tass--2020-12-11--Russia sees no challenges in Arctic that require use of military force — Fleet's top brass

MOSCOW , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
Russia currently sees no challenges in the Arctic that could require the use of military force , Northern Fleet Chief of Staff Vice-Admiral Vladimir Grishechkin said at the 10th international Arctic forum , Arctic : Today and the Future , in St. Petersburg on Friday .
`` At the international level , the Russian Federation stands for interaction and mutually complementing efforts of the states in polar latitudes , developing international partnership in the interests of preserving the Arctic region as a zone of peace , stability and low military tension .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic that require the use of military force , '' the Northern Fleet ’ s press office quoted the vice-admiral as saying .
In his speech at the forum , the Northern Fleet chief of staff analyzed in detail the activity of the US and NATO navies in the Arctic region .
The vice-admiral pointed to the greater intensity and the larger scope of operational and combat training measures of NATO ’ s allied forces in the region , noting that this activity had moved closer to Russian borders .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with the general concept of the Russian Armed Forces ’ development and in strict compliance with the Defense Ministry ’ s plans , '' he said .
As an adequate response to NATO ’ s growing combat potential in the Arctic , the Northern Fleet is receiving advanced armament , including nuclear-powered underwater cruisers with cruise missiles , frigates , amphibious assault ships , coastal air defense systems , anti-submarine warfare aircraft and support vessels of various designation , the vice-admiral said .
In 2020 , the second next-generation Project Borei-A nuclear-powered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missiles entered service with the Northern Fleet , he said .
Considering its designation , the Northern Fleet ’ s grouping is on constant alert for accomplishing the tasks of deterring any aggression against Russia , the vice-admiral said .
`` This armament is primarily considered as a deterrence weapon , a guarantor of strategic stability in the world , '' he stressed .
In his report , the Northern Fleet chief of staff also said that `` as part of implementing Russia ’ s state policy in the Arctic and fulfilling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stipulated to develop the port infrastructure of the coastline of Arctic seas , which will enable the Northern Fleet ’ s forces to promptly respond to possible threats to the security of shipping along the entire Northern Sea Route . ''
The vice-admiral also outlined the issues of the Northern Fleet ’ s participation in the social and economic life of the Arctic region , environmental protection , ecological safety , expeditionary activity and the development of international cooperation .

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Russia currently sees no challenges in the Arctic that could require the use of military force, Northern Fleet Chief of Staff Vice-Admiral Vladimir Grishechkin said at the 10th international Arctic forum, Arctic: Today and the Future, in St. Petersburg on Friday.
"At the international level, the Russian Federation stands for interaction and mutually complementing efforts of the states in polar latitudes, developing international partnership in the interests of preserving the Arctic region as a zone of peace, stability and low military tension. At present, there are no challenges in the Arctic that require the use of military force," the Northern Fleet’s press office quoted the vice-admiral as saying.
In his speech at the forum, the Northern Fleet chief of staff analyzed in detail the activity of the US and NATO navies in the Arctic region. The vice-admiral pointed to the greater intensity and the larger scope of operational and combat training measures of NATO’s allied forces in the region, noting that this activity had moved closer to Russian borders.
Meanwhile, "the Northern Fleet is operating in line with the general concept of the Russian Armed Forces’ development and in strict compliance with the Defense Ministry’s plans," he said.
As an adequate response to NATO’s growing combat potential in the Arctic, the Northern Fleet is receiving advanced armament, including nuclear-powered underwater cruisers with cruise missiles, frigates, amphibious assault ships, coastal air defense systems, anti-submarine warfare aircraft and support vessels of various designation, the vice-admiral said.
In 2020, the second next-generation Project Borei-A nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir armed with Bulava ballistic missiles entered service with the Northern Fleet, he said.
Considering its designation, the Northern Fleet’s grouping is on constant alert for accomplishing the tasks of deterring any aggression against Russia, the vice-admiral said.
"This armament is primarily considered as a deterrence weapon, a guarantor of strategic stability in the world," he stressed.
In his report, the Northern Fleet chief of staff also said that "as part of implementing Russia’s state policy in the Arctic and fulfilling the president’s instructions, measures are stipulated to develop the port infrastructure of the coastline of Arctic seas, which will enable the Northern Fleet’s forces to promptly respond to possible threats to the security of shipping along the entire Northern Sea Route."
The vice-admiral also outlined the issues of the Northern Fleet’s participation in the social and economic life of the Arctic region, environmental protection, ecological safety, expeditionary activity and the development of international cooperation.


tass--2020-12-11--US breaks int’l law by recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sakhara - diplomat

MOSCOW , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
Washington ’ s recognition of Morocco ’ s sovereignty over Western Sakhara violates the international law norms , Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told journalists Friday .
`` This is a violation of the international law .
There are corresponding resolutions , there are UN missions on referendums in Western Sahara , so that its population could determine the future of this territory via a referendum .
What the Americans have done is a unilateral decision that totally breaks the boundaries of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution , which the Americans voted for themselves , '' he said .
According to Bogdanov , `` it is positive and worthy of support '' that the Arabic countries build bridges with Israel .
`` We have good relations with Israel and Arabic nations ourselves , '' he underscored .
However , the diplomat noted , it is important that there were `` no attempts to force someone to become friends against someone else , because some believe that there is a hidden anti-Iranian agenda there . ''
On Thursday , US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morocco agreed to establish diplomatic relations .
Later , Moroccan King Mohammed VI claimed that he considers negotiations between Israel and Palestine to be the only way to settle the Middle Eastern conflict .

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Washington’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sakhara violates the international law norms, Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told journalists Friday.
"This is a violation of the international law. There are corresponding resolutions, there are UN missions on referendums in Western Sahara, so that its population could determine the future of this territory via a referendum. What the Americans have done is a unilateral decision that totally breaks the boundaries of the international law and the UN Security Council resolution, which the Americans voted for themselves," he said.
According to Bogdanov, "it is positive and worthy of support" that the Arabic countries build bridges with Israel.
"We have good relations with Israel and Arabic nations ourselves," he underscored.
However, the diplomat noted, it is important that there were "no attempts to force someone to become friends against someone else, because some believe that there is a hidden anti-Iranian agenda there."
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Morocco agreed to establish diplomatic relations. Later, Moroccan King Mohammed VI claimed that he considers negotiations between Israel and Palestine to be the only way to settle the Middle Eastern conflict.


tass--2020-12-11--This week in photos: SpaceX Starship explodes, bear cub plays with dog, Banksy's new mural

Criminal case on Navalny incident can not be opened in Russia so far , says Putin The president stated that @ @ @ @ @ join the investigation into the incident with Russian opposition blogger Alexey Navalny

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
Read more


tass--2020-12-11--French prosecution asks for 5, 15 years in prison for two Russians for Euro 2016 brawl

PARIS , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
The French prosecution has asked the court to sentence two Russians accused of @ @ @ @ @ British football fan during clashes following a Euro 2016 match in Marseille to 5 and @ @ @ @ @ defense attorney of one of the Russians told TASS Friday .
`` The prosecutor asked @ @ @ @ @ for my client , Mikhail Ivkin , and between 14 and 15 years for Pavel @ @ @ @ @ noted .
`` The prosecution believes that both are guilty of category D crime , @ @ @ @ @ hooligan group and deliberately targeted at a group of British fans . ''
During the @ @ @ @ @ Russian fans broke through police ranks and stormed the English fan sector to start a @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian national team against England in Marseille .
One of the British fans @ @ @ @ @ disabled , the police couldn ’ t immediately end the fight .
The Russians accused @ @ @ @ @ arrested in Germany in 2018 and handed over to France later .

