tass--2020-12-13--Russian diplomat says OSCE managed to avoid collapse amid pandemic in 2020

VIENNA , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) was among the few international organizations that have managed to avoid a collapse in their activities amid the coronavirus lockdowns across the globe , Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the organization Alexander Lukashevich said in an interview with TASS .
`` The coronavirus pandemic has told very adversely on the work of all international structures and the OSCE is no exception .
Many , if not most of scheduled events were cancelled in 2020 .
But , as compared with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The work was continued .
The Albanian presidency shifted the work to an online format quite swiftly , '' he said .
Thus , the organization organized regular sessions of governing and expert bodies , and its Permanent Council .
An online meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council was held on December 3-4 .
It was attended by 52 foreign ministers from the member nations .
`` It is quite a high figure .
I can not remember such interest even in the offline format , '' Lukashevich said .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not right .
Naturally , it can not be called full-blown diplomacy .
The atmosphere of trust , tete-a-tete communication , the search for hard-to-reach solution are very important for diplomats .
However the ministerial meeting demonstrated that it is possible to reach agreements even in such format , given the sides have political will , '' he stressed .

VIENNA, December 13. /TASS/. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was among the few international organizations that have managed to avoid a collapse in their activities amid the coronavirus lockdowns across the globe, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the organization Alexander Lukashevich said in an interview with TASS.
"The coronavirus pandemic has told very adversely on the work of all international structures and the OSCE is no exception. Many, if not most of scheduled events were cancelled in 2020. But, as compared with other international organizations, there was no collapse. The work was continued. The Albanian presidency shifted the work to an online format quite swiftly," he said.
Thus, the organization organized regular sessions of governing and expert bodies, and its Permanent Council. An online meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council was held on December 3-4. It was attended by 52 foreign ministers from the member nations. "It is quite a high figure. I cannot remember such interest even in the offline format," Lukashevich said.
"It is possible to work like that but it is not right. Naturally, it cannot be called full-blown diplomacy. The atmosphere of trust, tete-a-tete communication, the search for hard-to-reach solution are very important for diplomats. However the ministerial meeting demonstrated that it is possible to reach agreements even in such format, given the sides have political will," he stressed.


tass--2020-12-13--Situation in Karabakh relatively calm after Saturday’s incident - Armenian PM

YEREVAN , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s Gadrutsky district , where a ceasefire violation was earlier reported , is relatively calm , Armenia ’ s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Sunday .
`` A big group of Russian peacekeepers came to the area this morning and by now the situation there is relatively calm .
At least , the presence of the Russian peacekeepers there gives grounds to be sure that no further escalation will follow , '' he said at a meeting of the Armenian Security Council .
He noted that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been handed over to Baku .
`` Since this is the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh , under the November 9 agreements , these villages are to stay under Armenia ’ s control , '' he said .
According to the Armenian prime minister , the ceasefire violation was provoked by the Azerbaijani side .
`` The Azerbaijani forces attacked positions of the Armenian forces at the Stary Taher-Htsaberd section .
According to some sourse , Turkish special force took part in the attack , '' Pashinyan said .
On Saturday , the Russian defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh since the cessation of hostilities and deployment of Russian peacekeepers in early November .
The incident took place in the Gadrutsky district .
Baku and Yerevan blamed one another for staging this provocation .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the document , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .
Apart from that , Agdamsky , Kelbajarsky and Lachinsky districts were handed over to Azerbaijan .

YEREVAN, December 13. /TASS/. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh’s Gadrutsky district, where a ceasefire violation was earlier reported, is relatively calm, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Sunday.
"A big group of Russian peacekeepers came to the area this morning and by now the situation there is relatively calm. At least, the presence of the Russian peacekeepers there gives grounds to be sure that no further escalation will follow," he said at a meeting of the Armenian Security Council.
He noted that some of the territories in this area had been handed over to Baku. "Since this is the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, under the November 9 agreements, these villages are to stay under Armenia’s control," he said.
According to the Armenian prime minister, the ceasefire violation was provoked by the Azerbaijani side. "The Azerbaijani forces attacked positions of the Armenian forces at the Stary Taher-Htsaberd section. According to some sourse, Turkish special force took part in the attack," Pashinyan said.
On Saturday, the Russian defense ministry reported the first ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh since the cessation of hostilities and deployment of Russian peacekeepers in early November. The incident took place in the Gadrutsky district. Baku and Yerevan blamed one another for staging this provocation.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region. Apart from that, Agdamsky, Kelbajarsky and Lachinsky districts were handed over to Azerbaijan.


tass--2020-12-13--Not a single vaccine can guarantee 100% protection - anti-COVID vaccine developer

MOSCOW , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
Not a single vaccine can guarantee absolute protection from the novel coronavirus and those who have recovered from the disease can catch it again , developers of Russian anti-coronavirus vaccines said in an interview for Naili Asker-zade ’ s film `` Dangerous virus .
The first year '' on Rossiya-1 TV channel .
`` Not a single vaccine can guarantee absolute protection , '' said Alexander Gintsburg , director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology , the developed of the Sputnik V vaccine .
`` No one is guaranteed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already had it , '' said Rinat Maksyutov , director general of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology , the Epivaccorona vaccine developer .
Two domestically-developed anti-coronavirus vaccines have been registered in Russia .
One of them , Sputnik V , was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry , the other one , Epivaccorona , was developed by the Vector Center .
Another one , developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is expected to be registered soon .

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Not a single vaccine can guarantee absolute protection from the novel coronavirus and those who have recovered from the disease can catch it again, developers of Russian anti-coronavirus vaccines said in an interview for Naili Asker-zade’s film "Dangerous virus. The first year" on Rossiya-1 TV channel.
"Not a single vaccine can guarantee absolute protection," said Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, the developed of the Sputnik V vaccine.
"No one is guaranteed against reinfection. Even those who have already had it," said Rinat Maksyutov, director general of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, the Epivaccorona vaccine developer.
Two domestically-developed anti-coronavirus vaccines have been registered in Russia. One of them, Sputnik V, was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry, the other one, Epivaccorona, was developed by the Vector Center. Another one, developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is expected to be registered soon.


tass--2020-12-13--Fifth earthquake in a day rocks Chechnya

GROZNY , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
A magnitude 3.8 earthquake , the fifth one during the day , has @ @ @ @ @ Caucasian Republic of Chechnya , a spokesman for the Russian emergencies ministry ’ s Chechnya @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was registered in the Chechen Republic at 16:05 Moscow @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
The epicenter was located in the Urus-Martan district .
No damages or casualties @ @ @ @ @ the spokesman said .
The spokesman said later that another quake with a magnitude of @ @ @ @ @ Moscow time .
The first earthquake measuring 5.6 was struck Chechnya ’ s Urus-Martan district @ @ @ @ @ Another quake with a magnitude of 3.7 hit an area some 45 kilometers southeast of @ @ @ @ @ Grozny at 12:15 Moscow time .
Further earthquakes measuring 4.1 and 3.1 were registered at @ @ @ @ @ .

GROZNY, December 13. /TASS/. A magnitude 3.8 earthquake, the fifth one during the day, has rocked Russia’s North Caucasian Republic of Chechnya, a spokesman for the Russian emergencies ministry’s Chechnya department told TASS on Sunday.
"A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was registered in the Chechen Republic at 16:05 Moscow time on December 13, 2020. The epicenter was located in the Urus-Martan district. No damages or casualties have been reported," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said later that another quake with a magnitude of 2.9 was registered at 16:36 Moscow time.
The first earthquake measuring 5.6 was struck Chechnya’s Urus-Martan district at 00:30 Moscow time. Another quake with a magnitude of 3.7 hit an area some 45 kilometers southeast of Chechnya’s capital city Grozny at 12:15 Moscow time. Further earthquakes measuring 4.1 and 3.1 were registered at 14:40 and 15:08 Moscow time.


tass--2020-12-13--Over 100 protesters detained in Belarus during Sunday’s protests - human rights center

MINSK , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
More than 100 people were detained during Sunday ’ s protests in Minsk and other Belarusian cities , the Vesna unregistered human rights center reported .
The list of those detained posted on Vesna ’ s website includes 103 names .
Most of them were detained in Minsk .
Detentions were also reported from Brest , Smolevichi ( Minsk region ) , Borovlyany ( Minsk district ) .
In Minsk , protesters gather in groups of from several dozen to several hundred people in a number of residential quarters .
After law enforcers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in groups again .
On the 127th day of protests this Sunday , the authorities did not close metro stations and block mobile communication for the first time .
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival in the race , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , came in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9 , mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been beating the drum for more protests .
In response , the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minsk and a number of other cities on Sundays .

