tass--2020-01-29--Switzerland’s ProtonMail attempts to solve problem that caused blocking in Russia

GENEVA , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Swiss-based Protonmail.com email service , from which shadow bomb scare ‘ warnings @ @ @ @ @ data of the Russian telecom and media watchdog Roskomnadzor , confirmed partial blocking of access @ @ @ @ @ undertakes measures to contact with Russian authorities for removal of the blocking , the company @ @ @ @ @ `` We have received reports that ProtonMail and ProtonVPN are currently partially blocked in Russia @ @ @ @ @ to the appropriate authorities to get the block lifted as soon as possible , '' @ @ @

"We have received reports that ProtonMail and ProtonVPN are currently partially blocked in Russia. We are reaching out to the appropriate authorities to get the block lifted as soon as possible," Protonmail.com said.
GENEVA, January 29. /TASS/. The Swiss-based Protonmail.com email service, from which shadow bomb scare ‘warnings’ were sent according to data of the Russian telecom and media watchdog Roskomnadzor, confirmed partial blocking of access to it in Russia and undertakes measures to contact with Russian authorities for removal of the blocking, the company told TASS on Wednesday.
The company disclosed that it had not received any notices from Russian authorities and expressed the opinion that service blocking is an ineffective and inappropriate response to the reported threats." According to ProtonMail, "It will not prevent cybercriminals from sending threats with another email service, and will not be effective if the perpetrators were located outside of Russia."
"The cybercriminals will also likely be able to bypass the block using one of many VPN services," it added.
The Russian telecom and media regulator Roskomnadzor will limit access to the Protonmail.com email service, the authority pledged earlier.
Beginning in November 2019, courts, schools, shopping malls and other establishments in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other regions have been flooded with bogus bomb scares. The emergency services have been checking all reports, but all of them have turned out to be false alarms.


tass--2020-01-29--Defense Ministry vows to fight any demonization of Russia, or distortion of its history

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry will thwart attempts to vilify Russia and falsify @ @ @ @ @ Minister Sergei Shoigu pledged on Wednesday .
`` The Defense Ministry will counter attempts to @ @ @ @ @ history .
This is particularly important in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ Union ’ s ] Great Patriotic War [ against Nazi Germany — TASS ] , @ @ @ @ @ ministry ’ s board meeting .
According to the defense chief , efforts to make @ @ @ @ @ continue .
`` New sections of the Memory of the People interactive service will be @ @ @ @ @ s website by May 9 .
The Commanders of the Victory multimedia project and the @ @ @ @ @ provides information on the liberation of the capitals of European countries , are being updated @ @ @ @ @ Shoigu said .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry will thwart attempts to vilify Russia and falsify its history, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu pledged on Wednesday.
"The Defense Ministry will counter attempts to demonize Russia and distort its history. This is particularly important in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the [Soviet Union’s] Great Patriotic War [against Nazi Germany — TASS]," he said at the ministry’s board meeting.
According to the defense chief, efforts to make public declassified wartime records will continue. "New sections of the Memory of the People interactive service will be available on the ministry’s website by May 9. The Commanders of the Victory multimedia project and the Liberation Fireworks project, which provides information on the liberation of the capitals of European countries, are being updated all the time," Shoigu said.


tass--2020-01-29--Rostec to convert Pantsir transport and loading vehicle into battle machine

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Pantsir air defense system Transporting and Loading Vehicle ( TLV ) may become capable of firing missiles , while receiving targets from the system ’ s main unit radar , says Valery Slugin , the chief air defense designer at KBP JSC ( a subsidiary of Rostec ’ s High Precision Weapons JSC ) , adding that the TLV can carry twice as many missiles as the main unit .
`` We plan to develop a new support vehicle that will carry an even bigger payload , '' Slugin said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle may become a transporting combat vehicle . ''
`` We can install a simplified control system : the vehicle will receive target designation from the main unit , but will fire missiles on its own . ''
According to the designer , the TLV can carry twice as many missiles as the main unit : 24 , compared to Pantsir ’ s 12 .
`` Half of the payload may be comprised of the small-sized missiles , allowing to load 48 missiles just on one side of the vehicle , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cluster of four small-sized missiles instead of a standard one .
Pantsir-S system is designed for close-range air protection of civilian and military objects , around the clock , in any weather and radio-electronic environment .
The system is armed with 12 guided missiles and two 30mm autocannons .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Pantsir air defense system Transporting and Loading Vehicle (TLV) may become capable of firing missiles, while receiving targets from the system’s main unit radar, says Valery Slugin, the chief air defense designer at KBP JSC (a subsidiary of Rostec’s High Precision Weapons JSC), adding that the TLV can carry twice as many missiles as the main unit.
"We plan to develop a new support vehicle that will carry an even bigger payload," Slugin said, adding that the new "transporting and loading vehicle may become a transporting combat vehicle."
"We can install a simplified control system: the vehicle will receive target designation from the main unit, but will fire missiles on its own."
According to the designer, the TLV can carry twice as many missiles as the main unit: 24, compared to Pantsir’s 12.
"Half of the payload may be comprised of the small-sized missiles, allowing to load 48 missiles just on one side of the vehicle," he noted.
The Pantsir system allows loading a cluster of four small-sized missiles instead of a standard one.
Pantsir-S system is designed for close-range air protection of civilian and military objects, around the clock, in any weather and radio-electronic environment. The system is armed with 12 guided missiles and two 30mm autocannons.


tass--2020-01-29--Designer explains how Israel managed to hit Pantsyr-S system in Syria

On May 10 , 2018 one of the Pantsyr-S vehicles of Syria ’ s air defense was destroyed by an Israeli guided missile , presumably launched by the anti-missile system Spike .
A video of the attack was made public later .
MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Israel ’ s armed forces managed to destroy one of the air defense systems Pantsyr-S in Syria only because the vehicle failed to move to a different position after firing the set of ammunition , the chief designer for air defense systems of the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rostec corporation ) , Valery Slugin , told TASS in an interview .
Slugin said the Pantsyr-S had hit eight targets , for which it spent all ammunition .
The combat crew left the vehicle and was waiting for the arrival of a transport and loader vehicle .
`` It should not have been done by all means .
The combat vehicle should have been removed from the firing position as soon as the set of ammunition had been spent .
At once .
Had that been done , everything would ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The system Pantsyr-S is meant for close-range air defense of civilian and military facilities in any weather and radio-electronic situation round the clock .
Pantsyr consists of twelve air defense guided missiles ( six missiles in two transportation and launch containers ) .
Also , Pantsyr is armed with two fast firing 30 mm guns .

On May 10, 2018 one of the Pantsyr-S vehicles of Syria’s air defense was destroyed by an Israeli guided missile, presumably launched by the anti-missile system Spike. A video of the attack was made public later.
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Israel’s armed forces managed to destroy one of the air defense systems Pantsyr-S in Syria only because the vehicle failed to move to a different position after firing the set of ammunition, the chief designer for air defense systems of the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (an affiliate of High Precision Systems, Rostec corporation), Valery Slugin, told TASS in an interview.
Slugin said the Pantsyr-S had hit eight targets, for which it spent all ammunition. The combat crew left the vehicle and was waiting for the arrival of a transport and loader vehicle.
"It should not have been done by all means. The combat vehicle should have been removed from the firing position as soon as the set of ammunition had been spent. At once. Had that been done, everything would’ve been fine," Slugin claimed.
Pantsyr-S profile
The system Pantsyr-S is meant for close-range air defense of civilian and military facilities in any weather and radio-electronic situation round the clock. Pantsyr consists of twelve air defense guided missiles (six missiles in two transportation and launch containers). Also, Pantsyr is armed with two fast firing 30 mm guns.


tass--2020-01-29--Shipbuilders float out latest minesweeper in Russia’s northwest

ST. PETERSBURG , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg in Russia ’ s northwest has floated out the Project 12700 fourth serial-produced minesweeper Yakov Balyayev , the Shipyard ’ s press office announced on Wednesday .
`` We are already producing these ships in series .
As you see , we are moving towards developing and assimilating new technologies and each new ship gets even better , '' Shipyard CEO Vladimir Seredokho said at the minesweeper ’ s launch ceremony .
Project 12700 Alexandrit-class coastal-type minesweepers are referred to the new generation of minesweeping forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including smart naval mines , which the new ships can encounter in the sea and on the seabed without entering the dangerous zone .
The minesweepers can employ various sweeps , as well as remotely controlled and autonomous underwater drones .
The minesweepers of this Project displace 890 tonnes , are 62 meters long and ten meters wide and have a crew of over 40 men .
The shipbuilders will build a series of several dozen mine countermeasures ships of this Project for the Russian Navy in the immediate future .
Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their hull made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic .
As its advantage , this solution provides for the ship ’ s higher strength compared to the steel hull .
The hull made of the monolith glass-fiber reinforced plastic has a longer service life ( up to 30 years ) than the hull made of low-magnetic steel while its weight is considerably smaller .
The Project 12700 lead ship Alexander Obukhov was delivered to the Navy in 2016 .
In late 2018 , the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard transferred the Project ’ s second ( first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy .

ST. PETERSBURG, January 29. /TASS/. The Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg in Russia’s northwest has floated out the Project 12700 fourth serial-produced minesweeper Yakov Balyayev, the Shipyard’s press office announced on Wednesday.
"We are already producing these ships in series. As you see, we are moving towards developing and assimilating new technologies and each new ship gets even better," Shipyard CEO Vladimir Seredokho said at the minesweeper’s launch ceremony.
Project 12700 Alexandrit-class coastal-type minesweepers are referred to the new generation of minesweeping forces and are designated to fight sea mines, including smart naval mines, which the new ships can encounter in the sea and on the seabed without entering the dangerous zone. The minesweepers can employ various sweeps, as well as remotely controlled and autonomous underwater drones. The minesweepers of this Project displace 890 tonnes, are 62 meters long and ten meters wide and have a crew of over 40 men.
The shipbuilders will build a series of several dozen mine countermeasures ships of this Project for the Russian Navy in the immediate future.
Project 12700 mine countermeasures vessels (minesweepers) have their hull made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic. As its advantage, this solution provides for the ship’s higher strength compared to the steel hull. The hull made of the monolith glass-fiber reinforced plastic has a longer service life (up to 30 years) than the hull made of low-magnetic steel while its weight is considerably smaller.
The Project 12700 lead ship Alexander Obukhov was delivered to the Navy in 2016. In late 2018, the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard transferred the Project’s second (first serial-produced) minesweeper Ivan Antonov to the Navy.


tass--2020-01-29--Moscow slams the Hague’s move to include ‘undesirable’ MP in delegation as provocation

`` So , they sought a scandal rather than a constructive discussion on ways of patching up Russian-Dutch relations and issues on the international agenda , '' the ministry noted .
`` Now it ’ s clear what the Dutch parliamentarians expected by deciding on including Sjoerd Sjoerdsma in their delegation .
Despite our warnings they deliberately staged this provocation while being well aware of all possible consequences , '' the ministry emphasized .
MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Netherlands is deliberately creating an atmosphere of incitement by including in its parliamentary delegation MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this step showed that the Hague is scheming to whip up a scandal rather than conduct constructive dialogue , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday .
Russia ’ s diplomatic office recalled that the Netherlands had been notified in advance ( on January 14 ) that it was inadvisable to include Sjoerdsma in the parliamentary delegation , which planned to visit Russia on February 25-27 , 2020 .
The Dutch MP from the Democrats 66 ( D66 ) party is known for his unfriendly and blatantly aggressive statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for cancelling the Year of Russia in the Netherlands and the Year of the Netherlands in Russia .
He also demanded that the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi be boycotted and the 2018 FIFA World Cup be relocated away from Russia .
The lawmaker also insisted on `` punishing '' Russia in connection with the MH17 flight crash in Ukraine .
Besides , the Foreign Ministry noted that the Dutch legislators ’ decision to once again cancel a trip to Russia over the entry ban for Sjoerdsma came as no surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation as if this circumstance had created an unsurmountable obstacle for the parliamentary delegation ’ s visit to Russia , '' it said .
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that after cancelling the trip to Moscow under the pretext of `` solidarity '' with MPs , the Dutch authorities are now using a hackneyed cliche to blame Russia for disrupting the visit .
`` It ’ s obvious that the Hague did not want this visit to take place and opposed the attempts of holding the first direct dialogue between the two countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Apparently , the Dutch Foreign Ministry is implementing its Strategy on Russia .
Earlier , Dutch news agency Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau ( ANP ) reported that the parliamentary delegation canceled its visit to Russia after MP Sjoerdsma had been denied entry to Russia .
On Tuesday , the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands announced that the Dutch MPs were shutting the window of opportunities for resuming dialogue with their counterparts in the State Duma , Russia ’ s lower house of parliament .

"So, they sought a scandal rather than a constructive discussion on ways of patching up Russian-Dutch relations and issues on the international agenda," the ministry noted.
"Now it’s clear what the Dutch parliamentarians expected by deciding on including Sjoerd Sjoerdsma in their delegation. Despite our warnings they deliberately staged this provocation while being well aware of all possible consequences," the ministry emphasized.
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Netherlands is deliberately creating an atmosphere of incitement by including in its parliamentary delegation MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who was banned from entering Russia, and this step showed that the Hague is scheming to whip up a scandal rather than conduct constructive dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Russia’s diplomatic office recalled that the Netherlands had been notified in advance (on January 14) that it was inadvisable to include Sjoerdsma in the parliamentary delegation, which planned to visit Russia on February 25-27, 2020.
The Dutch MP from the Democrats 66 (D66) party is known for his unfriendly and blatantly aggressive statements against Russia. In 2013, he called for cancelling the Year of Russia in the Netherlands and the Year of the Netherlands in Russia. He also demanded that the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi be boycotted and the 2018 FIFA World Cup be relocated away from Russia. The lawmaker also insisted on "punishing" Russia in connection with the MH17 flight crash in Ukraine.
Besides, the Foreign Ministry noted that the Dutch legislators’ decision to once again cancel a trip to Russia over the entry ban for Sjoerdsma came as no surprise for Moscow. "The Hague interprets the situation as if this circumstance had created an unsurmountable obstacle for the parliamentary delegation’s visit to Russia," it said.
Hackneyed cliche
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that after cancelling the trip to Moscow under the pretext of "solidarity" with MPs, the Dutch authorities are now using a hackneyed cliche to blame Russia for disrupting the visit. "It’s obvious that the Hague did not want this visit to take place and opposed the attempts of holding the first direct dialogue between the two countries’ lawmakers since 2008," it said. Apparently, the Dutch Foreign Ministry is implementing its Strategy on Russia.
Earlier, Dutch news agency Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP) reported that the parliamentary delegation canceled its visit to Russia after MP Sjoerdsma had been denied entry to Russia. On Tuesday, the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands announced that the Dutch MPs were shutting the window of opportunities for resuming dialogue with their counterparts in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.


tass--2020-01-29--Animal meat that may carry coronavirus not imported to Russia, says watchdog

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Animal meat potentially carrying a new type of coronavirus originating from China is not imported to Russia from any Southeast Asian states , deputy chief of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision ’ s department for Moscow , the Moscow Region and the Tula Region Vladimir Menyakin told reporters on Wednesday .
`` Russia does not consume the meat of such animals ; there is no culture of consumption of such products like in China , especially in its southern provinces .
There is no threat regarding veterinary supervision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially carry the coronavirus is not imported to Russia from Southeast Asia , '' the official said .
It was reported earlier that specialists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology concluded that the new type of coronavirus is a 96 % match with the atypical pneumonia virus , which is carried by bats .
On December 31 , 2019 , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent : coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
According to recent data , over 6,000 people have been infected with the virus , with 132 people dead .
The virus continues to spread in China and other states , including Australia , Vietnam , Italy , Germany , Cambodia , Malaysia , Nepal , the Republic of Korea , Singapore , the USA , Thailand , France , Sri Lanka and Japan .
The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Animal meat potentially carrying a new type of coronavirus originating from China is not imported to Russia from any Southeast Asian states, deputy chief of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision’s department for Moscow, the Moscow Region and the Tula Region Vladimir Menyakin told reporters on Wednesday.
"Russia does not consume the meat of such animals; there is no culture of consumption of such products like in China, especially in its southern provinces. There is no threat regarding veterinary supervision, as the meat of the animals that potentially carry the coronavirus is not imported to Russia from Southeast Asia," the official said.
It was reported earlier that specialists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology concluded that the new type of coronavirus is a 96% match with the atypical pneumonia virus, which is carried by bats.
On December 31, 2019, 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 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent: coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
According to recent data, over 6,000 people have been infected with the virus, with 132 people dead. The virus continues to spread in China and other states, including Australia, Vietnam, Italy, Germany, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the USA, Thailand, France, Sri Lanka and Japan. The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one.


tass--2020-01-29--Over 800 troops of Russia’s Baltic Fleet hold live-fire exercise

KALININGRAD , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
About 800 troops from the Baltic Fleet ’ s army corps stationed in the Kaliningrad Region are practicing precision fire against a notional enemy in a live-fire exercise , the Fleet ’ s press office reported on Wednesday .
`` Overall , the combat training measures at practice ranges in the Kaliningrad Region involve about 800 servicemen of the army corps who are sharpening their skills within their squads to deliver precision fire against the notional enemy day and night in complex weather conditions , '' the press office said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and armored personnel carriers ’ armament , assault rifles , grenade launchers , sniper rifles and other guns to strike the targets that are simulating the enemy ’ s combat hardware and manpower , the press office specified for TASS .
During the drills , the troops are spending at least 50 % of their training time to deliver fire while wearing gas masks and all-service protective gear .
At the same time , the conditions of fulfilling the assignments are constantly complicated .
In particular , the time for the appearance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and the speed of their movement increase .
The drills are running through the end of this week , the Fleet ’ s press office said .

