tass--2020-02-21--Days of Arctic in Arkhangelsk are devoted to scientific, technical discoveries

ARKHANGELSK , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
The Days of the Arctic , which opened at the Northern Arctic Federal University ( SAFU ) in Arkhangelsk on Thursday , are devoted to scientific and technical discoveries and to the 100th anniversary of birth of writer Fyodor Abramov , Deputy Director of the University ’ s Intellectual Center Svetlana Tyukina told TASS .
`` Today , we are opening the Days of the Arctic .
This year , we have a few topics .
First of all , since the Days of the Arctic will continue on February 29 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ writer ] Fyodor Abramov — < ... > several platforms will be devoted to him .
The next topic is the Arctic ’ s scientific and technical development and discoveries ; and another topic is navigating in the White and other Arctic seas , '' Tyukina said .
Fyodor Abramov is a popular Soviet writer , literary critic , publicist , a most famous representative of the so-called `` village prose , '' a big movement in Soviet literature of the 1960-1980s .
He was born on February 29 , 1920 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic will see a presentation of a book and a movie about the writer .
In addition to that , the University ’ s students have prepared an exhibition and classes , devoted to the writer .
Students specializing in publishing have arranged a cycle of lectures about Fyodor Abramov .
`` During the Days of the Arctic , they will hold an intellectual game < ... > , based on the writer ’ s works for high school and university students , '' the university ’ s representative informed .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pinezhsky District .
`` The exposition showcases spindles , a spinning wheel , a small loom , dolls , interior items , and a so-called red corner [ a corner where traditionally icons were placed ] with embroidered towels , '' she continued .
`` The exposition recreates the writer ’ s house . ''
Another personality the Days of the Arctic exposition is dedicated to is well-known Soviet polar pilot Ivan Cherevichny , whose name in 2019 was given to Vaskovo Airport in Arkhangelsk .
`` We shall have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
Cherevichny explored new air routes in Siberia as well as the Kara and Laptev seas , and escorted ships along the Northern Sea Route .
In 1941 , he led an expedition which was the first to reach the so-called Pole of Inaccessibility — the Arctic 's most distant area from the mainland .
In 1941 , he made a flight from Moscow to North America as part of a group of high-ranking specialists to conclude a lend-lease agreement .
During the war , he was engaged in combat operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

ARKHANGELSK, February 21. /TASS/. The Days of the Arctic, which opened at the Northern Arctic Federal University (SAFU) in Arkhangelsk on Thursday, are devoted to scientific and technical discoveries and to the 100th anniversary of birth of writer Fyodor Abramov, Deputy Director of the University’s Intellectual Center Svetlana Tyukina told TASS.
"Today, we are opening the Days of the Arctic. This year, we have a few topics. First of all, since the Days of the Arctic will continue on February 29, when we shall celebrate the 100th birthday of [writer] Fyodor Abramov — <...> several platforms will be devoted to him. The next topic is the Arctic’s scientific and technical development and discoveries; and another topic is navigating in the White and other Arctic seas," Tyukina said.
Remembering the writer
Fyodor Abramov is a popular Soviet writer, literary critic, publicist, a most famous representative of the so-called "village prose," a big movement in Soviet literature of the 1960-1980s. He was born on February 29, 1920 in the Arkhangelsk Region. The Days of the Arctic will see a presentation of a book and a movie about the writer. In addition to that, the University’s students have prepared an exhibition and classes, devoted to the writer.
Students specializing in publishing have arranged a cycle of lectures about Fyodor Abramov. "During the Days of the Arctic, they will hold an intellectual game <...>, based on the writer’s works for high school and university students," the university’s representative informed.
Another exposition will include a house, typical for the Pinezhsky District. "The exposition showcases spindles, a spinning wheel, a small loom, dolls, interior items, and a so-called red corner [a corner where traditionally icons were placed] with embroidered towels," she continued. "The exposition recreates the writer’s house."
Another personality the Days of the Arctic exposition is dedicated to is well-known Soviet polar pilot Ivan Cherevichny, whose name in 2019 was given to Vaskovo Airport in Arkhangelsk. "We shall have a few classes devoted to him," she added.
Cherevichny explored new air routes in Siberia as well as the Kara and Laptev seas, and escorted ships along the Northern Sea Route. In 1941, he led an expedition which was the first to reach the so-called Pole of Inaccessibility — the Arctic's most distant area from the mainland. In 1941, he made a flight from Moscow to North America as part of a group of high-ranking specialists to conclude a lend-lease agreement. During the war, he was engaged in combat operations in the North, and escorted vessels.
Nature reserves


tass--2020-02-21--Erdogan, Putin discuss situation in Idlib

ANKARA , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Idlib during a phone call on Friday , the Turkish leader ’ s office informed reporters .
`` Our president has stressed the need to contain the regime [ of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ] in Idlib and to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe , '' the message informs .
The sides also `` expressed their commitment to the agreements reached previously [ on Syria ] and discussed the situation in Libya . ''
Erdogan told Putin that `` Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sochi memorandum , '' the Turkish leader ’ s office informed .
The situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria escalated in late January , when the Syrian government made an advance in the area in response to multiple ceasefire violations by militant groups .
On February 5 , Syrian government forces entered the town of Saraqib , an outpost of Jabhat al-Nusra ( terrorist organization banned in Russia ) in the Idlib province .
Saraqib is a town of strategic importance that sits at the junction of two main roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On February 11 , the Syrian opposition launched an offensive against the Syrian government forces in two directions : the city of Saraqib and the settlement of Nayrab to the north of Saraqib .
The armed opposition units were aided by the Turkish military .
The Syrian army repelled all the attacks .
Casualties among Syrian and Turkish troops were reported .
Recently , militant attacks on the positions of the Syrian army have increased , causing the Syrian government forces to retaliate .
On February 20 , the Russian Aerospace Forces started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara is ready to use all of its firepower in case of a large-scale military operation in Idlib .
He added that the start of a new operation in Idlib is a question of time , and that all preparations for it are complete .
Idlib is the only Syrian region that has been controlled by illegal armed groups , including the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group , since 2012 .
A northern de-escalation zone was set up in Idlib in 2017 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrender arms in Eastern Ghouta and Syria ’ s southern regions .
The Turkish army has 12 observation outposts in the province .

ANKARA, February 21. /TASS/. Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Idlib during a phone call on Friday, the Turkish leader’s office informed reporters. "Our president has stressed the need to contain the regime [of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] in Idlib and to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe," the message informs. The sides also "expressed their commitment to the agreements reached previously [on Syria] and discussed the situation in Libya." Erdogan told Putin that "Idlib regulation lies through the full implementation of the Sochi memorandum," the Turkish leader’s office informed. Tensions in Idlib
The situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria escalated in late January, when the Syrian government made an advance in the area in response to multiple ceasefire violations by militant groups. On February 5, Syrian government forces entered the town of Saraqib, an outpost of Jabhat al-Nusra (terrorist organization banned in Russia) in the Idlib province. Saraqib is a town of strategic importance that sits at the junction of two main roads connecting Latakia and Damascus with Aleppo. On February 11, the Syrian opposition launched an offensive against the Syrian government forces in two directions: the city of Saraqib and the settlement of Nayrab to the north of Saraqib. The armed opposition units were aided by the Turkish military. The Syrian army repelled all the attacks. Casualties among Syrian and Turkish troops were reported. Recently, militant attacks on the positions of the Syrian army have increased, causing the Syrian government forces to retaliate. On February 20, the Russian Aerospace Forces started to provide support to the Syrian army.
Read also Erdogan says new military operation in Idlib only a matter of time


tass--2020-02-21--US court sentences Russian national Mira Terada to 30 months behind bars

The prosecution asked to sentence the Russian national to 46 months in prison ; however , the judge chose to take into account the six months she had spent at a Finnish jail .
Thus , the woman was sentenced to 30 months behind bars .
WASHINGTON , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
A US federal court in Alexandria , Virginia has sentenced Russian national Mira Terada to 30 months behind bars on charges of money laundering .
Judge Claude Hilton handed down the corresponding verdict during a court session on Friday , TASS informs .
Terada ’ s lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might leave the US prison on parole after 17 months in custody .
After that , she will be deported to Russia .
On December 15 , 2018 , Finland ’ s Border Guard authority detained Mira Terada ( Oksana Vovk before 2017 ) , a Russian national born in 1988 who was on her way from St. Petersburg to Spain with a stopover at Helsinki Vantaa Airport .
The Finnish authorities notified the Russian side about the incident on the same day .
Thus , they said that the woman was nabbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrant issued at the request of the US authorities .
She was extradited to the United States on June 20 , 2019 .
The US accused her of drug trafficking and money laundering while living in the United States in 2013-2016 .
The Russian national pled guilty to money laundering , avoiding a more serious conviction for drug trafficking .