PARIS, December 11. /TASS/. The French prosecution has asked the court to sentence two Russians accused of inflicting serious injuries on a British football fan during clashes following a Euro 2016 match in Marseille to 5 and 15 years in prison, defense attorney of one of the Russians told TASS Friday.
"The prosecutor asked for 5 years of prison for my client, Mikhail Ivkin, and between 14 and 15 years for Pavel Kosov," the attorney noted. "The prosecution believes that both are guilty of category D crime, commited as part of a hooligan group and deliberately targeted at a group of British fans."
During the Euro 2016, around 30 Russian fans broke through police ranks and stormed the English fan sector to start a brawl following the first match of the Russian national team against England in Marseille. One of the British fans was seriously injured and became disabled, the police couldn’t immediately end the fight. The Russians accused of starting the brawl were arrested in Germany in 2018 and handed over to France later.


tass--2020-12-11--Construction of Nord Stream 2 resumes

Construction of Nord Stream 2 resumes

MOSCOW , December 11 .
/ TASS / .
The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline resumed on December 11 ; the Fortuna barge will carry out the pipe laying in the exclusive economic zone of Germany , Nord Stream 2 AG , the operator of the pipeline construction , told reporters on Friday .
The pipelayer Fortuna will lay a 2.6-kilometer section of the gas pipeline in the exclusive economic zone of Germany in waters at the depth of less than 30 meters .
All construction work is carried out in full accordance with the permits received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on the offshore section will be announced additionally , Nord Stream 2 said .
The operator of the Nord Stream 2 project , Nord Stream 2 AG , announced at the end of November that it plans to resume pipe-laying in December in the exclusive economic zone of Germany .
It was reported that by the end of the year it was planned to lay the 2.6 km section on each of the gas pipeline strings in the exclusive economic zone of Germany .
It follows from the notice to mariners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office in Stralsund , that work in German waters will continue until December 31 , 2020 .
The Fortuna barge , which will carry out work on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the shallow waters of Adlergrund , approached the proposed construction site for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on the morning of December 11 .
There are three tugboats and Russian supply vessels , the Baltiyskiy Issledovatel and the Katun , next to Fortuna in the Baltic Sea .
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction of two pipeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bln cubic meters per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany .
To date , the gas pipeline is 93 % complete .
The work was suspended in December 2019 after the Swiss Allseas abandoned pipe-laying due to possible US sanctions .

MOSCOW, December 11. / TASS /. The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline resumed on December 11; the Fortuna barge will carry out the pipe laying in the exclusive economic zone of Germany, Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the pipeline construction, told reporters on Friday.
The pipelayer Fortuna will lay a 2.6-kilometer section of the gas pipeline in the exclusive economic zone of Germany in waters at the depth of less than 30 meters. All construction work is carried out in full accordance with the permits received, the company said.
Further construction work on the offshore section will be announced additionally, Nord Stream 2 said. The operator of the Nord Stream 2 project, Nord Stream 2 AG, announced at the end of November that it plans to resume pipe-laying in December in the exclusive economic zone of Germany. It was reported that by the end of the year it was planned to lay the 2.6 km section on each of the gas pipeline strings in the exclusive economic zone of Germany.
It follows from the notice to mariners, published by the Federal Waterways and Shipways Office in Stralsund, that work in German waters will continue until December 31, 2020. The Fortuna barge, which will carry out work on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the shallow waters of Adlergrund, approached the proposed construction site for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on the morning of December 11. There are three tugboats and Russian supply vessels, the Baltiyskiy Issledovatel and the Katun, next to Fortuna in the Baltic Sea.
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction of two pipeline strings with a total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. To date, the gas pipeline is 93% complete. The work was suspended in December 2019 after the Swiss Allseas abandoned pipe-laying due to possible US sanctions.


tass--2020-12-11--Criminal case on Navalny incident cannot be opened in Russia so far, says Putin

MOSCOW , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
It is impossible to open a criminal case on the incident with opposition blogger Alexey Navalny right now , Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday .
`` No , it is impossible , '' he said at a meeting with the members of the Human Rights Council .
`` We can not open criminal cases each time when a person escapes death . ''
He added that the Prosecutor General ’ s Office and the Russian Investigative Committee continued a check into the circumstances of the incident at his request .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let join the joint investigation into the incident with Russian opposition blogger Alexey Navalny .
`` By and large , our specialists should be involved and I have already told that and asked to do that , to let our specialists join the joint work [ to investigate the circumstances of the incident ] , '' he said , as follows from the transcript posted on the Kremlin website .
`` Our specialists are ready to go abroad - both to France , to Germany and to the Netherlands , to meet with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were found there .
But no one invites us . ''
When asked about the `` notorious poisoning incident , '' Putin noted that Russia could not conduct its own investigation because all the related materials were currently in the West but assured that a check was being conducted .
`` The Russian Prosecutor General ’ s Office has asked its colleagues more than once to send at least a written official document on the investigation findings , '' the president recalled , adding that Russia had invited foreign specialists to conduct a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming here . ''
`` They don ’ t share official materials .
They don ’ t share biological materials , '' he said .
`` What can we do then ? ''
Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk .
He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit .
On August 22 , he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital .
On September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny ’ s test samples , German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family .
Berlin claimed this conclusion had been confirmed by laboratories in France and Sweden .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said more than once that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany .
He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny ’ s system prior to his transfer to Berlin .

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. It is impossible to open a criminal case on the incident with opposition blogger Alexey Navalny right now, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
"No, it is impossible," he said at a meeting with the members of the Human Rights Council. "We cannot open criminal cases each time when a person escapes death." He added that the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Russian Investigative Committee continued a check into the circumstances of the incident at his request.
The president stated that Russian specialists should be let join the joint investigation into the incident with Russian opposition blogger Alexey Navalny. "By and large, our specialists should be involved and I have already told that and asked to do that, to let our specialists join the joint work [to investigate the circumstances of the incident]," he said, as follows from the transcript posted on the Kremlin website. "Our specialists are ready to go abroad - both to France, to Germany and to the Netherlands, to meet with those who claim that warfare toxic agents were found there. But no one invites us."
When asked about the "notorious poisoning incident," Putin noted that Russia could not conduct its own investigation because all the related materials were currently in the West but assured that a check was being conducted. "The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has asked its colleagues more than once to send at least a written official document on the investigation findings," the president recalled, adding that Russia had invited foreign specialists to conduct a joint probe but "they are not coming here."
"They don’t share official materials. They don’t share biological materials," he said. "What can we do then?"
Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk. He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit. On August 22, he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital.
On September 2, Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny’s test samples, German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family. Berlin claimed this conclusion had been confirmed by laboratories in France and Sweden.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said more than once that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany. He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny’s system prior to his transfer to Berlin.


tass--2020-12-11--Protecting the sentiments of the faithful: Putin embarks on fighting religious enmity

MOSCOW , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Russian Foreign Ministry to launch efforts for an international discussion on thwarting activities that could insult the feelings of religious believers , according to a list of instructions published on Friday following a meeting with representatives of faith-based organizations held on November 4 .
`` The Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to initiate a discussion of issues related to the prevention of actions aimed at insulting the religious feelings of worshippers and inciting interreligious enmity and faith-based disputes at international platforms , and explore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or ) passing a UN General Assembly resolution on such issues , '' the document says .
Putin earlier said at a meeting with members of religious associations that it was a good idea to call on other countries at the UN to approve legislation protecting the sentiments of worshippers and promised to task the Russian Foreign Ministry with looking into the matter .
The initiative was put forward by Chairman of the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus , Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia Ismail Berdiev .
He pointed out that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feelings from being offended .

