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Russia to Open Tourism Center in Remote Arctic Archipelago

Russia is set to open a new tourism center in Franz Josef Land, a remote Arctic archipelago, in response to heightened interest in traveling above the Arctic Circle. The visitor center is located on Guker Island, one of the largest in the archipelago. On this site in 1929, Soviet explorers established the very first research…

Macron’s Meeting Putin. Just Don’t Call Him Trump’s Messenger

French President Emmanuel Macron hosts Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his summer residence on Monday and his office is adamant about what the get-together is not. France isn’t playing the role of go-between with Russia and other world powers, Macron’s office says, after being stung by a tweet from President Donald Trump earlier in August that suggested…

Russia Says No Plans to Install New Missiles Unless U.S. Deploys Them

Russia will not deploy new missiles as long as the United States shows similar restraint in Europe and Asia, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said on Sunday, after Washington’s withdrawal from a Soviet-era arms pact. The United States formally left the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia earlier this month after accusing Moscow of violating the treaty and…

Russian Nuclear Plant Taken Down After Safety System Error

Block 4 of Russia‘s Beloyarsk nuclear power station in the Urals mountains was switched off on Sunday following a “false” response by the safety system, a subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom said. It said the block was halted at 09.15 (0415 GMT). “The stoppage was carried out under a routine algorithm,” Rosenergoatom said in a…

Russian Opposition Activists Picket for Free Elections

Russian opposition activists staged a string of pickets in central Moscow on Saturday to call for free elections and for charges against protesters detained at recent rallies to be dropped. Moscow has been rocked by weekly protests for more than a month since the authorities barred opposition candidates from running in an election for the…

Exclusive: Russian Doctors Say They Weren’t Warned Patients Were Nuclear Accident Victims

The three injured men arrived at the hospital around 4:30 pm, naked and wrapped in translucent plastic bags. The state of the patients made staff suspect they were dealing with something very serious. But the only information they had at the time was that there had been an explosion at a nearby military site around…

Russia Confirms Assault, Extortion Allegations in Europe’s Largest Prison

Russia’s prison authority has confirmed reports of abuse at Europe’s largest pre-trial detention center days after new video footage renewed concerns about conditions in Russia’s penitentiary system. Russia’s prison system has been under scrutiny since mid-2018, when revelations of torture set off nationwide inspections and dozens of legal cases. Last week, a prisoners’ rights NGO…

Russia to Revamp Soviet-Era List of Banned Jobs for Women By 2021

Women in Russia will soon be able to work in more than 350 job positions they’d previously been barred from under largely unchanged Soviet-era labor restrictions. Russia currently prohibits women from holding 456 jobs in dozens of industries that involve physically strenuous tasks or harmful working conditions. Previous media reports suggested that the Labor Ministry…

Russia Opens 350 Banned Professions to Women, Stripping Soviet-Era Restrictions

Women in Russia will soon be able to work in more than 350 job positions they’d previously been barred from under largely unchanged Soviet-era labor restrictions. Russia currently prohibits women from holding 456 jobs in dozens of industries that involve physically strenuous tasks or harmful working conditions. Previous media reports suggested that the Labor Ministry…

Putin-Macron Held Talks Before Russian Bank’s French Executive Released From Custody

A Russian court’s decision to release Baring Vostok executive Phillipe Delpal from custody and put him under house arrest followed talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin said Friday. Delpal, a French national, was ordered to be released from custody and placed under house arrest by a Moscow…

Russian Pilot Says He’s No Hero Despite Praise for Crash-Landing

A Russian pilot who landed a passenger plane in a cornfield after hitting a flock of birds said he was no hero despite the Kremlin lauding him for saving the lives of 233 people. Russian media have said it was a miracle that no one was killed when the Ural Airlines Airbus 321 was forced…

Moscow Authorities ‘Discover’ Flocks of Birds Near Plane Crash-Landing Site

Moscow authorities said they have “discovered” gulls flocking around one of two garbage sites near the airport where a Russian passenger plane made a “miraculous” emergency landing on Thursday. All 234 people on board the Ural Airlines Airbus A321 survived when it landed in a cornfield southeast of Moscow after both of its engines struck a…

