Russia Ready to Mediate Talks Between Armenia, Azerbaijan

Russia said Friday it is prepared to mediate peace talks between ex-Soviet rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan after fighting escalated along their shared border. President Vladimir Putin and members of Russia’s Security Council expressed “extreme concern” over the flare-up in fighting between the South Caucasus countries that erupted last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin…

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Russia to Keep Mass Surveillance After Coronavirus, Activists Say

Russian authorities’ massive surveillance campaign rolled out during the coronavirus pandemic could easily be used to monitor civilians in the future, research by the Agora human rights group said Thursday. During the pandemic, the authorities have collected arriving citizens’ personal data; introduced pass systems that limited movement and violated citizens’ rights; and conducted video surveillance…

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Putin Orders Massive Snap Military Drills

President Vladimir Putin has ordered snap military drills involving 150,000 personnel and hundreds of aircraft and naval vessels to ensure “security in Russia’s southwest,” the Defense Ministry said Friday.  “In accordance with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces snap exercises are being conducted by troops of the Southern and Western military districts,”…

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 17

Russia has confirmed 759,203 cases of coronavirus and 12,123 deaths. July 17: 3 things you need to know today Britain’s cybersecurity agency on Thursday accused a hacking group it said “almost certainly” operates as part of Russian intelligence services of trying to steal information on coronavirus vaccines. Russia plans to conduct Phase III trials of its experimental coronavirus vaccine…

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 16

Russia has confirmed 752,797 cases of coronavirus and 11,937 deaths. July 16: 3 things you need to know today Britain’s cybersecurity agency on Thursday accused a hacking group it said “almost certainly” operates as part of Russian intelligence services of trying to steal information on coronavirus vaccines. Russia plans to conduct Phase III trials of its experimental coronavirus…

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UK, U.S. and Canada Accuse Russia of Vaccine Research Hacking

Britain, the United States and Canada on Thursday risked worsening fraught diplomatic ties with Russia by accusing Moscow-linked hackers of targeting labs in their countries conducting coronavirus vaccine research. The three governments pointed the finger at the Kremlin, saying that a hacking group called APT29 was “almost certainly” linked to Russian intelligence. In a separate claim, London…

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Russia Violates Women’s Rights During Childbirth Amid Coronavirus – Report

Russia is among dozens of countries that have violated women’s rights during childbirth amid restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Open Democracy advocacy group said Thursday. Women in at least 45 countries faced treatment that defied World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines this spring and summer, Open Democracy’s investigation said. These include forcibly separating…

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Russian Wildfire Smoke Choking Siberian Cities

Smoke from raging forest fires in Siberia was filling cities Thursday as officials scrambled to prevent the flames from reaching homes. More than 100 firefighters and volunteers were trying to douse the flames of a fire outside the city of Yugorsk in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, just one of several areas affected. “A fire line…

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Fighting Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Widens

Fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan continued for a fifth day on Thursday, with at least 16 soldiers on both sides killed. Both sides also reported the other attacking civilian settlements in what appears to be a widening conflict. The Azerbaijani authorities said that Armenian artillery fire killed one civilian, Aziz Azizov of the village Aghdam in…

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Can I Travel to Russia Now That Quarantine Is Over?

As Russia has begun reporting fewer coronavirus infections in the past month, its authorities have made several announcements that appeared to suggest it was reopening its borders to foreigners. This week, authorities said they will lift self-quarantine requirements for arriving citizens and foreigners alike. Starting Wednesday, Russia has also started negotiations with other countries to…

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U.S. Targets Russia Group Over Libya Mines, Sudan Suppression

The United States on Wednesday accused a Russian mercenary group of laying landmines in and around Tripoli and imposed sanctions over its alleged cooperation with Sudan’s ousted dictator. The Pentagon’s Africa Command said it had “verified photographic evidence” that the Wagner Group, a private security operation allegedly sponsored by the Russian government, planted mines “indiscriminately”…

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Russian Pranksters Trick Newly Re-Elected Polish President

A pair of notorious Russian pranksters known for posing as foreign officials in prank calls with European politicians have hoodwinked Poland’s newly re-elected president this week. Vladimir Kuznetsov, one half of the duo known as Vovan and Lexus, poses as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the English-language call, where he congratulates Polish President Andrzej Duda…

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Siberia Heat ‘Almost Impossible’ Without Climate Change

A recent heatwave in Siberia that saw temperature records tumble as the region sweltered in 38-degrees-Celsius highs was “almost impossible” without the influence of manmade climate change, leading scientists said Wednesday. An international team of researchers found that the record-breaking warm period was more than 2 C hotter than it would have been if humans had…

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Over 140 Detained After Anti-Putin Protest in Moscow

Russian police detained over 140 people including a high-profile Moscow deputy after Kremlin critics protested Wednesday against changes to the constitution, the OVD-Info monitor said. The group, which tracks arrests at political protests, said 142 people were detained Wednesday evening. Many people including journalists were put in police vehicles, AFP correspondents said from the scene.…

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Russian MPs Back Bill to Hold Polls Over 3 Days

Russia’s parliament on Wednesday approved legislation that allows elections to be held over three days, in a move the opposition said was aimed at hollowing out democratic polls. A bill that allows elections to be held over “several but no more than three days” was adopted by parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, in a…

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 15

Russia has confirmed 746,369 cases of coronavirus and 11,770 deaths. July 15: 3 things you need to know today Russia will no longer require foreigners without coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival as the country looks to begin reopening to international travelers in the midst of the pandemic, according to a decree published Monday.  The Russian Defense…

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Russia Military Says Virus Vaccine Is Tested and Safe

