Yearly Archives: 2020

The United States believes that sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska laundered money for President Vladimir Putin, The Financial Times reported Friday, citing a U.S. Treasury letter to Deripaska’s lawyers explaining the sanctions. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Deripaska and two dozen other tycoons and officials in April 2018 in retaliation for what it called…

Share of Russians Who Believe Their Country Shot Down MH17 Rises Five-Fold

BusinessBy admin February 14, 2020

The number of Russians who believe Russia was responsible for the downing of the MH17 has increased five-fold to 10% from 2% in 2015, according to a new study from the independent Levada Center pollster. The poll, conducted together with the Dutch University of Leiden, also showed that 60% of Russians believe Ukraine was behind…

The first key milestone of 2020 – installation of the first tier of the reactor building outer containment – has been performed at Kursk NPP-2

The first of 10 key milestones related to the Kursk NPP-2 construction has been performed ahead of schedule in the current year – the installation of the first tier of the reactor building outer containment was completed at power unit No. 1. “Work for Kursk NPP-2 power unit construction are underway according to the schedule…

Russia Probes BBC, Radio Liberty and Meduza for ‘Drug Propaganda’

Police in Russia are investigating news outlets BBC Russian, Radio Liberty and Meduza after lawmakers accused them of promoting drug use, Interfax reported Thursday. Ten foreign NGOs allegedly recruit activists to promote the decriminalization of drugs and the three outlets “actively cover” their rallies, State Duma deputy Vasily Piskaryov said at a session on foreign…

Russians and Ukrainians Turn Sour on Each Other – Poll

Russian and Ukrainian attitudes toward each other have worsened in less than half a year, a joint study by the independent Levada Center pollster and the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) said Thursday. The latest survey showed 42% of Russians having a “good” or “very good” opinion of Ukraine; while 49% of Ukrainians had…

Top Russian Diplomat in Turkey Says Faces Threats Over Syria

Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Alexei Yerkhov, faces threats over the Moscow-backed military campaign in Syria, the envoy said in an interview Thursday, four years after his predecessor’s assassination. Yerkhov’s predecessor Andrei Karlov was shot dead by an off-duty policeman at the opening of an Ankara exhibition in December 2016. Russia and Turkey support opposing sides…

‘There Will Be Dad and Mum’: Putin Rules out Russia Legalizing Gay Marriage

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia would not legalize gay marriage as long as he was in the Kremlin. He made clear he would not allow the traditional notion of mother and father to be subverted by what he called “parent number 1” and “parent number 2”. “As far as ‘parent number 1’ and ‘parent number…

Protesters Twice as Likely to Be Jailed for Assaulting Police in Russia, Study Says

Protesters in Russia are twice as likely to receive real prison time for violence against law enforcement authorities than those tried for the same crime under different circumstances, the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported Thursday. Novaya Gazeta compared nearly 12,000 assault sentences in 2016-2019 with the 57 sentences handed down to protesters over their role…

Russian Scientist Sentenced to 7.5 Years for Treason

A court in southern Russia has sentenced a scientist to seven and a half years in prison for treason, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday. Alexei Temirev, a Doctor of Technical Sciences from the city of Novocherkassk, was detained in July 2018 and his case files were classified. Investigators accused him of sending state…

Russia Fines Twitter and Facebook $63,000 Each Over Data Law

As the only remaining independent, English-language news source reporting from Russia, The Moscow Times plays a critical role in connecting Russia to the world. Editorial decisions are made entirely by journalists in our newsroom, who adhere to the highest ethical standards. We fearlessly cover issues that are often considered off-limits or taboo in Russia, from…

As the coronavirus epidemic continues its rapid spread worldwide, Russian pranksters have been staging coronavirus scares in public places, pretending to have virus-induced seizures and even dressing up in hazmat suits to detain ‘sick’ people. One man caused panic on the Moscow metro on Feb. 2 when he collapsed on the floor of a metro…

Kremlin Critic Faces Jail for Medvedev Bribery Investigation

Putin Keeps Stalin’s Crimes Under Wraps in WWII Battle With West

As Russia prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory, President Vladimir Putin is stepping up his defense of Josef Stalin and digging in against calls to open up secret archives on the Soviet state’s killing of millions of its own citizens. People in places such as Butovo where more than…

Russia Accuses Turkey of Breaking Syria Deals, Rejects Erdogan Claim

Russia on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Moscow on Syria and of aggravating the situation in Idlib where Syrian forces have made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in a nine-year war. That offensive has fueled violence in Idlib, in northwest Syria and bordering Turkey, forcing…

