themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Russian Maker Recalls Ventilators Tied to Deadly Hospital Fires

In a statement sent to AFP , the Urals Instrument-Building Factory that makes the ventilators said it decided to `` carry out extra technical tests on the equipment supplied earlier . ''
The Russian manufacturer of ventilators involved in two deadly fires at hospitals treating virus patients said Wednesday it has recalled the devices for checks .
Doctors said the Aventa-M ventilators made by the company sparked a fire at a hospital in St. Petersburg that killed five people on May 12 , three days after one person died in a blaze at a Moscow hospital .
Investigators said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at both hospitals and the state healthcare regulator after the St. Petersburg fire told hospitals to stop using devices manufactured after April 1 .
Russia delivered a batch of the machines to the United States on April 1 to help its fight with the coronavirus but they have never been used and are being kept in storage pending the result of Russia 's investigation into the fires .
The manufacturer , part of Rostec state conglomerate , said it ordered the recall on its own initiative because it wanted to test how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in non-routine situations . ''
In some cases these tests will be carried out in hospitals with medical staff involved , it said .
It did not say how many of the devices will be checked or give details of any possible malfunction .
The Russian healthcare regulator has circulated a letter on the recall to healthcare providers , according to its website .
The letter says the ventilators were first registered for use in 2016 .
The recall comes as Russia has confirmed 493,657 virus cases and 6,358 deaths , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8,000 for the last week .

In a statement sent to AFP, the Urals Instrument-Building Factory that makes the ventilators said it decided to "carry out extra technical tests on the equipment supplied earlier."
The Russian manufacturer of ventilators involved in two deadly fires at hospitals treating virus patients said Wednesday it has recalled the devices for checks.
Doctors said the Aventa-M ventilators made by the company sparked a fire at a hospital in St. Petersburg that killed five people on May 12, three days after one person died in a blaze at a Moscow hospital.
Investigators said the same model of ventilator was in use at both hospitals and the state healthcare regulator after the St. Petersburg fire told hospitals to stop using devices manufactured after April 1.
Russia delivered a batch of the machines to the United States on April 1 to help its fight with the coronavirus but they have never been used and are being kept in storage pending the result of Russia's investigation into the fires.
The manufacturer, part of Rostec state conglomerate, said it ordered the recall on its own initiative because it wanted to test how the devices perform "under heavy use and in non-routine situations."
In some cases these tests will be carried out in hospitals with medical staff involved, it said.
It did not say how many of the devices will be checked or give details of any possible malfunction.
The Russian healthcare regulator has circulated a letter on the recall to healthcare providers, according to its website.
The letter says the ventilators were first registered for use in 2016.
The recall comes as Russia has confirmed 493,657 virus cases and 6,358 deaths, while the number of new cases has been over 8,000 for the last week.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Kadyrov Donates Millions to Help Chechen Grooms ‘Buy’ 200 Brides

The families of 207 grooms in Russia ’ s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya would each receive 50,000 rubles ( $ 635 ) for their sons to get married in accordance with traditional Islamic practices , the region 's Spiritual Board of Muslims told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Monday .
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has announced plans to donate 10.3 million rubles ( $ 131,500 ) to help men cash-strapped by the coronavirus pandemic “ buy ” brides under Islamic law .
The funds would come from a $ 77-million foundation named after Kadyrov ’ s late father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight alongside Russian forces during the region ’ s second separatist conflict .
A 2015 report claimed that , in addition to prominent ethnic Chechen businessmen , all Chechen residents are required to pay a share of their salaries to the Akhmad Kadyrov Fund .
Chechnya , which has imposed one of Russia ’ s strictest Covid-19 lockdowns during the outbreak , banned traditional Islamic weddings in mid-April .
The region lifted the ban on May 25 with restrictions that include requiring a low number of guests , modest celebrations and only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kadyrov has long sought to impose Islamic values in the majority Muslim republic of Chechnya , including encouraging women to wear headscarves and men to take up to four wives despite polygamy being forbidden under Russian law .
The dowry system is not recognized under U.S. law .

