Putin Publishes Essay on ‘Real Lessons’ of WWII 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked European leaders for failing to understand the “real lessons” of World War II and said the United Nations system is the only way for the world’s nuclear powers to avoid direct military confrontation. In an essay published Thursday evening in U.S. magazine The National Interest, Putin blames the Western…

EU Extends Crimea Sanctions by 12 Months

The European Union on Thursday rolled over for another year tough sanctions imposed over Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.  The measures prohibit certain exports and imports from Crimea, and ban EU-based companies from investment and tourism services in the strategic Black Sea peninsula. “The Council today decided to renew the sanctions introduced in…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 18

There have been 561,091 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 7,660 deaths. June 18: 3 things you need to know today Dozens of Russian World War II veterans who plan to attend the rescheduled Victory Day parade on Red Square on June 24 are self-isolating outside Moscow in order to protect President Vladimir Putin from…

Russia ‘Unblocks’ Telegram Messenger in Surprise Reversal

Russia has halted its largely unsuccessful two-year efforts to block the popular messaging service Telegram. Russia’s federal media watchdog Roskomnadzor made the surprise announcement Thursday, citing Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s “stated readiness to counter terrorism and extremism.” “In agreement with the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, Roskomnadzor is lifting demands to restrict access to Telegram,” Roskomnadzor…

Everything for a Peruvian Feast But the Llamas

For everyone who has become addicted to a weekend feast delivered to your door, June 19-21 our friends at the Hyatt Regency Petrovsky Park are offering a Peruvian dinner. Peruvian cuisine combines local traditions with Spanish, African, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian influences to create fresh, brightly flavored dishes. The set menu for two (or more,…

Russian Official Says 489 Medics Died From Coronavirus

Nearly 500 Russian medics who tested positive for the coronavirus have died, the head of the state health watchdog said Thursday, a far higher figure than given before. “489 — that is medics, unfortunately we have lost almost 500 of our colleagues,” Roszdravnadzor watchdog chief Alla Samoilova said at an online conference on safety for…

France Arrests 6 Chechens in Raids After Unrest

French police on Thursday detained six members of the Chechen community on suspicion of taking part in successive nights of violence that rocked the eastern city of Dijon, prosecutors said. From Friday to Monday, Dijon was rocked by clashes and vehicle burnings after an assault this month on a 16-year-old Chechen boy that prompted other…

Yemen Separatists Seize $225M in Russian-Printed Cash

Separatists in southern Yemen have seized 64 billion riyals ($255 million) in banknotes that Russia had printed for the country’s central bank, Moscow confirmed Wednesday. Forces loyal to a council that declared self-rule in southern Yemen’s port of Aden in April commandeered the cash convoy leaving the port, Reuters cited Yemen’s central bank as saying…

Employees of Gazprom Transgaz Surgut tested for COVID-19

Background Gazprom Transgaz Surgut is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom. The company has 26 branches, including 14 gas pipeline operation centers with 38 compressor shops and 273 gas compressor units. Gazprom Transgaz Surgut operates over 6,500 kilometers of gas trunklines running from the Zapolyarny town to the borders of the Omsk and Kurgan Regions, and transmits nearly 200 billion cubic meters of pipeline gas per year. The…

Gazprom Transgaz Saratov supports healthcare institutions

Background Gazprom Transgaz Saratov, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, is responsible for natural gas transmission from Western Siberia, Central Asia, the Orenburg Region, and three UGS facilities located in the Saratov Region. The company is in charge of over 7,000 kilometers of gas trunklines and branches, 29 compressor shops, 165 gas compressor units with a total capacity of 1.3 million kW, and 216 gas distribution stations providing gas for about…

Kazakh Ex-President Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Kazakhstan’s ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev has tested positive for coronavirus, his press service announced Thursday. Nazarbayev, 79, stepped down last year after almost 30 years in power in the oil-rich Central Asian nation, retaining key security council and party leader positions while handpicking a loyalist as his successor. As a former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan maintains close ties…

Massive Vote-Buying Campaign Claimed Ahead of Vote on Putin’s Term Limits – Report

A potentially massive online vote-buying campaign is unfolding ahead of Russia’s vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036, the independent Dozhd news channel reported Wednesday. Russians will begin voting next Thursday, ahead of the July 1 nationwide vote, on a set of constitutional amendments that include social guarantees…

ROSATOM signed Memoranda of Understanding with Framatome SAS and GE Steam Power on the Belene NPP (Bulgaria)

ROSATOM signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Framatome SAS (France) and GE Steam Power in the framework of the strategic investor selection procedure for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bulgaria. Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General of Corporate Development and International Business of ROSATOM, Frédéric Lelièvre, Senior Executive Vice President in charge of…