themoscowtimes--2020-10-04--Suspected Russian Hitman on Trial Over Berlin Killing

German prosecutors , who do not release the full names of suspects ahead of criminal trials , have said the contract killing was carried out at the behest of Russia , prompting Berlin to expel two Russian diplomats .
Vadim K. , also known as Vadim S. , stands accused of gunning down a Georgian national identified by German authorities as 40-year-old Tornike K. , in Kleiner Tiergarten park on August 23 last year .
A Russian man goes on trial Wednesday accused of assassinating a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park on Moscow 's orders , a case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Russia and Germany .
Chancellor Angela Merkel said in May that the killing `` disrupts a cooperation of trust '' between Berlin and Moscow and some analysts have suggested the murder has led to a change in her approach towards Russia .
The German leader has always stressed the importance of keeping dialogue open with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin , but she has sharpened her tone in recent months .
The trial comes at a time of European anger with Russia over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Germany has said that tests it carried out found that the 44-year-old was poisoned with the Soviet-era deadly nerve agent Novichok .
France and Sweden have corroborated the finding , which activists say puts responsibility for the murder attempt squarely on Moscow .
Merkel 's government has not ruled out pushing for sanctions from the European Union over the attack .
With tensions running high , Wednesday 's trial will likely be closely scrutinized for details about Moscow 's involvement .
Investigative website Bellingcat named the suspect as 54-year-old Vadim Krasikov , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was part of the Soviet Union before moving to the Russian region of Siberia .
He received training from Russian intelligence service FSB and was part of its elite squad , the website said .
Days before the killing , he had posed as a tourist , visiting sights in Paris including the Eiffel Tower before travelling to Warsaw , according to a separate report in Der Spiegel weekly .
He also toured the Polish capital before vanishing on August 22 , without checking out from his hotel , the report said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin 's Kleiner Tiergarten park , the suspect approached the victim from behind , firing a Glock 26 pistol equipped with a silencer at the side of Tornike K. 's torso , German prosecutors said .
After the victim fell to the ground , the accused fired another two shots at his head that killed the Georgian on the spot .
He was seen throwing a bag into the nearby Spree river from where police divers later recovered the Glock handgun , a wig and bicycle .
The suspect was arrested after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes away from the chancellery and the German parliament .
Investigators later found his mobile phone and a return flight ticket for Moscow in August 25 in his hotel room in Warsaw , Spiegel reported .
Russian President Vladimir Putin had described the victim as a `` fighter , very cruel and bloody '' who had fought with separatists against Russian forces in the Caucasus and also been involved in bombing attacks on the Moscow metro .
Moscow also said it had been seeking his extradition .
Named as Zelimkhan Khangoshvili by German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assassination attempts in Georgia .
Following that , he sought asylum in Germany and had spent the past years in the country .
Both the killing and Navalny 's poisoning have been compared with the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in Britain in 2018 , also widely blamed on Russian intelligence .
Russia has for years drawn the ire of Western powers , from annexing Ukraine 's Crimea to meddling in elections and backing President Bashar al-Assad 's government in Syria .