The families of 207 grooms in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya would each receive 50,000 rubles ($635) for their sons to get married in accordance with traditional Islamic practices, the region's Spiritual Board of Muslims told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Monday.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has announced plans to donate 10.3 million rubles ($131,500) to help men cash-strapped by the coronavirus pandemic “buy” brides under Islamic law.
The funds would come from a $77-million foundation named after Kadyrov’s late father, a rebel who switched sides to fight alongside Russian forces during the region’s second separatist conflict.
A 2015 report claimed that, in addition to prominent ethnic Chechen businessmen, all Chechen residents are required to pay a share of their salaries to the Akhmad Kadyrov Fund.
Chechnya, which has imposed one of Russia’s strictest Covid-19 lockdowns during the outbreak, banned traditional Islamic weddings in mid-April. The region lifted the ban on May 25 with restrictions that include requiring a low number of guests, modest celebrations and only two cars tailing the newlyweds’ limos.
Kadyrov has long sought to impose Islamic values in the majority Muslim republic of Chechnya, including encouraging women to wear headscarves and men to take up to four wives despite polygamy being forbidden under Russian law.
The dowry system is not recognized under U.S. law.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Isolated Russians Cast Early Ballots on Putin Reforms

Initially planned for April , the vote on constitutional reforms proposed by the longtime leader has been rescheduled for July 1 .
Early voting began in remote parts of Russia on Wednesday ahead of a referendum that could extend President Vladimir Putin 's term in the Kremlin , despite coronavirus fears and rising infections .
Election officials in the isolated region of Chukotka in Russia 's Far East announced they had dispatched employees to collect votes from deer herders in the tundra .
`` Our colleagues will travel about 600 kilometers ( 370 miles ) on all-terrain vehicles , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to TASS news agency , in order to collect ballots from around 87 people in the tundra .
Oil workers , builders , meteorologists and lighthouse keepers in seven voting districts of the remote Sakhalin island in the Pacific Ocean also began casting early ballots Wednesday , TASS reported .
The election chief in Yakutia , Alexey Efimov , said officials in the Siberian region would use motorboats and helicopters to organize voting for fishermen , meteorologists and residents working in mines .
He said around 8,000 residents were expected to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will clear the way for changes allowing Putin to potentially stay in power until 2036 , as well as a series of other constitutional reforms .
It was the centerpiece of Putin 's political calendar this year but had to be postponed from April 22 as coronavirus cases surged .

Early voting began in remote parts of Russia on Wednesday ahead of a referendum that could extend President Vladimir Putin's term in the Kremlin, despite coronavirus fears and rising infections. Initially planned for April, the vote on constitutional reforms proposed by the longtime leader has been rescheduled for July 1.
news Putin Rushes to Move on From Virus With Vote on Reforms Read more
Election officials in the isolated region of Chukotka in Russia's Far East announced they had dispatched employees to collect votes from deer herders in the tundra. "Our colleagues will travel about 600 kilometers (370 miles) on all-terrain vehicles," local election official Elena Gorbunova said, according to TASS news agency, in order to collect ballots from around 87 people in the tundra. Oil workers, builders, meteorologists and lighthouse keepers in seven voting districts of the remote Sakhalin island in the Pacific Ocean also began casting early ballots Wednesday, TASS reported. The election chief in Yakutia, Alexey Efimov, said officials in the Siberian region would use motorboats and helicopters to organize voting for fishermen, meteorologists and residents working in mines. He said around 8,000 residents were expected to vote ahead of the referendum. The vote will clear the way for changes allowing Putin to potentially stay in power until 2036, as well as a series of other constitutional reforms. It was the centerpiece of Putin's political calendar this year but had to be postponed from April 22 as coronavirus cases surged.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Retired Austrian Colonel Jailed Over Spying for Russia

The 71-year-old who has not been named `` betrayed state secrets at the expense of Austria for a foreign secret @ @ @ @ @ court ruled .
A retired Austrian army colonel was jailed for three years on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ for Russia .
He also `` deliberately disclosed a military secret , '' according to @ @ @ @ @ case began in March behind closed doors to avoid revealing classified military information .
He @ @ @ @ @ secrets over a period of more than 25 years , for which he received roughly @ @ @ @ @ ) .
His defense lawyer said his client had been paid 220,00 euros for information @ @ @ @ @ sources .
Prosecutors said the information the defendant passed related primarily to Austria 's weapons @ @ @ @ @ its land and air combat forces .
They say he maintained contact with Russian intelligence @ @ @ @ @ the time of his arrest Austrian media described him as a mid-ranking officer who worked @ @ @ @ @ planning department .