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Russian Foreign Ministry to launch efforts for an international discussion on thwarting activities that could insult the feelings of religious believers, according to a list of instructions published on Friday following a meeting with representatives of faith-based organizations held on November 4.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to initiate a discussion of issues related to the prevention of actions aimed at insulting the religious feelings of worshippers and inciting interreligious enmity and faith-based disputes at international platforms, and explore the possibility of signing international agreements and (or) passing a UN General Assembly resolution on such issues," the document says.
Putin earlier said at a meeting with members of religious associations that it was a good idea to call on other countries at the UN to approve legislation protecting the sentiments of worshippers and promised to task the Russian Foreign Ministry with looking into the matter.
The initiative was put forward by Chairman of the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus, Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia Ismail Berdiev. He pointed out that there was legislation in Russia protecting worshippers’ feelings from being offended.


tass--2020-12-11--Russian tycoon Tinkov has 40-50% chance of beating leukemia, says lawyer

LONDON , December 11 .
/TASS/ .
The survival probability of Russian entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov , who is stricken with leukemia , is 40-50 % , the businessman ’ s barrister Alex Bailin QC said on Friday .
He was speaking at the Westminster Magistrates ' Court , where an administrative hearing on Tinkov ’ s extradition to the US was set to take place .
`` Following the transplant , he has developed serious complications , he has graft versus host disease .
The survival probability is estimated as 40 to 50 % , '' Bailin said , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing a medical report by the entrepreneur ’ s doctor .
The court satisfied the request , and the hearing on Friday was adjourned .
`` Yes , this is another adjournment .
There will be a hearing on the 15th of March , '' Bailin told TASS .
The administrative hearing , which was initially scheduled for late April , had been postponed for the sixth time .
Apart from that , a new date was set four times before the start of the trial .
In November , the tycoon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 20 extradition cases that the London court was supposed to consider , but eventually this did not happen and the case was crossed off from being considered .
In late February , the US Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) submitted a claim with a court in London against Tinkov accusing him of filing a false tax return and underreporting his income , when he renounced his US citizenship in 2013 .
Cumulatively , he faces up to six years in prison on US federal charges .
The Westminster Magistrates Court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , released the businessman on bail to the tune of 20 million pounds ( $ 36 mln ) .
He was obliged to hand over his Russian and Cypriot passports , as well as Italian documents that he had to the police , and was ordered not to leave London and its outskirts .

LONDON, December 11. /TASS/. The survival probability of Russian entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov, who is stricken with leukemia, is 40-50%, the businessman’s barrister Alex Bailin QC said on Friday.
He was speaking at the Westminster Magistrates' Court, where an administrative hearing on Tinkov’s extradition to the US was set to take place.
"Following the transplant, he has developed serious complications, he has graft versus host disease. The survival probability is estimated as 40 to 50%," Bailin said, asking the court to adjourn the hearing, citing a medical report by the entrepreneur’s doctor.
The court satisfied the request, and the hearing on Friday was adjourned.
"Yes, this is another adjournment. There will be a hearing on the 15th of March," Bailin told TASS.
The administrative hearing, which was initially scheduled for late April, had been postponed for the sixth time. Apart from that, a new date was set four times before the start of the trial.
In November, the tycoon’s name appeared on a list of about 20 extradition cases that the London court was supposed to consider, but eventually this did not happen and the case was crossed off from being considered.
In late February, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) submitted a claim with a court in London against Tinkov accusing him of filing a false tax return and underreporting his income, when he renounced his US citizenship in 2013. Cumulatively, he faces up to six years in prison on US federal charges.
The Westminster Magistrates Court in London, which is considering the case, released the businessman on bail to the tune of 20 million pounds ($36 mln). He was obliged to hand over his Russian and Cypriot passports, as well as Italian documents that he had to the police, and was ordered not to leave London and its outskirts.


tass--2020-12-12--Armenian defense minister to visit Russia

YEREVAN , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan has left on a working visit to Russia @ @ @ @ @ to hold a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu , the Armenian Defense Ministry said @ @ @ @ @ December 12 , a delegation headed by Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan left on a working @ @ @ @ @ with Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu and other high-ranking officials are scheduled during @ @ @ @ @ statement says .
The visit to Russia is first for Vagharshak Harutyunyan as defense minister @

YEREVAN, December 12. /TASS/. Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan has left on a working visit to Russia, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, the Armenian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"On December 12, a delegation headed by Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan left on a working visit to Russia. Meetings with Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu and other high-ranking officials are scheduled during the visit," the statement says.
The visit to Russia is first for Vagharshak Harutyunyan as defense minister.


tass--2020-12-12--Russian Navy nuclear-powered sub makes salvo launch of Bulava missiles

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The Pacific Fleet ’ s nuclear-powered submarine Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the Sea of Okhotsk , Russia ’ s Defense Ministry reported on Saturday .
`` Today the Pacific Fleet ’ s strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles as part of planned combat training measures , '' the ministry said in a statement .
The nuclear-powered sub made the salvo launch from its submerged position from the Sea of Okhotsk towards the Chizha proving ground in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
The Bulava ballistic missiles ’ flight proceeded in the normal mode , the ministry said .
`` The confirmed recording data indicates that the missiles ’ warheads successfully arrived at the designated area of the Chizha combat field , '' Russia ’ s Defense Ministry stressed .
As the ministry also noted , `` the cruiser ’ s crew displayed high professionalism and sea skills in preparing and conducting the salvo missile fire . ''
The Vladimir Monomakh strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser is the fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarine .
On November 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew conducted a salvo launch of two Bulava ballistic missiles from its submerged position towards the Kura proving ground in Kamchatka .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The Pacific Fleet’s nuclear-powered submarine Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Saturday.
"Today the Pacific Fleet’s strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles as part of planned combat training measures," the ministry said in a statement.
The nuclear-powered sub made the salvo launch from its submerged position from the Sea of Okhotsk towards the Chizha proving ground in the northern Arkhangelsk Region, the statement says.
The Bulava ballistic missiles’ flight proceeded in the normal mode, the ministry said.
"The confirmed recording data indicates that the missiles’ warheads successfully arrived at the designated area of the Chizha combat field," Russia’s Defense Ministry stressed.
As the ministry also noted, "the cruiser’s crew displayed high professionalism and sea skills in preparing and conducting the salvo missile fire."
The Vladimir Monomakh strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser is the fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarine. On November 14, 2015, the submarine’s crew conducted a salvo launch of two Bulava ballistic missiles from its submerged position towards the Kura proving ground in Kamchatka.


tass--2020-12-12--Karabakh settlement was not reached with disregard for Iran’s interests - Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh within the Azerbaijan-Armenia-Russia format was not reached with disregard for Iran ’ s interests , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Iranian state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday .
The parties to the conflict themselves expressed their interest in Russia ’ s mediation .
`` There is no ‘ back ’ thought in that , '' the foreign minister stressed .
`` Now it is necessary to think not about who and when has had or has not had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me stress again , it was the choice of Azerbaijan and Armenia to decide on the format .
The structure of the participants in the [ trilateral ] statement [ on the complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh ] was prompted precisely by that and not by anything else .
There were no and could have been no attempts to do this at the expense of Iran or Turkey , '' Lavrov said .
Russia ’ s top diplomat also said that when the Astana format ( Russia , Iran and Turkey ) was mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an example of success , the talk was not about the countries involved in it .
`` Our position is as follows : when the countries that have the possibility to influence the situation in a particular crisis region ( even if they advocate different approaches that do not always coincide ) decide to help the conflicting parties stop the bloodshed and unite their efforts , this serves as a good example .
This is the value of the Astana format , '' Lavrov pointed out .
Iran ’ s interests were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way and Moscow understands Tehran ’ s concerns over how the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will have their effect on the Islamic Republic ’ s transit interests that have special significance amid the US sanctions , Russia ’ s top diplomat said .
`` It is impossible to give up the basic principle that has been approved by all for many years : a conflict must result in normalizing the relations in the entire region , '' Lavrov said .
Moreover , the trilateral statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan , Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iranian initiative announced amidst the conflict and offering a regional approach , Russia ’ s foreign minister said .
In Lavrov ’ s opinion , a similar vision geared towards regional cooperation was outlined by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who mentioned the possibility of developing cooperation between the three Trans-Caucasian states ( Armenia , Azerbaijan and Georgia ) and their three neighbors : Iran , Turkey and Russia .
`` This is an observation that lies on the surface .
We all live nearby and now that the problems between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as neighbors , need to help this process , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat pointed out .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh within the Azerbaijan-Armenia-Russia format was not reached with disregard for Iran’s interests, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Iranian state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday.
The parties to the conflict themselves expressed their interest in Russia’s mediation. "There is no ‘back’ thought in that," the foreign minister stressed.
"Now it is necessary to think not about who and when has had or has not had the time to help the settlement. Let me stress again, it was the choice of Azerbaijan and Armenia to decide on the format. The structure of the participants in the [trilateral] statement [on the complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh] was prompted precisely by that and not by anything else. There were no and could have been no attempts to do this at the expense of Iran or Turkey," Lavrov said.
Russia’s top diplomat also said that when the Astana format (Russia, Iran and Turkey) was mentioned in the context of the Karabakh conflict as an example of success, the talk was not about the countries involved in it.
"Our position is as follows: when the countries that have the possibility to influence the situation in a particular crisis region (even if they advocate different approaches that do not always coincide) decide to help the conflicting parties stop the bloodshed and unite their efforts, this serves as a good example. This is the value of the Astana format," Lavrov pointed out.
Iran’s interests were not ignored in this case in any way and Moscow understands Tehran’s concerns over how the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will have their effect on the Islamic Republic’s transit interests that have special significance amid the US sanctions, Russia’s top diplomat said.
"It is impossible to give up the basic principle that has been approved by all for many years: a conflict must result in normalizing the relations in the entire region," Lavrov said.
Moreover, the trilateral statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on Nagorno-Karabakh is consonant with the Iranian initiative announced amidst the conflict and offering a regional approach, Russia’s foreign minister said.
In Lavrov’s opinion, a similar vision geared towards regional cooperation was outlined by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who mentioned the possibility of developing cooperation between the three Trans-Caucasian states (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and their three neighbors: Iran, Turkey and Russia.
"This is an observation that lies on the surface. We all live nearby and now that the problems between the Trans-Caucasian countries are being overcome, we, as neighbors, need to help this process," Russia’s top diplomat pointed out.


