tass--2020-07-05--Open Skies Treaty’s future to depend on Europe’s position during conference - expert

MOSCOW , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
The Treaty on Open Skies will be equally serving Russia ’ s and Europe ’ s interests even after the United States ’ withdrawal from it but Moscow wants Europeans to voice an acceptable position on the matter at tomorrow ’ s on the treaty , the Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics , member of the Valdai discussion club Dmitry Suslov told TASS on Sunday .
According to the expert , the United States is expected to reiterate its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming videoconference .
So , in his words , the agenda will center round the future of this arms control mechanism .
`` As for the prospects for the treaty without the United States and prospects for Russia ’ s participation in it , it will depend on the position of European nations .
As a matter of fact , it is a central point of the agenda to be discussed on Monday .
And so far , there is no clarity on it , '' he explained .
He stressed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool of ensuring security and predictability in Europe and `` and so far , it is too early to say that the treaty is doomed . ''
`` Objectively , the Open Skies Treaty is beneficial for both Russia and European even without the United States , because both sides receive information and data about each other ’ s armed forces and military infrastructure .
It creates some sort of certainty , which is essential from the point of view of minimizing military risks , preventing incidents , and from the point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted .
Moscow , according to the expert , wants to clarify during the videoconference whether European nations were also looking at possible withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty and siding with Washington ’ s groundless accusations in respect of Russia .
A number of treaty signatories are demonstrating open hostility in respect of Russia , despite the obvious benefits the treaty avails , Suslov noted , adding that these countries , for instance Poland , the Baltic republics , Ukraine , and Georgia , may make a consensus hard to reach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by some European states , especially those most loyal to the United States , in this case , the treaty will be in danger .
In such a case , there is high probability it will cease to exist in a foreseeable future .
With European nations quitting it , it will be absolutely senseless for Russia , '' he stressed .
Nevertheless , if Europe reiterates its commitment to the treaty unanimously and unequivocally and pledges to continue to abide by it after the US ’ withdrawal , the Open Skies Treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in force .
Moscow hopes for this outcome of the conference and calls on the European partners to spare no effort for that .
Russia ’ s further steps will depend on how the Europeans implement the treaty ’ s provisions concerning the ban on the transfer of observation flight data to third countries .
Suslov recalled that despite the United States ’ withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty , it is bound by allied relations with other NATO partners in Europe .
Hence , there is a risk of an asymmetric situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to legitimately obtain information about the United States while the Americans will be able to continue to receive data about flights over Russia from its European allies .
`` This is an unacceptable situation for Russia .
So , it will state its position at the upcoming meeting clearly and unequivocally : if European signatories to the Open Skies Treaty share their data with the United States , participation in this treaty will be unacceptable for Russia and it will quit this agreement .
It will , so to say , clarity Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressed , adding that Moscow will keep an eye on the reaction of other countries to its statements .
`` As a matter of fact , the future of the Open Skies Treaty will depend on these two issues , namely participation of European countries in the treaty and transfer of data about flight to the United States , '' Suslov noted .
According to the expert , if attempts to keep the Open Skies Treaty in place fail , no such agreement is possible in the current political situation .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that , with absolutely no trust between the sides [ Russia and NATO countries ] .
It looks like confrontation between Russia and the United States will be continued regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential relations in the United States , '' Suslov explained .
With no legitimate mechanism of data collection about each other ’ s military infrastructure , countries will have to rely only on satellite reconnaissance data .
`` It is less reliable and detailed information than photos and data received during officially permitted flights .
Nevertheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of obtaining quite exact photos from the outer space may give a certain degree of predictability , '' he added .
US President Donald Trump declared on May 21 Washington was going to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies , which provides for inspection flights over member countries ’ territories to monitor military activities .
He motivated this step by Russia ’ s alleged violation of the treaty .
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a written statement that the decision to withdraw from the treaty will come into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moscow denies these accusations and puts forward counterclaims .
Thus , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia has already voiced its own claims to the United States concerning this treaty ’ s implementation .
According to Vladimir Yermakov , director of the Russian foreign ministry ’ s non-proliferation and arms control department , Washington ’ s attempts to picture its withdrawal from the treaty as a reaction to Russia ’ s breaches are absolutely groundless .
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) .
The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency , render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control agreements , broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations .
The treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants .
Now , the treaty has more than 30 signatory states .
Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26 , 2001 .

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. The Treaty on Open Skies will be equally serving Russia’s and Europe’s interests even after the United States’ withdrawal from it but Moscow wants Europeans to voice an acceptable position on the matter at tomorrow’s on the treaty, the Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics, member of the Valdai discussion club Dmitry Suslov told TASS on Sunday.
According to the expert, the United States is expected to reiterate its decision to quit the treaty at the upcoming videoconference. So, in his words, the agenda will center round the future of this arms control mechanism. "As for the prospects for the treaty without the United States and prospects for Russia’s participation in it, it will depend on the position of European nations. As a matter of fact, it is a central point of the agenda to be discussed on Monday. And so far, there is no clarity on it," he explained.
He stressed that the regime of observation flights is an essential tool of ensuring security and predictability in Europe and "and so far, it is too early to say that the treaty is doomed." "Objectively, the Open Skies Treaty is beneficial for both Russia and European even without the United States, because both sides receive information and data about each other’s armed forces and military infrastructure. It creates some sort of certainty, which is essential from the point of view of minimizing military risks, preventing incidents, and from the point of view of military planning," he noted.
Europe’s choice
Moscow, according to the expert, wants to clarify during the videoconference whether European nations were also looking at possible withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty and siding with Washington’s groundless accusations in respect of Russia. A number of treaty signatories are demonstrating open hostility in respect of Russia, despite the obvious benefits the treaty avails, Suslov noted, adding that these countries, for instance Poland, the Baltic republics, Ukraine, and Georgia, may make a consensus hard to reach.
"If such a position is voiced by some European states, especially those most loyal to the United States, in this case, the treaty will be in danger. In such a case, there is high probability it will cease to exist in a foreseeable future. With European nations quitting it, it will be absolutely senseless for Russia," he stressed.
Nevertheless, if Europe reiterates its commitment to the treaty unanimously and unequivocally and pledges to continue to abide by it after the US’ withdrawal, the Open Skies Treaty will have all the chances to stay in force. Moscow hopes for this outcome of the conference and calls on the European partners to spare no effort for that.
Russia to draw a red line
Russia’s further steps will depend on how the Europeans implement the treaty’s provisions concerning the ban on the transfer of observation flight data to third countries.
Suslov recalled that despite the United States’ withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, it is bound by allied relations with other NATO partners in Europe. Hence, there is a risk of an asymmetric situation when Russia is striped of a possibility to legitimately obtain information about the United States while the Americans will be able to continue to receive data about flights over Russia from its European allies.
"This is an unacceptable situation for Russia. So, it will state its position at the upcoming meeting clearly and unequivocally: if European signatories to the Open Skies Treaty share their data with the United States, participation in this treaty will be unacceptable for Russia and it will quit this agreement. It will, so to say, clarity Russia’s position," the expert stressed, adding that Moscow will keep an eye on the reaction of other countries to its statements.
"As a matter of fact, the future of the Open Skies Treaty will depend on these two issues, namely participation of European countries in the treaty and transfer of data about flight to the United States," Suslov noted.
No alternative to Open Skies Treaty
According to the expert, if attempts to keep the Open Skies Treaty in place fail, no such agreement is possible in the current political situation. "So far, there are no political perspectives for that, with absolutely no trust between the sides [Russia and NATO countries]. It looks like confrontation between Russia and the United States will be continued regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential relations in the United States," Suslov explained.
With no legitimate mechanism of data collection about each other’s military infrastructure, countries will have to rely only on satellite reconnaissance data. "It is less reliable and detailed information than photos and data received during officially permitted flights. Nevertheless, satellite reconnaissance systems allowing for the possibility of obtaining quite exact photos from the outer space may give a certain degree of predictability," he added.
Situation around Open Skies Treaty
US President Donald Trump declared on May 21 Washington was going to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which provides for inspection flights over member countries’ territories to monitor military activities. He motivated this step by Russia’s alleged violation of the treaty. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a written statement that the decision to withdraw from the treaty will come into effect in six months after May 22.
Moscow denies these accusations and puts forward counterclaims. Thus, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia has already voiced its own claims to the United States concerning this treaty’s implementation. According to Vladimir Yermakov, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s non-proliferation and arms control department, Washington’s attempts to picture its withdrawal from the treaty as a reaction to Russia’s breaches are absolutely groundless.
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 member nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations. The treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.


tass--2020-07-05--Number of COVID-2019 cases across globe up by over 203,000 in past day - WHO