The 71-year-old who has not been named "betrayed state secrets at the expense of Austria for a foreign secret service," a Salzburg court ruled.
A retired Austrian army colonel was jailed for three years on Tuesday after being convicted of spying for Russia.
He also "deliberately disclosed a military secret," according to the verdict.
The court case began in March behind closed doors to avoid revealing classified military information.
He was charged with betraying state secrets over a period of more than 25 years, for which he received roughly 280,000 euros ($310,000).
His defense lawyer said his client had been paid 220,00 euros for information which was available from open sources.
Prosecutors said the information the defendant passed related primarily to Austria's weapons systems and the organization of its land and air combat forces.
They say he maintained contact with Russian intelligence into his retirement.
At the time of his arrest Austrian media described him as a mid-ranking officer who worked in the defense ministry's planning department.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surge to 493K as Officials Move to Re-Open Country

New infections have plateaued since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11,000 cases .
Officials say Russia @ @ @ @ @ the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections and its @ @ @ @ @ country can begin to return to normal .
Yet critics have cast doubt on the @ @ @ @ @ of under-reporting deaths and threatening a new wave of infections by lifting restrictions .
Starting @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of Russia 's pandemic with around half of the country 's total cases , @ @ @ @ @ measures which included a digital pass system to regulate residents ' movement around the city @ @ @ @ @ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced that a postponed nationwide vote on constitutional @ @ @ @ @ hold over power will go ahead on July 1 .
The authorities have also rescheduled @ @ @ @ @ Victory Day military parade for June 24 .

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--2020-06-10--Moscow Sees 58% Mortality Spike in May as Russia’s Low Virus Deaths Questioned

That figure is 58 % higher than the average May 2017-2019 death toll of 9,914 and amounts to 5,799 excess deaths .
The department said 92 % of these excess deaths could be partially attributed to coronavirus and that 2,757 of the deaths were primarily caused by Covid-19 .
According to the Moscow health department 's figures , 15,713 people in the city died last month .
Almost 60 % more people in Moscow have died in May than the city 's average toll for the past three years , the city health department confirmed Wednesday as questions continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death figures .
Authorities were due to publish Russia ’ s definitive mortality data for April two weeks ago but have pushed back the plans .
Officials explained that the data was incomplete because many Russians did not register deaths or births due to lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus .
The Ekho Moskvy radio station noted that Moscow last saw a similar spike in fatalities during a 2010 heatwave that fanned wildfires and blanketed the city with smoke .
Moscow ’ s health department had said that deaths nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov , meanwhile , defended Russia ’ s relatively low mortality rate despite having the world ’ s third-most number of Covid-19 cases as an achievement of its health system .
“ Have you ever thought about the possibility of Russia 's health care system being more effective ?
” Peskov asked in a CNN interview .
Moscow has officially reported 3,029 coronavirus deaths between March 1 and June 9 , almost half of Russia ’ s total toll of 6,142 .
The Russian capital also accounts for over 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases .
Moscow health authorities recently more than doubled the city ’ s April coronavirus death count after weeks of questions surrounding Russia ’ s death rate of around 1 % , a much lower figure than in countries with similar infection numbers .
They previously explained that more than 60 % of deceased coronavirus patients are not counted toward its official virus death toll because they died of other underlying causes .
The latest numbers come a week after Russia ’ s second-largest city St. Petersburg recorded 28 % more deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally over the past decade .
Major Western outlets have faced accusations of spreading fake news after reporting that Russia ’ s coronavirus-related deaths could be 70 % higher than officially confirmed .
This story has been updated with the Moscow health department 's confirmed May death count .

