Events in Russia

[bjorb]

I like to share the following 2 video's that depicts the rich and majestic architecture of st Petersburg and Moscow and tell a little backstory that people might find interesting.

Saint Petersburg

Moscow

Modern architecture, especially in Moscow’s business center dominates the skyline. Showing by every skyscraper build that it’s economic prowess is well under way. Yet these giants do not seem to steal the soul of Russia’s metropolises.

It’s spiritual-architecture has been on the rise too. Putin oversaw the resurrection of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the reconstruction of some 23,000 churches that had been destroyed or fallen into disuse.

Early in Putin's rule, a law was passed returning all church property that had been seized during the Soviet era, almost surely making the Moscow Patriarchate the largest landowner in Russia. State-owned energy companies have contributed billions of rubles to the reconstruction of churches around the country. This in clear contrast with the West, where Christian buildings are being vandalized and burned down by an alarming rate.

In Russia, churces and cathedrals destroyed under Soviet rule are being rebuild, Christianity has been resurrected and is making a comeback. The cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow is a good example of that, completely destroyed by the Soviets in 1931 and resurrected under Putin's Russia.

 

[youlik]

Bjorn, мне как россиянину и москвичу очень приятно Ваше отношение. Хочу внести небольшое уточнение по поводу Храма Христа Спасителя. Вкратце. Строительство нового храма началось в 1994 году. Тогда Путин не был еще даже премьер министром, но вот открытие нового храма состоялось уже при Путине- президенте.


Translation
Bjorn, as a Russian and a Muscovite, I am very pleased with Your attitude. I want to make a small clarification about the Church of Christ the Saviour. Summarily. Construction of the new Church began in 1994. At that time, Putin was not even Prime Minister, but the opening of the new Church took place under Putin - the President.

Restoration Of The Church Of Christ The Saviour

On August 19, 2000, a historic event took place in Moscow. On this day, Patriarch Alexy II performed The great consecration of the Cathedral in the restored Church of Christ the Saviour.
The history of the largest Cathedral in modern Russia began in the distant XIX century. At the end of 1812, Emperor Alexander I issued a decree on the creation of a memorial Church dedicated to the victory in the Patriotic war. But from the decree to the bookmark it took 25 years, and the Church was built for almost 44 years and was consecrated only in 1883. The architect of the Cathedral was K. Ton. a large group of artists, including famous painters G. Semiradsky, V. Surikov, K. Makovsky, and others, worked on the picturesque design of the temple for 23 years. At the ground floor level, the building was surrounded by a corridor - the first Museum of the war of 1812, where all the battles, distinguished units and their commanders, the names of the dead and decorated officers were immortalized on white marble boards. High reliefs by sculptors A. Loganovsky, N. Ramazanov, and P. Klodt were placed on the facades.
By the decision of the Soviet government on December 5, 1931, the temple was blown up, and in its place they decided to build the tallest building on the planet-the Palace of Soviets. But instead of a Palace on the site of the Temple, they managed to build only an outdoor swimming pool "Moscow", which functioned from 1960 to 1994.
In September 1994, the Moscow government decided to restore the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in its previous architectural forms. In record time, in just 5.5 years, the Temple was completely restored. It has become the largest Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church and can accommodate up to 10,000 people.
Academician M. Posokhin became the chief architect and head of the restoration project. 23 art groups of artists under the leadership of the President of the Russian Academy of Arts Z. Tsereteli worked on the reconstruction of the artistic decoration. The sculptural decoration of the facades was recreated under the guidance of academician Yu. Orekhov with the assistance of the Sculptor Foundation.
Now let's see how exactly the original was restored to the Church of Christ the Saviour:
1.The height of the building of the XIX century was 48.5 fathoms (about 103.5 m), and the height of the restored Church with a dome and a cross is 103 m.
2.The planes of the walls of the first Church were plastered, and the decorative carvings and sculptures were made of white quarry stone in Kolomna County. Instead of the original white stone cladding, the building received a marble one, and the gilded roof of the roofs (except for the domes) was replaced with a coating based on titanium nitride. These changes led to a change in the color scheme of the facade from warm to colder.
3.Decorative elements of the first temple were made of marble and marble chips, which led to several cases of collapse of parts in the early XX century. Artificial stone was chosen for the decoration of the new temple.
4.In the first temple, the floor was laid out of marble, Jasper and stones brought from countries that lost the war of 1812-France, Italy. For the modern temple, marble was brought from the same quarries.
5.Of the paintings of the XIX century, only a small part of the paintings of Semiradsky remained, and the image of the Savior by Sorokin remained. And there is a picture of Klages "Inner view of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour", where you can see some paintings. All photos taken in the late XIX — early XX century are black and white. These postcards were used to recreate the temple.
6.K. Ton fulfilled the wish of Emperor Alexander I-the decoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour became a chronicle of the Patriotic war, the Temple was read like a book. The modern Church also traces the history of the Patriotic War of 1812.: in the hallway on the marble slabs lists all the manifests of war, in chronological order describes all 71 battles in front of the altar placed a Manifesto on the expulsion of the enemy 25 Dec 1812. On the South and West side of the 87 descriptions of battles that took place abroad and manifestos about the capture of Paris, the deposition of Napoleon and peace in Europe.
7.On the walls of the restored Church appeared not marble (the originals were preserved in the don monastery), but bronze high reliefs.
8.The modern Church of Christ the Saviour is a complex of the "upper temple" - the Church of Christ the Saviour, the "lower temple" - the Transfiguration Church and the Stylobate part, which houses the temple Museum, the hall of Church cathedrals, the hall of the Supreme Church Council, refectory chambers, as well as technical and service rooms.
The revival of the Church of Christ the Saviour is not only the restoration of a destroyed Church object, but also the restoration of the greatest monument of Russian history and culture, the restoration of gratitude and memory to the courage of Russian soldiers who defended their homeland.

