themoscowtimes--2020-12-19--U.S. Planning to Close last Consulates in Russia

Donald Trump 's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining U.S. consulates in Russia , the State Department confirmed Saturday , as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow .
The U.S. will close its consulate in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg , a department spokesperson told AFP .
The decision followed consultation with Ambassador John Sullivan and was part of `` efforts to ensure the safe and secure operation of the U.S. diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation , '' the spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to Congress this month said the move was a response to `` ongoing staffing challenges for the U.S. Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the U.S .
Mission . ''
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow , while 33 local staff will lose their jobs .
The State Department did not confirm the numbers involved but said the `` resulting realignment of personnel at U.S. Embassy Moscow will allow us to advance our foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safe manner possible .
`` No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned , '' the spokesperson added .
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States ' last diplomatic mission in Russia .
Moscow ordered the closure of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg in March 2018 during a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on British soil .
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before Jan. 20 , when President-elect Biden takes office .
Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` pretty clearly '' behind a devastating cyberattack on several U.S. government agencies that security experts said could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids .
Yohannes Abraham , executive director for the Biden transition team , said the hack was of `` great concern '' and that the Biden administration would meet any cyberattacks with a response inflicting `` substantial cost . ''
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident .

Donald Trump's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining U.S. consulates in Russia, the State Department confirmed Saturday, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow.
The U.S. will close its consulate in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg, a department spokesperson told AFP.
The decision followed consultation with Ambassador John Sullivan and was part of "efforts to ensure the safe and secure operation of the U.S. diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation," the spokesperson said.
CNN reported that a State Department letter to Congress this month said the move was a response to "ongoing staffing challenges for the U.S. Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the U.S. Mission."
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local staff will lose their jobs.
The State Department did not confirm the numbers involved but said the "resulting realignment of personnel at U.S. Embassy Moscow will allow us to advance our foreign policy interests in Russia in the most effective and safe manner possible.
"No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned," the spokesperson added.
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States' last diplomatic mission in Russia.
Moscow ordered the closure of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg in March 2018 during a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on British soil.
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before Jan. 20, when President-elect Biden takes office.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several U.S. government agencies that security experts said could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids.
Yohannes Abraham, executive director for the Biden transition team, said the hack was of "great concern" and that the Biden administration would meet any cyberattacks with a response inflicting "substantial cost."
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-20--Putin Hails Russia's Spies, Visits Intelligence HQ

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday hailed the country 's `` courageous '' spies as he visited the headquarters of the Foreign Intelligence Service to mark its 100th birthday .
Putin , who has spent most of the coronavirus epidemic at his residences outside the Russian capital and on the Black Sea , visited the SVR headquarters in southern Moscow amid the controversy surrounding the work of the country 's security services .
SVR , Russia 's external intelligence agency , which succeeded the First Chief Directorate of the KGB in 1991 , marks its centenary on Sunday .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia when the country fetes all members of the security services including those from the FSB domestic intelligence agency .
Speaking outside the SVR headquarters , Putin , himself a former KGB officer , thanked all those who protect Russia from `` external and internal threats '' and called them `` reliable and courageous people . ''
`` Efficient work of security bodies , which is governed by law and national interests , always was and will be exceptionally important for Russia , '' he said .
`` It 's one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic and independent development of our multinational society , '' Putin added .
The 68-year-old Kremlin chief praised the work of SVR which he said influenced the course of history of both Russia and the world .
He said he counted on the external intelligence to continue to counter `` potential threats '' against Russia but in a rare public rebuke also said the service should `` increase the quality of its analytical papers . ''
Addressing members of the FSB domestic intelligence and other anti-terror services , Putin said they should continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's also necessary to build on the current successes when it comes to work of counter-intelligence , '' he added .
Putin praised Russian security agents after an investigative report claimed this week that members of the FSB intelligence were behind the poisoning of top opposition leader Alexei Navalny with Novichok , a Soviet-designed nerve agent .
Putin dismissed the joint report led by the investigative website Bellingcat , saying that if the Russian security services had wanted to poison Navalny , `` they would have taken it to the end .
@

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday hailed the country's "courageous" spies as he visited the headquarters of the Foreign Intelligence Service to mark its 100th birthday.