tass--2020-12-12--Lavrov, Azerbaijani top diplomat discuss implementation of Karabakh statement

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov held a telephone talk to discuss the implementation of a trilateral statement on Nagorno-Karabakh , the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday .
`` The sides discussed the essential issues of the international and bilateral agenda , including the practical tasks of implementing the statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan , Armenia and Russia on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement , '' the ministry said in a statement , following the results of the foreign ministers ’ phone talk .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The conflict over the disputed territory , primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
The Russian leader said that Azerbaijan and Armenia would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region .
In addition , the Agdam , Kalbajar and Lachin districts were handed over back to Azerbaijan .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov held a telephone talk to discuss the implementation of a trilateral statement on Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
"The sides discussed the essential issues of the international and bilateral agenda, including the practical tasks of implementing the statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement," the ministry said in a statement, following the results of the foreign ministers’ phone talk.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over the disputed territory, primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said that Azerbaijan and Armenia would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. In addition, the Agdam, Kalbajar and Lachin districts were handed over back to Azerbaijan.


tass--2020-12-12--Russia reserves right for tit-for-tat response to UK’s anti-Russian sanctions - diplomat

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow reserves the right to take tit-for-tat measures in response to the UK ’ s new anti-Russian sanctions , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday .
Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry was bewildered over the UK government ’ s decision announced on December 10 on imposing national sanctions against three Russian citizens and a unit of the National Guard for allegedly abusing human rights in the Chechen Republic , the diplomat said .
`` Considering the principle of reciprocity , we reserve the right to take adequate tit-for-tat measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new anti-Russian sanctions imposed by London demonstrate that the UK authorities are unready to give up the confrontational course towards Russia , the spokeswoman said .
`` We view this unfounded decision as vivid demonstration that the British authorities are unready to give up their confrontational course towards Russia .
No doubt , this politically engaged demarche will negatively affect the Russian-British inter-state relations , '' the diplomat stressed .
On December 10 , the UK authorities imposed personal sanctions on three Russian politicians for alleged tortures and human rights abuses against representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chechen Republic .
The restrictions that envisage a ban on an entry into the UK and a freeze of bank accounts were slapped against Chechen Parliament Speaker Magomed Daudov , Ex-Police Chief of the Chechen town of Argun , Ayub Katayev , and Chechen Deputy Interior Minister Alti Alaudinov .
The sanctions were also imposed against the Chechen special rapid response unit Terek .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Moscow reserves the right to take tit-for-tat measures in response to the UK’s new anti-Russian sanctions, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry was bewildered over the UK government’s decision announced on December 10 on imposing national sanctions against three Russian citizens and a unit of the National Guard for allegedly abusing human rights in the Chechen Republic, the diplomat said.
"Considering the principle of reciprocity, we reserve the right to take adequate tit-for-tat measures," the Russian diplomat said.
The new anti-Russian sanctions imposed by London demonstrate that the UK authorities are unready to give up the confrontational course towards Russia, the spokeswoman said.
"We view this unfounded decision as vivid demonstration that the British authorities are unready to give up their confrontational course towards Russia. No doubt, this politically engaged demarche will negatively affect the Russian-British inter-state relations," the diplomat stressed.
On December 10, the UK authorities imposed personal sanctions on three Russian politicians for alleged tortures and human rights abuses against representatives of the non-traditional sexual orientation in the Chechen Republic.
The restrictions that envisage a ban on an entry into the UK and a freeze of bank accounts were slapped against Chechen Parliament Speaker Magomed Daudov, Ex-Police Chief of the Chechen town of Argun, Ayub Katayev, and Chechen Deputy Interior Minister Alti Alaudinov. The sanctions were also imposed against the Chechen special rapid response unit Terek.


tass--2020-12-12--Constitutional amendments shaped new stage of Russia’s development - lower house speaker

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The Constitutional amendments supported by the population at the all-Russian vote defined a new stage in the country ’ s development as a sovereign , democratic and law-governed state , State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in his congratulatory message on the occasion of Constitution Day published on the Duma website on Saturday .
`` I congratulate on Constitution Day of the Russian Federation .
The amendments to the Constitution adopted at the all-Russian vote on July 1 , 2020 defined a new stage in Russia ’ s development as a sovereign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their well-being are the highest value , '' the lower house speaker said .
The lawmakers ’ task is to `` implement the Constitution ’ s potential in full to protect the interests of Russian citizens and use its stipulated possibilities for Russia ’ s forward movement , '' the message says .
In his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on January 15 , 2020 , Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed amendments to the country ’ s Fundamental Law to bring the document more in line with present-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After they were adopted by the Russian parliament and approved by regional legislators , the amendments to Russia ’ s Fundamental Law were put to the all-Russian vote .
According to Russia ’ s Central Election Commission , 77.92 % of voters supported the constitutional amendments , while 21.27 % voted against them .
On July 3 , Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on officially publishing the Constitution with the amendments .
The Constitutional amendments came into force on July 4 .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The Constitutional amendments supported by the population at the all-Russian vote defined a new stage in the country’s development as a sovereign, democratic and law-governed state, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in his congratulatory message on the occasion of Constitution Day published on the Duma website on Saturday.
"I congratulate on Constitution Day of the Russian Federation. The amendments to the Constitution adopted at the all-Russian vote on July 1, 2020 defined a new stage in Russia’s development as a sovereign, democratic and law-governed social state where individuals and their well-being are the highest value," the lower house speaker said.
The lawmakers’ task is to "implement the Constitution’s potential in full to protect the interests of Russian citizens and use its stipulated possibilities for Russia’s forward movement," the message says.
In his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on January 15, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed amendments to the country’s Fundamental Law to bring the document more in line with present-day realities and seal the results achieved.
After they were adopted by the Russian parliament and approved by regional legislators, the amendments to Russia’s Fundamental Law were put to the all-Russian vote. According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, 77.92% of voters supported the constitutional amendments, while 21.27% voted against them.
On July 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on officially publishing the Constitution with the amendments. The Constitutional amendments came into force on July 4.