MINSK, December 13. /TASS/. More than 100 people were detained during Sunday’s protests in Minsk and other Belarusian cities, the Vesna unregistered human rights center reported.
The list of those detained posted on Vesna’s website includes 103 names. Most of them were detained in Minsk. Detentions were also reported from Brest, Smolevichi (Minsk region), Borovlyany (Minsk district).
In Minsk, protesters gather in groups of from several dozen to several hundred people in a number of residential quarters. After law enforcers dispersed the protesters they tried to gather in groups again.
On the 127th day of protests this Sunday, the authorities did not close metro stations and block mobile communication for the first time.
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped. The biggest protests are held in Minsk and a number of other cities on Sundays.


tass--2020-12-13--Ceasefire observed along entire contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh - defense ministry

MOSCOW , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
The ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh is generally observed , the Russian defense ministry said on Sunday .
`` The ceasefire is being observed along the entire contact line , '' it said in its daily bulletin .
According to the bulletin , Russian peacekeepers continue to ensure safe return of people to their homes and offer humanitarian assistance .
`` During the past day , Russian peacekeepers ensure safe return of 634 refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia , '' it said , adding that more than 38,300 people have returned to Nagorno-Karabakh .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh since early November .
Earlier on Saturday , the Armenian defense ministry said that the Azerbaijani army had attempted an offensive in the direction of the villages of Hin Taglar and Htsaberd in the south of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the document , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. The ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh is generally observed, the Russian defense ministry said on Sunday.
"The ceasefire is being observed along the entire contact line," it said in its daily bulletin.
According to the bulletin, Russian peacekeepers continue to ensure safe return of people to their homes and offer humanitarian assistance.
"During the past day, Russian peacekeepers ensure safe return of 634 refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia," it said, adding that more than 38,300 people have returned to Nagorno-Karabakh.
On Saturday, the Russian defense ministry reported the first ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh since early November. Earlier on Saturday, the Armenian defense ministry said that the Azerbaijani army had attempted an offensive in the direction of the villages of Hin Taglar and Htsaberd in the south of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region.


tass--2020-12-13--Russia-US relations unlikely to be changed under Biden administration - diplomat

MOSCOW , December 13 .
/TASS/ .
Relations between Russia and the United States are unlikely to be changed if Democrat Joseph Biden becomes president , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday .
`` Regrettably , we see no cardinal changes in terms of the improvement of bilateral relations after the change of , so to say , participants in all these electoral processes , after reshuffles in the White House , '' she said in an interview with the Fetisov program on the Zvezda television channel .
`` We have no cardinal anticipations in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United States ’ foreign policy towards Russia is still geared to its containment and the situation will not change under a new administration because it will be focused primarily on the domestic agenda .
The Russian diplomat noted that it matters little for Russia who becomes the US president after all , what matters for it is bilateral cooperation between the two countries .
`` Frankly speaking , it is not the person that matters for us .
We have our own president .
What matters for us is the Russian-US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she explained .
The US presidential election was held on November 3 .
Major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender Joe Biden has presumptively won the presidential election , securing over 270 electoral votes .
Incumbent US President Donald Trump is challenging the current outcome , claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states , and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in court .
The US General Services Administration acknowledged Biden ’ s win , formally informing him that they were ready to transfer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process in the run-up to his inauguration .
The inauguration ceremony is planned for January 20 .

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Relations between Russia and the United States are unlikely to be changed if Democrat Joseph Biden becomes president, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
"Regrettably, we see no cardinal changes in terms of the improvement of bilateral relations after the change of, so to say, participants in all these electoral processes, after reshuffles in the White House," she said in an interview with the Fetisov program on the Zvezda television channel. "We have no cardinal anticipations in terms of scene changes."
According to Zakharova, the United States’ foreign policy towards Russia is still geared to its containment and the situation will not change under a new administration because it will be focused primarily on the domestic agenda.
The Russian diplomat noted that it matters little for Russia who becomes the US president after all, what matters for it is bilateral cooperation between the two countries. "Frankly speaking, it is not the person that matters for us. We have our own president. What matters for us is the Russian-US relations, bilateral cooperation on global matters," she explained.
The US presidential election was held on November 3. Major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender Joe Biden has presumptively won the presidential election, securing over 270 electoral votes. Incumbent US President Donald Trump is challenging the current outcome, claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states, and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in court. The US General Services Administration acknowledged Biden’s win, formally informing him that they were ready to transfer the budget funds required to begin the transition process in the run-up to his inauguration. The inauguration ceremony is planned for January 20.


tass--2020-12-14--Russia’s Roscosmos chief confirms plans to launch two Angara carrier rockets in 2021

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Two launches of Russia ’ s latest Angara carrier rocket are planned for 2021 , Chief of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin announced on Monday .
`` Two launches next year , '' the Roscosmos chief wrote on Twitter , without specifying the rocket ’ s modifications .
The Roscosmos head told TASS in August that the 2021 plan envisaged the launch of heavy Angara-A5 rocket No .
3 with a new Persei booster and a light Angara-1.2 launch vehicle .
He also said that a fourth Angara heavy carrier rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket blasted off at 08:50 a.m. Moscow time on December 14 from site No .
35 of the Russian Defense Ministry ’ s Plesetsk state testing spaceport in the northern Arkhangelsk Region .
This was the second test-launch of the new Angara rocket .
Twelve minutes after the blast-off , the rocket ’ s space head comprising a booster and an integral payload mockup separated from the third stage in the normal mode .
As Russia ’ s Defense Ministry specified , all the pre-launch operations and the rocket ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was carried out by a combat team of Russia ’ s Aerospace Force .
The Angara is a family of next-generation Russian space rockets .
It consists of light , medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes .
The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components .
Until now , Russia carried out two Angara launches , both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport : a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off on December 23 , 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Two launches of Russia’s latest Angara carrier rocket are planned for 2021, Chief of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin announced on Monday.
"Two launches next year," the Roscosmos chief wrote on Twitter, without specifying the rocket’s modifications.
The Roscosmos head told TASS in August that the 2021 plan envisaged the launch of heavy Angara-A5 rocket No. 3 with a new Persei booster and a light Angara-1.2 launch vehicle. He also said that a fourth Angara heavy carrier rocket would be ready in 2021.
An Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket blasted off at 08:50 a.m. Moscow time on December 14 from site No. 35 of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Plesetsk state testing spaceport in the northern Arkhangelsk Region. This was the second test-launch of the new Angara rocket. Twelve minutes after the blast-off, the rocket’s space head comprising a booster and an integral payload mockup separated from the third stage in the normal mode.
As Russia’s Defense Ministry specified, all the pre-launch operations and the rocket’s launch proceeded normally. The launch was carried out by a combat team of Russia’s Aerospace Force.
The Angara is a family of next-generation Russian space rockets. It consists of light, medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes. The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components.
Until now, Russia carried out two Angara launches, both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport: a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off on December 23, 2014, orbiting a payload mock-up of 2 tonnes.


tass--2020-12-14--Lukoil to invest about 50 bln rubles in Caspian projects in 2021

ASTRAKHAN , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s oil major Lukoil plans to invest roughly 50 bln rubles @ @ @ @ @ in development of its Caspian fields in 2021 , a representative of press service of @ @ @ @ @ Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft told TASS .
`` In 2021 , the company will continue operating drilling at @ @ @ @ @ , as well as construction of offshore facilities for the Graifer field .
The projected @ @ @ @ @ stands at around 50 bln rubles , '' the representative said .
It was also @ @ @ @ @ around 55 bln rubles in Caspian projects in 2020 .
According to the data provided @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s Astrakhan Region , crude oil production amounted to 6.7 mln tonnes in @ @ @ @ @ , up by 1 % year-on-year .

