themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Russia Keeps U.S. Investor Calvey Under House Arrest Despite Cancer Revelation

Calvey faces embezzlement charges that he says are being used to pressure him in a business dispute .
A Moscow court had ruled last month to extend the house arrest of Calvey , his French business partner Philippe Delpal and three others until Aug. 13 .
A court in Moscow on Tuesday upheld U.S. investor Michael Calvey ’ s house arrest on fraud charges despite the revelation that he has a malignant tumor .
Calvey ’ s lawyer told an appeals judge that his client is suffering from a malignant tumor and that keeping him under house arrest violates his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of Tuesday ’ s decision .
Moscow 's first court of appeals rejected the request to release Calvey and the other defendants from house arrest early .
Calvey himself said prior to the ruling that he has soft tissue sarcoma following a hip arthroscopy on March 20 .
“ Doctors who observe me are concerned about the low level of vitamin D in my blood and recommend daily walks in addition to medications , ” RBC quoted Calvey as saying .
Calvey and other executives at the private equity group Bring Vostok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused them of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ( $ 36.4 million ) .
The case , which the defendants say is an attempt to pressure them in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank Vostochny , has rattled Russia ’ s business and foreign investment communities .
Calvey has been under house arrest since April 2019 .

Calvey faces embezzlement charges that he says are being used to pressure him in a business dispute. A Moscow court had ruled last month to extend the house arrest of Calvey, his French business partner Philippe Delpal and three others until Aug. 13.
A court in Moscow on Tuesday upheld U.S. investor Michael Calvey’s house arrest on fraud charges despite the revelation that he has a malignant tumor.
Calvey’s lawyer told an appeals judge that his client is suffering from a malignant tumor and that keeping him under house arrest violates his rights, the RBC news website reported ahead of Tuesday’s decision.
Moscow's first court of appeals rejected the request to release Calvey and the other defendants from house arrest early.
Calvey himself said prior to the ruling that he has soft tissue sarcoma following a hip arthroscopy on March 20.
“Doctors who observe me are concerned about the low level of vitamin D in my blood and recommend daily walks in addition to medications,” RBC quoted Calvey as saying.
Calvey and other executives at the private equity group Bring Vostok were detained in February 2019 after investigators accused them of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ($36.4 million).
The case, which the defendants say is an attempt to pressure them in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank Vostochny, has rattled Russia’s business and foreign investment communities.
Calvey has been under house arrest since April 2019.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Russia Investigates Toy Protests Against Vote on Putin’s Term Limits

Criminal investigators in St. Petersburg have attempted to question an activist who used children 's toys to protest against a vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule into 2036 .
Sonya Ulyasheva , a spokeswoman for the Vesna democratic movement , had posted photographs of the toy protests as on offshoot of the # MiniProtest social media campaign in which participants post photos of fruits and vegetables holding anti-amendments posters in public spaces .
“ This plebiscite is more fake than us , ” reads one of the posters held by characters from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Pokemon ” and “ My Little Pony.
” Officers who identified themselves as members of a criminal investigation division arrived at Ulyasheva ’ s home to inquire about her “ civic stance , ” the police-monitoring website OVD-Info reported Monday .
Ulyasheva told the liberal Ekho Moskvy radio station Tuesday that she was not home at the time .
“ They detain everyone for any picket [ because of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak ] ... while no one has canceled the vote on the Constitution , which creates a dissonance between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , ” Ulyasheva said .
“ These toy campaigns further underscore this absurdity .
We thought you couldn ’ t underscore the absurdity any more , but the police managed when they responded with a criminal probe , ” she added .
Putin ’ s proposed changes to Russia ’ s basic law , which are expected to be backed in a nationwide vote next week , would allow him to seek two more six-year presidential terms in 2024 .
Critics have accused officials of banning public campaigns against the amendments while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the reforms .
Other opponents of the proposed constitutional amendments have shifted their campaigns online with TikTok videos , Instagram face filters and other creative methods of resistance , the TJournal tech website reported .

Criminal investigators in St. Petersburg have attempted to question an activist who used children's toys to protest against a vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule into 2036. Sonya Ulyasheva, a spokeswoman for the Vesna democratic movement, had posted photographs of the toy protests as on offshoot of the #MiniProtest social media campaign in which participants post photos of fruits and vegetables holding anti-amendments posters in public spaces.
spb_vesna / Twitter
“This plebiscite is more fake than us,” reads one of the posters held by characters from popular cartoons like “Trolls,” “Pokemon” and “My Little Pony.” Officers who identified themselves as members of a criminal investigation division arrived at Ulyasheva’s home to inquire about her “civic stance,” the police-monitoring website OVD-Info reported Monday. Ulyasheva told the liberal Ekho Moskvy radio station Tuesday that she was not home at the time. “They detain everyone for any picket [because of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak]... while no one has canceled the vote on the Constitution, which creates a dissonance between the ban on public rallies and the vote,” Ulyasheva said.
“These toy campaigns further underscore this absurdity. We thought you couldn’t underscore the absurdity any more, but the police managed when they responded with a criminal probe,” she added. Putin’s proposed changes to Russia’s basic law, which are expected to be backed in a nationwide vote next week, would allow him to seek two more six-year presidential terms in 2024.
spb_vesna / Twitter


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Coronavirus Frontline Doctors Ordered to Vote on Changes Allowing Putin to Stay in Power