Author of article
Alena Simakova, GBOU School No. 324, 10

Узнай Москву в событиях

 

[youlik]

Путин жёстко прокомментировал выходку Зеленского в Польше
11.03.2020 - 5:30

Translation

Putin harshly commented on Zelensky's outburst in Poland
11.03.2020-5: 30

In an interview with "20 questions to Vladimir Putin", the Russian President harshly commented on Zelensky's statement about the Second world war, made in Poland.

Earlier, the Ukrainian head arrived in Poland to attend events in honor of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. There he said that the second world war was started by the USSR.

Vladimir Putin called the words of his Ukrainian colleague a "spit" in the face of Ukrainians.

"This is spitting in their face. I assure you. They are afraid to just open their mouths there, because the persecution will begin immediately, "the Russian President said, noting that such actions and statements by Zelensky are "nonsense" and "the current situation".

He also commented on the fact that he was not invited to Poland.

"Not called — not necessary," - he said about it.

Vladimir Putin reproached Zelensky for disrespecting Ukrainians who fought with Nazi Germany and fought Nazism. He explained this disgusting behavior of the Ukrainian President as a mistaken desire to be "nice" to the Polish authorities, who, according to the Russian head, are also making a "very big mistake".

And you can't disagree with that. Pro-Western politicians in Poland and the Baltic States have long been heroizing fascists and traitors, humiliating the true heroes of the war. They rewrite history and encourage the antics of the nationalists.

For the past six years, the same policy has been implemented in Ukraine. Alas, nothing has changed since Zelensky's arrival, although he promised not to repeat the political mistakes of his predecessor.

Russia opposes attempts to distort history and values the exploits of those who defended this world from fascism at the cost of their lives.

Read also: Ukraine will return to the "Russian orbit" very soon»

Lyudmila Korsunova

Путин жёстко прокомментировал выходку Зеленского в Польше

 

[youlik]

Госдума одобрила закон о поправке в Конституцию
12:20 11.03.2020 (обновлено: 13:04 11.03.2020)


The state Duma approved the law on the amendment to the Constitution
12: 20 11.03.2020 (updated: 13: 04 11.03.2020)

MOSCOW, 11 Mar-RIA Novosti. The state Duma approved the law on the amendment to the Constitution at the plenary session. 383 deputies voted for the adoption of the document, there were no dissenters, and 43 parliamentarians abstained.
The bill was introduced in the lower house on January 20. The proposals set out in it are aimed at securing the foundations of the constitutional system, human and civil rights and freedoms. The bill also introduces a new procedure for Russia — the all-Russian vote.

