had been carrying out a planned 11-hour flight across the neutral waters of the Chukchi , Bering and Okhotsk Seas , as well as the northern Pacific Ocean , RIA Novosti cited the Russian military as saying .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raptors intercepted a Tu-95 formation within 20 nautical miles ( 37 kilometers ) of Alaska ’ s coast .
The formation consisted of two Tu-95 bombers , two Su-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft , the North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) said .
The Russian Defense Ministry said on May 29 that two U.S. B-1B bombers had been intercepted by Russian warplanes during a flight over the Black Sea .
The United States maintains an Air Defense Identification Zone off of Alaska which extends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to potentially hostile incursions .

The U.S. scrambled F-22 Raptors to escort the four Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers during their flight near the Bering Strait, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
U.S. fighter jets intercepted four Russian nuclear-capable bombers off the coast of Alaska for the second time in a week, the Russian military said Wednesday.
The Tu-95MS bombers had been carrying out a planned 11-hour flight across the neutral waters of the Chukchi, Bering and Okhotsk Seas, as well as the northern Pacific Ocean, RIA Novosti cited the Russian military as saying.
Last week, the U.S. air defense command said its Raptors intercepted a Tu-95 formation within 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) of Alaska’s coast. The formation consisted of two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on May 29 that two U.S. B-1B bombers had been intercepted by Russian warplanes during a flight over the Black Sea.
The United States maintains an Air Defense Identification Zone off of Alaska which extends beyond national territory to allow for a response to potentially hostile incursions.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Russian Church Issues Ultimatum to Virus-Denying Priest Over Monastery Capture

Father Sergei was reported to have enlisted Cossack fighters as guards — an assertion that they deny — after capturing the Sredneuralsk women ’ s monastery this week .
Religious authorities barred Father Sergei from preaching in April for refusing to follow health guidelines aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus .
An Orthodox diocese in central Russia has warned an ultraconservative priest who denies the existence of the coronavirus to give up his siege of the women ’ s monastery where he is a spiritual leader .
The Yekaterinburg diocese said in a statement Wednesday that Father Sergei 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an ecclesiastical court .
During its first session this week , Father Sergei accused Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill of betraying the faith .
“ Church sacraments will be invalid and graceless should Father Sergei ( Romanov ) perform them in a state of being banned from religious rites , ” the diocese 's statement said .
The diocese noted that Father Sergei continues to defy orders to perform ascetic prayers in a neighboring male monastery .
Mother Superior Varvara and other abbesses voluntarily left the Sredneuralsk monastery “ to avoid unnecessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diocese gave Father Sergei until the next ecclesiastical court date on June 26 to “ rectify and repent ” the situation .
“ I ’ m not going anywhere ... they ’ ll have to chase me out with police and the National Guard , ” Father Sergei had said earlier Wednesday .
The Orenburg Cossack Army has meanwhile denied reports that its official members have been posted around the monastery ’ s perimeter to guard the site .
“ The media reports of Cossacks supporting Father Sergei ( Romanov ) are disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media page .
Father Sergei is known as the former confessor of several public figures including Russian lawmaker and former Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya .
Poklonskaya denied that he is her current confessor and declined to comment on the incident further .
Father Sergei , a former policeman , changed his secular name to Nikolai Romanov in honor of Russia ’ s last emperor and previously spent 13 years in prison for murder .