Russian health workers treating coronavirus patients across the country say they are being pressured by their superiors to vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power through 2036 .
“ We simply don ’ t have a choice , ” a doctor at the Syktivkar Republic Infectious Diseases hospital in Russia ’ s remote northern republic of Komi told The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity .
The health worker — whose region was one of the country ’ s first coronavirus hotspots — said staff were called in for a meeting last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that voting was “ obligatory.
” In Russia ’ s Far-Eastern city of Vladivostok , medical personnel at the Vladivostok 's Clinical Hospital no .
4 are being urged to sign up for early voting , a text message sent to staff through WhatsApp seen by The Moscow Times shows .
“ Colleagues , on Friday , June 19 , representatives of the election commission will come to the polling station for early voting .
All employees should be present with their passports , ” the text message said .
Voting starts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll on July 1 .
Two medical staff in the Arkhangelsk region near the Arctic and another two in the Urals region of Chelyabinsk also said their management is putting them under pressure to vote in the upcoming referendum .
All four said employees are not being told how to vote .
Staff in hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg have not reported being pressured to vote .
Human rights critics and election observers have in the past accused the Kremlin of coercing the bloated civil servant sector into voting during elections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 study concluded that up to 25 % of employees at large state companies were affected by voter mobilization during the country ’ s 2011 parliamentary elections .

Russian health workers treating coronavirus patients across the country say they are being pressured by their superiors to vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power through 2036.
“We simply don’t have a choice,” a doctor at the Syktivkar Republic Infectious Diseases hospital in Russia’s remote northern republic of Komi told The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity. The health worker — whose region was one of the country’s first coronavirus hotspots — said staff were called in for a meeting last week where it was “made clear” that voting was “obligatory.”
In Russia’s Far-Eastern city of Vladivostok, medical personnel at the Vladivostok's Clinical Hospital no. 4 are being urged to sign up for early voting, a text message sent to staff through WhatsApp seen by The Moscow Times shows.
“Colleagues, on Friday, June 19, representatives of the election commission will come to the polling station for early voting. All employees should be present with their passports,” the text message said.
Voting starts from June 25, with the official nationwide poll on July 1.
Two medical staff in the Arkhangelsk region near the Arctic and another two in the Urals region of Chelyabinsk also said their management is putting them under pressure to vote in the upcoming referendum. All four said employees are not being told how to vote.
Staff in hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg have not reported being pressured to vote.
Human rights critics and election observers have in the past accused the Kremlin of coercing the bloated civil servant sector into voting during elections in order to increase voter turnout. A 2014 study concluded that up to 25% of employees at large state companies were affected by voter mobilization during the country’s 2011 parliamentary elections.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Russia's Coronavirus Death Spike Explained by Methodology, Statistics Chief Says

The Federal Statistics Service , or Rosstat , more than doubled April ’ s death toll to 2,712 earlier this month after including cases where Covid-19 may not have directly caused the deaths .
Analysis of crisis center data based on its daily counts placed the Covid-19 death toll for April at around 1,150 .
Russia ’ s state statistics agency published higher coronavirus death figures for April than previously reported because it receives more complete data than the national coronavirus crisis center , its chief has said .
“ We have a different calculation methodology , ” Rosstat chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview published Tuesday .
The crisis center publishes live data “ manually entered into the system , ” he explained , while Rosstat deals with death certificates that sometimes take up to 45 days to complete following tests .
Russia ’ s low death toll compared to those in other countries with large coronavirus outbreaks has raised questions about officials possibly underreporting coronavirus deaths .
According to official figures , a total of 8,359 Russians have died from Covid-19 as of Tuesday .
Russia has previously attributed its low death figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying out autopsies on each deceased coronavirus patient to determine the exact cause of death .
Malkov defended the accuracy of Rosstat ’ s data , echoing previous statements following his appointment in late 2018 amid questions surrounding the agency ’ s independence from the Kremlin as it revised upward GDP figures for previous years .
A few months later , Rosstat stopped releasing monthly consumer income data which had been falling for years .
“ One of the biggest secrets in statistics is that it ’ s practically impossible to manipulate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re talking about a qualitative indicator with a developed methodology , then any attempt to affect the final numbers by distorting the input data will become immediately evident , ” he said .

The Federal Statistics Service, or Rosstat, more than doubled April’s death toll to 2,712 earlier this month after including cases where Covid-19 may not have directly caused the deaths. Analysis of crisis center data based on its daily counts placed the Covid-19 death toll for April at around 1,150.
Russia’s state statistics agency published higher coronavirus death figures for April than previously reported because it receives more complete data than the national coronavirus crisis center, its chief has said .
“We have a different calculation methodology,” Rosstat chief Pavel Malkov told the RBC news website in an interview published Tuesday.
The crisis center publishes live data “manually entered into the system,” he explained, while Rosstat deals with death certificates that sometimes take up to 45 days to complete following tests.
Russia’s low death toll compared to those in other countries with large coronavirus outbreaks has raised questions about officials possibly underreporting coronavirus deaths. According to official figures, a total of 8,359 Russians have died from Covid-19 as of Tuesday.
Russia has previously attributed its low death figures to mass testing and its practice of carrying out autopsies on each deceased coronavirus patient to determine the exact cause of death.
Malkov defended the accuracy of Rosstat’s data, echoing previous statements following his appointment in late 2018 amid questions surrounding the agency’s independence from the Kremlin as it revised upward GDP figures for previous years. A few months later, Rosstat stopped releasing monthly consumer income data which had been falling for years.
“One of the biggest secrets in statistics is that it’s practically impossible to manipulate,” Malkov told RBC.
“If we’re talking about a qualitative indicator with a developed methodology, then any attempt to affect the final numbers by distorting the input data will become immediately evident,” he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--U.S. Ex-Marine Whelan Will Not Appeal Russian Espionage Verdict: Agencies