That figure is 58% higher than the average May 2017-2019 death toll of 9,914 and amounts to 5,799 excess deaths. The department said 92% of these excess deaths could be partially attributed to coronavirus and that 2,757 of the deaths were primarily caused by Covid-19.
According to the Moscow health department's figures, 15,713 people in the city died last month.
Almost 60% more people in Moscow have died in May than the city's average toll for the past three years, the city health department confirmed Wednesday as questions continue to swirl around Russia’s low coronavirus death figures.
Authorities were due to publish Russia’s definitive mortality data for April two weeks ago but have pushed back the plans. Officials explained that the data was incomplete because many Russians did not register deaths or births due to lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus.
The Ekho Moskvy radio station noted that Moscow last saw a similar spike in fatalities during a 2010 heatwave that fanned wildfires and blanketed the city with smoke. Moscow’s health department had said that deaths nearly doubled in August of that year.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, defended Russia’s relatively low mortality rate despite having the world’s third-most number of Covid-19 cases as an achievement of its health system.
“Have you ever thought about the possibility of Russia's health care system being more effective?” Peskov asked in a CNN interview.
Moscow has officially reported 3,029 coronavirus deaths between March 1 and June 9, almost half of Russia’s total toll of 6,142. The Russian capital also accounts for over 40% of the country’s 485,253 coronavirus cases.
Moscow health authorities recently more than doubled the city’s April coronavirus death count after weeks of questions surrounding Russia’s death rate of around 1%, a much lower figure than in countries with similar infection numbers. They previously explained that more than 60% of deceased coronavirus patients are not counted toward its official virus death toll because they died of other underlying causes.
The latest numbers come a week after Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg recorded 28% more deaths in May compared to its average May tally over the past decade.
Major Western outlets have faced accusations of spreading fake news after reporting that Russia’s coronavirus-related deaths could be 70% higher than officially confirmed.
This story has been updated with the Moscow health department's confirmed May death count.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Northern Russian Province Dumps Controversial Moscow Trash Landfill

The Arkhangelsk region ’ s administration said Tuesday it has unilaterally terminated its deal with the contractor building the Shiyes landfill after the company failed to respond to its offer of mutual termination .
The project — which would have taken in up to 2.3 million metric tons of Moscow ’ s waste every year for the next 20 years — grew from a local issue in 2018 to a mass environmental protest movement a year later .
Authorities in northern Russia have pulled their support for a controversial landfill after two years of nationwide protests against shipping Moscow ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts and activists warn it ’ s too early to declare victory .
“ Thus , the project is deprived of the preferences that are assigned to priority investment projects in the region , including tax incentives and special conditions for the lease of land , ” the administration said in a statement .
A court ruled in January to demolish the Shiyes landfill , though its investor has since appealed the decision .
The heads of the Arkhangelsk region and the neighboring republic of Komi in northwestern Russia have said they oppose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them in April .
Lawyers and activists noted that excluding the project from the administration ’ s list of priorities does not entail the end of construction , the Vedomosti and Kommersant business dailies reported .
“ The construction site hasn ’ t been taken down , the land not revegetated , so construction can resume at any point , ” Sekushin said .
Greenpeace Russia ’ s Zero Waste expert Alexei Kiselyov said investors will lose interest in the Shiyes landfill because the lack of state support would mean charging higher rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formally prevents the regional government from signing a new agreement on supporting this investment project in the future and putting it back on the priority list , ” Vasily Malinin , head of commercial disputes at the Rustam Kurmaev and Partners law firm , told Kommersant .
Political analysts have also tied the move to exit the landfill deal to upcoming elections , where the Arkhangelsk region ’ s newly appointed , Kremlin-backed governor will vie for popular support in September .