Father Sergei was reported to have enlisted Cossack fighters as guards — an assertion that they deny — after capturing the Sredneuralsk women’s monastery this week. Religious authorities barred Father Sergei from preaching in April for refusing to follow health guidelines aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.
An Orthodox diocese in central Russia has warned an ultraconservative priest who denies the existence of the coronavirus to give up his siege of the women’s monastery where he is a spiritual leader.
The Yekaterinburg diocese said in a statement Wednesday that Father Sergei's preaching was still subject to the decision of an ecclesiastical court. During its first session this week, Father Sergei accused Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill of betraying the faith.
“Church sacraments will be invalid and graceless should Father Sergei (Romanov) perform them in a state of being banned from religious rites,” the diocese's statement said.
The diocese noted that Father Sergei continues to defy orders to perform ascetic prayers in a neighboring male monastery. Mother Superior Varvara and other abbesses voluntarily left the Sredneuralsk monastery “to avoid unnecessary infighting,” it added.
The diocese gave Father Sergei until the next ecclesiastical court date on June 26 to “rectify and repent” the situation.
“I’m not going anywhere... they’ll have to chase me out with police and the National Guard,” Father Sergei had said earlier Wednesday.
The Orenburg Cossack Army has meanwhile denied reports that its official members have been posted around the monastery’s perimeter to guard the site.
“The media reports of Cossacks supporting Father Sergei (Romanov) are disinformation,” it wrote on its social media page.
Father Sergei is known as the former confessor of several public figures including Russian lawmaker and former Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya. Poklonskaya denied that he is her current confessor and declined to comment on the incident further.
A state-run media correspondent reported witnessing around 100 worshippers at Father Sergei’s service Wednesday, including star hockey player Pavel Datsyuk.
Father Sergei, a former policeman, changed his secular name to Nikolai Romanov in honor of Russia’s last emperor and previously spent 13 years in prison for murder.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--German Prosecutors Accuse Russia Over 'Contract Killing' of Georgian Man

`` At an unknown date before 18 July 2019 , the accused received the order from authorities at the central government of the Russian Federation to liquidate the Georgian national of Chechen origin , Tornike K. , '' said federal prosecutors in a statement that named the killer as Vadim K. , alias Vadim S. The victim , a former Chechen commander , was shot twice in the head at close range in Kleiner Tiergarten park , which lies minutes away from the German parliament and chancellery .
Riding a bicycle , the suspect approached the man from behind , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a silencer at the side of Tornike K. 's torso , German prosecutors said .
After the victim fell to the ground , the accused fired another two shots at his head that killed the Georgian on the spot .
In an immediate reaction to the charges filed by the prosecutors , Chancellor Angela Merkel 's government said it could take further action against Russia .
`` The government reserves the right to take further steps , '' a spokesman said in a statement , adding that Berlin took the case `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said his ministry `` has today again called in the Russian ambassador to once again make our position clear to the Russian side . ''
The Tiergarten assassination has been likened to the attempted killing of Skripal with a Soviet-era nerve agent , which plunged relations between London and Moscow into a deep freeze .
Germany in December kicked out two Russian diplomats after prosecutors said preliminary investigations suggested that Moscow could be behind the killing .
Calling Germany 's accusations against Moscow `` groundless and hostile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tit-for-tat move .
Russian President Vladimir Putin had described the victim as a `` fighter , very cruel and bloody '' who has fought with separatists against Russian 's forces in the Caucasus and also been involved in bombing attacks on the Moscow metro .
Moscow has also said it had been seeking his extradition .
Investigative website Bellingcat named the suspect as 54-year-old Vadim Krasikov , who grew up in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union before moving to Siberia .

"At an unknown date before 18 July 2019, the accused received the order from authorities at the central government of the Russian Federation to liquidate the Georgian national of Chechen origin, Tornike K.," said federal prosecutors in a statement that named the killer as Vadim K., alias Vadim S.
The victim, a former Chechen commander, was shot twice in the head at close range in Kleiner Tiergarten park, which lies minutes away from the German parliament and chancellery.
Riding a bicycle, the suspect approached the man from behind, firing a Glock 26 pistol equipped with a silencer at the side of Tornike K.'s torso, German prosecutors said.
After the victim fell to the ground, the accused fired another two shots at his head that killed the Georgian on the spot.
In an immediate reaction to the charges filed by the prosecutors, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government said it could take further action against Russia.
"The government reserves the right to take further steps," a spokesman said in a statement, adding that Berlin took the case "very seriously."
Speaking in Vienna, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said his ministry "has today again called in the Russian ambassador to once again make our position clear to the Russian side."
'Outrageous'
The Tiergarten assassination has been likened to the attempted killing of Skripal with a Soviet-era nerve agent, which plunged relations between London and Moscow into a deep freeze.
Germany in December kicked out two Russian diplomats after prosecutors said preliminary investigations suggested that Moscow could be behind the killing.
Calling Germany's accusations against Moscow "groundless and hostile," Russia expelled two German diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had described the victim as a "fighter, very cruel and bloody" who has fought with separatists against Russian's forces in the Caucasus and also been involved in bombing attacks on the Moscow metro.
Moscow has also said it had been seeking his extradition.
Investigative website Bellingcat named the suspect as 54-year-old Vadim Krasikov, who grew up in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union before moving to Siberia.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Russia Says 489 Medics Died From Coronavirus