Russian Nuclear-Capable Bombers Leave Airfield Opposite Alaska

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday that two of its nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers had left an airfield opposite Alaska after training exercises and returned to their base, the Interfax news agency reported. Russia said Wednesday it had flown two bombers to a far eastern Russian region opposite Alaska as part of a training exercise that state…

Russian Military Pairs Stealth Drone With Manned Fighter Jet

Russia’s Defense Ministry has released footage of its stealth drone flying with a fighter jet a week after unveiling the unmanned aircraft’s maiden flight. The Okhotnik (“Hunter”) combat drone is equipped with a jet engine, anti-radar skin coating and can speed up to 1,000 kilometers per hour, according to the Defense Ministry. The Okhotnik’s design…

Russia’s FSB Publishes Foreign Worker Statistics for First Time in 20 Years

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has for the first time in two decades released data on the number of labor migrants who have arrived so far in 2019, revealing the extent of work-related migration into the country. President Vladimir Putin aims to offset Russia’s declining population numbers with measures that include attracting up to 10…

Russian Lawmaker Says Draft Foreign Ownership Law Not Aimed at Nationalizing Yandex

A draft law proposing to limit foreign ownership in ‘significant’ Russian technology firms to 20% is not aimed at making its top search engine Yandex state-owned, the lawmaker behind the idea, Anton Gorelkin, said. The draft law, submitted to Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, in late July, proposes limiting foreign ownership in internet…

U.S. Journalist Fined for Interviewing Russian Environmental Asylum Seekers

An American freelance journalist has been fined for interviewing Siberian residents who had asked for Canadian asylum this summer over the deteriorating environment in their region. Alina Simone was sued by the mayor of the coal-mining town of Kiselyovsk after she was spotted filming residents who made headlines in June for asking Canadian Prime Minister…

A Student Arrest Puts Elite Moscow University to the Test

A chill ran down Artyom Tyurin’s spine when he heard the news that his friend and fellow student Yegor Zhukov had been hauled from his bed in the middle of the night by police and charged with “organizing mass unrest,” a crime punishable by up to eight years in prison. It was the latest sign…

Ecologist Says Russian Nuclear Agency Committed Crime by Conducting Test Near City

An ecologist in northern Russia said Thursday the state nuclear agency Rosatom had committed a crime by carrying out a mysterious test last week close to inhabited areas, which caused a spike in radiation in his native city. Rosatom has said that the Aug. 8 accident occurred during a rocket test involving “isotope power sources”…

Britain Bans Submarine Exports to Russia Over Undersea Cable Concerns

Britain has banned the export of submarines to Russia over what it says are advances that pose a national security risk, including the alleged ability to cut undersea cables which carry most global internet communications. Britain and the U.S. have warned that the Russian Navy could disrupt over $10 trillion in daily transactions by attacking…

Putin Reserves Key 5G Frequency for Military Use, Media Reports

Russia risks falling behind the rest of the world in next-generation 5G technology after President Vladimir Putin has reserved its most popular frequency range for the military and intelligence services, Russia’s Vedomosti business daily reported Thursday. With speeds at least 10 times faster than 4G technology, 5G is expected to power internet-connected products ranging from…

Baring Vostok Executive Calvey to Stay Under House Arrest

Russia softened its stance in a high-profile legal standoff that has shaken foreign investors when a court Thursday freed jailed French private equity executive Philippe Delpal from custody and placed him under house arrest instead. Delpal was one of several executives at private equity group Baring Vostok, including U.S. citizen Michael Calvey, who were detained…

Moscow Passenger Plane Makes ‘Miraculous’ Crash-Landing in Cornfield

A Russian passenger plane’s emergency landing in a cornfield near Moscow after birds were sucked into its engines has been hailed by state media as a “miracle” and compared to a 2009 U.S. flight’s landing after striking a flock of geese. Russians have said it was a miracle that no one was killed when the Ural…

