themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories Flourish in Russia’s Republic of North Ossetia

Only days after Cheldiev ’ s supporters took to the streets , North Ossetia ’ s Covid-19 outbreak began to spin out of control .
By mid-May , it had the most confirmed cases per head in the entire North Caucasus .
Outside Vladikavkaz , a cellular mast was burnt down , an act linked by Bitarov to the debunked conspiracy theory that 5G mobile technology caused the coronavirus .
In a video message broadcast to his followers before the rally , Cheldiev railed against the “ non-existent coronavirus ” as part of a government plot to “ enslave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local celebrity , Cheldiev is the face of North Ossetia ’ s so-called “ Covid dissidents , ” a movement that has become notorious in the republic for spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus .
Not all of those present believed him .
While the demonstration had drawn a broad spectrum of North Ossetian society with various grievances onto Freedom Square , it had been called by Vadim Cheldiev .
The situation was serious enough to bring the head of the republic , Vyacheslav Bitarov , out onto the street to negotiate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime imposed weeks before to combat the tiny autonomous region ’ s escalating coronavirus outbreak , demonstrators reeled off their demands : an end to lockdown , emergency financial support , the resignation of the regional government .
On April 20 , around 2,000 protesters gathered in Freedom Square in the heart of Vladikavkaz , the sleepy capital of Russia ’ s mountainous North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia .
Though the coronavirus pandemic has nurtured conspiracy theories all over the world , many North Ossetians blame the prominence of local Covid dissidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooted conspiracy culture championed by Cheldiev — the Soviet Citizens .
Soviet Citizens is an ex-U.S.S.R-wide movement believing that , because of a 1991 referendum in which a majority of the Soviet electorate voted for the preservation of the U.S.S.R. , the Soviet Union still legally exists , and that they are citizens of it .
They consider the Russian Federation to be a private offshore company registered in the U.S. state of Delaware , controlled by the U.S. government and illegally occupying the rightful territory of the Soviet Union .
Not considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Citizens have organised themselves into parallel government structures that mimic old Soviet institutions .
The head of the “ Politburo , ” a retired Moscow surveyor named Valentina Reunova , commands her own KGB , finance and justice ministries .
With local organisations in all but two Russian regions , Soviet Citizens nationwide can receive government decrees via Reunova 's YouTube channel , which has 51,500 subscribers .
North Ossetia , where nostalgia for the U.S.S.R. runs deep , is a particular stronghold for the Soviet Citizens .
Aside from Cheldiev , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in 2019 local TV reported that the North Ossetian branch — which calls itself the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and operates out of Vladikavkaz — had 1,200 members in a republic of only 700,000 .
According to Ruslan Totrov , editor of the independent Vladikavkaz news site OsNova , much of the Soviet Citizens ’ appeal in the region stems from North Ossetia ’ s experience under Soviet rule .
Having avoided the deportation and oppression suffered by their Muslim neighbours during the Soviet period , the predominantly Christian inhabitants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having benefitted from a close relationship with Moscow .
An enduring affection for Stalin also helps .
The Soviet leader , born in neighbouring Georgia , is widely believed to have been of at least partial Ossetian ancestry , and the republic has over twenty monuments to the dictator , many recently erected .
“ Stalinism is a religious phenomenon in Ossetia , ” said Totrov .
Soviet citizenship also has economic appeal in the impoverished region .
Harking back to the U.S.S.R. ’ s paternalistic welfare policies , Soviet Citizens refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while claiming they are entitled to free housing and higher pensions .
One Vladikavkaz energy company has reported receiving two or three letters a week from Soviet Citizens refusing to pay their bills .
As the coronavirus crisis has escalated , Soviet Citizens in North Ossetia and nationwide have thrown their weight behind various pandemic conspiracy theories without taking a unified position on whether the coronavirus actually exists .
On social media , Soviet Citizens accounts have claimed the coronavirus is fake , that it is a U.S. government bioweapon and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Bill Gates and George Soros as part of a plot to take over the world .
Such content often appears next to more traditional conspiracy tropes , such as anti-Semitic conspiracy theories , fears of a New World Order and even with U.S right-wing Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy theories promoted by some Donald Trump supporters .
According to Mike Wood , a researcher on conspiracy theories who has lectured at Britain ’ s University of Winchester , this is typical of conspiracy theorists .
“ The biggest predictor of belief in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other conspiracy theories .
That means conspiracy theories tend to be eclectic , borrowing from each other quite freely , ” Wood said .
One Vladikavkaz Soviet Citizen , who spoke to The Moscow Times by phone under condition of anonymity , said she believes coronavirus is an artificial bioweapon likely genetically engineered by global elites to control the population .
“ Ultimately , it ’ s Israel that ’ s doing all this , ” she said .
Though the Soviet Citizens are an extreme fringe group , local observers stress their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s celebrity status — in spreading Covid-19 conspiracy theories in North Ossetian society more generally .
“ Most Covid dissidents are not Soviet Citizens , ” said Totrov .
“ But they were the first people to start talking about these ideas , and did make a big contribution to making them so popular.
” However , Indira Gabolaeva , a prominent activist and member of the small , hardline Stalinist Communists of Russia party , suggested that the causes of North Ossetia ’ s coronavirus conspiracies run much deeper .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media is lying , so when they started warning about the dangers of the coronavirus , they refused to believe in that , too , ” she said .
In any case , the North Ossetian authorities do appear to be treating the Soviet Citizens as a serious threat .
They arrested Cheldiev on charges of incitement to violence for his role in the Vladikavkaz protest , and he has since been added to the Russian security services ’ list of dangerous extremists .
With several protesters currently being prosecuted , Totrov suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Citizens , under new legislation criminalising Covid-19 fake news , introduced in April .
Even so , some doubt that criminalising conspiracy theorists will be enough to solve the problem .
“ In North Ossetia , we have much greater freedom of speech than in the rest of the North Caucasus , ” says Alik Pukhaev , a Vladikavkaz blogger .
“ But we also have very high levels of distrust towards the government.
” “ Caucasian soil is just very fertile ground for conspiracy theories .
”