`` ( Paul ) Whelan will not appeal .
He does not believe in Russian justice , '' his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told Interfax .
A former U.S. marine convicted of espionage in Russia this month will not appeal , his lawyer told news agencies Tuesday , and hopes instead to be exchanged in a prisoner swap .
`` He hopes that in the near future he will be exchanged with Russians convicted in the United States . ''
The 50-year-old , who also has British , Canadian and Irish passports , was last week sentenced to 16 years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His trial strained ties with Washington and fueled speculation of a prisoner exchange with Russians detained in the United States , including a pilot and an arms dealer .
Pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in 2010 for drug trafficking , then transferred to the US , where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011 .
Viktor Bout is a weapons dealer known as the `` Merchant of Death '' for supplying diverse rebel groups .
`` We know there are negotiations , everyone talks about them behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in them , '' Zherebenkov told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency .
He said that details of a swap would only become clear `` when an agreement is reached '' .
President Vladimir Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Whelan 's decision , saying other government bodies , not the Kremlin , would be involved in exchanges .
Whelan was detained in Moscow in late 2018 and insisted he was innocent of receiving state secrets throughout his trial , which was held behind closed doors .
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow to attend a wedding when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photographs .
Prosecutors claimed Whelan had the rank of `` at least a colonel '' in the U.S. defense intelligence agency .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the verdict and demanded that Russia release Whelan immediately , while US ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan condemned the trial as unfair and lacking transparency .
David Whelan , Paul 's brother , said ahead of the trial that the family hoped a conviction would allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin discussing Paul 's release immediately . ''
Hopes for Whelan 's release in exchange for Maria Butina — a Russian woman arrested in the U.S. in 2018 on espionage charges — were quashed after Butina was flown to Moscow in October last year .
Whelan was dishonorably discharged as a marine before working as head of global security at a U.S. auto parts company .
His conviction was another hurdle in improving ties between the two world powers already at odds over Ukraine , Syria , Libya , arms control and a @ @ @ @ @

"(Paul) Whelan will not appeal. He does not believe in Russian justice," his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told Interfax.
A former U.S. marine convicted of espionage in Russia this month will not appeal, his lawyer told news agencies Tuesday, and hopes instead to be exchanged in a prisoner swap.
"He hopes that in the near future he will be exchanged with Russians convicted in the United States."
The 50-year-old, who also has British, Canadian and Irish passports, was last week sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony despite diplomatic protests.
His trial strained ties with Washington and fueled speculation of a prisoner exchange with Russians detained in the United States, including a pilot and an arms dealer.
Pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in 2010 for drug trafficking, then transferred to the US, where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011.
Viktor Bout is a weapons dealer known as the "Merchant of Death" for supplying diverse rebel groups.
"We know there are negotiations, everyone talks about them behind the scenes, but we ourselves aren't participating in them," Zherebenkov told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
He said that details of a swap would only become clear "when an agreement is reached".
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Whelan's decision, saying other government bodies, not the Kremlin, would be involved in exchanges.
Whelan was detained in Moscow in late 2018 and insisted he was innocent of receiving state secrets throughout his trial, which was held behind closed doors.
He says he was detained on a visit to Moscow to attend a wedding when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photographs.
Prosecutors claimed Whelan had the rank of "at least a colonel" in the U.S. defense intelligence agency.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the verdict and demanded that Russia release Whelan immediately, while US ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan condemned the trial as unfair and lacking transparency.
David Whelan, Paul's brother, said ahead of the trial that the family hoped a conviction would allow Russia and the United States to "begin discussing Paul's release immediately."
Hopes for Whelan's release in exchange for Maria Butina — a Russian woman arrested in the U.S. in 2018 on espionage charges — were quashed after Butina was flown to Moscow in October last year.
Whelan was dishonorably discharged as a marine before working as head of global security at a U.S. auto parts company.
His conviction was another hurdle in improving ties between the two world powers already at odds over Ukraine, Syria, Libya, arms control and a host of other issues.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Russia ‘Accidentally’ Recognizes Gay Marriage

Russia appears to have recognized a gay marriage by sending a tax return to a prominent LGBT rights activist who had married his husband in the United States , the activist said Monday .
This is at least the second time Russian officials have unintentionally recognized a gay marriage due to a legal loophole in the country ’ s family law .
Russian LGBT Network director Igor Kochetkov said he received a tax deduction from Russia ’ s Federal Tax Service on his husband ’ s behalf earlier this month .
“ The state made this tax deduction and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Facebook on the three-year anniversary of his marriage to fellow activist Kirill Fyodorov .
Russia does not register same-sex marriages .
However , Russian family law recognizes marriages that were registered abroad as long as they aren ’ t between close relatives or people who are already registered as married .
“ Since neither of us is in another marriage , we ’ re not close relatives , adoptive parents or adopted children… our marriage is recognized in Russia , ” Kochetkov wrote .
In 2018 , a Moscow civil service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gay couple who tied the knot in Denmark .
The civil service later denied registering the marriage and the couple has since fled Russia after facing threats .
Next week , Russians will vote on a package of constitutional amendments which , in addition to allowing President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 , would enshrine marriage as a union between a man and a woman in Russia 's basic law .
Kochetkov argued that the constitutional changes , which are expected to be approved amid an extensive campaign in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains achieved through bureaucratic paperwork .
“ It ’ s too late .
Same-sex marriages are already in Russia , ” he wrote in the Facebook post .
“ Equality of all before the law is a fundamental constitutional principle that no new amendments can undo , ” Kochetkov wrote , calling on fellow same-sex couples to “ get out of the closet and lay your claims in Russia .
”

