tass--2020-12-24--Armenian police begin to detain protesters blocking government building

YEREVAN , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Armenia ’ s special police forces have begun to detain protesters who are blocking the government building in the country ’ s capital of Yerevan , a TASS correspondent reported on Thursday .
`` Cabinet members were able to enter the building in the morning and now our goal is to prevent them from leaving it until [ Prime Minister ] Nikol Pashinyan announces his resignation , '' said one of the protest ’ s organizers Ishkhan Sagatelyan , the leader of the Dashnaktsutyun opposition party .
The situation remains tense as protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenian opposition believes that the joint statement that Pashinyan signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on November 9 , which put an end to military activities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region , actually meant surrender .
The opposition also blames Pashinyan for the economic and social problems the country is facing .
That said , Armenian President Armen Sarkissian called for an early parliamentary election .
Pashinyan , in turn , said he had no plans to resign at the moment because governments should change only through elections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his supporters did not rule out a snap election .

YEREVAN, December 24. /TASS/. Armenia’s special police forces have begun to detain protesters who are blocking the government building in the country’s capital of Yerevan, a TASS correspondent reported on Thursday.
"Cabinet members were able to enter the building in the morning and now our goal is to prevent them from leaving it until [Prime Minister] Nikol Pashinyan announces his resignation," said one of the protest’s organizers Ishkhan Sagatelyan, the leader of the Dashnaktsutyun opposition party.
The situation remains tense as protesters continue to block nearby streets.
The Armenian opposition believes that the joint statement that Pashinyan signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on November 9, which put an end to military activities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, actually meant surrender. The opposition also blames Pashinyan for the economic and social problems the country is facing. That said, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian called for an early parliamentary election. Pashinyan, in turn, said he had no plans to resign at the moment because governments should change only through elections. At the same time, some of his supporters did not rule out a snap election.


tass--2020-12-24--Moscow reports all-time high of 8,203 new daily coronavirus cases

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
As many as 8,203 coronavirus cases were recorded in Moscow in the past @ @ @ @ @ number since the beginning of the pandemic , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases were identified in Moscow on Wednesday .
The city ’ s coronavirus growth @ @ @ @ @ Moscow ’ s coronavirus recoveries rose by 5,508 to 588,280 in the past day , @ @ @ @ @ by 76 to 10,689 .
There are currently 165,820 active coronavirus cases in the city @

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. As many as 8,203 coronavirus cases were recorded in Moscow in the past 24 hours, the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday.
The city’s coronavirus case tally has reached 764,789.
A total of 5,652 coronavirus cases were identified in Moscow on Wednesday. The city’s coronavirus growth rate is 1%.
Moscow’s coronavirus recoveries rose by 5,508 to 588,280 in the past day, and the death toll increased by 76 to 10,689. There are currently 165,820 active coronavirus cases in the city.


tass--2020-12-24--Russia sees new high of 29,935 daily COVID-19 cases

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s coronavirus cases in the past day rose by 29,935 , @ @ @ @ @ start of the pandemic , the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday .
One @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection The total COVID-19 case tally hit 2,963,688 , according to the crisis center @ @ @ @ @ to 1 % .
Moscow confirmed 8,203 coronavirus cases in the past day .
Some @ @ @ @ @ in St. Petersburg , 1,538 in the Moscow Region , 502 in the Nizhny Novgorod @ @ @ @ @ Pskov Region and 418 in the Sverdlovsk Region .
The lowest growth rates in the @ @ @ @ @ in the Nenets Autonomous Region ( 0.4 % ) , the Tuva Republic ( 0.5 @ @ @ @ @ Autonomous , the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region , the Magadan Region , Karachay-Cherkess Republic , the @ @ @ @ @ the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo Regions ( 0.6 % ) .
Currently , as many as @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus disease in Russia .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russia’s coronavirus cases in the past day rose by 29,935, a new high since the start of the pandemic, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.
One in 50 Russians has had coronavirus infection
The total COVID-19 case tally hit 2,963,688, according to the crisis center. The growth rate rose to 1%.
Moscow confirmed 8,203 coronavirus cases in the past day. Some 3,756 COVID-19 cases were recorded in St. Petersburg, 1,538 in the Moscow Region, 502 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 442 in the Pskov Region and 418 in the Sverdlovsk Region.
The lowest growth rates in the past 24 hours were registered in the Nenets Autonomous Region (0.4%), the Tuva Republic (0.5%), the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, the Magadan Region, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of Mari El, the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo Regions (0.6%).
Currently, as many as 539,735 people are ill with the coronavirus disease in Russia.


tass--2020-12-24--JA Solar Supplies Photovoltaic Modules for the Largest Solar Plant in Hungary

BEIJING , Dec. 24 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ JA Solar recently announced that it supplied 54MW modules for the Kaposvar photovoltaic ( PV ) power plant in Hungary .
With a total scale of 100MW , the plant is the largest PV power plant in Hungary and indeed Central Europe .
It is invested in and constructed by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation , a subsidiary of China General Technology , and is expected to be connected to the grid in February 2021 .
To improve an energy infrastructure dominated by coal and nuclear power – and to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports the development and construction of renewable energy projects .
The development and construction of the Kaposvar project is strongly supported by the local government .
Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology , Mr. László Palkovics , attended and delivered a speech at the project commencement ceremony held in 2019 .
He said that the Kaposvar photovoltaic power plant is a key project in energy cooperation between Hungary and China , and is of great significance to promoting clean energy development .
With a company mission to `` develop solar power to benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solar has been actively improving its products and technical services to champion the promotion and utilization of photovoltaic energy in the global market .
In Hungary , an important solar market in central Europe , JA Solar also promotes the development of the local PV market by cooperating with local distributors and other domestic and foreign enterprises .

BEIJING, Dec. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ JA Solar recently announced that it supplied 54MW modules for the Kaposvar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Hungary. With a total scale of 100MW, the plant is the largest PV power plant in Hungary and indeed Central Europe. It is invested in and constructed by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation, a subsidiary of China General Technology, and is expected to be connected to the grid in February 2021.
To improve an energy infrastructure dominated by coal and nuclear power – and to increase energy self-sufficiency – the Hungarian government actively supports the development and construction of renewable energy projects. The development and construction of the Kaposvar project is strongly supported by the local government. Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology, Mr. László Palkovics, attended and delivered a speech at the project commencement ceremony held in 2019. He said that the Kaposvar photovoltaic power plant is a key project in energy cooperation between Hungary and China, and is of great significance to promoting clean energy development.
With a company mission to "develop solar power to benefit the entire human race", JA Solar has been actively improving its products and technical services to champion the promotion and utilization of photovoltaic energy in the global market. In Hungary, an important solar market in central Europe, JA Solar also promotes the development of the local PV market by cooperating with local distributors and other domestic and foreign enterprises.
Contact: Oriana Zhang, +86-10-63611888-1697, zhangbobo@jasolar.com


tass--2020-12-24--Another 5,508 patients recover from COVID-19 in Moscow

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow ’ s coronavirus recoveries grew by 5,508 in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday .
`` Another 5,508 coronavirus patients recovered @ @ @ @ @ .
The total number of people who have recovered from the disease has risen to @ @ @ @ @ center said .
After treatment , doctors conduct special tests to confirm the absence of @ @ @ @ @ who need to remain under medical supervision receive the necessary recommendations .
Those patients who @ @ @ @ @ become plasma donors .
People aged from 18 to 55 years who have recovered from @ @ @ @ @ chronic diseases can become blood plasma donors , provided they don ’ t have chronic @ @ @ @ @ HIV , Hepatitis B and C. People who have recovered can also become social volunteers @ @ @ @ @ being treated at home .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Moscow’s coronavirus recoveries grew by 5,508 in the past 24 hours reaching 588,280, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday.
"Another 5,508 coronavirus patients recovered in the capital after treatment. The total number of people who have recovered from the disease has risen to 588,280," the crisis center said.
After treatment, doctors conduct special tests to confirm the absence of the disease. All patients who need to remain under medical supervision receive the necessary recommendations.
Those patients who have recovered are offered to become plasma donors. People aged from 18 to 55 years who have recovered from COVID-19 and who have no chronic diseases can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic diseases and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.
People who have recovered can also become social volunteers and help those who are being treated at home.