tass--2020-12-12--Russia, Iran to look for new methods to counter sanctions’ negative effect - Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Iran will look for new methods of countering the negative effect of sanctions on bilateral economic relations , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran ’ s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday .
Moscow and Tehran are taking measures not to allow bilateral trade and economic cooperation `` to shrink , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat pointed out .
`` On the contrary , it is growing , in particular , thanks to the refusal to use the US dollar , the shift of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlements and new creative schemes of economic interaction .
It works , '' he stressed .
`` I am convinced that we will be looking for new methods of ignoring the sanctions ’ negative economic effect , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat said .
There can be no reliance on the Western countries that are applying sanctions and there should be reliance on the states that firmly follow the principles of international law , Lavrov said .
It is necessary to build up the campaign in the UN and at other multilateral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general understanding of the need to terminate them , Russia ’ s foreign minister said .
`` For many years , we have been voting together with Iran and an overwhelming majority of UN members in support of the resolution on the illegitimacy of the economic blockade of Cuba .
Only 2-3 members of the organization , together with the United States , do not support it , '' Lavrov said .
The post of the special rapporteur on illegitimate unilateral economic sanctions has been set up at the UN , Lavrov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the activity of this important institution in every possible way .
It has prepared several reports based on the UN Charter principles , first of all , equality , the peaceful settlement of disputes and non-interference in internal affairs .
We will necessarily continue work in this direction , '' the Russian foreign minister said .
Moscow ’ s support for Tehran is not limited only to denouncing US anti-Iranian sanctions and amounts to billions of US dollars in the economic sphere , Lavrov said .
Russia flatly rejects any attempts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them extraterritorially , which it signaled `` quite clearly '' after the United States pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) under the Iranian nuclear program , Lavrov said .
`` We do not just refuse to recognize unilateral sanctions , but support Iran with specific measures .
Perhaps , we are doing more than anyone else .
In terms of figures , this amounts to billions of dollars .
The work is ongoing in all the directions : from agriculture to information technologies , '' Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign minister cited the statistics of Russia ’ s trade with Iran .
In particular , bilateral trade grew by over 20 % in 2019 while in the first half of this year it expanded by 8 % , considering the grave consequences of the coronavirus pandemic , he said .
`` We do not have such indicators actually with anyone else when trade is growing and not decreasing amid coronavirus restrictions , '' Lavrov pointed out .
Russia ’ s imports from the Islamic Republic grow considerably faster than its exports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s top diplomat also recalled a temporary free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union ( EAEU ) that had entered into force in 2019 and facilitated the efforts to create conditions for Iranian output ’ s access to the large-scale market of all the association ’ s member states .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russia and Iran will look for new methods of countering the negative effect of sanctions on bilateral economic relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran’s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday.
Moscow and Tehran are taking measures not to allow bilateral trade and economic cooperation "to shrink," Russia’s top diplomat pointed out.
"On the contrary, it is growing, in particular, thanks to the refusal to use the US dollar, the shift of the gravity center towards national currencies in settlements and new creative schemes of economic interaction. It works," he stressed.
"I am convinced that we will be looking for new methods of ignoring the sanctions’ negative economic effect," Russia’s top diplomat said.
There can be no reliance on the Western countries that are applying sanctions and there should be reliance on the states that firmly follow the principles of international law, Lavrov said.
It is necessary to build up the campaign in the UN and at other multilateral forums for denouncing unilateral sanctions, promoting the general understanding of the need to terminate them, Russia’s foreign minister said.
"For many years, we have been voting together with Iran and an overwhelming majority of UN members in support of the resolution on the illegitimacy of the economic blockade of Cuba. Only 2-3 members of the organization, together with the United States, do not support it," Lavrov said.
The post of the special rapporteur on illegitimate unilateral economic sanctions has been set up at the UN, Lavrov recalled.
"It is necessary to support the activity of this important institution in every possible way. It has prepared several reports based on the UN Charter principles, first of all, equality, the peaceful settlement of disputes and non-interference in internal affairs. We will necessarily continue work in this direction," the Russian foreign minister said.
Russia’s support for Iran’s economy
Moscow’s support for Tehran is not limited only to denouncing US anti-Iranian sanctions and amounts to billions of US dollars in the economic sphere, Lavrov said.
Russia flatly rejects any attempts of imposing illegitimate unilateral restrictions and also applying them extraterritorially, which it signaled "quite clearly" after the United States pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under the Iranian nuclear program, Lavrov said.
"We do not just refuse to recognize unilateral sanctions, but support Iran with specific measures. Perhaps, we are doing more than anyone else. In terms of figures, this amounts to billions of dollars. The work is ongoing in all the directions: from agriculture to information technologies," Russia’s top diplomat explained.
The Russian foreign minister cited the statistics of Russia’s trade with Iran. In particular, bilateral trade grew by over 20% in 2019 while in the first half of this year it expanded by 8%, considering the grave consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, he said.
"We do not have such indicators actually with anyone else when trade is growing and not decreasing amid coronavirus restrictions," Lavrov pointed out.
Russia’s imports from the Islamic Republic grow considerably faster than its exports, the foreign minister said. Russia’s top diplomat also recalled a temporary free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that had entered into force in 2019 and facilitated the efforts to create conditions for Iranian output’s access to the large-scale market of all the association’s member states.


tass--2020-12-12--Europe gives signals it can hardly act independently in new world order - Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The European Union can hardly act independently in a new polycentric world system , if it stands for the US return to Europe , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran ’ s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday .
`` The Europeans , unfortunately , are increasingly giving signals that they can not act independently in a new world order and are increasingly saying that they want the Euro-Atlantic solidarity to be restored and the US to return to Europe , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , Europe will not be one of the poles of the new polycentric system of international relations , '' Lavrov said .
By keeping its influence on Europe , the United States will attempt to maximally reduce the number of other actors seeking to be a pole in the new world system , he noted .
`` In this situation , China has been chosen as the main opponent and threat to the West , considering its powerful development , '' Lavrov said .
`` From the human point of view , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a threat to the entire Western world for the fact that it is developing its economy , raising the wellbeing of its citizens and ensuring its security more effectively .
This is the mentality inherited from the past epoch that has to be parted with , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat stressed .
However , the process of forming a multi-polar world is irreversible , Lavrov said .
`` History can not be stopped .
But we see the attempts to put this process on hold , '' Russia ’ s foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exerting pressure on the EU to make it halt the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline .
The EU Foreign Affairs Council made a statement on December 7 on relations with the United States under the new administration of Democrat Joseph Biden , urging actually to forget all the disagreements under US President Donald Trump and restore trans-Atlantic friendship in all the spheres .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The European Union can hardly act independently in a new polycentric world system, if it stands for the US return to Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran’s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday.
"The Europeans, unfortunately, are increasingly giving signals that they cannot act independently in a new world order and are increasingly saying that they want the Euro-Atlantic solidarity to be restored and the US to return to Europe," Russia’s top diplomat pointed out.
"If this is so, Europe will not be one of the poles of the new polycentric system of international relations," Lavrov said.
By keeping its influence on Europe, the United States will attempt to maximally reduce the number of other actors seeking to be a pole in the new world system, he noted.
"In this situation, China has been chosen as the main opponent and threat to the West, considering its powerful development," Lavrov said.
"From the human point of view, it is very strange to declare China a threat to the entire Western world for the fact that it is developing its economy, raising the wellbeing of its citizens and ensuring its security more effectively. This is the mentality inherited from the past epoch that has to be parted with," Russia’s top diplomat stressed.
However, the process of forming a multi-polar world is irreversible, Lavrov said. "History cannot be stopped. But we see the attempts to put this process on hold," Russia’s foreign minister said.
The United States keeps exerting pressure on the EU to make it halt the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The EU Foreign Affairs Council made a statement on December 7 on relations with the United States under the new administration of Democrat Joseph Biden, urging actually to forget all the disagreements under US President Donald Trump and restore trans-Atlantic friendship in all the spheres.


