Day: June 11, 2020
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Foreign Adversaries Could Use Tundra Oil Spill to Discredit Russia, Security Chief Warns
A massive fuel spill in Russia’s Arctic could play into the hands of foreign foes that want to discredit Russia and its Arctic policy, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has said. Patrushev’s comments follow a May 29 fuel tank leak near the city of Norilsk which spilled more than 21,000 metric tons of diesel fuel…
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Major Russian Cities Postpone Victory Day Parades Over Virus Fears
At least 10 Russian cities have further postponed a landmark military parade meant to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II because of coronavirus fears, the Znak.com news website reported Thursday. President Vladimir Putin delayed the Victory Day parade from May 9, when tanks usually roll through Red Square while…
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Moscow to Hand Out $145M in ‘Prizes’ to Voters for Putin’s Constitutional Reforms
Moscow authorities plan to attract voters for next month’s public vote on constitutional reforms that would allow President Vladimir Putin to rule Russia until 2036 with prizes totaling almost $144 million. The constitutional amendments, in addition to adding social guarantees to Russia’s basic law, reset Putin’s four previous terms as president, allowing him two additional…
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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 11
There have been 502,436 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 6,532 deaths. June 11: 3 things you need to know today Moscow will end its self-isolation orders — including its digital pass system and schedule system for taking walks outside — starting June 9, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The city also released a schedule of which…
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St. Petersburg Hospitals Overwhelmed as Coronavirus Patients Decry ‘Worse Than Prison’ Conditions
Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg has a shortage of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, the Fontanka news website reported Wednesday as patients decried poor conditions at a hastily built temporary hospital. St. Petersburg has officially confirmed 19,769 coronavirus cases, a figure that according to Fontanka jumps to 30,000 when community-acquired pneumonia cases are included. …
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Russian Mayor Charged Over Failure to Contain Arctic Spill
The mayor of Russia’s Arctic city of Norilsk has been charged with negligence over his response to a spill that dumped thousands of tons of diesel fuel into local waterways, investigators said Thursday. Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement that Rinat Akhmetchin had failed in his duties to contain the spill, which environmentalists say…
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Rare Snowmelt Floods Power Station in Russian Far North
There were more melting permafrost problems for Russia’s energy infrastructure after the TGK1 power station on the Far Northwest reported June 9 that two of its hydropower units were flooded with “abnormal water inflow” due to melting snow. No serious damage was done, although the company’s personnel have been put on high alert. The water…
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How Russia’s Homeless Animals Survived the Quarantine
When an older man became ill and was quarantined, volunteers brought food and medicine, but no one could care for his two dogs. So, for a month, a distant relative became one of Russia’s growing ranks of animal volunteers. Volunteer organizations to aid animals have existed in Russia for a long time, but this year…
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Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Pass 500K as Officials Shift Focus to Putin Reforms
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on Tuesday, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic. President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…
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Go to Thailand This Weekend — at Home in Moscow
This weekend our friends and neighbors at the Hyatt Regency Petrovsky Park are offering a Thai set, a magical mix of spicy, sweet, sour, coco and creamy flavors to take you away from Moscow and set you down on a Thai beach — in your kitchen, that is. The set menu includes: Som Tam (traditional green…
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Russia Says ‘Years’ Needed to Clean Up Arctic Spill
Russian investigators on Wednesday detained three staff of a power plant over a huge fuel spill in the Arctic, as response teams warned a full clean-up would take years. The spill of over 21,000 tons of fuel took place after a fuel reservoir collapsed last month at a power plant operated by a subsidiary of…
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Russian Prison Guards Walk on Glass for ‘Self-Awareness’
Guards at one of Russia’s strictest prisons recently took part in a self-awareness course involving walking on glass, the prison service has said. The Orenburg region’s prison service said the goal of the course at Penal Colony No. 6 was to promote “self-discovery” among the guards and help them “defeat their own fears.” The colony 1,500…