Russia Clears Two Coronavirus Drugs for Pharmacy Sale

Two Russian-made coronavirus treatment drugs have been cleared for pharmacy sale, allowing for widespread at-home treatment of the infection, the Health Ministry announced in a statement to the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency Thursday.  Both drugs are Russia-manufactured variants of favipiravir, the generic version of an anti-flu medication developed by Japan’s Fujifilm. Clinical trials of the…

Korsakov Central District Hospital receives new equipment from Sakhalin Energy

News from projects and regions September 18, 2020, 10:30 The Korsakov Central District Hospital has received new equipment from Sakhalin Energy. The funds for purchasing the required medical devices and consumables were provided within the Prevention and Treatment project, the company’s initiative aimed at supporting the healthcare institutions of the Sakhalin Region. The project is designed to provide the…

Belarus Shuts Western Borders as Lukashenko Warns of ‘War’

Update: Belarus’ borders remained open Friday after President Alexander Lukashenko announced they would be closed. The country’s border guard service said on its Telegram channel that “checks have been stepped up” and “tactical reinforcements have been deployed,” but that “checkpoints are permitting people to enter and leave.” Belarus will close its borders with Poland and Lithuania…

Protest-Plagued Belarus Strongman Transfers Son to Moscow School – Reports

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has transferred his youngest son to an elite boarding school in Moscow amid ongoing protests against his disputed re-election, Russian tabloids reported Thursday.  Nikolai “Kolya” Lukashenko, 16, has become a social media sensation as he has grown from a pudgy kid to an apparent “successor” to the presidency who is frequently…

Gazprom Export Further Extends Functions of the Electronic Sales Platform

News from projects and regions September 17, 2020, 15:00 Gazprom Export LLC continues to develop its Electronic Sales Platform (ESP). From September 7, 2020, new types of trade instruments are available here. In addition to existing products, the ESP now offers new instruments with geographical and volume flexibility: the former allows several delivery points to choose from, while the latter…

Chemical Weapons Watchdog Says Examining Navalny Samples

The global chemical weapons watchdog confirmed Thursday that it had sent experts to Germany to collect samples from Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and that results of tests for Novichok poisoning were “forthcoming.” Berlin had formally requested its “technical assistance” over Navalny’s alleged poisoning, the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said.…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 17

Russia has confirmed 1,085,281 cases of coronavirus and 19,061 deaths. Sept 17: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 5,762 new coronavirus infections Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 1,085,281. Russian health officials have proposed depriving medics of promised coronavirus payouts if they refuse to vaccinate against the infection, the Medvestnik medical news website has reported. …

Poland Seeks Russian Air Traffic Controllers’ Arrest Over Fatal 2010 Presidential Crash

Poland has taken the first steps to arrest three Russian air traffic controllers whom it accuses of provoking a fatal plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski in 2010, Polish media reported late Wednesday.  Polish prosecutors in 2017 accused the air traffic controllers of “deliberately provoking” the crash where 96 Polish officials including Kaczynski…

Belarus Opposition Leader Is U.S. Protege – Russia Spy Chief

Russia’s foreign intelligence chief on Wednesday accused the United States of protecting Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and allocating $20 million to promote anti-government protests that erupted after disputed presidential elections. Sergei Naryshkin, who heads the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), said Washington had taken the former presidential candidate Tikhanovskaya and other activists “firmly under…

Well-Preserved Cave Bear Discovered in Russia’s Melting Arctic Permafrost

Reindeer herders in Russia’s Arctic have discovered what scientists say is the first-ever cave bear carcass with soft tissues intact in the region’s rapidly thawing permafrost.  The Ice Age-era animal is believed to have lived between 22,000 and 39,500 years ago, Russia’s North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) said in a statement Monday. Previously, the university said…

Trump Ad Supporting U.S. Troops Shows Russian Fighter Jets, Rifles

A campaign fundraising ad for U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at rallying support for the country’s troops actually displays Russian-made military equipment, Politico reported Monday.  The digital “Support Our Troops” campaign that ran between Sept. 8-12 shows the silhouettes of three soldiers as fighter jets fly overhead.  “That’s definitely a [Russian] MiG-29,” defense analyst Pierre…

