Russia’s Post-Soviet Neighbors Belarus and Turkmenistan Face Coronavirus as Leaders Deny Problem

Two of Russia’s post-Soviet neighbors, Belarus and Turkmenistan, have drawn criticism over their response to the coronavirus, with the two countries’ leaders largely denying the severity of the pandemic. Here’s a brief look at how these two countries in Russia’s backyard have been faring since the start of the outbreak: Belarus (17,489 cases, 103 deaths):…

Russia Slams NYT for ‘Russophobia’ Following Pulitzer Prize Win

Russian diplomats have slammed The New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning series articles about Russia’s covert activities abroad as examples of “Russophobia.” The New York Times won the Pulitzer for international reporting Monday for six investigative articles and two videos that “expos[ed] the predations of Vladimir Putin’s regime” across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Russia’s…

Medical Unit of Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan gets converted into infectious diseases hospital

Background Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan is a subsidiary of Gazprom focused on prospecting, exploration and development of hydrocarbon fields. The Levoberezhnaya part of the Astrakhanskoye gas and condensate field with an area of 1,360 square kilometers has been in operation since 1986. The field produces formation fluid with a high content of sulfur (25 per cent) and carbon dioxide (15 per cent). The company has around 300 wells of various use, hundreds…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise By Over 10K for Third Straight Day

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the highest ranking official to contract the infection, is now “feeling normal,” spokesperson Boris Belyakov said Tuesday. He said Mishustin, who announced he tested positive last week, was continuing treatment under Health Ministry guidance, adding the prime minister is “actively talking with colleagues by phone.” The authorities say they have…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 5

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 252,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 155,370 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,451 deaths. May 5: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,102 new coronavirus infections…

St. Petersburg Doctors Compensated Based on ‘Percentage of Guilt’ for Getting Coronavirus

Authorities in St. Petersburg have pledged to pay compensation to doctors who become infected with the coronavirus — but only after an investigation establishes their level of responsibility for getting it, according to newly adopted rules. The head of Russia’s second-largest city has promised hazard pay ranging from 300,000 rubles ($3,800) to 1 million rubles…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 4

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 248,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 145,268 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,356 deaths. May 4: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,581 new coronavirus infections…

Gazprom donates 200,000 protective suits for St. Petersburg doctors

May 3, 2020, 18:10 Gazprom today donated to the Government of St. Petersburg 200,000 biological protection suits purchased for the doctors who are fighting against the spread of the new coronavirus. [embedded content] The suits were manufactured in China, where they demonstrated their effectiveness during contacts with COVID-19 carriers, and comply with the St. Petersburg Healthcare Committee’s requirements for…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 3

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 244,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 134,687 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,280 deaths. May 3: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,633 new coronavirus infections…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 2

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 239,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 124,054 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,222 deaths. May 2: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 9,623 new…

2% of Moscow Residents Have Coronavirus: Mayor

About 2% of Moscow residents — or more than 250,000 people — have the coronavirus, the mayor of the Russian capital said on Saturday, citing test results.  “According to screening tests of various population groups, the real number of the infected is around 2% of Moscow’s total population,” Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog. Russia has…

Russian Minister Hospitalized With Coronavirus

Russian construction minister Vladimir Yakushev has been hospitalized with coronavirus, local media said Friday, just a day after the prime minister announced he was infected.  The construction and housing minister’s deputy was also infected, the news agency Interfax reported, as Russia has seen a steady increase in infections that have reached the highest levels of government. “I…

Watch ‘The Seagull’ and “Podstrochnik’

For the next week Stage Russia has two terrific online productions for what is truly “your viewing pleasure.” The first is a 15-part documentary series about Lilianna Lungina called “Podstrochnik.” The filmmakers decided to transliterate the title, which is not hard to translate but is a word that may not be known to many viewers.…

Russia Ditches Putin Mosaic in Army Church

A mosaic featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin will no longer be displayed in a grand military church being built outside Moscow after the leader objected, a cleric said on Friday. Russian Orthodox Bishop Stefan of Klin told news agency Interfax the committee in charge of the church’s interior decoration “decided not to display it” because…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 1

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 234,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 114,431 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,169 deaths. May 1: 3 things you need to know today Russian Prime Minister Mikhail…