The prosecution asked to sentence the Russian national to 46 months in prison; however, the judge chose to take into account the six months she had spent at a Finnish jail. Thus, the woman was sentenced to 30 months behind bars.
WASHINGTON, February 21. /TASS/. A US federal court in Alexandria, Virginia has sentenced Russian national Mira Terada to 30 months behind bars on charges of money laundering. Judge Claude Hilton handed down the corresponding verdict during a court session on Friday, TASS informs.
Terada’s lawyer Jeffrey Zimmerman said that the Russian national might leave the US prison on parole after 17 months in custody. After that, she will be deported to Russia.
On December 15, 2018, Finland’s Border Guard authority detained Mira Terada (Oksana Vovk before 2017), a Russian national born in 1988 who was on her way from St. Petersburg to Spain with a stopover at Helsinki Vantaa Airport. The Finnish authorities notified the Russian side about the incident on the same day. Thus, they said that the woman was nabbed on the basis of the Interpol arrest warrant issued at the request of the US authorities. She was extradited to the United States on June 20, 2019. The US accused her of drug trafficking and money laundering while living in the United States in 2013-2016.
The Russian national pled guilty to money laundering, avoiding a more serious conviction for drug trafficking.


tass--2020-02-21--One more Russian diplomat denied US visa ahead of UN event

Russia requests urgent session of UN committee over non-issuance of visas to delegates UNITED NATIONS , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
One more Russian diplomat who was supposed to attend a United Nations event has been denied a US visa , Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said on Friday .
Georgy Mikhno , a deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry ’ s Department for New Challenges and Threats , was to attend a UN meeting on counter-terrorism efforts organized at Russia ’ s initiative .
`` His absence here is yet another instance when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitments under the agreement on the headquarters of the United Nations , '' Nebenzya commented .
`` Such actions do serious harm to the United States ’ reputation , and to international counter-terrorism efforts . ''
Earlier in February , Konstantin Vorontsov , head of the Russian Foreign Ministry ’ s multilateral disarmament department who was to lead Russia ’ s delegation to the United Nations Disarmament Commission ’ s session , failed to obtain a US visa in due time and the commission ’ s session was postponed for ten days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee on Relations with the Host Country will gather for an extraordinary meeting over this matter early next week .

UNITED NATIONS, February 21. /TASS/. One more Russian diplomat who was supposed to attend a United Nations event has been denied a US visa, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said on Friday.
Georgy Mikhno, a deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for New Challenges and Threats, was to attend a UN meeting on counter-terrorism efforts organized at Russia’s initiative.
"His absence here is yet another instance when the host country fails to implement its visa commitments under the agreement on the headquarters of the United Nations," Nebenzya commented. "Such actions do serious harm to the United States’ reputation, and to international counter-terrorism efforts."
Earlier in February, Konstantin Vorontsov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s multilateral disarmament department who was to lead Russia’s delegation to the United Nations Disarmament Commission’s session, failed to obtain a US visa in due time and the commission’s session was postponed for ten days.
The United Nations General Assembly’s Committee on Relations with the Host Country will gather for an extraordinary meeting over this matter early next week.


tass--2020-02-21--Russia’s Pacific Fleet to get latest tugboat by year-end

`` [ The second tugboat ] is now undergoing shipbuilders ’ docking trials that will give way to sea trials , which the vessel is to complete in July and leave for Murmansk .
After that , it will depart from Murmansk to sail along the Northern Sea Route to the Pacific Fleet in the Far East , '' he said .
SEVASTOPOL , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
The second sea-going tugboat of the latest 23470 series will be delivered to the Pacific Fleet before the end of the year , Head and Chief Designer of the Baltsudoproyekt Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developer ) Andrei Obukhov told TASS on Friday .
Three more tugboats of this series are under construction at the Yaroslavl Shipyard , the chief designer noted , without specifying the timeframe of putting them afloat .
The head of the Baltsudoproyekt Central Design Bureau added that the contract for designing the latest tugboats for the Russian Navy had been concluded in 2014 .
CEO of the Yaroslavl Shipyard Svetlana Chekalova told TASS that the vessels under construction would be delivered to the Black Sea , Northern and Pacific Fleets .
Project 23470 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ice-covered and ice-free waters , assist them within port areas and in mooring , provide escort operations at sea , extinguish fires on floating platforms and at coastal facilities and fuel burning on the water surface , and also to refloat ships and vessels .
The new tugs have a lifting capacity of 200 tonnes and an operating range of 300 nautical miles and their sea endurance is 30 days .
According to the chief designer , specialists of the Baltsudoproyekt Central Design Bureau and the Yaroslavl Shipyard faced an uneasy task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vessels in Russia within the tugboat ’ s limited dimensions .
For this purpose , solutions already available in world practice were applied , among other .
However , due to the sanctions imposed by some countries against Russia , they were adapted in a way to use domestic equipment , he clarified .
As a result , a Project 23470 tugboat can operate in any area of the World Ocean at temperatures ranging from mines 45 degrees to plus 50 degrees Celsius , features high maneuverable capabilities and towing characteristics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessels of this type feature the integrated powerplant that will prevent a blackout in case of malfunctions , powerful lifting mechanisms and a helicopter pad to receive rescue and specialized shipborne helicopters .

"[The second tugboat] is now undergoing shipbuilders’ docking trials that will give way to sea trials, which the vessel is to complete in July and leave for Murmansk. After that, it will depart from Murmansk to sail along the Northern Sea Route to the Pacific Fleet in the Far East," he said.
SEVASTOPOL, February 21. /TASS/. The second sea-going tugboat of the latest 23470 series will be delivered to the Pacific Fleet before the end of the year, Head and Chief Designer of the Baltsudoproyekt Central Design Bureau (the tugboat’s developer) Andrei Obukhov told TASS on Friday.
Three more tugboats of this series are under construction at the Yaroslavl Shipyard, the chief designer noted, without specifying the timeframe of putting them afloat. The head of the Baltsudoproyekt Central Design Bureau added that the contract for designing the latest tugboats for the Russian Navy had been concluded in 2014.
CEO of the Yaroslavl Shipyard Svetlana Chekalova told TASS that the vessels under construction would be delivered to the Black Sea, Northern and Pacific Fleets.
Project 23470 tugboats
Project 23470 sea-going ships are designed to tow vessels in ice-covered and ice-free waters, assist them within port areas and in mooring, provide escort operations at sea, extinguish fires on floating platforms and at coastal facilities and fuel burning on the water surface, and also to refloat ships and vessels.
The new tugs have a lifting capacity of 200 tonnes and an operating range of 300 nautical miles and their sea endurance is 30 days.
According to the chief designer, specialists of the Baltsudoproyekt Central Design Bureau and the Yaroslavl Shipyard faced an uneasy task of installing equipment unprecedented for these types of vessels in Russia within the tugboat’s limited dimensions. For this purpose, solutions already available in world practice were applied, among other. However, due to the sanctions imposed by some countries against Russia, they were adapted in a way to use domestic equipment, he clarified.
As a result, a Project 23470 tugboat can operate in any area of the World Ocean at temperatures ranging from mines 45 degrees to plus 50 degrees Celsius, features high maneuverable capabilities and towing characteristics and is comfortable for the crew. The vessels of this type feature the integrated powerplant that will prevent a blackout in case of malfunctions, powerful lifting mechanisms and a helicopter pad to receive rescue and specialized shipborne helicopters.


tass--2020-02-21--Russia’s top brass to sign deal for two more Borei-A strategic nuclear-powered subs

`` A decision has been made to sign a contract at the Army 2020 forum for building two more Borei-A missile-carrying submarines .
Under the terms of the contract , both ships will be laid down at the Sevmash Shipyard ( part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation ) in 2021 .
They will be built under the existing state armament program through 2027 , '' the source said .
MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry is set to sign a contract with the United Shipbuilding Corporation in August for the construction of two more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile-carrying submarines , a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS on Friday .
These will be the ninth and tenth Borei-class subs , the source added .
The Russian Navy currently operates three baseline Project 955 Borei submarines : the Yuri Dolgoruky , the Vladimir Monomakh and the Alexander Nevsky .
The improved Project 955A Borei-A lead submarine Knyaz Vladimir has completed state trials and is being prepared for its delivery to the Navy .
Four more Borei-A submarines ( the Knyaz Oleg , the Generalissimus Suvorov , the Emperor Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been laid down and are at various stages of their construction .
The Borei and Borei-A submarines have been developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering .
All of them can carry 16 Bulava missiles and are also armed with 533mm torpedo tubes .
Compared to the baseline Borei series , Borei-A subs feature better acoustic stealth , maneuvering and deep-sea running capabilities and an improved armament control system .