ASTRAKHAN, December 14. /TASS/. Russia’s oil major Lukoil plans to invest roughly 50 bln rubles ($685 mln) in development of its Caspian fields in 2021, a representative of press service of the company’s subsidiary Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft told TASS.
"In 2021, the company will continue operating drilling at offshore fields, exploration activities, as well as construction of offshore facilities for the Graifer field. The projected amount of investment for 2021 stands at around 50 bln rubles," the representative said.
It was also noted that the company invested around 55 bln rubles in Caspian projects in 2020. According to the data provided by the Industry Ministry of Russia’s Astrakhan Region, crude oil production amounted to 6.7 mln tonnes in ten months of this year, up by 1% year-on-year.


tass--2020-12-14--Putin plans to hold several int’l phone calls on December 14

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to hold several international phone calls on @ @ @ @ @ I must move on to other items on my agenda today .
I have international @ @ @ @ @ '' the Russian leader said to finish his participation in an online forum organized by @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin would take part in @ @ @ @ @ issues that emerged due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The other items on the president @ @ @ @ @ `` more working , more closed nature .
`` .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to hold several international phone calls on Monday.
"Unfortunately, I must move on to other items on my agenda today. I have international phone calls planned today," the Russian leader said to finish his participation in an online forum organized by the ruling United Russia party.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin would take part in the forum to discuss social issues that emerged due to the coronavirus pandemic. The other items on the president’s agenda were of "more working, more closed nature.".


tass--2020-12-14--Russian Cabinet extends measures to support airports and airlines

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian government has extended subsidy programs to support airports and airlines amid the pandemic , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a meeting with his deputies on Monday .
`` The government decided to extend the programs to subsidize airports and airlines , to increase the amount of state support for carriers , '' he said .
`` The corresponding government decree has already been signed , '' he added .
Mishustin recalled that initially the support measures were designed for the period from February to July and now air carriers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the period from August to November .
`` However , the rate for calculating subsidies for each passenger who did not fly due to coronavirus restrictions will also be increased , and a higher ratio will be applied for Far Eastern airlines , '' he said .
The assistance program for airports , which was originally to cover only the second quarter of 2020 , will be extended for another month .
`` More than 34 billion rubles ( $ 465 mln ) have already been allocated to stabilize the operation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
The extension of subsidy programs will help this sector overcome financial difficulties , and most importantly , maintain human resources , '' the Prime Minister concluded .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The Russian government has extended subsidy programs to support airports and airlines amid the pandemic, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a meeting with his deputies on Monday.
"The government decided to extend the programs to subsidize airports and airlines, to increase the amount of state support for carriers," he said.
"The corresponding government decree has already been signed," he added.
Mishustin recalled that initially the support measures were designed for the period from February to July and now air carriers can to receive partial compensation for their losses for the period from August to November.
"However, the rate for calculating subsidies for each passenger who did not fly due to coronavirus restrictions will also be increased, and a higher ratio will be applied for Far Eastern airlines," he said.
The assistance program for airports, which was originally to cover only the second quarter of 2020, will be extended for another month.
"More than 34 billion rubles ($465 mln) have already been allocated to stabilize the operation of the aviation industry amid the spread of the coronavirus. The extension of subsidy programs will help this sector overcome financial difficulties, and most importantly, maintain human resources," the Prime Minister concluded.


tass--2020-12-14--Russia, Cuba discuss joint research of drugs aimed to treat COVID-19 patients

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Cuba may carry out joint research and testing of drugs that @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 patients , Russian First Deputy Health Minister Igor Kagramanyan said on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ of cooperation ] < … > the Cuban side offered to carry out joint research @ @ @ @ @ Cuban and a Russian drug in cooperation with a Russian pharmaceutical company , namely to @ @ @ @ @ '' he said during a session of the Russian Federation Council ( upper house of @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the start of the pandemic , over 72.3 mln people have contracted COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ mln have died .
Russia has documented 2,681,256 cases of COVID-19 , 2,124,797 patients have @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russia and Cuba may carry out joint research and testing of drugs that can be used to treat COVID-19 patients, Russian First Deputy Health Minister Igor Kagramanyan said on Monday.
"As a current example [of cooperation] <…> the Cuban side offered to carry out joint research and clinical testing of a Cuban and a Russian drug in cooperation with a Russian pharmaceutical company, namely to treat novel coronavirus patients," he said during a session of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee.
Since the start of the pandemic, over 72.3 mln people have contracted COVID-19 worldwide, and over 1.6 mln have died. Russia has documented 2,681,256 cases of COVID-19, 2,124,797 patients have recovered and 47,391 have died.


tass--2020-12-14--Putin orders to establish quota system for atmospheric emissions by March 1, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic likely to continue for at least 3 years , says Thai vaccine expert Director of Thailand ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Premsri said that some 10 billion doses of the vaccine will be necessary if `` @ @ @ @ @ end to the pandemic ''

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
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tass--2020-12-14--Russian Navy latest patrol ship strikes naval and air targets in Black Sea drills

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Black Sea Fleet ’ s Project 22160 patrol vessel Dmitry Rogachev struck air and naval targets during artillery firings in the Black Sea , the Fleet ’ s press office reported on Monday .
Russian Black Sea Fleet to take part in international naval drills in Pakistan '' The crew successfully practiced firing tasks to strike naval and air targets simulating a notional enemy ’ s ships and aviation .
Towed target screens were used as surface ships while illuminating air bombs dropped from aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air targets , '' the press office said in a statement .
The naval sailors also practiced operations by the fire-fighting units of the emergency rescue group in emergency situations when taking personnel aboard a helicopter , the press office said .
Project 22160 patrol vessels have been designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau ( part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation ) .
They are the first ships in Russia based on the modular design principle .
Project 22160 ships are primarily designated to defend and protect the maritime economic zone .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escort and anti-piracy missions and carrying out search and rescue operations .
They are armed with a 76.2mm artillery gun , an anti-aircraft missile system and machine-guns .
The Project 22160 lead patrol vessel Vasily Bykov and the subsequent Dmitry Rogachev are accomplishing assigned tasks in the Black Sea Fleet .
The Project 22160 third vessel Pavel Derzhavin was accepted for service in the Black Sea Fleet in late November .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet’s Project 22160 patrol vessel Dmitry Rogachev struck air and naval targets during artillery firings in the Black Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.
"The crew successfully practiced firing tasks to strike naval and air targets simulating a notional enemy’s ships and aviation. Towed target screens were used as surface ships while illuminating air bombs dropped from aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation and air defense forces simulated air targets," the press office said in a statement.
The naval sailors also practiced operations by the fire-fighting units of the emergency rescue group in emergency situations when taking personnel aboard a helicopter, the press office said.
Project 22160 patrol vessels
Project 22160 patrol vessels have been designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). They are the first ships in Russia based on the modular design principle.
Project 22160 ships are primarily designated to defend and protect the maritime economic zone. The patrol ships are also capable of accomplishing escort and anti-piracy missions and carrying out search and rescue operations. They are armed with a 76.2mm artillery gun, an anti-aircraft missile system and machine-guns.
The Project 22160 lead patrol vessel Vasily Bykov and the subsequent Dmitry Rogachev are accomplishing assigned tasks in the Black Sea Fleet. The Project 22160 third vessel Pavel Derzhavin was accepted for service in the Black Sea Fleet in late November.


tass--2020-12-14--Pashinyan says Baku’s actions in Karabakh aimed against Russian peacekeepers

YEREVAN , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Armenia ’ s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims that the Azerbaijani forces ’ offensive operations in the Hadrut district of Nagorno-Karabakh are aimed at devaluing the efforts of Russia ’ s peacekeeping mission .
`` Azerbaijan ’ s actions are outspokenly provocative , '' Pashinyan said in a televised address to the nation on Monday .
`` They are also aimed at devaluing the activity of Russia ’ s peacekeeping mission in Artsakh ( unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic - TASS ) .
They wish to demonstrate that peacekeepers are unable to stop provocative actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Khin-Tager is the first serious test for the Russian peacekeepers , '' he said .
Pashinyan stressed that there were no civilians in Khin Tager and Khtsaberd and only Russian peacekeepers were stationed there on the weekend .
`` Their task was to ensure the status of these territories in accordance with the trilateral declaration of November 9 , '' he added .
Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev and Armenia ’ s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on November 9 signed a joint statement on the complete termination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces stopped at the positions they were holding at the moment and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .
Azerbaijan regained control of the Agdam , Kelbajar and Lachin districts .