Only days after Cheldiev’s supporters took to the streets, North Ossetia’s Covid-19 outbreak began to spin out of control. By mid-May, it had the most confirmed cases per head in the entire North Caucasus.
Outside Vladikavkaz, a cellular mast was burnt down, an act linked by Bitarov to the debunked conspiracy theory that 5G mobile technology caused the coronavirus.
In a video message broadcast to his followers before the rally, Cheldiev railed against the “non-existent coronavirus” as part of a government plot to “enslave the people.”
An opera singer and longtime local celebrity, Cheldiev is the face of North Ossetia’s so-called “Covid dissidents,” a movement that has become notorious in the republic for spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus.
Not all of those present believed him. While the demonstration had drawn a broad spectrum of North Ossetian society with various grievances onto Freedom Square, it had been called by Vadim Cheldiev.
The situation was serious enough to bring the head of the republic, Vyacheslav Bitarov, out onto the street to negotiate with the protesters himself.
Flouting the self-isolation regime imposed weeks before to combat the tiny autonomous region’s escalating coronavirus outbreak, demonstrators reeled off their demands: an end to lockdown, emergency financial support, the resignation of the regional government.
On April 20, around 2,000 protesters gathered in Freedom Square in the heart of Vladikavkaz, the sleepy capital of Russia’s mountainous North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia.
Though the coronavirus pandemic has nurtured conspiracy theories all over the world, many North Ossetians blame the prominence of local Covid dissidents on a much older and more deeply rooted conspiracy culture championed by Cheldiev — the Soviet Citizens.
Soviet Citizens is an ex-U.S.S.R-wide movement believing that, because of a 1991 referendum in which a majority of the Soviet electorate voted for the preservation of the U.S.S.R., the Soviet Union still legally exists, and that they are citizens of it. They consider the Russian Federation to be a private offshore company registered in the U.S. state of Delaware, controlled by the U.S. government and illegally occupying the rightful territory of the Soviet Union.
Not considering themselves bound by Russian laws, Soviet Citizens have organized themselves into parallel government structures that mimic old Soviet institutions. The head of the “Politburo,” a retired Moscow surveyor named Valentina Reunova, commands her own KGB, finance and justice ministries. With local organizations in all but two Russian regions, Soviet Citizens nationwide can receive government decrees via Reunova's YouTube channel, which has 51,500 subscribers.
North Ossetia, where nostalgia for the U.S.S.R. runs deep, is a particular stronghold for the Soviet Citizens. Aside from Cheldiev, who publicly announced his membership earlier this year, in 2019 local TV reported that the North Ossetian branch — which calls itself the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and operates out of Vladikavkaz — had 1,200 members in a republic of only 700,000.
According to Ruslan Totrov, editor of the independent Vladikavkaz news site OsNova, much of the Soviet Citizens’ appeal in the region stems from North Ossetia’s experience under Soviet rule. Having avoided the deportation and oppression suffered by their Muslim neighbours during the Soviet period, the predominantly Christian inhabitants of the region often see themselves as having benefitted from a close relationship with Moscow.