"A decision has been made to sign a contract at the Army 2020 forum for building two more Borei-A missile-carrying submarines. Under the terms of the contract, both ships will be laid down at the Sevmash Shipyard (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) in 2021. They will be built under the existing state armament program through 2027," the source said.
MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry is set to sign a contract with the United Shipbuilding Corporation in August for the construction of two more Project 955A (Borei-A) nuclear-powered strategic missile-carrying submarines, a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS on Friday.
These will be the ninth and tenth Borei-class subs, the source added.
The Russian Navy currently operates three baseline Project 955 Borei submarines: the Yuri Dolgoruky, the Vladimir Monomakh and the Alexander Nevsky. The improved Project 955A Borei-A lead submarine Knyaz Vladimir has completed state trials and is being prepared for its delivery to the Navy. Four more Borei-A submarines (the Knyaz Oleg, the Generalissimus Suvorov, the Emperor Alexander III and the Knyaz Pozharsky) have been laid down and are at various stages of their construction.
The Borei and Borei-A submarines have been developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering. All of them can carry 16 Bulava missiles and are also armed with 533mm torpedo tubes.
Compared to the baseline Borei series, Borei-A subs feature better acoustic stealth, maneuvering and deep-sea running capabilities and an improved armament control system.


tass--2020-02-21--Arkhangelsk Region’s tax revenues from tourism grow almost 50% YOY

ARKHANGELSK , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Tax revenues from companies , working in the tourism sector in the Arkhangelsk @ @ @ @ @ 50 % year-on-year in 2019 , the regional tax authority ’ s press service reported @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , companies and businesses , which work in the Arkhangelsk Region in the sector @ @ @ @ @ million rubles ( $ 11 million ) to the budget in taxes , '' the @ @ @ @ @ This is by 242 million rubles ( $ 3.7 million ) , or 49.4 % @ @ @ @ @ year earlier . ''

ARKHANGELSK, February 21. /TASS/. Tax revenues from companies, working in the tourism sector in the Arkhangelsk Region, grew by almost 50% year-on-year in 2019, the regional tax authority’s press service reported on Friday.
"In 2019, companies and businesses, which work in the Arkhangelsk Region in the sector of tourism, paid 731 million rubles ($11 million) to the budget in taxes," the press service said. "This is by 242 million rubles ($3.7 million), or 49.4% more than they paid a year earlier."


tass--2020-02-21--Four-year-old with suspected coronavirus taken to hospital in Russia’s Yekaterinburg

`` Yekaterinburg ’ s Kirovsky District Court has satisfied the administrative claim of the Sverdlovsk Region Department of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare on the forced hospitalization of a four-year-old girl with suspected coronavirus infection to the City Clinical Hospital No .
40 .
The child will remain in hospital until February 26 .
The verdict is to be enforced immediately , '' the message informs .
YEKATERINBURG , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Yekaterinburg ’ s Kirovsky District Court has ruled to send a four-year-old girl with suspected coronavirus to one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sverdlovsk Regional Court ’ s press service informed reporters on Friday .
According to the press service , on February 2 , a family with two children returned from China ’ s Sanya to Yekaterinburg .
On February 13 , medical professionals informed that one of the children was exhibiting symptoms of an acute respiratory disease .
The child ’ s mother refused to hospitalize the girl or to conduct any tests to find out the source of the infection .
The local department of the Russian consumer rights watchdog addressed the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s forced hospitalization .
The press service informed TASS that the Kirovsky District Court had also sent another child with suspected coronavirus for treatment .
On December 31 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan — a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 12 million people .
The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Cases of COVID-19 have been detected in at least 26 countries , including Russia .
WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global health emergency .
Currently , the total number of people infected with coronavirus nears 75,600 in China with over 2,200 reported deaths .
Meanwhile , over 18,300 people are said to have recovered from it .

"Yekaterinburg’s Kirovsky District Court has satisfied the administrative claim of the Sverdlovsk Region Department of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare on the forced hospitalization of a four-year-old girl with suspected coronavirus infection to the City Clinical Hospital No. 40. The child will remain in hospital until February 26. The verdict is to be enforced immediately," the message informs.
YEKATERINBURG, February 21. /TASS/. Yekaterinburg’s Kirovsky District Court has ruled to send a four-year-old girl with suspected coronavirus to one of the city’s hospitals, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court’s press service informed reporters on Friday.
According to the press service, on February 2, a family with two children returned from China’s Sanya to Yekaterinburg. On February 13, medical professionals informed that one of the children was exhibiting symptoms of an acute respiratory disease. The child’s mother refused to hospitalize the girl or to conduct any tests to find out the source of the infection. The local department of the Russian consumer rights watchdog addressed the court with the demand for the child’s forced hospitalization.
The press service informed TASS that the Kirovsky District Court had also sent another child with suspected coronavirus for treatment.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan — a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 12 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 have been detected in at least 26 countries, including Russia. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency. Currently, the total number of people infected with coronavirus nears 75,600 in China with over 2,200 reported deaths. Meanwhile, over 18,300 people are said to have recovered from it.


tass--2020-02-21--Bulgarian authorities name Russians accused of businessman Gebrev’s assassination attempt

The alleged suspect is being looked into in connection with the Skripal investigation SOFIA , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Bulgarian Prosecutor ’ s Office announced names of the three Russians , accused by the authorities of poisoning businessman Emilian Gebrev in 2015 , the Office said in a statement available on its website .
`` Sofia City Prosecutor ’ s Office has filed charges against three Russian nationals : Sergey Viktorovich Pavlov , Sergey Vyacheslavovich Fedotov and Georgy Gorshkov , '' the statement reads .
`` The investigation has determined that the mentioned persons have never left country under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they used different international passports with false names , '' the message runs .
All the three charged live in Moscow , the statement claims .
The Prosecutor ’ s Office also published photos of the alleged criminals .
The investigation has also acquired information on four more attempts to assassinate the Bulgarian businessman .
Two attempts took place outside Bulgaria , but the entrepreneur never reported them , it says .
According to the Prosecutor ’ s Office , the incident took place between April 28 and May 4 , 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published a video of a masked man walking inside a car garage , which belonged to Emco company owner and his son .
The Emco company specializes in ammunition trade .
Following the 2018 Salisbury incident , in which former intelligence officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by a nerve agent , the British investigation began looking into Russian military intelligence officer , whom they referred to as Sergey Fedotov .
The media reported that the Scotland Yard and MI-5 counter-intelligence service would probe the 2015 assassination attempt of Gebrev and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To that end , a group of British investigators has visited Bulgaria .

The alleged suspect is being looked into in connection with the Skripal investigation
SOFIA, February 21. /TASS/. Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office announced names of the three Russians, accused by the authorities of poisoning businessman Emilian Gebrev in 2015, the Office said in a statement available on its website. "Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against three Russian nationals: Sergey Viktorovich Pavlov, Sergey Vyacheslavovich Fedotov and Georgy Gorshkov," the statement reads. "The investigation has determined that the mentioned persons have never left country under their real names. In various years, they used different international passports with false names," the message runs.
Read also Top Russian diplomat draws parallels between investigations of MH17 crash, Skripal case
All the three charged live in Moscow, the statement claims. The Prosecutor’s Office also published photos of the alleged criminals. The investigation has also acquired information on four more attempts to assassinate the Bulgarian businessman. Two attempts took place outside Bulgaria, but the entrepreneur never reported them, it says. The assassination attempt
Read also Russian Embassy in London criticizes BBC for filming three-part drama on Skripals case


tass--2020-02-21--This week in photos: Putin in St. Petersburg, Ivanka’s mosque tour, and sideway models

Kremlin says new data on MH17 crash in Ukraine demonstrates that Russia was right Dmitry Peskov has commented on the @ @ @ @ @ Military Intelligence and Security Service

West was covering up crimes of Kiev regime that led to Ukraine’s tragedy, Lavrov says
"During this entire period, the population of DPR and LPR was subjected to abuse, perennial shelling on the part of the Kiev regime that openly adopted a course towards Russophobia and genocide," the Russian top diplomat noted
Read more


tass--2020-02-21--Russian military debunk reports of almost one million civilians fleeing Syria’s Idlib

`` Reports of alleged flow of hundreds of thousands of civilians , gravitating towards the Syrian-Turkish border over fights between the terrorists and the government forces in the eastern part of the province , are false , '' Zhuravlev said .
MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria Oleg Zhuravlev debunked reports of hundreds of thousands Idlib residents seeking to flee the province over clashes between the Syrian government forces and the terrorists in the area .
According to the Center head , `` there are no verifiable photo or video materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement of allegedly almost one million civilians towards the Syrian-Turkish border from Idlib de-escalation zone . ''
Zhuravlev also underscored that Russia calls on Turkey to provide civilians an exit from Idlib to areas under Syrian government control .
He noted that the terrorists , who use civilians as human shield , block their exit through humanitarian corridors to checkpoints in Aleppo , Idlib and Hama provinces , set up by the Syrian authorities and the Reconciliation Center .
`` The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria calls on the Turkish side to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a voluntary and safe exit for residents of eastern and southern regions of the Idlib province through open checkpoints to areas under Syrian government control , '' he stated .