German prosecutors, who do not release the full names of suspects ahead of criminal trials, have said the contract killing was carried out at the behest of Russia, prompting Berlin to expel two Russian diplomats.
Vadim K., also known as Vadim S., stands accused of gunning down a Georgian national identified by German authorities as 40-year-old Tornike K., in Kleiner Tiergarten park on August 23 last year.
A Russian man goes on trial Wednesday accused of assassinating a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park on Moscow's orders, a case that has cast a pall over ties between Russia and Germany.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said in May that the killing "disrupts a cooperation of trust" between Berlin and Moscow and some analysts have suggested the murder has led to a change in her approach towards Russia.
The German leader has always stressed the importance of keeping dialogue open with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but she has sharpened her tone in recent months.
The trial comes at a time of European anger with Russia over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is receiving treatment in the German capital.
Germany has said that tests it carried out found that the 44-year-old was poisoned with the Soviet-era deadly nerve agent Novichok.
France and Sweden have corroborated the finding, which activists say puts responsibility for the murder attempt squarely on Moscow.
Merkel's government has not ruled out pushing for sanctions from the European Union over the attack.
FSB link?
With tensions running high, Wednesday's trial will likely be closely scrutinized for details about Moscow's involvement.
Investigative website Bellingcat named the suspect as 54-year-old Vadim Krasikov, who grew up in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union before moving to the Russian region of Siberia.
He received training from Russian intelligence service FSB and was part of its elite squad, the website said.
Days before the killing, he had posed as a tourist, visiting sights in Paris including the Eiffel Tower before travelling to Warsaw, according to a separate report in Der Spiegel weekly.
He also toured the Polish capital before vanishing on August 22, without checking out from his hotel, the report said.
A day later, riding a bicycle in Berlin's Kleiner Tiergarten park, the suspect approached the victim from behind, firing a Glock 26 pistol equipped with a silencer at the side of Tornike K.'s torso, German prosecutors said.
After the victim fell to the ground, the accused fired another two shots at his head that killed the Georgian on the spot.
He was seen throwing a bag into the nearby Spree river from where police divers later recovered the Glock handgun, a wig and bicycle.
The suspect was arrested after the killing, which took place just minutes away from the chancellery and the German parliament.
Investigators later found his mobile phone and a return flight ticket for Moscow in August 25 in his hotel room in Warsaw, Spiegel reported.
'Very cruel'
Russian President Vladimir Putin had described the victim as a "fighter, very cruel and bloody" who had fought with separatists against Russian forces in the Caucasus and also been involved in bombing attacks on the Moscow metro.
Moscow also said it had been seeking his extradition.
Named as Zelimkhan Khangoshvili by German media, the victim had survived two assassination attempts in Georgia.
Following that, he sought asylum in Germany and had spent the past years in the country.
Both the killing and Navalny's poisoning have been compared with the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in Britain in 2018, also widely blamed on Russian intelligence.
Russia has for years drawn the ire of Western powers, from annexing Ukraine's Crimea to meddling in elections and backing President Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-04--Belarus Police Use Water Cannon in Minsk, Detain Protesters

Rights group Viasna said demonstrators were detained in the capital Minsk as well as other places including Vitebsk and Gomel .
Interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told AFP that water cannon had been used in Minsk and that there had been detentions , but provided no further details .
But after it had begun in the center of the capital , police confirmed they had moved in on the protest , which like others was considered an illegal gathering .
Demonstrators dedicated their march — which came after Brussels and Washington introduced sanctions against a number of Belarusian officials — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian police on Sunday used water cannon to disperse a rally in Minsk as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the latest weekend protest against strongman Alexander Lukashenko 's disputed re-election .
Ahead of the march authorities withdrew the accreditation of all foreign journalists in Belarus , complicating the coverage of opposition demonstrations .
Belarusians this week also received official text messages saying they could face criminal responsibility for taking part in `` unsanctioned '' rallies .
`` Do not make a mistake ! ''
the interior ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to Lukashenko 's rule has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations since his controversial election win on August 9 , with 100,000 people or more taking to the streets every Sunday .
Ahead of the rally , the Nexta Live opposition Telegram channel , which has coordinated protesters and has more than two million subscribers , urged Belarusians to march towards a detention center in Minsk in support of political prisoners .
`` These are people who have suffered for their convictions -- and are still suffering , '' Lukashenko 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement ahead of the protest .
`` Our task is to set them free . ''
According to Viasna there are now 77 `` political prisoners '' in Belarus including Tikhanovskaya 's husband and opposition blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky , who was not allowed to run for president , and senior opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova , who ripped up her passport to prevent authorities from deporting her .
Also on the list is Belarusian-U.S. strategist Vitali Shkliarov , who has worked on US Senator Bernie Sanders 's presidential campaign and advised the Russian opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he arrived to see his elderly parents .
Russia has backed its longstanding ally Lukashenko , offering financial backing and promising military support if events turn against him .
On Friday , the United States and the European Union hit Belarus with long-awaited sanctions for rigging the vote and orchestrating the crackdown on protesters , targeting key officials — but not Lukashenko himself .
Minsk swiftly announced tit-for-tat `` counter sanctions '' against the EU , although it was not clear what form these would take or what or who they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water cannon , stun grenades and rubber bullets and in the first protests after the election detained thousands of people , many of whom complained of torture and abuse in custody .
Several people have died in the crackdown .