VTSIOM: almost half of Russians believe that Putin is set for change
During the preparation of the document for the second reading procedure, the state Duma profile Committee on state construction and legislation received almost 400 amendments from all factions, of which about 200 were taken into account, and 175 were recommended for rejection.
The Status Of The State Council
The amendment will fix the status of the State Council at the constitutional level: it will be a body for ensuring the coordinated functioning and interaction of state bodies, determining the main directions of domestic and foreign policy and priorities for the socio-economic development of the state.
The President will form the state Council. Details will be set out in a separate law (now its status is regulated simply by decree).

Putin: it is dangerous to give the state Council presidential powers
Requirements for the President
The approved amendments to the Basic law also introduce new requirements for the head of state. The Russian President will not be able to serve two terms (the "consecutive" clause is excluded from the Constitution). In addition, to take this position, you need to live permanently in the country for at least 25 years (now at least ten), but this rule will not apply to Russian citizens who live in the Crimea.
The number of presidential terms since the adoption of the updated Constitution will be considered according to the new one, the author of the corresponding amendment was Deputy Valentina Tereshkova. The former President will receive immunity, but may be deprived of it by impeachment, a procedure provided for in article 93 of the Constitution.
"The people will say the word." Will Putin remain in power after 2024
Procedure for appointing the government
Approved amendments make changes to the procedure for appointing the Cabinet of Ministers. The President will now be able to appoint a Prime Minister only if the state Duma approves it (previously, the "consent" of the chamber was required). If the deputies rejected his candidate three times, the President has the right to dissolve the state Duma (before the amendments were adopted, he was obliged to do so).
Candidates for Deputy Prime Ministers and some of the Ministers (except for security forces) will now be proposed directly to the state Duma by the Prime Minister, deputies will approve them, and then the President will appoint them. If the deputies reject the candidate three times, the President can appoint him himself, and if a third of the seats are vacant in the end — he can dissolve the state Duma.
At the same time, the approval of the state Duma is still not required for the appointment of other Cabinet members (not Ministers). In addition, the President, as before, will determine the structure of the Cabinet: how many Deputy Prime Ministers will be, which ministries and departments will be included in the government and who will report directly to it, and who to the Prime Minister. It will be clearly stated that some departments are run by the government and others by the President.

Siluanov commented on the proposed amendments to the Constitution
The President will need to "consult" with the Federation Council to appoint the heads of the Federal security agencies. This applies to departments responsible for defense, state and public security, internal and foreign Affairs, and emergency response.
The President will not only be able to preside over meetings of the government, but will also exercise overall leadership of its work, and the Prime Minister will be personally responsible to the President for the work of the Cabinet. Members of the government will be able to resign (now only all of them can leave at once), and the President will be able to appoint a temporary replacement at his discretion.
What will change in Parliament
The changes will also affect the work of both houses of Parliament. In particular, the Federation Council will expand, and its members will be directly called "senators": the chamber will include two representatives from each region, 30 Federal senators (of which no more than seven are lifetime for outstanding services, former presidents can apply for a"lifetime quota"). Senators will be appointed for six years (now for the term of office of the delegated Governor or legislative Assembly).
Chamber "exchange" authority to establish accounting chamber: the Federation Council will appoint the Chairman and half the auditors, the state Duma Deputy Chairman and the second half (until the adoption of the procedure has been exactly the opposite). Also, the Federation Council will hear the annual report of the Prosecutor General, and the state Duma-the head of the Central Bank.
Putin has called for a parliamentary form of government is unsuitable for Russia
The rule on parliamentary control will be fixed at the constitutional level. The chambers will meet only for the President's message (previously, a General meeting was supposed to be held for the message of the constitutional court or a foreign leader).
All prosecutors from General to regional will be appointed by the President after consultation with the Federation Council (now the leadership of the Prosecutor General's office appoints the Federation Council, and regional-the President after consultation with the region).
...and the constitutional court
According to the amendments, the number of judges of the constitutional court may be reduced from 19 to 11.
Also, the President will have the right to initiate the dismissal of members of the constitutional and Supreme courts, cassation and appeal courts, the decision will be made by the Federation Council (now only this court can initiate the termination of the powers of members of the constitutional court, and the powers of other judges are terminated by the qualification Board).