tass--2020-12-24--Emergencies Ministry employees rescue over 2.5 mln people in past 30 years

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has rescued more than 2.5 million people since the @ @ @ @ @ years ago , First Deputy Minister Alexander Chupriyan told a TASS news conference on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ million people have been rescued over the past [ thirty ] years .
< … @ @ @ @ @ rescue from 100,000 to 200,000 people per year , '' he said .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The Russian Emergencies Ministry has rescued more than 2.5 million people since the start of its work thirty years ago, First Deputy Minister Alexander Chupriyan told a TASS news conference on Thursday.
"More than 2.5 million people have been rescued over the past [thirty] years. <…> In general, we rescue from 100,000 to 200,000 people per year," he said.


tass--2020-12-24--Trump pardons ex-head of his campaign headquarters Manafort, ex-adviser Stone

WASHINGTON , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump pardoned 26 citizens on Wednesday , including ex-head of his campaign headquarters Paul Manafort and former adviser Roger Stone .
This is according to a statement released by the press service of the White House .
In addition , the sentences for three other individuals were partially or fully commuted .
Among those who have been pardoned is Charles Kushner , the father of Trump 's son-in-law and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner .
Charles Kushner was convicted of filing false tax returns .
Manafort joined Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in June , but was fired in August after Ukraine accused him of illegally receiving large sums of money in 2007-2012 .
On March 8 , 2019 , the court in Alexandria , Virginia , sentenced Manafort to almost four years in prison for violations of tax and banking laws and hiding foreign bank accounts .
On March 13 , 2019 , a Washington court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for perjury and non-compliance with lobbying laws .
In May 2020 , Manafort was released from prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence at home .
Officials of Special Counsel Robert Mueller , who was investigating Russia ’ s alleged interference in the 2016 US elections , accused Roger Stone of contacting WikiLeaks in an attempt to get documents that could have damaged Hillary Clinton , Trump 's rival in the previous campaign On Tuesday , Donald Trump pardoned 15 people and reduced sentences for five more citizens partially or completely .
Among those pardoned is former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ van der Zwaan , who was charged with perjury as part of the investigation by Special Counsel Mueller .

WASHINGTON, December 24. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump pardoned 26 citizens on Wednesday, including ex-head of his campaign headquarters Paul Manafort and former adviser Roger Stone. This is according to a statement released by the press service of the White House.
In addition, the sentences for three other individuals were partially or fully commuted. Among those who have been pardoned is Charles Kushner, the father of Trump's son-in-law and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner. Charles Kushner was convicted of filing false tax returns.
Manafort joined Trump's campaign headquarters in March 2016, headed it in June, but was fired in August after Ukraine accused him of illegally receiving large sums of money in 2007-2012.
On March 8, 2019, the court in Alexandria, Virginia, sentenced Manafort to almost four years in prison for violations of tax and banking laws and hiding foreign bank accounts.
On March 13, 2019, a Washington court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for perjury and non-compliance with lobbying laws. In May 2020, Manafort was released from prison in Pennsylvania due to the pandemic. He was allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.
Officials of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was investigating Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 US elections, accused Roger Stone of contacting WikiLeaks in an attempt to get documents that could have damaged Hillary Clinton, Trump's rival in the previous campaign
On Tuesday, Donald Trump pardoned 15 people and reduced sentences for five more citizens partially or completely. Among those pardoned is former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos. In addition, the list includes a Dutch citizen Alex van der Zwaan, who was charged with perjury as part of the investigation by Special Counsel Mueller.


tass--2020-12-24--Russian Defense Ministry’s medical workers to help combat coronavirus in Crimea

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Defense Ministry will send two medical units to Simferopol and Yalta @ @ @ @ @ in Crimea , the ministry said in a statement on Thursday .
One in 50 @ @ @ @ @ '' Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu has handed down instructions to set up two @ @ @ @ @ with Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin ’ s order , '' the statement reads .
`` @ @ @ @ @ with ventilators , X-ray , blood analyzer and ultrasound machines and a PCR laboratory , @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier at a joint meeting of the State Council and @ @ @ @ @ that the Defense Ministry would establish two hospitals in Crimea to combat the coronavirus .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry will send two medical units to Simferopol and Yalta to help combat the coronavirus in Crimea, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
One in 50 Russians has had coronavirus infection
"Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu has handed down instructions to set up two hospitals in Crimea in accordance with Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin’s order," the statement reads.
"The hospitals will be equipped with ventilators, X-ray, blood analyzer and ultrasound machines and a PCR laboratory," the ministry added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier at a joint meeting of the State Council and the Council on National Projects that the Defense Ministry would establish two hospitals in Crimea to combat the coronavirus.


tass--2020-12-24--China reports 17 novel coronavirus cases in past day

BEIJING , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
A total of 17 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection have been registered in China in the past 24 hours , China ’ s State Committee on Hygiene and Health said on Thursday .
According to the Committee , no deaths were recorded over past 24 hours , 22 people were discharged from hospitals .
Of the 17 new cases of infection , 11 are imported : six were detected in Shanghai , two in Sichuan , and one case each in Liaoning , Henan and Guangdong provinces .
Another six cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal .
In total , since the beginning of the pandemic , Chinese doctors have identified 4,174 cases among those arriving from abroad .
3,900 of them have already recovered and were discharged from hospitals .
274 people are undergoing treatment ( five of them are in serious condition ) .
None of infected person who arrived in China from abroad died .
According to the latest data , the total number of confirmed cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus in mainland China has reached 86,899 , with 4,634 deaths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the authorities , there are now 315 active cases of the disease in the country , six infected are in serious condition .
Since the beginning of April , the Chinese authorities have published separate statistics for asymptomatic patients .
Over the past 24 hours , Chinese doctors have identified 19 people with confirmed coronavirus and no symptoms , 14 of them came from abroad .
Currently , there are 229 asymptomatic patients under medical supervision in the country , 187 of whom came from abroad .

BEIJING, December 24. /TASS/. A total of 17 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection have been registered in China in the past 24 hours, China’s State Committee on Hygiene and Health said on Thursday.
According to the Committee, no deaths were recorded over past 24 hours, 22 people were discharged from hospitals.
Of the 17 new cases of infection, 11 are imported: six were detected in Shanghai, two in Sichuan, and one case each in Liaoning, Henan and Guangdong provinces. Another six cases, all in Liaoning province, are internal.
In total, since the beginning of the pandemic, Chinese doctors have identified 4,174 cases among those arriving from abroad. 3,900 of them have already recovered and were discharged from hospitals. 274 people are undergoing treatment (five of them are in serious condition). None of infected person who arrived in China from abroad died.
According to the latest data, the total number of confirmed cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus in mainland China has reached 86,899, with 4,634 deaths and 81,950 patients recovered. According to information from the authorities, there are now 315 active cases of the disease in the country, six infected are in serious condition.
Since the beginning of April, the Chinese authorities have published separate statistics for asymptomatic patients. Over the past 24 hours, Chinese doctors have identified 19 people with confirmed coronavirus and no symptoms, 14 of them came from abroad. Currently, there are 229 asymptomatic patients under medical supervision in the country, 187 of whom came from abroad.


tass--2020-12-24--Former co-owner of OBI hypermarkets Igor Sosin dies at 54 - RBC

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The founder of the Starik Hottabych and Modi chains , former co-owner of OBI hypermarkets , Igor Sosin died at the age of 54 , the RBC website reported on Wednesday with reference to two acquaintances of the businessman .
The information was confirmed by the founder of the Falcon Advisers investment company Igor Kovanov .
According to him , the 53-year-old businessman died while traveling to the island of Zanzibar .
According to the businessman 's acquaintances , the cause of his death could be a heart attack .
In the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Igor Sosin was one of the first entrepreneurs who developed retailers for the sale of household goods in Russia .
In 1994 , together with his partners Artur Popelnyukhov and Grigory Kozhemyakin , he founded the Starik Hottabych chain .
In 2000 , Sosin left the project and started developing Sdelay svoimi rukami ( Do it yourself ) , a joint venture with the OBI network .
In 2016 , Igor Sosin sold 49 % in the joint venture .
In recent years , he has been developing the Modi household goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia in 2017 .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The founder of the Starik Hottabych and Modi chains, former co-owner of OBI hypermarkets, Igor Sosin died at the age of 54, the RBC website reported on Wednesday with reference to two acquaintances of the businessman.
The information was confirmed by the founder of the Falcon Advisers investment company Igor Kovanov. According to him, the 53-year-old businessman died while traveling to the island of Zanzibar. According to the businessman's acquaintances, the cause of his death could be a heart attack. In the spring, the businessman got infected with coronavirus.
Igor Sosin was one of the first entrepreneurs who developed retailers for the sale of household goods in Russia. In 1994, together with his partners Artur Popelnyukhov and Grigory Kozhemyakin, he founded the Starik Hottabych chain. In 2000, Sosin left the project and started developing Sdelay svoimi rukami (Do it yourself), a joint venture with the OBI network. In 2016, Igor Sosin sold 49% in the joint venture. In recent years, he has been developing the Modi household goods chain. Its first stores opened in Russia in 2017.