An enduring affection for Stalin also helps. The Soviet leader, born in neighbouring Georgia, is widely believed to have been of at least partial Ossetian ancestry, and the republic has over twenty monuments to the dictator, many recently erected.
“Stalinism is a religious phenomenon in Ossetia,” said Totrov.
Soviet citizenship also has economic appeal in the impoverished region. Harking back to the U.S.S.R.’s paternalistic welfare policies, Soviet Citizens refuse to pay utility bills, taxes or fines, while claiming they are entitled to free housing and higher pensions. One Vladikavkaz energy company has reported receiving two or three letters a week from Soviet Citizens refusing to pay their bills.
Escalating crisis
As the coronavirus crisis has escalated, Soviet Citizens in North Ossetia and nationwide have thrown their weight behind various pandemic conspiracy theories without taking a unified position on whether the coronavirus actually exists.
On social media, Soviet Citizens accounts have claimed the coronavirus is fake, that it is a U.S. government bioweapon and that it is being orchestrated by powerful figures such as Bill Gates and George Soros as part of a plot to take over the world.
Such content often appears next to more traditional conspiracy tropes, such as anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, fears of a New World Order and even with U.S right-wing Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy theories promoted by some Donald Trump supporters.
According to Mike Wood, a researcher on conspiracy theories who has lectured at Britain’s University of Winchester, this is typical of conspiracy theorists.
“The biggest predictor of belief in any given conspiracy theory is belief in other conspiracy theories. That means conspiracy theories tend to be eclectic, borrowing from each other quite freely,” Wood said.
One Vladikavkaz Soviet Citizen, who spoke to The Moscow Times by phone under condition of anonymity, said she believes coronavirus is an artificial bioweapon likely genetically engineered by global elites to control the population.
“Ultimately, it’s Israel that’s doing all this,” she said.
Fertile ground
Though the Soviet Citizens are an extreme fringe group, local observers stress their role — bolstered by Vadim Cheldiev’s celebrity status — in spreading Covid-19 conspiracy theories in North Ossetian society more generally.
“Most Covid dissidents are not Soviet Citizens,” said Totrov. “But they were the first people to start talking about these ideas, and did make a big contribution to making them so popular.”
However, Indira Gabolaeva, a prominent activist and member of the small, hardline Stalinist Communists of Russia party, suggested that the causes of North Ossetia’s coronavirus conspiracies run much deeper.
“A lot of people here always assume the media is lying, so when they started warning about the dangers of the coronavirus, they refused to believe in that, too,” she said.
In any case, the North Ossetian authorities do appear to be treating the Soviet Citizens as a serious threat.
They arrested Cheldiev on charges of incitement to violence for his role in the Vladikavkaz protest, and he has since been added to the Russian security services’ list of dangerous extremists. With several protesters currently being prosecuted, Totrov suggested this might herald a wider crackdown on Soviet Citizens, under new legislation criminalizing Covid-19 fake news, introduced in April.
Even so, some doubt that criminalizing conspiracy theorists will be enough to solve the problem.
“In North Ossetia, we have much greater freedom of speech than in the rest of the North Caucasus,” says Alik Pukhaev, a Vladikavkaz blogger. “But we also have very high levels of distrust towards the government.”
“Caucasian soil is just very fertile ground for conspiracy theories.”