Russia appears to have recognized a gay marriage by sending a tax return to a prominent LGBT rights activist who had married his husband in the United States, the activist said Monday. This is at least the second time Russian officials have unintentionally recognized a gay marriage due to a legal loophole in the country’s family law. Russian LGBT Network director Igor Kochetkov said he received a tax deduction from Russia’s Federal Tax Service on his husband’s behalf earlier this month.
“The state made this tax deduction and has thus recognized our marriage,” Kochetkov wrote on Facebook on the three-year anniversary of his marriage to fellow activist Kirill Fyodorov. Russia does not register same-sex marriages. However, Russian family law recognizes marriages that were registered abroad as long as they aren’t between close relatives or people who are already registered as married. “Since neither of us is in another marriage, we’re not close relatives, adoptive parents or adopted children… our marriage is recognized in Russia,” Kochetkov wrote. In 2018, a Moscow civil service stamped the marital status page of a gay couple who tied the knot in Denmark. The civil service later denied registering the marriage and the couple has since fled Russia after facing threats.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-23--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Approach 600K Ahead of Victory Day Parade, Constitutional 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--2020-06-23--Russia to Replace Helicopters With Drones in Inhospitable Arctic

Manned crews in the Arctic face aircraft icing , volatile sea ice and extreme temperatures without support or communications infrastructure , the U.S. defense think tank RAND has explained .
Russian companies are racing to send drones into the Arctic as the country expands its foothold in the forbidding region and climate change gradually opens shipping lanes , experts told Forbes magazine .
Russian state industrial conglomerate Rostec is the latest player to enter the unmanned aerial vehicles market , with one of its subsidiaries announcing last week a partnership with a Latvian startup to make tiltrotor convertiplanes for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies have developed and begun tests of helicopter drones with higher payloads and longer ranges adapted for the Arctic .
Russian researchers are looking into ways to make drones fly for four straight days and take off and land vertically at top speed , while the government is funding university-level research into Arctic UAVs .
The Russian military said last month it was considering using attack drones to protect its national borders in remote parts of the Arctic and the Far East .
Drones in the Arctic are attractive for their potential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Naval Analyses adviser Samuel Bendett told Forbes .
“ A tiltrotor aircraft offers the advantages of both helicopter and aircraft in terms of lift capacity , in-flight stability and airspeed , ” he said .
“ The Russian industry and military is turning to unmanned systems specifically developed for the Arctic weather conditions as a way to save money , expand capabilities and prevent potential human pilot losses.
” Bendett predicted that Russia will step up investments in its Arctic infrastructure to tap the region ’ s rich natural resources and secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Sea Route .
Ice in Russia ’ s Arctic waters disappeared last summer , further increasing the Northern Sea Route ’ s accessibility to container ships .

Manned crews in the Arctic face aircraft icing, volatile sea ice and extreme temperatures without support or communications infrastructure, the U.S. defense think tank RAND has explained.
Russian companies are racing to send drones into the Arctic as the country expands its foothold in the forbidding region and climate change gradually opens shipping lanes, experts told Forbes magazine.
Russian state industrial conglomerate Rostec is the latest player to enter the unmanned aerial vehicles market, with one of its subsidiaries announcing last week a partnership with a Latvian startup to make tiltrotor convertiplanes for the Arctic.
At least two major Russian companies have developed and begun tests of helicopter drones with higher payloads and longer ranges adapted for the Arctic.
Russian researchers are looking into ways to make drones fly for four straight days and take off and land vertically at top speed, while the government is funding university-level research into Arctic UAVs.
The Russian military said last month it was considering using attack drones to protect its national borders in remote parts of the Arctic and the Far East.
Drones in the Arctic are attractive for their potential to save both money and lives, Center for Naval Analyses adviser Samuel Bendett told Forbes.
“A tiltrotor aircraft offers the advantages of both helicopter and aircraft in terms of lift capacity, in-flight stability and airspeed,” he said.
“The Russian industry and military is turning to unmanned systems specifically developed for the Arctic weather conditions as a way to save money, expand capabilities and prevent potential human pilot losses.”
Bendett predicted that Russia will step up investments in its Arctic infrastructure to tap the region’s rich natural resources and secure a coveted shipping lane known as the Northern Sea Route.
Ice in Russia’s Arctic waters disappeared last summer, further increasing the Northern Sea Route’s accessibility to container ships.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Fugitive Oligarch Posts Unseen Photos of Putin’s Daughters

Previously unseen photographs of President Vladimir Putin ’ s rumored daughters have emerged in the archives of the fugitive tycoon once dubbed “ Putin ’ s banker.
” Sergei Pugachev , 57 , is credited with helping Putin ascend to the presidency in 1999 .
He became a French citizen a decade later and left Russia in 2011 after falling out with some of Putin ’ s powerful allies in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis .
Several photographs on Pugachev ’ s website depicted two teenage girls identified as “ Katerina and Mariya Putina.
” Several media outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the last name Tikhonova , and Maria , formerly Faassen and now Vorontsova , as Putin ’ s younger and older daughters .
Captions below the photos identifying the teenagers say that they were allegedly taken at Pugachev ’ s dacha and the Kremlin sometime in the 2000s .
Vorontsova , an endocrinologist who specializes in pediatric growth disorders , is reported to be involved in Russia ’ s development of genetics , including controversial gene-editing technology .
Tikhonova runs publicly funded projects and takes part in competitive rock ' n'roll dancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2013 , has repeatedly dodged questions to confirm or deny reports about his familial relations to Vorontsova and Tikhonova .
Neither woman has confirmed being Putin ’ s daughter .