Half of Moscow’s Critical Coronavirus Patients Tested Negative, Mayor Says

Half of Moscow’s coronavirus patients in serious condition have tested negative for the virus, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday amid questions over the accuracy of Russia’s tests. His revelation follows a directive for Russian doctors to diagnose Covid-19 without tests after a widely reported study placed their accuracy at around 70%. Moscow’s health department reportedly…

Coronavirus Hits Russian Markets | May 1

The Russian economy has been rocked by the coronavirus outbreak, and fears the fresh OPEC+ oil production pact between Russia and Saudi Arabia will not be enough to address a historic fall in demand. The turmoil has shocked traders around the world and resulted in sharp volatility on the Russian stock markets and swings in…

NATO to Ramp Up Georgia’s Security Against ‘Aggressive’ Russia: Official

NATO will involve Georgia in its regional security program to help protect the Black Sea country from Russia’s “aggressive” cyber- and misinformation threats, the Western military bloc said Wednesday. Georgia’s NATO ambitions have angered Russia since 2008, when NATO leaders promised the Russian neighbor that it would one day join the alliance. Russian President Vladimir…

Russian PM Mishustin Diagnosed With Coronavirus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been diagnosed with coronavirus, he said during a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin broadcast on the state-run Rossiya 24 television channel Thursday. Mishustin, 54, who was appointed prime minister in January, has played a leading role in Russia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. He is now self-isolating in the hospital…

Attend on Online Documentary Film Festival

This week, Moskino is switching gears from feature films to documentaries. Starting this evening, Moskino and the Moscow School of New Film are holding a festival of new documentary film along with a series of lectures, discussions and master classes. The films are mostly from Russia and the U.S., with one joint production from Portugal,…

Putin’s Virus Response Earns Lower Marks Than Local Leaders’: Poll

More Russians approve of local officials’ coronavirus response efforts than they do of President Vladimir Putin and the federal government’s response to the pandemic, according to a newly published independent survey. In a public address over the pandemic early this month, Putin largely delegated decisionmaking authority to regional leaders due to regional differences in infection rates.…

Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg financing development of COVID-19 drug

Background Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, is engaged in natural gas transmission in nine regions of northwestern Russia, as well as natural gas transit to the CIS and Europe. The company operates over 10,000 kilometers of gas trunklines, transporting more than 137 billion cubic meters of gas every year. The company’s production capacities are comprised of 32 compressor stations, 192 gas compressor units, and 241 gas distribution stations. Gazprom Transgaz…

Members of Gazprom Management Committee donate personal funds to fight spread of coronavirus

April 30, 2020, 14:00 The Gazprom Management Committee held a meeting. The Members of the Management Committee resolved to make a donation in the amount of their respective monthly salaries in order to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The funds were donated to the Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, a state budgetary healthcare institution in St. Petersburg. Information Directorate, Gazprom Related news

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | April 30

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 227,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 106,498 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,073 deaths. April 30: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 7,099 new coronavirus infections…

4 in 5 Young Russians Are Apolitical: Poll

More than 80% of young Russians have no interest in politics, according to a new survey on Generation Z’s values published by the Vedomosti business daily Thursday. Russian authorities have targeted the country’s youth with several initiatives, including a ban on minors attending protests, funding for military and patriotic education and a plan to monitor youngsters’ online…

Popular Russian Theologian Banned for Insulting Priest Who Died From Coronavirus

The Russian Orthodox Church on Wednesday banned popular theologian Andrei Kurayev from holding services over his criticism of a church official who died from coronavirus last week. Protodeacon Kurayev referred to Alexander Ageykin, the head of a central Moscow cathedral who died from Covid-19 on April 21, as “a dumb careerist.” Ageykin’s death marked the highest-level…

Russians Trafficking Illegal Coronavirus Ventilators Detained in Armed Standoff: Reports

A group suspected of attempting to sell 100 counterfeit ventilators used to treat coronavirus patients have been detained after an armed confrontation outside Moscow, news outlets reported Wednesday. The coronavirus pandemic has strained Russia’s healthcare system as infections have soared, with officials and healthcare workers pointing to widespread shortages in equipment such as ventilators. Russia has…

Kremlin Using Virus Outbreak to Push Through Putin’s Reforms: Proekt

The Kremlin is attempting to take advantage of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak to maintain President Vladimir Putin’s popularity and ensure that the public votes for his constitutional reforms, the Proekt investigative outlet reported Wednesday, citing unnamed federal officials. The reforms would potentially allow Putin, 67, to extend his 20-year rule into 2036. Putin postponed a public…