tass--2020-12-24--Russia’s task in Karabakh is to restore peace as soon as possible — Emergencies Ministry

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The main task of Russia ’ s Emergencies Ministry as part of the ongoing humanitarian operation in Nagorno-Karabakh is to restore a peaceful life there as soon as possible , head of the Russian emergency department Yevgeny Zinichev said during his working visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia .
The ministry ’ s press service cited his words to TASS .
`` The main task of the ongoing humanitarian operation is the early restoration of peaceful life in the region .
It is very important for us to have relevant and reliable information about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible negative consequences for the population .
For its part , the Emergencies Ministry of Russia is on a regular basis a member of working groups to assess the state of the infrastructure of Nagorno-Karabakh and its needs , '' he said as quoted by the ministry 's press service .
Zinichev added that to date , about 300 tonnes of humanitarian cargo has been delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh by road , and almost 1,200 tonnes - by rail .
These are building materials , diesel generators , off-road vehicles , stoves and household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s demining unit has been deployed in the region .
The ministry specified that during his working visit to Armenia , the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Emergency Situations Andranik Piloyan .
In Azerbaijan he met with President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
According to the document , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and then several districts were to come under the control of Baku .
On November 13 , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment of an interdepartmental humanitarian response center for Nagorno-Karabakh .
It included representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FSB , representatives of other interested federal executive bodies .
Russian rescuers arrived in the region on November 16 .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The main task of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry as part of the ongoing humanitarian operation in Nagorno-Karabakh is to restore a peaceful life there as soon as possible, head of the Russian emergency department Yevgeny Zinichev said during his working visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia. The ministry’s press service cited his words to TASS.
"The main task of the ongoing humanitarian operation is the early restoration of peaceful life in the region. It is very important for us to have relevant and reliable information about the real needs of Nagorno-Karabakh to minimize possible negative consequences for the population. For its part, the Emergencies Ministry of Russia is on a regular basis a member of working groups to assess the state of the infrastructure of Nagorno-Karabakh and its needs," he said as quoted by the ministry's press service.
Zinichev added that to date, about 300 tonnes of humanitarian cargo has been delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh by road, and almost 1,200 tonnes - by rail. These are building materials, diesel generators, off-road vehicles, stoves and household items. Also, the ministry’s demining unit has been deployed in the region.
The ministry specified that during his working visit to Armenia, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Emergency Situations Andranik Piloyan. In Azerbaijan he met with President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and then several districts were to come under the control of Baku. On November 13, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the establishment of an interdepartmental humanitarian response center for Nagorno-Karabakh. It included representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FSB, representatives of other interested federal executive bodies. Russian rescuers arrived in the region on November 16.


tass--2020-12-25--Over 5.2 mln patients receive medical care in Russia since March

MOSCOW , December 25 .
/TASS/ .
Over 5.2 mln patients in Russia have received medical care in various fields @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mikhail Murashko informed on Thursday .
`` Since March 2020 , the number of @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , with pneumonia , with various others infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory @ @ @ @ @ and in-patient care has reached over 5.2 mln .
< … > In total , @ @ @ @ @ mln are receiving out-patient and in-patient medical care , '' he said during a government @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , over 78.7 mln people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide , @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia has documented 2,963,688 cases of COVID-19 , 2,370,857 patients have recovered , and @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. Over 5.2 mln patients in Russia have received medical care in various fields since March, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko informed on Thursday.
"Since March 2020, the number of patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, with pneumonia, with various others infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, that received out-patient and in-patient care has reached over 5.2 mln. <…> In total, right now, over 1.1 mln are receiving out-patient and in-patient medical care," he said during a government briefing.
Since the start of the pandemic, over 78.7 mln people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide, over 1.7 mln have died. Russia has documented 2,963,688 cases of COVID-19, 2,370,857 patients have recovered, and 53,096 have died.


tass--2020-12-25--About 85% of those vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V have no side effects - expert

MOSCOW , December 25 .
/TASS/ .
Some 85 % of those vaccinated with Russia ’ s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine do not have any side effects , head of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Ginzburg said on Thursday .
`` Based on the three stages of trials , we have documented the following : 85 % of those vaccinated have no side effects .
< … > The Sputnik V vaccine is not dangerous for those who have used it , '' he said during a briefing timed to the delivery of the vaccine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of those vaccinated report redness in the area of the vaccine shot and a slight headache that goes away within 24 hours .
`` The most unpleasant thing that can happen is a fever of up to 38 degrees for two days , which can be alleviated with one paracetamol pill , '' he informed .
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August 11 .
The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Post-registration testing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 , with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September 9 .
Overall , the trials should have included 40,000 people , with 10,000 receiving a placebo dose instead of the vaccine .
Argentina is the first Latin American country to register the Sputnik V vaccine on its territory based on the outcomes of the Russian clinical trials .
The vaccine was approved by Argentina ’ s regulatory bodies without additional trials carried out on the country ’ s territory .

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. Some 85% of those vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine do not have any side effects, head of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Ginzburg said on Thursday.
"Based on the three stages of trials, we have documented the following: 85% of those vaccinated have no side effects. <…> The Sputnik V vaccine is not dangerous for those who have used it," he said during a briefing timed to the delivery of the vaccine to Argentina.
The expert added that 15% of those vaccinated report redness in the area of the vaccine shot and a slight headache that goes away within 24 hours. "The most unpleasant thing that can happen is a fever of up to 38 degrees for two days, which can be alleviated with one paracetamol pill," he informed.
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August 11. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. Post-registration testing of the vaccine began in Moscow on September 7, with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September 9. Overall, the trials should have included 40,000 people, with 10,000 receiving a placebo dose instead of the vaccine.
Argentina is the first Latin American country to register the Sputnik V vaccine on its territory based on the outcomes of the Russian clinical trials. The vaccine was approved by Argentina’s regulatory bodies without additional trials carried out on the country’s territory.


tass--2020-12-25--Over 280,000 COVID-19 hospital beds allocated in Russia

MOSCOW , December 25 .
/TASS/ .
There are about 280,000 hospital beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in Russia , @ @ @ @ @ said during a government briefing on Thursday .
`` Right now , there are 280,000 @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said , adding that medical screening and treatment facilities were established in @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the start of the pandemic , over 78.7 mln people have been diagnosed @ @ @ @ @ 1.7 mln have died .
Russia has documented 2,963,688 cases of COVID-19 , 2,370,857 patients @ @ @ @ @ have died .

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. There are about 280,000 hospital beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in Russia, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said during a government briefing on Thursday.
"Right now, there are 280,000 hospital beds providing medical aid," he said, adding that medical screening and treatment facilities were established in major Russian towns and cities.
Since the start of the pandemic, over 78.7 mln people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide, over 1.7 mln have died. Russia has documented 2,963,688 cases of COVID-19, 2,370,857 patients have recovered, and 53,096 have died.


tass--2020-12-25--Santa Claus flies over Moscow, NORAD reports

OTTAWA , December 25 .
/TASS/ .
Santa Claus ’ s sleigh has flown over Moscow , the North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) informed on Thursday .
For 65 years , NORAD has been `` tracking '' the journey of Santa Claus on the night before Christmas , celebrated on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar .
`` Santa has made it to Moscow , Russia ! ''
NORAD ’ s Twitter informed .
Earlier , NORAD `` spotted '' Santa Claus delivering presents on the Kuril Islands , in Siberia , in the Ural Region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in other Russian locations .
So far , Santa has delivered over 3.4 bln gifts .
As of 0:35 Moscow time , he was spotted flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina .
The North American Aerospace Defense Command , which includes US and Canadian air defense and missile defense systems , `` tracks '' Santa Claus ’ journey since 1955 using radars and satellites .
Santa ’ s sleigh takes off from the North Pole on 02:01 December 24 Eastern Standard Time ( 10:01 Moscow time ) .
Children in Australia and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gifts .
Santa then visits Asia , Africa , Europe , Latin and North America .