KALININGRAD, January 29. /TASS/. About 800 troops from the Baltic Fleet’s army corps stationed in the Kaliningrad Region are practicing precision fire against a notional enemy in a live-fire exercise, the Fleet’s press office reported on Wednesday.
"Overall, the combat training measures at practice ranges in the Kaliningrad Region involve about 800 servicemen of the army corps who are sharpening their skills within their squads to deliver precision fire against the notional enemy day and night in complex weather conditions," the press office said in a statement.
The troops are using tanks’ and armored personnel carriers’ armament, assault rifles, grenade launchers, sniper rifles and other guns to strike the targets that are simulating the enemy’s combat hardware and manpower, the press office specified for TASS.
During the drills, the troops are spending at least 50% of their training time to deliver fire while wearing gas masks and all-service protective gear. At the same time, the conditions of fulfilling the assignments are constantly complicated. In particular, the time for the appearance of targets is reduced while the distance to them and the speed of their movement increase.
The drills are running through the end of this week, the Fleet’s press office said.


tass--2020-01-29--Kremlin says no plans to interfere in Investigative Committee’s work in Golunov case

`` There is no need to set such a task , '' Peskov said , when asked if the president had handed down instructions to identify the mastermind behind evidence tampering in the case .
`` The Investigative Committee is conducting an investigation , '' the Kremlin spokesman said , adding : `` Work is underway and we currently have neither the intention nor the capability to interfere in it . ''
MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Kremlin has no plans to interfere in the Russian Investigative Committee ’ s work in the case of Meduza news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
Peskov pointed out that the investigation ’ s goal `` is to establish all the circumstances and identify those responsible for violating the law . ''
An Investigative Committee spokesperson earlier told TASS that five former officers from the police force of Moscow ’ s Western Administrative District had been brought to the Investigative Committee ’ s office for questioning in the case .
According to a law enforcement source , former Chief of the Western Administrative District ’ s Police Drug Control Unit Andrei Shchirov was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse of office , as well as former detectives from the Western Administrative District ’ s police force Roman Feofanov , Maxim Umetbayev , Akbar Sergaliyev and Denis Konovalov .
While speaking to TASS on Wednesday , Golunov was hopeful that a trial against the former police officers would be fair .
`` I am pleased to see progress in the case but justice will be done when there is a court ruling .
I hope it will be a fair one , '' the reporter said .
Golunov was detained in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , the reporter was carrying four grams of mephedrone , a synthetic stimulant drug , while five grams of cocaine were found during a search of his rented apartment .
Moscow ’ s Nikulinsky District Court placed the journalist under house arrest .
Golunov ’ s lawyer said that the drugs could have been planted on his client .
All charges were eventually dropped on June 11 and Golunov was set free .
President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference in December that Russia ’ s Investigative Committee had opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Golunov ’ s detention .

"There is no need to set such a task," Peskov said, when asked if the president had handed down instructions to identify the mastermind behind evidence tampering in the case. "The Investigative Committee is conducting an investigation," the Kremlin spokesman said, adding: "Work is underway and we currently have neither the intention nor the capability to interfere in it."
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Kremlin has no plans to interfere in the Russian Investigative Committee’s work in the case of Meduza news website reporter Ivan Golunov, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov pointed out that the investigation’s goal "is to establish all the circumstances and identify those responsible for violating the law."
An Investigative Committee spokesperson earlier told TASS that five former officers from the police force of Moscow’s Western Administrative District had been brought to the Investigative Committee’s office for questioning in the case. According to a law enforcement source, former Chief of the Western Administrative District’s Police Drug Control Unit Andrei Shchirov was detained in the case on suspicion of abuse of office, as well as former detectives from the Western Administrative District’s police force Roman Feofanov, Maxim Umetbayev, Akbar Sergaliyev and Denis Konovalov.
While speaking to TASS on Wednesday, Golunov was hopeful that a trial against the former police officers would be fair. "I am pleased to see progress in the case but justice will be done when there is a court ruling. I hope it will be a fair one," the reporter said.
Golunov case
Golunov was detained in downtown Mocsow on June 6. According to police, the reporter was carrying four grams of mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug, while five grams of cocaine were found during a search of his rented apartment. Moscow’s Nikulinsky District Court placed the journalist under house arrest. Golunov’s lawyer said that the drugs could have been planted on his client. All charges were eventually dropped on June 11 and Golunov was set free.
President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference in December that Russia’s Investigative Committee had opened criminal cases against five former police officers following Golunov’s detention.


tass--2020-01-29--Press review: Russia reacts to Trump’s Mideast peace plan and who’s got Aces High in Libya

Kommersant : Trump unveils ‘ deal of the century ’ to settle Israeli-Palestinian deadlock US President Donald Trump made a crucial step Tuesday towards fulfilling his key election promise : going down in history as a peacemaker , who would iron out the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , one of the world ’ s most enduring and problematic standoffs , Kommersant writes .
Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , Trump announced details of the so-called ‘ deal of the century , ’ vowing that it would be advantageous for both Israelis and Palestinians .
Meanwhile , the US proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the paper says .
On Thursday , Netanyahu , who has called the White House occupant `` the greatest friend that Israel has ever had , '' is due to visit Moscow .
He plans to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin about the US plan and apparently expects at least understanding , if not support .
However , Russia has been rather skeptical about the initiative .
The Palestinian leaders agreed on Tuesday to jointly counter Trump ’ s peace plan .
Trump highlighted that the plan would be implemented within four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his second presidential term if he is re-elected .
Washington expects that the Palestinians who are now fighting the deal would accept the proposed terms .
Meanwhile , the Palestinians have announced their `` days of rage '' condemning Trump ’ s plan as a conspiracy that would trigger a new Palestinian crisis .
However , the Palestinians don ’ t have any other tools of influence except for refusing to cooperate with the US .
So far , the protests did not end in anything other than new victims .
For a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative , Israel ’ s backing would not be enough and the support of the international community is required , the paper writes .
The regional states will outline their position on Saturday at an emergency meeting of the Arab League .
Moscow has so far made rather cautious statements on the issue and offered to host direct talks between Israel and Palestine , but Tel Aviv has earlier refused to participate .
Earlier , commenting on ‘ the deal of the century ’ , Russia ’ s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes the EU , the UN , the US and Russia , had failed to act .
Sources told Kommersant that Moscow blamed both Israel and Palestine , which only preferred a direct dialogue with the US .
In any case , it would be hard to convince the Palestinians to consider the deal without the assistance of Russia and the EU , the paper says .
Head of Russia ’ s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pyotr Tolstoy was elected as PACE ’ s vice president undeterred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sure that this high-ranking seat in PACE would strengthen the Russian delegation ’ s position and boost its authority , Izvestia writes .
`` The appointment of Pyotr Tolstoy is a good choice .
It ’ s been a long time since a Russian representative has served in ruling structures , '' Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council ’ s Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov said .
`` The authority of the delegation , whose representative serves in PACE ’ s ruling bodies , has significantly grown .
No matter how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baltic states tried to prevent this , Russia still managed to secure this seat . ''
Meanwhile , the powers of Russia ’ s PACE delegation are still in question .
Some 30 PACE lawmakers challenged them on the first day of the winter session .
A vote on the issue is set for late Wednesday .
The delegates will also discuss the procedure of responding to the Charter ’ s violations .
Sources in the organization told the paper that no matter how the discussions end , Russian legislators won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it pass to the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe .
However , there is a threat that fundamental contradictions over the new mechanism would again split the organization and trigger a new crisis , sources say .
According to Tolstoy , opponents suggest , `` condemning Russia for constitutional amendments , which have not been introduced and are just being discussed in society . ''
As for other complaints regarding the participation of Crimean delegates , `` they have been rejected by the Venice Commission '' of the Council of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the paper that the monitoring committee recommends that delegates should confirm Russia ’ s powers and this increases chances for a favorable scenario .
The ongoing fighting in Libya has shown that it ’ s impossible to stop the war in the North African country only through Russian and Turkish endeavors .
Once again , opponents of Khalifa Haftar accused the renowned commander of the Libyan National Army of violating the ceasefire .
Specialists focused on the region interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta believe that the Libyan commander ’ s offensive is marching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s regional partners .
Claudia Gazzini , a senior analyst for Libya at the International Crisis Group , told the paper that Haftar ’ s Arab partners would continue supporting the offensive .
According to her , the agreement between Ankara and Moscow on Libya and their tools of pressure on Libyan partners are not enough to stop the war .
For Russia , this is not a problem that the Turkish forces could enter Libya .
However , this is a major concern for Egypt , the UAE and the Saudis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she noted .
Apparently , Ankara and Moscow are bargaining for mutual concessions on Libya and Syria .
It ’ s clear that the situation in Syria ’ s Idlib could be balanced in favor of Russia , while Turkey would get some concessions on Libya , the analyst said .
Head of the Center for Islamic Studies at the Innovative Development Institute and Russian International Affairs Council expert Kirill Semenov also linked the LNA ’ s continuing offensive with the position of Haftar ’ s Arab sponsors .
`` They want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Those who are placing their bets on Haftar have no other scenario .
Any election could end not in favor of Haftar , or the forces in Tobruk because most citizens are in Tripoli , '' he explained , noting that Egypt , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would continue sticking to their policy .
However , Semenov noted that the scale of Russia ’ s support for the LNA ’ s forces was unclear .
According to French newspaper Le Monde , the Wagner private military company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sponsored by Saudi Arabia to fight in Libya .
So , the Libyan campaign was not that costly for Moscow as it seemed .
Semenov also believes that Moscow and Ankara had struck a deal on Libya .
`` The pillar of Russia ’ s return to the Middle East is the Russian-Turkish relationship .
All the rest is the consequence , '' the expert stressed .
Izvestia : Russian foreign trade drops for first time since 2016 The two-year growth in Russia ’ s trade with other countries has come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Customs Service .
Last year , total trade volume dropped 3.3 % to $ 665 bln .
In particular , exports fell 6 % to $ 423 bln , while imports grew 1.7 % to $ 243 bln .
Izvestia writes that the changes in the figures were influenced by plunging oil and gas sales as well as rising imports of medicines and automobiles .
Experts have no serious concerns about Russia ’ s economy .
Some positive changes are also seen in Russia ’ s foreign trade — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant portion of Russia ’ s export structure .
Russia purchased high-tech products abroad , mainly mechanical equipment ( 2 % , $ 42.7 bln ) , electrical equipment ( -2 % , $ 29.4 bln ) and medicines ( +31 % , 10.6 bln ) .
Russia ’ s automotive imports climbed nearly 10 % to $ 8 bln .
China remained Russia ’ s major partner last year .
The total trade volume with Beijing was almost unchanged — it inched up from $ 108 bln to $ 109 bln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goods to China ( $ 56 bln in 2018 compared with $ 55.6 bln in 2019 ) , while it bought more ( $ 52.2 bln and $ 53.6 bln , respectively ) .
Russia ’ s trade with Germany , its second largest trade partner , had plummeted ( 12 % ) to $ 52.4 bln .
The Germans started buying fewer Russian goods and exports to Germany declined from $ 34.2 bln to $ 27.6 bln .
However , this was somehow compensated by a growth in Russia ’ s trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exports to this EU state rose from $ 43.4 bln to $ 45.8 bln .
In 2020 , foreign trade will largely depend on import dynamics , chief analyst at Alfa-Bank Natalya Orlova said .
According to her , it would be hard to boost exports in the near future .
This year started out with concerns about the Chinese economy and then coronavirus outbreak struck , which ruined global expectations on China ’ s increasing GDP .
The Russian government expects to bolster exports of non-raw materials , and this will mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enter Chinese markets .
This is a challenging goal , given the tough competition , she noted .
Terrorists have blown up an oil refinery in the Mediterranean port of Baniyas , Syria ’ s state news agency SANA reported citing the country ’ s Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources .
Syria is now facing a major lack of combustive and lubricating materials and the latest incident could affect the power of Assad ’ s Syrian Arab Army , which has been carrying out a successful offensive in Idlib backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
In June last year , five offshore oil pipelines near Baniyas were blown up .
Experts blamed the attacks on Assad ’ s foes , noting that this was part of a hybrid war staged by US and its allies .
Washington is apparently dissatisfied by the activity of Moscow and Tehran in the Middle East ’ s hydrocarbon industry .
According to Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat , Damascus has signed new contracts with Russian and pro-Iranian companies to restore the oil and transportation system of Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas fields on the Syrian shelf in the Mediterranean Sea .
In particular , there are plans to create an oil processing company , the Rusafa Refinery in Raqqa .
According to military expert Yuri Netkachev , Qasem Soleimani , the now-deceased commander of Iran 's elite Quds Force , was also in charge of geopolitical and economic issues and in particular , he oversaw ensuring the security of the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline .
Although the pipeline did not operate , it could face more destruction .
`` This was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units near Abu Kamal and in northern Iraq and also possibly Soleimani ’ s death , '' the expert notes .
Military expert Shamil Gareyev says that the attack on the oil refinery , located near Russia ’ s military base in Tartus , occurred after media reports that the People ’ s Council of Syria had approved bills on creating the Rusafa Refinery .
The company plans to build new oil terminals in Tartus jointly with Russian and Lebanese specialists , he said .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted @ @ @ @ @

Kommersant: Trump unveils ‘deal of the century’ to settle Israeli-Palestinian deadlock
Read also UN remains committed to Mideast settlement on basis of previous resolutions — spokesman
US President Donald Trump made a crucial step Tuesday towards fulfilling his key election promise: going down in history as a peacemaker, who would iron out the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the world’s most enduring and problematic standoffs, Kommersant writes. Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced details of the so-called ‘deal of the century,’ vowing that it would be advantageous for both Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, the US proposal largely aligns with Israel’s stance, the paper says. On Thursday, Netanyahu, who has called the White House occupant "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had," is due to visit Moscow. He plans to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin about the US plan and apparently expects at least understanding, if not support. However, Russia has been rather skeptical about the initiative. The Palestinian leaders agreed on Tuesday to jointly counter Trump’s peace plan. Trump highlighted that the plan would be implemented within four years, and this actually coincides with his second presidential term if he is re-elected. Washington expects that the Palestinians who are now fighting the deal would accept the proposed terms. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have announced their "days of rage" condemning Trump’s plan as a conspiracy that would trigger a new Palestinian crisis. However, the Palestinians don’t have any other tools of influence except for refusing to cooperate with the US. So far, the protests did not end in anything other than new victims. For a successful implementation of the Middle East peace initiative, Israel’s backing would not be enough and the support of the international community is required, the paper writes. The regional states will outline their position on Saturday at an emergency meeting of the Arab League. Moscow has so far made rather cautious statements on the issue and offered to host direct talks between Israel and Palestine, but Tel Aviv has earlier refused to participate. Earlier, commenting on ‘the deal of the century’, Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov noted that the Middle East Quartet, which includes the EU, the UN, the US and Russia, had failed to act. Sources told Kommersant that Moscow blamed both Israel and Palestine, which only preferred a direct dialogue with the US. In any case, it would be hard to convince the Palestinians to consider the deal without the assistance of Russia and the EU, the paper says. Izvestia: Russian lawmaker elected PACE vice president
Read also Pyotr Tolstoy of Russia elected PACE Vice President
Head of Russia’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pyotr Tolstoy was elected as PACE’s vice president undeterred by Ukraine’s protests. Moscow is sure that this high-ranking seat in PACE would strengthen the Russian delegation’s position and boost its authority, Izvestia writes. "The appointment of Pyotr Tolstoy is a good choice. It’s been a long time since a Russian representative has served in ruling structures," Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov said. "The authority of the delegation, whose representative serves in PACE’s ruling bodies, has significantly grown. No matter how our "friends" in Ukraine and Baltic states tried to prevent this, Russia still managed to secure this seat." Meanwhile, the powers of Russia’s PACE delegation are still in question. Some 30 PACE lawmakers challenged them on the first day of the winter session. A vote on the issue is set for late Wednesday. The delegates will also discuss the procedure of responding to the Charter’s violations. Sources in the organization told the paper that no matter how the discussions end, Russian legislators won’t veto the proposed mechanism and will let it pass to the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe. However, there is a threat that fundamental contradictions over the new mechanism would again split the organization and trigger a new crisis, sources say. According to Tolstoy, opponents suggest, "condemning Russia for constitutional amendments, which have not been introduced and are just being discussed in society." As for other complaints regarding the participation of Crimean delegates, "they have been rejected by the Venice Commission" of the Council of Europe, the politician said. Tolstoy told the paper that the monitoring committee recommends that delegates should confirm Russia’s powers and this increases chances for a favorable scenario. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Libya turning into challenge for Russia’s Arab policy
Read also Turkey’s Erdogan accuses UAE of financing mercenaries in Libya
The ongoing fighting in Libya has shown that it’s impossible to stop the war in the North African country only through Russian and Turkish endeavors. Once again, opponents of Khalifa Haftar accused the renowned commander of the Libyan National Army of violating the ceasefire. Specialists focused on the region interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta believe that the Libyan commander’s offensive is marching on thanks to the support of Haftar’s regional partners. Claudia Gazzini, a senior analyst for Libya at the International Crisis Group, told the paper that Haftar’s Arab partners would continue supporting the offensive. According to her, the agreement between Ankara and Moscow on Libya and their tools of pressure on Libyan partners are not enough to stop the war. For Russia, this is not a problem that the Turkish forces could enter Libya. However, this is a major concern for Egypt, the UAE and the Saudis, who have hostile relations with Turkey, she noted. Apparently, Ankara and Moscow are bargaining for mutual concessions on Libya and Syria. It’s clear that the situation in Syria’s Idlib could be balanced in favor of Russia, while Turkey would get some concessions on Libya, the analyst said. Head of the Center for Islamic Studies at the Innovative Development Institute and Russian International Affairs Council expert Kirill Semenov also linked the LNA’s continuing offensive with the position of Haftar’s Arab sponsors. "They want to continue these operations," he said. "Those who are placing their bets on Haftar have no other scenario. Any election could end not in favor of Haftar, or the forces in Tobruk because most citizens are in Tripoli," he explained, noting that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would continue sticking to their policy. However, Semenov noted that the scale of Russia’s support for the LNA’s forces was unclear. According to French newspaper Le Monde, the Wagner private military company, deemed as a Kremlin project, was sponsored by Saudi Arabia to fight in Libya. So, the Libyan campaign was not that costly for Moscow as it seemed. Semenov also believes that Moscow and Ankara had struck a deal on Libya. "The pillar of Russia’s return to the Middle East is the Russian-Turkish relationship. All the rest is the consequence," the expert stressed. Izvestia: Russian foreign trade drops for first time since 2016
Read also Coronavirus can hit world economy harder than SARS did in 2003 — rating agency
The two-year growth in Russia’s trade with other countries has come to an end, according to preliminary data of the Federal Customs Service. Last year, total trade volume dropped 3.3% to $665 bln. In particular, exports fell 6% to $423 bln, while imports grew 1.7% to $243 bln. Izvestia writes that the changes in the figures were influenced by plunging oil and gas sales as well as rising imports of medicines and automobiles. Experts have no serious concerns about Russia’s economy. Some positive changes are also seen in Russia’s foreign trade — the sales of non-energy goods abroad have occupied a significant portion of Russia’s export structure. Russia purchased high-tech products abroad, mainly mechanical equipment (2%, $42.7 bln), electrical equipment (-2%, $29.4 bln) and medicines (+31%, 10.6 bln). Russia’s automotive imports climbed nearly 10% to $8 bln. China remained Russia’s major partner last year. The total trade volume with Beijing was almost unchanged — it inched up from $108 bln to $109 bln. However, Russia started selling fewer goods to China ($56 bln in 2018 compared with $55.6 bln in 2019), while it bought more ($52.2 bln and $53.6 bln, respectively). Russia’s trade with Germany, its second largest trade partner, had plummeted (12%) to $52.4 bln. The Germans started buying fewer Russian goods and exports to Germany declined from $34.2 bln to $27.6 bln. However, this was somehow compensated by a growth in Russia’s trade with the Netherlands. Russia’s exports to this EU state rose from $43.4 bln to $45.8 bln. In 2020, foreign trade will largely depend on import dynamics, chief analyst at Alfa-Bank Natalya Orlova said. According to her, it would be hard to boost exports in the near future. This year started out with concerns about the Chinese economy and then coronavirus outbreak struck, which ruined global expectations on China’s increasing GDP. The Russian government expects to bolster exports of non-raw materials, and this will mostly depend on whether Russian producers will manage to enter Chinese markets. This is a challenging goal, given the tough competition, she noted. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Terrorist attack on oil refinery leaves Assad’s army without fuel


