Day: March 12, 2020

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people continues to spread around the world, Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the pandemic, including closing most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border with China, ordering people returning from high-risk areas to self-quarantine and temporarily banning Chinese citizens from entering the country.  There…

As the only remaining independent, English-language news source reporting from Russia, The Moscow Times plays a critical role in connecting Russia to the world. Editorial decisions are made entirely by journalists in our newsroom, who adhere to the highest ethical standards. We fearlessly cover issues that are often considered off-limits or taboo in Russia, from…

Russia’s greatest advantage in forging a new future is none other than President Vladimir Putin himself, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Thursday. Volodin’s speech came in the wake of a proposed constitutional amendment that could allow Putin to remain in office until 2036 by resetting his presidential terms. The amendment, proposed on Tuesday by…

This week on the podcast: — In a televised statement to Russia’s parliament, Vladimir Putin backed a constitutional shake-up that could see him remain President for another two full terms. The plans would mean Russia’s cap of two six-year presidential terms for presidents would be re-set when a batch of high-profile constitutional amendments come into…

A joint Russian-European mission to Mars has been postponed for two years, the Russian and European space agencies said Thursday, citing the coronavirus and technical issues. “We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022,” said Dmitry Rogozin, head of Russia’s Roscosmos agency. The unmanned ExoMars mission aims to place…

World Athletics on Thursday fined Russia’s track and field federation $10 million for breaching anti-doping rules and capped at 10 the number of Russians allowed to compete as neutrals at the Tokyo Olympics. The system of allowing Russian athletes to take part as Authorized Neutral Athletes, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe warned, “will be suspended if…

A Russian furniture maker has apologized for publishing an advertisement that seemingly compared different skin colors with shades of upholstery after the ad ignited backlash. The Home Collection furniture factory’s ad shows a group of models of different races next to a range of upholstery swatches. The ad, which was first published on the factory’s…

Russians are less likely to take to the streets today than they were a year ago as their living standards gradually improve, the independent Levada Center pollster has said. The polling agency asked respondents if they think mass protests against Russians’ decline in living standards and in defense of their rights are likely to take…

Russia said Thursday it has sent test kits for the novel coronavirus to countries including Iran, North Korea and ex-Soviet states. The state health watchdog said in a statement that Moscow had sent 800 test kits to ex-Soviet states including Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, as well as to Iran, North Korea and Mongolia. Russia ally Iran…

Russia’s state-run RT broadcaster is willing to publish director Woody Allen’s memoir after the controversial book was dropped by its U.S. publisher, its editor-in-chief has said. Publisher Hachette canceled publication of the book earlier this month after a protest by Allen’s son, the journalist Ronan Farrow, led to mass staff walkouts at its New York…

A US ex-marine stood trial in Moscow Wednesday on charges that he had attacked police officers, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Trevor Reed, 28, allegedly attacked police called by friends after he became very intoxicated and risked walking into traffic. While being driven to a police station, he reportedly grabbed…