YEREVAN, December 14. /TASS/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims that the Azerbaijani forces’ offensive operations in the Hadrut district of Nagorno-Karabakh are aimed at devaluing the efforts of Russia’s peacekeeping mission.
"Azerbaijan’s actions are outspokenly provocative," Pashinyan said in a televised address to the nation on Monday. "They are also aimed at devaluing the activity of Russia’s peacekeeping mission in Artsakh (unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic - TASS). They wish to demonstrate that peacekeepers are unable to stop provocative actions. The plight of the villages Khtsabert and Khin-Tager is the first serious test for the Russian peacekeepers," he said.
Pashinyan stressed that there were no civilians in Khin Tager and Khtsaberd and only Russian peacekeepers were stationed there on the weekend.
"Their task was to ensure the status of these territories in accordance with the trilateral declaration of November 9," he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on November 9 signed a joint statement on the complete termination of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the agreement the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces stopped at the positions they were holding at the moment and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region. Azerbaijan regained control of the Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin districts.


tass--2020-12-14--Russia sets up mobile radar reconnaissance units

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Aerospace Force is setting up mobile radio-technical reconnaissance units to @ @ @ @ @ Chief of the Aerospace Force ’ s Radio-Technical Troops Major-General Andrei Koban told the Defense @ @ @ @ @ newspaper on Monday .
`` The Aerospace Force is setting up mobile radio-technical units to @ @ @ @ @ of radio-technical troops in endangered directions .
Each of these units is capable of conducting @ @ @ @ @ comparable to France or Germany , '' the general said .
Russia continues work to @ @ @ @ @ Arctic zone and in the country ’ s east , he said .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ with the latest Fundament-M automated command and control systems , alert and combat alert radars @ @ @ @ @ Podlyot , Kasta-2-2 , Sopka and others are on combat duty in that region , @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Force is setting up mobile radio-technical reconnaissance units to control most endangered directions, Chief of the Aerospace Force’s Radio-Technical Troops Major-General Andrei Koban told the Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Monday.
"The Aerospace Force is setting up mobile radio-technical units to promptly boost the combat capabilities of radio-technical troops in endangered directions. Each of these units is capable of conducting radar reconnaissance over the territory comparable to France or Germany," the general said.
Russia continues work to enhance airspace control in the Arctic zone and in the country’s east, he said.
"The radio-technical troops’ units outfitted with the latest Fundament-M automated command and control systems, alert and combat alert radars, such as Nebo-M, Podlyot, Kasta-2-2, Sopka and others are on combat duty in that region," the general said.


tass--2020-12-14--Like reading fiction in a bathrobe: Kremlin slams UK tabloid’s ‘BS’ report on Navalny case

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has utterly bashed a leading UK tabloid that published @ @ @ @ @ attempts to poison Russian blogger Alexey Navalny .
`` The Sunday Times is kind of @ @ @ @ @ on the weekend in your bathrobe .
How do I put it… There is fake @ @ @ @ @ are reports that can only be summed up with one English word : ‘ bullshit @ @ @ @ @ bullshit ’ .
I have nothing else to add , '' Peskov insisted .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ , citing its sources , that while Navalny was in a coma at an Omsk @ @ @ @ @ a second attempt to poison him .
According to the newspaper , members of Russian @ @ @ @ @ to carry out this goal .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has utterly bashed a leading UK tabloid that published allegations that there were two attempts to poison Russian blogger Alexey Navalny.
"The Sunday Times is kind of like some fiction you read on the weekend in your bathrobe. How do I put it… There is fake news, and then there are reports that can only be summed up with one English word: ‘bullshit’. This is ‘bullshit’. I have nothing else to add," Peskov insisted.
Earlier, The Sunday Times reported, citing its sources, that while Navalny was in a coma at an Omsk hospital, there was allegedly a second attempt to poison him. According to the newspaper, members of Russian intelligence infiltrated into the hospital to carry out this goal.


tass--2020-12-14--Kremlin comments on Putin’s recent remarks about Boris Nemtsov murder

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has commented on the question to clarify what Russian President Vladimir Putin meant when he recently said that it is `` generally clear '' who ordered the assassination of Russian politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015 , suggesting that this question can be asked directly at Putin ’ s upcoming annual press conference on December 17 .
`` No , I can not [ clarify that ] , '' he told reporters Monday .
`` The large press conference is coming , you are free to ask that . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself said that he knows who ordered the assassination at the recent meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights .
At the same time , the Kremlin representative added that he could not `` expand on these words . ''
On December 10 , Putin held a meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights .
The Russian leader then noted that he thinks it is possible to investigate the Nemtsov murder further , even though everything is `` generally clear '' about this crime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assassination were found .
`` The Nemtsov murder : I recently spoke about it with my colleagues , we need to work more on it possibly , '' Putin said .
`` However , it is generally clear , both assassins and those who ordered it were found . ''
Boris Nemtsov , Russia ’ s former Deputy Prime Minister and co-chairman of the PARNAS political party , was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27 , 2015 .
In July 2017 , the Moscow District Military Court handed down prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has commented on the question to clarify what Russian President Vladimir Putin meant when he recently said that it is "generally clear" who ordered the assassination of Russian politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015, suggesting that this question can be asked directly at Putin’s upcoming annual press conference on December 17.
"No, I cannot [clarify that]," he told reporters Monday. "The large press conference is coming, you are free to ask that."
Peskov recalled that the Russian leader had himself said that he knows who ordered the assassination at the recent meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. At the same time, the Kremlin representative added that he could not "expand on these words."
On December 10, Putin held a meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. The Russian leader then noted that he thinks it is possible to investigate the Nemtsov murder further, even though everything is "generally clear" about this crime, as both murderers and people who ordered the assassination were found. "The Nemtsov murder: I recently spoke about it with my colleagues, we need to work more on it possibly," Putin said. "However, it is generally clear, both assassins and those who ordered it were found."
Boris Nemtsov, Russia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and co-chairman of the PARNAS political party, was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27, 2015. In July 2017, the Moscow District Military Court handed down prison sentences to five perpetrators ranging from 11 to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony.


tass--2020-12-14--Kremlin spokesman warns against blaming Russian hackers for cyberattacks on US

`` I reject these statements , these accusations once again , '' Peskov told the media about speculations in the @ @ @ @ @ Russian hackers were behind cyberattacks against US organizations and companies .
`` Even if it @ @ @ @ @ some attacks over many months and the Americans managed to do nothing about them , @ @ @ @ @ groundlessly blame Russians right away .
We have nothing to do with this , '' @ @ @

"I reject these statements, these accusations once again," Peskov told the media about speculations in the United States to the effect Russian hackers were behind cyberattacks against US organizations and companies.
"Even if it is true there have been some attacks over many months and the Americans managed to do nothing about them, possibly it is wrong to groundlessly blame Russians right away. We have nothing to do with this," he said.


tass--2020-12-14--Kremlin keeping close eye on situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

`` Indeed , information is scarce .
We are really keeping a close eye , '' he said when asked to comment on reports about the ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh .
He noted that such developments in the region are `` an extra job for the peacekeepers . ''
MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Kremlin is keeping a close eye on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh , Russian president ’ s press secretary , Dmitry Peskov said on Monday .
`` Contacts followed quite swiftly , '' Peskov noted , adding that he can not say anything more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarming but it was swiftly settled , '' he stressed .
Commander of the Russian military peacekeeping contingent in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov said earlier that the ceasefire had been violated near the settlements of Htsaberd and Hin Taher in the Hadrut province on December 11 .
The ceasefire violation was stopped by the Russian peacekeepers , he said , adding that the situation in the area had normalized and was being monitored round-the-clock with permanent contact being maintained with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the document , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .

"Indeed, information is scarce. We are really keeping a close eye," he said when asked to comment on reports about the ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that such developments in the region are "an extra job for the peacekeepers."
MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The Kremlin is keeping a close eye on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
"Contacts followed quite swiftly," Peskov noted, adding that he cannot say anything more. "Indeed, the situation was alarming but it was swiftly settled," he stressed.
Commander of the Russian military peacekeeping contingent in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov said earlier that the ceasefire had been violated near the settlements of Htsaberd and Hin Taher in the Hadrut province on December 11. The ceasefire violation was stopped by the Russian peacekeepers, he said, adding that the situation in the area had normalized and was being monitored round-the-clock with permanent contact being maintained with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region.


tass--2020-12-14--Russian deputy PM to meet with UAE top diplomat, says Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov will hold a meeting with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is currently on a working visit to Moscow , Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said on Monday .
`` Today , we have a good opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations , which will also be touched upon at your meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov , '' Lavrov said at a meeting with his UAE counterpart .
Lavrov pointed to progress in economic relations between Russia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to highlight our defense ties , as well as parliamentary , humanitarian , cultural and educational ties .
We believe that this is fully in the interests of the two nations , '' the Russian top diplomat stressed .
He also welcomed dialogue with the UAE on regional and international issues .
`` Given the problems that persist in the Middle East and North Africa , activities aimed at comparing our positions and approaches , as well as at considering the possibility of joint steps to resolve numerous crises , are very @ @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov will hold a meeting with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is currently on a working visit to Moscow, Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
"Today, we have a good opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations, which will also be touched upon at your meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov," Lavrov said at a meeting with his UAE counterpart.
Lavrov pointed to progress in economic relations between Russia and the UAE. "I would also like to highlight our defense ties, as well as parliamentary, humanitarian, cultural and educational ties. We believe that this is fully in the interests of the two nations," the Russian top diplomat stressed.
He also welcomed dialogue with the UAE on regional and international issues. "Given the problems that persist in the Middle East and North Africa, activities aimed at comparing our positions and approaches, as well as at considering the possibility of joint steps to resolve numerous crises, are very important," Lavrov emphasized.


tass--2020-12-14--COVID-19 fatalities in Russia, incidence in Moscow lowest since November