GENEVA , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
More than 203,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on July 5 , with the overall number of such cases exceeding 11.1 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Sunday .
As of 11:00 Moscow time on July 5 , as many as 11,125,245 novel coronavirus cases and 528,204 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 203,836 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,195 .
The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the countries .
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 5,697,954 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 122,472 and the number of deaths - by 3,444 and reached 262,538 .
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,774,221 and the number of fatalities is 199,879 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 16,665 and the number of deaths - by 369 .
The East Mediterranean region has 1,153,157 cases and 27,074 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 18,468 and the number of deaths - by 555 .
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States ( 2,776,366 ) , Brazil ( 1,539,081 ) , Russia ( 681,251 ) , India ( 673,165 ) , Peru ( 295,599 ) , Chile ( 291,847 ) , the United Kingdom ( 284,904 ) , Spain ( 250,545 ) , Mexico ( 245,251 ) , and Italy ( 241,419 ) .
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million , in late December 2019 .
Since then , cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world .
On March 11 , 2020 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, July 5. /TASS/. More than 203,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on July 5, with the overall number of such cases exceeding 11.1 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Sunday.
As of 11:00 Moscow time on July 5, as many as 11,125,245 novel coronavirus cases and 528,204 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 203,836 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,195.
The WHO statistics is based on officially confirmed data from the countries.
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 5,697,954. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 122,472 and the number of deaths - by 3,444 and reached 262,538.
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,774,221 and the number of fatalities is 199,879. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 16,665 and the number of deaths - by 369.
The East Mediterranean region has 1,153,157 cases and 27,074 fatalities as of July 5. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 18,468 and the number of deaths - by 555.
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States (2,776,366), Brazil (1,539,081), Russia (681,251), India (673,165), Peru (295,599), Chile (291,847), the United Kingdom (284,904), Spain (250,545), Mexico (245,251), and Italy (241,419).
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December 2019. Since then, cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-07-05--Two rockets fired at Israel from Gaza Strip

TEL AVIV , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
Palestinian radicals have fired two missiles at Israel ’ s territory from @ @ @ @ @ Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) said on Sunday .
`` Terrorists in Gaza just @ @ @ @ @ , '' IDF wrote on its Twitter account .
Israel ’ s Kan radio stations @ @ @ @ @ or damages had been received .
Previous rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip were reported @ @ @ @ @ 15 , May 6 , and March 27 .
The Israel Defense Forces retaliated by @ @ @ @ @ military facilities .
On February 23 and 24 , when more than 80 rockets were @ @ @ @ @ , IDF hit Islamic Jihad group ’ s military targets south if Damascus in Syria @ @ @ @ @ facilities in the Gaza Strip .

TEL AVIV, July 5. /TASS/. Palestinian radicals have fired two missiles at Israel’s territory from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday.
"Terrorists in Gaza just fired 2 rockets at Israel," IDF wrote on its Twitter account.
Israel’s Kan radio stations said no information about casualties or damages had been received.
Previous rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip were reported on June 26, June 15, May 6, and March 27. The Israel Defense Forces retaliated by delivering strikes at Hamas’ military facilities. On February 23 and 24, when more than 80 rockets were fired at the Israeli territory, IDF hit Islamic Jihad group’s military targets south if Damascus in Syria and dozens of radicals’ facilities in the Gaza Strip.


tass--2020-07-05--Russian woman suspected of killing her baby detained in Thailand after attempted suicide

BANGKOK , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
A Russian woman has been detained in Thailand ’ s resort city of Pattaya on suspicion of killing her 18-month daughter , Pattaya News reported on Sunday .
According to the news portal , the woman attempted a suicide .
The police said the woman had survived receiving minor injuries .
The incident took place at about 14:00 local time ( 10:00 Moscow time ) in an apartment block in Pattaya ’ s Naklua district .
The woman was identified as Anna Yefimova , 33 , a Russian national .
The woman reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband .
The apartment block owner said however the woman lived only with her daughter .
The police examined her apartment noting it was in total mess .
The dead body of an 18-month girl was found in the bathroom .
Law enforcers say the baby had been beaten over .
Two packs with suspicious-looking white powder , presumably drugs , were found in the dining room .
The woman was detained and taken to a local hospital to be place in custody after treatment .
She will be tested for drugs .

BANGKOK, July 5. /TASS/. A Russian woman has been detained in Thailand’s resort city of Pattaya on suspicion of killing her 18-month daughter, Pattaya News reported on Sunday.
According to the news portal, the woman attempted a suicide.
The police said the woman had survived receiving minor injuries. The incident took place at about 14:00 local time (10:00 Moscow time) in an apartment block in Pattaya’s Naklua district. The woman was identified as Anna Yefimova, 33, a Russian national. The woman reportedly claimed she had been abused by her husband. The apartment block owner said however the woman lived only with her daughter.
The police examined her apartment noting it was in total mess. The dead body of an 18-month girl was found in the bathroom. Law enforcers say the baby had been beaten over. Two packs with suspicious-looking white powder, presumably drugs, were found in the dining room.
The woman was detained and taken to a local hospital to be place in custody after treatment. She will be tested for drugs.


tass--2020-07-05--Austrian police detain another suspect in case of murder of asylum seeker from Russia

VIENNA , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
Austria ’ s police have detained another suspect in the case of the murder of an asylum seeker from Russia in Gerasdorf near the capital city of Vienna , Austria Press Agency reported on Sunday citing a local court .
The man , a native of Russia ’ s North Caucasian republic of Chechnya , was initially a witness on the murder case but his evidence during questioning was contradictory to give the ground to detain him on suspicion of being involved in the murder .
On Saturday , the police detained a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murdering an asylum seeker from Russia .
According to Austria Press Agency , police sources said both men were natives of Chechnya .
The murdered man reportedly changed his name several years ago into Martin B. and applied for asylum .
He kept a blog under the nickname Anzor from Vienna .
His real name is kept secret .
Both the killer and the killed had Russian passports .
Earlier , the Austrian police told TASS that a 43-year-old asylum seeker , a citizen of Russia , had been shot and killed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russian citizen , was subsequently detained in the Austrian city of Linz .
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS it had n't received any requests in connection with the incident .
The diplomats are verifying the report and plan to investigate the case .
Meanwhile , OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder .

VIENNA, July 5. /TASS/. Austria’s police have detained another suspect in the case of the murder of an asylum seeker from Russia in Gerasdorf near the capital city of Vienna, Austria Press Agency reported on Sunday citing a local court.
The man, a native of Russia’s North Caucasian republic of Chechnya, was initially a witness on the murder case but his evidence during questioning was contradictory to give the ground to detain him on suspicion of being involved in the murder.
On Saturday, the police detained a 47-year old Russian national on suspicion of murdering an asylum seeker from Russia. According to Austria Press Agency, police sources said both men were natives of Chechnya. The murdered man reportedly changed his name several years ago into Martin B. and applied for asylum. He kept a blog under the nickname Anzor from Vienna. His real name is kept secret. Both the killer and the killed had Russian passports.
Earlier, the Austrian police told TASS that a 43-year-old asylum seeker, a citizen of Russia, had been shot and killed in Gerasdorf. The suspected murderer, also a Russian citizen, was subsequently detained in the Austrian city of Linz.
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS it hadn't received any requests in connection with the incident. The diplomats are verifying the report and plan to investigate the case.
Meanwhile, OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder.


tass--2020-07-05--Six F1 racing drivers refuse to bend knee in protest against racism

TASS , July 5 .
Six Formula 1 drivers have refused to bend the knee in protest against racial discrimination before the start of the Austrian Grand Prix race on Sunday .
Nevertheless , all the six , Mon·gasque Charles Leclerc driving in for Scuderia Ferrari , Russia ’ s Daniil Kvyat and France ’ s Pierre Gasly racing for Alpha Tauri , Finland ’ s Kimi Raikkonen and Italy ’ s Antonio Giovinazzi driving for Alfa Romeo , and Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen ( Red Bull ) , were wearing slogan T-shirts calling to fight against racism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leclerc wrote on their accounts in social networks that they supporter anti-racism efforts but would not bend the knee .
`` I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries .
I will not take the knee but this does not mean at all that I am less committed than others in the fight against racism , '' Leclerc wrote on his Twitter account .
The knee bending action was held as part of the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass riots and protests triggered by the death of George Floyd , an African American who died in hospital on May 25 after the police had used excessive force during his detention in Minnesota .

TASS, July 5. Six Formula 1 drivers have refused to bend the knee in protest against racial discrimination before the start of the Austrian Grand Prix race on Sunday.
Nevertheless, all the six, Mon·gasque Charles Leclerc driving in for Scuderia Ferrari, Russia’s Daniil Kvyat and France’s Pierre Gasly racing for Alpha Tauri, Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen and Italy’s Antonio Giovinazzi driving for Alfa Romeo, and Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull), were wearing slogan T-shirts calling to fight against racism.
Shortly before the start, Verstappen and Leclerc wrote on their accounts in social networks that they supporter anti-racism efforts but would not bend the knee.
"I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries. I will not take the knee but this does not mean at all that I am less committed than others in the fight against racism," Leclerc wrote on his Twitter account.
The knee bending action was held as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged amid mass riots and protests triggered by the death of George Floyd, an African American who died in hospital on May 25 after the police had used excessive force during his detention in Minnesota.


tass--2020-07-05--At least 7 die in factory explosion in India

NEW DELHI , July 5 .
/TASS/ At least seven people have died and four more have been injured in @ @ @ @ @ in India ’ s northern state of Uttar Pradesh , ANI news agency reported on @ @ @ @ @ place in the city of Modinagar .
According to local media , the blast was @ @ @ @ @ An investigation is underway .