Putin, who has spent most of the coronavirus epidemic at his residences outside the Russian capital and on the Black Sea, visited the SVR headquarters in southern Moscow amid the controversy surrounding the work of the country's security services.
SVR, Russia's external intelligence agency, which succeeded the First Chief Directorate of the KGB in 1991, marks its centenary on Sunday. But December 20 is also the day in Russia when the country fetes all members of the security services including those from the FSB domestic intelligence agency.
Speaking outside the SVR headquarters, Putin, himself a former KGB officer, thanked all those who protect Russia from "external and internal threats" and called them "reliable and courageous people."
"Efficient work of security bodies, which is governed by law and national interests, always was and will be exceptionally important for Russia," he said.
"It's one of the most important guarantees of the sovereign, democratic and independent development of our multinational society," Putin added.
The 68-year-old Kremlin chief praised the work of SVR which he said influenced the course of history of both Russia and the world.
He said he counted on the external intelligence to continue to counter "potential threats" against Russia but in a rare public rebuke also said the service should "increase the quality of its analytical papers."
Addressing members of the FSB domestic intelligence and other anti-terror services, Putin said they should continue to act "decisively".
"It's also necessary to build on the current successes when it comes to work of counter-intelligence," he added.
Putin praised Russian security agents after an investigative report claimed this week that members of the FSB intelligence were behind the poisoning of top opposition leader Alexei Navalny with Novichok, a Soviet-designed nerve agent.
Putin dismissed the joint report led by the investigative website Bellingcat, saying that if the Russian security services had wanted to poison Navalny, "they would have taken it to the end."


themoscowtimes--2020-12-21--With Lake Baikal’s Key Protections Set to Expire, Russian Eco-Activists Sound the Alarm

“ The amendments to the key regulations pushed now by the [ natural resources ] ministry and lobbyists will greatly exacerbate this crisis and may seriously degrade the already weakened lake ecosystem , ” Eugene Simonov , a coordinator of the Rivers Without Borders international coalition , told The Moscow Times .
It ’ s a move that could lead to the biggest environmental crisis in Baikal ’ s history , environmental experts and activists say .
With the clock running out , they ’ re pushing back against the government to restore the lake ’ s protections before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian government is set to significantly reel back important environmental regulations protecting Lake Baikal , the world ’ s largest freshwater lake that is home to creatures found nowhere else on earth .
Despite protests from environmentalists , the previous list of prohibited activities in the Baikal area was abolished earlier this year , leaving the government less than two weeks to approve new rules before Jan. 1 .
Otherwise , there will be no remaining environmental protections at the start of 2021 .
Last week , the new list of protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administrative Reforms subcommittee , the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told The Moscow Times .
According to the latest draft provided to The Moscow Times , the revised list will allow commercial clearcutting ; development projects which pose a high risk to the environment in previously untouched areas and water protection zones and waste incineration from next year .
The ministry told The Moscow Times that the paragraph on commercial clearcutting will be changed to prohibit such activity .
Still , “ there is no scientific justification behind the proposed changes , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the scientific council on Lake Baikal problems for the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Siberian branch .
The scientific council includes over 40 Russian scientists who provide expertise and formulate positions on proposed issues .
Members of the council say that many of their fundamental suggestions have largely been ignored by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in a recent reversal , although some compromises have been reached through lengthy negotiations .
Located in southeast Siberia , Lake Baikal is the world ’ s deepest and oldest lake as well as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , containing about 20 % of the world ’ s unfrozen freshwater reserve .
UNESCO added Lake Baikal to its list of World Heritage Sites in 1996 .
One of the conditions for its World Heritage status was legislation in Russia granting environmental protections to Lake Baikal and its surrounding regions .
This act , which went into effect in 1999 , divides the territory into three zones : the central ecological zone , the zone of atmospheric influence and the buffer ecological zone .
In order to fulfill UNESCO ’ s conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Activities Prohibited in the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory , ” which put limitations on what industries and land usages are allowed at the World Heritage Site .
This decree , also known as resolution 643 , was adopted in 2001 but actually came into force in 2006 when the central ecological zone boundaries were also established .
The Russian government recently started adopting a regulatory guillotine mechanism to revise certain acts and cancel unnecessary ones .
However , the guillotine also abolishes regulatory acts adopted before 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of resolution 643 will simply fall under this regulatory guillotine on Jan. 1 , 2021 .