`` 489 — that is medics , unfortunately we have lost almost 500 of our colleagues , '' the Roszdravnadzor watchdog chief Alla Samoilova said at an online conference , TASS state news agency reported .
Nearly 500 Russian medics who tested positive for the coronavirus have died , the head of the state health watchdog said Thursday , a far higher figure than given before .
Previously a Health Ministry official on May 26 gave a confirmed death toll of 101 .
The new toll is even higher than that given by an independent website set up by medics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ List , which lists 444 deaths .
President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged problems in supplying personal protective equipment to medics .
Samoilova also cited this as a factor .
`` If I 'm being honest , there were issues at the start , there were some shortcomings , '' she said .
She added , however , that `` today we practically do n't receive complaints ... that medics are n't supplied with PPE or do n't get tested ( for the virus ) . ''
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month that `` medicine is significantly underfunded . ''
Russia has reported a total of 7,660 deaths from coronavirus , counting only cases where the virus was listed as the main cause of death .
The total number of confirmed cases in Russia is 561,091 , including 7,790 over the last 24 hours , a figure that has fallen over this month .

"489 — that is medics, unfortunately we have lost almost 500 of our colleagues," Roszdravnadzor watchdog chief Alla Samoilova said at an online conference on safety for medics organized by her agency.
Nearly 500 Russian medics who tested positive for the coronavirus have died, the head of the state health watchdog said Thursday, a far higher figure than given before.
Previously a Health Ministry official on May 26 gave a death toll of 101.
Samoilova's agency later backtracked, with its press service saying in a statement sent to Russian news agencies that the figure she gave was "not official" and was based on "data circulating on the internet."
An independent website set up by medics where colleagues report deaths, the Remembrance List, lists 444 deaths among health workers in Russia.
"Could we have done something more for prevention (of medics' deaths)? Probably yes," Samoilova said.
President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged problems in supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to medics.
Samoilova also cited this as a factor, while stressing the situation is now much better.
"The country wasn't ready, there was too little PPE," she said.
"If I'm being honest, there were issues at the start, there were some shortcomings."
"Far from all (hospital) heads... supplied workers with PPE. Sometimes there simply wasn't any, there weren't any deliveries. There was this problem."
However she added that "as of today we practically don't receive complaints that medics don't have supplies of PPE, that medics don't get tested."
The watchdog chief also said there was initially "a low level of epidemiological safety" in medical facilities hastily adapted for coronavirus patients.
"It wasn't always possible to separate red zones" for infected patients as hospitals departments were reorganized, she said.
"What did the pandemic teach us? It taught us that we have to create a safety culture among medics," she said.
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, now head of the Audit Chamber, said this month that "medicine is significantly underfunded."
Hospitals had "outdated" buildings and lacked equipment and drugs, Samoilova said.
"There were no ventilators, oxygen supply systems weren't always hooked up, there weren't enough medicines," she added.
"Today the system looks completely different."
Samoilova praised medics who she said "even in this situation showed themselves to be heroes."
"They immediately threw themselves into the red zones, not thinking that they could get sick, that they could lose their lives."
Russia has reported a total of 7,660 deaths from coronavirus, counting only cases where the virus was listed as the main cause of death.
It has the world's third-highest number of confirmed cases with 561,091, including 7,790 over the last 24 hours, a figure that has fallen over this month.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--France Arrests 6 Chechens in Raids After Unrest