tass--2020-01-29--Kremlin reviews Trump's plan on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Kremlin continues to analyze the Israeli-Palestinian settlement plan , presented by US @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov .
`` We continue to analyze this information and study the @ @ @ @ @ House administration , '' Peskov said .
`` A meeting [ between Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin ] Netanyahu will take place tomorrow , so we will have more of what @ @ @ @ @ '' The spokesman noted that `` at this moment we can only state that the @ @ @ @ @ Israel , it received support from a number of other nations , but was met @ @ @ @ @ directly involved party of this so-called deal — the Palestinians . ''
`` We continue @ @ @ @ @ As you know , Russia remains a responsible member of the Middle Eastern five .
@ @ @ @ @ ready to continue putting all efforts , doing everything it can to reach a viable @ @ @ @ @ , '' Peskov concluded .
The Deal of the Century

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Kremlin continues to analyze the Israeli-Palestinian settlement plan, presented by US President Donald Trump, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"We continue to analyze this information and study the plan prepared by the White House administration," Peskov said. "A meeting [between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu will take place tomorrow, so we will have more of what is called first-hand information."
The spokesman noted that "at this moment we can only state that the plan was fully supported by Israel, it received support from a number of other nations, but was met with strict denial from the directly involved party of this so-called deal — the Palestinians."
"We continue to analyze the situation. As you know, Russia remains a responsible member of the Middle Eastern five. If needed, Russia is ready to continue putting all efforts, doing everything it can to reach a viable peace in the Middle East," Peskov concluded.
The Deal of the Century


tass--2020-01-29--Ukraine’s Zelensky smears shared history with Russia to cling to power, says legislator

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Ukrainian President Vladmir Zelensky seeks to smear the mutual history of Ukraine and @ @ @ @ @ retain his power , Russian State Duma ( lower house ) Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin opined @ @ @ @ @ Moscow Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center .
`` Today we observe as the Ukrainian President @ @ @ @ @ to do everything to smear our mutual history in a bid to retain power and @ @ @ @ @ countries and the US , '' Volodin commented on Zelensky ’ s words about the @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the politician , the statements made by the presidents of Poland and @ @ @ @ @ Baltic states politicians destroy the memory of the war history .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladmir Zelensky seeks to smear the mutual history of Ukraine and Russia in a bid to retain his power, Russian State Duma (lower house) Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin opined during his visit to the Moscow Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center.
"Today we observe as the Ukrainian President disowns his grandfather and seeks to do everything to smear our mutual history in a bid to retain power and gain acknowledgement of several European countries and the US," Volodin commented on Zelensky’s words about the beginning of World War II.
According to the politician, the statements made by the presidents of Poland and Ukraine and a number of Baltic states politicians destroy the memory of the war history.


tass--2020-01-29--Russia's FSB blocks another anonymous email service used for fake bomb threats

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Federal Security Service of Russia ( FSB ) announced a ban of another foreign email website that was used for mass fake bomb threat email spamming .
According to the FSB press service , after the Netherlands ’ Startmail.com was blocked on January 23 , `` starting on January 24 , 2020 , the anonymous users switched to Protonmail.com ( Switzerland ) to continue their criminal activity . ''
`` Similar messages with ‘ bomb ’ threats were sent to courts in four Russian regions .
The emails mentioned 830 allegedly rigged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , kindergartens , hospitals , transport objects , shopping malls and others ) .
All threats were deemed fake , '' the press service said .
In 2019 , Protonmail was also `` used by the criminals for dissemination of fake terrorist threats against 123 similar objects , '' it added .
`` In order to prevent sending intentionally false messages with ‘ bomb ’ threats , in order to protect the Russian Internet segment from spreading false socially important information disguised as true , which potentially creates danger to life and health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property , danger of mass unrest , danger of interrupting life support , transport and social infrastructure objects functioning , [ … ] a process is underway to block access to foreign email service Protonmail.com from the territory of the Russian Federation , '' the official statement reads .
On January 23 , the FSB announced the ban of Startmail.com , located in the Netherlands .
This email service was used to send thousands of fake bomb threats since November 2019 .
According to the intelligence service , starting on November 28 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to Russian courts in 16 different regions .
The emails also mentioned more than 16,000 allegedly rigged social infrastructure objects .
All threats were checked and found to be false .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) announced a ban of another foreign email website that was used for mass fake bomb threat email spamming.
According to the FSB press service, after the Netherlands’ Startmail.com was blocked on January 23, "starting on January 24, 2020, the anonymous users switched to Protonmail.com (Switzerland) to continue their criminal activity."
"Similar messages with ‘bomb’ threats were sent to courts in four Russian regions. The emails mentioned 830 allegedly rigged social and transport infrastructure objects (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, transport objects, shopping malls and others). All threats were deemed fake," the press service said.
In 2019, Protonmail was also "used by the criminals for dissemination of fake terrorist threats against 123 similar objects," it added.
"In order to prevent sending intentionally false messages with ‘bomb’ threats, in order to protect the Russian Internet segment from spreading false socially important information disguised as true, which potentially creates danger to life and health of the people, danger to the property, danger of mass unrest, danger of interrupting life support, transport and social infrastructure objects functioning, […] a process is underway to block access to foreign email service Protonmail.com from the territory of the Russian Federation," the official statement reads.
On January 23, the FSB announced the ban of Startmail.com, located in the Netherlands. This email service was used to send thousands of fake bomb threats since November 2019. According to the intelligence service, starting on November 28, more than one thousand anonymous emails were sent to Russian courts in 16 different regions. The emails also mentioned more than 16,000 allegedly rigged social infrastructure objects. All threats were checked and found to be false.


tass--2020-01-29--Expert expects novel coronavirus to continue spreading for another two weeks

NOVOSIBIRSK , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The 2019-nCoV coronavirus will continue to spread for another two weeks , head of the Laboratory of Bio-Nanotechnology , Microbiology and Virology at Novosibirsk State University Sergei Netesov told a news conference at a TASS press center on Wednesday .
`` The current situation is as follows… the virus is less pathogenic than the one that caused atypical pneumonia in 2003 , as the death rate is less than five percent .
The number of infection cases is likely to grow for another week or two , '' he pointed out .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security measures and the country ’ s academic community is now better prepared than it was during the outbreak of atypical pneumonia in 2003 .
`` This virus is quite different from the flu virus because its incubation period is longer , and this is why there can be people who carry the virus but are not yet sick , '' the expert explained .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 , Chinese experts identified the 2019-nCoV coronavirus as the cause of the disease .
According to recent data , over 6,000 cases of patients infected with the virus and more than 130 deaths have been confirmed in China .
Coronavirus cases have also been reported in 15 other countries .
The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of national concern and sent its experts to China .