The news led to mounting frustration among the public , with over 11,000 negative reviews submitted on the regulation.gov.ru portal over the dissolution of resolution 643 .
In response , the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry formed an official working group of experts to create a new list of protections in a series of closed meetings .
Members of the Russian scientific community , environmentalists , bureaucrats and certain businesses have spent a year in discussions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We agreed on some things : we managed to cancel clearcuttings and the clause about investment projects , ” said Mikhail Kreindlin , head of Greenpeace ’ s protected areas program and a member of the working group .
“ But on many issues , including waste and building in the unaffected territories , it was not possible to reach an agreement.
” The latest edition of the list includes controversial points not discussed at any previous meetings , several members of the official working group told The Moscow Times .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list appeared , which canceled most of what we agreed on , including that prohibitions won ’ t apply to railway transport facilities , ” Kreindlin said .
Allowing construction in the water protection zone was the point that most alarmed experts .
“ We believe that construction in the water protection zone bears high risks for the Lake Baikal ecosystem , ” Orlova , also a member of the working group , said .
When asked about this specific point , the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told The Moscow Times that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is allowed only within city limits , taking into account the restrictions established by the Water Code as well as restrictions in the form of a ban on construction in flooded zones.
” Simonov countered that this will have little effect in reality , as municipal areas around Lake Baikal are gradually expanding .
“ In 2017 , the authorities drastically reduced Lake Baikal ’ s water protection zone , with a promise to strictly protect what was left .
Now this requirement is being removed for zones included in settlements , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposed clause to prohibit development in “ untouched natural habitats.
” Members of the working group raised concerns over a provision in the latest draft list that would grant construction permits for an unlimited period of time to backbone infrastructure facilities from the top two hazard levels that are built from 2021-2024 .
“ A strange point appeared in the latest edition regarding the fact that constructions will not be required to comply with the regulations on prohibited activities , including the construction of objects of the first and second categories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
For example , nuclear power plants , cement plants , large chemical plants and large metallurgical plants all fall under the Russian legal classification of hazard categories 1 and 2 , Orlova explained .
Orlova said that developing the revised list is so contentious because of the high stakes it will carry for a wide variety of groups .
“ Of course , this is important for the environment , for the population , for large businesses— for everyone .
When there are many opinions , the issue is not so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Monday , close to 75,000 people have signed a petition to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in protest of the latest draft list of prohibitions .
But as commercial and environmental interests clash in the battle over the possible restrictions , the future health of Lake Baikal ’ s ecosystem remains in question .
“ Russian society and the international community should know that Lake Baikal is experiencing an acute ecological crisis largely caused by mismanagement in sewage treatment , coastal development , wildfires and water resources regulation , ” Simonov @ @

“The amendments to the key regulations pushed now by the [natural resources] ministry and lobbyists will greatly exacerbate this crisis and may seriously degrade the already weakened lake ecosystem,” Eugene Simonov, a coordinator of the Rivers Without Borders international coalition, told The Moscow Times.
It’s a move that could lead to the biggest environmental crisis in Baikal’s history, environmental experts and activists say. With the clock running out, they’re pushing back against the government to restore the lake’s protections before the New Year.
On Jan. 1, the Russian government is set to significantly reel back important environmental regulations protecting Lake Baikal, the world’s largest freshwater lake that is home to creatures found nowhere else on earth.
Despite protests from environmentalists, the previous list of prohibited activities in the Baikal area was abolished earlier this year, leaving the government less than two weeks to approve new rules before Jan. 1. Otherwise, there will be no remaining environmental protections at the start of 2021.
Last week, the new list of protections was considered by a Government Commission on Administrative Reforms subcommittee, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told The Moscow Times.
According to the latest draft provided to The Moscow Times, the revised list will allow commercial clearcutting; development projects which pose a high risk previously untouched areas and water protection zones; and waste incineration from next year.
The ministry told The Moscow Times that the paragraph on commercial clearcutting will be changed to prohibit such activity.
Still, “there is no scientific justification behind the proposed changes,” said scientist Irina Orlova, a secretary of the scientific council on Lake Baikal problems for the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian branch.
The scientific council includes over 40 Russian scientists who provide expertise and formulate positions on proposed issues.
Members of the council say that many of their fundamental suggestions have largely been ignored by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in a recent reversal, although some compromises have been reached through lengthy negotiations.