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Developers Hail Self-Administered Russian Vaccine’s Success

Scientists at the Gamalei Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology “ aren ’ t so much testing as protecting themselves to continue working , ” its head Alexander Ginzburg told the news agency .
The Russian developers of a coronavirus vaccine have developed immunity to the infection after self-administering it , Interfax reported Friday .
“ Everyone ’ s alive , healthy and happy , ” Ginzburg said when asked if the vaccine developers experienced any side effects .
“ As such , everyone involved in development is protected.
” Ginzburg did not say how many people took the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response .
He identified the test subjects only as a “ wide range ” of developers , preclinical researchers and technologists .
The research center is awaiting the results of monkey trials in order to seek permission from the Health Ministry to begin clinical trials on humans , Ginzburg said .
Russia ’ s health minister said last week that a Covid-19 vaccine would be available as soon as late July .
U.S. officials hope to develop one by the first half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccines .
World Health Organization data estimates that more than 100 draft vaccines were in development worldwide as of late April .
With 326,448 reported infections , Russia has the world ’ s second-highest number of coronavirus cases behind the United States .

Scientists at the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology “aren’t so much testing as protecting themselves to continue working,” its head Alexander Gintsburg told the news agency.
The Russian developers of a coronavirus vaccine have developed immunity to the infection after self-administering it, Interfax reported Friday.
“Everyone’s alive, healthy and happy,” Gintsburg said when asked if the vaccine developers experienced any side effects. “As such, everyone involved in development is protected.”
Gintsburg did not say how many people took the vaccine, which uses a weakened virus to deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response. He identified the test subjects only as a “wide range” of developers, preclinical researchers and technologists.
The research center is awaiting the results of monkey trials in order to seek permission from the Health Ministry to begin clinical trials on humans, Gintsburg said.
Russia’s health minister said last week that a Covid-19 vaccine would be available as soon as late July. U.S. officials hope to develop one by the first half of 2021.
Russia is currently developing 47 coronavirus vaccines. World Health Organization data estimates that more than 100 draft vaccines were in development worldwide as of late April.
With 326,448 reported infections, Russia has the world’s second-highest number of coronavirus cases behind the United States.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--1 in 3 Russian Medics Told to Doctor Coronavirus Data – Poll

One in three Russian doctors who treat coronavirus patients have been told to change how they report cases , according to a survey cited by the Meduza news website Thursday amid questions over Russia ’ s low Covid-19 death toll .
More than one-third of the respondents said they had been instructed to label pneumonia caused by Covid-19 as a different disease .
“ This practice lets one adjust the incidence and mortality rates , ” the outlet wrote .
Russia has the world ’ s second-highest number of coronavirus cases with 326,448 as of Thursday , and a death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the United States , that figure is 27.61 per 100,000 Americans , while Britain 's death rate sits at 52.45 per 100,000 people .
Moscow civil registry data showed 18 % more fatalities in April 2020 than the average April mortality total over the past decade .
Facing the suggestion that the excess deaths could be linked to Covid-19 , city health officials said 60 % of its coronavirus patients died from vascular accidents , malignant diseases , organ failure and incurable deadly diseases .
Authorities have denied under-reporting the numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lessons from the experiences of western Europe since the pandemic came later to Russia .
Russia counts deaths of coronavirus-positive patients toward its total if pathologists say the virus directly caused their deaths .

One in three Russian doctors who treat coronavirus patients have been told to change how they report cases, according to a survey cited by the Meduza news website Thursday amid questions over Russia’s low Covid-19 death toll.
More than one-third of the respondents said they had been instructed to label pneumonia caused by Covid-19 as a different disease.
“This practice lets one adjust the incidence and mortality rates,” the outlet wrote.
Russia has the world’s second-highest number of coronavirus cases with 326,448 as of Thursday, and a death rate of 1.88 per 100,000 Russians. In the United States, that figure is 27.61 per 100,000 Americans, while Britain's death rate sits at 52.45 per 100,000 people.
Moscow civil registry data showed 18% more fatalities in April 2020 than the average April mortality total over the past decade. Facing the suggestion that the excess deaths could be linked to Covid-19, city health officials said 60% of its coronavirus patients died from vascular accidents, malignant diseases, organ failure and incurable deadly diseases.
Authorities have denied under-reporting the numbers, saying that Russia was able to learn lessons from the experiences of western Europe since the pandemic came later to Russia.
Russia counts deaths of coronavirus-positive patients toward its total if pathologists say the virus directly caused their deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Ramzan Kadyrov: Putin's Feared Chechen Strongman