From Friday to Monday , Dijon was rocked by clashes and vehicle burnings after an assault this month on a 16-year-old Chechen boy that prompted other members of the community to stage reprisal raids .
French police on Thursday detained six members of the Chechen community on suspicion of taking part in successive nights of violence that rocked the eastern city of Dijon , prosecutors said .
Scenes of unrest carried out by hooded men brandishing guns or clubs shocked the country and raised questions over whether security forces had been too passive .
Police carried out early morning raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor Eric Mathais said .
A source close to the inquiry , asking not to be named , said the arrests were made at five locations across France , including Dijon .
Those detained are already known to police and include a man suspected of being behind the first appeal on social networks for organized reprisals , sources said .
Chechens had reportedly traveled to Dijon from all over France and even from neighbouring Belgium and Germany to take part .
The violence focused on the low-income district of Gresilles , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Africa .
Chechens involved in the events have told French media they were targeting drug dealers of North African origin .
But residents of Gresilles have said that they felt abandoned by the security forces and went out on the street only to defend themselves .
`` I have nothing to hide .
Yes , I took up a stick , but to defend my family , '' Malik , a father of three children , told AFP .
`` The police did nothing .
We were abandoned so I acted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the French authorities vowed a tough response and sent police reinforcements , and the past two nights have been calm .
Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim Russian republic in the North Caucasus .
Two wars in the 1990s triggered a wave of emigration , with many Chechens heading for western Europe .
More Chechens have flowed into exile in recent years because of opposition to the strongman pro-Kremlin leader of the region Ramzan Kadyrov , accused by rights activists of multiple violations .
There are no precise figures on the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included with other Russian passport holders .
As well as in eastern France , there are communities in Paris and around the southern Mediterranean city of Nice .
The daily Le Parisien cited the father of the teen whose assault sparked the violence as saying the family had `` asked for nothing , '' but several people `` we do not know '' came to Dijon of their own accord .
`` Their reaction was too strong , '' he said , urging calm .

From Friday to Monday, Dijon was rocked by clashes and vehicle burnings after an assault this month on a 16-year-old Chechen boy that prompted other members of the community to stage reprisal raids.
French police on Thursday detained six members of the Chechen community on suspicion of taking part in successive nights of violence that rocked the eastern city of Dijon, prosecutors said.
Scenes of unrest carried out by hooded men brandishing guns or clubs shocked the country and raised questions over whether security forces had been too passive.
Police carried out early morning raids at several addresses across France, regional prosecutor Eric Mathais said.
A source close to the inquiry, asking not to be named, said the arrests were made at five locations across France, including Dijon.
Those detained are already known to police and include a man suspected of being behind the first appeal on social networks for organized reprisals, sources said.
Chechens had reportedly traveled to Dijon from all over France and even from neighboring Belgium and Germany to take part.
The violence focused on the low-income district of Gresilles, which has a large community of people originally from North Africa.
Chechens involved in the events have told French media they were targeting drug dealers of North African origin.
But residents of Gresilles have said that they felt abandoned by the security forces and went out on the street only to defend themselves.
"I have nothing to hide. Yes, I took up a stick, but to defend my family," Malik, a father of three children, told AFP. "The police did nothing. We were abandoned so I acted."
Criticized for not taking action sooner, the French authorities vowed a tough response and sent police reinforcements, and the past two nights have been calm.
Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim Russian republic in the North Caucasus. Two wars in the 1990s triggered a wave of emigration, with many Chechens heading for western Europe.
More Chechens have flowed into exile in recent years because of opposition to the strongman pro-Kremlin leader of the region Ramzan Kadyrov, accused by rights activists of multiple violations.
There are no precise figures on the number of Chechens living in France as they are included with other Russian passport holders. As well as in eastern France, there are communities in Paris and around the southern Mediterranean city of Nice.
The daily Le Parisien cited the father of the teen whose assault sparked the violence as saying the family had "asked for nothing," but several people "we do not know" came to Dijon of their own accord.
"Their reaction was too strong," he said, urging calm.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Yemen Separatists Seize $225M in Russian-Printed Cash