NOVOSIBIRSK, January 29. /TASS/. The 2019-nCoV coronavirus will continue to spread for another two weeks, head of the Laboratory of Bio-Nanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology at Novosibirsk State University Sergei Netesov told a news conference at a TASS press center on Wednesday.
"The current situation is as follows… the virus is less pathogenic than the one that caused atypical pneumonia in 2003, as the death rate is less than five percent. The number of infection cases is likely to grow for another week or two," he pointed out.
According to Netesov, Russia has taken appropriate security measures and the country’s academic community is now better prepared than it was during the outbreak of atypical pneumonia in 2003. "This virus is quite different from the flu virus because its incubation period is longer, and this is why there can be people who carry the virus but are not yet sick," the expert explained.
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the 2019-nCoV coronavirus as the cause of the disease.
According to recent data, over 6,000 cases of patients infected with the virus and more than 130 deaths have been confirmed in China. Coronavirus cases have also been reported in 15 other countries. The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of national concern and sent its experts to China.


tass--2020-01-29--Russia’s Pantsyr missile systems successfully fought jihad mobiles in Syria

`` The Pantsyr can shield itself , for example , against an infantry fighting vehicle or a jihad mobile and this is how its guns were used in Syria and this use proved to be effective , '' the chief designer said .
MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile systems successfully struck ground targets with their guns in Syria , in particular , terrorists ’ jihad mobiles , Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering ( part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
The Pantsyr anti-aircraft missile/gun system strikes air targets mostly with missiles , the chief designer specified .
`` We try not to allow a target to approach the gun fire range .
The closest range for the missile armament is about 1.5 km .
If something approaches closer , we destroy these targets already with the guns , '' he explained .
The air defense missile and artillery system Pantsyr , if installed on the coast , is capable of hitting surface targets on the sea , according to Valery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required that Pantsyr should be able to attack targets on the ground .
This capability relies on the optical targeting system .
`` I believe that Pantsyr will be able to attack surface targets on the sea , too .
If placed on the coast , preferably as high as possible , the system will be able to attack surface ships ten kilometers away .
The radar station and missiles of Russia ’ s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile/gun system have received a capability to fight mini-drones , according to the chief designer .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vulnerable area for all radar stations and today other air defense systems are incapable of fighting such drones as the Phantom quadcopter [ its maximum size is just 35 cm ] , '' the chief designer explained .
`` We have adapted the [ Pantsyr ’ s ] locator capabilities for detecting and precisely tracking low-observable targets , '' the chief designer stated .
`` This is a very complex problem but the Pantsyr copes with it , '' he asserted .
According to the chief designer , `` certain improvements were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mini-drones were not among the Pantsyr ’ s targets and at the time of its creation drones were mostly quite large fast-moving aircraft-type targets , he noted .
As the chief designer said , the Pantsyr is designated to fight rockets of multiple launch rocket systems , mortar shells , cruise missiles , tactical ballistic and hypersonic weapons .
A new small-size missile for attacking small drones may be created for the missile and artillery system Pantsyr-S in three-four years from now , the chief designer told TASS in an interview .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing cycle of new missiles will take three or four years .
Currently research and development work for the new missile is underway .
According to the chief designer , the main task is to increase the set of ammunition used against small targets and reduce costs .
One Pantsyr vehicle , Slugin added , has a standard set of ammunition consisting of 12 missiles and 1,400 artillery shells .
The gun is capable of destroying about 20 targets or more , but in modern combat situation this may not be enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ four times more such small missiles .
This will increase combat effectiveness and the number of targets that can be destroyed , '' he went on .
Such targets as small slow drones can be shot down at a distance of no more than 5-7 kilometers .
Using the standard missiles with an effective range of 20-30 kilometers is too costly .
`` Currently we destroy such targets at a distance of 5-7 kilometers , within what we call the near zone .
Why should we stuff the missile with so much powder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It is economically feasible to make a small missile , '' Slugin elaborated .
The designer believes that small missiles will be as long as the standard ones , but far smaller in diameter .
Instead of one standard missile the launcher will be equipped with a cluster of four .
`` Only the launcher ’ s electronic brain will have to be changed , '' he pointed out .
The Pantsyr-S1 ( NATO reporting name : SA-22 Greyhound ) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems , from all modern and future air attack weapons .
The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles ( six missiles in two transport and launch containers each ) .
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns , each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second .

"The Pantsyr can shield itself, for example, against an infantry fighting vehicle or a jihad mobile and this is how its guns were used in Syria and this use proved to be effective," the chief designer said.
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia’s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile systems successfully struck ground targets with their guns in Syria, in particular, terrorists’ jihad mobiles, Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) Valery Slugin told TASS on Wednesday.
The Pantsyr anti-aircraft missile/gun system strikes air targets mostly with missiles, the chief designer specified. "We try not to allow a target to approach the gun fire range. The closest range for the missile armament is about 1.5 km. If something approaches closer, we destroy these targets already with the guns," he explained.
Anti-ship capabilities
The air defense missile and artillery system Pantsyr, if installed on the coast, is capable of hitting surface targets on the sea, according to Valery Slugin.
The original terms of reference required that Pantsyr should be able to attack targets on the ground. This capability relies on the optical targeting system.
"I believe that Pantsyr will be able to attack surface targets on the sea, too. If placed on the coast, preferably as high as possible, the system will be able to attack surface ships ten kilometers away.
Capability to fight mini-drones
The radar station and missiles of Russia’s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile/gun system have received a capability to fight mini-drones, according to the chief designer.
"The fight against small low-speed targets is a vulnerable area for all radar stations and today other air defense systems are incapable of fighting such drones as the Phantom quadcopter [its maximum size is just 35 cm]," the chief designer explained.
"We have adapted the [Pantsyr’s] locator capabilities for detecting and precisely tracking low-observable targets," the chief designer stated.
"This is a very complex problem but the Pantsyr copes with it," he asserted.
According to the chief designer, "certain improvements were made in the missile."
Initially, mini-drones were not among the Pantsyr’s targets and at the time of its creation drones were mostly quite large fast-moving aircraft-type targets, he noted.
As the chief designer said, the Pantsyr is designated to fight rockets of multiple launch rocket systems, mortar shells, cruise missiles, tactical ballistic and hypersonic weapons.
Mini-missile for Pantsyr
A new small-size missile for attacking small drones may be created for the missile and artillery system Pantsyr-S in three-four years from now, the chief designer told TASS in an interview.
Slugin says the development, production and testing cycle of new missiles will take three or four years. Currently research and development work for the new missile is underway.
According to the chief designer, the main task is to increase the set of ammunition used against small targets and reduce costs.
One Pantsyr vehicle, Slugin added, has a standard set of ammunition consisting of 12 missiles and 1,400 artillery shells. The gun is capable of destroying about 20 targets or more, but in modern combat situation this may not be enough.
"We can supply the Pantsyr with four times more such small missiles. This will increase combat effectiveness and the number of targets that can be destroyed," he went on.
Such targets as small slow drones can be shot down at a distance of no more than 5-7 kilometers. Using the standard missiles with an effective range of 20-30 kilometers is too costly.
"Currently we destroy such targets at a distance of 5-7 kilometers, within what we call the near zone. Why should we stuff the missile with so much powder and equip it with such powerful engines? It is economically feasible to make a small missile," Slugin elaborated.
The designer believes that small missiles will be as long as the standard ones, but far smaller in diameter. Instead of one standard missile the launcher will be equipped with a cluster of four.
"Only the launcher’s electronic brain will have to be changed," he pointed out.
The Pantsyr-S1 (NATO reporting name: SA-22 Greyhound) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and civilian facilities, including long-range air defense systems, from all modern and future air attack weapons. The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles (six missiles in two transport and launch containers each).
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns, each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second.


tass--2020-01-29--Russia’s Pantsyr air defense system gets hypersonic missile

`` There are two missiles that fight the entire range of targets .
One is standard while the other has been developed recently and is hypersonic : it can develop a speed of Mach 5 and more , '' the chief designer said .
MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile/gun system has received the latest hypersonic missile , Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument-Making ( part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec ) Valery Slugin told TASS on Wednesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which increases the system ’ s rate of fire because the firing channel is freed faster , he said .
`` Besides , there is no need to load a large amount of explosives into the missile ’ s warhead for the fragments ’ dispersal : the higher the impact speed , the greater the fragments ’ efficiency , '' the chief designer added .
The Pantsyr ’ s missiles are not outfitted with homing warheads for its range capability as all the tasks can be solved using the system of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat vehicle , he noted .
The Pantsyr-S1 ( NATO reporting name : SA-22 Greyhound ) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and civilian facilities , including long-range air defense systems , from all modern and future air attack weapons .
The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles ( six missiles in two transport and launch containers each ) .
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns , each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second .

