U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday opened the way for tougher sanctions to stop the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that Russia is building to U.S. ally Germany. “Our expectation is that those who participate in the continued project will be subject to review for potential consequences,” Pompeo told a news conference. President…
Hundreds of protesters rallied and scuffled with police in Belarus on Tuesday with more than 100 people detained after officials barred President Alexander Lukashenko’s main rivals from running in an election in August. Hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital Minsk on Tuesday evening, walking peacefully and clapping as passing drivers honked…
Russia’s parliament on Wednesday approved legislation that allows elections to be held over three days, in a move the opposition said was aimed at hollowing out democratic polls. A bill that allows elections to be held over “several but no more than three days” was adopted by parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, in a…
Russia has confirmed 746,369 cases of coronavirus and 11,770 deaths. July 15: 3 things you need to know today Russia will no longer require foreigners without coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival as the country looks to begin reopening to international travelers in the midst of the pandemic, according to a decree published Monday. The Russian Defense…
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had developed a “safe” coronavirus vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers. The ministry said 18 people had participated in the research and were discharged without “serious adverse events, health complaints, complications or side effects.” The results of the trials “allow us to speak with…
The remote Alaskan town of Sitka has voted to relocate the statue of its Russian founder as anti-racism protests worldwide seek to topple statues of historical figures linked to racism and colonialism. A petition calling for the removal of Russian America governor Alexander Baranov’s monument cites the “armed assault” he led on the local Tinglit people…
As Russia has battled the coronavirus pandemic, its doctors have been among the hardest-hit groups. Many Russian hospitals have become hotspots for coronavirus outbreaks. Russian doctors estimate that nearly 600 of their colleagues have died from the virus across the country. While Russians haven’t followed fellow virus epicenters like New York and Italy in applauding…
Protests against racial and other discrimination have engulfed half of the globe. In their quest for justice, demonstrators have targetted monuments of people associated with slavery, racial and other forms of discrimination. Authorities across the world have put demonstrators on a par with ordinary vandals, imposing enormous fines and even criminal penalties for destroying or…
A disabled Russian pensioner who denies the collapse of the Soviet Union is suspected by the authorities of plotting to overthrow the government, according to the local chapter of the organization that believes the U.S.S.R. still legally exists. Vladimir Beskhlebnyi, 72, was placed under house arrest in the Omsk region Saturday on charges of creating…
For as long as Valery Nechayev could remember, the ruling United Russia party had been in charge of his home region of Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far East. And, for a while, that was just fine. But as the years went by, the 23-year-old chef’s trust in the party’s officials waned. Investigations into their finances by…
Starting July 13, Moscow will no longer require people to wear masks outdoors as the number of new coronavirus cases has dwindled in the Russian capital in recent weeks. Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions…
Russian lawmakers have swiftly moved to ban same-sex marriage in line with President Vladimir Putin’s recent changes to the Constitution. Seven senators submitted a draft bill late Tuesday to amend Russia’s Family Code and legally ban gay marriage and adoptions, including, according to its authors, by transgender people. The move comes two weeks after voters…
Music streaming giant Spotify announced Tuesday it was launching its service in Russia and 12 other countries around Eastern Europe. Spotify would become available to users immediately, according to a statement, which added that the Swedish streaming service was now accessible in 92 markets. In addition to Russia, Spotify was rolling out in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan,…