Forces loyal to a council that declared self-rule in southern Yemen ’ s port of Aden in April commandeered the cash convoy leaving the port , Reuters cited Yemen ’ s central bank as saying Saturday .
The seizure threatens the nominal alliance between Aden ’ s separatists and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in a war against rebels linked to Iran , which the UN calls the world ’ s largest humanitarian crisis .
Separatists in southern Yemen have seized 64 billion riyals ( $ 255 million ) in banknotes that Russia had printed for the country ’ s central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The incident did take place in the southern Yemeni capital city of Aden , ” Interfax quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying at a press briefing .
Zakharova said Russia ’ s Goznak , one of the world ’ s largest printers of banknotes and coins , has been printing money for Yemen ’ s government as part of a commercial contract signed in 2017 .
An unnamed Yemeni government source , in comments to Reuters , called the seizure “ piracy.
” The separatists said it was “ part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption ” and financing terrorism with public money .
Last month , Malta seized $ 1.1 billion worth of currency printed by Goznak destined for Libya .
The U.S. State Department said it “ commended ” the move while Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry denied the countries ’ claims that the money was counterfeit .
In its denial , the Foreign Ministry noted that Libya has two central banks because the country has two de-facto governments .
A Saudi-led coalition and Yemen 's internationally recognized government have been at war for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control much of the north including the capital Sanaa .
Separatists in the south , which used to be an independent country , have repeatedly agitated to break away again — a campaign that was temporarily put to rest with a power-sharing , coalition-sponsored deal signed in Riyadh last November .
But the Southern Transitional Council ( STC ) declared self-rule in southern Yemen on April 26 , accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of `` conspiring '' against the separatists ' cause .

Forces loyal to a council that declared self-rule in southern Yemen’s port of Aden in April commandeered the cash convoy leaving the port, Reuters cited Yemen’s central bank as saying Saturday. The seizure threatens the nominal alliance between Aden’s separatists and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in a war against rebels linked to Iran, which the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Separatists in southern Yemen have seized 64 billion riyals ($255 million) in banknotes that Russia had printed for the country’s central bank, Moscow confirmed Wednesday.
“The incident did take place in the southern Yemeni capital city of Aden,” Interfax quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying at a press briefing.
Zakharova said Russia’s Goznak, one of the world’s largest printers of banknotes and coins, has been printing money for Yemen’s government as part of a commercial contract signed in 2017.
An unnamed Yemeni government source, in comments to Reuters, called the seizure “piracy.” The separatists said it was “part of several measures to end sources of corruption” and financing terrorism with public money.
Last month, Malta seized $1.1 billion worth of currency printed by Goznak destined for Libya. The U.S. State Department said it “commended” the move while Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied the countries’ claims that the money was counterfeit.
In its denial, the Foreign Ministry noted that Libya has two central banks because the country has two de-facto governments.
A Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's internationally recognized government have been at war for the past five years against Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control much of the north including the capital Sanaa.
Separatists in the south, which used to be an independent country, have repeatedly agitated to break away again — a campaign that was temporarily put to rest with a power-sharing, coalition-sponsored deal signed in Riyadh last November.
But the Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self-rule in southern Yemen on April 26, accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of "conspiring" against the separatists' cause.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Kazakh Ex-President Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Nazarbayev , 79 , stepped down last year after almost 30 years in power in the oil-rich Central Asian nation @ @ @ @ @ and party leader positions while handpicking a loyalist as his successor .
As a former @ @ @ @ @ close ties with Moscow .
Kazakhstan ’ s ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev has tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ announced Thursday .
“ The first president of Kazakhstan is currently in self-isolation .
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus infection showed a positive result , ” Nazarbayev ’ s press service said @ @ @ @ @ no cause for concern .
Nursultan Nazarbayev continues to work remotely , ” it added @ @ @ @ @ the second post-Soviet leader to become infected with coronavirus .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan @ @ @ @ @ early June , while the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was hospitalized with the @ @ @ @

Nazarbayev, 79, stepped down last year after almost 30 years in power in the oil-rich Central Asian nation, retaining key security council and party leader positions while handpicking a loyalist as his successor. As a former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan maintains close ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan’s ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev has tested positive for coronavirus, his press service announced Thursday.
“The first president of Kazakhstan is currently in self-isolation. Unfortunately, his last test for the coronavirus infection showed a positive result,” Nazarbayev’s press service said.
“There’s no cause for concern. Nursultan Nazarbayev continues to work remotely,” it added.
Nazarbayev is at least the second post-Soviet leader to become infected with coronavirus.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tested positive for Covid-19 in early June, while the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was hospitalized with the infection this week.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Massive Vote-Buying Campaign Claimed Ahead of Vote on Putin’s Term Limits – Report