"Reports of alleged flow of hundreds of thousands of civilians, gravitating towards the Syrian-Turkish border over fights between the terrorists and the government forces in the eastern part of the province, are false," Zhuravlev said.
MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria Oleg Zhuravlev debunked reports of hundreds of thousands Idlib residents seeking to flee the province over clashes between the Syrian government forces and the terrorists in the area.
According to the Center head, "there are no verifiable photo or video materials or any other evidence supporting claims of movement of allegedly almost one million civilians towards the Syrian-Turkish border from Idlib de-escalation zone."
Zhuravlev also underscored that Russia calls on Turkey to provide civilians an exit from Idlib to areas under Syrian government control. He noted that the terrorists, who use civilians as human shield, block their exit through humanitarian corridors to checkpoints in Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, set up by the Syrian authorities and the Reconciliation Center.
"The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria calls on the Turkish side to take all necessary measures to provide an option of a voluntary and safe exit for residents of eastern and southern regions of the Idlib province through open checkpoints to areas under Syrian government control," he stated.


tass--2020-02-21--Putin discusses prospects for relations with Belarus with Russian Security Council

MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed permanent members of the Russian Security Council @ @ @ @ @ February 21 telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart , Alexander Lukashenko , Putin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ reported on Friday .
`` Putin informed participants in the meeting about the results of @ @ @ @ @ conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko .
The participants in the meeting exchanged views on @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian-Belarusian relations , '' Peskov said .

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed permanent members of the Russian Security Council about the results of his February 21 telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov reported on Friday.
"Putin informed participants in the meeting about the results of his today’s telephone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The participants in the meeting exchanged views on the prospects for further development of the Russian-Belarusian relations," Peskov said.


tass--2020-02-21--Russian, Belarusian paratroopers seize and retain advantageous terrain in drills

`` A joint formation of Russia ’ s Airborne Force and the Special Operations Forces of the Republic of Belarus practiced seizing and retaining advantageous terrain to assist deploying and committing the regiment ’ s main forces to the battle as part of the third stage of joint tactical drills in the Pskov Region , '' the ministry said in a statement .
PSKOV , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian paratroopers and Special Operations forces from Belarus practiced seizing and retaining advantageous terrain during joint tactical drills in the Pskov Region in Russia ’ s northwest , the Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The third stage of the drills ran at three sections of the Strugi Krasniye training range .
At one section , the Belarusian paratroopers live-fired small arms and hand-held grenade launchers , designating the enemy ’ s elimination at their captured positions .
In turn , the main forces of the Guards airborne assault regiment live-fired the guns of BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles at another section of the practice range .
`` About 30 combat vehicles deployed in battle formations and delivered massive fire to strike all the targets that designated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As the enemy ’ s main forces were seizing advantageous terrain , a tank company of a separate tank battalion was waiting for a command in its deployed battle formation as the chief officer ’ s reserve .
After receiving the command , the tanks switched to an offensive , firing 100mm cannons and coaxial machine-guns , striking all the targets and completing the rout of illegal armed formations , '' the press office said .
Paratroopers from Russia and Belarus are holding joint drills on the territory of the Pskov Region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military hardware , including two Mi-24 helicopters and eight Mi-8 gunships of Russia ’ s Western Military District and also four Il-76MD military transport planes of the Russian Aerospace Force .
The drills are running under the direction of Commander of the Pskov Guards Air Assault Division Guards Major-General Igor Kapliy at the Zavelichye practice range in Pskov and at the Strugi Krasniye training ground outside the city .

"A joint formation of Russia’s Airborne Force and the Special Operations Forces of the Republic of Belarus practiced seizing and retaining advantageous terrain to assist deploying and committing the regiment’s main forces to the battle as part of the third stage of joint tactical drills in the Pskov Region," the ministry said in a statement.
PSKOV, February 21. /TASS/. Russian paratroopers and Special Operations forces from Belarus practiced seizing and retaining advantageous terrain during joint tactical drills in the Pskov Region in Russia’s northwest, the Defense Ministry of Russia reported on Friday.
The third stage of the drills ran at three sections of the Strugi Krasniye training range. At one section, the Belarusian paratroopers live-fired small arms and hand-held grenade launchers, designating the enemy’s elimination at their captured positions.
In turn, the main forces of the Guards airborne assault regiment live-fired the guns of BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles at another section of the practice range.
"About 30 combat vehicles deployed in battle formations and delivered massive fire to strike all the targets that designated the enemy," the statement says.
"As the enemy’s main forces were seizing advantageous terrain, a tank company of a separate tank battalion was waiting for a command in its deployed battle formation as the chief officer’s reserve. After receiving the command, the tanks switched to an offensive, firing 100mm cannons and coaxial machine-guns, striking all the targets and completing the rout of illegal armed formations," the press office said.
Paratroopers from Russia and Belarus are holding joint drills on the territory of the Pskov Region on February 18-21. The exercise involves military hardware, including two Mi-24 helicopters and eight Mi-8 gunships of Russia’s Western Military District and also four Il-76MD military transport planes of the Russian Aerospace Force.
The drills are running under the direction of Commander of the Pskov Guards Air Assault Division Guards Major-General Igor Kapliy at the Zavelichye practice range in Pskov and at the Strugi Krasniye training ground outside the city.


tass--2020-02-21--Putin, Erdogan to hold phone talks on evening of February 21, Kremlin confirms

MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have a telephone conversation on the evening of February 21 , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed TASS .
`` Yes , I confirm the telephone conversation .
It is planned this evening , '' he said , commenting on the Turkish president ’ s statement regarding plans to hold talks with Putin at 6 pm Moscow time on Friday .
Erdogan earlier told CNN Turk TV channel that he planned to hold a phone call with the Russian president to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Putin and I will hold talks over the phone today at 18:00 [ same as Moscow time — TASS ] , which will form Turkey ’ s position on Syria ’ s Idlib , '' Erdogan said .
According to the Turkish president , `` the current events in Idlib can only be considered war . ''
He added that 150 Syrian soldiers were killed when the Turkish Armed Forces were forced to return fire .
The Turkish president revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria on March 5 in Istanbul .
However , according to Erdogan , the Russian leader has not given his consent yet .

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have a telephone conversation on the evening of February 21, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed TASS.
"Yes, I confirm the telephone conversation. It is planned this evening," he said, commenting on the Turkish president’s statement regarding plans to hold talks with Putin at 6 pm Moscow time on Friday.
Erdogan earlier told CNN Turk TV channel that he planned to hold a phone call with the Russian president to discuss the situation in Syria’s Idlib.
"Putin and I will hold talks over the phone today at 18:00 [same as Moscow time — TASS], which will form Turkey’s position on Syria’s Idlib," Erdogan said.
According to the Turkish president, "the current events in Idlib can only be considered war." He added that 150 Syrian soldiers were killed when the Turkish Armed Forces were forced to return fire.
The Turkish president revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered Putin to hold a four-party summit on Syria on March 5 in Istanbul. However, according to Erdogan, the Russian leader has not given his consent yet.


tass--2020-02-21--US intel services launch anti-Russia crusade in Eastern Europe, says Moscow

`` Bulgaria has become the epicenter of this campaign in the Balkans .
It is the place where ‘ spy ’ scandals are staged regularly with subsequent unfounded expulsions of Russian diplomats , '' he stressed .
`` According to the information available , the US special services have launched a large-scale campaign for discrediting political and public figures in Eastern Europe who stand for developing good neighborly relations with Russia .
For this purpose , they are mobilizing agents and non-governmental organizations financed by official US agencies , '' the spokesman commented .
MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign in Eastern Europe to undermine good neighborly relations with Russia , spokesman for Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Ivanov said on Friday .
As the latest example of this campaign , the spokesman pointed to the spread of 'fake ' news that the main theme of the talks of Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum on February 10 was the fate of Bulgarian businessman Vasil Bozhkov allegedly detained in the United Arab Emirates on Bulgaria ’ s demand on charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been found as a result of our probe that this ‘ sensational ’ news as a prime source came from a representative of Bulgarian special services in one of the countries of the region that [ the representative — TASS ] is controlled and encouraged by the Americans who are directing his work against Russian interests , '' the spokesman said .
As the spokesman stressed , `` the falsified information on the subject matter of the meeting between Sheikh Mohammed and the director of Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Service also pursued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our countries and cooperation between the UAE and Russian special services . ''
Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Chief Naryshkin paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates on February 11-12 .
According to Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Service , the talks focused solely on international security issues and bilateral cooperation .
Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian People ’ s Assembly Valery Simeonov claimed that the issue of releasing Bozhkov had been allegedly raised at the meeting .
Russia ’ s Foreign Intelligence Service dismissed this allegation as ‘ fake news ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