Belarusian police on Sunday used water cannon to disperse a rally in Minsk as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the latest weekend protest against strongman Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election. Demonstrators dedicated their march — which came after Brussels and Washington introduced sanctions against a number of Belarusian officials — to the plight of political prisoners. But after it had begun in the center of the capital, police confirmed they had moved in on the protest, which like others was considered an illegal gathering. Interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told AFP that water cannon had been used in Minsk and that there had been detentions, but provided no further details. Rights group Viasna said demonstrators were detained in the capital Minsk as well as other places including Vitebsk and Gomel.
Ahead of the march authorities withdrew the accreditation of all foreign journalists in Belarus, complicating the coverage of opposition demonstrations. Belarusians this week also received official text messages saying they could face criminal responsibility for taking part in "unsanctioned" rallies. "Do not make a mistake!" the interior ministry said. The opposition movement calling for an end to Lukashenko's rule has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations since his controversial election win on August 9, with 100,000 people or more taking to the streets every Sunday. Ahead of the rally, the Nexta Live opposition Telegram channel, which has coordinated protesters and has more than two million subscribers, urged Belarusians to march towards a detention center in Minsk in support of political prisoners. "These are people who have suffered for their convictions -- and are still suffering," Lukashenko's election rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said in a statement ahead of the protest. "Our task is to set them free." According to Viasna there are now 77 "political prisoners" in Belarus including Tikhanovskaya's husband and opposition blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, who was not allowed to run for president, and senior opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, who ripped up her passport to prevent authorities from deporting her. Sanctions, counter-sanctions Also on the list is Belarusian-U.S. strategist Vitali Shkliarov, who has worked on US Senator Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign and advised the Russian opposition. He was arrested in late July as he arrived to see his elderly parents. Russia has backed its longstanding ally Lukashenko, offering financial backing and promising military support if events turn against him. On Friday, the United States and the European Union hit Belarus with long-awaited sanctions for rigging the vote and orchestrating the crackdown on protesters, targeting key officials — but not Lukashenko himself. Minsk swiftly announced tit-for-tat "counter sanctions" against the EU, although it was not clear what form these would take or what or who they would target. The interior ministry has used water cannon, stun grenades and rubber bullets and in the first protests after the election detained thousands of people, many of whom complained of torture and abuse in custody. Several people have died in the crackdown.
news Belarus Opposition Leader Takes Risky Diplomatic Path Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-10-05--Striking Dockers in Far East Russia Pelt New Management With Helmets

Video shows the Far East Shipping Company ( FESCO ) President Arkady Korostelev and Roman Kukharuk , the newly appointed manager of its subsidiary the Commercial Port of Vladivostok , attempting to walk toward an improvised stage under the rain of helmets .
As the two managers turn to leave , some workers in the angry crowd can be seen attempting to grab Korostelev and hit him .
Striking dockers in Russia ’ s Far East capital of Vladivostok tossed their helmets at upper management in protest during an attempted negotiation Monday , the local VL.ru news website reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korostelev to end the strike but became outraged after he allegedly referred to them as “ cattle ” while walking through their ranks , VL.ru wrote .
FESCO representatives have called the workers ’ actions Monday “ unjustified ” and vowed to file a criminal complaint over the helmet-throwing .
Port of Vladivostok employees went on strike last week after the company ’ s board fired port manager Zairbek Yusupov and appointed Kukharuk in his place .
The striking port workers believe Yusupov was ousted due to company politics and fear that working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everyone was outraged with the news and gathered to show disagreement [ with the decision ] .
Yusupov is a living example of how to build a stellar career in the shipping industry and to remain honest with both stakeholders and ordinary workers .
He became a true leader for us and I hope we will be able to defend his place , ” the striking head of the port supply department told VL.ru .
Port management has said it believes Yusupov instigated the strike and has threatened to pursue legal action @ @ @ @ @