He has taken a characteristically high-handed approach to the coronavirus , calling doctors in the region who complained of a lack of protective equipment `` provocateurs '' who should be fired .
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov , who was on Thursday reportedly being treated for coronavirus in Moscow , went from rebel fighter to Russian President Vladimir Putin 's fearsome enforcer , bringing his war-scarred region to heel with an iron-fisted rule .
Russian agency reports on Thursday said the Chechen leader , whose rule rights group say has seen torture and killings , is suspected of having the infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for treatment .
The 43-year-old calls himself the Kremlin 's `` foot soldier '' but is widely thought to enjoy carte blanche from Moscow , which turns a blind eye to heavy-handed tactics in his North Caucasus fiefdom in exchange for loyalty .
Kadyrov rose to power in the wake of the murder of his father — regional leader Akhmat Kadyrov — with the backing of Putin .
Akhmat Kadyrov was killed when a bomb tore through the stand at Grozny 's main football stadium as he oversaw World War II victory commemorations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had fought against Moscow during the first bloody separatist conflict in Chechnya from 1994-96 but switched sides to support the Kremlin when it launched a second war there in 1999 under the watch of then-Prime Minister Putin .
Kadyrov has always been effusive in his praise for Putin who has described him in turn as a `` son . ''
He firmly turned his back on independence and in return his majority-Muslim homeland has in recent years seen intense reconstruction efforts bankrolled by Moscow .
`` If it were n't for Putin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in one interview .
Since taking over at the helm in Chechnya , Kadyrov — who was officially appointed the region 's president in 2007 after turning 30 — has ruthlessly looked to stamp out a lingering Islamist rebellion , and any forms of dissent .
Doctors who complained of a lack of protective equipment last week were filmed retracting their statements by a TV channel loyal to Kadyrov — a common approach to critics in Chechnya .

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who was on Thursday reportedly being treated for coronavirus in Moscow, went from rebel fighter to Russian President Vladimir Putin's fearsome enforcer, bringing his war-scarred region to heel with an iron-fisted rule. He has taken a characteristically high-handed approach to the coronavirus, calling doctors in the region who complained of a lack of protective equipment "provocateurs" who should be fired.
Russian agency reports on Thursday said the Chechen leader, whose rule rights group say has seen torture and killings, is suspected of having the infection, and had been flown to Moscow for treatment. The 43-year-old calls himself the Kremlin's "foot soldier" but is widely thought to enjoy carte blanche from Moscow, which turns a blind eye to heavy-handed tactics in his North Caucasus fiefdom in exchange for loyalty. Kadyrov rose to power in the wake of the murder of his father — regional leader Akhmat Kadyrov — with the backing of Putin. Akhmat Kadyrov was killed when a bomb tore through the stand at Grozny's main football stadium as he oversaw World War II victory commemorations in 2004. Both father and son had fought against Moscow during the first bloody separatist conflict in Chechnya from 1994-96 but switched sides to support the Kremlin when it launched a second war there in 1999 under the watch of then-Prime Minister Putin. Kadyrov has always been effusive in his praise for Putin who has described him in turn as a "son." He firmly turned his back on independence and in return his majority-Muslim homeland has in recent years seen intense reconstruction efforts bankrolled by Moscow. "If it weren't for Putin, Chechnya would not exist," Kadyrov said in one interview. High-profile killings Since taking over at the helm in Chechnya, Kadyrov — who was officially appointed the region's president in 2007 after turning 30 — has ruthlessly looked to stamp out a lingering Islamist rebellion, and any forms of dissent. Doctors who complained of a lack of protective equipment last week were filmed retracting their statements by a TV channel loyal to Kadyrov — a common approach to critics in Chechnya.
news Chechen Leader Orders Sacking of Medics Complaining of PPE Shortage Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 325K as Curve Flattens