OTTAWA, December 25. /TASS/. Santa Claus’s sleigh has flown over Moscow, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) informed on Thursday. For 65 years, NORAD has been "tracking" the journey of Santa Claus on the night before Christmas, celebrated on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
"Santa has made it to Moscow, Russia!" NORAD’s Twitter informed. Earlier, NORAD "spotted" Santa Claus delivering presents on the Kuril Islands, in Siberia, in the Ural Region, along the Volga, in St. Petersburg and in other Russian locations.
So far, Santa has delivered over 3.4 bln gifts. As of 0:35 Moscow time, he was spotted flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which includes US and Canadian air defense and missile defense systems, "tracks" Santa Claus’ journey since 1955 using radars and satellites. Santa’s sleigh takes off from the North Pole on 02:01 December 24 Eastern Standard Time (10:01 Moscow time). Children in Australia and New Zealand are usually the first to receive gifts. Santa then visits Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin and North America.


tass--2020-12-24--US ‘shaken’ the strongest in 2020, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The US faced the most severe internal problems in the US compared to other countries , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in hew interview for TASS Thursday .
`` The way the US was shaken , nobody was .
This is the inability to counteract the pandemic and everything connected to it .
We see what is happening in the world in general and in the US in particular .
These are not my assessment , I underscore , this is the assessment of the US ’ s own experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be unable to counter such challenge , '' she said .
`` This is also the internal social divide .
A political one .
Yes , an artificially inflated one .
This is the display of that global unsolved internal agenda issue , which , I think , nobody expected to emerge .
The issue of racism , '' the diplomat continued .
Zakharova also mentioned France as one of the countries that faced the most severe problems in 2020 , due to the protests , `` brutally thwarted '' by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to focus strictly on the CIS countries ’ problems alone .
`` The post-soviet territory was in the agenda .
We registered interventions in internal affairs , fake concerns of our Western partners over the lives of people of those countries .
In reality , it is a true desire to reshape the life in those countries by their standards , '' she added .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The US faced the most severe internal problems in the US compared to other countries, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in hew interview for TASS Thursday.
"The way the US was shaken, nobody was. This is the inability to counteract the pandemic and everything connected to it. We see what is happening in the world in general and in the US in particular. These are not my assessment, I underscore, this is the assessment of the US’s own experts, who did not expect that their country would be unable to counter such challenge," she said.
"This is also the internal social divide. A political one. Yes, an artificially inflated one. This is the display of that global unsolved internal agenda issue, which, I think, nobody expected to emerge. The issue of racism," the diplomat continued.
Zakharova also mentioned France as one of the countries that faced the most severe problems in 2020, due to the protests, "brutally thwarted" by the law enforcement.
The spokeswoman urged not to focus strictly on the CIS countries’ problems alone.
"The post-soviet territory was in the agenda. We registered interventions in internal affairs, fake concerns of our Western partners over the lives of people of those countries. In reality, it is a true desire to reshape the life in those countries by their standards," she added.


tass--2020-12-24--Argentine President Alberto Fernandez thanks Putin for delivery of Sputnik V

BUENOS AIRES , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has expressed gratitude to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and developers of the Sputnik V vaccine against the novel coronavirus for its delivery to the Latin American republic .
He posted a corresponding statement on Twitter on Thursday .
`` Argentina already has a vaccine against COVID-19 .
We are expressing our sincere gratitude to the Sputnik V vaccine developers and the President Vladimir Putin for determination they demonstrated to out country .
A road of hope is opening but the pandemic is not over yet .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves , '' the head of state wrote .
On Wednesday , the Argentine Health Ministry issued a permit for the emergency use of the Russian vaccine .
This decision was made on the basis of recommendations of Argentina ’ s National Administration of Drugs , Foods and Medical Devices .
On Thursday , a plane with the first batch of Sputnik V aboard numbering 300,000 doses landed at an airport in Buenos Aires .
Earlier , the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the government of Argentina signed a contract to deliver 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Argentine President stated that he will be the first in his country to get inoculated with the Russian vaccine since he does not question its quality .

BUENOS AIRES, December 24. /TASS/. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has expressed gratitude to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and developers of the Sputnik V vaccine against the novel coronavirus for its delivery to the Latin American republic. He posted a corresponding statement on Twitter on Thursday.
"Argentina already has a vaccine against COVID-19. We are expressing our sincere gratitude to the Sputnik V vaccine developers and the President Vladimir Putin for determination they demonstrated to out country. A road of hope is opening but the pandemic is not over yet. We need to continue to take care of ourselves," the head of state wrote.
On Wednesday, the Argentine Health Ministry issued a permit for the emergency use of the Russian vaccine. This decision was made on the basis of recommendations of Argentina’s National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices. On Thursday, a plane with the first batch of Sputnik V aboard numbering 300,000 doses landed at an airport in Buenos Aires.
Earlier, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the government of Argentina signed a contract to deliver 10 mln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Argentine President stated that he will be the first in his country to get inoculated with the Russian vaccine since he does not question its quality.


tass--2020-12-24--Russian scientists exchange information with WHO on new COVID-19 strain - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Russian scientists exchange information with foreign colleagues and representatives of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on a new coronavirus strain detected in the UK based on available data .
This was noted in the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry made public on Thursday in relation to the commentary of Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova regarding the new strain of the coronavirus .
The ministry explained that at a briefing it wasn ’ t mentioned that the Russian side received new samples from the UK .
`` Actually , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information with the foreign colleagues and the WHO representatives on the basis of the available data , '' the diplomatic agency pointed out .
On December 14 , Britain ’ s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said British scientists had identified a new coronavirus strain that might be to blame for high infection rates in southeastern England .
On December 19 , UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that , according to the current findings , the new strain might be 70 % more contagious , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater risk of lethal outcome .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian scientists exchange information with foreign colleagues and representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) on a new coronavirus strain detected in the UK based on available data. This was noted in the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry made public on Thursday in relation to the commentary of Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova regarding the new strain of the coronavirus.
The ministry explained that at a briefing it wasn’t mentioned that the Russian side received new samples from the UK. "Actually, it was stated that the Russian scientists exchange information with the foreign colleagues and the WHO representatives on the basis of the available data," the diplomatic agency pointed out.
On December 14, Britain’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said British scientists had identified a new coronavirus strain that might be to blame for high infection rates in southeastern England. On December 19, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that, according to the current findings, the new strain might be 70% more contagious, however, there is no proof yet of a greater risk of lethal outcome.


tass--2020-12-24--Moscow not to refrain from response measures to pressure against Russian media - diplomat

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow has never neglected practical response measures against countries that exert pressure at @ @ @ @ @ it will not neglect them in the future , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova @ @ @ @ @ in the past , nor in the future will we neglect response measures , '' @ @ @ @ @ Yes , this is not our way ; we do not use it under our @ @ @ @ @ as a response - we resort to it and will do so in the future @ @ @ @ @ '' According to Zakharova , people who exert political pressure on the Russian media must @ @ @ @ @ face a response . ''
`` And not just a verbal one in the form @ @ @ @ @ a practical one , so that they could feel it , '' she said .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Moscow has never neglected practical response measures against countries that exert pressure at the Russian-speaking media, and it will not neglect them in the future, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"Neither in the past, nor in the future will we neglect response measures," the diplomat said. "Yes, this is not our way; we do not use it under our own initiative. But - as a response - we resort to it and will do so in the future, that is certain."
According to Zakharova, people who exert political pressure on the Russian media must understand that they "will face a response."
"And not just a verbal one in the form of statements, but also a practical one, so that they could feel it," she said.


tass--2020-12-24--Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman hasn’t received COVID-19 vaccine yet, will work on this