Previously unseen photographs of President Vladimir Putin’s rumored daughters have emerged in the archives of the fugitive tycoon once dubbed “Putin’s banker.” Sergei Pugachev, 57, is credited with helping Putin ascend to the presidency in 1999. He became a French citizen a decade later and left Russia in 2011 after falling out with some of Putin’s powerful allies in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
pugachevsergei.com
Several photographs on Pugachev’s website depicted two teenage girls identified as “Katerina and Mariya Putina.” Several media outlets have identified Katerina, who now goes by the last name Tikhonova, and Maria, formerly Faassen and now Vorontsova, as Putin’s younger and older daughters. Captions below the photos identifying the teenagers say that they were allegedly taken at Pugachev’s dacha and the Kremlin sometime in the 2000s. Pugachev later told journalist Marc Bennetts that the photos have been on his website for a decade and that "no one has ever paid any attention to them."


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--The City That Builds Russia's Nuclear Submarines Now Has Over 2,000 Covid-19 Cases

Approximately 43 % of all infections in the Arkhangelsk region are in Severodvinsk , regional authorities recently announced .
Severodvinsk is near the Nyonoksa testing site where an August 2019 explosion during a rocket engine test killed five nuclear workers and led to a radiation spike .
The building of nuclear subs and other naval vessels continues despite the increasingly serious virus situation .
Two naval construction yards in a northern Russian city near the site of last year ’ s mysterious nuclear testing accident have become new hotbeds for the coronavirus .
That indicates that there now are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lion ’ s share of the people infected are affiliated with Sevmash and Zvezdochka , the two naval yards .
Despite the introduction of protective measures , the virus has continued to spread among the local population of about 180,000 .
In the past week alone , more than 320 new cases have been registered in town , most of them among the shipbuilders , a statistics overview said .
Temperature testing is conducted at entry points to the yards as well as on the construction premises , and workers are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement is not observed , a local employee told the Sever.Realii newspaper in early June .
Every worker is given 10 masks every five days along with a liter of antiseptic .
But most workers still do not wear the masks and ignore social distancing rules , the worker said .
There are about 30,000 employees at the Sevmash and about 11,000 workers at the Zvezdochka .
While the Zvezdochka engages primarily in vessel repair and upgrades , the Sevmash builds nuclear submarines .
At the moment , there are at least eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them four Borey-class and four Yasen-class subs .

Approximately 43% of all infections in the Arkhangelsk region are in Severodvinsk, regional authorities recently announced .
Severodvinsk is near the Nyonoksa testing site where an August 2019 explosion during a rocket engine test killed five nuclear workers and led to a radiation spike. The building of nuclear subs and other naval vessels continues despite the increasingly serious virus situation.
Two naval construction yards in a northern Russian city near the site of last year’s mysterious nuclear testing accident have become new hotbeds for the coronavirus.
That indicates that there now are more than 2,000 cases in the city.
The lion’s share of the people infected are affiliated with Sevmash and Zvezdochka, the two naval yards.
Despite the introduction of protective measures, the virus has continued to spread among the local population of about 180,000.
In the past week alone, more than 320 new cases have been registered in town, most of them among the shipbuilders, a statistics overview said.
Temperature testing is conducted at entry points to the yards as well as on the construction premises, and workers are required to wear masks.
But the mask requirement is not observed, a local employee told the Sever.Realii newspaper in early June. Every worker is given 10 masks every five days along with a liter of antiseptic.
But most workers still do not wear the masks and ignore social distancing rules, the worker said.
There are about 30,000 employees at the Sevmash and about 11,000 workers at the Zvezdochka.
While the Zvezdochka engages primarily in vessel repair and upgrades, the Sevmash builds nuclear submarines. At the moment, there are at least eight new vessels under construction onsite, among them four Borey-class and four Yasen-class subs.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Chinese Expats Fake Coronavirus Tests to Leave Russia – Reports

Russia temporarily banned Chinese nationals from entry in February in an effort to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak which originated in China from spreading .
As Russia 's caseload surged in April , China tightened security at its border with Russia to prevent a second coronavirus wave from being imported .
The Chinese Embassy in Moscow has issued a warning after some of its citizens forged negative coronavirus test results to fly back home from Russia , the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday .
China ’ s embassy criticized passengers who forge negative Covid-19 test results for causing “ great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work to fight its outbreak , SCMP cited the embassy 's account on the social media app WeChat as saying .
An investigation will “ bear corresponding legal responsibilities ” for those who made the counterfeit test reports , the Chinese embassy reportedly wrote Monday .
The embassy was reported to have issued an almost identical warning on May 29 .
China requires returnees to take nucleic acid test results within five days of flying from Russia to China .
The Chinese Embassy in Moscow did not identify how many Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities where they had departed from and landed in .
It was also unclear if the passengers ’ tests were actually positive .
Russia began registering its first coronavirus cases in early March and has since confirmed almost 607,000 infections , the third-most on the planet .
China , where the virus originated in December , is outside the top 20 with 83,430 cases .
Russia enjoys strong political and military ties with China and has repeatedly defended its neighbor amid U.S. criticism of its handling of the pandemic .