1 in 7 Russian Coronavirus Vaccine Volunteers Report Side Effects

One in seven volunteers have complained of side effects including weakness and muscle pain after taking Russia’s highly touted coronavirus vaccine, Russia’s health minister said Tuesday. Final clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine began in Moscow earlier this month amid questions over its long-term safety and effectiveness.  Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said more than…

Soviet Classic Turns 50 at GUM AutoRally

This weekend, Muscovites got the chance to witness the best of the Soviet Union’s automobile legacy as 100 Zhiguli sedans raced in the annual GUM AutoRally on Saturday. This year’s event marked 50 years since the release of Zhiguli’s first model, VAZ-2101, commonly known as ‘Kopeyka’ (named after the smallest ruble coin, the kopek). Here’s…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 15

Russia has confirmed 1,073,849 cases of coronavirus and 18,785 deaths. Sept 15: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 5,529 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 1,073,849. Russian health officials have proposed depriving medics of promised coronavirus payouts if they refuse to vaccinate against the infection, the Medvestnik medical news website has reported. …

Russia Considers Stripping Coronavirus Bonuses From Medics Who Refuse Vaccine – Reports

Russian health officials have proposed depriving medics of promised coronavirus payouts if they refuse to vaccinate against the infection, the Medvestnik medical news website has reported.  President Vladimir Putin this spring promised monthly bonuses ranging from $300 to $1,000 for doctors and other medical professionals treating Covid-19 patients. Russian doctors have since reported being underpaid…

Belarus Opposition Leader Criticizes Putin’s Talks With ‘Usurper’ Lukashenko

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskya has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to hold talks with “usurper” Alexander Lukashenko rather than the Belarusian people. Tikhanovskaya’s statement comes ahead of one-on-one talks between Putin and Lukashenko in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday. The talks follow a month of mass protests that broke out…

Putin Backs Lukashenko’s ‘Eventual Succession’ in Belarus – Bloomberg

Russian President Vladimir Putin will encourage steps toward an “eventual succession” in Belarus but will not accept the opposition coming to power through street protests, Bloomberg reported Sunday. Moscow doesn’t trust embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko but is “determined” not to see protesters topple his rule, Bloomberg cited five unnamed sources close to the Kremlin…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 13

Russia has confirmed 1,062,811 cases of coronavirus and 18,578 deaths. Sept 13: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 5,449 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 1,062,811. Nearly half of Russians say they will never vaccinate against the coronavirus regardless of its country of production, according to a survey cited by the RBC…

‘The Girl From the Hermitage’

Tens of thousands of nameless older women inhabit St. Petersburg, picking their way amongst the pockmarked sidewalks and treacherous cobblestones, dressed in clean but shabby clothes, their shoulders stooped with decades of carrying heavy burdens.  They are as integral to the city as the elaborate facades and the noonday gun from Peter and Paul Fortress,…

Gazprom ramping up capacities of Chayandinskoye field

September 11, 2020, 19:20 The Gazprom Management Committee took note of the information about the implementation of major investment projects. In the east of Russia, the systematic expansion of production capacities continues at the Chayandinskoye field in Yakutia. In 2020, it is planned to bring onstream 103 gas wells, a gas pre-treatment unit (GPTU-2), and a membrane unit for helium concentrate extraction. Moreover, capacity increase will be finished at the operating comprehensive gas treatment unit…

Gazprom Management Committee endorses revised investment program and budget for 2020

September 11, 2020, 18:55 Gazprom’s overall amount of investments for 2020: RUB 922.489 billion. Gazprom’s borrowings for 2020: RUB 501.287 billion. Final investment program and budget to be approved by Gazprom Board of Directors. The Gazprom Management Committee endorsed the revised drafts of the investment program and budget (financial plan) for 2020. As per the revised investment program for 2020, the overall amount of investments will stand…

Russia Plans Fingerprinting, eCards for Foreigners in Latest Immigration Reforms

Russia plans to require long-staying foreigners to submit fingerprints and carry electronic migration cards as part of the country’s wide-ranging immigration reforms, the Kommersant business daily reported Friday. The Interior Ministry has drafted legislation requiring foreigners who intend to stay in Russia for more than 30 days to submit their fingerprints and other personal data,…