"There are two missiles that fight the entire range of targets. One is standard while the other has been developed recently and is hypersonic: it can develop a speed of Mach 5 and more," the chief designer said.
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia’s Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile/gun system has received the latest hypersonic missile, Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument-Making (part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) Valery Slugin told TASS on Wednesday.
The new missile approaches the target more quickly, which increases the system’s rate of fire because the firing channel is freed faster, he said.
"Besides, there is no need to load a large amount of explosives into the missile’s warhead for the fragments’ dispersal: the higher the impact speed, the greater the fragments’ efficiency," the chief designer added.
The Pantsyr’s missiles are not outfitted with homing warheads for its range capability as all the tasks can be solved using the system of the missile’s remote control from a combat vehicle, he noted.
The Pantsyr-S1 (NATO reporting name: SA-22 Greyhound) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and civilian facilities, including long-range air defense systems, from all modern and future air attack weapons. The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles (six missiles in two transport and launch containers each).
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns, each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second.


tass--2020-01-29--China hands over coronavirus genome to Russia, enabling scientists to start on vaccine

BEIJING , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
China has given Russia the genome of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV , Russia ’ s Consulate General in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou officially stated Wednesday .
The Russian and Chinese scientists have started developing the vaccine .
`` The Chinese side has handed over to Russia the virus genome thus enabling our scientists to quickly prepare snap tests , which can identify the virus in a human body within two hours .
The Russian and Chinese specialists have started developing the vaccine , '' the statement runs .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China on evacuating Russian nationals only from the central Hubei province , where the largest number of pneumonia cases caused by novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV has been recorded , the Russian Consulate General in Guangzhou revealed .
`` Currently , the Russian embassy in China is discussing with China ’ s authorities the evacuation of only those citizens , who are at the epicenter of the outbreak in the Hubei province ( mostly in Wuhan ) .
Staying in this area poses a real threat to life and health .
It ’ s impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been introduced in the region , '' the statement reads .
Russia is not planning to evacuate citizens from other provinces , the Consulate General informed , noting that `` those willing to leave China could do this independently themselves on a regular basis . ''

BEIJING, January 29. /TASS/. China has given Russia the genome of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV, Russia’s Consulate General in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou officially stated Wednesday.
The Russian and Chinese scientists have started developing the vaccine.
"The Chinese side has handed over to Russia the virus genome thus enabling our scientists to quickly prepare snap tests, which can identify the virus in a human body within two hours. The Russian and Chinese specialists have started developing the vaccine," the statement runs.
Russia’s embassy in Beijing is holding talks with China on evacuating Russian nationals only from the central Hubei province, where the largest number of pneumonia cases caused by novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV has been recorded, the Russian Consulate General in Guangzhou revealed.
"Currently, the Russian embassy in China is discussing with China’s authorities the evacuation of only those citizens, who are at the epicenter of the outbreak in the Hubei province (mostly in Wuhan). Staying in this area poses a real threat to life and health. It’s impossible to independently leave it since quarantine has been introduced in the region," the statement reads.
Russia is not planning to evacuate citizens from other provinces, the Consulate General informed, noting that "those willing to leave China could do this independently themselves on a regular basis."


tass--2020-01-29--Russia launches screening of all tourists returning from China for coronavirus

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s consumer watchdog , Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare ( Rospotrebnadzor ) , has begun screening all Russian tourists arriving from China in Russian airports for coronavirus , the agency ’ s press service said Wednesday .
`` Rospotrebnadzor has launched screening of all Russian tourists returning from China in airports for coronavirus infection on January 28 which was met with full understanding and cooperation of Russian citizens , '' the statement reads .
Moreover , the watchdog ’ s consultative center provided services of Russian-Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are suspected of having contracted coronavirus .
On December 31 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent - coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
By Wednesday , the total number of identified infections had exceeded 6,000 people with 130 deaths reported .
The virus was transmitted to 15 countries .
The World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia’s consumer watchdog, Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor), has begun screening all Russian tourists arriving from China in Russian airports for coronavirus, the agency’s press service said Wednesday.
"Rospotrebnadzor has launched screening of all Russian tourists returning from China in airports for coronavirus infection on January 28 which was met with full understanding and cooperation of Russian citizens," the statement reads.
Moreover, the watchdog’s consultative center provided services of Russian-Chinese interpreters to quickly gather information from people who are suspected of having contracted coronavirus.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent - coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
By Wednesday, the total number of identified infections had exceeded 6,000 people with 130 deaths reported. The virus was transmitted to 15 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one.


tass--2020-01-29--Russian Investigative Committee questions five ex-police officers in Golunov case

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Five former officers from the police force of Moscow ’ s Western Administrative District have been brought to the Russian Investigative Committee ’ s office for questioning in the case of Meduza news website reporter Ivan Golunov , a committee spokesperson told TASS .
`` Five former officers from the Moscow Police Drug Control Unit in the Western Administrative District have been brought to the Investigative Committee ’ s office in connection with the so-called Ivan Golunov case .
Investigators are questioning them , '' the spokesperson said .
A law enforcement source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Western Administrative District ’ s Police Drug Control Unit Andrei Shchirov had been detained in the case on suspicion of abuse of office , as well as former detectives from the Western Administrative District ’ s police force Roman Feofanov , Maxim Umetbayev , Akbar Sergaliyev and Denis Konovalov .
While speaking to TASS on Wednesday , Golunov was hopeful that a trial against the former police officers would be fair .
`` I am pleased to see progress in the case but justice will be done when there is a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fair one , '' the reporter said .
Golunov was detained in downtown Mocsow on June 6 .
According to police , the reporter was carrying four grams of mephedrone , a synthetic stimulant drug , while five grams of cocaine were found during a search of his rented apartment .
Moscow ’ s Nikulinsky District Court placed the journalist under house arrest .
Golunov ’ s lawyer said that the drugs could have been planted on his client .
All charges were eventually dropped on June 11 and Golunov was set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his annual news conference in December that Russia ’ s Investigative Committee had opened criminal cases against five former police officers following Golunov ’ s detention .

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Five former officers from the police force of Moscow’s Western Administrative District have been brought to the Russian Investigative Committee’s office for questioning in the case of Meduza news website reporter Ivan Golunov, a committee spokesperson told TASS.
"Five former officers from the Moscow Police Drug Control Unit in the Western Administrative District have been brought to the Investigative Committee’s office in connection with the so-called Ivan Golunov case. Investigators are questioning them," the spokesperson said.
A law enforcement source earlier told TASS that former Chief of the Western Administrative District’s Police Drug Control Unit Andrei Shchirov had been detained in the case on suspicion of abuse of office, as well as former detectives from the Western Administrative District’s police force Roman Feofanov, Maxim Umetbayev, Akbar Sergaliyev and Denis Konovalov.
While speaking to TASS on Wednesday, Golunov was hopeful that a trial against the former police officers would be fair. "I am pleased to see progress in the case but justice will be done when there is a court ruling. I hope it will be a fair one," the reporter said.
Golunov case
Golunov was detained in downtown Mocsow on June 6. According to police, the reporter was carrying four grams of mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug, while five grams of cocaine were found during a search of his rented apartment. Moscow’s Nikulinsky District Court placed the journalist under house arrest. Golunov’s lawyer said that the drugs could have been planted on his client. All charges were eventually dropped on June 11 and Golunov was set free.
President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference in December that Russia’s Investigative Committee had opened criminal cases against five former police officers following Golunov’s detention.


tass--2020-01-29--At least 177 Russians are in China’s Hubei province — embassy

BEIJING , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
At least 177 Russian citizens are currently in the Hubei province ( central @ @ @ @ @ number of coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) has been recorded .
The Russian Embassy in Beijing @ @ @ @ @ of them were in Wuhan , the city where an outbreak of pneumonia was recorded @ @ @ @ @ the information obtained by the embassy , there are 177 Russian nationals in the Hubei @ @ @ @ @ has been established .
Of these , 120 citizens are in the city of Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
On Tuesday , the Russian Embassy in China reported that it @ @ @ @ @ in touch with 158 Russian citizens , 113 of whom were in Wuhan .