NEW DELHI, July 5. /TASS/ At least seven people have died and four more have been injured in an explosion at a factory in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, ANI news agency reported on Sunday.
The accident took place in the city of Modinagar.
According to local media, the blast was preceded by a fire. An investigation is underway.


tass--2020-07-05--Moscow’s daily coronavirus incidence rate sees 60% drop since June 9 - crisis center

MOSCOW , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus daily incidence rate in Moscow has decreased by 59 % since June 9 when coronavirus lockdowns were lifted , Moscow ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday .
According to its statistics , the incidence rate is down by 40 % since June 23 when restaurants , cafes and fitness centers resumed their activities .
As follows from the latest update , as many as 650 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the capital city during the past day , with 43.5 % of them being patients aged from 18 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 46 to 65 , 12.8 % - people aged from 66 to 79 , and 4.6 % - patients older than 80 .
As many as 5.7 % of the newly confirmed cases are children .
All the patients and their close contacts have been placed under medical supervision .
To date , 681,251 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 450,750 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 10,161 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation .

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. The coronavirus daily incidence rate in Moscow has decreased by 59% since June 9 when coronavirus lockdowns were lifted, Moscow’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday.
According to its statistics, the incidence rate is down by 40% since June 23 when restaurants, cafes and fitness centers resumed their activities.
As follows from the latest update, as many as 650 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the capital city during the past day, with 43.5% of them being patients aged from 18 to 45, 33.4% - people aged from 46 to 65, 12.8% - people aged from 66 to 79, and 4.6% - patients older than 80. As many as 5.7% of the newly confirmed cases are children. All the patients and their close contacts have been placed under medical supervision.
To date, 681,251 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 450,750 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 10,161 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-05--Authorities say three killed, one injured as building collapses in Kirov Region

MOSCOW , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
Three people died and one was injured when a shopping center under construction @ @ @ @ @ , to the northeast of Moscow , on Sunday , the regional government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ According to preliminary data , three people were killed and one person survived , he @ @ @ @ @ central hospital .
All of them are constructors from the Zuyevsky district , '' the @ @ @ @ @ emergencies services , investigators and prosecutors are working at the site .
A source in @ @ @ @ @ rules violation could be blamed for the incident .
The collapse area covered 250 square @ @ @ @ @ was being built on the total area of 7,500 square meters .
Earlier reports said @ @ @ @ @ another one was injured .

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Three people died and one was injured when a shopping center under construction collapsed in the Kirov Region, to the northeast of Moscow, on Sunday, the regional government’s press service said.
"According to preliminary data, three people were killed and one person survived, he was taken to the Zuyevsky central hospital. All of them are constructors from the Zuyevsky district," the press service said.
The emergencies services, investigators and prosecutors are working at the site.
A source in the emergencies services said safety rules violation could be blamed for the incident. The collapse area covered 250 square meters. The shopping center was being built on the total area of 7,500 square meters.
Earlier reports said four builders were killed and another one was injured.


tass--2020-07-05--Putin says amendment banning transfer of Russian territories is vital

MOSCOW , July 5 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not author the amendment to the Constitution that bans giving away the country ’ s territories .
`` I did not personally invent this , this was [ done ] during the work on the amendments , '' Putin said in an interview with Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel .
`` The citizens and members of the working group [ on preparing constitutional amendments ] suggested this , '' he noted .
According to Putin , the previous Constitution did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russia ’ s borders and the ban on the alienation of territories .
`` There was nothing like this , and it should be , '' the president stated .
Putin stressed the importance of including the provisions to the Constitution `` related to sovereignty , like many countries did not hesitate to do a long time ago , '' noting that `` the decisions of international courts should not contradict the Russian Constitution . ''
`` Some things were ripe but were not taken into account in the key law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means they should find their place there .
In my view , this is very important , '' the Russian leader said .
The president explained that all these provisions `` should be written down [ in the Constitution ] so that they continue working and are not forgotten and cleaned out of political life . ''
`` If this is written down in the Constitution , then all state bodies and the government must inevitably fulfill this , '' he said .
A package of amendments to Russia ’ s Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially took effect on July 4 .
A total of 206 amendments to the fundamental law have been introduced .
They stipulate social guarantees , expand the powers of parliament , impose certain restrictions senior officials are obliged to meet , establish the Russian Constitution ’ s supremacy over international legislation , describe the role and status of the State Council and prohibit the same person from being elected president more than twice , with a reservation , though , that the current head of state will be able to be elected again @ @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not author the amendment to the Constitution that bans giving away the country’s territories.
"I did not personally invent this, this was [done] during the work on the amendments," Putin said in an interview with Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel. "The citizens and members of the working group [on preparing constitutional amendments] suggested this," he noted.
According to Putin, the previous Constitution did not mention the issue related to the inviolability of Russia’s borders and the ban on the alienation of territories. "There was nothing like this, and it should be," the president stated.
Putin stressed the importance of including the provisions to the Constitution "related to sovereignty, like many countries did not hesitate to do a long time ago," noting that "the decisions of international courts should not contradict the Russian Constitution." "Some things were ripe but were not taken into account in the key law, and now they can be and this means they should find their place there. In my view, this is very important," the Russian leader said.
The president explained that all these provisions "should be written down [in the Constitution] so that they continue working and are not forgotten and cleaned out of political life." "If this is written down in the Constitution, then all state bodies and the government must inevitably fulfill this," he said.
A package of amendments to Russia’s Constitution, approved in a nationwide popular vote, officially took effect on July 4. A total of 206 amendments to the fundamental law have been introduced. They stipulate social guarantees, expand the powers of parliament, impose certain restrictions senior officials are obliged to meet, establish the Russian Constitution’s supremacy over international legislation, describe the role and status of the State Council and prohibit the same person from being elected president more than twice, with a reservation, though, that the current head of state will be able to be elected again after the amendments take effect.


tass--2020-07-06--Kremlin: No reason to say Russians have no trust in judicial system

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
There are no reasons to say that Russians have no confidence in the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday .
`` I wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ trust to the judicial system in society .
I see no reasons for that , @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s judicial system is in the process of improvement , of development , @ @ @ @ @ Nothing should stand still .
Everything must move headway .
Our society , our state @ @ @ @ @ in a state of permanent development and improvement . ''

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. There are no reasons to say that Russians have no confidence in the judicial system, Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.
"I wouldn’t say there is no trust to the judicial system in society. I see no reasons for that," he said.
"Russia’s judicial system is in the process of improvement, of development," he stressed. "Nothing should stand still. Everything must move headway. Our society, our state and all its institutions are in a state of permanent development and improvement."


tass--2020-07-06--Russia to be guided by security concerns when choosing city for its embassy in Libya

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will be guided by considerations of security rather than politics when choosing between Tripoli and Benghazi as a venue for its embassy , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday .
`` Our embassy in Libya has been working in Tunisia .
That is why it will be wrong to say that it resumes its work .
It continues its work , '' he told journalists when asked if Russia ’ s embassy would be headquartered in Tripoli or Benghazi when it resumed its work .
`` Naturally , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy to Libya ] by considerations of security .
We have always focused on that . ''
`` Before speaking about politics , let us speak about security of our diplomats , '' he added .
The Russian embassy in Tripoli was attacked on October 2 , 2013 .
The attackers broke into its territory to be later squeezed out of it by the Libyan army .
The embassy personnel were not hurt .
After the Libyan authorities admitted back then they were unable to guarantee security of diplomats Russia decided to evacuate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with visiting Speaker of Libya ’ s House of Representatives , seated in the east of the country , Aguila Saleh Issa that Russia had decided to resume the work of its embassy in Libya .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russia will be guided by considerations of security rather than politics when choosing between Tripoli and Benghazi as a venue for its embassy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday.
"Our embassy in Libya has been working in Tunisia. That is why it will be wrong to say that it resumes its work. It continues its work," he told journalists when asked if Russia’s embassy would be headquartered in Tripoli or Benghazi when it resumed its work. "Naturally, we will be guided [when returning the embassy to Libya] by considerations of security. We have always focused on that."
"Before speaking about politics, let us speak about security of our diplomats," he added.
The Russian embassy in Tripoli was attacked on October 2, 2013. The attackers broke into its territory to be later squeezed out of it by the Libyan army. The embassy personnel were not hurt. After the Libyan authorities admitted back then they were unable to guarantee security of diplomats Russia decided to evacuate the embassy staff.
On July 3, 2020, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with visiting Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, seated in the east of the country, Aguila Saleh Issa that Russia had decided to resume the work of its embassy in Libya.