Some 27,328 cases of the coronavirus infection have been detected in Russia over the past 24 hours compared to 28,080 the day before .
In all , since the beginning of the pandemic , 2,681,256 people have been infected in the country or 1.8 % of its population .
MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of fatalities in Russia caused by the coronavirus has increased by 450 over the past 24 hours , the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Monday .
This is the lowest since November 30 , when 368 deaths due to the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven days , on average 18.7 cases of the infection have been confirmed per 100,000 residents compared to 18.8 the week before , according to TASS ’ calculations .
The coronavirus spread coefficient may also indicate that the situation is stabilizing .
This Monday it remained at the level of 1.03 , while last Monday it came to 1.07 .
Some 18,562 coronavirus patients have recovered over the past 24 hours .
In all , according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center , 2,124,797 patients have already recovered in Russia .
The share of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 79.4 % a day earlier , but it has grown significantly over a week - on December 7 , this value was at 78.6 % .
The number of the so-called active cases , that is , the patients who currently continue treatment , has increased to 509,068 , according to the crisis center .
About 30 % of them are in Moscow where 153,587 patients are infected .
The number of fatalities caused by the novel infection in the country was the lowest in two weeks , since November 30 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the calculations , since on Sunday and Monday the crisis center always reports less fatalities than during the week , for example on December 7 , 456 deaths were reported , while as many as 562 fatalities were reported on December 8 .
In all , since the beginning of the pandemic in Russia , 47,391 deaths caused by the novel infection were registered .
The provisional lethality of the infection remains at the level of 1.77 % .
At the same time it is necessary to keep in mind that the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take into account , for instance , the updated death rate statistics for the previous months .
Some 40.7 % of cases of the infection over the past 24 hours have been detected in Moscow , St. Petersburg , and the Moscow Region .
For instance , in Moscow , 5,874 infections were detected compared to 6,425 a day earlier .
The incidence indicator has decreased to 49 daily cases per 100,000 residents .
This happened for the first time since November 21 .
In St. Petersburg , where the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus was confirmed in 3,771 patients compared to 3,768 the day before .
On average , over the past seven days , about 70 people per 100,000 residents have been infected ( compared to 69 a week earlier ) , with St. Petersburg ranking first in the country by this indicator after the situation in Karelia stabilized .
In the Moscow Region , the number of infections continues to grow - over the past 24 hours it has increased by 1,484 compared to 1,444 on Sunday .
However , the incidence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases per 100,000 residents ( 16 cases as of last Monday ) .

Some 27,328 cases of the coronavirus infection have been detected in Russia over the past 24 hours compared to 28,080 the day before. In all, since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,681,256 people have been infected in the country or 1.8% of its population.
MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The number of fatalities in Russia caused by the coronavirus has increased by 450 over the past 24 hours, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Monday. This is the lowest since November 30, when 368 deaths due to the novel infection were recorded.
Over the past seven days, on average 18.7 cases of the infection have been confirmed per 100,000 residents compared to 18.8 the week before, according to TASS’ calculations.
The coronavirus spread coefficient may also indicate that the situation is stabilizing. This Monday it remained at the level of 1.03, while last Monday it came to 1.07.
Recoveries
Some 18,562 coronavirus patients have recovered over the past 24 hours. In all, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center, 2,124,797 patients have already recovered in Russia.
The share of recoveries makes up 79.2% compared to 79.4% a day earlier, but it has grown significantly over a week - on December 7, this value was at 78.6%.
The number of the so-called active cases, that is, the patients who currently continue treatment, has increased to 509,068, according to the crisis center. About 30% of them are in Moscow where 153,587 patients are infected.
Fatalities
The number of fatalities caused by the novel infection in the country was the lowest in two weeks, since November 30. This may be related to the characteristics of the calculations, since on Sunday and Monday the crisis center always reports less fatalities than during the week, for example on December 7, 456 deaths were reported, while as many as 562 fatalities were reported on December 8.
In all, since the beginning of the pandemic in Russia, 47,391 deaths caused by the novel infection were registered. The provisional lethality of the infection remains at the level of 1.77%.
At the same time it is necessary to keep in mind that the crisis center data are not complete and do not take into account, for instance, the updated death rate statistics for the previous months.
Main hotspots
Some 40.7% of cases of the infection over the past 24 hours have been detected in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Moscow Region.
For instance, in Moscow, 5,874 infections were detected compared to 6,425 a day earlier. The incidence indicator has decreased to 49 daily cases per 100,000 residents. This happened for the first time since November 21.
In St. Petersburg, where the number of the detected cases practically stopped growing, the coronavirus was confirmed in 3,771 patients compared to 3,768 the day before. On average, over the past seven days, about 70 people per 100,000 residents have been infected (compared to 69 a week earlier), with St. Petersburg ranking first in the country by this indicator after the situation in Karelia stabilized.
In the Moscow Region, the number of infections continues to grow - over the past 24 hours it has increased by 1,484 compared to 1,444 on Sunday. However, the incidence in the region remains relatively low - 18.3 cases per 100,000 residents (16 cases as of last Monday).


tass--2020-12-14--Armenia’s PM Pashinyan says he will resign only based on people’s will

YEREVAN , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is only ready to resign based on the @ @ @ @ @ , he said during an address to the nation on Monday .
`` I can @ @ @ @ @ me by the people only based on the reliable results of the expressed will of @ @ @ @ @ people express their will , I will continue to exercise the duties of Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ do that in an honest manner , '' he said .
Seventeen opposition parties of @ @ @ @ @ Salvation Movement demand the resignation of Pashinyan .
Opposition politicians believe that the agreement signed @ @ @ @ @ November 9 along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on a @ @ @ @ @ essentially an act of capitulation .
Pashinyan ’ s opponents also believe that he is @ @ @ @ @ s economic and social issues .
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian earlier called for a snap @ @ @ @ @ meantime proposing to hand over the power to a government of national accord .

YEREVAN, December 14. /TASS/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is only ready to resign based on the expressed will of the people, he said during an address to the nation on Monday.
"I can renounce the status given to me by the people only based on the reliable results of the expressed will of the people. Until the people express their will, I will continue to exercise the duties of Prime Minister, and I promised to do that in an honest manner," he said.
Seventeen opposition parties of Armenia that established the National Salvation Movement demand the resignation of Pashinyan. Opposition politicians believe that the agreement signed by the Armenian PM on November 9 along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on a full ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh is essentially an act of capitulation.
Pashinyan’s opponents also believe that he is responsible for the republic’s economic and social issues. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian earlier called for a snap parliamentary election, in the meantime proposing to hand over the power to a government of national accord.


tass--2020-12-14--Press review: US poised to sanction Turkey and AstraZeneca eyes combining Russian vaccine