tass--2020-12-12--Russia reports 28,137 new coronavirus cases in past day

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 28,137 in the past twenty-four hours to @ @ @ @ @ center reported on Saturday .
The coronavirus growth rate does not exceed 1.1 % , @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus recoveries in Russia grew by 26,118 in the past twenty-four hours to 2,085,958 , @ @ @ @ @ The share of recoveries has increased to 79.4 % of all coronavirus infections , the @ @ @ @ @ fatalities in Russia grew by 560 in the past twenty-four hours compared to 613 a @ @ @ @ @ the crisis center reported .
The death rate remained at 1.77 % , the crisis @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 28,137 in the past twenty-four hours to 2,625,848, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Saturday.
The coronavirus growth rate does not exceed 1.1%, the crisis center said.
Coronavirus recoveries in Russia grew by 26,118 in the past twenty-four hours to 2,085,958, the latest data indicate.
The share of recoveries has increased to 79.4% of all coronavirus infections, the crisis center said.
Coronavirus fatalities in Russia grew by 560 in the past twenty-four hours compared to 613 a day before to 46,453, the crisis center reported.
The death rate remained at 1.77%, the crisis center said.


tass--2020-12-12--World should learn results of probe into Iranian scientist’s murder - Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The international community is interested in the results of a probe into the murder of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran ’ s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday .
Russia resolutely denounced the scientist ’ s murder at various levels , including an official statement by its Foreign Ministry , Lavrov said .
`` We consider this murder as a provocation aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region , which is burdened with a large number of problems and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference from the outside , '' Russia ’ s foreign minister said .
`` I have heard that Iran has announced about some results of the probe into this murder .
When the Iranian side considers it possible , it will be important for everyone to learn the results the investigators have come to , '' Lavrov added .
On November 27 , Fars news agency informed that Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , who headed a research center under the Iranian Defense Ministry , had been killed in the city of Damavand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iranian Army ’ s Commander-in-Chief Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi , Israel and the United States were behind the assassination .
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed that the murder would not go unanswered .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The international community is interested in the results of a probe into the murder of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Iran’s state television and radio broadcaster on Saturday.
Russia resolutely denounced the scientist’s murder at various levels, including an official statement by its Foreign Ministry, Lavrov said.
"We consider this murder as a provocation aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region, which is burdened with a large number of problems and contradictions and has seen years-long attempts of interference from the outside," Russia’s foreign minister said.
"I have heard that Iran has announced about some results of the probe into this murder. When the Iranian side considers it possible, it will be important for everyone to learn the results the investigators have come to," Lavrov added.
On November 27, Fars news agency informed that Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who headed a research center under the Iranian Defense Ministry, had been killed in the city of Damavand in the province of Tehran. According to Iranian Army’s Commander-in-Chief Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, Israel and the United States were behind the assassination. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed that the murder would not go unanswered.


tass--2020-12-12--Moscow reports 5,890 coronavirus recoveries in past day

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Coronavirus recoveries in Moscow grew by 5,890 in the past twenty-four hours to 524,779 , the Moscow anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Saturday .
`` Another 5,890 coronavirus patients have recovered after undergoing medical treatment .
Overall , the number of people who have recovered from the infection has grown to 524,779 , '' the center said in a statement .
Moscow residents who have recovered from the illness receive a proposal to donate their blood plasma .
Individuals aged 18 - 55 who have recovered from the coronavirus infection and have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They must also test negative for HIV , Hepatitis B and C. The Moscow residents who have recovered from the coronavirus can also become social volunteers to help people who are undergoing medical treatment at home .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 71,438,880 people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,601,200 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 49,638,390 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Coronavirus recoveries in Moscow grew by 5,890 in the past twenty-four hours to 524,779, the Moscow anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Saturday.
"Another 5,890 coronavirus patients have recovered after undergoing medical treatment. Overall, the number of people who have recovered from the infection has grown to 524,779," the center said in a statement.
Moscow residents who have recovered from the illness receive a proposal to donate their blood plasma. Individuals aged 18 - 55 who have recovered from the coronavirus infection and have no chronic illnesses can become blood donors. They must also test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.
The Moscow residents who have recovered from the coronavirus can also become social volunteers to help people who are undergoing medical treatment at home.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 71,438,880 people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,601,200 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 49,638,390 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-12-12--Vaccination against COVID-19 in US to begin in 24 hours, says President Trump

WASHINGTON , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
President of the United States Donald Trump announced that the national administration granted @ @ @ @ @ of Pfizer and BioNTech against the novel coronavirus .
The New York daily reported earlier @ @ @ @ @ United States ’ Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) approved the vaccines of Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus .
`` This is one of the greatest @ @ @ @ @ '' US President Donald Trump stated in his video on Twitter .
`` It will @ @ @ @ @ soon end the pandemic once and for all . ''
The New York Times daily @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer ’ s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ of highly vulnerable people to begin receiving the vaccine within days . ''

WASHINGTON, December 12. /TASS/. President of the United States Donald Trump announced that the national administration granted its approval to start vaccines of Pfizer and BioNTech against the novel coronavirus.
The New York daily reported earlier in the day that the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccines of Pfizer and BioNTech to combat the ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus.
"This is one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in history," US President Donald Trump stated in his video on Twitter. "It will save millions of lives and soon end the pandemic once and for all."
The New York Times daily announced that "the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Friday, clearing the way for millions of highly vulnerable people to begin receiving the vaccine within days."


tass--2020-12-12--US regulator FDA approves Pfizer, BioNTech vaccines to tackle COVID-19

NEW YORK , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The United States ’ Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has @ @ @ @ @ and BioNTech to combat the ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus , the New @ @ @ @ @ According to the daily : `` The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , clearing the way for millions of highly vulnerable people to begin receiving @ @ @ @ @ '' `` The decision is a victory for Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech , @ @ @ @ @ vaccine 11 months ago , '' according to the newspaper .
`` Vaccines typically take @ @ @ @ @ companies ’ late-stage clinical trial , which enrolled nearly 44,000 people , was found to @ @ @ @ @ ''

NEW YORK, December 12. /TASS/. The United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the vaccines of Pfizer and BioNTech to combat the ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus, the New York Times daily announced.
According to the daily: "The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Friday, clearing the way for millions of highly vulnerable people to begin receiving the vaccine within days."
"The decision is a victory for Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, which began working on the vaccine 11 months ago," according to the newspaper. "Vaccines typically take years to develop. The companies’ late-stage clinical trial, which enrolled nearly 44,000 people, was found to be 95% effective."


tass--2020-12-13--Kyrgyzstan election authority registers 18 presidential candidates

BISHKEK , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Kyrgyzstan ’ s Central Election Commission ( CEC ) said on Saturday it had registered 18 candidates for the next year ’ s presidential election .
`` A total of 18 candidates to the post of the president of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan were registered by the Central Election Commission , '' the election authority said .
Among them are the leader of Kyrgyzstan 's opposition Butun ( United ) Kyrgyzstan party Adakhan Madumarov , former acting president Sadyr Japarov , former head of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan Abdil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 63 people initially informed the CEC about their plans to run in the election .
However , only 20 of them managed to collect 30,000 signatures in support of their candidacy and pay one million Kyrgyzstani soms ( $ 12,500 ) as a deposit .
Later , the CEC ruled that signatures in support of two candidates were invalid .
The campaigning period in the country will kick off on December 15 .
Following the parliamentary elections on October 4 , representatives of parties which failed to secure seats in parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Central Election Commission declared the election results null and void and scheduled new election for December 20 .
Parliament speaker and prime minister resigned .
Sadyr Japarov , liberated by the protesters from the detention , was elected new prime minister .
He also took over presidential powers when President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on October 15 .
New presidential election in Kyrgyzstan is scheduled for January 10 , 2021 .