Located in southeast Siberia, Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest and oldest lake as well as the world’s largest lake by volume, containing about 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater reserve.
UNESCO added Lake Baikal to its list of World Heritage Sites in 1996. One of the conditions for its World Heritage status was legislation in Russia granting environmental protections to Lake Baikal and its surrounding regions. This act, which went into effect in 1999, divides the territory into three zones: the central ecological zone, the zone of atmospheric influence and the buffer ecological zone.
In order to fulfill UNESCO’s conditions, Russian lawmakers created “The List of Activities Prohibited in the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory,” which put limitations on what industries and land usages are allowed at the World Heritage Site.
This decree, also known as resolution 643, was adopted in 2001 but actually came into force in 2006 when the central ecological zone boundaries were also established.
The Russian government recently started adopting a regulatory guillotine mechanism to revise certain acts and cancel unnecessary ones. However, the guillotine also abolishes regulatory acts adopted before 2020.
As a result, the current version of resolution 643 will simply fall under this regulatory guillotine on Jan. 1, 2021.
The news led to mounting frustration among the public, with over 11,000 negative reviews submitted on the regulation.gov.ru portal over the dissolution of resolution 643. In response, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry formed an official working group of experts to create a new list of protections in a series of closed meetings. Members of the Russian scientific community, environmentalists, bureaucrats and certain businesses have spent a year in discussions as the document went through several revisions.
“We agreed on some things: we managed to cancel clearcuttings and the clause about investment projects,” said Mikhail Kreindlin, head of Greenpeace’s protected areas program and a member of the working group. “But on many issues, including waste and building in the unaffected territories, it was not possible to reach an agreement.”
The latest edition of the list includes controversial points not discussed at any previous meetings, several members of the official working group told The Moscow Times.
“On Nov. 30, a completely different list appeared, which canceled most of what we agreed on, including that prohibitions won’t apply to railway transport facilities,” Kreindlin said.
Allowing construction in the water protection zone was the point that most alarmed experts.
“We believe that construction in the water protection zone bears high risks for the Lake Baikal ecosystem,” Orlova, also a member of the working group, said.
When asked about this specific point, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told The Moscow Times that “construction in the water protection zones is allowed only within city limits, taking into account the restrictions established by the Water Code as well as restrictions in the form of a ban on construction in flooded zones.”
Simonov countered that this will have little effect in reality, as municipal areas around Lake Baikal are gradually expanding.
“In 2017, the authorities drastically reduced Lake Baikal’s water protection zone, with a promise to strictly protect what was left. Now this requirement is being removed for zones included in settlements,” he said.
The ministry also rejected a proposed clause to prohibit development in “untouched natural habitats.”
Members of the working group raised concerns over a provision in the latest draft list that would grant construction permits for an unlimited period of time to backbone infrastructure facilities from the top two hazard levels that are built from 2021-2024.
“A strange point appeared in the latest edition regarding the fact that constructions will not be required to comply with the regulations on prohibited activities, including the construction of objects of the first and second categories of danger,” Orlova told The Moscow Times.
For example, nuclear power plants, cement plants, large chemical plants and large metallurgical plants all fall under the Russian legal classification of hazard categories 1 and 2, Orlova explained.
Orlova said that developing the revised list is so contentious because of the high stakes it will carry for a wide variety of groups.
“Of course, this is important for the environment, for the population, for large businesses— for everyone. When there are many opinions, the issue is not so easy to settle,” Orlova said.
As of Monday, close to 75,000 people have signed a petition to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in protest of the latest draft list of prohibitions.
But as commercial and environmental interests clash in the battle over the possible restrictions, the future health of Lake Baikal’s ecosystem remains in question.
“Russian society and the international community should know that Lake Baikal is experiencing an acute ecological crisis largely caused by mismanagement in sewage treatment, coastal development, wildfires and water resources regulation,” Simonov said.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-21--Navalny Extracts Poisoning Confession From Alleged FSB Agent on Trick Call

Leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny said Monday that he tricked one of the several security officers linked to his poisoning into outlining the details of the operation in a phone call .
A media investigation said last week that Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) chemical weapons experts shadowed Navalny on dozens of his trips since 2017 , including on the day he was poisoned in August 2020 .
