Russia

1Jul

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Protest Against Putin on Russia’s Last Day Referendum

Opponents of the constitutional change in Russia protested on the last day of the referendum against an "eternal" presidency of the leader of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin. In Moscow's Red Square, the police intervened on Wednesday when several activists lay on the doorstep and the year was 2036. Putin, 67, can remain in power for another sixteen years after the new constitution enters into force, until 2036, if he is re-elected. According to the old constitution, he should have resigned in 2024. Opposition members called for protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg after the six-day vote. Kremlin opponents have so far been on the Internet with the "Njet!" Campaign. They called for a "no" at the ballot box. Demonstrations in Russia are not allowed due to the corona pandemic. The ...

Talks Between the US and Russia on Arms Control in Vienna Started

22Jun

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia, US

Talks Between the US and Russia on Arms Control in Vienna Started

Talks on arms control between the United States and Russia started in Vienna on Monday. The talks last two days. Officially, little has been said about the negotiations. Still, the US envoy has made it clear that the talks are about nuclear weapons, including replacing the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires in February. That treaty is intended to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. "We'll see," Marshall Billingslea, the United States special envoy for arms control, told Reuters news agency when asked what he expected from the talks. He declined to elaborate on their content. His Russian interlocutor, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, was a little careful and told reporters shortly afterwards, "Let's see, let's see. We always have a lot of hope." ...

Number of Coronavirus Deaths in Russia Now Above 5000

2Jun

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia

Number of Coronavirus Deaths in Russia Now Above 5000

The number of coronavirus deaths in Russia passed 5000 on Tuesday. Health authorities registered 182 new deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 5,037. The new figures come as Russia eases lockdown measures and prepares to get the economy going again. The government also reported 8,863 new infections out of a total of 423,741, the third-highest after the United States and Brazil. The number of new corona infections has been steadily decreasing since mid-May when the government reported daily increases of approximately 11,000 cases. The authorities say that the high number of infections in Russia is the result of extensive tests. The steady decline in new infections and the low death toll mean the country can return to normal, they say.

The Referendum on Changing the Russian Constitution Will Take Place on July 1

1Jun

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Politics, Russia

The Referendum on Changing the Russian Constitution Will Take Place on July 1

The referendum on changing the Russian constitution will take place on July 1. The change aims to ensure that President Vladimir Putin can stay on longer. Putin himself announced the new date on Monday. The vote was scheduled for April 22 but was postponed due to the coronavirus. The changes have already been approved in parliament and by the Constitutional Court of Russia. If the people also agree, Putin can remain president for two more six-year terms if he is re-elected. Then he can stay in power until 2036.

Russian Prosecutor Demands 18 Years Against American Spy

25May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia, US

Russian Prosecutor Demands 18 Years Against American Spy

The Russian prosecutor has demanded 18 years in prison against the American Paul Whelan. That's what his lawyer said. The former Marine was arrested in December 2018 on suspicion of espionage. The judge will rule on the case on 15 June. Whelan, 50, who holds a US, British, Canadian and Irish passport, was arrested for allegedly receiving state secrets. He denies the charges and says he has been tricked. Whelan says he was in Russia for a wedding and got a USB stick from an acquaintance assuming it contained vacation photos. The maximum penalty for espionage is 20 years in prison. The American's lawyer says there is little evidence against Whelan. According to Vladimir Zherebenkov, the knowledge that the USB stick gave is the only witness against Whelan, while the rest of his...

The Number of Corona Infections is Rising Sharply in Russia

11May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia

The Number of Corona Infections is Rising Sharply in Russia

The number of corona infections is rising sharply in Russia. A new daily record has been set with 11,656 cases, Russian media report. It is the fastest increase worldwide, after the United States, according to The Moscow Times. 221,344 cases have now been registered. This makes Russia the country with the most infections after the US and Spain. In terms of reported deaths, Russia is not among the worst affected countries. There are so far 2009, about 14 per 1 million inhabitants.

Number of Corona Infections in Russia Now Above 90,000

28Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia

Number of Corona Infections in Russia Now Above 90,000

Thousands of corona cases have once again come to light in Russia. The authorities report that 6411 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the past 24 hours. That is the most substantial increase to date in the country. So far, 93,558 coronavirus infections have been detected. The death penalty has risen from 72 to 867 in the past 24 hours, making Russia the deadliest day since the outbreak began. Most corona cases have been identified in the capital Moscow, according to local media. There the 12 million inhabitants are only allowed to leave their houses if they have a valid reason, such as walking the dog, working or shopping.

Russia Needs to do More to Curb the Pandemic

24Mar

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia

Russia Needs to do More to Curb the Pandemic

The Russian authorities underestimate the coronavirus outbreak in their country and should step up measures to curb the pandemic. That's what Sergei Sobjanin, Moscow mayor and head of the Russian Security Council's anti-coronavirus task force, said on Tuesday. Russia, which shares one of its borders with China, and has a population of 144 million, has reported 495 cases of the coronavirus to date. Deaths have not yet been reported. "The problem is that the number of corona tests is very small and no one has a clear picture of the situation in Russia and the world," Sobjanin told President Vladimir Putin during a meeting. According to Sobjanin, the number of people infected with the coronavirus is "significantly" higher than according to official figures.

Russia is Blacklisting D66 MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma

27Jan

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia

Russia is Blacklisting D66 MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma

Russia has blacklisted D66 MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma. This means that he will not be able to join a delegation from MPs to Moscow next month. Foreign minister Stef Blok has already called on the Russian ambassador, but that has not led to a different position. The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs would visit Russia at the request of the Duma, the Russian parliament. Only recently did it become clear that Sjoerdsma is not welcome. A reason was not mentioned. Russia would internally suggest that the Netherlands also has a sanction list and that they are also free to use a checklist. Sjoerdsma reacts laconically. "If the Russian government thinks that because of this pressure I will swallow my criticism of, for example, MH17 and human rights violations, they will come home from a c...

London Wants Extradition of Russian Suspects in Skripal Case

6Aug

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Local, News, Russia, UK

London Wants Extradition of Russian Suspects in Skripal Case

London Wants Extradition of Russian Suspects in Skripal Case. The British government is going to ask Russia to deliver two men to Britain. They are speculated of engaging an attack with the deadly nerve gas Novichok. According to the newspaper The Guardian, which raises sources from the government and secret service, the text of the extradition request has been drawn up and is ready to be sent to Russia. The two are suspected of committing the attack with the nerve gas on Russian former double-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Novichoke is a chemical weapon that was once developed in the Soviet Union. Both survived the attack but were ill for months. Reports last month that the British police had identified the Russian suspects behind the attack, the British Secretary ...