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in an interview with TASS said that @ @ @ @ @ inoculated with a vaccine against the coronavirus yet but plans to work on this issue @ @ @ @ @ thinking that it is already possible to begin thinking about my personal attitude to the @ @ @ @ @ it happens , I ’ ll tell about it , '' she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ time the Foreign Ministry was working precisely on the diplomatic support of Russian vaccines against @ @ @ @ @ of the goals was support of our vaccines abroad , their presentation at international sites @ @ @ @ @ establishment of contacts through our embassies with various countries for its promotion , '' she @ @

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in an interview with TASS said that she hasn’t been inoculated with a vaccine against the coronavirus yet but plans to work on this issue.
"Now I am thinking that it is already possible to begin thinking about my personal attitude to the vaccine. As soon as it happens, I’ll tell about it," she said.
The diplomat explained that this entire time the Foreign Ministry was working precisely on the diplomatic support of Russian vaccines against the coronavirus. "One of the goals was support of our vaccines abroad, their presentation at international sites, in international organizations, establishment of contacts through our embassies with various countries for its promotion," she said.


tass--2020-12-24--"War of vaccines" already begun, truth is Russia’s strength, diplomat asserts

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Information war around vaccines against the coronavirus is already underway , the truth about domestic achievements is Russia ’ s strength , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS on Thursday .
`` Regretfully , yes , the vaccine war is already underway , '' she said in response to a corresponding question .
`` This is the war of everything : a politicization of the COVID issue has occurred .
The infodemic related to the pandemic happened .
A part of this horrible reality is , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines , and of everything related to the smear campaign against Russian efforts or blocking the information on Russian achievements , '' she explained .
The diplomat considers it important to be able to respond to misinformation , refute it and bring counterarguments .
`` [ Russia ’ s strength ] is in the truth , as always , the truth about our achievements , about what we are doing , '' she emphasized .
The spokeswoman noted that she saw in Western media numerous `` rumors , speculations , overt nonsense '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they couldn ’ t find anything to latch onto , they came up with a ‘ brilliant ’ thing : they said that Russia is evil because it conducts its own misinformation campaign regarding Western vaccines .
This is simply some kind of absurdity .
The vaccine war is underway , but , I think , this is not the war of scientists , this is the war of politicians and precisely those fighters of the information frontlines that we deal with on the pages of mostly Western mainstream [ media ] , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so on , '' she added .
On August 11 , Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. The preparation was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Information war around vaccines against the coronavirus is already underway, the truth about domestic achievements is Russia’s strength, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS on Thursday.
"Regretfully, yes, the vaccine war is already underway," she said in response to a corresponding question. "This is the war of everything: a politicization of the COVID issue has occurred. The infodemic related to the pandemic happened. A part of this horrible reality is, of course, also the war of the vaccines, and of everything related to the smear campaign against Russian efforts or blocking the information on Russian achievements," she explained.
The diplomat considers it important to be able to respond to misinformation, refute it and bring counterarguments. "[Russia’s strength] is in the truth, as always, the truth about our achievements, about what we are doing," she emphasized.
The spokeswoman noted that she saw in Western media numerous "rumors, speculations, overt nonsense" regarding the Russian vaccine. "When they couldn’t find anything to latch onto, they came up with a ‘brilliant’ thing: they said that Russia is evil because it conducts its own misinformation campaign regarding Western vaccines. This is simply some kind of absurdity. The vaccine war is underway, but, I think, this is not the war of scientists, this is the war of politicians and precisely those fighters of the information frontlines that we deal with on the pages of mostly Western mainstream [media], they are pontificating on TV, and so on," she added.
On August 11, Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. The preparation was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry.


tass--2020-12-24--‘Light’ vaccine against coronavirus is first component of Sputnik V, developer says

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
A `` light '' vaccine against the novel coronavirus is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine and does not represent a new separate vaccine preparation , Deputy Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry Boris Naroditsky told TASS on Thursday .
`` The ‘ light ’ [ vaccine ] we are talking about now is exactly the same thing as the first component of our [ Sputnik V ] vaccine , '' the scientist explained .
He noted that because of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently not an issue , however , in the future , when Sputnik V overall will be enhanced , a decision will be made on patenting innovations .
`` In the future , of course , we will fine-tune the vaccine overall , both components , it ’ s just like with any other product , there is always something to enhance .
All of this is in the future and doesn ’ t involve the present day , '' he said .
Earlier , Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to him , the duration of action of this preparation will be shorter , however , it will allow to inoculate a larger number of people .
As Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center Alexander Gintsburg explained later , the immunity after administration of the `` light '' vaccine is formed during three weeks and will remain for about 3-4 months .
The main goal of this preparation is to decrease the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in countries with very high death tolls .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in Russia .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. A "light" vaccine against the novel coronavirus is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine and does not represent a new separate vaccine preparation, Deputy Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry Boris Naroditsky told TASS on Thursday.
"The ‘light’ [vaccine] we are talking about now is exactly the same thing as the first component of our [Sputnik V] vaccine," the scientist explained.
He noted that because of this, patenting the "light" vaccine is currently not an issue, however, in the future, when Sputnik V overall will be enhanced, a decision will be made on patenting innovations. "In the future, of course, we will fine-tune the vaccine overall, both components, it’s just like with any other product, there is always something to enhance. All of this is in the future and doesn’t involve the present day," he said.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned the "light" version of the vaccine. According to him, the duration of action of this preparation will be shorter, however, it will allow to inoculate a larger number of people. As Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center Alexander Gintsburg explained later, the immunity after administration of the "light" vaccine is formed during three weeks and will remain for about 3-4 months. The main goal of this preparation is to decrease the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in countries with very high death tolls. At the same time, a traditional two-component inoculation will be used in Russia.


tass--2020-12-24--Risks of coronavirus infection in Moscow increase, Mayor says

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Moscow is @ @ @ @ @ risks of infection in the capital increase .
Authorities do everything necessary in order to @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ epidemic is not becoming any easier .
On the contrary , it is turning more @ @ @ @ @ that the risks of infections in the city increase .
Of course , we need @ @ @ @ @ order to stop the epidemic , '' the mayor said .
Moscow is in the @ @ @ @ @ the number of the coronavirus infections .
In all , 764,789 cases of the infection @ @ @ @ @ city , including 8,203 over the past 24 hours .
Some 588,280 patients have recovered @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Moscow is not letting up, the risks of infection in the capital increase. Authorities do everything necessary in order to stop the epidemic, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel on Thursday.
"The situation with the epidemic is not becoming any easier. On the contrary, it is turning more complex. This also means that the risks of infections in the city increase. Of course, we need to do everything possible in order to stop the epidemic," the mayor said.
Moscow is in the first place in Russia by the number of the coronavirus infections. In all, 764,789 cases of the infection have been detected in the city, including 8,203 over the past 24 hours. Some 588,280 patients have recovered, 10,689 patients died.


tass--2020-12-24--Putin’s approval rating stayed at 61% to 65% in 2020

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s actions remained at about 61 % -65 % throughout the year , says Valery Fyodorov , head of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center ( VCIOM ) .
`` If we talk integral estimations , then , throughout this year , the approval rating of the president varied in a narrow range between 61 % and 65 % .
In November , it was 62 % , of almost exactly in the middle of this range , '' Fyodorov said .
He pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was in the spring of 2018 , when the rating plunged due to the increase of the retirement age .
`` It was then that the rating plunged from 77 % to 80 % to about 65 % to 64 % .
So we can say that the shocks of this year bounced back and did not affect the integral approval of the president , '' Fyodorov said .
The negative assessments stayed within the 28 % to 29 % range , the expert said .
According to Fyodorov , the approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains the most important aspect of the president ’ s support .
`` [ November ’ s ] 71 % is lower than 75 % to 76 % one year ago , but it is still between 2/3 and ѕ .
We do not register any fall , although there is some negativity .
For the last four months , it stayed at about 20 % , '' Fyodorov noted .
`` The approval of the internal policy is significantly lower , but there is no surprise here .
Some 50 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 38 % - and 39 % in November - do not .
Overall , the situation is even somewhat better than one year ago , when we had neither the economic crisis nor the pandemic , '' the expert concluded .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions remained at about 61%-65% throughout the year, says Valery Fyodorov, head of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM).
"If we talk integral estimations, then, throughout this year, the approval rating of the president varied in a narrow range between 61% and 65%. In November, it was 62%, of almost exactly in the middle of this range," Fyodorov said.
He pointed out that the approval level is currently higher it was in the spring of 2018, when the rating plunged due to the increase of the retirement age.
"It was then that the rating plunged from 77% to 80% to about 65% to 64%. So we can say that the shocks of this year bounced back and did not affect the integral approval of the president," Fyodorov said.
The negative assessments stayed within the 28% to 29% range, the expert said.
According to Fyodorov, the approval of the president’s foreign policy remains the most important aspect of the president’s support.
"[November’s] 71% is lower than 75% to 76% one year ago, but it is still between 2/3 and ѕ. We do not register any fall, although there is some negativity. For the last four months, it stayed at about 20%," Fyodorov noted.
"The approval of the internal policy is significantly lower, but there is no surprise here. Some 50% to 52% approve it, while 37% to 38% - and 39% in November - do not. Overall, the situation is even somewhat better than one year ago, when we had neither the economic crisis nor the pandemic," the expert concluded.