Russia Stole U.S. Hypersonic Missile Tech to Make Nuclear Advances – Bolton

Russia has stolen hypersonic cruise missile technology from the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top national security aide John Bolton said while discussing last week’s deadly explosion at a military test site in Russia’s north. The mysterious explosion that killed five Russian nuclear engineers and caused a radiation spike last Thursday has spawned conflicting…

Moscow ‘Mass Unrest’ Defendants Kept in Pre-Trial Detention Despite Protests, Appeals

A Moscow court has ruled to keep in custody pending trial six of the 14 defendants accused of “mass unrest” over recent election protests that have rocked Russia’s capital. At least 14 people face up to eight years behind bars for what the authorities call participating in “mass riots” during unauthorized protests in support of…

Norway Detects Radioactive Iodine by Russian Border Days After Rocket Explosion

Norway’s nuclear safety authority is analyzing tiny amounts of radioactive iodine detected in the air in northern Norway in the days after a deadly explosion during a rocket engine test over the border in Russia. Russia’s state nuclear agency, Rosatom, said Saturday that five people killed in the blast were its staff members and the…

Kremlin Hails Emergency Landing Pilots as Heroes

The Kremlin will bestow state awards on two pilots who made a successful emergency landing of a passenger plane with 233 people on board near Moscow on Thursday. The Health Ministry said 23 people had suffered injuries but that nobody had been killed when the Ural Airlines Airbus 321 came down in a field southeast…

Russian Plane Crash-Lands in Cornfield, 233 Lives Saved

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Opposition Politician Sobol Ends Month-Long Hunger Strike Amid Moscow Protests

Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol has announced she has ended her month-long hunger strike over health concerns for an arrested campaign aide who had joined her in striking. Sobol went on hunger strike last month after Moscow election authorities refused to allow her and other opposition candidates on the ballot for next month’s local legislature…

Russia Warns China It Could Ban Timber Exports Over Illegal Logging

Russia could ban timber exports to China unless Beijing takes action to help mitigate the effects of illegal logging, a Russian government minister said in an interview published Thursday. Russian authorities this month attributed some of the vast wildfires that have engulfed portions of Siberia in recent weeks to arsonists trying to conceal illegal logging…

Russian Region Orders Gas Masks After Deadly Nuclear Blast – Reports

A region in northern Russia has ordered more than 1,000 gas masks after a deadly explosion led to a spike in radiation, Russia’s Open Media news website reported. At least five nuclear experts were killed in the explosion, which took place during a rocket test at sea off the coast of the Arkhangelsk region last…

Kremlin Warns of Foreign Espionage as Scientists Criticize New Restrictions

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia must be vigilant in protecting its industrial secrets against foreign intelligence services after scientists criticized new restrictions on them meeting foreigners. Under an order issued by the Education Ministry in February but which has only now come to light, government-affiliated scientists are advised to meet their foreign colleagues only…

Russia Flies Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Region Facing the U.S.

Russia said Wednesday it had flown two nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers to a far eastern Russian region opposite Alaska as part of a training exercise that state media said showed Moscow’s ability to park nuclear arms on the United States’ doorstep. The Tupolev TU-160 strategic bomber, nicknamed the White Swan in Russia, is a supersonic Soviet-era…

Armed FSB Officers Search Office of Russian Rights Group

Russian security officers armed with automatic rifles searched on Wednesday the Moscow offices of a rights group that represents the interests of Russian nationals in the European Court of Human Rights, the group said. Members of the Federal Security Service (FSB) searched an office used by Justice Initiative and its partner organisation Astreya and confiscated…

‘Top 100 Influential Russian Muslims’ Ranking Released by Local Media

A Russian media outlet has for the first time compiled a ranking of the country’s 100 most influential Muslims, with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov featured alongside tycoons, government officials and spiritual leaders. An estimated 20 million Muslims make up Russia’s second-largest religious minority, comprising about 14% of the overall population. Seven of Russia’s 85…

The Kremlin Sees Signs of Foreign Interference All Around

During a recent session of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, officials whipped themselves into a frenzy over a worrisome development: foreign powers trying to meddle in the country’s elections. The elections in question were for the Moscow City Duma, a toothless body with little or no ability to influence affairs in Russia’s…

