‘Pro-Western’ Activists Posing as Journalists Are Infiltrating Russia’s Military, Defense Minister Claims

Members of a “pro-Western opposition division” in Russia are posing as journalists to “hide behind” the country’s mass media law and infiltrate its military facilities, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday. Speaking to Russia’s upper chamber of parliament, Shoigu urged lawmakers to change the nation’s mass media law to counter so-called “information attacks.”  “[These activists]…

‘We Respect It’: Russia Reacts to Tokyo Olympics’ Coronavirus Postponement

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) decided on Tuesday to delay the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the coronavirus pandemic shows little sign of slowing down. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IOC president Thomas Bach agreed to reschedule the highly anticipated sporting event after pressure from the international community. Following the news, Russia’s Sports Minister Oleg…

Arctic Oil Faces Crisis

The coronavirus and subsequent global economic meltdown is taking its toll on developments in Arctic waters. Norway’s Equinor is reducing staff on platforms and operating costs are cut to the bone. On Sunday the company announced that it was suspending a large €5 billion share buy-back programme. At the same time, the development of new projects…

With Temperature Checks and Face Masks, Russians Protest Putin Despite Coronavirus

Small-scale protests against Vladimir Putin’s plans to amend the Russian Constitution so he can run for president again in 2024 took place in several medium-sized Russian cities on Sunday, local media reported. Protests against the changes, which would overturn a constitutional ban on Putin running for another term, were called off in Moscow and St. Petersburg due…

Prominent Russians Urge Government to Take Swift Action Against Coronavirus

Russian public figures, doctors and citizens have launched a petition urging the government to take urgent action against the coronavirus as the country’s number of confirmed cases continues to climb. The petition’s authors include acclaimed novelist Lyudmila Ulitskaya, economist Sergei Guriev, publisher Irina Prokhorova, musician Alexei Kortnev and journalists Leonid Parfyonov, Katerina Gordeeva and Ilya…

Russian News Outlets Ordered to Take Down ‘Fake’ Coronavirus News

Russia has ordered several news outlets to take down information about the coronavirus outbreak that it says is “fake.” Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor on Friday said that the Ekho Moskvy radio station, the Govorit Magadan news website and several other outlets had published “false information that is socially significant” about the coronavirus that “threatens to…

Putin’s Relative Launches Political Party

One of President Vladimir Putin’s relatives has launched a political party and said he wants to contest parliamentary elections next year, the Kommersant daily reported on Friday. Roman Putin, son of President Putin’s cousin Igor, told Kommersant in an interview that his People of Business party was a right-wing conservative project aimed at supporting small…

Russia Prepares for a Surge in Coronavirus Cases

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…

Russia Props Up Ruble, Oil Producers

Russia announced Thursday new measures to prop up the ruble and its oil producers, both of which have been suffering from sinking oil prices and the global panic over the coronavirus. “The government and the Central Bank will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure financial stability,” Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said. He announced…

Russia Confirms First Coronavirus Death

Russia has confirmed its coronavirus-related death, a 79-year-old woman with pre-existing health conditions, Moscow’s coronavirus response headquarters said Thursday. Russia has registered 147 cases of coronavirus but has reported no other deaths. The unnamed 79-year-old woman was first hospitalized last week and was later moved to an isolated room in an infectious diseases hospital after testing…

‘Putin’s Chef’ Wins $190K Catering Contract for Coronavirus Patients

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a catering magnate with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, has won a $190,000 contract to provide hospital food for Moscow’s coronavirus patients, according to information posted on the government’s online public procurement portal. The government portal says that AVK, a company owned by Prigozhin, will supply ready-made meals to the city hospital…