The strongman leader of Russia 's southern Chechnya region , Ramzan Kadyrov , was receiving treatment for a suspected coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Thursday citing sources , though his aides did not confirm it .
One of Russia @ @ @ @ @ , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , returned to work this week after receiving treatment for @ @ @ @ @ Overall , 99,825 people in Russia are no longer infected with coronavirus , health officials @ @ @ @ @ said the situation is stabilizing and half a million industrial and construction workers have been @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow .
Russia has recorded far fewer deaths than other countries with large outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ doubt on the low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting to play down @ @ @ @ @ .
Russian health officials say one of the reasons the count is lower than in @ @ @ @ @ of western Europe is that only deaths directly caused by the virus are being included @

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--2020-05-22--Concerns Raised for Detained Gulag Historian Yury Dmitriyev

The U.K. has reiterated calls for the release of Yury Dmitriyev , a Russian historian who discovered Stalin-era mass graves and is currently being held in pre-trial detention on charges many say are politically motivated .
Dmitriyev , 64 , is the head of the Karelian branch of Memorial , an independent NGO that researches Soviet political repression and human rights .
He was first arrested in December 2016 after authorities searched his home and discovered naked photos of his adopted underage daughter on his computer .
Dmitriyev dismissed the child pornography accusations , saying he the photos of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken into care by Dmitriyev and his former wife — were to monitor her health and physical development for child services .
The arrest came just weeks after Russia had placed the International Memorial Society on its list of foreign agents — a designation used by the Russian authorities to vilify and neuter independent NGOs .
Dozens of prominent cultural figures in Russia , as well as international human rights groups rallied to Dmitriyev ’ s defense .
He was first acquitted in April 2018 , but taken back into custody two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison .

The U.K. has reiterated calls for the release of Yury Dmitriyev, a Russian historian who discovered Stalin-era mass graves and is currently being held in pre-trial detention on charges many say are politically motivated.
Dmitriyev, 64, is the head of the Karelian branch of Memorial, an independent NGO that researches Soviet political repression and human rights. He was first arrested in December 2016 after authorities searched his home and discovered naked photos of his adopted underage daughter on his computer. Dmitriyev dismissed the child pornography accusations, saying he the photos of his daughter — who was malnourished when she was taken into care by Dmitriyev and his former wife — were to monitor her health and physical development for child services.
The arrest came just weeks after Russia had placed the International Memorial Society on its list of foreign agents — a designation used by the Russian authorities to vilify and neuter independent NGOs. Dozens of prominent cultural figures in Russia, as well as international human rights groups rallied to Dmitriyev’s defense. He was first acquitted in April 2018, but taken back into custody two months later on connected charges his lawyer says carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Explainer: What Is the Open Skies Treaty and Why Is U.S. Quitting?

That threat now seems likely to come to fruition , despite the dismay of Washington 's European allies , who remain attached to the treaty as part of their continent 's security architecture .
Moscow and Washington have long accused the other of breaching its terms , and last year President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might leave the treaty altogether .
It was signed in 1992 and came into force in 2002 , allowing 35 countries — including the United States and Russia — to fly unarmed surveillance flights over each other 's territory .
The Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to quit , was agreed just after the Cold War to allow signatories to avoid nasty surprises by monitoring rival militaries .
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly argued for the preservation of the treaty , a NATO diplomat said on Friday .
But since Trump 's previous decision to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on medium-range land missiles with Moscow , the Open Skies agreement has been on borrowed time .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday that a decision had now been made .
`` Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in various ways for years , '' he said , citing several examples .
`` Moscow appears to use Open Skies imagery in support of an aggressive new Russian doctrine of targeting critical infrastructure in the United States and Europe with precision-guided conventional munitions , '' Pompeo said .
`` Russia has ... weaponized the treaty by making it into a tool of intimidation and threat , '' he said , complaining that Russia prevents U.S. flights over the militarized Kaliningrad enclave .
The treaty makes it possible to conduct joint unarmed observation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images using sensors of a predefined resolution .
And it also allows all signatories to request copies of all images taken during overflights carried out by others .
Overflights are governed by quotas , negotiated annually and assigned to specific aircraft .
The United States , for example , is allowed to operate Boeing OC-135 planes with infrared scanners .
The country under surveillance is given 72 hours ' warning of a flight and 24 hours notice of the route , to which it can suggest modifications .
The treaty lays down which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights and at which points they can cross into each other 's air space .
Russia and the U.S. have four such bases each .
A committee to oversee the implementation of the treaty meets in Vienna every month at the headquarters of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation ( OSCE ) in Europe .