"Bulgaria has become the epicenter of this campaign in the Balkans. It is the place where ‘spy’ scandals are staged regularly with subsequent unfounded expulsions of Russian diplomats," he stressed.
"According to the information available, the US special services have launched a large-scale campaign for discrediting political and public figures in Eastern Europe who stand for developing good neighborly relations with Russia. For this purpose, they are mobilizing agents and non-governmental organizations financed by official US agencies," the spokesman commented.
MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. US intelligence services have launched a campaign in Eastern Europe to undermine good neighborly relations with Russia, spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.
As the latest example of this campaign, the spokesman pointed to the spread of 'fake' news that the main theme of the talks of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum on February 10 was the fate of Bulgarian businessman Vasil Bozhkov allegedly detained in the United Arab Emirates on Bulgaria’s demand on charges of financial crimes.
"It has been found as a result of our probe that this ‘sensational’ news as a prime source came from a representative of Bulgarian special services in one of the countries of the region that [the representative — TASS] is controlled and encouraged by the Americans who are directing his work against Russian interests," the spokesman said.
As the spokesman stressed, "the falsified information on the subject matter of the meeting between Sheikh Mohammed and the director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service also pursued the goal of complicating inter-state relations between our countries and cooperation between the UAE and Russian special services."
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Chief Naryshkin paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates on February 11-12. According to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the talks focused solely on international security issues and bilateral cooperation. Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian People’s Assembly Valery Simeonov claimed that the issue of releasing Bozhkov had been allegedly raised at the meeting. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service dismissed this allegation as ‘fake news’ and ‘a sick imagination.’


tass--2020-02-21--Kremlin says no need for international investigation into Nemtsov’s murder

`` We have our law , and in accordance with our law , Russian investigative bodies are carrying out the investigation , and no international investigation can be held on the territory of the Russian Federation , '' he said in response to a question on whether the Kremlin is interested in an international investigation of this case .
MOSCOW , February 21 .
/TASS/ .
The investigation of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov ’ s murder is held in accordance with the Russian law , no international investigation can take place on Russian territory , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not comment on the Russian Foreign Ministry ’ s refusal to provide case materials to the OSCE due to them being a state secret .
`` I think you ’ d better address the Foreign Ministry , you ’ re citing its response , after all , '' he said in response to a question regarding the nature of the state secret .
`` I would rather not comment on the statements of our Foreign Ministry . ''
On February 20 , OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 's Special Rapporteur Margareta Cederfelt ( Sweden ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report regarding Boris Nemtsov ’ s murder .
The report spans 43 pages .
Its authors inform of the course of the investigation , the conclusions reached by the investigation , as well as the reaction of the UN , the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ( PACE ) and various international organizations to Nemtsov ’ s murder .
Boris Nemtsov , Russia ’ s former deputy prime minister under then-President Boris Yeltsin , co-chairman of the Parnas party and lawmaker from the Yaroslavl regional legislature , was gunned down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Five individuals were arrested on suspicion of murdering the politician : Zaur Dadayev , Anzor and Shadid Gubashev , Temirlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhayev .
In July 2017 , the convicted perpetrators received sentences ranging from 11 to 20 years in a maximum security penal colony .

"We have our law, and in accordance with our law, Russian investigative bodies are carrying out the investigation, and no international investigation can be held on the territory of the Russian Federation," he said in response to a question on whether the Kremlin is interested in an international investigation of this case.
MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. The investigation of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov’s murder is held in accordance with the Russian law, no international investigation can take place on Russian territory, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.
Peskov did not comment on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s refusal to provide case materials to the OSCE due to them being a state secret. "I think you’d better address the Foreign Ministry, you’re citing its response, after all," he said in response to a question regarding the nature of the state secret. "I would rather not comment on the statements of our Foreign Ministry."
On February 20, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Rapporteur Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) presented a final version of the investigation report regarding Boris Nemtsov’s murder. The report spans 43 pages. Its authors inform of the course of the investigation, the conclusions reached by the investigation, as well as the reaction of the UN, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and various international organizations to Nemtsov’s murder.
Boris Nemtsov, Russia’s former deputy prime minister under then-President Boris Yeltsin, co-chairman of the Parnas party and lawmaker from the Yaroslavl regional legislature, was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27, 2015. Five individuals were arrested on suspicion of murdering the politician: Zaur Dadayev, Anzor and Shadid Gubashev, Temirlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhayev. In July 2017, the convicted perpetrators received sentences ranging from 11 to 20 years in a maximum security penal colony.


tass--2020-02-22--Russian diplomats helped US citizens during Wuhan evacuation - embassy official

BEIJING , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
Russian diplomats provided assistance to US nationals during their recent operation to evacuate Russians from the Chinese city of Wuhan , Russian embassy officials told reporters on Saturday .
A thing to note is that the officials remained under quarantine in one of the embassy ’ s buildings until Friday night .
`` The [ Russian ] flag proved really helpful .
It was kind of a chaos situation [ at Wuhan Tianhe Airport - TASS ] because there were a lot of Americans , more than 400 , but there were no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport were clearly distressed , many of them were frightened , many did not speak Chinese well , or at all .
When these poor things saw our flag , we told them that ‘ This is Russia , ’ and they asked us : ‘ And where is the US ?
’ '' Embassy First Secretary Konstantin Nevezhkin said .
`` We had to make a banner reading ‘ USA ’ and containing information about the section where Americans could register .
However , we had to take a couple of elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t make head or tail of the situation , '' he added .
`` We then started asking foreigners who came up to our stand if they knew whose flag it was , and they said it was Russia ’ s .
So we asked why they had come up to us then ?
And they answered , ‘ because we know you will help us anyway , '' the diplomat pointed out .
On February 5 , two military planes evacuated 144 people , including Russians and foreign nationals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tyumen .
Upon arrival in Russia , they were taken to a health camp 28 kilometers away from the city for a 14-day quarantine .
On February 18 , Head of the Russian consumer watchdog in the Tuymen region Galina Sharukho said , citing results of medical tests conducted by the Tyumen Region Infection Pathology Research Institute , that all evacuees had tested negative for the novel coronavirus .
The Washington Post wrote earlier that US nationals seeking to be evacuated from Wuhan `` described scenes of chaos at the airport , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not even a sign indicating where to gather . ''
`` This was in contrast to the Russian evacuation , where consular officials had set up an information desk with a Russian flag and had provided buses to bring Russian citizens through the checkpoints into the airport , '' the newspaper added .
In late December 2019 , Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , central China .
Coronavirus cases have also been reported in 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chinese authorities , about 76,300 people have been infected with the virus in the country .
The death toll has passed 2,300 , while over 20,600 patients have recovered .
The WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global health emergency and named the virus COVID-19 .

BEIJING, February 22. /TASS/. Russian diplomats provided assistance to US nationals during their recent operation to evacuate Russians from the Chinese city of Wuhan, Russian embassy officials told reporters on Saturday. A thing to note is that the officials remained under quarantine in one of the embassy’s buildings until Friday night.
"The [Russian] flag proved really helpful. It was kind of a chaos situation [at Wuhan Tianhe Airport - TASS] because there were a lot of Americans, more than 400, but there were no US officials. People coming to the airport were clearly distressed, many of them were frightened, many did not speak Chinese well, or at all. When these poor things saw our flag, we told them that ‘This is Russia,’ and they asked us: ‘And where is the US?’" Embassy First Secretary Konstantin Nevezhkin said.
"We had to make a banner reading ‘USA’ and containing information about the section where Americans could register. However, we had to take a couple of elderly people to that section because they just couldn’t make head or tail of the situation," he added. "We then started asking foreigners who came up to our stand if they knew whose flag it was, and they said it was Russia’s. So we asked why they had come up to us then? And they answered, ‘because we know you will help us anyway," the diplomat pointed out.
On February 5, two military planes evacuated 144 people, including Russians and foreign nationals, from Wuhan to the Siberian city of Tyumen. Upon arrival in Russia, they were taken to a health camp 28 kilometers away from the city for a 14-day quarantine. On February 18, Head of the Russian consumer watchdog in the Tuymen region Galina Sharukho said, citing results of medical tests conducted by the Tyumen Region Infection Pathology Research Institute, that all evacuees had tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
The Washington Post wrote earlier that US nationals seeking to be evacuated from Wuhan "described scenes of chaos at the airport, with no officials there to help them and not even a sign indicating where to gather." "This was in contrast to the Russian evacuation, where consular officials had set up an information desk with a Russian flag and had provided buses to bring Russian citizens through the checkpoints into the airport," the newspaper added.
Coronavirus outbreak
In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. Coronavirus cases have also been reported in 27 other countries, including Russia.
According to Chinese authorities, about 76,300 people have been infected with the virus in the country. The death toll has passed 2,300, while over 20,600 patients have recovered.
The WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global health emergency and named the virus COVID-19.


tass--2020-02-22--US embarks on dangerous game simulating nuclear strike on Russia - Russian diplomat