It identified Konstantin Kudryavtsev as one of the suspected agents from the FSB ’ s Criminalistics Institute , also known as its poisons factory .
Scientists from Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body have established that Navalny was exposed to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok when he fell into a coma on Aug. 20 .
A man identified as Kudryavtsev outlined key details of the poisoning in a 49-minute phone call with Navalny , who disguised the call as coming from the FSB headquarters and posed as a senior Russian Security Council official .
“ What item of clothing was the emphasis on ?
What is the most risky piece of clothing ?
” Navalny , using an alias , asked Kudryavtsev as Bellingcat journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby .
“ The underpants , ” Kudryavtsev replied , specifying that the nerve agent was applied on “ the insides , the crotch ” area .
Navalny has demanded Russian authorities to return his clothes that were confiscated before his evacuation from Siberia to Germany as key pieces of evidence .
Russian police said last month that no poisonous substances were found on Navalny ’ s clothes nor other items collected from places he had visited before boarding the Tomsk-Moscow flight where he fell violently ill. Kudryavtsev , who was initially reluctant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said he had signed a non-disclosure agreement , attributed Navalny ’ s survival to pilots rerouting his flight and Siberian doctors administering an antidote “ almost immediately.
” “ If you do n't land the plane the effect would 've been different and the result would 've been different .
So I think the plane played the decisive part , ” he said , according to CNN ’ s translation .
“ [ We ] did n't expect all this would happen .
I 'm sure that everything went wrong.
” Commenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference last week , President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia 's security services tailed Navalny , remarking that “ if someone wanted to poison him , they probably would have finished the job .
”

Leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny said Monday that he tricked one of the several security officers linked to his poisoning into outlining the details of the operation in a phone call. A media investigation said last week that Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) chemical weapons experts shadowed Navalny on dozens of his trips since 2017, including on the day he was poisoned in August 2020. It identified Konstantin Kudryavtsev as one of the suspected agents from the FSB’s Criminalistics Institute, also known as its poisons factory.
news Media Investigation Names FSB Agents Behind Navalny Poisoning Read more
Scientists from Germany, France, Sweden and the global chemical-weapons body have established that Navalny was exposed to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok when he fell into a coma on Aug. 20. A man identified as Kudryavtsev outlined key details of the poisoning in a 49-minute phone call with Navalny, who disguised the call as coming from the FSB headquarters and posed as a senior Russian Security Council official. “What item of clothing was the emphasis on? What is the most risky piece of clothing?” Navalny, using an alias, asked Kudryavtsev as Bellingcat journalists involved in the joint media investigation listened nearby. “The underpants,” Kudryavtsev replied, specifying that the nerve agent was applied on “the insides, the crotch” area.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-21--Russia’s Response to the Coronavirus: The 2020 Timeline

As the year of the coronavirus draws to a close and Russia ’ s total number of cases approaches 3 million , it ’ s time to look back at how the world ’ s largest country handled the pandemic .
From the step-by-step closure of its borders at the beginning of the year to the mass roll-out of its domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine , here is a snapshot of Russia ’ s coronavirus timeline and The Moscow Times ’ reporting on all angles of the crisis : — As the coronavirus starts spreading outside China , Rospotrebnadzor head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plans for the development of a vaccine on Jan. 22 — Following the suspension of air traffic with the Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 24 , Russia bans the arrival of all tour groups from China .
— On Jan. 31 , Russia reports its first two coronavirus cases — one in the Tyumen region in west Siberia , and the other in Russia 's Far East .
The closure of the country ’ s Far East border with China comes into effect the same day .
— Russian military planes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Feb 4 .
All arrivals are quarantined in a camp in Siberia , where some even manage to find love .
— A Russian passenger onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama in Japan becomes the first Russian citizen to be diagnosed with the coronavirus , Russia ’ s Embassy in Japan announces on Feb. 17 .
— Following the suspension of railway services and most flights to and from China , Russia bars entry for Chinese citizens starting Feb. 20 — one of the first countries to impose a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visas to most Iranian and South Korea citizens from Feb. 28 .
— Moscow confirms its first coronavirus case on March 2 and Mayor Sergei Sobyanin introduces measures to slow the spread of the disease .
Body temperature checks are introduced in Moscow ’ s airports and Russians returning from coronavirus epicenters are ordered to self-isolate .