The Open Skies Treaty, which the United States plans to quit, was agreed just after the Cold War to allow signatories to avoid nasty surprises by monitoring rival militaries. It was signed in 1992 and came into force in 2002, allowing 35 countries — including the United States and Russia — to fly unarmed surveillance flights over each other's territory. Moscow and Washington have long accused the other of breaching its terms, and last year President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might leave the treaty altogether. That threat now seems likely to come to fruition, despite the dismay of Washington's European allies, who remain attached to the treaty as part of their continent's security architecture.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly argued for the preservation of the treaty, a NATO diplomat said on Friday. But since Trump's previous decision to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on medium-range land missiles with Moscow, the Open Skies agreement has been on borrowed time. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday that a decision had now been made. "Russia has grossly and continuously violated the treaty in various ways for years," he said, citing several examples. "Moscow appears to use Open Skies imagery in support of an aggressive new Russian doctrine of targeting critical infrastructure in the United States and Europe with precision-guided conventional munitions," Pompeo said. "Russia has... weaponized the treaty by making it into a tool of intimidation and threat," he said, complaining that Russia prevents U.S. flights over the militarized Kaliningrad enclave. Observation The treaty makes it possible to conduct joint unarmed observation flights over the territories and to take images using sensors of a predefined resolution. And it also allows all signatories to request copies of all images taken during overflights carried out by others. Overflights are governed by quotas, negotiated annually and assigned to specific aircraft. The United States, for example, is allowed to operate Boeing OC-135 planes with infrared scanners. The country under surveillance is given 72 hours' warning of a flight and 24 hours notice of the route, to which it can suggest modifications. The treaty lays down which air bases can be used for the flights and at which points they can cross into each other's air space. Russia and the U.S. have four such bases each. A committee to oversee the implementation of the treaty meets in Vienna every month at the headquarters of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Putin Warns of Second Coronavirus Wave for Russia This Fall

Russia appears to have flattened the curve with fewer than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases reported each day for the past week , totaling 326,448 infections since the first cases were reported in early March .
But its highest-ever daily coronavirus death toll of 150 on Friday suggested that the pandemic is not yet under control in the world 's largest country .
President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic could hit Russia this fall as he noted that the country ’ s current outbreak is stabilizing .
“ Another wave of coronavirus sickness rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October to November , ” Putin said at a televised videoconference with government officials and health experts .
“ We must keep that in mind and be ready for that scenario , ” he warned the health minister and colleagues , citing Russian and foreign experts .
He urged officials to reserve extra hospital beds ahead of a potential influx of patients .
During the videoconference , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the capital should keep in place its coronavirus restrictions , which have been extended until May 31 , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight new infections .
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova warned Putin of a significant spike in coronavirus deaths in May .
Russia currently has one of the lowest death tolls , at 3,249 , among countries with similarly high cases of Covid-19 , a figure that has prompted widespread questioning .
With new Covid-19 infections beginning to dip in many countries , governments are now struggling to balance measures to prevent the virus — and head off a possible second wave of infections — with moves to reopen their economies .

Russia appears to have flattened the curve with fewer than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases reported each day for the past week, totaling 326,448 infections since the first cases were reported in early March. But its highest-ever daily coronavirus death toll of 150 on Friday suggested that the pandemic is not yet under control in the world's largest country.
President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic could hit Russia this fall as he noted that the country’s current outbreak is stabilizing.
“Another wave of coronavirus sickness rate is possible in Russia, from late October to November,” Putin said at a televised videoconference with government officials and health experts.
“We must keep that in mind and be ready for that scenario,” he warned the health minister and colleagues, citing Russian and foreign experts.
He urged officials to reserve extra hospital beds ahead of a potential influx of patients.
During the videoconference, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the capital should keep in place its coronavirus restrictions, which have been extended until May 31, as the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak continues to fight new infections.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova warned Putin of a significant spike in coronavirus deaths in May. Russia currently has one of the lowest death tolls, at 3,249, among countries with similarly high cases of Covid-19, a figure that has prompted widespread questioning.
With new Covid-19 infections beginning to dip in many countries, governments are now struggling to balance measures to prevent the virus — and head off a possible second wave of infections — with moves to reopen their economies.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--Russia Expects 'Significant Increase' in May Deaths – Minister

