Moscow’s Movie Theaters Re-Open to a Post-Lockdown World

Moscow’s cinemas, theaters and concert halls re-opened to the public on Aug. 1 after being closed for more than four months due to the coronavirus. These cultural institutions have introduced a number of safety measures to help prevent the spread of the virus among their audiences. The Russian capital’s movie theaters in particular bear little…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Aug. 8

Russia has confirmed 882,347 cases of coronavirus and 14,854 deaths. Aug. 8: What you need to know today Russia’s statistics agency Rosstat said 11,917 people with the coronavirus died in June, compared to an official death toll of 4,880 for the same period. Rosstat said Covid-19 was confirmed or believed to be the main cause of death…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Pass 880K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide…

In the Tvorog Test Kitchen

Many believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is firmly in the rearview mirror, but this is clearly madness.  I’m still in full lockdown and in deep danger of becoming something I never imagined: a homesteader. I spent much of the spring baking bread and early summer brewing kvas, and now in high summer it’s time to take…

Russia Wants to Return to Venus, Build Reusable Rocket

The head of Russia’s space agency said Friday that Roscosmos wants to return to Venus and bring back soil samples and build spacecraft that will surpass Elon Musk’s rockets. Last week America’s first crewed spaceship to fly to the International Space Station in nearly a decade returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Gulf…

Belarus Fuels First Nuclear Plant Ahead of Presidential Poll

Belarus on Friday announced it had loaded fuel into its Russian-built nuclear power station as strongman Alexander Lukashenko prepares to contest a presidential poll on Sunday. The country is launching its first ever nuclear plant to gain cheaper energy despite suffering severe radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and against strong opposition from neighboring Lithuania.…

Putin Says Russia Wants ‘Stable’ Belarus Ahead of Poll

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he wants ex-Soviet neighbor Belarus to remain stable ahead of a presidential vote on Sunday, after Minsk accused Moscow of sending mercenaries to foment riots. The Kremlin released a statement after a phone call between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to discuss ties as Belarus ramped up tensions…

Twitter, Facebook Take Fresh Steps to Curb Election Manipulation

Twitter and Facebook on Thursday announced moves to thwart efforts to deceive or divide voters as the U.S. nears a contentious presidential election. Twitter unveiled new steps to prevent the spread of content from “state-affiliated media” used to advance a government’s political agenda — a move affecting key outlets from Russia and China. Facebook, meanwhile, said it…

Fuel Loading Begins at Belorussian NPP Unit 1

On August 7, fuel loading began at the Belarusian NPP Unit 1. Rosatom Engineering Division is the general designer and general contractor of the NPP. At 11:45 the first fuel assembly was loaded into the reactor of Unit 1. A total of 163 assemblies will be loaded before the end of the month. Following the…

Lukashenko: Soviet-Style Autocrat on Europe’s Doorstep

Strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled over ex-Soviet Belarus for nearly three decades, is facing down the greatest challenge to his rule yet ahead of presidential elections on Sunday. In the run-up to the vote in which Lukashenko will seek a sixth term, protests have erupted across the country straddling Russia and Europe, with 37-year-old…

15-Year-Old Girl Dies in Monastery Captured By Rogue Priest

A 15-year-old girl living in a Russian Orthodox monastery controlled by a defrocked coronavirus-denying priest has died, Interfax reported Wednesday. The Sredneuralsk women’s monastery near Russia’s fourth-largest city of Yekaterinburg has been under the control of Father Sergei Romanov since he forced out its mother superior in June. Since then, Russian media outlets have reported…

Rising Star Shakes up Belarus Strongman’s Re-Election Bid

Belarus holds presidential polls on Sunday with a novice opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge in years to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko. The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has headed the ex-Soviet country bordering Russia since 1994 and Sunday’s polls could hand him his sixth term. After appearing to guarantee himself a smooth path to victory by…

Cyprus Police Question Russian Over Lebanon Disaster

Cypriot police said Thursday they had questioned a Russian over alleged links to a ship and its cargo of ammonium nitrate said to have caused the devastating explosion in Beirut. “Lebanese authorities asked us to locate the individual and ask him some questions which we did,” a Cypriot police spokesman told AFP. “His response has been…

Belorussian NPP Unit 1 Ready for Physical Start-up

The Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor) has issued a permit for loading fresh nuclear fuel into the reactor of the Belarusian NPP Unit 1. ROSATOM Engineering Division is the general designer and general contractor of the NPP. In accordance with the laws…

Belarus Leader Says U.S. Nationals Detained Ahead of Election

Belarus has arrested a number of U.S. nationals, its President Alexander Lukashenko said days before the country’s presidential election. Authorities have cracked down on the Belarusian opposition as Lukashenko seeks a sixth term in office, with rights groups saying more than 1,300 people have been detained. “Some people were detained with American passports, married to…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Aug. 6

Russia has confirmed 871,894 cases of coronavirus and 14,606 deaths. Aug. 6: What you need to know today Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot has canceled flights to 87 international destinations for the rest of August due to the coronavirus situation. The list doesn’t include countries where Russia has already resumed or plans to resume flights: Britain, Turkey, Tanzania and…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass 870K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