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow condemns Washington ’ s attempts to simulate a limited nuclear strike on Russia , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS on Saturday .
`` The United States continues a series of command-staff exercises and other drills involving the simulation of limited nuclear strikes , particularly - as it became known recently - on targets in Russia , '' he said , commenting on a recent military drill in the US .
`` We condemn such actions because they clearly show that Washington is determined to pursue the path of confrontation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of nuclear weapons , '' Ryabkov added .
`` The US is embarking on a highly dangerous game instead of focusing on efforts to strengthen the arms control system that would also cover nuclear weapons , '' the senior Russia diplomat pointed out .
`` As we have stressed on numerous occasions , we would use nuclear weapons only in two exceptional cases - if Russia faces an attack with weapons of mass destruction or an aggression involving the large-scale use of conventional arms that puts the country ’ s existence at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that `` allegations saying that we could act based on the ‘ escalation for the sake of de-escalation ’ principle are just idle talk that has nothing to do with reality . ''
`` This is why we would like to once again draw the attention of our American colleagues to the need to dot all the i ’ s in their defense planning and once again confirm the well-known formula that has been there since the Soviet era , which says that that there can be no winners in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unleashed . ''
`` The United States ’ reluctance to confirm the formula gives us more reason to believe that Washington continues drawing up scenarios involving the use of nuclear weapons , '' the Russian deputy foreign minister stressed .
A senior Pentagon official told reporters earlier that the US had conducted a classified military drill , the scenario of which `` included a European contingency where you ’ re conducting a war with Russia and Russia decides to use a low-yield , limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` During the course of the exercise , we simulated responding with a nuclear weapon '' .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Moscow condemns Washington’s attempts to simulate a limited nuclear strike on Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS on Saturday.
"The United States continues a series of command-staff exercises and other drills involving the simulation of limited nuclear strikes, particularly - as it became known recently - on targets in Russia," he said, commenting on a recent military drill in the US. "We condemn such actions because they clearly show that Washington is determined to pursue the path of confrontation and keep lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons," Ryabkov added.
"The US is embarking on a highly dangerous game instead of focusing on efforts to strengthen the arms control system that would also cover nuclear weapons," the senior Russia diplomat pointed out. "As we have stressed on numerous occasions, we would use nuclear weapons only in two exceptional cases - if Russia faces an attack with weapons of mass destruction or an aggression involving the large-scale use of conventional arms that puts the country’s existence at risk," he emphasized.
Ryabkov pointed out that "allegations saying that we could act based on the ‘escalation for the sake of de-escalation’ principle are just idle talk that has nothing to do with reality." "This is why we would like to once again draw the attention of our American colleagues to the need to dot all the i’s in their defense planning and once again confirm the well-known formula that has been there since the Soviet era, which says that that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be unleashed."
"The United States’ reluctance to confirm the formula gives us more reason to believe that Washington continues drawing up scenarios involving the use of nuclear weapons," the Russian deputy foreign minister stressed.
A senior Pentagon official told reporters earlier that the US had conducted a classified military drill, the scenario of which "included a European contingency where you’re conducting a war with Russia and Russia decides to use a low-yield, limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory," the official said, adding: "During the course of the exercise, we simulated responding with a nuclear weapon".


tass--2020-02-22--Household gas explosion in southern Russia kills two - Emergencies Ministry

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
A household gas explosion in the town of Azov in Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ two people and left another one injured , the Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a @ @ @ @ @ were killed , one injured person was taken to the hospital .
A total of @ @ @ @ @ the building , '' the statement reads .
The blast occurred in a third-floor apartment @ @ @ @ @ to the regional emergencies agency , the gas explosion caused a fire that engulfed 60 @ @ @ @ @ has been extinguished .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. A household gas explosion in the town of Azov in Russia’s southern Rostov region has killed two people and left another one injured, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a statement.
"Two people were killed, one injured person was taken to the hospital. A total of 49 people were evacuated from the building," the statement reads.
The blast occurred in a third-floor apartment on Saturday morning. According to the regional emergencies agency, the gas explosion caused a fire that engulfed 60 square meters. The blaze has been extinguished.


tass--2020-02-22--Albania extradites Russian who fought for Islamic State in Syria - FSB

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
Albania has extradited a Russian national who fought for the Islamic State terror group ( outlawed in Russia ) , Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) said in a statement on Saturday .
`` The Federal Security Service , together with the Russian Prosecutor General ’ s Office , the INTERPOL National Central Bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Federal Penitentiary Service , arranged the extradition of an internationally wanted Russian national , Rasul Mislayev , from Albania , '' the statement reads .
According to the FSB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` left for Syria in 2013 to participate in the Islamic State ’ s military activities against the government forces . ''
He was detained in Albania in July 2019 at Russia ’ s request and put in pre-extradition custody .
Albania ’ s authorities granted Moscow ’ s extradition request after Russian law enforcement agencies had provided evidence of Maslyaev ’ s crimes .
Officials from the Federal Penitentiary Service and the INTERPOL National Central Bureau brought Mislayev to Russia on Friday .
`` The defendant has been taken to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him is underway , '' the FSB said .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Albania has extradited a Russian national who fought for the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on Saturday.
"The Federal Security Service, together with the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Federal Penitentiary Service, arranged the extradition of an internationally wanted Russian national, Rasul Mislayev, from Albania," the statement reads.
According to the FSB, Rasul Mislayev shared radical Islamist ideas and "left for Syria in 2013 to participate in the Islamic State’s military activities against the government forces." He was detained in Albania in July 2019 at Russia’s request and put in pre-extradition custody. Albania’s authorities granted Moscow’s extradition request after Russian law enforcement agencies had provided evidence of Maslyaev’s crimes.
Officials from the Federal Penitentiary Service and the INTERPOL National Central Bureau brought Mislayev to Russia on Friday. "The defendant has been taken to a pre-trial detention facility, an investigation into him is underway," the FSB said.


tass--2020-02-22--US intelligence officials provide no evidence of Russian election meddling - reporter

WASHINGTON , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
US intelligence officials involved in a classified briefing at the House of Representatives failed to provide evidence proving Russia ’ s alleged interference in the US 2020 presidential election campaign , CBS News Senior Investigative Correspondent Catherine Herridge wrote on Twitter .
`` A source familiar with the house briefing at CBS News says briefers pressed for evidence to back up claims Russia ‘ trying to help POTUS in 2020.
’ Asked if there was signals intelligence - such as phone intercepts or ‘ SIGINT ’ - to back up claims , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the tweet reads .
The New York Times said earlier that `` intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected , five people familiar with the matter said , a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump , who complained that Democrats would use it against him . ''
According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov , the Kremlin expects that as the US presidential election approaches , there will be an increasing number of reports about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the vote .
`` This is another in a series of paranoid reports , and we regret to say that their number will grow as the election approaches .
They certainly have nothing to do with the truth , '' he told reporters , commenting on the New York Time article .
US intelligence continues to accuse Russia of interfering in the American political process in 2016 .
An investigation into Moscow ’ s alleged interference , led by ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller , took almost two years to complete .
Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collusion between Trump ’ s campaign and Russia .
Moscow has also repeatedly refuted these allegations .

WASHINGTON, February 22. /TASS/. US intelligence officials involved in a classified briefing at the House of Representatives failed to provide evidence proving Russia’s alleged interference in the US 2020 presidential election campaign, CBS News Senior Investigative Correspondent Catherine Herridge wrote on Twitter.
"A source familiar with the house briefing at CBS News says briefers pressed for evidence to back up claims Russia ‘trying to help POTUS in 2020.’ Asked if there was signals intelligence - such as phone intercepts or ‘SIGINT’ - to back up claims, the source said briefers had none to offer," the tweet reads.
The New York Times said earlier that "intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him."
According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin expects that as the US presidential election approaches, there will be an increasing number of reports about Russia’s alleged attempts to interfere in the vote. "This is another in a series of paranoid reports, and we regret to say that their number will grow as the election approaches. They certainly have nothing to do with the truth," he told reporters, commenting on the New York Time article.
US intelligence continues to accuse Russia of interfering in the American political process in 2016. An investigation into Moscow’s alleged interference, led by ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller, took almost two years to complete. Mueller eventually announced that there had been no collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Moscow has also repeatedly refuted these allegations.


tass--2020-02-22--US claims Russia is behind cyber-attacks on Georgia are tabloid journalism - embassy

WASHINGTON , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
The United States shirks meaningful discussions of information security issues with Russia , but at the same time accuses Moscow of cyber-attacks against Georgia , thus resorting to tabloid journalism methods , the Russian embassy in Washington said on its Facebook page on Friday .
`` We are disappointed , but not surprised by just one more groundless accusation against Russia in connection with the alleged cyber-attack on Georgia in October 2019 .
It is regrettable that American diplomats , once famous for their high professionalism , ever more often resort to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The main thing for them is to make a splash . ''
It is deplorable that the United States ever more often neglects the norms of international law postulating that accusations against sovereign states must be accompanied by evidence .
The U.S. and the West in general today opts for the so-called `` rule-based order '' - a situation where speculations , supported by a sufficient number of `` allies and partners '' are presented as `` the ultimate truth '' , the embassy said .
Russia is ready for an expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international agenda .
Ensuring information security is one of these .
Unfortunately , the counterparts are reluctant to have substantive discussions and prefer to replace professional diplomacy with its `` megaphone '' variety .
On Thursday , Georgia ’ s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vladimir Konstantinidi came out with allegations that last October ’ s massive cyberattack against his country ’ s government and commercial sites was carried out by the Russian General Staff ’ s intelligence directorate .
He argued that the investigation conducted by the Georgian side and also information obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same direction .
A number of Western countries supported Tbilisi ’ s charges .
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Washington would offer assistance to Georgia to bolster its ability to protect itself from alleged Russian attacks .
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed these charges as groundless fakes , adding that their political bias was more than obvious .
The commentary said that the charges the United States , Britain , Georgia and a number of other countries put forward looked amazingly synchronized .
Also , the Russian Foreign Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonize Russia , while showing no intention of deriving lessons from last year ’ s crisis .