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had developed a “safe” coronavirus vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.  The ministry said 18 people had participated in the research and were discharged without “serious adverse events, health complaints, complications or side effects.” The results of the trials “allow us to speak with…

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Russia Pays Tribute to Coronavirus Doctors With Murals

As Russia has battled the coronavirus pandemic, its doctors have been among the hardest-hit groups. Many Russian hospitals have become hotspots for coronavirus outbreaks. Russian doctors estimate that nearly 600 of their colleagues have died from the virus across the country. While Russians haven’t followed fellow virus epicenters like New York and Italy in applauding…

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Russia’s Coronavirus Infections Near 750K

Starting July 13, Moscow will no longer require people to wear masks outdoors as the number of new coronavirus cases has dwindled in the Russian capital in recent weeks. Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions…

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Russia Moves to Ban Gay Marriage

Russian lawmakers have swiftly moved to ban same-sex marriage in line with President Vladimir Putin’s recent changes to the Constitution. Seven senators submitted a draft bill late Tuesday to amend Russia’s Family Code and legally ban gay marriage and adoptions, including, according to its authors, by transgender people. The move comes two weeks after voters…

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Spotify Expands to Russia and Eastern Europe

Music streaming giant Spotify announced Tuesday it was launching its service in Russia and 12 other countries around Eastern Europe. Spotify would become available to users immediately, according to a statement, which added that the Swedish streaming service was now accessible in 92 markets. In addition to Russia, Spotify was rolling out in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan,…

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A Long Weekend In Lipetsk

Sometimes the most interesting places in Russia are a bit off the beaten path. Case in point: Lipetsk region. Lipetsk is 465 km from Moscow — almost six hours by car. Although the region is associated with Peter the Great, the writer Ivan Bunin, and other famous historical figures, it is not on the standard…

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Teenage Boy Dies of Plague in Mongolia

A 15-year-old boy has died from the bubonic plague in Mongolia, health authorities said Tuesday, one of a handful of cases that recently emerged in the country and neighboring China. The boy, who lived in the remote southwest province of Gobi-Altai, caught the rare bacterial illness after hunting and eating a marmot, according to the…

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Sakhalin Energy helps Sakhalin Regional Clinical Hospital

News from projects and regions July 14, 2020, 14:10 Today, Sakhalin Energy provided forty oxygen concentrators to the Sakhalin Regional Clinical Hospital. The apparatuses were purchased in the framework of cooperation with the Sakhalin Region Ministry of Health. Oxygen concentrators are now needed most for treating severe respiratory diseases, including pneumonia caused by COVID-19, a new type of coronavirus. These apparatuses use…

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Gazprom Transgaz Ukhta reviews outcomes of its participation in all-Russian campaign #WeAreTogether

News from projects and regions July 14, 2020, 13:30 In the beginning of July, the Administration and the Council of Young Professionals of Gazprom Transgaz Ukhta assessed the outcome of the company’s participation in the #WeAreTogether campaign, where 85 volunteers from the company took part in the nationwide charity event aimed at supporting persons with limited mobility, people staying in mandatory quarantine under instructions from…

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Belarus Bars Jailed Lukashenko Rival From Contesting Vote

The Belarussian central electoral commission on Tuesday refused to register the imprisoned main rival to President Alexander Lukashenko as a candidate for the country’s presidential election in August. A new wave of opposition candidates are seeking to unseat the 65-year-old strongman leader of the authoritarian ex-Soviet state that borders the European Union. Lukashenko, a former…

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 14

Russia has confirmed 739,947 cases of coronavirus and 11,614 deaths. July 14: 3 things you need to know today Russia will no longer require foreigners without coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival as the country looks to begin reopening to international travelers in the midst of the pandemic, according to a decree published Monday.  More than 200…

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Russian Soldiers Injured in Syrian Patrol Blast

At least three Russian soldiers on a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in northwest Syria have been injured in a car bomb explosion, media reported and the Russian military confirmed Tuesday. Footage shared by local reporters showed the blast on a single-lane road as military vehicles passed nearby in the insurgent region of Idlib. “Three Russian soldiers…

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Gazprom’s financial information under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the three months ended March 31, 2020

July 14, 2020, 10:00 1Q2020 IFRS Results Comment by Famil Sadygov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee, on financial statements under IFRS for three months of 2020 Today PJSC Gazprom issued its unaudited consolidated interim condensed financial information prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34) for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The table…

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 13

Russia has confirmed 733,699 cases of coronavirus and 11,439 deaths. July 13: 3 things you need to know today Turkish Airlines will resume flights between Turkey and six Russian cities starting Aug. 1, the airline said on its website Wednesday. According to its website, Turkish Airlines will fly to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Sochi and Rostov-on-Don. Russian authorities…

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Atommash has successfully performed the hydraulic tests of the reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 of the “Akkuyu” NPP (Turkey)

The Volgodonsk Branch of JSC “AEM-technology” “Atommash” (part of the ROSATOM Engineering Division – Atomenergomash) successfully completed the hydraulic tests of the first reactor for the first power unit of the “Akkuyu” NPP under construction in Turkey. To carry out the final stage in the manufacturing process of the reactor pressure vessel, a special underground…

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Employees of Gazprom Transgaz Kazan hold charity event

Background Gazprom Transgaz Kazan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom transmitting over 220 billion cubic meters of natural gas to central Russia, former Soviet Union, and Europe, as well as supplying up to 15 billion cubic meters of gas to consumers in the Republic of Tatarstan and a number of areas in the Orenburg, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Kirov Regions and the Republics of Bashkortostan, Udmurtia and Chuvashia. The company currently operates over 5,700 kilometers of gas…

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