Putin stated the need to send amendments to the constitutional court
Article 15 of the country's Basic law on the priority of international law in Russia will remain unchanged, but article 79 will specify that decisions of interstate and foreign bodies, courts and arbitrations "in their interpretation contrary to the Constitution of Russia" are not subject to enforcement. The constitutional court will determine whether such decisions can be enforced.
What prohibitions are being introduced
Among the approved amendments is a ban on the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, heads of Federal agencies, Federal parliamentarians, ombudsmen, judges, prosecutors and governors having foreign citizenship or residence permits, as well as accounts abroad.
As for the President, he should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit even in the past, the only exception is if he was a citizen of a country that or part of which became part of Russia, and if he lived in this country or this part.
Krasheninnikov explained the lack of amendments on foreign real estate
The Constitution also explicitly sets the minimum age for a Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, head of a Federal Agency, Senator, and Governor at 30. Restrictions for a state Duma Deputy (21 years old), a judge (25) and a President (35) will remain.
The emergence of Federal territories
In addition to regions in the traditional sense, with the adoption of the amendment, "Federal territories" may appear, the order of management of which will be determined by a special law.
Also, the Basic law will establish a ban on actions to alienate the territory and calls for them. The Constitution will stipulate that Russia ensures a balance of rights and obligations of citizens, social partnership, economic, political and social solidarity, and the President supports civil peace and harmony.
The Constitution will introduce that local self-government bodies and state authorities are part of a single system of public power.
About 500 proposals for amendments to the Constitution were received from the regions
Pensions and minimum wage
The adopted amendments to the Constitution will directly guarantee that the minimum wage will not be lower than the subsistence minimum "in Russia as a whole", and will fix the indexation of pensions at least once a year and other social benefits.
In addition, the Basic law will include a provision on Russia-the successor of the USSR. The Constitution will establish that Russia is United by a thousand-year history, preserves the memory of ancestors who passed on ideals and faith in God, protects historical truth and prohibits belittling the feat of the people in defending the Fatherland.
In addition, the status of the Russian language as the language of the state-forming people, which is part of the multinational Union of equal peoples of Russia, is being fixed. At the same time, the state undertakes to protect the cultural identity of all peoples and support compatriots abroad.

Госдума одобрила закон о поправке в Конституцию

 

[angelburst29]

The state Duma approved the law on the amendment to the Constitution

Sixteen more years? Russian parliament backs move to keep Putin in power

Constitutional changes allowing Vladimir Putin to run for president again in 2024 sailed through both houses of Russia's parliament on Wednesday, raising the prospect he could clock up over three decades in the Kremlin.

Putin approves changes allowing him to stay in power until 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favored term limits once the country became politically "mature".

 

[angelburst29]

Trump is being pressured "by advisers" to not attend an annual parade on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s World War Two victory over Nazi Germany. Well, Trump has two months to fire a few advisers?

Trump has told Russia he cannot visit for Victory Day in May, says Kremlin

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the United States had told Moscow that U.S. President Donald Trump would not travel to Russia to mark Victory Day on May 9.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow did not yet know who would represent the United States at the commemorative event.

Trump had wrestled with the decision on whether to go, U.S. officials said. He had wanted to go but faced pressure from advisers not to embark on such a journey.

I like to share the following 2 video's that depicts the rich and majestic architecture of St Petersburg and Moscow and tell a little backstory that people might find interesting.

Translation
Bjorn, as a Russian and a Muscovite, I am very pleased with Your attitude. I want to make a small clarification about the Church of Christ the Saviour. Summarily. Construction of the new Church began in 1994. At that time, Putin was not even Prime Minister, but the opening of the new Church took place under Putin - the President.

I have always been attracted to Dome architecture which Russia is famous for, including the construction of some of their older stately buildings that contain beautiful interior wooden craftsmanship of doors, windows and room moldings. Some older European Churches and Cathedrals also display a Dome-like or semi-circle construction but not as elaborate as is displayed in Russia.