WASHINGTON, February 22. /TASS/. The United States shirks meaningful discussions of information security issues with Russia, but at the same time accuses Moscow of cyber-attacks against Georgia, thus resorting to tabloid journalism methods, the Russian embassy in Washington said on its Facebook page on Friday.
"We are disappointed, but not surprised by just one more groundless accusation against Russia in connection with the alleged cyber-attack on Georgia in October 2019. It is regrettable that American diplomats, once famous for their high professionalism, ever more often resort to the methods of tabloid journalists in their work. The main thing for them is to make a splash."
It is deplorable that the United States ever more often neglects the norms of international law postulating that accusations against sovereign states must be accompanied by evidence. The U.S. and the West in general today opts for the so-called "rule-based order" - a situation where speculations, supported by a sufficient number of "allies and partners" are presented as "the ultimate truth", the embassy said.
Russia is ready for an expert dialogue over all pressing issues on the international agenda. Ensuring information security is one of these. Unfortunately, the counterparts are reluctant to have substantive discussions and prefer to replace professional diplomacy with its "megaphone" variety.
On Thursday, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vladimir Konstantinidi came out with allegations that last October’s massive cyberattack against his country’s government and commercial sites was carried out by the Russian General Staff’s intelligence directorate. He argued that the investigation conducted by the Georgian side and also information obtained by Tbilisi from foreign partners pointed in the same direction. A number of Western countries supported Tbilisi’s charges. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Washington would offer assistance to Georgia to bolster its ability to protect itself from alleged Russian attacks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed these charges as groundless fakes, adding that their political bias was more than obvious. The commentary said that the charges the United States, Britain, Georgia and a number of other countries put forward looked amazingly synchronized. Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed regret Georgia continued its attempts to demonize Russia, while showing no intention of deriving lessons from last year’s crisis.


tass--2020-02-22--Coronavirus death toll in China up to 2,345

TASS , February 22 .
The death toll from the novel coronavirus in China has been up to 2,345 , while 20,659 patients have recovered , the National Health Commission said on Saturday .
Over the past twenty four hours the virus killed 109 ; 2,393 were discharged from hospitals .
There have been a total of 76,288 novel coronavirus cases in the country so far .
According to the Chinese authorities , a total of 53,284 patients are infected at the moment in 31 provinces .
The condition of 11,400 is said to be grave .
The greatest number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered in Hubei province .
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease was registered there last December there have been 63,400 cases of the disease .
More than 1,700 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals .
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-2019 ) was identified in Wuhan , with a population of 12 million - the most densely populated city of central China - at the end of December 2019 .
The World Health Organization declared it as an international emergency and an epidemic with multiple foci .
Outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been exposed in 27 countries , including Russia .

TASS, February 22. The death toll from the novel coronavirus in China has been up to 2,345, while 20,659 patients have recovered, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.
Over the past twenty four hours the virus killed 109; 2,393 were discharged from hospitals. There have been a total of 76,288 novel coronavirus cases in the country so far.
According to the Chinese authorities, a total of 53,284 patients are infected at the moment in 31 provinces. The condition of 11,400 is said to be grave. The greatest number of lethal outcomes - 106 - was registered in Hubei province. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease was registered there last December there have been 63,400 cases of the disease. More than 1,700 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) was identified in Wuhan, with a population of 12 million - the most densely populated city of central China - at the end of December 2019. The World Health Organization declared it as an international emergency and an epidemic with multiple foci. Outside China some cases of the disease have been exposed in 27 countries, including Russia.


tass--2020-02-22--Russia grants $500,000 for UN project to upset weapons supplies to terrorists

UNITED NATIONS , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has provided half a million dollars for the implementation of the UN project for upsetting weapons supplies to terrorists in Central Asia , Russia ’ s permanent representative at the UN , Vasily Nebenzya , said at a special ceremony on the occasion of the launch of this project under the auspices of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism on Friday .
Nebenzya said `` it was the first-ever comprehensive program for technical assistance under the UN aegis that has a triple function of anti-terror struggle , disarmament and struggle against organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half a million US dollars for implementing the first phase of this project .
We are going to provide expert support in the process of the program ’ s implementation , if need be , '' he promised .
Nebenzya said that on February 19 a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the regional anti-terrorist structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization .
`` I am certain that the training sessions and seminars the project provides for will be equally useful for the countries of the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and SCO bodies concerned , '' he said .
UN Deputy Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov told the media there was a fundamental question behind the idea of the project launched on Friday : `` Where do the terrorists get weapons from ? ''
`` Russia was the first to raise this issue at a meeting of the UN Security Council .
It is a very legitimate question , '' Voronkov said .
`` This initiative is aimed precisely at finding out where the terrorists obtain their weapons from .
Central Asia was selected as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it borders on a region where terrorist activity is very high .
Also , the countries of the region have established good cooperation in the field of preventing illegal arms trafficking , '' Voronkov explained .
Taking part in the event were diplomats from the countries involved in the project - Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and also the Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Jumakhon Giyosov .
They thanked Russia for financing the project .
`` Central Asia is the first region that will implement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counter-Terrorism Strategy .
I do hope that the project will lay the basis for wider cooperation in the field of arms control , '' said Kazakhstan ’ s permanent representative at the UN Kairat Umarov .

UNITED NATIONS, February 22. /TASS/. Russia has provided half a million dollars for the implementation of the UN project for upsetting weapons supplies to terrorists in Central Asia, Russia’s permanent representative at the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said at a special ceremony on the occasion of the launch of this project under the auspices of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism on Friday.
Nebenzya said "it was the first-ever comprehensive program for technical assistance under the UN aegis that has a triple function of anti-terror struggle, disarmament and struggle against organized crime."
"Russia has provided half a million US dollars for implementing the first phase of this project. We are going to provide expert support in the process of the program’s implementation, if need be," he promised.
Nebenzya said that on February 19 a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the regional anti-terrorist structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
"I am certain that the training sessions and seminars the project provides for will be equally useful for the countries of the region and for the experts of the UN and SCO bodies concerned," he said.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov told the media there was a fundamental question behind the idea of the project launched on Friday: "Where do the terrorists get weapons from?"
"Russia was the first to raise this issue at a meeting of the UN Security Council. It is a very legitimate question," Voronkov said.
"This initiative is aimed precisely at finding out where the terrorists obtain their weapons from. Central Asia was selected as the venue for starting the project, because it borders on a region where terrorist activity is very high. Also, the countries of the region have established good cooperation in the field of preventing illegal arms trafficking," Voronkov explained.
Taking part in the event were diplomats from the countries involved in the project - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and also the Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Jumakhon Giyosov. They thanked Russia for financing the project.
"Central Asia is the first region that will implement in practice the provisions of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I do hope that the project will lay the basis for wider cooperation in the field of arms control," said Kazakhstan’s permanent representative at the UN Kairat Umarov.


tass--2020-02-23--630 new coronavirus cases reported in China’s Hubei province

TASS , February 23 .
Authorities in central China ’ s Hubei Province have recorded 630 new coronavirus cases in the region and the total number of those infected has reached 64,084 , the country ’ s health commission said on Sunday .
Over the past day , 96 people have died in the province , including 82 in the regional center of Wuhan .
Some 1,742 people recovered and were discharged from hospitals .
More than 40,000 others are undergoing treatment , with 8,853 of them in critical condition .
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2,346 those infected have died , and most deaths ( 1,856 ) were registered in Wuhan .
On December 31 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 12 million people .
The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Cases of COVID-19 have been detected in at least 27 countries , including Russia .
The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China @ @ @ @ @

TASS, February 23. The death toll from the novel coronavirus in China has soared to 2,442, and 22,888 people have recovered to date, the National Health and Family Planning Commission reported.
Over the past day, 97 deaths from the novel coronavirus have been recorded and 2,230 people have been discharged from hospital. The total number of those infected with the disease has reached 76,936.
Most deaths (96) over the past 24 hours have been reported in the Hubei Province, central China. More than 64,000 coronavirus cases were recorded in the province, where the outbreak occurred in December 2019. On Saturday, 1,742 patients recovered and were discharged.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 12 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 have been detected in at least 27 countries, including Russia. The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.