— Russia starts laboratory tests of the first coronavirus vaccine prototypes , the Vector Institute announces on March 16 .
Russia ’ s scientists vow to present the most promising prototypes in June .
— As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 , Russia bans entry to most foreign nationals from March 18 .
Russia ’ s coronavirus patients report online bullying , threats and intimidation amid the growing stigma .
— After Russia confirms the first coronavirus death on March 19 , the government announces a `` high alert '' status for all 85 of its regions .
With infection numbers growing , rich Russians start buying ventilators to protect themselves .
— President Vladimir Putin announces a non-working week from March 28 to April 5 in an address to the nation aired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all international air traffic on March 27 and closes all border crossings from March 30 .
Hundreds of migrants workers are stranded in Moscow ’ s airports .
— After Russia ’ s total number of confirmed cases surpasses 1,000 , Moscow enacts a citywide lockdown from March 30 .
Most other regions follow suit and small businesses across the country prepare for the worst .
— Putin announces an extension of the nationwide non-working week until April 30 in a second televised address that aired on April 2 .
— Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from April 5 .
A messianic cult in Siberia takes the opposite approach , opening up to new followers .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announces additional lockdown measures from April 13-19 and introduces a digital pass system to allow residents to leave their homes for essential reasons .
— On April 20 , around 2,000 people gather in Freedom Square in the heart of Vladikavkaz to protest the self-isolation order as the North Caucasus region struggles to cope with rising infections and a worsening economic situation .
— On April 21 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death among staff treating coronavirus patients in exclusive interviews with The Moscow Times .
— President Vladimir Putin announces the extension of the non-working month through May 11 .
Moscow 's coronavirus lockdown is extended as infections rise — the capital ’ s paramedics and drivers tell The Moscow Times they are catching the virus en masse .
— Increased strain on Russia ’ s medical system prompts a government order requiring medical students to work in coronavirus hospitals .
Students interviewed by The Moscow Times say they joined up under threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastically lower than promised .
— Moscow ’ s coronavirus lockdown is extended until May 31 , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announces May 7 .
Russia 's second-largest city of St. Petersburg follows suit .
Some of Russia ’ s LGBT youth tell The Moscow Times they are struggling with their mental health during lockdown .
— Moscow residents are required to wear face masks and gloves in all public places starting May 12 .
— On May 22 , the head of the state-run Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology announces that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a coronavirus vaccine on humans .
— As Russia prepares to emerge from a nationwide lockdown , many begin to question its low coronavirus fatality numbers but the WHO dismisses these concerns .
— Moscow ends its lockdown — including its digital pass system and rota for taking walks outside — on June 9 .
Coronavirus cases continue to rise by the thousands despite the “ victory ” declared by Moscow ’ s mayor .
— The first batch of Avifavir , the drug Russia has approved to treat coronavirus patients is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 .
Meanwhile , Russia ’ s officials continue to advise usage of the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for coronavirus treatment despite growing resistance from medics .
— Moscow 's restaurants , gyms , swimming pools and public sports and recreation facilities reopen on June 23 .
With a month of summer nearly gone , Moscow ’ s tourism operators pray for borders to open .
— Russia holds its landmark Victory Day parade on Red Square on June 24 , while several regions cancel their own Victory Day celebrations as cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional amendments vote kicks off on June 25 despite the pandemic .
Russia ’ s health workers treating coronavirus patients say they are being pressured to vote in favor of the changes .
— The Defense Ministry completes the first clinical trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine on human volunteers , a lead military scientist announces July 20 .
Meanwhile , reports of worsening infection levels emerge from Baikonur , the Kazakh spaceport city rented by Russia .
— On July 31 , Russia ’ s official number of cases reaches 839,981 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July .
— Russia resumes direct flights with Tanzania , Turkey , and Britain on Aug. 1 .
Still , most couples and families separated by closed borders earlier in the year are unable to reunite .
— Russia confirmes the production of the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine on Aug. 15 .
— Russia ’ s total number of coronavirus cases surpasses 1 million , making it the fourth country after the United States , Brazil and India to reach the milestone .
— Russia launches Phase 3 trials of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 .
Hopes for the vaccine are high as the economy remains ill-prepared for a second lockdown , but leading scientists remain skeptical toward it .
— Moscow confirms more than 1,000 coronavirus cases on Sept. 24 — the first time since June 23 .