Russian Village Cancels Evacuation Despite Radiation Spike

Locals from the closed military settlement at Nyonoksa on the White Sea coast were earlier this week told that they would have to leave the area on Wednesday morning. Russian military authorities explained to locals that the evacuation was planned in advance and had nothing to do with last week’s missile explosion, the local 29.ru…

Russian Scientists Told to Beware Foreign Contacts, Academic Says

Russian authorities have recommended for scientists to avoid communicating with their foreign colleagues, a prominent academic has complained in an open letter. The Russian Science and Higher Education Ministry reportedly distributed a decree in July advising scientists to brief the ministry in detail about upcoming meetings with foreign counterparts and to seek approval from bosses…

FC Porto Blocked Russians From Watching FC Krasnodar Victory, TV Channel Says

Update: FC Porto has denied the allegations. Comment added below. Football fans in Russia were abruptly blocked from watching FC Krasnodar spring a major upset against FC Porto Tuesday after the Portuguese side reportedly spiked the price for broadcasting rights before the game, Russia’s Match TV sports broadcaster has alleged. The Russian side secured a…

Moscow Court Allows Opposition Candidate to Run Following Protest

The Moscow city court canceled a decision by the election commission to bar a Russian opposition candidate, Sergei Mitrokhin, from running in a municipal election in September, TASS news agency reported. The court ruled in favor of Mitrokhin three days after tens of thousands of protesters turned out at a rally in Moscow, in which…

Russian Senator Slams Police Crackdown on Moscow Protests as ‘Illegal’

An ex-special forces commander and current Russian senator has called a recent police crackdown on protests in Moscow “illegal and incompetent” while the Kremlin has voiced support for the tough response. Russian authorities detained hundreds of people and launched criminal cases against dozens at a series of election protests in Moscow over the past month.…

Russia Dodges Bad Data With Less Frequent Publications

At least three state-backed agencies have reduced the frequency of their publications of economic and polling data over increasingly worrisome figures this year. Low oil prices and Western sanctions, as well as Russia’s expenditures on its military campaign in Syria and a reported backing of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, have put a dent in many…

Kremlin Says It Is Winning Arms Race Against U.S. Despite Rocket Explosion

The Kremlin boasted Tuesday it was winning the race to develop new cutting edge nuclear weapons despite a mysterious rocket accident last week in northern Russia that caused a temporary spike in radiation levels. Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear agency, has said that the Aug. 8 accident occurred during a rocket test on a sea platform…

Russian Fighter Jets Push NATO War Plane Away

Russian fighter jets pushed away a NATO war plane after it tried to approach Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s plane over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, TASS news agency reported.

The plane was flying from Kaliningrad to Moscow and was carrying a TASS reporter on board, the report said.

Moscow’s 50,000-Strong Opposition Protest, in Quotes

An estimated 50,000 people took to the streets of Moscow on Saturday in one of the largest protests in Russia since 2012. They rallied against the authorities’ blocking of opposition candidates from local elections next month and the heavy police crackdowns during recent demonstrations.  Chants calling on Russia to free its political prisoners could be…

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Simplifies Citizenship Process for ‘Persecuted’ Russians

Ukraine’s new president has made it easier for Russians facing “political persecution” to become Ukrainian citizens in an ongoing passport battle between the countries. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last month ordered an overhaul of the process for granting Ukrainian citizenship in response to Russia expanding the number of Ukrainians who can apply for fast-track Russian passports.…

Kremlin Shrugs off Moscow Protests, Backs Tough Police Response

The Kremlin on Tuesday shrugged off five weeks of street protests in support of free elections in Moscow, saying the situation had not warranted comment from President Vladimir Putin and voicing strong support for the tough police response. The demonstrations over a planned election for the Moscow city legislature in September have turned into the…

Kremlin Says Protests in Moscow Have Not Created a Political Crisis

The Kremlin denied Tuesday that political protests in Moscow in recent weeks have created a political crisis in Russia in its first comments on the rallies. The demonstrations, over elections for the Moscow city legislature, have turned into the biggest sustained protest movement in Russia since 2011-2013, when protesters took to the streets against perceived…