Russia temporarily banned Chinese nationals from entry in February in an effort to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak which originated in China from spreading. As Russia's caseload surged in April, China tightened security at its border with Russia to prevent a second coronavirus wave from being imported.
The Chinese Embassy in Moscow has issued a warning after some of its citizens forged negative coronavirus test results to fly back home from Russia, the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.
China’s embassy criticized passengers who forge negative Covid-19 test results for causing “great harm” to others and undermining China’s work to fight its outbreak, SCMP cited the embassy's account on the social media app WeChat as saying.
An investigation will “bear corresponding legal responsibilities” for those who made the counterfeit test reports, the Chinese embassy reportedly wrote Monday.
The embassy was reported to have issued an almost identical warning on May 29.
China requires returnees to take nucleic acid test results within five days of flying from Russia to China.
The Chinese Embassy in Moscow did not identify how many Chinese passengers had counterfeit test reports or the cities where they had departed from and landed in. It was also unclear if the passengers’ tests were actually positive.
Russia began registering its first coronavirus cases in early March and has since confirmed almost 607,000 infections, the third-most on the planet. China, where the virus originated in December, is outside the top 20 with 83,430 cases.
Russia enjoys strong political and military ties with China and has repeatedly defended its neighbor amid U.S. criticism of its handling of the pandemic.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--In Photos: Russia's Post-Coronavirus WWII Parade Marks 75 Years Since Soviet Victory

Russia staged a grand military parade Wednesday to mark 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World @ @ @ @ @ is impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army had @ @ @ @ @ , '' President Vladimir Putin said at the event .
Russia was forced to postpone @ @ @ @ @ Day celebrations to June 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic .
While several Russian cities @ @ @ @ @ their parades even further because of the virus , the main parade in Moscow went @ @ @ @ @ 's a closer look at the mass military display on Red Square :

In Photos: Russia's Post-Coronavirus WWII Parade Marks 75 Years Since Soviet Victory
Russia staged a grand military parade Wednesday to mark 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
"It is impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army hadn't come to defend it," President Vladimir Putin said at the event.
Russia was forced to postpone the traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations to June 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While several Russian cities have since canceled or postponed their parades even further because of the virus, the main parade in Moscow went on as planned.
Here's a closer look at the mass military display on Red Square:


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Russia Grants Early Release to Jailed Danish Jehovah’s Witness

Danish national Dennis Christensen was arrested in May 2017 at a prayer meeting in the town of Oryol south of Moscow and sentenced in 2019 for six years .
Critics condemned Christensen ’ s jailing as an attack on religious freedom .
A court in western Russia has granted early release to the first Jehovah ’ s Witness to be convicted on extremism charges in the country , the religious group said Tuesday .
A district court in Kursk ordered Christensen to pay a fine of 400,000 rubles ( $ 5,800 ) in lieu of his remaining prison sentence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the court ruling comes into force .
“ Judge Galina Petliza issued the right decision , ” said Yaroslav Sivulsky , a representative of the European Association of Jehovah 's Witnesses .
“ This is a bold and honest act , which Russian judges who hear Jehovah ’ s Witnesses cases don ’ t often dare to commit , ” Sivulsky said .
The Jehovah ’ s Witnesses spokesman at its U.S. headquarters Jarrod Lopes called the fine imposed on Christensen “ unconscionable , after Dennis ’ harrowing experiences in prison.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not erase the fact that Dennis , a peaceful Christian believer , still has to bear the unjust stigma of being convicted as an extremist , ” Lopes said in a statement .
Russia outlawed the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses as an “ extremist ” organization in April 2017 and has since issued a series of lengthy sentences against believers .
The Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia organization said 10 worshippers are currently serving time in Russian penal colonies and 24 are in pre-trial detention .
More than 350 Jehovah ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group ’ s U.S. headquarters criticized Russia ’ s crackdown on the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses for disregarding its own Constitution , which guarantees freedom of religion , as well as international human rights law .

Danish national Dennis Christensen was arrested in May 2017 at a prayer meeting in the town of Oryol south of Moscow and sentenced in 2019 for six years. Critics condemned Christensen’s jailing as an attack on religious freedom.
A court in western Russia has granted early release to the first Jehovah’s Witness to be convicted on extremism charges in the country, the religious group said Tuesday.
A district court in Kursk ordered Christensen to pay a fine of 400,000 rubles ($5,800) in lieu of his remaining prison sentence. The organization said Christensen will go free after the court ruling comes into force.
“Judge Galina Petliza issued the right decision,” said Yaroslav Sivulsky, a representative of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses.
“This is a bold and honest act, which Russian judges who hear Jehovah’s Witnesses cases don’t often dare to commit,” Sivulsky said.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman at its U.S. headquarters Jarrod Lopes called the fine imposed on Christensen “unconscionable, after Dennis’ harrowing experiences in prison.”
“Today’s ruling also does not erase the fact that Dennis, a peaceful Christian believer, still has to bear the unjust stigma of being convicted as an extremist,” Lopes said in a statement.
Russia outlawed the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist” organization in April 2017 and has since issued a series of lengthy sentences against believers.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia organization said 10 worshippers are currently serving time in Russian penal colonies and 24 are in pre-trial detention. More than 350 Jehovah’s Witnesses face criminal charges.
The religious group’s U.S. headquarters criticized Russia’s crackdown on the Jehovah’s Witnesses for disregarding its own Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, as well as international human rights law.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Kyrgyz President Sits Out Moscow WWII Parade After Staffers Test Positive for Virus

