Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Nov. 1

Russia has confirmed 1,636,781 cases of coronavirus and 28,235 deaths. Nov. 1: What you need to know today Russia has confirmed 18,665 new cases and 245 new deaths. Over 150 patients were evacuated from a coronavirus hospital on Saturday in the Ural city of Chelyabinsk following an oxygen explosion and fire.  All of Russia’s regions are currently experiencing shortages of doctors to…

Russia Pledges Help to Yerevan if Fighting Reaches Armenia

Russia said Saturday it would provide “necessary” assistance to Yerevan in its conflict with Azerbaijan if fighting reached Armenian territory after its ally requested help. Earlier Saturday Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan formally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin “urgent” consultations on security assistance in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.…

Launch Squash Boats Under the Blue Moon

Halloween as we think of it — jack-o’-lanterns, children dressed up trick-or-treating, scary decor —  is a relatively recent import to Russia. Apart from the expatriate enclaves where they take trick-or-treating very seriously indeed, the holiday has found its most fertile soil in the grown-up playgrounds of nightclubs and bars. And this makes sense, since…

Russians Stock Up on Food, Essentials Amid Fears of Second Virus Lockdown – Survey

At least one-third of Russians are actively preparing for a second coronavirus lockdown despite officials’ continued assurances that there are no plans to enact stricter measures, the RBC news website cited a survey as saying Friday. Russia has seen record-breaking surges in new coronavirus infections over the past two months as the outbreak gradually shifts from…

Lukashenko Warns Belarus Protesters He Will ‘Take No Prisoners’

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko ordered his security chiefs Friday to crack down on protesters and “take no prisoners” in his grimmest warning yet after months of demonstrations. The ex-Soviet nation has witnessed mass protests since the 66-year-old authoritarian leader claimed a landslide victory in August presidential elections that critics and Western leaders say was rigged.…

Belarus Briefing | Oct. 30

Belarus has seen weekly mass protests against the disputed presidential re-election of Alexander Lukashenko for nearly three months. On Monday, exiled Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called for a national strike after the deadline she set for Lukashenko to resign and free all political prisoners expired the previous day. Here’s more of the latest news…

‘May God Disfigure the Face of This Creature’: Russian MMA Star Nurmagomedov Joins Anti-Macron Chorus

Russian MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has joined a growing chorus of protests by prominent Muslims against French President Emmanuel Macron’s defense of secular values in the wake of two deadly terrorist attacks with a withering Instagram post. Macron became the target of widespread anger in the Islamic world for defending the display of cartoons of…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Oct. 30

Russia has confirmed 1,599,976 cases of coronavirus and 27,656 deaths. Oct. 30: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 18,283 Covid-19 cases Friday, bringing its official number of cases to 1,599,976 and setting a new one-day record for infections. In the past 24 hours, 355 people have died.  All of Russia’s regions are currently experiencing shortages of doctors to…

Nagorno-Karabakh Briefing | Oct. 30

Azerbaijani forces were closing in on the key town of Shusha on Thursday evening — the capture of which could transform the conflict at a time when analysts fear a “war of attrition” could be about to set in as winter approaches the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region. Meanwhile talks in Geneva will attempt to move towards…

Turbine Idle Run at Unit 1 of Belarusian NPP

On October 30, 2020 at the Belarusian NPP (General Designer and General Contractor: Engineering Division of ROSATOM), specialists brought the turbo aggregate rotors to the nominal idle speed (without grid connection), which is one of the most important and crucial operations at the stage of the unit preparation for electricity generation. The rotation start  is…

Russia ‘Open’ to Return of Armenia-Held Land to Azerbaijan – Putin

Russia is open to Azerbaijan reclaiming seven areas surrounding the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia has controlled for 26 years, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Azerbaijani forces have been making gains against Armenian separatist fighters since the heaviest fighting since a 1994 ceasefire over the South Caucasus region erupted last month. The Armenia-controlled districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh,…

Nagorno-Karabakh Briefing | Oct. 29

Fighting continued Thursday in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after the third attempt at a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan — a U.S. brokered deal — fell apart within minutes of coming into effect earlier in the week. Oct. 29: What you need to know today The leader of Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh said Azerbaijani forces…

Belarus Briefing | Oct. 29

Belarus has seen weekly mass protests against the disputed presidential re-election of Alexander Lukashenko for nearly three months. On Monday, exiled Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called for a national strike after the deadline she set for Lukashenko to resign and free all political prisoners expired the previous day. Here’s more of the latest news…

Gazprom to increase efficiency of its activities through introduction of digital technologies