Russia Says It Prevented ‘Escalation’ of U.S.-Syria Clash

Russian forces have mediated an armed conflict between pro-regime and U.S. troops in northeastern Syria, the Russian military said Wednesday following a deadly incident. U.S. soldiers killed one person in Syria’s Hasakah region after their vehicles were stopped at a checkpoint, according to Syrian and Turkish media. The shooting was reportedly followed by U.S. airstrikes…

Dutch Refused Moscow’s Request to Try Russian MH17 Suspects There, Minister Says

The Netherlands refused a request by Moscow to consider allowing Russia to prosecute three Russian nationals identified as suspects in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, the Dutch justice minister revealed on Wednesday. The first court hearing in the Dutch case against the three Russian suspects and one Ukrainian is scheduled for March 9. If the case…

Russia Puts Jailed Baring Vostok Executives Under House Arrest

A Russian court on Wednesday released three men who were taken into custody last year in an embezzlement case against the Baring Vostok private equity group, placing them under house arrest instead, the RIA news agency reported. The men, including two Baring Vostok executives, were detained a year ago along with their colleagues, U.S. investor…

Swimming Pool in Russia’s North Caucasus Must Overturn Ban on Women

A swimming pool in southern Russia that banned women has been ordered to reverse its decision, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday. The prosecutor’s office in the majority Muslim republic of Dagestan ruled that the Anzhi Arena’s actions were illegal and a violation of human rights, although it stopped short of calling the ban discrimination.…

Queen Elizabeth Puts Moscow Apartment Up for Sale, Reports Say

An elite apartment registered under Queen Elizabeth II’s name is up for sale in central Moscow, the online tabloid 7days.ru reported Tuesday. “Her Majesty the Queen, who rules over Canada” is listed as the owner of at least four low-rise block apartments overlooking Christ the Savior Cathedral, Russian media reported last year. The properties belong…

Russian Police Detain and Pressure Convicted Anti-Fascists’ Supporters – Reports

Police in the central Russian city of Penza detained and allegedly pressured a group of activists who had come to support jailed members of an anti-fascist group, Russian media reported Tuesday. Seven members of the group Set — Russian for “Network” — were sentenced to up to 18 years on terrorism charges in Penza on…

Dubai Court Rules Against Superyacht Freeze Order in Divorce Battle

MoscowBy admin February 12, 2020

A Dubai appeal court has dismissed a freezing order on a $436 million superyacht belonging to a Russian billionaire at the center of one of the world’s costliest divorce battles, according to a copy of the final ruling reviewed by Reuters. But it is still not clear whether superyacht M.V. Luna, impounded in 2018, will…

On This Day in 1881 Anna Pavlova Was Born

February 12, 2020 marks what would be the 139th birthday of prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. The originator of several iconic roles and styles, Pavlova’s name remains synonymous with brilliance in the world of ballet. Despite her legacy as a pioneer of dance, Pavlova was far from a natural talent. Born prematurely in St. Petersburg of…

Putin Squeezes Belarus Strongman in Drive to Skirt Term Limits

Vladimir Putin’s surprise firing of Russia’s government and unveiling of constitutional changes that would weaken the presidency may only be Plan B for retaining power after his final term ends in 2024. In the month before Putin’s Jan. 15 announcement, he’d pushed hard to convince his longer-serving counterpart in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to revive a…

Facebook Says It Dismantles Russian Intelligence Operation Targeting Ukraine

Facebook on Wednesday said it had suspended a network of accounts used by Russian military intelligence to seed false narratives online targeting Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe. “Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation found links to Russian military intelligence services,” Facebook said in a…

Ex-Prison Official Dies By Suicide in Russian Court

A former department head of Russia’s prison service has died by suicide in court, media outlets reported Wednesday. Viktor Sviridov, who was attending his sentencing on extortion charges during his time as head of the Federal Prison Service’s transport department, did not survive the attempt to take his own life. The court had reportedly sentenced…

Russia’s Air Force Stages Far East Training Flights

Kremlin Accuses Turkey of Flouting Agreements Made on Syria

The Kremlin on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Russia to neutralize militants in the Syrian province of Idlib and said militant attacks on Syrian and Russian forces in the region were continuing. The Kremlin made its comments after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his country’s military would strike Russian-backed Syrian…

Russians Escape Coronavirus Quarantine ‘Cages’