tass--2020-12-24--Victory over coronavirus is one of priority tasks in 2021, Health Minister says

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Victory over the novel coronavirus infection is one of the priority tasks in @ @ @ @ @ Mikhail Murashko said on Thursday .
`` We will have to resolve major issues in @ @ @ @ @ conquer the novel coronavirus infection , we have to return to our usual duties , @ @ @ @ @ enhance the provision of medical care , increase the quality and attention to a patient @ @ @ @ @ be in our souls , in our hearts in 2021 , '' he said at @ @ @ @ @ to the anti-coronavirus crisis center , to date , 2,963,688 coronavirus cases have been confirmed @ @ @ @ @ patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 53,096 fatalities @ @ @ @ @ Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus @ @

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Victory over the novel coronavirus infection is one of the priority tasks in 2021, Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Thursday.
"We will have to resolve major issues in 2021. We have to conquer the novel coronavirus infection, we have to return to our usual duties, and, of course, enhance the provision of medical care, increase the quality and attention to a patient - this is what should be in our souls, in our hearts in 2021," he said at a government briefing.
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center, to date, 2,963,688 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,370,857 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 53,096 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-24--Moldova to extend contract for Russian gas supplies shortly

CHISINAU , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Moldova will renew the gas supplies contract with Russian gas holding Gazprom for @ @ @ @ @ days , Prime Minister of the Republic Ion Chicu says on Thursday .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ gas to the Republic of Moldova will be renewed in days to come and the @ @ @ @ @ quarter of 2021 will be about $ 120-122 per 1,000 cubic meters , '' Chicu @ @ @ @ @ Facebook .
Moldova is buying gas from Gazprom under the contract expiring in 2020 .

CHISINAU, December 24. /TASS/. Moldova will renew the gas supplies contract with Russian gas holding Gazprom for the next year in coming days, Prime Minister of the Republic Ion Chicu says on Thursday.
"The contract on supply of natural gas to the Republic of Moldova will be renewed in days to come and the provisional price in the first quarter of 2021 will be about $120-122 per 1,000 cubic meters," Chicu wrote on his page in Facebook.
Moldova is buying gas from Gazprom under the contract expiring in 2020.


tass--2020-12-24--German accounting in support for White Helmets in Syria not transparent -Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The material support , provided by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to the pseudo-humanitarian `` White Helmets '' organization , could be used not only for solving humanitarian problems in Syria , but for funding terrorists as well , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday .
Previously , the Foreign Office announced that it allocated 5 million euro aid for the organization .
`` It remains unclear , for the German public as well , what part of those funds went to the support of cooperation between the pseudo-humanitarian crews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria , [ … ] whether this sum covers the solemn relocation of one of the White Helmets leaders Khalid al-Sarih from Jordan to Germany , '' the diplomat pointed out .
According to Zakharova , it is easy to get lost in the accounting of Germany ’ s sponsorship of the White Helmet .
`` It becomes more and more difficult to draw a line between articles for support of various humanitarian tasks and various support for the terrorists , blatantly glorified by Berlin , '' the diplomat said .
The spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office seeks to present the White Helmets to the Syrians as a symbol of hope .
`` The German Foreign Ministry , apparently , completely tossed away all hesitation and more and more acts as the primary promoter and sponsor of the White Helmets , '' she concluded .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The material support, provided by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to the pseudo-humanitarian "White Helmets" organization, could be used not only for solving humanitarian problems in Syria, but for funding terrorists as well, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
Previously, the Foreign Office announced that it allocated 5 million euro aid for the organization.
"It remains unclear, for the German public as well, what part of those funds went to the support of cooperation between the pseudo-humanitarian crews with the jihadi terrorists in the northeastern Syria, […] whether this sum covers the solemn relocation of one of the White Helmets leaders Khalid al-Sarih from Jordan to Germany," the diplomat pointed out.
According to Zakharova, it is easy to get lost in the accounting of Germany’s sponsorship of the White Helmet.
"It becomes more and more difficult to draw a line between articles for support of various humanitarian tasks and various support for the terrorists, blatantly glorified by Berlin," the diplomat said.
The spokeswoman also pointed out that the German Foreign Office seeks to present the White Helmets to the Syrians as a symbol of hope.
"The German Foreign Ministry, apparently, completely tossed away all hesitation and more and more acts as the primary promoter and sponsor of the White Helmets," she concluded.


tass--2020-12-24--More than 45% of Russians satisfied with life, study says

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/ TASS / .
More than 45 % of Russians are satisfied with the life they lead , according to the survey conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion ( VTsIOM ) , made available on Thursday .
According to the survey , 46 % are satisfied with life , 25 % of the respondents answered that they were not satisfied with life in general .
When asked about their financial well-being , 14 % replied that they consider their financial standing to be good , 60 % - average and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems for the country , Russians say , are healthcare - 29 % , the state of the economy - 21 % , problems in education - 19 % , social policy - 18 % and unemployment - 17 % .
The rise in prices in the last two months is regarded by 65 % of Russians as very high inflation , 21 % consider the growth to be moderate inflation and 9 % consider the rise in prices to be insignificant inflation .
The increase in prices affected the budget of 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly limit themselves in spending on food , 34 % feel the pressure , but the growth is not reflected in their grocery purchases , 17 % believe that growth does not significantly affect their budget , and for 5 % it does not matter .
Among the reasons for the rise in prices , respondents named government policy ( 30 % ) , economic factors ( 19 % ) , the pandemic ( 11 % ) , unjustified overpricing ( 8 % ) .
The respondents were asked to answer the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial situation to a greater extent .
Everyone can afford : a car , an apartment , a summer residence - 2 % .
They can easily buy a car , but there is no money for an apartment - 4 % .
They can buy household appliances - 21 % , money is enough for food and clothing - 38 % , money is only for food - 28 % , barely enough for food - 6 % .
Speaking about their emotional state , 33 % of all respondents said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , feel anxiety - 52 % and calmness - 53 % , confusion - 36 % and confidence - 63 % , a feeling of instability will be experienced by 63 % , stability - 32 % .
Russians believe that the country needs stability ( 54 % ) , while 37 % are sure that the country needs changes , new reforms , even if the changes are associated with the risk of loss of stability .
The survey involved 1,600 people aged 18 and over .