BEIJING, January 29. /TASS/. At least 177 Russian citizens are currently in the Hubei province (central China) where the largest number of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been recorded. The Russian Embassy in Beijing reported on Wednesday that 120 of them were in Wuhan, the city where an outbreak of pneumonia was recorded first.
"According to the information obtained by the embassy, there are 177 Russian nationals in the Hubei province, with whom communication has been established. Of these, 120 citizens are in the city of Wuhan," the embassy said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Russian Embassy in China reported that it had been able to get in touch with 158 Russian citizens, 113 of whom were in Wuhan.


tass--2020-01-29--Russian Pantsir-S air defense takes down some 100 drones around the world

MOSCOW , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Pantsir-S air defense missile system took down some 100 drones around @ @ @ @ @ of its service , says Valery Slugin - the chief air defense designer KBP JSC @ @ @ @ @ ’ s High Precision Weapons JSC .
`` About one hundred , maybe more , @ @ @ @ @ for TASS .
`` That includes Syria and other regions . ''
Slugin reminded that @ @ @ @ @ deployed in Syria : the Russian one , located at Hmeimim airbase , and a @ @ @ @ @ that jury-rigged terrorist drones repeatedly used to attack the Hmeimim base gave the system some @ @

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Russian Pantsir-S air defense missile system took down some 100 drones around the world over the course of its service, says Valery Slugin - the chief air defense designer KBP JSC, a division of Rostec’s High Precision Weapons JSC.
"About one hundred, maybe more," Slugin said in interview for TASS. "That includes Syria and other regions."
Slugin reminded that there are two Pantsir divisions deployed in Syria: the Russian one, located at Hmeimim airbase, and a Syrian one.
He admitted that jury-rigged terrorist drones repeatedly used to attack the Hmeimim base gave the system some trouble.


tass--2020-01-29--PACE says Russia complied with some of its recommendations after returning to Assembly

STRASBOURG , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ( PACE ) has confirmed that Russia had complied with some of its recommendations after the Russian delegation ’ s return to the Assembly and highlighted progress in the implementation of the Minsk accords .
`` The Assembly notes that , in the past six months since the Russian Federation ’ s return to the Assembly , some other recommendations included in Resolution 2292 ( 2019 ) have also been addressed by the Russian Federation , '' reads the PACE draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s credentials .
`` Some progress has been made with regard to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements . ''
The draft resolution approved by the committee on Tuesday will be considered at the Assembly ’ s session on Wednesday .
`` The Russian Federation has participated in so-called ‘ prisoner swaps ’ and , alongside Ukraine , is preparing other exchanges , '' the document stressed .
The transfer of 24 sailors detained for violating the navigation rules in Russia ’ s territorial waters on the way from the Black Sea to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was specifically mentioned as part of these prisoner swaps in the draft resolution .
It noted that `` this included one person wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting down of airplane MH17 , '' which confirms Russia ’ s compliance with one of the provisions of the June resolution to fully and unconditionally cooperate with the Joint Investigation Team ( JIT ) and The Netherlands Public Prosecution Office on the MH17 crash over Donbass in order to bring the perpetrators to justice .

STRASBOURG, January 29. /TASS/. The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has confirmed that Russia had complied with some of its recommendations after the Russian delegation’s return to the Assembly and highlighted progress in the implementation of the Minsk accords.
"The Assembly notes that, in the past six months since the Russian Federation’s return to the Assembly, some other recommendations included in Resolution 2292 (2019) have also been addressed by the Russian Federation," reads the PACE draft resolution on ratifying the Russian delegation’s credentials. "Some progress has been made with regard to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements."
The draft resolution approved by the committee on Tuesday will be considered at the Assembly’s session on Wednesday.
"The Russian Federation has participated in so-called ‘prisoner swaps’ and, alongside Ukraine, is preparing other exchanges," the document stressed.
The transfer of 24 sailors detained for violating the navigation rules in Russia’s territorial waters on the way from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov in November 2018 was specifically mentioned as part of these prisoner swaps in the draft resolution.
It noted that "this included one person wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting down of airplane MH17," which confirms Russia’s compliance with one of the provisions of the June resolution to fully and unconditionally cooperate with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and The Netherlands Public Prosecution Office on the MH17 crash over Donbass in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.


tass--2020-01-29--Scale of coronavirus epidemic in China surpasses atypical pneumonia outbreak of 2003

A total of 5,327 people were infected with SARS during the outbreak of atypical pneumonia , which lasted from the end of 2002 to August 2003 , killing 349 people .
BEIJING , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The scale of the novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) transmission has exceeded the outbreak of atypical pneumonia ( SARS , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) of 2002-2003 , which lasted more than six months .
Meanwhile , the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China has reached 5,974 , and the death toll from the outbreak has climbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission said in a statement on Wednesday .
According to Chinese specialists , despite the fact that coronavirus is less deadly and contagious than SARS , its epidemic is much harder to localize , because it has a longer incubation period ( from one to 14 days ) , during which the infection can be transmitted .
On December 31 , 2019 , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
The new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces , as well as in other countries such as Australia , Malaysia , Nepal , France , Thailand , Vietnam , South Korea , Singapore , the United States and Japan .
The World Health Organization recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring it an international one .

A total of 5,327 people were infected with SARS during the outbreak of atypical pneumonia, which lasted from the end of 2002 to August 2003, killing 349 people.
BEIJING, January 29. /TASS/. The scale of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) transmission has exceeded the outbreak of atypical pneumonia (SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) of 2002-2003, which lasted more than six months.
Meanwhile, the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China has reached 5,974, and the death toll from the outbreak has climbed to 132, China's National Health Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Chinese specialists, despite the fact that coronavirus is less deadly and contagious than SARS, its epidemic is much harder to localize, because it has a longer incubation period (from one to 14 days), during which the infection can be transmitted.
On December 31, 2019, 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 11 million people. On January 7, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
The new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces, as well as in other countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Japan. The World Health Organization recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring it an international one.


tass--2020-01-29--Australian scientists successfully grow China's new coronavirus in lab

SYDNEY , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
Scientists from the Peter Doherty Institute in Australia 's Melbourne have successfully grown a Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample for the first time , the Institute 's statement said .
`` Scientists frome the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity ( Doherty Institute ) in Melbourne have successfully grown the Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample , which will provide expert international laboratories with crucial information to help combat the virus , '' the statement said .
`` Having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compare their sensitivities and specificities , '' The Royal Melbourne Hospital 's Dr Julian Druce was quoted as saying .
`` The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories , and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in Europe , '' he added .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
The new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces including Beijing and Shanghai as well as in other countries such as Australia , Malaysia , Nepal , France , Thailand , Vietnam , South Korea , Singapore , the United States and Japan .
The World Health Organization recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring it an international @ @

SYDNEY, January 29. /TASS/. Scientists from the Peter Doherty Institute in Australia's Melbourne have successfully grown a Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample for the first time, the Institute's statement said.
"Scientists frome the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in Melbourne have successfully grown the Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample, which will provide expert international laboratories with crucial information to help combat the virus," the statement said.
"Having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities," The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Dr Julian Druce was quoted as saying.
"The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe," he added.
On December 31, 2019, 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 11 million people. On January 7, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
The new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces including Beijing and Shanghai as well as in other countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Japan. The World Health Organization recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring it an international one.


tass--2020-01-29--Pompeo hopes Palestinians will support Trump's Mideast peace deal

NEW YORK , January 29 .
/TASS/ .
The United States hopes that Palestinians will make a decision to support the plan on Middle Eastern settlement proposed by US President Donald Trump , US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told The Ben Shapiro Show on Tuesday .
`` In the end , the Palestinian people are going to have to make a decision about whether they want to continue to difficult challenges they face today < ... > or if they want to turn the page and deliver an outcome for themselves and for their children and their grandchildren that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pompeo said .
`` The opportunity is now at the table .
They do n't have to do it today or tomorrow , but I am confident that as they stare at this , as the Palestinian people stare at what the opportunity is < ... > I am convinced that the Palestinian people will , over the coming weeks and months — and we 've given them four years — will see that this is a better option for them .
I 'm hopeful that they will , '' he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump announced the `` deal of the century '' — a plan for Middle Eastern settlement on the basis of the two-state solution .
Special attention is focused on the status of Jerusalem , border issues , security guarantees , a free trade zone , prisoners and refugees , and the rules for further negotiations .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported Trump 's plan and said he is ready to start talks with Palestine .
However , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of the Hamas radical movement rejected the plan @

NEW YORK, January 29. /TASS/. The United States hopes that Palestinians will make a decision to support the plan on Middle Eastern settlement proposed by US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told The Ben Shapiro Show on Tuesday.
"In the end, the Palestinian people are going to have to make a decision about whether they want to continue to difficult challenges they face today <...> or if they want to turn the page and deliver an outcome for themselves and for their children and their grandchildren that's better, a brighter future," Pompeo said.
"The opportunity is now at the table. They don't have to do it today or tomorrow, but I am confident that as they stare at this, as the Palestinian people stare at what the opportunity is <...> I am convinced that the Palestinian people will, over the coming weeks and months — and we've given them four years — will see that this is a better option for them. I'm hopeful that they will," he added.
On January 28, US President Donald Trump announced the "deal of the century" — a plan for Middle Eastern settlement on the basis of the two-state solution. Special attention is focused on the status of Jerusalem, border issues, security guarantees, a free trade zone, prisoners and refugees, and the rules for further negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported Trump's plan and said he is ready to start talks with Palestine. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of the Hamas radical movement rejected the plan.