Video shows the Far East Shipping Company (FESCO) President Arkady Korostelev and Roman Kukharuk, the newly appointed manager of its subsidiary the Commercial Port of Vladivostok, attempting to walk toward an improvised stage under the rain of helmets. As the two managers turn to leave, some workers in the angry crowd can be seen attempting to grab Korostelev and hit him.
Striking dockers in Russia’s Far East capital of Vladivostok tossed their helmets at upper management in protest during an attempted negotiation Monday, the local VL.ru news website reported .
The workers had gathered for negotiations with Korostelev to end the strike but became outraged after he allegedly referred to them as “cattle” while walking through their ranks, VL.ru wrote.
FESCO representatives have called the workers’ actions Monday “unjustified” and vowed to file a criminal complaint over the helmet-throwing.
Port of Vladivostok employees went on strike last week after the company’s board fired port manager Zairbek Yusupov and appointed Kukharuk in his place.
The striking port workers believe Yusupov was ousted due to company politics and fear that working conditions will worsen under his replacement.
“Everyone was outraged with the news and gathered to show disagreement [with the decision]. Yusupov is a living example of how to build a stellar career in the shipping industry and to remain honest with both stakeholders and ordinary workers. He became a true leader for us and I hope we will be able to defend his place,” the striking head of the port supply department told VL.ru.
Port management has said it believes Yusupov instigated the strike and has threatened to pursue legal action against the striking workers.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-05--Russia Ignores Requests to Share Controversial Coronavirus Vaccine Data

A group of 37 scientists from 12 countries have now signed an open letter questioning the published results into Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine , citing apparent duplications of data concerning antibody responses among participants given different formulations of the vaccine .
They say such duplication is “ highly unlikely ” and raised the possibility of data manipulation .
Russian scientists have not shared the data behind controversial clinical trial results into a coronavirus vaccine published in leading medical journal The Lancet a month ago , researchers who requested the information told The Moscow Times .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , the Gamaleya Institute , has disputed the claims .
And in a reply published Sept. 21 by the Lancet , the Institute said it would share the raw data if other researchers and scientists sent them a formal request .
The original publication only included results in diagram form .
But the Gamaleya Institute has ignored multiple public calls and at least two official proposals requesting access to the data , according to the group of researchers who first raised concerns .
In emails seen by The Moscow Times , Raffaele @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Turin ’ s bioinformatics and genomics unit sent official requests to Denis Logunov , the study ’ s lead author and deputy research director of the Gamaleya Institute , on Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 asking for the “ raw anonymized data.
” “ The data will be used by me and other authors of the correspondence letter to reconstruct the overall figures described in your paper and to clarify the concerns described , ” Calogero told Logunov , attaching the formal signed request .
Logunov has not responded to either email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Calogero said .
The emails and attached letter were sent to Logunov ’ s official correspondence address for the study , which was published by The Lancet .
Logunov did not respond to The Moscow Times ’ requests for comment .
Enrico Bucci , a biology professor at Temple University in the U.S. who first highlighted possible data duplication said Russia ’ s public response failed to address his concerns and that he does not expect Russia to become “ more transparent.
” “ Their answer was mostly a repetition of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the wording , ” he told The Moscow Times .
“ Most of our questions were left unaddressed and , chiefly , they did not provide us with the required data .
We are in the same position as before.
” He added : “ We don ’ t know whether they will answer .
They didn ’ t in the past , and they are saying that they reserve the final decision over who to let have the data , which is also very strange .
This is contrary to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be open.
” The critics say they need the data to properly scrutinize the published results and assess their veracity .
One of the letter ’ s signatories , Konstantin Andreev of Northwestern University in the U.S. told the Meduza news outlet the probability of achieving the results which were published was just 1.4 % .
Bucci said that even using the most favorable possible assumptions to fill in data gaps , he could not find a “ high probability ” of reproducing the Russian results in his statistical models .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ And we can not unless they provide us with the details and data we requested.
” Bucci also criticized The Lancet for its role in the study .
“ We had a journal publish something without access to the data or without providing the reader access to the data.
” The results in question — non-randomized Phase 1/2 clinical trials of Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine — were originally published in The Lancet on Sept. 4 .
The study involved 76 volunteers , all of whom developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects .
Russian authorities loudly cheered the findings , including the fact that the study was published in The Lancet — seen as the world ’ s leading medical journal .
On the day the study was published , Kirill Dmitriev , CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) , which is funding the vaccine development , said the study was “ the final answer in the round of questions directed against Russia ” over the vaccine ’ s development .