`` There will be a significant mortality increase in May '' despite doctors trying to `` save the maximum number of patients , '' Golikova said , without referring specifically to deaths from the virus .
Russia is expected to register a spike in mortality for the month of May , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said on Friday , as the country battles a coronavirus outbreak .
`` The illness and chronic conditions do n't always have a positive ending , '' Golikova said at a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin and healthcare professionals .
Russia registered 150 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its highest daily rate to date , amid criticism that officials are under-reporting many coronavirus fatalities to play down the scale of the crisis .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said he expects a higher mortality rate for the month of May .
`` The number of deaths from the coronavirus will be higher in May than in April , because the virus peak was in the beginning of May , '' Sobyanin said .
Health officials reported a total of 3,249 deaths and 326,448 cases on Friday , the second-highest number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .

"There will be a significant mortality increase in May" despite doctors trying to "save the maximum number of patients," Golikova said, without referring specifically to deaths from the virus.
Russia is expected to register a spike in mortality for the month of May, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said on Friday, as the country battles a coronavirus outbreak.
"The illness and chronic conditions don't always have a positive ending," Golikova said at a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin and healthcare professionals.
Russia registered 150 deaths from the coronavirus on Friday, its highest daily rate to date, amid criticism that officials are under-reporting many coronavirus fatalities to play down the scale of the crisis.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said he expects a higher mortality rate for the month of May.
"The number of deaths from the coronavirus will be higher in May than in April, because the virus peak was in the beginning of May," Sobyanin said.
Health officials reported a total of 3,249 deaths and 326,448 cases on Friday, the second-highest number of infections in the world after the United States.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-22--14% of Healthy Russians Have Coronavirus Antibodies, Private Lab Says

Out of more than 40,000 people tested between Monday and Thursday in most Russian regions , the Invitro lab said 14 % had antibodies .
Nearly half of Invitro ’ s tests were submitted in Moscow and the Moscow region , the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
One out of seven healthy Russians may have been infected with the coronavirus , according to a Moscow-based private lab analysis of voluntary testing published Friday .
“ Data on the presence of specific antibodies provide valuable information needed to make societal and individual clinical decisions , ” Invitro ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a press release .
The lab said its Russian-made tests have 95 % sensitivity and 98 % specificity for an antibody that develops up to four weeks after people first come into contact with the virus .
Experts including Invitro warn that antibodies do not necessarily confer immunity against the infection .
Invitro said it will publish real-time data broken down by geography and demographics on its website .
Moscow ’ s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5 % of residents , or nearly 300,000 people , may have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that the city will launch mass random testing for Covid-19 antibodies .
The free and voluntary testing will `` show the real picture '' of the epidemic 's stage , since many people may have had the virus without knowing it , Sergei Sobyanin told state television .
Officials said last week that 21 % of Russian medics , who were among the first to submit tests , were found to have antibodies .
There have been 326,448 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,249 deaths .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Out of more than 40,000 people tested between Monday and Thursday in most Russian regions, the Invitro lab said 14% had antibodies. Nearly half of Invitro’s tests were submitted in Moscow and the Moscow region, the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak.
One out of seven healthy Russians may have been infected with the coronavirus, according to a Moscow-based private lab analysis of voluntary testing published Friday.
“Data on the presence of specific antibodies provide valuable information needed to make societal and individual clinical decisions,” Invitro’s medical director Natalya Kolesnikova said in a press release.
The lab said its Russian-made tests have 95% sensitivity and 98% specificity for an antibody that develops up to four weeks after people first come into contact with the virus.
Experts including Invitro warn that antibodies do not necessarily confer immunity against the infection.
Invitro said it will publish real-time data broken down by geography and demographics on its website.
Moscow’s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5% of residents, or nearly 300,000 people, may have been infected with Covid-19.
Last Friday, he announced that the city will launch mass random testing for Covid-19 antibodies. The free and voluntary testing will "show the real picture" of the epidemic's stage, since many people may have had the virus without knowing it, Sergei Sobyanin told state television.
Officials said last week that 21% of Russian medics, who were among the first to submit tests, were found to have antibodies.
There have been 326,448 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,249 deaths. More than 30% of patients have recovered.