The Arkhangelsk region’s administration said Tuesday it has unilaterally terminated its deal with the contractor building the Shiyes landfill after the company failed to respond to its offer of mutual termination. The project — which would have taken in up to 2.3 million metric tons of Moscow’s waste every year for the next 20 years — grew from a local issue in 2018 to a mass environmental protest movement a year later.
Authorities in northern Russia have pulled their support for a controversial landfill after two years of nationwide protests against shipping Moscow’s waste to remote regions, though experts and activists warn it’s too early to declare victory.
“Thus, the project is deprived of the preferences that are assigned to priority investment projects in the region, including tax incentives and special conditions for the lease of land,” the administration said in a statement.
A court ruled in January to demolish the Shiyes landfill, though its investor has since appealed the decision. The heads of the Arkhangelsk region and the neighboring republic of Komi in northwestern Russia have said they oppose its construction after President Vladimir Putin appointed them in April.
Lawyers and activists noted that excluding the project from the administration’s list of priorities does not entail the end of construction, the Vedomosti and Kommersant business dailies reported.
“It’s early to call this a victory,” anti-landfill activist Dmitry Sekushin told Kommersant.
“The construction site hasn’t been taken down, the land not revegetated, so construction can resume at any point,” Sekushin said.
Greenpeace Russia’s Zero Waste expert Alexei Kiselyov said investors will lose interest in the Shiyes landfill because the lack of state support would mean charging higher rates for consumers in Moscow.
“Nothing formally prevents the regional government from signing a new agreement on supporting this investment project in the future and putting it back on the priority list,” Vasily Malinin, head of commercial disputes at the Rustam Kurmaev and Partners law firm, told Kommersant.
Political analysts have also tied the move to exit the landfill deal to upcoming elections, where the Arkhangelsk region’s newly appointed, Kremlin-backed governor will vie for popular support in September.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--U.S. Jets Intercept Russian Bombers Near Alaska

U.S. fighter jets intercepted Russian bombers twice on Wednesday off the coast of Alaska , U.S. air defense command said .
The intercepts come less than two weeks after U.S. bombers were met by Russian jets over the Black Sea .
North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) said U.S. F-22 Raptors intercepted a Russian bomber formation early Wednesday that came within 20 nautical miles ( 37 kilometers ) of the Alaskan coast .
The formation consisted of two TU-95 bombers , two SU-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft , NORAD said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombers and an A-50 and came within 32 nautical miles ( 60 kilometers ) of Alaskan shores .
NORAD said the Russian warplanes remained in international airspace at all times and did not enter U.S. airspace .
The United States maintains an Air Defense Identification Zone off of Alaska which extends beyond national territory to allow for a response to possibly hostile incursions .
`` Flying air patrols protects the approaches to our nations and sends a clear message we continue executing our homeland defense missions with the same capability and capacity we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said in a statement .
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 .

U.S. fighter jets intercepted Russian bombers twice on Wednesday off the coast of Alaska, U.S. air defense command said.
The intercepts come less than two weeks after U.S. bombers were met by Russian jets over the Black Sea.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said U.S. F-22 Raptors intercepted a Russian bomber formation early Wednesday that came within 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) of the Alaskan coast.
The formation consisted of two TU-95 bombers, two SU-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, NORAD said.
The second formation consisted of two TU-95 bombers and an A-50 and came within 32 nautical miles (60 kilometers) of Alaskan shores.
NORAD said the Russian warplanes remained in international airspace at all times and did not enter U.S. airspace.
The United States maintains an Air Defense Identification Zone off of Alaska which extends beyond national territory to allow for a response to possibly hostile incursions.
"Flying air patrols protects the approaches to our nations and sends a clear message we continue executing our homeland defense missions with the same capability and capacity we always bring to the fight," NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said in a statement.
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.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--LGBT Activist Charged With Pornography for Body-Positive Vagina Drawings

Authorities in Far East Russia charged an LGBT rights activist with distributing pornography for posting drawings of vaginas on social media , the activist told Russian media Tuesday .
Yulia Tsvetkova , 27 , had been under house arrest from November to March in the remote city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur before authorities lifted her house arrest .
Tsvetkova faces up to six years in jail for posting the images on her page dedicated to body positivity that she said she maintains as a hobby .
Tsvetkova told OVD-Info , a website that tracks detentions at political protests , that authorities pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between two and six years against her .
She declined to give further details , saying she has signed an agreement not to disclose information about a preliminary investigation .
“ I ’ m bombarded with ‘ How are you ?
’ questions , ” Tsvetkova wrote on Facebook on Wednesday .
“ I ’ m , as never before , ready to go all the way , to fight until the very last .
I ’ ve never felt stronger , ” she said .
Tsvetkova was previously fined for violating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward minors .
As part of her activism , Tsvetkova hosted lectures for the LGBT community and held classes on sex education , which is prohibited at Russian schools .
Tsvetkova said she believes the authorities are using the pornography charge as a pretext for cracking down on LGBT activists because it is easy to pin on people and carries a long sentence .
She has also reported receiving death threats from a homophobic group that encourages people to “ hunt down ” sexual minorities .
Amnesty International has labeled Tsvetkova a prisoner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her was absurd .
Dozens of Tsvetkova ’ s supporters have staged pickets across several Russian cities following the news .