October 29, 2020, 16:40 The Gazprom Management Committee took note of the information on the projects being designed and implemented for the widespread adoption of digital technologies and other technological solutions. It was highlighted that the introduction of digital technologies is an important tool to improve the effectiveness of the corporate governance and achieve the strategic goals of the Gazprom Group. Today, the Company is at the final stage…

Required amount of gas totaling 72.3 billion cubic meters injected into Russian UGS facilities in preparations for winter

October 29, 2020, 16:30 Daily deliverability of the UGS facilities has been maintained at the record level of 843.3 million cubic meters. All 13 sets of planned preventive maintenance and repair operations were performed. The Gazprom Management Committee reviewed the operational readiness of the Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) facilities for peak loads expected in late 2020 – early 2021, as well as the measures necessary to ensure uninterrupted gas…

Disgruntled Russian PR Exec Behind Key Steele Dossier Claims – WSJ

A disgruntled Russian PR executive had provided some of the key unverified allegations for a controversial report at the heart of 2016 U.S. election meddling claims known as the Steele dossier, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. British counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele’s report that leaked in 2017 alleged, among other things, that Russian security services…

Libyan Government Agrees to Release Russians Accused of Meddling – Bloomberg

The Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has agreed to release Russian political operatives accused of vote meddling, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.  The agreement between Libya’s internationally recognized government and Moscow was made last week and the prisoners are expected to return to Russia in the coming days, Bloomberg cited unnamed sources close to the negotiations…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Oct. 28

Russia has confirmed 1,563,976 cases of coronavirus and 26,935 deaths. Oct. 28: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 16,202 Covid-19 cases Wednesday, bringing its official number of cases to 1,563,976. A record 346 people have died in the past 24 hours. Moscow has extended its requirement for 30% of all businesses’ employees to work remotely through Nov. 28, while…

Nagorno-Karabakh Briefing | Oct. 28

Fighting continued Wednesday in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after the third attempt at a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan — a U.S. brokered deal — fell apart within minutes of coming into effect earlier in the week. Oct. 28: What you need to know today Azerbaijan said Wednesday an Armenian missile strike on its Barda…

Russian enterprises expanding capabilities for manufacturing of offshore production equipment

October 28, 2020, 09:55 The Gazprom Board of Directors took note of the information on expanding the agreement of cooperation in import substitution of equipment, components, and spare parts for subsea production complexes, entered into by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and Gazprom in order to ensure the preferential use of domestic equipment in the projects for the pre-development of the Kirinskoye and Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas and…

Gazprom facilitating development of gas exchange trading in Russia

October 28, 2020, 09:50 The Gazprom Board of Directors took note of the information on the development of the natural gas exchange trading system. It was noted that the participation of the Gazprom Group entities has been systemically important for the organized gas exchange trading activities at the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange (SPIMEX) since the launch of said trading in 2014. The Group offers the bulk…

Gazprom stepping up cooperation with Russian manufacturers of gas-powered equipment

October 28, 2020, 09:45 The Gazprom Board of Directors took note of the information on the ongoing import substitution of products, equipment and technologies meant for the NGV market development. It was noted that the production and sale of natural gas as a vehicle fuel is among strategic activities of Gazprom in Russia. The Company is rapidly developing the CNG filling station network, consistently expands its own fleet of vehicles fueled by natural…

Amur GPP construction project is 67.1 per cent complete

October 28, 2020, 09:40 The Gazprom Board of Directors expressed its approval of the Company’s ongoing work on its 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…

Gazprom Board of Directors approves revised investment program and budget for 2020

October 28, 2020, 09:35 Gazprom’s overall amount of investments for 2020: RUB 922.489 billion. Gazprom’s borrowings for 2020: RUB 501.287 billion. The Gazprom Board of Directors endorsed the revised investment program and budget (financial plan) for 2020. As per the revised investment program for 2020, the overall amount of investments will stand at RUB 922.489 billion, which is RUB 182.235 billion less than was envisaged in the investment…

Anti-Lukashenko Strike ‘Just the Beginning,’ Belarus Opposition Leader Says

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called Monday’s general strike aimed at putting pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko a “collective success” and vowed to continue calling for his resignation.  Tikhanovskaya had given Lukashenko until Sunday to quit, halt violence against protesters and release political prisoners, warning he would otherwise face a general strike from Monday.…

‘Very Nice’: Kazakhstan Adopts Borat’s Catchphrase for Tourism Drive

“Very nice!” Kazakhstan is adopting its fictional resident Borat Sagdiyev’s famous catchphrase as its new tourism slogan alongside the release of the comedy-slash-mockumentary’s sequel. The lean-in attitude marks a reversal from the confrontational stance the Central Asian country adopted upon the release of the first Borat movie in 2006.  Back then, Kazakh authorities banned the…