MOSCOW, December 24. / TASS /. More than 45% of Russians are satisfied with the life they lead, according to the survey conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM), made available on Thursday. According to the survey, 46% are satisfied with life, 25% of the respondents answered that they were not satisfied with life in general. When asked about their financial well-being, 14% replied that they consider their financial standing to be good, 60% - average and 25% - bad. The main problems for the country, Russians say, are healthcare - 29%, the state of the economy - 21%, problems in education - 19%, social policy - 18% and unemployment - 17%.
Rising prices and poverty
The rise in prices in the last two months is regarded by 65% of Russians as very high inflation, 21% consider the growth to be moderate inflation and 9% consider the rise in prices to be insignificant inflation. The increase in prices affected the budget of 40% of Russians, they have to significantly limit themselves in spending on food, 34% feel the pressure, but the growth is not reflected in their grocery purchases, 17% believe that growth does not significantly affect their budget, and for 5% it does not matter. Among the reasons for the rise in prices, respondents named government policy (30%), economic factors (19%), the pandemic (11%), unjustified overpricing (8%). The respondents were asked to answer the question which of the characteristics corresponds to your financial situation to a greater extent. Everyone can afford: a car, an apartment, a summer residence - 2%. They can easily buy a car, but there is no money for an apartment - 4%. They can buy household appliances - 21%, money is enough for food and clothing - 38%, money is only for food - 28%, barely enough for food - 6%. Speaking about their emotional state, 33% of all respondents said that they feel despondency, optimism - 59%, feel anxiety - 52% and calmness - 53%, confusion - 36% and confidence - 63%, a feeling of instability will be experienced by 63%, stability - 32%. Russians believe that the country needs stability (54%), while 37% are sure that the country needs changes, new reforms, even if the changes are associated with the risk of loss of stability. The survey involved 1,600 people aged 18 and over.


tass--2020-12-24--Dollar drops below 74 rubles on Moscow Exchange

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The dollar declined by 1.51 % during the trading session on the Moscow @ @ @ @ @ rubles , according to trading data .
The dollar rate was at the level below @ @ @ @ @ December 21 of this year .
The euro lost 1.25 % during the trading session @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , Brent oil futures with delivery in February 2021 moved down @ @ @ @ @ 50.91 a barrel on the London-based ICE .
WTI oil prices dropped by 0.5 % @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The dollar declined by 1.51% during the trading session on the Moscow Exchange on Thursday to 73.95 rubles, according to trading data.
The dollar rate was at the level below 74 rubles last time on December 21 of this year.
The euro lost 1.25% during the trading session and totaled 90.4 rubles.
At the same time, Brent oil futures with delivery in February 2021 moved down by 0.57% to $50.91 a barrel on the London-based ICE. WTI oil prices dropped by 0.5% to $47.88 per barrel.


tass--2020-12-24--Sputnik V vaccine deliveries planned in December, January - Russian Direct Investment Fund

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Supplies of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Latin American countries approving the @ @ @ @ @ and January , CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) Kirill Dmitriev @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
`` We will focus on countries that approve the vaccine .
We plan @ @ @ @ @ deliveries in this months and a series [ of supplies ] will be in January @ @ @ @ @ make deliveries for countries that have not yet started the dialog with us in March @ @ @ @ @ to start supplies to all Latin American countries that will have a desire to work @ @ @ @ @ - second quarter [ of 2021 ] , '' Dmitriev said .
Argentina has earlier @ @ @ @ @ 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine , producers of the pharmaceutical said earlier @ @

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Supplies of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Latin American countries approving the vaccine are planned in December and January, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev says at a briefing on Thursday.
"We will focus on countries that approve the vaccine. We plan to make a range of deliveries in this months and a series [of supplies] will be in January. We are ready to make deliveries for countries that have not yet started the dialog with us in March. We will be able to start supplies to all Latin American countries that will have a desire to work with us in the first - second quarter [of 2021]," Dmitriev said.
Argentina has earlier received the first batch of 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, producers of the pharmaceutical said earlier today.


tass--2020-12-24--US return to nuclear deal with Iran must have no preconditions, says Zakharova

`` We proceed from the understanding that the United States ’ return to the fold of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Iranian nuclear program must not be linked with any extra preconditions or requirements , '' she said .
`` We believe that progress in this respect will be achieved .
We have taken note of the Iranian leadership ’ s repeated confirmations it is prepared to act precisely this way . ''
MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The United States must return to the fold of the Iranian nuclear deal without any preconditions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday .
Zakharova recalled that the participants in the foreign minister level meeting of the JCPOA signatories confirmed precisely this kind of attitude to the agreement .
`` Attempts to reconfigure the nuclear deal ended in failure , '' Zakharova said .
`` It is alive and will continue to be implemented systematically , just as the UN Security Council ’ s Resolution 2231 ( on the nuclear deal ) the way it was unanimously approved on July 20 , 2015 .
All countries , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comply with this resolution without any reservations . ''
On December 17 , the IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told Reuters in an interview a new agreement would be required for breathing a new life into the nuclear deal ( should the United States under the Joe Biden-led administration decide to return ) to guarantee Iran will correct the committed violations .
Grossi believes it is very unlikely the United States will agree to get back to the starting point in view of Iran ’ s nuclear activity .

"We proceed from the understanding that the United States’ return to the fold of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Iranian nuclear program must not be linked with any extra preconditions or requirements," she said. "We believe that progress in this respect will be achieved. We have taken note of the Iranian leadership’s repeated confirmations it is prepared to act precisely this way."
MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The United States must return to the fold of the Iranian nuclear deal without any preconditions or extra demands, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.
Zakharova recalled that the participants in the foreign minister level meeting of the JCPOA signatories confirmed precisely this kind of attitude to the agreement.
"Attempts to reconfigure the nuclear deal ended in failure," Zakharova said. "It is alive and will continue to be implemented systematically, just as the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2231 (on the nuclear deal) the way it was unanimously approved on July 20, 2015. All countries, including the United States, are obliged to comply with this resolution without any reservations."
On December 17, the IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told Reuters in an interview a new agreement would be required for breathing a new life into the nuclear deal (should the United States under the Joe Biden-led administration decide to return) to guarantee Iran will correct the committed violations. Grossi believes it is very unlikely the United States will agree to get back to the starting point in view of Iran’s nuclear activity.


tass--2020-12-24--Russian, Japanese diplomats have discussed development of bilateral ties

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori have @ @ @ @ @ to discuss the way the bilateral dialogue advances and confidence measures are boosted in the @ @ @ @ @ `` Particular attention was placed on the priority task of implementing the leaders ’ agreement @ @ @ @ @ bilateral ties , including advancing the political dialogue , trade , economic , practical cooperation @ @ @ @ @ in the military and political sphere to propel the Russian-Japanese relations to a whole new @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Ministry said in a statement .
The diplomats also summarized the results of the @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 and set out goals for the next year .
Leaders of Russia and @ @ @ @ @ Suga had a phone call in September soon after Suga ’ s election as Prime @ @ @ @ @ intention to continue the efforts to advance the whole complex of the bilateral relations .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori have had a videoconference conversation Thursday to discuss the way the bilateral dialogue advances and confidence measures are boosted in the military and political sphere.
"Particular attention was placed on the priority task of implementing the leaders’ agreement to achieve full-fledged development of bilateral ties, including advancing the political dialogue, trade, economic, practical cooperation and formation of confidence measures in the military and political sphere to propel the Russian-Japanese relations to a whole new level," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The diplomats also summarized the results of the relations between Russia and Japan in 2020 and set out goals for the next year.
Leaders of Russia and Japan Vladimir Putin and Yoshihide Suga had a phone call in September soon after Suga’s election as Prime Minister to reaffirm the mutual intention to continue the efforts to advance the whole complex of the bilateral relations.


tass--2020-12-24--Navalny case is West’s provocation to impose sanctions, says Russian diplomat

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The situation involving the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny is @ @ @ @ @ services aimed at introducing sanctions against Russia , spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I want to disappoint you immediately , there will be no sensations .
@ @ @ @ @ of relevant agencies , the foreign minister , our representatives in international organizations , they @ @ @ @ @ on a number of occasions .
If it is not enough , you are continuing @ @ @ @ @ you do not understand it , '' she said , noting that the FSB was @ @ @ @ @ incident .
`` In the last few years , we have been witnessing provocations involving @ @ @ @ @ : the Skripals , Amesbury , Syria , now Navalny .
Western intelligence services masterminded @ @ @ @ @ to use the chemical weapons topic as a convenient pretext to deliver a verdict without @ @ @ @ @ apply sanctions , '' she added .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The situation involving the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny is a provocation of Western intelligence services aimed at introducing sanctions against Russia, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told a briefing Thursday.
"I want to disappoint you immediately, there will be no sensations. The Russian president, representatives of relevant agencies, the foreign minister, our representatives in international organizations, they all have given negative answers on a number of occasions. If it is not enough, you are continuing to make it seem like you do not understand it," she said, noting that the FSB was not involved in the Navalny incident.
"In the last few years, we have been witnessing provocations involving chemical weapons in the world: the Skripals, Amesbury, Syria, now Navalny. Western intelligence services masterminded them with one goal - to use the chemical weapons topic as a convenient pretext to deliver a verdict without investigation or trial and then apply sanctions," she added.