Izvestia : US poised to slap sanctions on Turkey for buying Russia ’ s S-400s The United States is literally one step away from slapping sanctions within CAATSA ( Countering America 's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ) on Turkey for Ankara ’ s purchase of Russia ’ s S-400 missile systems .
Until recently , the attempts made by US lawmakers to punish the regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for reaching an arms deal with Russia fell flat due to the stance of US President Donald Trump .
However , this time , the White House may fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions package against Turkey included in the bill on the US defense budget .
The draft bill was approved by both houses of Congress .
However , if Trump chooses to veto the bill , the draft defense budget bill will be signed by his successor , Democrat Joe Biden , whose inauguration is planned for January 20 , 2021 .
Under these circumstances , it is hard to make definite predictions on any anti-Turkish sanctions .
Head of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies Yuri Mavashev told Izvestia that `` Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration by introducing sanctions . ''
According to the expert , the new president is more likely to launch a dialogue with Erdogan , `` and then he will decide , '' so there is a chance that Biden `` won ’ t sign the bill , but send it back for further work . ''
For his part , Viktor Supyan , deputy chief of the Institute for US and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences , told the paper that the anticipated sanctions are likely to be introduced after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats see eye to eye on this matter , '' he noted , adding that both parties are in favor of imposing sanctions against Turkey .
Both commentators point out that while Washington ’ s restrictions will undermine the already strained relations between the US and Turkey , there is no discussion about Turkey pulling out of NATO in this regard .
On December 13 , the defense chiefs of Armenia and Russia held talks regarding the latest ceasefire violation reported in the Hadrut district of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The Armenian Defense Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s armed forces had violated the provisions of the November 9 ceasefire , attacking the villages of Hin Tager and Htsaberd .
For its part , Baku stated that the State Security Service of Azerbaijan `` was forced to conduct an anti-terrorism operation , '' adding that the attacks were in response to certain provocations by Armenian armed formations remaining in the area .
`` So far , there is no need to overestimate the incident in Hadrut .
The monitoring center in the Agdam district that follows the developments on the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Azerbaijan and Armenia should provide its assessment of the incident , '' Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs , Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov told Izvestia .
The MP stressed that in the month after reaching the trilateral agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh , `` not one bomb has gone off in the region , '' which can be considered a huge achievement , given that the conflicting sides had failed to maintain the two previous ceasefires .
`` This is a one-time provocation designed for unclear reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to test the Russian peacekeepers .
This only shows that the contingency should be expanded so that the highest amount of posts and team bases are in the areas of contact between the armed forces of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic .
This will help avoid such incidents in the future , '' Viktor Vodolatsky , first deputy chairman of the committee , told the paper .
According to political analyst Denis Denisov , the incident in Hadrut seems like nothing out of the ordinary , because after a ceasefire agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully end , especially in such a hot spot like Karabakh .
`` So far , there are no grounds to talk about a renewal of hostilities .
Such situations can arise due to even a couple of people in the conflicting sides ’ governments disagreeing with the provisions of the signed agreement .
The most important thing in this situation will get an evaluation from the Russian peacekeeping mission , '' the expert told Izvestia .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Lukashenko unlikely to recover from wave of public protest in Belarus The Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show no signs of dying down , Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports .
Experts note that the social contract between the government and the public in Belarus seems to have been destroyed for good , and it is unlikely to recover .
On December 13 , another round of Sunday protests took place in Minsk .
For four weeks running , Belarusians have chosen to protest in their own districts instead of gathering in the city center .
This past Sunday , for the first time in four months , officials did not block Internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations .
However , law enforcement still used special equipment to disperse the protesters , making numerous arrests .
Right now , the most common form of protest in Belarus is hanging white-red-white flags or even laundry of these colors across windows and terraces of regular apartments , the newspaper notes , with the government cracking down on the protest symbols .
This year , Ded Moroz , the equivalent of Santa Claus in Belarus , is forbidden from donning his red-and-white coat , and has been advised to choose a white-and-blue color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government have become a regular thing in Belarusian society that President Alexander Lukashenko is unable to thwart .
`` They [ the Belarusian government ] are fighting windmills .
White-red-white is a symbol , but that ’ s not the point .
They can take down all the flags they want from the windows of regular citizens , but they will never be able to erase those horrible images from our memory .
We can never go back to the way it was before , '' Belarusian tennis player Olga Barabanshchikova wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government ’ s counterattack .
In the attempts to destroy the national symbol , the protest had moved from squares and streets to backyards and even apartments .
However , despite the regime ’ s attempts to dampen the public ’ s spirits , the people remain loyal to themselves .
Lukashenko remaining in power is unacceptable : he must leave , '' Valery Kovalevsky , former Belarusian diplomat and current representative for international affairs of Belarus ’ opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said .
Tikhanovskaya ’ s foreign policy activity does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reported that Tikhanovskaya plans to visit the US in January during the week of the inauguration , holding talks with several top officials .
Meanwhile , on December 13 , she began her second visit to Germany .
Researchers with Oxford University and the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology will unite their efforts on COVID-19 vaccine development .
They have agreed to hold clinical trials of a combination of the vaccine developed by the UK-Swedish company AstraZeneca and one of two components of Russia ’ s Sputnik V , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier .
This combination may develop a more effective COVID-19 vaccine .
This is good news , which shows that foreign experts trust the development of Russian researchers , Rossiyskaya Gazeta notes .
The newspaper asked an expert whether such experiments are justified and whether such combinations are dangerous .
`` This is an absolutely normal , research-based approach .
An unsafe drug will not be released for circulation , '' Alexander Gorelov , deputy director for research at the Russian consumer rights watchdog 's Central Research Institute of Epidemiology , told Rossiyskaya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special international protocols for trials , which will be held in four stages , and only after that can the drug be registered for public use .
`` Why do we need these efforts ?
Everyone wants to get a higher immunogenicity of the drug , '' he explained .
`` Combining vaccines is nothing new .
There are many combined vaccines that protect against several infections at once on Russia ’ s national [ vaccination ] schedule . ''
`` However , not all trial samples have reached the production stage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire cycle of clinical trials and were confirmed to have all the necessary properties .
Combining various technologies follows the same goal : to increase immune response , that is , to reach a higher antibody count , and to ensure longer and more effective protection against the virus , '' the expert stated .
Foreign investors are actively increasing their presence on the Russian stock market .
Investors are attracted by the large share of industrial and oil companies that look upbeat for next year if the global economy begins to recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kommersant , which analyzed the reports of Bank of America and BCS Global Markets , which consider the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research Data , the total influx of foreign investment into Russian markets reached $ 260 mln in the week that ended on December 6 .
This is two times higher than the figure reported the week before that .
Last week , a record-high influx since January , $ 280 mln , was recorded .
In the past five weeks , the Russian stock market received $ 900 mln in foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preference , as the interest in high-risk assets remains high .
`` In the past months , investors have actively moved from emerging tech companies to cyclic spheres expecting the pandemic to end at the beginning of next year , '' Yevgeny Pundrovsky , deputy chief of UFG Wealth Management investment department , noted .
According to him , the Russian market mainly includes cyclic , industrial and oil companies , which makes it more attractive compared to the stock markets of developed nations .
Meanwhile , Asian stock markets , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spheres , are becoming less desirable for investors .
Pundrovsky added that the continuous rise in oil prices ( last week , Brent reached $ 50 per barrel ) and the prices for other primary commodities boost the appeal of Russian stocks , especially as the ruble remains undervalued .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Izvestia: US poised to slap sanctions on Turkey for buying Russia’s S-400s The United States is literally one step away from slapping sanctions within CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) on Turkey for Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile systems. Until recently, the attempts made by US lawmakers to punish the regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for reaching an arms deal with Russia fell flat due to the stance of US President Donald Trump. However, this time, the White House may fail to stall the approval of a new sanctions package against Turkey included in the bill on the US defense budget. The draft bill was approved by both houses of Congress.
However, if Trump chooses to veto the bill, the draft defense budget bill will be signed by his successor, Democrat Joe Biden, whose inauguration is planned for January 20, 2021. Under these circumstances, it is hard to make definite predictions on any anti-Turkish sanctions. Head of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies Yuri Mavashev told Izvestia that "Biden is unlikely to start interacting with the Turkish administration by introducing sanctions." According to the expert, the new president is more likely to launch a dialogue with Erdogan, "and then he will decide," so there is a chance that Biden "won’t sign the bill, but send it back for further work." For his part, Viktor Supyan, deputy chief of the Institute for US and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the paper that the anticipated sanctions are likely to be introduced after all. "Both the Republicans and the Democrats see eye to eye on this matter," he noted, adding that both parties are in favor of imposing sanctions against Turkey. Both commentators point out that while Washington’s restrictions will undermine the already strained relations between the US and Turkey, there is no discussion about Turkey pulling out of NATO in this regard. Izvestia: Ceasefire violation reported in Nagorno-Karabakh On December 13, the defense chiefs of Armenia and Russia held talks regarding the latest ceasefire violation reported in the Hadrut district of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian Defense Ministry stated on December 12 that Azerbaijan’s armed forces had violated the provisions of the November 9 ceasefire, attacking the villages of Hin Tager and Htsaberd. For its part, Baku stated that the State Security Service of Azerbaijan "was forced to conduct an anti-terrorism operation," adding that the attacks were in response to certain provocations by Armenian armed formations remaining in the area. "So far, there is no need to overestimate the incident in Hadrut. The monitoring center in the Agdam district that follows the developments on the entire territory and on the line of contact between Azerbaijan and Armenia should provide its assessment of the incident," Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov told Izvestia. The MP stressed that in the month after reaching the trilateral agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, "not one bomb has gone off in the region," which can be considered a huge achievement, given that the conflicting sides had failed to maintain the two previous ceasefires.
Read also Aliyev blames Armenia for ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh
"This is a one-time provocation designed for unclear reasons by one of the sides, perhaps in order to test the Russian peacekeepers. This only shows that the contingency should be expanded so that the highest amount of posts and team bases are in the areas of contact between the armed forces of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This will help avoid such incidents in the future," Viktor Vodolatsky, first deputy chairman of the committee, told the paper. According to political analyst Denis Denisov, the incident in Hadrut seems like nothing out of the ordinary, because after a ceasefire agreement is signed, hostilities often do not fully end, especially in such a hot spot like Karabakh. "So far, there are no grounds to talk about a renewal of hostilities. Such situations can arise due to even a couple of people in the conflicting sides’ governments disagreeing with the provisions of the signed agreement. The most important thing in this situation will get an evaluation from the Russian peacekeeping mission," the expert told Izvestia. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Lukashenko unlikely to recover from wave of public protest in Belarus The Belarusian protests are changing their format, but show no signs of dying down, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. Experts note that the social contract between the government and the public in Belarus seems to have been destroyed for good, and it is unlikely to recover. On December 13, another round of Sunday protests took place in Minsk. For four weeks running, Belarusians have chosen to protest in their own districts instead of gathering in the city center. This past Sunday, for the first time in four months, officials did not block Internet services in Minsk or shut down metro stations. However, law enforcement still used special equipment to disperse the protesters, making numerous arrests.
Right now, the most common form of protest in Belarus is hanging white-red-white flags or even laundry of these colors across windows and terraces of regular apartments, the newspaper notes, with the government cracking down on the protest symbols. This year, Ded Moroz, the equivalent of Santa Claus in Belarus, is forbidden from donning his red-and-white coat, and has been advised to choose a white-and-blue color palette instead. The protests against the government have become a regular thing in Belarusian society that President Alexander Lukashenko is unable to thwart. "They [the Belarusian government] are fighting windmills. White-red-white is a symbol, but that’s not the point. They can take down all the flags they want from the windows of regular citizens, but they will never be able to erase those horrible images from our memory. We can never go back to the way it was before," Belarusian tennis player Olga Barabanshchikova wrote. "Belarusians are not giving up despite the government’s counterattack. In the attempts to destroy the national symbol, the protest had moved from squares and streets to backyards and even apartments. However, despite the regime’s attempts to dampen the public’s spirits, the people remain loyal to themselves. Lukashenko remaining in power is unacceptable: he must leave," Valery Kovalevsky, former Belarusian diplomat and current representative for international affairs of Belarus’ opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said. Tikhanovskaya’s foreign policy activity does not bode well for Lukashenko either. It was reported that Tikhanovskaya plans to visit the US in January during the week of the inauguration, holding talks with several top officials. Meanwhile, on December 13, she began her second visit to Germany. Rossiyskaya Gazeta: AstraZeneca to test combined vaccination with Russia’s Sputnik V Researchers with Oxford University and the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology will unite their efforts on COVID-19 vaccine development. They have agreed to hold clinical trials of a combination of the vaccine developed by the UK-Swedish company AstraZeneca and one of two components of Russia’s Sputnik V, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and AstraZeneca informed earlier. This combination may develop a more effective COVID-19 vaccine. This is good news, which shows that foreign experts trust the development of Russian researchers, Rossiyskaya Gazeta notes.