Zheenbekov was one of several leaders set to attend the parade on Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II .
Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov pulled out of attending Russia ’ s Victory Day parade after two members of his delegation tested positive for coronavirus upon arriving in Moscow , his press service said Wednesday .
Kyrgyzstan 's president , who makes a point of NEVER wearing a mask or taking proper precautions , arrived in Moscow yesterday but has refrained from going to Victory Day parade because two people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus https : //t.co/2RzSMLp4oI Zheenbekov will now spend three days in self-isolation , his press service said .
The two staffers who tested positive for Covid-19 will self-isolate for 14 days .
The leaders of Belarus , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Kazakhstan , Moldova , Serbia , Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — in addition to the heads of breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia — were present at Wednesday ’ s parade .
The parade — which was postponed from May 9 due to the coronavirus — is being seen as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that would allow him to extend his rule by 12 years .
Observers have warned that staging the mass event , which featured 14,000 troops from 13 countries , could trigger a new wave of coronavirus infections .
Russia has continued to see thousands of new Covid-19 cases in recent weeks , surpassing 600,000 on Wednesday .

Zheenbekov was one of several leaders set to attend the parade on Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.
Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov pulled out of attending Russia’s Victory Day parade after two members of his delegation tested positive for coronavirus upon arriving in Moscow, his press service said Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan's president, who makes a point of NEVER wearing a mask or taking proper precautions, arrived in Moscow yesterday but has refrained from going to Victory Day parade because two people in his retinue have been found to have coronavirus https://t.co/2RzSMLp4oI
Zheenbekov will now spend three days in self-isolation, his press service said. The two staffers who tested positive for Covid-19 will self-isolate for 14 days.
The leaders of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — in addition to the heads of breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia — were present at Wednesday’s parade.
The parade — which was postponed from May 9 due to the coronavirus — is being seen as a major showcase for President Vladimir Putin ahead of a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that would allow him to extend his rule by 12 years.
Observers have warned that staging the mass event, which featured 14,000 troops from 13 countries, could trigger a new wave of coronavirus infections. Russia has continued to see thousands of new Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, surpassing 600,000 on Wednesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--Russia Stages Grand WWII Parade Ahead of Vote on Putin Reforms

Putin was flanked on Red Square by elderly war veterans in uniforms laden with medals as thousands of troops carrying bright banners and Kalashnikov rifles marched in the blazing sun to mark the Soviet Union 's defeat of Nazi Germany .
Columns of tanks and troops paraded through Moscow on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over grand World War II commemorations to stir up patriotic fervor ahead of a vote on extending his rule .
Forced to postpone the traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations by the coronavirus pandemic , Putin rescheduled the parade for just a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional reforms .
Among other changes , the reforms Putin proposed earlier this year would reset his presidential term-limit clock to zero , allowing him to run two more times and potentially stay in the Kremlin until 2036 .
`` It is impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army had n't come to defend it , '' the president said in an address to troops following a minute of silence to remember soldiers who died in the fighting .
Putin hailed the Soviet role in World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe , ending the Holocaust and saving Germany from Nazism , saying it was `` our duty to keep this in mind . ''
Last month he announced the new dates for both the parade and the vote — initially planned for April — despite Russia still recording thousands of new coronavirus cases every day .
The rate of new infections has fallen in recent weeks and cities including Moscow have lifted anti-virus lockdowns , but critics accuse Putin of rushing ahead with public events to pursue his own political ends .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the Nazi defeat , showcased 14,000 troops from 13 countries , as well as vintage equipment and the country 's latest military hardware .
The date coincides with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square , when Soviet troops threw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24 , 1945 .
In his two decades in office , Putin has harnessed the legacy of the Soviet victory to boost patriotic sentiment and support for his government .
Ahead of the parade , he slammed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing down the U.S.S.R. 's role in winning the war .
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron had been scheduled , before the pandemic , to stand with the Kremlin chief at the parade , in a testament to Russia 's growing international influence under Putin .
Instead Putin sat with the heads of former Soviet republics like Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko .
With more than 8,000 recorded deaths and over 600,000 confirmed infections , Russia has the third-largest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed in the lead-up to the parade , but participants were not wearing masks .
The parade was held despite a ban on mass gatherings remaining in place .
Dozens of regions decided to drop their own parades , fearing a surge in cases , but festivities went ahead in many cities including St. Petersburg , Volgograd and Simferopol in Russia-annexed Crimea .