tass--2020-02-23--Eight Russians evacuated from Diamond Princess return home

MOSCOW , February 23 .
/TASS/ .
Eight Russians , who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan , have been taken home by the Russian Emergencies Ministry ’ s aircraft , Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters on Sunday .
`` Eight Russian nationals have returned to Russia , and three of them were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus while being onboard the ship , while the others have refused to take the flight , '' Golikova said .
The evacuation effort was carried out by the Emergency Ministry with the assistance of the Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and specialists from the consumer rights watchdog and Russian doctors .
A total of 24 Russian nationals were onboard the ship .
Deputy Prime Minister told that those , who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship , and also individuals who evacuated them will be quarantined for 14 days in Kazan .
`` All the evacuated Russian nationals and also persons who carried out the evacuation effort will be quarantined under medical supervision for 14 days in Kazan in a special facility where all conditions will be created for their convenient stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus will be conducted , '' Golikova said .
She noted that Russian nationals feel good and three of them have been infected with the novel coronavirus in a mild form .
`` Our fellow countrymen , who have returned to Russia , feel good .
Those individuals , who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , have a mild form of the disease without any serious symptoms and complications .
Their health and the health of their family is not under any threat , '' Golikova said .
The Diamond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 and returned on February 3 .
A coronavirus-infected Chinese citizen who left the ship on January 25 in Hong Kong was among the passengers .
In accordance with the decision made by the Japanese authorities , the ship was anchored near Yokohama and quarantined for two weeks since February 5 .
Some 3,700 passengers and crew members from 50 countries were onboard the vessel .
The evacuation effort for the passengers who did not contract the novel coronavirus lasted on February 19-21 .
During this period , some 1,000 people left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak outside China .
A total of 634 people were infected with the novel coronavirus and two old Japanese nationals died in hospital .
Some 1,200 people - the crew and those who had contacted with those infected - currently remain onboard the vessel .
The Japanese authorities plan to allow them to leave the ship soon .
The US , South Korea , Australia , Israel , Canada , Hong Kong and Russia evacuated their citizens on special charter flights .

MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. Eight Russians, who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, have been taken home by the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s aircraft, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters on Sunday.
"Eight Russian nationals have returned to Russia, and three of them were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus while being onboard the ship, while the others have refused to take the flight," Golikova said.
The evacuation effort was carried out by the Emergency Ministry with the assistance of the Foreign Ministry, the Russian Embassy in Japan and specialists from the consumer rights watchdog and Russian doctors. A total of 24 Russian nationals were onboard the ship.
Deputy Prime Minister told that those, who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and also individuals who evacuated them will be quarantined for 14 days in Kazan.
"All the evacuated Russian nationals and also persons who carried out the evacuation effort will be quarantined under medical supervision for 14 days in Kazan in a special facility where all conditions will be created for their convenient stay. During the quarantine tests for the novel coronavirus will be conducted," Golikova said.
She noted that Russian nationals feel good and three of them have been infected with the novel coronavirus in a mild form.
"Our fellow countrymen, who have returned to Russia, feel good. Those individuals, who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, have a mild form of the disease without any serious symptoms and complications. Their health and the health of their family is not under any threat," Golikova said.
About the situation onboard
The Diamond Princess cruise ship left Yokohama on January 20 and returned on February 3. A coronavirus-infected Chinese citizen who left the ship on January 25 in Hong Kong was among the passengers. In accordance with the decision made by the Japanese authorities, the ship was anchored near Yokohama and quarantined for two weeks since February 5. Some 3,700 passengers and crew members from 50 countries were onboard the vessel.
The evacuation effort for the passengers who did not contract the novel coronavirus lasted on February 19-21. During this period, some 1,000 people left the vessel, the site of the biggest coronavirus outbreak outside China.
A total of 634 people were infected with the novel coronavirus and two old Japanese nationals died in hospital. Some 1,200 people - the crew and those who had contacted with those infected - currently remain onboard the vessel. The Japanese authorities plan to allow them to leave the ship soon. The US, South Korea, Australia, Israel, Canada, Hong Kong and Russia evacuated their citizens on special charter flights.


tass--2020-02-22--US’ allegations about Russia’s spreading misinformation about coronavirus seen as fake

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
The United States ’ allegations about Russia ’ s indulging in misinformation campaign concerning the novel coronavirus origin are a deliberate fake , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Saturday .
`` It is a deliberate fake , '' she said , commenting on media reports that the US Department of State thinks that Russia is behind proliferation of misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak .
France Presse said earlier on Saturday citing unnamed US Department of State officials that US diplomats had been tasked to offset a misinformation campaign allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social networks .
The agency ’ s sources claimed that corresponding posts appear on accounts of users `` linked with Russia . ''
Commenting on these reports , US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker claimed that some `` Russian malign actors '' were allegedly behind the misinformation campaign fueling coronavirus fears and threatening `` public safety by distracting from the global health response . ''
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus ( previously known as 2019-nCoV ) was reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 12 million , in late December .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency , characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple foci .
Cases of the new coronavirus have also been reported from 27 other countries , including Russia .
According to the latest update , the number of confirmed cases of the disease has exceeded 76,200 , with 2,345 people killed by this coronavirus .
More than 20,000 have recovered .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The United States’ allegations about Russia’s indulging in misinformation campaign concerning the novel coronavirus origin are a deliberate fake, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Saturday.
"It is a deliberate fake," she said, commenting on media reports that the US Department of State thinks that Russia is behind proliferation of misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak.
France Presse said earlier on Saturday citing unnamed US Department of State officials that US diplomats had been tasked to offset a misinformation campaign allegedly unleashed in Twitter, Facebook and Instagram social networks. The agency’s sources claimed that corresponding posts appear on accounts of users "linked with Russia." Commenting on these reports, US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker claimed that some "Russian malign actors" were allegedly behind the misinformation campaign fueling coronavirus fears and threatening "public safety by distracting from the global health response."
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple foci.
Cases of the new coronavirus have also been reported from 27 other countries, including Russia. According to the latest update, the number of confirmed cases of the disease has exceeded 76,200, with 2,345 people killed by this coronavirus. More than 20,000 have recovered.


tass--2020-02-22--Humanitarian situation in Syria improves after liberation of Damascus-Aleppo highway

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
The humanitarian situation in Syria has improved over the six day following the liberation of the M-5 highway linking Aleppo and Damascus from terrorists , Oleg Zhuravlev , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , told reporters on Saturday .
`` After the M-5 highway was liberated from the control of terrorist groups , direct traffic between the city of Damascus , Hama and Aleppo has been resumed for the first time in the past eight years .
It has improved the humanitarian situation in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have used this highway over the six day after its liberation , '' he said .
According to Zhuravlev , officers of the Russian reconciliation center conducted patrol missions along four routes in the Aleppo , al-Hasakah and Raqqa governorates .
No incidents were reported .
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
The center ’ s officers regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation .
The main efforts of the Russian military are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The humanitarian situation in Syria has improved over the six day following the liberation of the M-5 highway linking Aleppo and Damascus from terrorists, Oleg Zhuravlev, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, told reporters on Saturday.
"After the M-5 highway was liberated from the control of terrorist groups, direct traffic between the city of Damascus, Hama and Aleppo has been resumed for the first time in the past eight years. It has improved the humanitarian situation in the region considerably. More than 150,000 civilians have used this highway over the six day after its liberation," he said.
According to Zhuravlev, officers of the Russian reconciliation center conducted patrol missions along four routes in the Aleppo, al-Hasakah and Raqqa governorates. No incidents were reported.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-02-22--Putin practicing sports, working out every day - Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW , February 22 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin practices sports every day , continuing to do sambo @ @ @ @ @ , swimming and workout , Putin ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ he continues this practice ( of sambo training - TASS ) .
I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ it often , the more so as he has added ice hockey to his personal @ @ @ @ @ he tries to keep himself fit , going swimming , doing sambo and general workouts @ @ @ @ @ practice with him , '' he said in an interview with Channel One TV at @ @ @ @ @ Combat Sambo League in Sochi .
Putin arrived in Sochi on Saturday evening to attend @ @ @ @ @ League .
Putin , a holder of the Master of Sports title in sambo , @ @ @ @ @ than once .

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin practices sports every day, continuing to do sambo, along with ice hockey, swimming and workout, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.
"I know that he continues this practice (of sambo training - TASS). I don’t think he can do it often, the more so as he has added ice hockey to his personal sports arsenal. Anyway, he tries to keep himself fit, going swimming, doing sambo and general workouts - it is a daily practice with him," he said in an interview with Channel One TV at the first championships of the Combat Sambo League in Sochi.
Putin arrived in Sochi on Saturday evening to attend this championships of the newly-established League. Putin, a holder of the Master of Sports title in sambo, has attended sambo competitions more than once.