tass--2020-12-24--Developer of Sputnik V doesn’t expect vaccine’s effectiveness parameters to change

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
The obtained results of clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus are sufficient to stop recruiting new volunteers .
The planned parameters of effectiveness of the preparation have been reached and no further changes are expected , Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry that developed the vaccine Alexander Gintsburg told TASS on Thursday .
The press service of the Russian Healthcare Ministry reported that the ministry had made a decision to stop recruiting the volunteers for trials of the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people participate in the study with a quarter of them having received a placebo .
`` Trials do not end , simply the amount of proof that was [ obtained ] as a result of vaccinating 31,000 people became sufficient in order to state that we achieved all the parameters that were planned .
These figures won ’ t change anymore one way or another .
< ... > Not a single individual among the inoculated got sick with a severe or a moderate form compared [ to those who received ] a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier , the Gamaleya National Research Center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund after analyzing the data in the concluding control point within the framework of Phase Three clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine announced that the effectiveness of the preparation amounted to 91.4 % , while its effectiveness against severe cases of COVID-19 came to 100 % .
The decision to stop recruiting the volunteers was also influenced by the fact that mass inoculation has already been launched in Russia .
`` Especially since 31,000 [ volunteers ] surpass the volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that conducted similar studies which they completed using much smaller samplings , '' he added .
The scientist noted that observation of the volunteers will continue as planned .
`` Six months that were planned for the observation of possible long-term consequences which are actually absent but we will still observe , they remain unchanged .
There will be a constant monitoring of [ the volunteers ] , '' he added .
On August 11 , Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Research Center and passed clinical trials in June-July .
Post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7 , the first vaccine was administered to volunteers on September 9 .
In all , 40,000 people were supposed to participate in the program , with 10,000 of them receiving a placebo instead of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The obtained results of clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus are sufficient to stop recruiting new volunteers. The planned parameters of effectiveness of the preparation have been reached and no further changes are expected, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry that developed the vaccine Alexander Gintsburg told TASS on Thursday.
The press service of the Russian Healthcare Ministry reported that the ministry had made a decision to stop recruiting the volunteers for trials of the vaccine preparation. To date, over 31,000 people participate in the study with a quarter of them having received a placebo.
"Trials do not end, simply the amount of proof that was [obtained] as a result of vaccinating 31,000 people became sufficient in order to state that we achieved all the parameters that were planned. These figures won’t change anymore one way or another. <...> Not a single individual among the inoculated got sick with a severe or a moderate form compared [to those who received] a placebo," the developer said.
Earlier, the Gamaleya National Research Center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund after analyzing the data in the concluding control point within the framework of Phase Three clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine announced that the effectiveness of the preparation amounted to 91.4%, while its effectiveness against severe cases of COVID-19 came to 100%.
The decision to stop recruiting the volunteers was also influenced by the fact that mass inoculation has already been launched in Russia. "Especially since 31,000 [volunteers] surpass the volume of sampling of all other foreign companies that conducted similar studies which they completed using much smaller samplings," he added. The scientist noted that observation of the volunteers will continue as planned. "Six months that were planned for the observation of possible long-term consequences which are actually absent but we will still observe, they remain unchanged. There will be a constant monitoring of [the volunteers]," he added.
On August 11, Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. The preparation was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center and passed clinical trials in June-July. Post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7, the first vaccine was administered to volunteers on September 9. In all, 40,000 people were supposed to participate in the program, with 10,000 of them receiving a placebo instead of the vaccine.


tass--2020-12-24--Mike Pompeo’s claims of Russian arms shipments to Libya fake, diplomat claims

MOSCOW , December 24 .
/TASS/ .
Statements by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Russia ships weapons to Libya in violation of the weapons embargo , are fakes without evidence , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday .
`` Washington ’ s constant fake statements regarding the alleged UN Security Council arms embargo violations towards Libya by Russia are not backed by credible evidence .
However , ideological propaganda never needed it in the first place , '' Zakharova said .
`` We , on the other hand , are used to work by the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would confirmed the involvement of Mohammad al-Kani , mentioned by Mr. Pompeo , in his alleged crimes .
So we did not block - as Mr. Secretary said - the imposition of international sanctions against this Libyan citizens , but simply made a pause . ''
The spokeswoman also commented on Pompeo ’ s claims that Russia prints fake Libyan currency in order to destabilize the Libyan economy .
`` The mentioned notes were legally printed by the Goznak under a contract , signed by Libyan Central Bank Deputy Chairman , and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libya .
This was to solve the currency deficit in Libya , in order to increase the solvent demand from the Libyan people , '' Zakharova said .
`` The circulation of notes was supposed not only to facilitate the stabilization of the economy , but also to act as a unifying factor for the Libyan state , shattered and ravaged thanks to our Western partners ’ efforts . ''
She also reminded that it was the US who provoked the destruction of the state and the social and economic structure of Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NATO countries carried out a blatant armed aggression against the Northern African state .
`` Russia , on the contrary , has been actively participating in the international efforts to settle the conflict since its very beginning , and it only acts on various international venues .
We reject all allegations that Russia supported the LNA offensive on Tripoli in 2019 , '' Zakharova said .
`` Immediately after the beginning of this operation , we consecutively tried to convince the sides to return to the negotiations table .
It was the ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 presidential summit in Istanbul , that laid the foundation for the future truce agreement . ''
In his statement published Tuesday , Pompeo claimed that Russia `` sows chaos '' in the Mediterranean .
He once again mentioned that Russia ’ s alleged violation of UN arms embargo , the elusive Wagner private military company , and claimed that Russia allegedly blocked UN Security Council sanctions against al-Kani , accused of violation of human rights , and that Russia prints fake Libyan currency in order to destabilize the Libyan economy .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dmitry Peskov said previously that US claims of Russia ’ s allegedly destabilizing `` military intervention '' in Libya are a hoax .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored that allegation of Russia ’ s arms shipments to Libya are groundless .

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Statements by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Russia ships weapons to Libya in violation of the weapons embargo, are fakes without evidence, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"Washington’s constant fake statements regarding the alleged UN Security Council arms embargo violations towards Libya by Russia are not backed by credible evidence. However, ideological propaganda never needed it in the first place," Zakharova said. "We, on the other hand, are used to work by the rules; we need really convincing facts that would confirmed the involvement of Mohammad al-Kani, mentioned by Mr. Pompeo, in his alleged crimes. So we did not block - as Mr. Secretary said - the imposition of international sanctions against this Libyan citizens, but simply made a pause."
The spokeswoman also commented on Pompeo’s claims that Russia prints fake Libyan currency in order to destabilize the Libyan economy.
"The mentioned notes were legally printed by the Goznak under a contract, signed by Libyan Central Bank Deputy Chairman, and were intended for use across the entirety of Libya. This was to solve the currency deficit in Libya, in order to increase the solvent demand from the Libyan people," Zakharova said. "The circulation of notes was supposed not only to facilitate the stabilization of the economy, but also to act as a unifying factor for the Libyan state, shattered and ravaged thanks to our Western partners’ efforts."
She also reminded that it was the US who provoked the destruction of the state and the social and economic structure of Libya, because, in 2011, the NATO countries carried out a blatant armed aggression against the Northern African state.
"Russia, on the contrary, has been actively participating in the international efforts to settle the conflict since its very beginning, and it only acts on various international venues. We reject all allegations that Russia supported the LNA offensive on Tripoli in 2019," Zakharova said. "Immediately after the beginning of this operation, we consecutively tried to convince the sides to return to the negotiations table. It was the ceasefire agreement, achieved at the Russian-Turkish January 8 presidential summit in Istanbul, that laid the foundation for the future truce agreement."
Pompeo’s statements
In his statement published Tuesday, Pompeo claimed that Russia "sows chaos" in the Mediterranean. He once again mentioned that Russia’s alleged violation of UN arms embargo, the elusive Wagner private military company, and claimed that Russia allegedly blocked UN Security Council sanctions against al-Kani, accused of violation of human rights, and that Russia prints fake Libyan currency in order to destabilize the Libyan economy.
Russia repeatedly debunked the allegations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously that US claims of Russia’s allegedly destabilizing "military intervention" in Libya are a hoax. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored that allegation of Russia’s arms shipments to Libya are groundless.