tass--2020-12-14--Russia develops fully automatic radar system to enhance airspace control

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The latest radar system Nablyudatel ( Observer ) has been developed in Russia , Chief of the Aerospace Force ’ s Radio-Technical Troops Major-General Andrei Koban said in an interview with the Defense Ministry ’ s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Monday .
`` The latest types of radar armament , such as the Nablyudatel FSR and KVP [ the Observer federal reconnaissance and airspace control system ] have been created and are already in service to boost the airspace control capabilities , '' the general said .
The new system is designated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights and is the first system in the history of radio-technical troops with automatic radar modules that require no operators ’ involvement , he stressed .
`` The capabilities of each radar module make it possible to conduct radar reconnaissance automatically within a radius of up to 450 km .
The radar system can integrate up to 20 modules , which allows for automatically controlling aircraft flights over an area of up to 300,000 square kilometers , '' the radio-technical troops ’ chief said .
The latest complex can be employed together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps boost the level of the Russian airspace automated control , the general said .
`` Such complexes have already been deployed within the boundaries of the central industrial district of the Russian Federation where the air traffic intensity is the highest , '' he said .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The latest radar system Nablyudatel (Observer) has been developed in Russia, Chief of the Aerospace Force’s Radio-Technical Troops Major-General Andrei Koban said in an interview with the Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Monday.
"The latest types of radar armament, such as the Nablyudatel FSR and KVP [the Observer federal reconnaissance and airspace control system] have been created and are already in service to boost the airspace control capabilities," the general said.
The new system is designated to control the airspace and provide for aircraft flights and is the first system in the history of radio-technical troops with automatic radar modules that require no operators’ involvement, he stressed.
"The capabilities of each radar module make it possible to conduct radar reconnaissance automatically within a radius of up to 450 km. The radar system can integrate up to 20 modules, which allows for automatically controlling aircraft flights over an area of up to 300,000 square kilometers," the radio-technical troops’ chief said.
The latest complex can be employed together with the VKAO-M data processing system, which helps boost the level of the Russian airspace automated control, the general said.
"Such complexes have already been deployed within the boundaries of the central industrial district of the Russian Federation where the air traffic intensity is the highest," he said.


tass--2020-12-14--Georgia sees lowest daily increase in coronavirus infections since October 21

TBILISI , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of cases of the coronavirus infection in Georgia has increased over the past 24 hours by 1,337 , the lowest since October 21 .
The total number of infections has reached 191,063 , the government website which keeps the public updated on the pandemic situation nationwide stated on Monday .
On October 21 , 1,354 new cases were reported in the country , after which the number of infections began to grow swiftly .
Yesterday , 2,720 new cases were detected in the republic , while 3,907 new cases were recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 11 .
On December 5 , Georgian medics detected 5,450 cases of the infection which was the record high since the beginning of the pandemic .
Over the past 24 hours , 3,498 patients have recovered .
The total number of recoveries is at 161,681 ( 84.62 % of the total number of infections ) .
The number of quarantined individuals over the past 24 hours has decreased by 24 with the total of 986 .
2,886 patients are staying at special hotels under medical supervision which is 191 less than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia over the past eight days has been at the level of 0.73 .
During the pandemic the infection was detected in 5.14 % of the country ’ s population of 3.7 mln .
Over the past 24 hours , 49 fatalities due to the coronavirus complications were recorded in the republic , bringing the total to 1,839 .
In all , 1,725,686 tests for the presence of the coronavirus have been conducted in Georgia .
46.43 % of the country ’ s population were tested .
The republic ’ s government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cafes for the period from November 28 through January 31 , introduced a ban on intercity transportation and public transport in large cities .
Additionally , a ban on staying outside was expanded : now the residents are not allowed to leave their homes from 21:00 to 05:00 .
From December 24 through January 2 due to holiday festivities all restrictions will be lifted .
They will come into effect again from January 3 through January 15 and then from January 16 to January 31 all restrictions will be in effect only on @ @

TBILISI, December 14. /TASS/. The number of cases of the coronavirus infection in Georgia has increased over the past 24 hours by 1,337, the lowest since October 21. The total number of infections has reached 191,063, the government website which keeps the public updated on the pandemic situation nationwide stated on Monday.
On October 21, 1,354 new cases were reported in the country, after which the number of infections began to grow swiftly. Yesterday, 2,720 new cases were detected in the republic, while 3,907 new cases were recorded on December 12 and 4,146 cases on December 11. On December 5, Georgian medics detected 5,450 cases of the infection which was the record high since the beginning of the pandemic.
Over the past 24 hours, 3,498 patients have recovered. The total number of recoveries is at 161,681 (84.62% of the total number of infections). The number of quarantined individuals over the past 24 hours has decreased by 24 with the total of 986. 2,886 patients are staying at special hotels under medical supervision which is 191 less than the day before. The coronavirus spread coefficient in Georgia over the past eight days has been at the level of 0.73. During the pandemic the infection was detected in 5.14% of the country’s population of 3.7 mln.
Over the past 24 hours, 49 fatalities due to the coronavirus complications were recorded in the republic, bringing the total to 1,839. In all, 1,725,686 tests for the presence of the coronavirus have been conducted in Georgia. 46.43% of the country’s population were tested.
The republic’s government has shut down stores, restaurants and cafes for the period from November 28 through January 31, introduced a ban on intercity transportation and public transport in large cities. Additionally, a ban on staying outside was expanded: now the residents are not allowed to leave their homes from 21:00 to 05:00. From December 24 through January 2 due to holiday festivities all restrictions will be lifted. They will come into effect again from January 3 through January 15 and then from January 16 to January 31 all restrictions will be in effect only on weekends.


tass--2020-12-14--Russia brings charges against Lithuanian judges for unjust verdict in 1991 case