A group of 37 scientists from 12 countries have now signed an open letter questioning the published results into Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, citing apparent duplications of data concerning antibody responses among participants given different formulations of the vaccine. They say such duplication is “ highly unlikely ” and raised the possibility of data manipulation.
Russian scientists have not shared the data behind controversial clinical trial results into a coronavirus vaccine published in leading medical journal The Lancet a month ago, researchers who requested the information told The Moscow Times.
Russia’s state research center responsible for developing the vaccine, the Gamaleya Institute, has disputed the claims. And in a reply published Sept. 21 by The Lancet, the Institute said it would share the raw data if other researchers and scientists sent them a formal request. The original publication only included results in diagram form.
But the Gamaleya Institute has ignored multiple public calls and at least two official proposals requesting access to the data, according to the group of researchers who first raised concerns.
In emails seen by The Moscow Times, Raffaele Calogero, a professor at the University of Turin’s bioinformatics and genomics unit sent official requests to Denis Logunov, the study’s lead author and deputy research director of the Gamaleya Institute, on Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 asking for the “raw anonymized data.”
“The data will be used by me and other authors of the correspondence letter to reconstruct the overall figures described in your paper and to clarify the concerns described,” Calogero told Logunov, attaching the formal signed request.
Logunov has not responded to either email or acknowledged that he has received them, Calogero said. The emails and attached letter were sent to Logunov’s official correspondence address for the study, which was published by The Lancet. Logunov did not respond to The Moscow Times’ requests for comment.
'Very strange'
Enrico Bucci, a biology professor at Temple University in the U.S. who first highlighted possible data duplication said Russia’s public response failed to address his concerns and that he does not expect Russia to become “more transparent.”
“Their answer was mostly a repetition of what’s in the original paper — even the wording,” he told The Moscow Times. “Most of our questions were left unaddressed and, chiefly, they did not provide us with the required data. We are in the same position as before.”
He added: “We don’t know whether they will answer. They didn’t in the past, and they are saying that they reserve the final decision over who to let have the data, which is also very strange. This is contrary to the standards of science, where we have to be open.”
The critics say they need the data to properly scrutinize the published results and assess their veracity.
One of the letter’s signatories, Konstantin Andreev of Northwestern University in the U.S. told the Meduza news outlet the probability of achieving the results which were published was just 1.4%. Bucci said that even using the most favorable possible assumptions to fill in data gaps, he could not find a “high probability” of reproducing the Russian results in his statistical models.
“We need to go into this,” he said. “And we cannot unless they provide us with the details and data we requested.”
Bucci also criticized The Lancet for its role in the study. “We had a journal publish something without access to the data or without providing the reader access to the data.”
Fast-track approval
The results in question — non-randomized Phase 1/2 clinical trials of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine — were originally published in The Lancet on Sept. 4. The study involved 76 volunteers, all of whom developed an immune response and reported no serious side effects.
Russian authorities loudly cheered the findings, including the fact that the study was published in The Lancet — seen as the world’s leading medical journal. On the day the study was published, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is funding the vaccine development, said the study was “the final answer in the round of questions directed against Russia” over the vaccine’s development.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-05--Russia’s Coronavirus Deaths Are Double Reported Figures – Statistics Agency

According to state statistics agency Rosstat , 45,663 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died between April and August in Russia .
Official government statistics suggest that more than 45,000 Russians with coronavirus have died since the start of the pandemic , double the number of deaths estimated by Russia ’ s coronavirus task force .
The national task force , which collates daily figures based on data reported by regional crisis centers , places the total nationwide death toll at 21,475 over the past seven months .
That ’ s less than half of Rosstat ’ s five-month total .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using figures compiled from the causes of death listed on death certificates .
Covid-19 was likely the main cause of death in 3,863 of these fatalities , Rosstat said in a counting practice that runs against World Health Organization guidelines .
In the other 3,600 coronavirus-related fatalities , Covid-19 either had no effect or “ contributed to complications that led to the patient ’ s death.
” Overall , Rosstat recorded 157,181 deaths across Russia in August .
That ’ s up by 9.6 % from August 2019 and higher than an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of August over the previous five years .
Coronavirus-related deaths declined by approximately 37 % in August compared to July .
Russia 's daily number of new infections is continuing to spike for a second consecutive month as the rest of Europe says it ’ s dealing with the onslaught of a second wave .
Russian officials maintain the country is still in the midst of its first wave .
On Monday , the national task force confirmed 10,888 new Covid-19 cases , the highest daily count since May 12 .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of confirmed coronavirus cases at more than 1.22 million .