tass--2020-07-06--Male and female diplomats in Russia have same career prospects — spokeswoman

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Russian diplomats of both genders have the same working conditions and career prospects , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an open interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Monday .
When asked about senior female diplomats , she pointed out that during Soviet times , there was a stereotype that diplomacy is not `` a woman ’ s job , '' which is why there are fewer senior female diplomats in the ministry , as the career path of many top-ranking officials began in the USSR .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing .
`` Taking into account all human rights trends , all issues of equality in the sense that women and men must not feel unequal in our modern world when they do the same job , every country is looking for ways to support women , namely women in government .
We have chosen a path that has proven to be the right one .
We have not introduced any special quotas , we have not artificially stimulated progress .
The path that we have chosen gives equal opportunity to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal conditions .
We need time , and time goes on , '' the diplomat said .
The spokeswoman added that currently , many women hold senior diplomatic positions abroad .
`` There are few ambassadors , but there are many female advisors and envoys , consul generals , heads of departments , deputy heads of departments and heads of offices .
Many are doing a wonderful job , '' she stressed .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russian diplomats of both genders have the same working conditions and career prospects, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an open interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Monday.
When asked about senior female diplomats, she pointed out that during Soviet times, there was a stereotype that diplomacy is not "a woman’s job," which is why there are fewer senior female diplomats in the ministry, as the career path of many top-ranking officials began in the USSR.
However, she added that the situation is changing. "Taking into account all human rights trends, all issues of equality in the sense that women and men must not feel unequal in our modern world when they do the same job, every country is looking for ways to support women, namely women in government. We have chosen a path that has proven to be the right one. We have not introduced any special quotas, we have not artificially stimulated progress. The path that we have chosen gives equal opportunity to everyone, and everyone realizes their potential in equal conditions. We need time, and time goes on," the diplomat said.
The spokeswoman added that currently, many women hold senior diplomatic positions abroad. "There are few ambassadors, but there are many female advisors and envoys, consul generals, heads of departments, deputy heads of departments and heads of offices. Many are doing a wonderful job," she stressed.


tass--2020-07-06--Austria’s prosecutors probing into political motives of Russian asylum seeker’s murder

`` We are checking if there is a political motive in this case .
No secret that the killed man maintained an internet blog where he voiced his political position , '' the spokesman said when asked why counterintelligence agencies are taking part in the investigation .
VIENNA , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Austrian prosecutors are probing into political motives behind the murder of an asylum seeker from Russia , a spokesman for the Korneuburg prosecutor ’ s office , which investigates the murder in Gerasdorf , told TASS on Monday .
According to the spokesman , the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being behind the murder have been placed under arrest for 14 days .
Apart from that , one of these men reportedly arrived at the crime scene together with the crime victim .
The prosecutor 's office however could not confirm reports that this man had been the victim ’ s bodyguard .
The Austrian police told TASS earlier that a 43-year-old asylum seeker , a citizen of Russia , had been shot and killed in Gerasdorf near Vienna on Saturday .
The suspected murderer , a 47-year-old Russian citizen , was subsequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , one more man was nabbed on suspicion of being involved in the murder .
Both were placed in a detention facility .
OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder .
According to Austria Press Agency , both the killed and the killer are natives of Russia ’ s North Caucasian Republic of Chechnya .
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS it had n't received any requests in connection with the incident .
The diplomats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
The case is being investigated by Lower Austria ’ s Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism ( counterintelligence ) .

"We are checking if there is a political motive in this case. No secret that the killed man maintained an internet blog where he voiced his political position," the spokesman said when asked why counterintelligence agencies are taking part in the investigation.
VIENNA, July 6. /TASS/. Austrian prosecutors are probing into political motives behind the murder of an asylum seeker from Russia, a spokesman for the Korneuburg prosecutor’s office, which investigates the murder in Gerasdorf, told TASS on Monday.
According to the spokesman, the two persons who were detained on suspicion of being behind the murder have been placed under arrest for 14 days. Apart from that, one of these men reportedly arrived at the crime scene together with the crime victim. The prosecutor's office however could not confirm reports that this man had been the victim’s bodyguard.
The Austrian police told TASS earlier that a 43-year-old asylum seeker, a citizen of Russia, had been shot and killed in Gerasdorf near Vienna on Saturday. The suspected murderer, a 47-year-old Russian citizen, was subsequently detained in the Austrian city of Linz. On Sunday, one more man was nabbed on suspicion of being involved in the murder. Both were placed in a detention facility.
OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder. According to Austria Press Agency, both the killed and the killer are natives of Russia’s North Caucasian Republic of Chechnya.
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS it hadn't received any requests in connection with the incident. The diplomats are verifying the report and plan to investigate the case.
The case is being investigated by Lower Austria’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (counterintelligence).


tass--2020-07-06--Ukrainian ex-football player Vasilenko arrested in Moscow on espionage charges

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Authorities from Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) have determined that former Ukrainian football player Vasily Vasilenko was spying for Ukraine , consequently the ex-footballer was arrested in Moscow , a law enforcement source told TASS .
`` FSB officers , in cooperation with the Russian law enforcement officers , determined that Ukrainian national Vasilenko Vasily Ivanovich , was involved in [ espionage ] .
He was indicted and is now in custody in one of the Moscow ’ s detention facilities , '' the source said .
Between 1992 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian football teams .
He was born in 1967 and is a Ukrainian national .
In October 2019 , Vasilenko was arrested over charges of smuggling of forbidden substances .
This spring , the case was re-qualified as espionage .
The arrest of the Ukrainian national has become known only now , because he appealed neither his arrest nor any of rulings on arrest extension .
The investigation is being conducted by the Moscow FSB Directorate .
Moscow ’ s Meschansky Court disclosed that , on June 19 , Vasilenko ’ s arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of espionage carry a punishment of up to 20 years in prison .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Authorities from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) have determined that former Ukrainian football player Vasily Vasilenko was spying for Ukraine, consequently the ex-footballer was arrested in Moscow, a law enforcement source told TASS.
"FSB officers, in cooperation with the Russian law enforcement officers, determined that Ukrainian national Vasilenko Vasily Ivanovich, was involved in [espionage]. He was indicted and is now in custody in one of the Moscow’s detention facilities," the source said.
Between 1992 and 2001, Vasilenko played in several Ukrainian football teams. He was born in 1967 and is a Ukrainian national.
In October 2019, Vasilenko was arrested over charges of smuggling of forbidden substances. This spring, the case was re-qualified as espionage. The arrest of the Ukrainian national has become known only now, because he appealed neither his arrest nor any of rulings on arrest extension. The investigation is being conducted by the Moscow FSB Directorate.
Moscow’s Meschansky Court disclosed that, on June 19, Vasilenko’s arrest was extended until September 24. Charges of espionage carry a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.


tass--2020-07-06--First Russian corvette armed with seaborne Pantsyr air defense system enters state trials

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
The Project 22800 ( Karakurt-class ) first small missile ship armed with the @ @ @ @ @ state trials , Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said in an interview with the @ @ @ @ @ Zvezda newspaper on Monday .
`` The small missile ship Odintsovo is the first corvette @ @ @ @ @ .
On June 30 , its state trials began at the Baltic Fleet ’ s @ @ @ @ @ admiral said .
Russia ’ s Baltic Fleet will soon receive a series of six @ @ @ @ @ built at the Pella Shipyard .
Four of them will carry the seaborne Pantsyr surface-to-air @ @ @ @ @ chief said .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. The Project 22800 (Karakurt-class) first small missile ship armed with the Pantsyr-M surface-to-air missile system entered state trials, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said in an interview with the Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Monday.
"The small missile ship Odintsovo is the first corvette armed with the Pantsyr system. On June 30, its state trials began at the Baltic Fleet’s naval ranges," the admiral said.
Russia’s Baltic Fleet will soon receive a series of six Project 22800 small missile ships built at the Pella Shipyard. Four of them will carry the seaborne Pantsyr surface-to-air missile systems, the Navy chief said.


tass--2020-07-06--Russian asylum seeker killed in Austria was Chechen native, prosecutors say

VIENNA , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian national who was killed in Austria ’ s Gerasdorf was a native of Russia ’ s North Caucasian Republic of Chechnya who was using the identity of Martin Beck in Austria under the protection program , a spokesman for the Korneuburg prosecutor ’ s office , which investigates the murder , told TASS on Monday .
`` The killed man was a Chechnya native with Russian foreign passport .
I can confirm his being a native from Chechnya .
The same is applicable to the two persons who were detained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a participant in the protection program because the police believed his life was in danger .
That is why he was given an Austrian name , Martin Beck , '' he said , adding that the man ’ s real name is kept secret to prevent risks to his relatives .
Apart from that , the man had the right to personal protection in Austria but refused from it .
`` However his apartment was under police supervision , '' the spokesman noted .
The Austrian police told TASS earlier that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , had been shot and killed in Gerasdorf near Vienna on Saturday .
The suspected murderer , a 47-year-old Russian citizen , was subsequently detained in the Austrian city of Linz .
One more man was detained on suspicion of being involved in the murder on Sunday .
Both were placed in a detention facility .
OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder .
According to Austria Press Agency , both the killed and the killer are natives of Chechnya .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told TASS it had n't received any requests in connection with the incident .
The diplomats are verifying the report and plan to investigate the case .