U.S. Offers $10M Reward Against Russian Election Interference

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday offered a $10 million reward aimed at preventing foreign interference in the November election, as the State Department accused Russia of waging an increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaign. The reward marks one of the most public signs that members of President Donald Trump’s administration are taking election meddling seriously, despite…

Migrants Clash With Russian Police Near Kazakh Border

About 500 migrants from Uzbekistan clashed with police in southern Russia as they tried to force their way toward the border into Kazakhstan, Russian media reported Tuesday. Thousands of migrant workers, mostly from ex-Soviet states, have been stranded in Russia since late March, when countries closed their borders and halted international flights due to the…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass 866K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

WHO Urges Russia to Follow Guidelines on Virus Vaccine

The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines after Moscow announced plans to start swiftly producing COVID-19 jabs. Russia said Monday it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine in September and turn out “several million” doses per month by next year.…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Aug. 4

Russia has confirmed 861,423 cases of coronavirus and 14,351 deaths. Aug. 4: What you need to know today The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines after Moscow announced plans to start swiftly producing COVID-19 jabs.  Moscow authorities have issued 5,000-ruble fines ($68) to more than 40,000 people…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise By 5,100 Overnight

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

Belarus Opposition Rallies Voters With Promise of Change

At a small-town campaign rally held by the rising star of Belarus’s political opposition, Elena stood among the unusually large crowd, wrapped in a red and white flag — the colors of the ex-Soviet country’s emboldened opposition. Like many others at the gathering for opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, she preferred to give her first name…

8 Arrested in Russia’s First Surrogacy Probe

Eight Russians have been arrested and charged with human trafficking in the country’s first surrogacy probe, and a court on Monday was to consider extending the arrests. Surrogacy is legal in Russia and has been a lucrative business for many years. However, a criminal probe was made possible due to “ambiguities” in legislation, defense lawyer Igor Trunov…

Russia Sparks Backlash for Allowing Deforestation, Construction Along Lake Baikal

A new Russian law that allows deforestation and construction near the shores of Siberia’s Lake Baikal has sparked backlash among environmental activists who say the law threatens protected natural areas. Lake Baikal, the world’s largest freshwater lake, has been plagued with environmental problems caused by industrial pollution, mining and agricultural run-off. Plans to construct a…

On and Off the Trans-Siberian Train: The Rapper

Last summer journalist Marina Dmukhovskaya and photographer Georg Wallner took a trip on the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok. For 28 days and almost 10,000 kilometers, they talked to dozens of people in “Seat 47” (Mesto 47) riding next to them. When they returned, they turned 38 conversations into first-person stories. Here is one of…

The Mischief and Mayhem of Russian Paratroopers’ Day

Each year on Aug. 2, current and former members of Russia’s Airborne Troops meet up to raise a drink (or, more likely, many drinks) to each other’s achievements and remember fallen comrades. The holiday falls on the anniversary of the Soviet military’s first parachute flight, which was held during exercises near the southern Russian city…

Which Countries Are Open to Russians – and Vice Versa?

Russian authorities could resume all international flights with countries that grant reciprocity as early as Aug. 11, the state-run TASS news agency cited aviation industry sources as saying Saturday. Most flights to and from Russia have been grounded since March 27 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Russia also closed…

Russian Mercenaries in Belarus Say They Were ‘On Their Way to See Hagia Sophia’ – Investigators

Some of the 33 Russian mercenaries detained in Belarus told investigators they were on their way to Istanbul to see the Hagia Sophia, the head of Belarus’ Investigative Committee told President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus authorities detained the men last week for allegedly plotting to destabilize the country ahead of the country’s Aug. 9 presidential election.…

Russia Records Almost 5,400 New Coronavirus Cases

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

Russia Records Over 5,400 Coronavirus Cases as Cases Pass 850K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

Ksenia Buksha’s ‘The Freedom Factory’

An economist by education, Ksenia Buksha has worked in finance, marketing, and advertising. She is a mother of three, plays the guitar, draws, and paints. She is also, writer Dmitry Bykov asserts, one of the best poets of her generation, although she is better known for her prose. The 37-year-old St. Petersburg native has published…

Russia Records Over 5,400 Coronavirus Cases as Deaths Surpass 14K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals. Russia’s fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Aug. 2

Russia has confirmed 850,870 cases of coronavirus and 14,128 deaths. Aug. 2: 3 things you need to know today Authorities in Moscow have issued sweeping fines for violating face mask and glove requirements in recent weeks as the city looks to enforce coronavirus safety rules, the state-run TASS news agency reported Friday. Russia confirmed 5,427 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Aug. 1

Russia has confirmed 845,443 cases of coronavirus and 14,058 deaths. Aug. 1: 3 things you need to know today Authorities in Moscow have issued sweeping fines for violating face mask and glove requirements in recent weeks as the city looks to enforce coronavirus safety rules, the state-run TASS news agency reported Friday. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the Russian capital has…

Watch Three Free Films About Russian and Soviet Life

This weekend Stage Russia has joined up with Russian Life magazine, Russian and Georgian filmmakers, plus libararies and universities around the world to offer three films for free livestreaming this weekend. One is available to everyone; two are available free to people with library cards or student/teacher IDs at participating institutions.  “Resilience” In 1917, Russia…