According to state statistics agency Rosstat, 45,663 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died between April and August in Russia.
Official government statistics suggest that more than 45,000 Russians with coronavirus have died since the start of the pandemic, double the number of deaths estimated by Russia’s coronavirus task force.
The national task force, which collates daily figures based on data reported by regional crisis centers, places the total nationwide death toll at 21,475 over the past seven months. That’s less than half of Rosstat’s five-month total.
Rosstat found 7,463 coronavirus-related fatalities in August, using figures compiled from the causes of death listed on death certificates. Covid-19 was likely the main cause of death in 3,863 of these fatalities, Rosstat said in a counting practice that runs against World Health Organization guidelines.
In the other 3,600 coronavirus-related fatalities, Covid-19 either had no effect or “contributed to complications that led to the patient’s death.”
Overall, Rosstat recorded 157,181 deaths across Russia in August. That’s up by 9.6% from August 2019 and higher than an average of around 150,000 deaths in the months of August over the previous five years.
Coronavirus-related deaths declined by approximately 37% in August compared to July.
Russia's daily number of new infections is continuing to spike for a second consecutive month as the rest of Europe says it’s dealing with the onslaught of a second wave. Russian officials maintain the country is still in the midst of its first wave.
On Monday, the national task force confirmed 10,888 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily count since May 12.
Russia has the world’s fourth-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases at more than 1.22 million.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-05--Russia Virus Cases Approach May High in 'Serious' Upturn

Russia on Monday recorded a rise in coronavirus cases close to the maximum level in May but it has stopped short of reimposing strict lockdown measures .
With the fourth-highest number of cases in the global pandemic , Russia introduced harsh measures during the first outbreak of the virus including the closure of borders from March while Muscovites had to apply for electronic passes to travel round the city .
On Monday , the government confirmed 10,888 new cases , approaching the May 11 highest recorded level of 11,656 .
Of these , 3,537 were in the capital , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergei Sobyanin said Sunday there are `` many seriously ill. '' Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday that a sharp upturn in cases since late September was `` serious '' but added that `` we expected this , '' the TASS state news agency reported .
She cited people returning to workplaces and the rise in flu and pneumonia cases generally expected in autumn and winter .
In Moscow , the mayor has introduced some measures to slow the infection rate , telling those over 65 to stay at home and requiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff working from home from Monday .
These measures fall far short of the tight lockdown that reached its height in Moscow in March .
The capital saw its highest daily level of new cases in May , at 6,703 , much higher than the current figure .
`` I imagine a full self-isolation regime wo n't be reintroduced in Russia , '' Senator Valery Ryazansky told the RIA Novosti state news agency on Monday .
However he warned that a full border closure was possible .
`` Of course we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming to this , '' he said .
Fears over the impact of the virus , among other factors , have hit the ruble , which last month slumped to its lowest level against the euro since 2016 .
It approved a vaccine called Sputnik V in August , claiming a world first , although large-scale clinical trials are continuing .
Another Russian vaccine is also undergoing trials .

Russia on Monday recorded a rise in coronavirus cases close to the maximum level in May but it has stopped short of reimposing strict lockdown measures.
With the fourth-highest number of cases in the global pandemic, Russia introduced harsh measures during the first outbreak of the virus including the closure of borders from March while Muscovites had to apply for electronic passes to travel round the city.
On Monday, the government confirmed 10,888 new cases, approaching the May 11 highest recorded level of 11,656.
Of these, 3,537 were in the capital, the worst-hit city by far, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Sunday there are "many seriously ill."
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday that a sharp upturn in cases since late September was "serious" but added that "we expected this," the TASS state news agency reported.
She cited people returning to workplaces and the rise in flu and pneumonia cases generally expected in autumn and winter.
In Moscow, the mayor has introduced some measures to slow the infection rate, telling those over 65 to stay at home and requiring companies to have at least 30 percent of staff working from home from Monday.
These measures fall far short of the tight lockdown that reached its height in Moscow in March. The capital saw its highest daily level of new cases in May, at 6,703, much higher than the current figure.
"I imagine a full self-isolation regime won't be reintroduced in Russia," Senator Valery Ryazansky told the RIA Novosti state news agency on Monday.
However he warned that a full border closure was possible.
"Of course we can close the Russia border. We are coming to this," he said.
Fears over the impact of the virus, among other factors, have hit the ruble, which last month slumped to its lowest level against the euro since 2016.
Russia has recorded 21,475 virus deaths.
It approved a vaccine called Sputnik V in August, claiming a world first, although large-scale clinical trials are continuing. Another Russian vaccine is also undergoing trials.