VIENNA, July 6. /TASS/. The Russian national who was killed in Austria’s Gerasdorf was a native of Russia’s North Caucasian Republic of Chechnya who was using the identity of Martin Beck in Austria under the protection program, a spokesman for the Korneuburg prosecutor’s office, which investigates the murder, told TASS on Monday.
"The killed man was a Chechnya native with Russian foreign passport. I can confirm his being a native from Chechnya. The same is applicable to the two persons who were detained," he said.
"The victim was a participant in the protection program because the police believed his life was in danger. That is why he was given an Austrian name, Martin Beck," he said, adding that the man’s real name is kept secret to prevent risks to his relatives. Apart from that, the man had the right to personal protection in Austria but refused from it. "However his apartment was under police supervision," the spokesman noted.
The Austrian police told TASS earlier that a 43-year-old asylum seeker, a citizen of Russia, had been shot and killed in Gerasdorf near Vienna on Saturday. The suspected murderer, a 47-year-old Russian citizen, was subsequently detained in the Austrian city of Linz. One more man was detained on suspicion of being involved in the murder on Sunday. Both were placed in a detention facility.
OE24 news portal reported citing sources in law enforcement agencies that it had been a contract murder. According to Austria Press Agency, both the killed and the killer are natives of Chechnya.
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS it hadn't received any requests in connection with the incident. The diplomats are verifying the report and plan to investigate the case.


tass--2020-07-06--‘Utter nonsense’: Kremlin rips Russia bashing rumors of Moscow’s ‘plans’ to invade Ukraine

Peskov emphasized that Director of the Russian Center for Current Politics Alexei Chesnakov who commented on the issue was not a representative of Russia .
“ Alexei Chesnakov whom I worked with in the Presidential Executive Office for many years was indeed a staff member of the Presidential Executive Office , but now he is not .
He is a very talented and knowledgeable Russian expert , but he can not be deemed a representative of Russia , ” the Kremlin spokesman explained .
“ That ’ s utter nonsense .
Much to our regret , this anti-Russian hysteria that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way helps to resolve the situation in the southeast [ of Ukraine ] , ” he told reporters on Monday when asked whether Russia planned to invade southern Ukraine from Crimea to ensure that the peninsula can receive water from the Dnieper .
MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has flatly rejected reports saying that Russia might invade Ukraine in order to gain access to water for Crimea .
Peskov also told reporters that he was unaware of the possibility of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) becoming part of Russia .
`` As for their practical steps towards becoming part of Russia , I know nothing about it , I don ’ t have any information , '' Peskov said , when asked to comment on media reports on the matter .
The Kremlin spokesman pointed out that many residents of the self-proclaimed republics had obtained Russian citizenship .
`` The decision to provide them with Russian citizenship was made solely for humanitarian reasons , after these people had been abandoned by their own government and were put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he explained .
According to Peskov , the situation in southeastern Ukraine is still far from resolved .
`` Russia continues to provide humanitarian aid to the population of the two self-proclaimed republics and it will continue to do that because unfortunately , the situation in southeastern Ukraine is still far from resolved , '' he noted .
On April 24 , 2019 , Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree easing Russian citizenship rules for DPR and LPR residents .
According to recent data , about 230,000 residents of the Donbass republics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedure .
Kremlin notes that the Normandy Four ’ s failure to make progress in solving the existing problems is not Russia ’ s fault .
`` Indeed , there were contacts at the Normandy Four head of state presidential advisors level , we have already heard statements of the [ Deputy Kremlin Administration Head Dmitry ] Kozak regarding that no substantial progress was made , and , indeed , we can repeat that the failure to make progress once again was not Russia ’ s fault , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` nobody put forth no ultimatums '' to Ukraine on preparation of amendment of its Constitution .
`` But it is an obvious fact , unlikely to be denied by anyone , that this work is long overdue and that Ukraine was supposed to fulfill obligations it repeatedly took upon itself , '' Peskov noted .
On Friday , political advisors of the heads of Normandy Four states ( Germany , Russia , France , Ukraine ) met in Berlin in an attempt to break the deadlock in the Donbass peace settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , but after its conclusion , Kozak said that he dares not speak about a breakthrough .
According to the advisor , a difficult and substantial talk on all aspects of the settlement in accordance with the Minsk Accord , took place .

Peskov emphasized that Director of the Russian Center for Current Politics Alexei Chesnakov who commented on the issue was not a representative of Russia. “Alexei Chesnakov whom I worked with in the Presidential Executive Office for many years was indeed a staff member of the Presidential Executive Office, but now he is not. He is a very talented and knowledgeable Russian expert, but he cannot be deemed a representative of Russia,” the Kremlin spokesman explained.
“That’s utter nonsense. Much to our regret, this anti-Russian hysteria that is being whipped up in Ukraine in no way helps to resolve the situation in the southeast [of Ukraine],” he told reporters on Monday when asked whether Russia planned to invade southern Ukraine from Crimea to ensure that the peninsula can receive water from the Dnieper.
MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has flatly rejected reports saying that Russia might invade Ukraine in order to gain access to water for Crimea.
Peskov also told reporters that he was unaware of the possibility of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR) becoming part of Russia.
"As for their practical steps towards becoming part of Russia, I know nothing about it, I don’t have any information," Peskov said, when asked to comment on media reports on the matter.
The Kremlin spokesman pointed out that many residents of the self-proclaimed republics had obtained Russian citizenship. "The decision to provide them with Russian citizenship was made solely for humanitarian reasons, after these people had been abandoned by their own government and were put at risk of being killed," he explained.
According to Peskov, the situation in southeastern Ukraine is still far from resolved. "Russia continues to provide humanitarian aid to the population of the two self-proclaimed republics and it will continue to do that because unfortunately, the situation in southeastern Ukraine is still far from resolved," he noted.
On April 24, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree easing Russian citizenship rules for DPR and LPR residents. According to recent data, about 230,000 residents of the Donbass republics have obtained Russian passports under a fast-track procedure.
'Not Russia's fault'
Kremlin notes that the Normandy Four’s failure to make progress in solving the existing problems is not Russia’s fault.
"Indeed, there were contacts at the Normandy Four head of state presidential advisors level, we have already heard statements of the [Deputy Kremlin Administration Head Dmitry] Kozak regarding that no substantial progress was made, and, indeed, we can repeat that the failure to make progress once again was not Russia’s fault," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Monday.
The spokesman underscored that "nobody put forth no ultimatums" to Ukraine on preparation of amendment of its Constitution.
"But it is an obvious fact, unlikely to be denied by anyone, that this work is long overdue and that Ukraine was supposed to fulfill obligations it repeatedly took upon itself," Peskov noted.
On Friday, political advisors of the heads of Normandy Four states (Germany, Russia, France, Ukraine) met in Berlin in an attempt to break the deadlock in the Donbass peace settlement. The talks continued for over 10 hours, but after its conclusion, Kozak said that he dares not speak about a breakthrough. According to the advisor, a difficult and substantial talk on all aspects of the settlement in accordance with the Minsk Accord, took place.


tass--2020-07-06--Kremlin says no specific date for UNSC P5 summit yet

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
There are no specific dates yet for a summit of the UN Security @ @ @ @ @ members ( Russia , the US , China , the UK and France ) , @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
`` There are no dates yet , '' he said when asked @ @ @ @ @ place .
Speaking at the World Holocaust Forum on January 23 , Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in 2020 .
Russian Foreign @ @ @ @ @ that the five UN Security Council permanent members were looking at making a contribution to @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
He explained that , in order to do so , these nations had @ @ @ @ @ and were agreeing its date .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a videoconference on @ @ @ @ @ it would possible to hold the summit before the end of September .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. There are no specific dates yet for a summit of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members (Russia, the US, China, the UK and France), Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
"There are no dates yet," he said when asked when the event could take place.
Speaking at the World Holocaust Forum on January 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested organizing a summit of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in 2020.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier said that the five UN Security Council permanent members were looking at making a contribution to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. He explained that, in order to do so, these nations had agreed to hold a videoconference and were agreeing its date.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a videoconference on June 25 that he hoped it would possible to hold the summit before the end of September.


tass--2020-07-06--Foreign demand for Russian agriculture products to rise due to coronavirus