As the second wave gathers pace , medics in hospitals across Russia voice frustration that authorities failed to use the summer respite to prepare for it .
— On Dec. 2 , St. Petersburg authorities order the city ’ s cafes , restaurants , museums , theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Jan. 10 .
The move angers local business owners , who create a “ Map of Resistance ” showing 200 locations that will defy the orders during the holidays .
— Health Minister Mikhail Murashko presents Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine at a special session of the UN General Assembly on Dec. 2 .
— Moscow starts vaccinating teachers , doctors and social workers with Sputnik V on Dec. 5 despite concerns voiced by Russia ’ s scientific community .
— Russia reports 29,039 new coronavirus cases on Dec. 6 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .
— Mass vaccination begins across Russia ’ s regions during the week of Dec. 7 but Moscow-based medics interviewed by The Moscow Times express reluctance — or outright refusal — to take a vaccine that has not yet passed sufficient trials for international clinical approval .
— Russia halts all flights with Britain for one week starting Dec. 22 after a more-infectious coronavirus strain was found there .

As the year of the coronavirus draws to a close and Russia’s total number of cases approaches 3 million, it’s time to look back at how the world’s largest country handled the pandemic. From the step-by-step closure of its borders at the beginning of the year to the mass roll-out of its domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine, here is a snapshot of Russia’s coronavirus timeline and The Moscow Times’ reporting on all angles of the crisis: January — As the coronavirus starts spreading outside China, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova first hints at Russia’s plans for the development of a vaccine on Jan. 22 — Following the suspension of air traffic with the Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 24, Russia bans the arrival of all tour groups from China. — On Jan. 31, Russia reports its first two coronavirus cases — one in the Tyumen region in west Siberia, and the other in Russia's Far East. The closure of the country’s Far East border with China comes into effect the same day. February — Russian military planes fly to Wuhan to evacuate stranded Russians on Feb 4. All arrivals are quarantined in a camp in Siberia, where some even manage to find love. — A Russian passenger onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama in Japan becomes the first Russian citizen to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, Russia’s Embassy in Japan announces on Feb. 17. — Following the suspension of railway services and most flights to and from China, Russia bars entry for Chinese citizens starting Feb. 20 — one of the first countries to impose a blanket ban. — Russia stops issuing visas to most Iranian and South Korea citizens from Feb. 28. March — Moscow confirms its first coronavirus case on March 2 and Mayor Sergei Sobyanin introduces measures to slow the spread of the disease. Body temperature checks are introduced in Moscow’s airports and Russians returning from coronavirus epicenters are ordered to self-isolate. — Russia starts laboratory tests of the first coronavirus vaccine prototypes, the Vector Institute announces on March 16. Russia’s scientists vow to present the most promising prototypes in June. — As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases nears 200, Russia bans entry to most foreign nationals from March 18. Russia’s coronavirus patients report online bullying, threats and intimidation amid the growing stigma. — After Russia confirms the first coronavirus death on March 19, the government announces a "high alert" status for all 85 of its regions. With infection numbers growing, rich Russians start buying ventilators to protect themselves.
Sophia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
— President Vladimir Putin announces a non-working week from March 28 to April 5 in an address to the nation aired on March 25. — Russia halts all international air traffic on March 27 and closes all border crossings from March 30. Hundreds of migrants workers are stranded in Moscow’s airports. — After Russia’s total number of confirmed cases surpasses 1,000, Moscow enacts a citywide lockdown from March 30. Most other regions follow suit and small businesses across the country prepare for the worst. April — Putin announces an extension of the nationwide non-working week until April 30 in a second televised address that aired on April 2. — Russia’s republic of Chechnya closes its borders from April 5. A messianic cult in Siberia takes the opposite approach, opening up to new followers. — Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announces additional lockdown measures from April 13-19 and introduces a digital pass system to allow residents to leave their homes for essential reasons. — On April 20, around 2,000 people gather in Freedom Square in the heart of Vladikavkaz to protest the self-isolation order as the North Caucasus region struggles to cope with rising infections and a worsening economic situation. — On April 21, Moscow’s doctors report the first death among staff treating coronavirus patients in exclusive interviews with The Moscow Times. — President Vladimir Putin announces the extension of the non-working month through May 11. Moscow's coronavirus lockdown is extended as infections rise — the capital’s paramedics and drivers tell The Moscow Times they are catching the virus en masse. — Increased strain on Russia’s medical system prompts a government order requiring medical students to work in coronavirus hospitals. Students interviewed by The Moscow Times say they joined up under threat of academic repercussions and receive salaries that are drastically lower than promised.