Update: The chief sanitary doctor at the Botkinskaya clinic has filed a lawsuit against Ilyina, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday. After two days of solitary confinement, freedom tasted sweet to Alla Ilyina. The 32-year old housewife had been quarantined in St. Petersburg’s Botkinskaya clinic since she went for a check-up after returning from…

Russian Submarine Officer in Syria Fired for Drunken Anti-Putin Swearing

A Russian submarine officer in Syria has been discharged for drinking and cursing at President Vladimir Putin’s portrait, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday. Captain lieutenant Oleg Lavrenchuk was said to have consumed alcohol with five other service members in June 2019 after finding out that their tour in Syria would be extended. Lavrenchuk initially…

‘She Will Flee to Russia’: Portugal Freezes Accounts of Africa’s Richest Woman

Portugal has frozen the bank accounts of Africa’s richest woman Isabel dos Santos, who claims Russian citizenship by birth and is suspected of fraud in her native Angola. Dos Santos, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $2 billion, was born in Azerbaijan 46 years ago when it was still part of the Soviet Union. The…

Russia’s FSB Tells Internet Firms to Hand Over User Data – The Bell

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has ordered some of the country’s major internet companies to give it continuous access to their systems, The Bell investigative website reported late on Tuesday, citing three sources at the firms. It said the measure would affect a string of Russian internet services that have been added to a list…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 14

Russia has reported its first two cases of coronavirus and said the infected people were Chinese citizens who had been isolated. As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,000 people continues to spread around the world, Russia has stepped up measures to tackle the health risk, including closing most entry points along its…

Russians’ Trust in Putin Halves in 2 Years – Poll

Public trust in President Vladimir Putin has nearly halved in two years, according to the independent Levada Center’s survey published Wednesday. Only 35% of Russian respondents said they trust Putin in January 2020, Levada said. Putin’s trust rating stood at 59% in November 2017. “The decline began long ago,” Levada chief Lev Gudkov told the…

Russia to Tap ‘Rainy Day Fund’ to Buy Central Bank’s Stake in Sberbank

Russia will tap its National Wealth Fund (NWF) to buy the central bank’s stake in Sberbank, ending years of debate about potential conflicts of interest arising from the central bank controlling the country’s top lender. The sale at market price, discussed at Russia’s top-level since late last year, will also help fund social pledges made…

Russia Discharges Second Chinese Man to Recover From Coronavirus

Russia discharged a Chinese national from hospital in the Siberian city of Chita on Wednesday after he recovered from a coronavirus infection, local authorities said. He was the second of Russia‘s two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover. The other patient, also a Chinese national, was said by authorities on Tuesday to have recovered and been released…

Indian Astronaut Candidates Start Training in Russia

Four aspiring astronauts from India have embarked on a 12-month training program in Russia, Russia’s space launch service provider announced Monday. They are expected to go into orbit on board the three-person Gaganyaan spacecraft sometime in late 2021 or mid-2022. The mission — which is set to be India’s first manned space flight — was estimated…

‘People Could Lose Their Lives’: Medicine Shortages in Russia Have Left Patients Fending for Themselves

It was late November in St. Petersburg, and, like many residents of the frigid northern city as winter set in, Taisiya Sheremet caught a cold. But for the 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patient, common colds don’t get better in a few days. Because the disease primarily affects the respiratory system, a sniffle can lead to a…

Russia Eyes Making Former Presidents Senators for Life

Russian presidents could be made senators for life when they leave office under a proposed reform, a senior lawmaker said on Tuesday, a status that would give them immunity from prosecution. The initiative, drawn up by a government commission, follows sweeping changes to Russia‘s political system proposed last month by President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s proposals, which…

Igor Sechin Reports to the President of the Russian Federation on the Company’s 2019 Operating Results and Prospects of Vostok Oil Project

BusinessBy admin February 11, 2020

Vladimir Putin has held a working meeting with Rosneft Oil Company Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin.