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev does not rule out that the situation with the pandemic and the novel coronavirus spread may have influenced foreign demand for Russia ’ s agriculture products favorably .
`` As far as the situation in Russia ’ s agriculture is concerned , the degree of the pandemic ’ s influence is obviously lower than in most countries worldwide .
Moreover , we see prospects in that crisis .
First , the demand for Russian products in other countries is expected to rise , '' he said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling household purchasing power globally will move consumer preferences towards relatively cheap products , the minister believes .
In this environment , affordably priced Russian food items are becoming increasingly competitive , whereas the international export of products with high-added value may go down , he noted .
Overall , the pandemic bears serious challenges for the global market , meaning for the agriculture industry as well , Patrushev said .
`` The agriculture sector has equally been hit in developed and developing countries .
In the former case , that is related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which in a number of cases resulted in enterprises being shut and prices rising , '' he said .
In developing and import-dependent countries , a decline in food reserves has become the main problem , the minister said , adding that they faced a situation with demand exceeding supply and growth of prices at some point .
`` Nevertheless , that was a short-term situation , and we suggest that now the markets are returning back to normal , '' he said .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev does not rule out that the situation with the pandemic and the novel coronavirus spread may have influenced foreign demand for Russia’s agriculture products favorably.
"As far as the situation in Russia’s agriculture is concerned, the degree of the pandemic’s influence is obviously lower than in most countries worldwide. Moreover, we see prospects in that crisis. First, the demand for Russian products in other countries is expected to rise," he said in an interview with TASS.
Second, the falling household purchasing power globally will move consumer preferences towards relatively cheap products, the minister believes. In this environment, affordably priced Russian food items are becoming increasingly competitive, whereas the international export of products with high-added value may go down, he noted.
Overall, the pandemic bears serious challenges for the global market, meaning for the agriculture industry as well, Patrushev said. "The agriculture sector has equally been hit in developed and developing countries. In the former case, that is related to employees in the sector being infected, which in a number of cases resulted in enterprises being shut and prices rising," he said.
In developing and import-dependent countries, a decline in food reserves has become the main problem, the minister said, adding that they faced a situation with demand exceeding supply and growth of prices at some point. "Nevertheless, that was a short-term situation, and we suggest that now the markets are returning back to normal," he said.


tass--2020-07-06--ECHR receives first complaint about facial recognition system in Moscow

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
A complaint about the use of the facial recognition video surveillance system was addressed to the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) in Strasbourg , the lawyers of the Agora human rights organization who prepared the document told TASS .
In claimants ’ opinion , Russian authorities by using the facial recognition technology violate several articles of the Convention at once : Article 8 ( Right to respect for private and family life ) , Article 11 ( Right to freedom of assembly and association ) , Article 14 ( Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facial recognition technology was not politically neutral , and Article 13 ( Right to an effective remedy ) .
On September 29 of last year , an authorized rally was held on Sakharov Avenue in Moscow where the facial recognition technology was used for the first time .
One could access the rally only through the police cordon .
The cameras were mounted on the metal detector arches at the level of human height .
Earlier , politician Vladimir Milov and social activist Alyona Popova appealed to Moscow courts with lawsuits against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technologies and against the police asking to declare the use of such technologies illegal .
On the majority of lawsuits the Moscow courts sided with the authorities , yet in the middle of June the Moscow City Court decided to review Milov ’ s legal claim against authorities and police on the use of facial recognition after an individual appeal of the district court ’ s decision .
After that the activists decided to turn to the ECHR .

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. A complaint about the use of the facial recognition video surveillance system was addressed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, the lawyers of the Agora human rights organization who prepared the document told TASS.
In claimants’ opinion, Russian authorities by using the facial recognition technology violate several articles of the Convention at once: Article 8 (Right to respect for private and family life), Article 11 (Right to freedom of assembly and association), Article 14 (Protection from discrimination) since the use of the facial recognition technology was not politically neutral, and Article 13 (Right to an effective remedy).
On September 29 of last year, an authorized rally was held on Sakharov Avenue in Moscow where the facial recognition technology was used for the first time. One could access the rally only through the police cordon. The cameras were mounted on the metal detector arches at the level of human height.
Earlier, politician Vladimir Milov and social activist Alyona Popova appealed to Moscow courts with lawsuits against the capital’s department of information technologies and against the police asking to declare the use of such technologies illegal. On the majority of lawsuits the Moscow courts sided with the authorities, yet in the middle of June the Moscow City Court decided to review Milov’s legal claim against authorities and police on the use of facial recognition after an individual appeal of the district court’s decision. After that the activists decided to turn to the ECHR.


tass--2020-07-06--Press review: Russia says its time for a Gas OPEC and who struck Turkish troops in Libya