Russians will begin voting next Thursday , ahead of the July 1 nationwide vote , on a set of constitutional amendments that include social guarantees and a clause resetting Putin ’ s term limits .
Early voting is already underway in some regions due to the coronavirus pandemic , while Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region will allow online voting to prevent the virus ' spread .
A potentially massive online vote-buying campaign is unfolding ahead of Russia ’ s vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036 , the independent Dozhd news channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handing out batches of SIM cards and databases of elderly Moscow residents that can be used to register them for the online vote , according to a Dozhd journalist who obtained 25 SIM cards and part of the database .
The WhatsApp admins offer to pay 75 rubles ( $ 1 ) for each account registered on the Moscow mayor ’ s office website and 50 rubles ( $ 0.70 ) for each vote in favor of the amendments , Dozhd reported .
“ Given that a trained operator can register up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been running for more than six months , [ the vote-buying scheme could involve ] tens of thousands of registered voting participants , ” it said .
Moscow authorities say that nearly 700,000 people have registered to vote as of Monday .
Artyom Kostyrko , deputy chief of the Moscow mayor ’ s office IT department that developed the e-vote , told Dozhd that the system is secure from “ illegal actions.
” Election officials have vowed to ensure that the vote is carried out without violations and in compliance with health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
Police sought to take the journalist , Anton Bayev , to the station after midnight Thursday to obtain testimony after receiving an anonymous tip on a criminal voting-rights violation , Dozhd reported .
The Moscow election commission said it contacted the police in connection with the vote-buying report .
The officers left after Bayev provided testimony on site .
A report by the independent election-monitoring group Golos blasted the nationwide vote for failing to protect voting rights , ensure impartiality during the campaign period and protect basic civil rights , Interfax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many citizens are ready to openly declare attempts to force them to vote ” during the campaign because of the “ radical ” expansion of early and remote-voting opportunities amid Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
Golos accused state bodies and election commissions of launching a “ large-scale campaign in support of adopting the amendments under the guise of public information .
”

Russians will begin voting next Thursday, ahead of the July 1 nationwide vote, on a set of constitutional amendments that include social guarantees and a clause resetting Putin’s term limits. Early voting is already underway in some regions due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region will allow online voting to prevent the virus' spread.
A potentially massive online vote-buying campaign is unfolding ahead of Russia’s vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036, the independent Dozhd news channel reported Wednesday.
WhatsApp group admins are handing out batches of SIM cards and databases of elderly Moscow residents that can be used to register them for the online vote, according to a Dozhd journalist who obtained 25 SIM cards and part of the database.
The WhatsApp admins offer to pay 75 rubles ($1) for each account registered on the Moscow mayor’s office website and 50 rubles ($0.70) for each vote in favor of the amendments, Dozhd reported.
“Given that a trained operator can register up to 50 accounts per day and the campaign has been running for more than six months, [the vote-buying scheme could involve] tens of thousands of registered voting participants,” it said.
Moscow authorities say that nearly 700,000 people have registered to vote as of Monday.
Artyom Kostyrko, deputy chief of the Moscow mayor’s office IT department that developed the e-vote, told Dozhd that the system is secure from “illegal actions.”
Election officials have vowed to ensure that the vote is carried out without violations and in compliance with health protocols in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Police sought to take the journalist, Anton Bayev, to the station after midnight Thursday to obtain testimony after receiving an anonymous tip on a criminal voting-rights violation, Dozhd reported. The Moscow election commission said it contacted the police in connection with the vote-buying report.
The officers left after Bayev provided testimony on site.
A report by the independent election-monitoring group Golos blasted the nationwide vote for failing to protect voting rights, ensure impartiality during the campaign period and protect basic civil rights, Interfax reported.
The NGO noted that “many citizens are ready to openly declare attempts to force them to vote” during the campaign because of the “radical” expansion of early and remote-voting opportunities amid Russia’s coronavirus outbreak.
Golos accused state bodies and election commissions of launching a “large-scale campaign in support of adopting the amendments under the guise of public information.”


themoscowtimes--2020-06-18--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 560K

Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 560K