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Investigative Committee has brought charges in absentia against Lithuanian judges , who pronounced an unjust verdict against Russian citizens in a case concerning 1991 events in Vilnius , IC spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told the media on Monday .
The IC says that on March 27 , 2019 a panel of judges of the Vilnius Regional Court of the Lithuanian Republic Ainora Maceviciene , Virginia Tamosiunaite , and Arturas Sumskas `` delivered a deliberately wrongful sentence '' concerning more than 50 Russian citizens , including Yuri Mel and Gennady Ivanov , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were found guilty of crimes against the Lithuanian state and war crimes during mass unrest in Vilnius in January 1991 , when 13 civilians were killed and more than 700 others injured .
`` Judges Maceviciene , Tamosiunaite and Sumskas were accused in absentia under part 2 of article 305 of the Russian Criminal Code for delivering a deliberately wrongful prison sentence against Russian citizens .
The investigation has taken the necessary measures to put the accused on an international wanted list , '' Petrenko said .
She explained that at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lithuanian judges were well aware that the events in Vilnius took place at a time when the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was an integral part of the Soviet Union .
`` During the January 1991 events in Vilnius the Soviet military servicemen involved were performing their duties and acting in accordance with Soviet legislation in order to maintain public order , '' Petrenko said .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee has brought charges in absentia against Lithuanian judges, who pronounced an unjust verdict against Russian citizens in a case concerning 1991 events in Vilnius, IC spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told the media on Monday.
The IC says that on March 27, 2019 a panel of judges of the Vilnius Regional Court of the Lithuanian Republic Ainora Maceviciene, Virginia Tamosiunaite, and Arturas Sumskas "delivered a deliberately wrongful sentence" concerning more than 50 Russian citizens, including Yuri Mel and Gennady Ivanov, detained in the territory of Lithuania. They were found guilty of crimes against the Lithuanian state and war crimes during mass unrest in Vilnius in January 1991, when 13 civilians were killed and more than 700 others injured.
"Judges Maceviciene, Tamosiunaite and Sumskas were accused in absentia under part 2 of article 305 of the Russian Criminal Code for delivering a deliberately wrongful prison sentence against Russian citizens. The investigation has taken the necessary measures to put the accused on an international wanted list," Petrenko said.
She explained that at the moment when the sentence was pronounced the Lithuanian judges were well aware that the events in Vilnius took place at a time when the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was an integral part of the Soviet Union.
"During the January 1991 events in Vilnius the Soviet military servicemen involved were performing their duties and acting in accordance with Soviet legislation in order to maintain public order," Petrenko said.


tass--2020-12-14--Over 27,000 COVID-19 infections detected in Russia in 24 hours

MOSCOW , December 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Russia over the past 24 hours has increased by 27,328 , bringing the total to 2,681,256 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Monday .
Kremlin says no plans for another lockdown in Russia amid coronavirus pandemic According to the crisis center , the relative daily growth decreased to 1 % .
The lowest daily growth rates were registered in the Republic of Tuva , the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region ( 0.6 % each ) , the Nenets Autonomous Region , the Republic of Altai , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region , the Karachay-Cherkess Republic , the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic , the Orenburg and Novosibirsk Regions , the Jewish Autonomous Region , the Magadan Region , the Republic of Mordovia , the Republic of Dagestan , the Krasnodar and Kemerovo Regions ( 0.7 % each ) .
Some 3,771 new cases over the past 24 hours have been detected in St. Petersburg , 1,484 - in the Moscow Region , 493 cases - in the Nizhny Novgorod Region , 403 - in the Arkhangelsk Region , and 397 cases have been detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , currently 509,068 patients continue treatment in Russia .

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Russia over the past 24 hours has increased by 27,328, bringing the total to 2,681,256, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Monday.
Kremlin says no plans for another lockdown in Russia amid coronavirus pandemic
According to the crisis center, the relative daily growth decreased to 1%.
The lowest daily growth rates were registered in the Republic of Tuva, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region (0.6% each), the Nenets Autonomous Region, the Republic of Altai, the Republic of Mari El, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Orenburg and Novosibirsk Regions, the Jewish Autonomous Region, the Magadan Region, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Dagestan, the Krasnodar and Kemerovo Regions (0.7% each).
Some 3,771 new cases over the past 24 hours have been detected in St. Petersburg, 1,484 - in the Moscow Region, 493 cases - in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 403 - in the Arkhangelsk Region, and 397 cases have been detected in the Sverdlovsk Region.
In all, currently 509,068 patients continue treatment in Russia.


tass--2020-12-14--Global scientists call for promoting public scientific literacy

BEIJING , Dec. 14 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ .
A news report by China.org.cn : A TV forum themed `` Science in an Uncertain World '' was held in Beijing on December 8 , co-sponsored by China Association for Science and Technology ( CAST ) and CGTN Think Tank .
Ten Nobel Laureates , 30 top Chinese academicians and 300 young scientists attended both online and off-line , discussing the role of the science and the importance of scientific literacy amid challenges .
The world has faced multiple challenges in 2020 , which signifies the importance of science and technology as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The forum is therefore highly relevant .
On the forum , Huai Jinpeng , Executive Vice President of CAST and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , described the public 's scientific literacy as a cornerstone of sound social development and governance .
Science education and communication is the fundamental way for the public to understand science , he noted .
Huai called for innovation and utilization of all media forms to enhance scientific literacy .
He also said CAST is dedicated to promoting international and intercultural understanding and trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global peers in innovation and efforts to increase scientific literacy so as to contribute to a sustainable world economic recovery , and improving global governance .
President and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group Shen Haixiong said that the COVID-19 pandemic has once again proved that all humanity is a community with a shared future .
To improve the public 's scientific literacy , he added , it 's essential to promote an atmosphere that respects , trusts and relies on science , and deepen cooperation between the scientific community and the media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility of politicians and elites , but a mission for media , scientists and the general public alike , Shen said .
Zhong Nanshan , China 's top respiratory expert , reviewed China 's experience in fighting COVID-19 .
He said that adhering to scientific innovation guarantees solutions to the basic science problems concerning the coronavirus .
Nobel Laureates , Chinese academicians including Zhang Boli , and the participating young scientists discussed issues including the prospects of young scientific talents , and the importance and necessity for increasing public scientific literacy .
Beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional Chinese medicine in public health crises , and the outlook of clean energy were also covered .
They agreed that promoting scientific literacy globally is crucial to coping with challenges including the COVID-19 and climate change , and that scientists should play a more active part in bridging the gap between science and the public .
Moreover , they noted , media should be given full play as an important channel of disseminating scientific knowledge and information .
They urged the scientific community to stay open-minded and enhance international cooperation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science Literacy has become a platform on science and technology for international organizations .
This forum combined CAST and CGTN 's respective advantages .
Hopefully , such efforts would be extended with further cooperation with CGTN , who is professional in international communications , contributing to the global landscape in science and technology .

BEIJING, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/. A news report by China.org.cn: A TV forum themed "Science in an Uncertain World" was held in Beijing on December 8, co-sponsored by China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and CGTN Think Tank. Ten Nobel Laureates, 30 top Chinese academicians and 300 young scientists attended both online and off-line, discussing the role of the science and the importance of scientific literacy amid challenges.
The world has faced multiple challenges in 2020, which signifies the importance of science and technology as well as the importance of collaboration. The forum is therefore highly relevant.
On the forum, Huai Jinpeng, Executive Vice President of CAST and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described the public's scientific literacy as a cornerstone of sound social development and governance. Science education and communication is the fundamental way for the public to understand science, he noted. Huai called for innovation and utilization of all media forms to enhance scientific literacy.
He also said CAST is dedicated to promoting international and intercultural understanding and trust, and is willing to cooperate with its global peers in innovation and efforts to increase scientific literacy so as to contribute to a sustainable world economic recovery, and improving global governance.
President and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group Shen Haixiong said that the COVID-19 pandemic has once again proved that all humanity is a community with a shared future. To improve the public's scientific literacy, he added, it's essential to promote an atmosphere that respects, trusts and relies on science, and deepen cooperation between the scientific community and the media.
Tackling global challenges is not only the responsibility of politicians and elites, but a mission for media, scientists and the general public alike, Shen said.
Zhong Nanshan, China's top respiratory expert, reviewed China's experience in fighting COVID-19. He said that adhering to scientific innovation guarantees solutions to the basic science problems concerning the coronavirus.
Nobel Laureates, Chinese academicians including Zhang Boli, and the participating young scientists discussed issues including the prospects of young scientific talents, and the importance and necessity for increasing public scientific literacy. Beyond that, topics like the use of traditional Chinese medicine in public health crises, and the outlook of clean energy were also covered.
They agreed that promoting scientific literacy globally is crucial to coping with challenges including the COVID-19 and climate change, and that scientists should play a more active part in bridging the gap between science and the public. Moreover, they noted, media should be given full play as an important channel of disseminating scientific knowledge and information. They urged the scientific community to stay open-minded and enhance international cooperation.
The event with the 2020 World Conference on Science Literacy has become a platform on science and technology for international organizations. This forum combined CAST and CGTN's respective advantages. Hopefully, such efforts would be extended with further cooperation with CGTN, who is professional in international communications, contributing to the global landscape in science and technology.
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