Russia is eyeing the possibility of launching a ‘ Gas OPEC ’ , Vedomosti reports , noting that Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Anatoly Yankovsky mentioned this prospect in early June , while Minister of Energy Alexander Novak stated last week that the creation of a coordinating body that would regulate the volume of gas sales and prices `` has been under active discussion lately . ''
The energy chief stressed that the main reason for chaos on the global gas market is the lack of a regulator .
Nikita Maslennikov , a leading expert from the Institute of Contemporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the global gas market is even worse than what is currently happening with oil .
The drop in prices is sharper , he pointed out , adding that destabilization and a lack of balance have been noted in Europe , Russia and the Asia-Pacific .
Fierce competition between pipeline gas and LNG is also a serious factor affecting the market .
The US , Qatar and Australia export cheap LNG to Europe and Asia , causing a drop in demand for pipeline gas ( mainly coming from Russia ) and concurrently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The global gas industry has been facing the same issues as the oil industry , like excess supply , increased competition , and a drop in prices .
This is why the market needs a regulator to avoid chaotic prices .
This is obvious .
Another question is whether it will appear , '' head of the AMarkets analytical department Artyom Deyev told Vedomosti .
Creating a gas regulator will be much more difficult than establishing OPEC , said Dmitry Aleksandrov who heads Univer ’ s analytical research department .
He told Vedomosti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than members of OPEC .
For his part , Mamdouh Salama , a professor of economics and energy at the ESCP Business School , is confident that strife between gas producers will linger for a long time .
However , they will realize at the end that only cooperation can lead to stable prices both for LNG and pipeline gas , the expert pointed out , adding that this will benefit everyone .
So , it seems that Russia has been the first to realize this .
Izvestia : Second wave of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volchkov , who heads the genome engineering lab at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology , said in an exclusive interview with Izvestia that up to 40-60 % of Moscow residents may be immune to the novel coronavirus , which means that a second wave of the epidemic in the Russian capital is highly unlikely .
`` Recently , an article by Swedish researchers who studied T-cell immunity ( `` Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 '' ) came out .
Personally , I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a long time .
They have analyzed many biological samples , conducting ELISPOT ( Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot ) , an expensive analysis that detects T-lymphocytes .
It turns out that even those who do not have IgG-antibodies have developed T-cell immunity .
The share of such people in the population is two-three times higher than the number of those with antibodies , '' the expert told the newspaper .
`` If officially , Moscow has documented 20 % of people with a high number of IgG antibodies , we can confidently add 20-40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the results , about half of Moscow ’ s residents are immune to the coronavirus .
They won ’ t get sick anymore , '' Volchkov emphasized .
`` For a city like Moscow with millions of inhabitants , today ’ s figure of about 700 new daily individual infections show that immunity has been formed .
If we only had 20 % of immune residents , there would be much more people infected after restaurants and shops had opened . ''
Volchkov suggested that the number of daily cases would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by late August .
The virologist pointed out that in his opinion , the SARS-CoV-2 virus had originated in a lab .
`` An argument in support of this is that until recently , coronaviruses were not considered that dangerous .
People could study them using second-level protection ( there are four in total , with levels three and four considered the most dangerous , Izvestia explains ) .
This is clear , as the viruses detected previously could not be transmitted from animals to humans ( breaking the inter-species barrier ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expert said .
Turkish air defense systems located on the Al-Watiya air base in Libya have been damaged or destroyed as a result of an attack by unidentified aircraft in the early hours of Sunday , several media outlets reported earlier .
It is unclear whether the Turkish troops located on the base have suffered any casualties .
Presumably , the forces of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) led by Commander Khalifa Haftar must have been behind the attack .
The strike on the base was carried out immediately after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hulusi Akar and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Yasar Guler to Tripoli , where they met with officials of Fayez Sarraj ’ s Government of National Accord , supported by Ankara .
`` To be honest , I am rather surprised that Haftar ’ s army still has something that flies , '' Senior Lecturer at the Higher School of Economics ' School of Oriental Studies Andrei Chuprygin told Nezavisimaya Gazeta .
In this regard , the newspaper noted that on May 26 , AFRICOM ( the United States Africa Command ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 , in which it claimed that the LNA had received MiG-29s , Su-35s and Su-24s from Russia .
Allegedly , the jets were transported to the Hmeymim air base in Syria and then to Libya .
The Americans suggest that the Russian military had handed over 14 fighters with no identifying signs to Khaftar .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov dismissed those statements as rumors earlier .
`` The equipment that has been used in Libya for a while is framed as Russian export , '' he explained .
Chuprygin told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is likely that Khaftar ’ s troops , and not his Egyptian allies who stated earlier that they were ready to intervene in the Libyan civil war , are behind the attack on Al-Watiya .
`` The strike on the base where Turkish troops are stationed right after Akar ’ s visit is a warning to Turkey , of course .
It aims to show that Turkey can not do anything it wishes in Libya .
However , this warning is unlikely to hit home .
When they intervened in this conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would suffer losses .
So they won ’ t be deterred after one strike .
Yes , the base was hit .
However , the situation on the frontlines has not changed .
Haftar ’ s prospects remain bleak .
Of course , for his part , Sarraj is not welcome in the country ’ s east .
He has loads of problems , yet , so far , the situation is developing in his favor , '' Chuprygin pointed out .
International experts are actively scaling back their presence on the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 90 mln have been pulled out of equity funds alone , and the same trend has been noted on the bond market , which lost $ 70 mln compared to a $ 30 mln influx last week .
The recovery of the market in the spring has allowed investors to make a significant profit , but , the general lack of stability around the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been quelling investors ’ appetite for taking risks , Kommersant notes .
The situation is undermined by the possibility of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research ( EPFR ) shows a noticeable drop in interest towards the Russian market from international investors .
According to Bank of America and BCS Global Markets , which count on the EPFR ’ s data , for the week ending on July 1 , investors withdrew $ 90 mln from equity funds ( including global funds ) invested in Russian shares , which is 4.5 times higher than the week before .
Meanwhile , over $ 70 mln have been pulled out of the Russian bond market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influx last week ) .
According to Alfa-Capital ’ s portfolio manager Dmitry Dorofeev , many investors fear a second wave of the pandemic and a possible return of the anti-coronavirus lockdowns .
For his part , Region Asset Management ’ s head of assets Alexei Skaballanovich says that a second wave of the virus is likely to hit `` developing countries where medicine is not that advanced and where a negative effect may be stronger . ''
At the same time , market players note that Russia is in a special position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly under control and with enterprises allowed to return to operation .
Besides , Russia has recently lowered its key rate , taking additional measures to support the economy .
However , Skaballanovich mentioned the new anti-Russian sanctions that are currently under discussion in the US .
Dmitry Kosmodemyansky from Otkritie Asset Management notes that the New York Times publication of Russia ’ s actions in Afghanistan has affected the behavior of market players .
He noted that in this case , Russia is likely to be used by the US establishment as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Experts do not expect that the new sanctions will become a reality , but this factor has affected the profitability of Russia ’ s state bonds .
The COVID-19 pandemic in Russia seems to be on the wane , but consumer pessimism remains high , a poll held by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration ( RANEPA ) suggests .
The Russian population is expecting the situation in the country to deteriorate in the near future .
They are also skeptical about their financial situation and prospects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer pessimism may cause a severe consumer crisis , the newspaper notes .
RANEPA experts base their estimations on the fifth wave of monitoring of over 2,000 people on their social situation and behavior during a coronavirus pandemic .
The experts point out that over 70 % of those polled think that the pandemic will significantly affect the country ’ s economy .
Meanwhile , 18 % of the respondents think that the effect will be moderate .
Russian residents are more worried about their financial prospects , with over half of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the near future .
Seventy-three percent of those polled fear that their monetary circumstances will worsen significantly or moderately .
Meanwhile , 14 % think that it will not deteriorate significantly , and 11 % see no threat to their finances at all .
`` The crisis , the coronavirus pandemic and the quarantine restrictions have had a negative effect on the population ’ s outlook and their view of the current situation in Russia and around the world , and of their current situation , '' economists from the Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) concurred .
Deputy head of the economic theory department at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics Irina Komarova told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that the lifting of quarantine restrictions would help improve the situation , however , the positive changes would take a while .
`` The reason is the public ’ s exacerbated financial situation .
The official data on real disposable income only exists for the first quarter of 2020 , and it is 0.2 % less than the similar period of last year .
However , the decrease in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to official predictions , in the second quarter , the real income of the population may drop by 6 % , '' the expert said .
Many analysts suggest that the decline is likely to be higher .
`` This year , Russians have gone through two shocks : the devaluation of the ruble and the quarantine that led to a rise in unemployment .
We have not overcome those shocks , which affects consumer behavior .
People spend less , thinking that tough times are ahead .
This is a strong factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy is reflected by a drop in consumption , '' head of the Alpari analytical center Alexander Razuvayev insists .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Vedomosti: Russia believes it’s time for a Gas OPEC Russia is eyeing the possibility of launching a ‘Gas OPEC’, Vedomosti reports, noting that Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Anatoly Yankovsky mentioned this prospect in early June, while Minister of Energy Alexander Novak stated last week that the creation of a coordinating body that would regulate the volume of gas sales and prices "has been under active discussion lately." The energy chief stressed that the main reason for chaos on the global gas market is the lack of a regulator. Nikita Maslennikov, a leading expert from the Institute of Contemporary Development, told Vedomosti that the situation on the global gas market is even worse than what is currently happening with oil. The drop in prices is sharper, he pointed out, adding that destabilization and a lack of balance have been noted in Europe, Russia and the Asia-Pacific. Fierce competition between pipeline gas and LNG is also a serious factor affecting the market. The US, Qatar and Australia export cheap LNG to Europe and Asia, causing a drop in demand for pipeline gas (mainly coming from Russia) and concurrently, a drop in its prices. "The global gas industry has been facing the same issues as the oil industry, like excess supply, increased competition, and a drop in prices. This is why the market needs a regulator to avoid chaotic prices. This is obvious. Another question is whether it will appear," head of the AMarkets analytical department Artyom Deyev told Vedomosti. Creating a gas regulator will be much more difficult than establishing OPEC, said Dmitry Aleksandrov who heads Univer’s analytical research department. He told Vedomosti that gas producers are much more divided than members of OPEC. For his part, Mamdouh Salama, a professor of economics and energy at the ESCP Business School, is confident that strife between gas producers will linger for a long time. However, they will realize at the end that only cooperation can lead to stable prices both for LNG and pipeline gas, the expert pointed out, adding that this will benefit everyone. So, it seems that Russia has been the first to realize this. Izvestia: Second wave of COVID-19 in Moscow unlikely, says expert Pavel Volchkov, who heads the genome engineering lab at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, said in an exclusive interview with Izvestia that up to 40-60% of Moscow residents may be immune to the novel coronavirus, which means that a second wave of the epidemic in the Russian capital is highly unlikely. "Recently, an article by Swedish researchers who studied T-cell immunity ("Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19") came out. Personally, I have been waiting for the results of this study for a long time. They have analyzed many biological samples, conducting ELISPOT (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot), an expensive analysis that detects T-lymphocytes. It turns out that even those who do not have IgG-antibodies have developed T-cell immunity. The share of such people in the population is two-three times higher than the number of those with antibodies," the expert told the newspaper.
Read also New coronavirus wave hits Kazakhstan, president says
"If officially, Moscow has documented 20% of people with a high number of IgG antibodies, we can confidently add 20-40% to this figure. Thus, according to the results, about half of Moscow’s residents are immune to the coronavirus. They won’t get sick anymore," Volchkov emphasized. "For a city like Moscow with millions of inhabitants, today’s figure of about 700 new daily individual infections show that immunity has been formed. If we only had 20% of immune residents, there would be much more people infected after restaurants and shops had opened." Volchkov suggested that the number of daily cases would continue to go down, reaching zero by late August. The virologist pointed out that in his opinion, the SARS-CoV-2 virus had originated in a lab. "An argument in support of this is that until recently, coronaviruses were not considered that dangerous. People could study them using second-level protection (there are four in total, with levels three and four considered the most dangerous, Izvestia explains). This is clear, as the viruses detected previously could not be transmitted from animals to humans (breaking the inter-species barrier) and then from human to human," the expert said. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Unidentified warplanes hammer Erdogan’s troops in Libya Turkish air defense systems located on the Al-Watiya air base in Libya have been damaged or destroyed as a result of an attack by unidentified aircraft in the early hours of Sunday, several media outlets reported earlier. It is unclear whether the Turkish troops located on the base have suffered any casualties. Presumably, the forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Commander Khalifa Haftar must have been behind the attack. The strike on the base was carried out immediately after a recent visit by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Yasar Guler to Tripoli, where they met with officials of Fayez Sarraj’s Government of National Accord, supported by Ankara.
Read also Russia restores operation of embassy in Libya
"To be honest, I am rather surprised that Haftar’s army still has something that flies," Senior Lecturer at the Higher School of Economics' School of Oriental Studies Andrei Chuprygin told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. In this regard, the newspaper noted that on May 26, AFRICOM (the United States Africa Command) had published a press release on May 26, in which it claimed that the LNA had received MiG-29s, Su-35s and Su-24s from Russia. Allegedly, the jets were transported to the Hmeymim air base in Syria and then to Libya. The Americans suggest that the Russian military had handed over 14 fighters with no identifying signs to Khaftar. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov dismissed those statements as rumors earlier. "The equipment that has been used in Libya for a while is framed as Russian export," he explained. Chuprygin told the newspaper that in his opinion, it is likely that Khaftar’s troops, and not his Egyptian allies who stated earlier that they were ready to intervene in the Libyan civil war, are behind the attack on Al-Watiya. "The strike on the base where Turkish troops are stationed right after Akar’s visit is a warning to Turkey, of course. It aims to show that Turkey cannot do anything it wishes in Libya. However, this warning is unlikely to hit home. When they intervened in this conflict, the Turks understood clearly that they would suffer losses. So they won’t be deterred after one strike. Yes, the base was hit. However, the situation on the frontlines has not changed. Haftar’s prospects remain bleak. Of course, for his part, Sarraj is not welcome in the country’s east. He has loads of problems, yet, so far, the situation is developing in his favor," Chuprygin pointed out. Kommersant: Global investors exit Russian markets International experts are actively scaling back their presence on the Russian market. Over the past week, $90 mln have been pulled out of equity funds alone, and the same trend has been noted on the bond market, which lost $70 mln compared to a $30 mln influx last week. The recovery of the market in the spring has allowed investors to make a significant profit, but, the general lack of stability around the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been quelling investors’ appetite for taking risks, Kommersant notes. The situation is undermined by the possibility of new sanctions against Russia.
The data provided by the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR) shows a noticeable drop in interest towards the Russian market from international investors. According to Bank of America and BCS Global Markets, which count on the EPFR’s data, for the week ending on July 1, investors withdrew $90 mln from equity funds (including global funds) invested in Russian shares, which is 4.5 times higher than the week before. Meanwhile, over $70 mln have been pulled out of the Russian bond market (compared to a $30 mln influx last week). According to Alfa-Capital’s portfolio manager Dmitry Dorofeev, many investors fear a second wave of the pandemic and a possible return of the anti-coronavirus lockdowns. For his part, Region Asset Management’s head of assets Alexei Skaballanovich says that a second wave of the virus is likely to hit "developing countries where medicine is not that advanced and where a negative effect may be stronger." At the same time, market players note that Russia is in a special position in this case, with the virus seemingly under control and with enterprises allowed to return to operation. Besides, Russia has recently lowered its key rate, taking additional measures to support the economy. However, Skaballanovich mentioned the new anti-Russian sanctions that are currently under discussion in the US. Dmitry Kosmodemyansky from Otkritie Asset Management notes that the New York Times publication of Russia’s actions in Afghanistan has affected the behavior of market players. He noted that in this case, Russia is likely to be used by the US establishment as a weapon against US President Donald Trump. Experts do not expect that the new sanctions will become a reality, but this factor has affected the profitability of Russia’s state bonds. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Consumer pessimism hovering over Russian population The COVID-19 pandemic in Russia seems to be on the wane, but consumer pessimism remains high, a poll held by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) suggests. The Russian population is expecting the situation in the country to deteriorate in the near future. They are also skeptical about their financial situation and prospects, the poll says. The rise in consumer pessimism may cause a severe consumer crisis, the newspaper notes. RANEPA experts base their estimations on the fifth wave of monitoring of over 2,000 people on their social situation and behavior during a coronavirus pandemic.
Read also Russians were more positive about life in June, pollster says