Gazprom’s 15th Investor Day launched in New York

Release February 11, 2020, 18:50 – Sustainable operational and financial results achieved in 2019. – Positions in target sales markets expected to strengthen further. – Attention focused on increasing economic efficiency of activities. Today, Gazprom’s 15thannual Investor Day was launched in New York. Taking part in the event are Famil Sadygov Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Elena Burmistrova Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Director General of Gazprom…

Russian Couple Tried for Treason Over ‘Photobombing’ Secret Agent – Kommersant

A couple from Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad is on trial for treason over the appearance of a secret agent in their wedding photographs, the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday. Baltic affairs expert Antonina Zimina and her husband Konstantin Antonets were arrested in 2018 on suspicion of sharing secret information with neighboring Latvia’s intelligence agencies,…

Senior Appointments in Moscow and Kiev Point to Tentative Thaw

MoscowBy admin February 11, 2020

New senior appointments in Moscow and Kiev on Tuesday pointed towards a tentative thaw in ties, after the Ukrainian president’s new chief of staff offered guarded praise for the man put in charge of the Ukraine file in the Kremlin. While there was no indication whether the timing of the announcements was intentional, the simultaneous…

Moscow Makes Way for Annual Pancake Fest of Maslenitsa

Moscow’s extravagant New Year’s decorations have only been taken down for a few weeks, but the city is already preparing for its next big holiday: the Maslenitsa folk festival, better known as Russia’s “pancake week.” Maslenitsa has its roots in pagan traditions, when people marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring with…

The Harrowing Testimonies of Jailed Russian Anti-Fascists, in Quotes

On Monday, seven members of a Russian anti-fascist activist group were jailed for up to 18 years on terrorism charges in a case that observers have compared to a Soviet-era show trial.The members of the group Set — Russian for “Network” — were detained in the city of Penza in 2017. Investigators claimed they were…

Police Probe Russian TV Host’s Pro-Abortion Instagram Post

MoscowBy admin February 11, 2020

A popular Russian television host and Instagram blogger faces extremism charges over her posts criticizing President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to encourage population growth without addressing economic hardship, the online tabloid Super reported Monday. Alyona Vodonayeva sparked controversy in December for urging low-income Russians not to give birth to “slaves to this state.” She doubled down…

On This Day in 1980, ‘Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears’ Was Released

February 11, 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of one of Russia’s most beloved films, the Soviet drama “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears.” The film, which chronicles 20 years in the lives of three women in Moscow, is considered a modern classic for its enduring themes of hope, disappointment, and unexpected happiness.…

Kremlin to Turkey: Help Stop Attacks on Syrian and Russian Forces in Idlib

MoscowBy admin February 11, 2020

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that all attacks on Russian and Syrian government forces in Syria’s Idlib province should stop and that agreements it had struck with Turkey on the conflict had to be upheld. Moscow made its comments, which underscore rising tensions over Syria between Russia and Turkey, after Syrian government forces took control…

Balancing Preservation and Urban Development in Vladimir

As the sun filters through thick winter clouds over Vladimir, a city located 200 kilometers to the east of Moscow, the residents go about their business as tourists wander through the center of the city, taking photographs of the Golden Gates, stepping into the pedestrian Georgievskaya Ulitsa to drink some Suzdal mead and buy souvenirs…

Russian Politician Resigns Over Illegal Casino in Apartment

Glitches Mar Russia’s Internet Isolation Test – RBC

Russian providers experienced slow connections and disruptions during test runs last fall for compliance with Russia’s so-called internet isolation law, according to the providers’ report to the government cited by the RBC news website Monday. At least one provider in Russia’s Urals Federal District said it was unable to block the popular messaging app Telegram,…

Russian Satellites Stalking U.S. Satellite – Space Force Chief

A pair of Russian satellites appear to be following an American satellite in an “unusual and disturbing” manner, the head of the United States’ newly formed Space Force has said. Gen. John Raymond’s statement marks the Space Force’s first public confrontation leveled at an adversary in the increasingly competitive space domain, Time magazine reported Monday. His…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Feb. 11

Russia Extends House Arrest of U.S. Investor Calvey Until May 13

Moscow Metro Coronavirus Prankster Faces Prison Time

Police in Moscow have detained a prankster over a video showing imitated coronavirus seizures on a crowded metro car, authorities told Interfax on Monday. A video attributed to blogger “Kara.prank” depicted a passenger in a face mask collapsing and convulsing as fellow passengers scrambled out of the wagon at the next stop. The video disappeared…

Russia Quarantines Chinese Diplomat as Coronavirus Precaution

Russian authorities have quarantined a Chinese diplomat as a safety precaution against the coronavirus outbreak, Interfax reported on Monday. Consul General Cui Shaochun arrived in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on Thursday to take up his new post but was told to stay at home for two weeks, Russian Foreign Ministry official Alexander Kharlov was…

Russia Scraps Criticized Restrictions on Scientists’ Foreign Contacts