May — Moscow’s coronavirus lockdown is extended until May 31, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announces May 7. Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg follows suit. Some of Russia’s LGBT youth tell The Moscow Times they are struggling with their mental health during lockdown. — Moscow residents are required to wear face masks and gloves in all public places starting May 12. — On May 22, the head of the state-run Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology announces that Russia has carried out its first test of a coronavirus vaccine on humans. — As Russia prepares to emerge from a nationwide lockdown, many begin to question its low coronavirus fatality numbers but the WHO dismisses these concerns. June — Moscow ends its lockdown — including its digital pass system and rota for taking walks outside — on June 9. Coronavirus cases continue to rise by the thousands despite the “victory” declared by Moscow’s mayor. — The first batch of Avifavir, the drug Russia has approved to treat coronavirus patients is delivered to some Russian hospitals on June 11. Meanwhile, Russia’s officials continue to advise usage of the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for coronavirus treatment despite growing resistance from medics.
— Moscow's restaurants, gyms, swimming pools and public sports and recreation facilities reopen on June 23. With a month of summer nearly gone, Moscow’s tourism operators pray for borders to open. — Russia holds its landmark Victory Day parade on Red Square on June 24, while several regions cancel their own Victory Day celebrations as cases rise. — A nationwide vote on constitutional amendments vote kicks off on June 25 despite the pandemic. Russia’s health workers treating coronavirus patients say they are being pressured to vote in favor of the changes. July — Russia lifts self-isolation requirements for arriving foreigners from July 15. — The Defense Ministry completes the first clinical trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine on human volunteers, a lead military scientist announces July 20. Meanwhile, reports of worsening infection levels emerge from Baikonur, the Kazakh spaceport city rented by Russia. — On July 31, Russia’s official number of cases reaches 839,981. More than 30,000 excess deaths are recorded in July.
August — Russia resumes direct flights with Tanzania, Turkey, and Britain on Aug. 1. Still, most couples and families separated by closed borders earlier in the year are unable to reunite. — Russia registers the world’s first coronavirus vaccine, President Vladimir Putin announces Aug. 11. — Russia confirmes the production of the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine on Aug. 15. September — Russia’s total number of coronavirus cases surpasses 1 million, making it the fourth country after the United States, Brazil and India to reach the milestone. — Russia launches Phase 3 trials of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Sept. 9. Hopes for the vaccine are high as the economy remains ill-prepared for a second lockdown, but leading scientists remain skeptical toward it. — Moscow confirms more than 1,000 coronavirus cases on Sept. 24 — the first time since June 23. As the second wave gathers pace, medics in hospitals across Russia voice frustration that authorities failed to use the summer respite to prepare for it.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
— Moscow’s coronavirus hospitals are at capacity and the authorities move to reinstate work-from-home orders for business and mandate a new round of self-isolation for elderly residents from Sept. 28. October — Russia approves its second coronavirus vaccine, President Vladimir Putin announces Oct. 14. — Moscow authorities introduce a digital registration system for bars and nightclubs from Oct. 19 but deny rumors of a return to a full lockdown. — Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot starts training dogs to detect Covid-19 in humans. — Russia reinstates a nationwide mask mandate from Oct. 28. — Moscow extends its requirement for 30% of all employees to work remotely through Nov. 28. — With 47,000 deaths reported, October becomes Russia’s deadliest month in a decade. November — Moscow orders all bars, restaurants, clubs and other nightlife establishments to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. starting Nov. 13. — As the situation beyond Moscow worsens, the eastern Siberian republic of Buryatia imposes a second coronavirus lockdown from Nov. 16 — the first region to do so during the second wave. The Moscow Times reports from one of Russia’s poorest cities, Ivanovo, where morgues are overflowing. — Russia rolls out a domestic coronavirus tracing app on Nov. 24. — Moscow orders a further extension of measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus until Jan. 15 as a shortage of hospital beds forces the authorities to convert the capital’s main speed-skating rink into a makeshift treatment center.