Putin was flanked on Red Square by elderly war veterans in uniforms laden with medals as thousands of troops carrying bright banners and Kalashnikov rifles marched in the blazing sun to mark the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany.
Columns of tanks and troops paraded through Moscow on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over grand World War II commemorations to stir up patriotic fervor ahead of a vote on extending his rule.
Forced to postpone the traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations by the coronavirus pandemic, Putin rescheduled the parade for just a week before the July 1 vote on controversial constitutional reforms.
Among other changes, the reforms Putin proposed earlier this year would reset his presidential term-limit clock to zero, allowing him to run two more times and potentially stay in the Kremlin until 2036.
"It is impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army hadn't come to defend it," the president said in an address to troops following a minute of silence to remember soldiers who died in the fighting.
Putin hailed the Soviet role in World War II praising the Red Army for liberating Europe, ending the Holocaust and saving Germany from Nazism, saying it was "our duty to keep this in mind."
Last month he announced the new dates for both the parade and the vote — initially planned for April — despite Russia still recording thousands of new coronavirus cases every day.
The rate of new infections has fallen in recent weeks and cities including Moscow have lifted anti-virus lockdowns, but critics accuse Putin of rushing ahead with public events to pursue his own political ends.
This year's parade, marking 75 years since the Nazi defeat, showcased 14,000 troops from 13 countries, as well as vintage equipment and the country's latest military hardware.
The date coincides with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square, when Soviet troops threw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24, 1945.
Contagion fears
In his two decades in office, Putin has harnessed the legacy of the Soviet victory to boost patriotic sentiment and support for his government.
Ahead of the parade, he slammed the West for "insulting Russia" by playing down the U.S.S.R.'s role in winning the war.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron had been scheduled, before the pandemic, to stand with the Kremlin chief at the parade, in a testament to Russia's growing international influence under Putin.
Instead Putin sat with the heads of former Soviet republics like Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko.
With more than 8,000 recorded deaths and over 600,000 confirmed infections, Russia has the third-largest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil.
The Kremlin said safety precautions were observed in the lead-up to the parade, but participants were not wearing masks.
The parade was held despite a ban on mass gatherings remaining in place.
Dozens of regions decided to drop their own parades, fearing a surge in cases, but festivities went ahead in many cities including St. Petersburg, Volgograd and Simferopol in Russia-annexed Crimea.


themoscowtimes--2020-06-24--EU Considers Blocking Russians Upon Reopening Borders – NYT

American and Brazilian visitors could also face the EU ban over the countries ’ failures to control their Covid-19 outbreaks .
The U.S. , Brazil and Russia have the world ’ s highest Covid-19 caseloads with more than 4.1 million infections combined .
The European Union is considering barring Russian travelers from entering when it reopens its borders next week , The New York Times reported Tuesday .
“ Discussions are happening very intensively , ” European Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz told NYT about the upcoming decision on which travelers to let in when the bloc reopens its outside borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders to nonessential travel in mid-March .
The 27-member bloc will reopen its outside borders July 1 after it largely curbed its Covid-19 outbreak in a move to revive its members ’ economies .
An NYT database places Brazil ’ s , the U.S. and Russia ’ s cases per 100,000 people at 190 , 107 and 80 respectively .
The EU ’ s benchmark for the average number of new infections reportedly stands at 16 per 100,000 .
China , the country where the coronavirus originated in December , is reportedly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU officials and diplomats have grappled with the list in recent weeks and plan to meet again Wednesday to hash out differences over two versions , NYT reported .
Unnamed EU officials involved in talks signaled that the U.S. will likely remain on the ban list despite economic and geopolitical disruptions , NYT reported .
They told the newspaper that the EU ’ s criteria for its list of “ safe countries ” is as scientific and nonpolitical as possible .
The U.S. could be added to the safe list , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifts from country to country , at a later time .
The EU can ’ t force its 27 members to adopt the list but have reportedly warned them that failure to comply could push the bloc to reinstate internal borders .
Russia 's borders have been closed to foreign nationals since mid-March .
Russia has confirmed 606,881 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday .
Its death toll of 8,513 , significantly lower than in other countries with similarly large coronavirus outbreaks , has raised questions about officials possibly underreporting data .
Russia attributes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its practice of carrying out autopsies to establish cause of death .

American and Brazilian visitors could also face the EU ban over the countries’ failures to control their Covid-19 outbreaks. The U.S., Brazil and Russia have the world’s highest Covid-19 caseloads with more than 4.1 million infections combined.
The European Union is considering barring Russian travelers from entering when it reopens its borders next week, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
“Discussions are happening very intensively,” European Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz told NYT about the upcoming decision on which travelers to let in when the bloc reopens its outside borders next Wednesday.
Jahnz called the process “a full-time job.”
The EU closed its borders to nonessential travel in mid-March. The 27-member bloc will reopen its outside borders July 1 after it largely curbed its Covid-19 outbreak in a move to revive its members’ economies.
An NYT database places Brazil’s, the U.S. and Russia’s cases per 100,000 people at 190, 107 and 80 respectively. The EU’s benchmark for the average number of new infections reportedly stands at 16 per 100,000.
China, the country where the coronavirus originated in December, is reportedly on the EU’s safe list.
EU officials and diplomats have grappled with the list in recent weeks and plan to meet again Wednesday to hash out differences over two versions, NYT reported.
Unnamed EU officials involved in talks signaled that the U.S. will likely remain on the ban list despite economic and geopolitical disruptions, NYT reported. They told the newspaper that the EU’s criteria for its list of “safe countries” is as scientific and nonpolitical as possible.
The U.S. could be added to the safe list, which would face revisions every two weeks as Covid-19 shifts from country to country, at a later time.
The EU can’t force its 27 members to adopt the list but have reportedly warned them that failure to comply could push the bloc to reinstate internal borders.
Russia's borders have been closed to foreign nationals since mid-March.
Russia has confirmed 606,881 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday. Its death toll of 8,513, significantly lower than in other countries with similarly large coronavirus outbreaks, has raised questions about officials possibly underreporting data. Russia attributes its low death figures to mass testing and its practice of carrying out autopsies to establish cause of death.