tass--2020-07-06--Russian Navy to receive about 40 warships in 2020

MOSCOW , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Navy will receive about 40 ships and vessels of various classes in 2020 , Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said in an interview with the Defense Ministry ’ s newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on Monday .
`` Overall , about 40 ships and vessels of various classes will be accepted for service with the Russian Navy in 2020 , '' the admiral said , stressing that this suggested the efficient implementation of the military shipbuilding program in Russia .
The admiral cited as an example the float-out of new serial-produced ocean-going warships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Admiral Golovko .
`` Their crews underwent training under new programs at the Navy ’ s integrated training center , which were worked out taking into account the operation of new hardware and armament , '' the Navy chief said .
The Admiral Golovko is the Project 22350 third ship .
Project 22350 frigates are expected to become the Russian Navy ’ s most advanced warships in their class .
These frigates displace 4,500 tonnes and can develop a speed of 29 knots .
They are armed with Oniks and Kalibr missiles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project 22350 lead frigate Admiral Gorshkov entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2018 .
The Project ’ s first serial-produced frigate Admiral Kasatonov was put afloat in 2014 and is expected to enter service with the Navy in July .
The Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko was laid down on February 1 , 2012 and floated out in May 2020 .
Three more frigates of this Project are at various stages of their construction at the Severnaya Shipyard .
The Retivy is the Project 20380 sixth serial-produced ( seventh-built ) corvette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Petersburg on February 12 , 2015 .
In October 2017 , the construction of the ship ’ s hull was completed and in March 2018 engines and the reduction gear were installed on it .
Project 20380 ships developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering ( St. Petersburg ) are designed to accomplish green-water escort and strike missions and patrol coastal waters .
They are armed with universal artillery guns , surface-to-air missile/artillery systems , supersonic missiles and automatic artillery launchers .
The Project 20380 corvettes can carry a @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. The Russian Navy will receive about 40 ships and vessels of various classes in 2020, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said in an interview with the Defense Ministry’s newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on Monday.
"Overall, about 40 ships and vessels of various classes will be accepted for service with the Russian Navy in 2020," the admiral said, stressing that this suggested the efficient implementation of the military shipbuilding program in Russia.
The admiral cited as an example the float-out of new serial-produced ocean-going warships: the corvette Retivy and the frigate Admiral Golovko.
"Their crews underwent training under new programs at the Navy’s integrated training center, which were worked out taking into account the operation of new hardware and armament," the Navy chief said.
The Admiral Golovko is the Project 22350 third ship. Project 22350 frigates are expected to become the Russian Navy’s most advanced warships in their class. These frigates displace 4,500 tonnes and can develop a speed of 29 knots. They are armed with Oniks and Kalibr missiles and Poliment-Redut air defense missile systems.
The Project 22350 lead frigate Admiral Gorshkov entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2018. The Project’s first serial-produced frigate Admiral Kasatonov was put afloat in 2014 and is expected to enter service with the Navy in July. The Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko was laid down on February 1, 2012 and floated out in May 2020. Three more frigates of this Project are at various stages of their construction at the Severnaya Shipyard.
The Retivy is the Project 20380 sixth serial-produced (seventh-built) corvette laid out at the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg on February 12, 2015. In October 2017, the construction of the ship’s hull was completed and in March 2018 engines and the reduction gear were installed on it.
Project 20380 ships developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering (St. Petersburg) are designed to accomplish green-water escort and strike missions and patrol coastal waters. They are armed with universal artillery guns, surface-to-air missile/artillery systems, supersonic missiles and automatic artillery launchers. The Project 20380 corvettes can carry a Ka-27 helicopter.


tass--2020-07-06--IS and Al-Qaeda using COVID-19 pandemic to their advantage, says UN official

UNITED NATIONS , July 6 .
/TASS/ .
The Islamic State and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups ( both outlawed in Russia @ @ @ @ @ pandemic to spread propaganda , Under Secretary General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism @ @ @ @ @ said in an exclusive interview with TASS .
`` In the past months , we @ @ @ @ @ former name of the IS - TASS ) and Al-Qaeda have attempted to use the @ @ @ @ @ '' Voronkov said .
`` They have changed their propaganda to show the pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .
`` Just like ISIL and Al-Qaeda , politically , ethnically and @ @ @ @ @ used fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic to spread hate , conspiracy theories , @ @ @ @ @ attacks on minorities and law enforcement , '' the UN official continued .
He added @ @ @ @ @ use `` the disappointment in the government ’ s actions and restrictions introduced due to @ @ @ @ @ government .
`` .

UNITED NATIONS, July 6. /TASS/. The Islamic State and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups (both outlawed in Russia) are using the COVID-19 pandemic to spread propaganda, Under Secretary General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov said in an exclusive interview with TASS.
"In the past months, we have seen that ISIL (former name of the IS - TASS) and Al-Qaeda have attempted to use the pandemic to spread propaganda," Voronkov said. "They have changed their propaganda to show the pandemic as a punishment for others," he added.
"Just like ISIL and Al-Qaeda, politically, ethnically and racially motivated terrorist groups have used fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic to spread hate, conspiracy theories, anti-government sentiments and incitement to attacks on minorities and law enforcement," the UN official continued. He added that terrorists are trying to use "the disappointment in the government’s actions and restrictions introduced due to the pandemic to delegitimize the government.".