BISHKEK, December 12. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) said on Saturday it had registered 18 candidates for the next year’s presidential election.
"A total of 18 candidates to the post of the president of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan were registered by the Central Election Commission," the election authority said.
Among them are the leader of Kyrgyzstan's opposition Butun (United) Kyrgyzstan party Adakhan Madumarov, former acting president Sadyr Japarov, former head of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan Abdil Segizbaev and lawmaker Kanybek Imanaliev.
A total of 63 people initially informed the CEC about their plans to run in the election. However, only 20 of them managed to collect 30,000 signatures in support of their candidacy and pay one million Kyrgyzstani soms ($12,500) as a deposit. Later, the CEC ruled that signatures in support of two candidates were invalid.
The campaigning period in the country will kick off on December 15.
Following the parliamentary elections on October 4, representatives of parties which failed to secure seats in parliament staged mass riots in the capital Bishkek. The Central Election Commission declared the election results null and void and scheduled new election for December 20. Parliament speaker and prime minister resigned. Sadyr Japarov, liberated by the protesters from the detention, was elected new prime minister. He also took over presidential powers when President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on October 15. New presidential election in Kyrgyzstan is scheduled for January 10, 2021.


tass--2020-12-13--WHO reports over 656,000 new daily cases of COVID-19

GENEVA , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
More than 656,000 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been recorded globally in the past day , pushing a total number of infections to 69.8 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday .
According to the WHO updates , the coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 11,800 to exceed 1.58 million .
As of 20.46 Moscow time on December 12 , as many as 69,808,588 coronavirus cases and 1,588,854 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of fatalities increased by 11,868 .
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries .
South and North America account for more than 46 % of single-day COVID-19 cases submitted to the WHO in the past 24 hours ( 303,063 ) .
Europe goes second ( 265,334cases ) followed by South East Asia ( 40,396 ) .
Most COVID-19 cases are recorded in the United States ( 15,404,889 ) , followed by India ( 9,826,775 ) , Brazil ( 6,781,788 ) , Russia ( 2,625,848 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK ( 1,809,459 ) , Italy ( 1,805,873 ) , Spain ( 1,730,575 ) , Argentina ( 1,483,376 ) , Colombia ( 1,399,911 ) , Germany ( 1,300,516 ) and Mexico ( 1,217,126 ) .

GENEVA, December 12. /TASS/. More than 656,000 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been recorded globally in the past day, pushing a total number of infections to 69.8 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday.
According to the WHO updates, the coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 11,800 to exceed 1.58 million.
As of 20.46 Moscow time on December 12, as many as 69,808,588 coronavirus cases and 1,588,854 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 656,181 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 11,868.
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries.
South and North America account for more than 46% of single-day COVID-19 cases submitted to the WHO in the past 24 hours (303,063). Europe goes second (265,334cases) followed by South East Asia (40,396).
Most COVID-19 cases are recorded in the United States (15,404,889), followed by India (9,826,775), Brazil (6,781,788), Russia (2,625,848), France (2,310,701), the UK (1,809,459), Italy (1,805,873), Spain (1,730,575), Argentina (1,483,376), Colombia (1,399,911), Germany (1,300,516) and Mexico (1,217,126).


tass--2020-12-13--Aliyev says OSCE Minsk Group played no part in Karabakh settlement

BAKU , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The OSCE Minsk Group has not played any part in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev said on Saturday at a meeting with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group , Stephane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States .
`` Unfortunately , the Minsk Group has not played any role in resolving the conflict although the Minsk Group had had a mandate for 28 years .
I myself had been taking part in negotiation for 17 years .
However , although the Minsk Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act creatively , it yielded no result , '' Aliyev said .
The president of Azerbaijan pointed out that the conflict settlement was a pivotal change for the region .
`` Currently , there is an absolutely new situation in the region , '' Aliyev stressed .
According to the president , he agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin 's words that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a page of history .
The talks seeking peace for Nagorno-Karabakh have been ongoing within the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , the United States and France , since 1992 .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the agreement , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they have held and then , Armenian forces turned over control of certain districts to Baku .
In addition , Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the contact line and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Armenia .

BAKU, December 12. /TASS/. The OSCE Minsk Group has not played any part in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said on Saturday at a meeting with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Stephane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States.
"Unfortunately, the Minsk Group has not played any role in resolving the conflict although the Minsk Group had had a mandate for 28 years. I myself had been taking part in negotiation for 17 years. However, although the Minsk Group was putting forward ideas and was trying to act creatively, it yielded no result," Aliyev said.
The president of Azerbaijan pointed out that the conflict settlement was a pivotal change for the region.
"Currently, there is an absolutely new situation in the region," Aliyev stressed.
According to the president, he agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin's words that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a page of history.
The talks seeking peace for Nagorno-Karabakh have been ongoing within the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France, since 1992.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the agreement, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they have held and then, Armenian forces turned over control of certain districts to Baku. In addition, Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the contact line and to the Lachin corridor, which links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.


tass--2020-12-13--Moscow's death toll from confirmed COVID-19 cases rises by 72 to 9,870 — crisis center

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 72 in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ , the Russian capital ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Saturday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow .
Their diagnoses of pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ .
The death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 9,870 in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ , about 685,800 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Moscow so far and over 524,800 patients @ @ @ @ @ According to the latest statistics , more than 71.1 million people have been infected with @ @ @ @ @ 1.6 million deaths have been reported .
To date , 2,625,848 coronavirus cases have been @ @ @ @ @ 2,085,958 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 46,453 @ @ @ @ @ the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 72 in Moscow over the past 24 hours, the Russian capital’s anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Saturday.
"Seventy-two patients have passed away in Moscow. Their diagnoses of pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for coronavirus," the center informed.
The death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 9,870 in Moscow. As of December 12, about 685,800 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Moscow so far and over 524,800 patients recovered from the disease.
According to the latest statistics, more than 71.1 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 1.6 million deaths have been reported.
To date, 2,625,848 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,085,958 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 46,453 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-13--Aliyev blames Armenia for ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh

BAKU , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh was provoked by the Armenian side , Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with the French and US co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Saturday .
`` Now [ that ] Russian peacekeepers are there [ in Karabakh ] and started the activity the situation is more or less stable .
Though , I just got information yesterday about some terrorist acts either by Armenian Guerilla forces or by remaining [ forces ] of what they called Armenian army .
This , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aliyev said cited by the AZERTAC news agency .
Meanwhile , Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry said the ceasefire was being observed in Nagorno-Karabakh .
`` The Armenian side committed provocative actions in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan , which were accompanied by a violation of the ceasefire .
The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have taken adequate retaliatory measures .
Currently , the ceasefire regime is being observed , '' the Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its site .
Peacekeepers have called on the opposing sides in Nagorno-Karabakh to abide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fire in Hadrut district , a spokesperson for the Russian peacekeeping force told reporters .
`` Small arms shooting was recorded in the Hadrut district .
Through direct communication lines , the sides were promptly informed about the demand to observe the complete ceasefire regime , '' the spokesman said .
Earlier , the Russian Defense Ministry reported on the first ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh since the end of hostilities and the deployment of the Russian peacekeeping mission to the region .
The Defense Ministry added that the violation was recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the statement , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides are to maintain the positions that they have held and then , Armenian forces are to turn over control of certain districts to Baku .
In addition , Russian peacekeepers are to be deployed along the contact line and to the Lachin corridor , which links Nagorno-Karabakh to @ @

BAKU, December 12. /TASS/. The ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh was provoked by the Armenian side, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with the French and US co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Saturday.
"Now [that] Russian peacekeepers are there [in Karabakh] and started the activity the situation is more or less stable. Though, I just got information yesterday about some terrorist acts either by Armenian Guerilla forces or by remaining [forces] of what they called Armenian army. This, of course, is of concern," Aliyev said cited by the AZERTAC news agency.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said the ceasefire was being observed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The Armenian side committed provocative actions in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, which were accompanied by a violation of the ceasefire. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have taken adequate retaliatory measures. Currently, the ceasefire regime is being observed," the Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its site.
Peacekeepers have called on the opposing sides in Nagorno-Karabakh to abide by the ceasefire agreement after an exchange of fire in Hadrut district, a spokesperson for the Russian peacekeeping force told reporters.
"Small arms shooting was recorded in the Hadrut district. Through direct communication lines, the sides were promptly informed about the demand to observe the complete ceasefire regime," the spokesman said.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on the first ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh since the end of hostilities and the deployment of the Russian peacekeeping mission to the region. The Defense Ministry added that the violation was recorded in the Hadrut district.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the statement, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides are to maintain the positions that they have held and then, Armenian forces are to turn over control of certain districts to Baku. In addition, Russian peacekeepers are to be deployed along the contact line and to the Lachin corridor, which links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.


tass--2020-12-13--Venezuelan leader's son vaccinated against COVID-19 with Russian vaccine — TV

RIO DE JANEIRO , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Nicolas Maduro Guerra , the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , was among the first in the country to receive the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V , the national Venezolana de Television broadcaster said on Saturday .
`` I want to tell the world that Venezuela believes in Russia , its medicine and science , '' the television channel said citing the 30-year-old politician , who had been earlier elected to the parliament .
Nicolas Maduro Guerra thanked the Russian leadership for generosity towards the people of Venezuela and underscored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , he feels deep respect for Russia `` which can count on him as an ally . ''
Russia ’ s Ambassador to Venezuela Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov , who was present at the vaccination of the Venezuelan president ’ s son , told TASS that the young lawmaker `` was feeling splendid [ after the vaccination ] and is proud of the chance to test Sputnik V on himself , the world ’ s first registered coronavirus vaccine which was developed and produced in Moscow . ''
The broadcaster pointed out that Maduro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose of the vaccine 20 days later , and then would be supervised by specialists , who stay in contact with the vaccine developer , the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry .

RIO DE JANEIRO, December 12. /TASS/. Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was among the first in the country to receive the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the national Venezolana de Television broadcaster said on Saturday.
"I want to tell the world that Venezuela believes in Russia, its medicine and science," the television channel said citing the 30-year-old politician, who had been earlier elected to the parliament.
Nicolas Maduro Guerra thanked the Russian leadership for generosity towards the people of Venezuela and underscored that, like all the Venezuelan young people, he feels deep respect for Russia "which can count on him as an ally."
Russia’s Ambassador to Venezuela Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, who was present at the vaccination of the Venezuelan president’s son, told TASS that the young lawmaker "was feeling splendid [after the vaccination] and is proud of the chance to test Sputnik V on himself, the world’s first registered coronavirus vaccine which was developed and produced in Moscow."
The broadcaster pointed out that Maduro’s son would receive the second dose of the vaccine 20 days later, and then would be supervised by specialists, who stay in contact with the vaccine developer, the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry.


tass--2020-12-13--Sputnik V likely to offer two-year protection against coronavirus - developers

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia 's Sputnik V vaccine is likely to offer two-year-long protection against the novel coronavirus , said Alexander Gintsburg , the head of the vaccine ’ s developer , Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
`` So far , I can only make suggestions , because more experimental data is needed .
Our vaccine was created on the platform also used for the Ebola vaccine .
Experimental data received at that point demonstrate that a similar vaccine would offer protection for two years , maybe more , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Russian scientist , Sputnik V is effective in 96 % of cases .
The remaining four percent of vaccinated persons will have a mild form of the disease with runny nose , cough and slight fever , but lungs won ’ t be affected .
Gintsburg explained the criticism of Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine by unfair market competition and political motives .
`` The first reason is that < ... > the market for this vaccine amounts to tens , maybe hundreds of billions of dollars .
< @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are behind all this money , fight for the profit .
And < … > no holds are barred here , '' he said The other reason are political motives , Gintsburg continued .
`` As we could witness not so long ago , a group of vaccine researchers almost played a crucial role during elections in one country on the American continent .
< ... > All together , they announced that they had created a vaccine three or five days after the elections were over .
< ... > Before that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Registered by Russia on August 11 , Sputnik V became the world ’ s first coronavirus vaccine .
The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Its post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7 , with volunteers receiving the first vaccine on September 9 .
A total of 40,000 people are involved in the program , 10,000 of them received a placebo instead of the vaccine .
According to interim research results , the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the first dose , provided that a patient receives the second dose .
On December 2 , Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to organize a nationwide vaccination starting by the end of this week .
As Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added , the inoculation should be completely voluntary and free of charge , with teachers , medics , and social workers receiving the vaccine first , while the regions can expand this list .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is likely to offer two-year-long protection against the novel coronavirus, said Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the vaccine’s developer, Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.
"So far, I can only make suggestions, because more experimental data is needed. Our vaccine was created on the platform also used for the Ebola vaccine. Experimental data received at that point demonstrate that a similar vaccine would offer protection for two years, maybe more," he told the Soloviev Live channel on YouTube.
According to the Russian scientist, Sputnik V is effective in 96% of cases. The remaining four percent of vaccinated persons will have a mild form of the disease with runny nose, cough and slight fever, but lungs won’t be affected.
Gintsburg explained the criticism of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine by unfair market competition and political motives.
"The first reason is that <...> the market for this vaccine amounts to tens, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars. <...> Corporations and people, who are behind all this money, fight for the profit. And <…> no holds are barred here," he said
The other reason are political motives, Gintsburg continued.
"As we could witness not so long ago, a group of vaccine researchers almost played a crucial role during elections in one country on the American continent. <...> All together, they announced that they had created a vaccine three or five days after the elections were over. <...> Before that, the vaccine was not yet ready," he said.
Registered by Russia on August 11, Sputnik V became the world’s first coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Its post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7, with volunteers receiving the first vaccine on September 9. A total of 40,000 people are involved in the program, 10,000 of them received a placebo instead of the vaccine.
According to interim research results, the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine exceeds 95% on the 42nd day after the first dose, provided that a patient receives the second dose.
On December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to organize a nationwide vaccination starting by the end of this week. As Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added, the inoculation should be completely voluntary and free of charge, with teachers, medics, and social workers receiving the vaccine first, while the regions can expand this list.


tass--2020-12-12--Bulava missiles fired from Sea of Okhotsk at distance of over 5,500 km

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
The salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the Vladimir Monomakh nuclear-powered submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk was made at a distance of over 5,500 kilometers on Saturday , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin reporting on the drills of the strategic nuclear forces , according to the Russian Defense Ministry .
`` Defense Minister of the Russian Federation Army General Sergei Shoigu informed Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin about the final stage of the combat trials to control the strategic offensive forces .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from its submerged position at a distance of more than 5,500 kilometers from the Sea of Okhotsk , '' the Defense Ministry said .
The ministry added that `` all the missiles ’ warheads successfully arrived at the designated area of the Chizha combat field . ''
The drills for the strategic nuclear forces ’ command and control began in Russia on December 9 under the command of Russia ’ s Supreme Commander-in-Chief , President Vladimir Putin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , navy and air components of the Russian strategic nuclear forces .
Ballistic and cruise missiles were fired from submarines and land-based launchers as well as from Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces .
All the launches were performed as planned .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the Vladimir Monomakh nuclear-powered submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk was made at a distance of over 5,500 kilometers on Saturday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin reporting on the drills of the strategic nuclear forces, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
"Defense Minister of the Russian Federation Army General Sergei Shoigu informed Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin about the final stage of the combat trials to control the strategic offensive forces. During them, the Pacific Fleet’s strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh made a salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from its submerged position at a distance of more than 5,500 kilometers from the Sea of Okhotsk," the Defense Ministry said.
The ministry added that "all the missiles’ warheads successfully arrived at the designated area of the Chizha combat field."
The drills for the strategic nuclear forces’ command and control began in Russia on December 9 under the command of Russia’s Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Vladimir Putin. The drills involved the hardware of land-based, navy and air components of the Russian strategic nuclear forces. Ballistic and cruise missiles were fired from submarines and land-based launchers as well as from Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces. All the launches were performed as planned.


tass--2020-12-12--Palestine expects 4mln doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine to be delivered in January - TV

MOSCOW , December 12 .
/TASS/ .
Palestine awaits four million doses of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V to @ @ @ @ @ Israel ’ s I24 news channel said on Saturday citing the Palestinian Health Ministry .
@ @ @ @ @ health workers , the staff of the security services and the media would be the @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the television channel , Palestine has recorded over 78,000 coronavirus cases and @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Palestine awaits four million doses of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V to be delivered in January, Israel’s I24 news channel said on Saturday citing the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry said that health workers, the staff of the security services and the media would be the first to receive the vaccine.
According to the television channel, Palestine has recorded over 78,000 coronavirus cases and 740 deaths caused by COVID-19.