Authorities in Far East Russia charged an LGBT rights activist with distributing pornography for posting drawings of vaginas on social media, the activist told Russian media Tuesday. Yulia Tsvetkova, 27, had been under house arrest from November to March in the remote city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur before authorities lifted her house arrest. Tsvetkova faces up to six years in jail for posting the images on her page dedicated to body positivity that she said she maintains as a hobby.
news Russian LGBT Activist Faces Porn Trial for Vagina Drawings Read more
Tsvetkova told OVD-Info, a website that tracks detentions at political protests, that authorities pressed charges that carry a jail term of between two and six years against her. She declined to give further details, saying she has signed an agreement not to disclose information about a preliminary investigation. “I’m bombarded with ‘How are you?’ questions,” Tsvetkova wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. “I’m, as never before, ready to go all the way, to fight until the very last. I’ve never felt stronger,” she said. Tsvetkova was previously fined for violating a controversial Russian law that prohibits gay propaganda toward minors.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--1 in 7 Russians Have ‘Coronavirus Immunity’ – Official

Almost 650,000 Russians have been tested for the virus across 46 regions of the country , the head of Rospotrebnadzor , Russia ’ s consumer protection watchdog , was cited as saying .
Around 14 % of Russians tested for the coronavirus have developed immunity to the infection , Interfax reported Wednesday , citing health officials .
“ The percentage of immune cases among minors under 17 years old is almost 20 % , ” Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said at a meeting of the government ’ s coronavirus response team .
“ For people between 18 and 64 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only 11 % for those 65 years and older , ” she said .
The World Health Organization ’ s ( WHO ) director of public health Maria Neira said immunity from coronavirus lasting between six months and a year is “ expected ” among patients who have developed antibodies .
Experts warn that antibodies do not necessarily confer total immunity against the virus , however .
Popova ’ s cited results are identical to an analysis of more than 40,000 voluntary tests published by a Moscow-based private lab last month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Moscow ’ s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5 % of the city ’ s residents , or nearly 300,000 people , may have been infected with Covid-19 .
There have been 493,657 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 6,358 deaths .

Almost 650,000 Russians have been tested for the virus across 46 regions of the country, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer protection watchdog, was cited as saying.
Around 14% of Russians tested for the coronavirus have developed immunity to the infection, Interfax reported Wednesday, citing health officials.
“The percentage of immune cases among minors under 17 years old is almost 20%,” Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said at a meeting of the government’s coronavirus response team.
“For people between 18 and 64 years old, it’s 14% and only 11% for those 65 years and older,” she said.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director of public health Maria Neira said immunity from coronavirus lasting between six months and a year is “expected” among patients who have developed antibodies.
Experts warn that antibodies do not necessarily confer total immunity against the virus, however.
Popova’s cited results are identical to an analysis of more than 40,000 voluntary tests published by a Moscow-based private lab last month. The lab, Invitro, 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.
Moscow’s mayor has previously suggested that up to 2.5% of the city’s residents, or nearly 300,000 people, may have been infected with Covid-19.
There have been 493,657 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 6,358 deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Russia Detains 3 Over Massive Arctic Fuel Spill

Russian investigators on Wednesday detained three staff at a power plant where thousands of tons of diesel leaked into the @ @ @ @ @ Arctic region .
The spill of over 21,000 tons of fuel , which environmentalists say @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic , took place after a fuel reservoir collapsed at a power plant operated @ @ @ @ @ giant Norilsk Nickel in the city of Norilsk beyond the Arctic Circle .
President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ and Norilsk Nickel head Vladimir Potanin told the president the company would pay for clean-up @ @ @ @ @ million .
The Investigative Committee , which is probing the accident , said it had @ @ @ @ @ power station , Pavel Smirnov , along with two engineers on suspicion of breaching environmental @ @ @ @ @ , they would risk up to five years in prison .

Russian investigators on Wednesday detained three staff of a power plant over a huge fuel spill in the Arctic, as response teams warned a full clean-up would take years. The spill of over 21,000 tons of fuel took place after a fuel reservoir collapsed last month at a power plant operated by a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel in the city of Norilsk. It is the largest ever to have hit the Arctic, say environmentalists.
Those working at the site have already seen the first effects of the spill on the local ecosystem, said Viktor Bronnikov, general director of Transneft Siberia oil and gas transportation company involved in the clean-up. They included dead muskrats and ducks, he said. The Investigative Committee looking into the accident said it had detained the director of the power station, Pavel Smirnov, and two engineers on suspicion of breaching environmental protection rules. If convicted, they would risk up to five years in prison. "The company considers this measure to be unjustifiably harsh," Norilsk Nickel said in a statement to AFP, citing vice-president Nikolai Utkin. All three "are cooperating with law enforcement authorities and now they would be much more useful at the scene of the clean-up operation," he added. 'Years' to clean up At the scene at a remote area in the Norilsk industrial district, Bronnikov of Transneft Siberia said that the situation was stabilizing, but that the clean-up team had seen animals and birds apparently killed by the spill. "Today I myself saw dead muskrats," he told AFP, adding that workers had seen ducks killed by the fuel. "If a bird lands on the diesel fuel or a muskrat swims through it, it is condemned to death," he said. He added however that he had not seen "a huge number" of any animals dying there.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-10--Thousands of Russians Traveled Abroad in April Despite Border Closures, Canceled Flights – RBC

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March to slow the coronavirus outbreak , allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other flights authorized by the government .
Many other countries also grounded flights and sealed their borders to fight off the virus ’ spread .
Several thousand Russians traveled abroad in April despite closed national borders around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic , the RBC news website reported Wednesday .
According to RBC ’ s analysis of the countries ’ tourism data , 1,223 Russians traveled to South Korea in April , followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
April 2019 figures showed 34,200 Russian travelers in South Korea , 391,600 Russians in Turkey and 6,400 in Bulgaria .
RBC ’ s analysis also listed between 100 and 200 Russians visiting Serbia , the United States , Indonesia , Finland , Switzerland and Austria in April .
Taiwan , Singapore and Hong Kong reported one , seven and eight visitors respectively .
Tourism industry experts told the outlet that the Russians who were able to cross the border despite the closures were likely either dual nationals or those with permanent residency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transport Ministry , following reports of plans to resume international travel on July 15 , said this week that it was too early to restart international flights .
On Monday , Russia said it will begin re-opening borders to Russians going abroad for work , study , medical treatment or to take care of relatives .
Foreigners who need to come to Russia for medical treatment or to take care of relatives would be allowed in , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said .

Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March to slow the coronavirus outbreak, allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other flights authorized by the government. Many other countries also grounded flights and sealed their borders to fight off the virus’ spread.
Several thousand Russians traveled abroad in April despite closed national borders around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC news website reported Wednesday.
According to RBC’s analysis of the countries’ tourism data, 1,223 Russians traveled to South Korea in April, followed by 922 to Turkey and 635 to Bulgaria.
April 2019 figures showed 34,200 Russian travelers in South Korea, 391,600 Russians in Turkey and 6,400 in Bulgaria.
RBC’s analysis also listed between 100 and 200 Russians visiting Serbia, the United States, Indonesia, Finland, Switzerland and Austria in April. Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong reported one, seven and eight visitors respectively.
Tourism industry experts told the outlet that the Russians who were able to cross the border despite the closures were likely either dual nationals or those with permanent residency in the countries.
Russia’s Transport Ministry, following reports of plans to resume international travel on July 15, said this week that it was too early to restart international flights.
On Monday, Russia said it will begin re-opening borders to Russians going abroad for work, study, medical treatment or to take care of relatives. Foreigners who need to come to Russia for medical treatment or to take care of relatives would be allowed in, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.