Recently, I was made aware that I also have some Russian blood running through my veins. I'm waiting for further test results to help clarify family background and ancestry. Surprisingly, it was my Son's who alerted me to this fact.

 

[youlik]

Новостное агентство ТАСС организовало проект под названием 20 вопросов Путину. На настоящий момент опубликовано 11 частей, однако я хочу поделиться ссылкой. Там есть возможность выбрать русский/английский язык субтитров.

Translation
TASS news Agency organized a project called 20 questions to Putin. At the moment, 11 parts have been published , but I want to share a link. There is an option to select Russian / English subtitles.

20 questions with Vladimir Putin. TASS Special Project. First time-ever video interview online

 

[angelburst29]

Simply - The Best!

Every Russian regional parliament backs changes allowing Putin to extend rule - RIA

All of Russia's 85 regional parliaments have voted in favor of constitutional amendments that would allow Vladimir Putin to run again for president again in 2024, the RIA news agency cited senior Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas as saying on Friday.

Russia to disinfect parliament chamber after lawmaker broke quarantine to hear Putin

Russia is disinfecting its parliament chamber after a lawmaker ignored coronavirus quarantine to attend assembly sessions, including one where President Vladimir Putin gave a speech.

Kremlin, worried by coronavirus, tells journalists who cover Putin to stay away if they feel unwell
The Kremlin on Friday told journalists who cover President Vladimir Putin to stay away from official events if they felt unwell as a precautionary measure to protect Kremlin staff from the coronavirus.

Moscow region authorities suggest employees work remotely over coronavirus fears
Authorities in Russia's Moscow region of around 7 million people on Thursday recommended businesses introduce remote working for their employees as a coronavirus precaution, the Interfax news agency cited a statement from the regional governor as saying.

Russian religious anti-coronavirus event called off due to containment measures
A Russian Orthodox Church procession intended to pray for those infected with the coronavirus has been called off because of a ban on large public gatherings to help curb the disease's spread, the event's organizer said on Thursday.

Russia fines BBC World News $480 for violations: Interfax
A Russian court fined BBC World News and one of its senior journalists a total of 36,000 roubles ($480) on Thursday on charges of breaking broadcasting rules, Interfax news agency reported.

First woman in space brought down to earth by anger over bid to prolong Putin rule

Valentina Tereshkova was hailed as a hero when she became the first woman in space in 1963.

Now 83, she has became a hate figure for some Russians after this week putting forward a constitutional amendment that could allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.

At least two online petitions have been launched against her, one calling for a street named after her to be renamed and another asking for one of her honorific titles to be revoked. She has also been widely mocked by critics on social media.

“Tereshkova - the first woman who bravely traveled into cosmic cold and darkness, and then brought the entire country there,” read one message on Twitter reposted by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov wrote: “This whole obscene fuss over the constitution was conceived for the sake of one moment ... two new terms for Putin. Tereshkova, who still remembers (Soviet dictator Josef) Stalin well, did not disappoint.”

A household name in Russia, Tereshkova, who holds an array of state honors including a Hero of the Soviet Union medal,
became the world’s first female astronaut in June 1963, spending 71 hours in orbit on board a Soviet Vostok spacecraft.

A staunch backer of Putin and the traditional values he has espoused, she has been a lawmaker in the lower chamber of parliament since 2011.

Her amendment, since backed by both houses of parliament, allows Putin to ignore the current constitutional limits and run for president again in 2024, potentially opening the way for him to serve two more six-year terms consecutively.

The moves has been applauded by Putin’s admirers but critics have accused him of plotting to stay in power for life and have blamed Tereshkova.

One petition, that has garnered nearly 8,000 signatures, calls for Tereshkova to be stripped of her title of “honorary citizen” of Tutayev, a town northeast of Moscow near where she was born.

“...Tereshkova actively took part in the show that some people are calling a state coup,” it says, adding she had discredited the honor of the town’s residents.

Another, with over 3,000 signatures, calls for a Tereshkova Street in the town of Artyomovsky to be renamed.

Neither of the petitions has legal force.

Putin allies, including the leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and the speaker of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, have rallied to her defense, praising her proposal and decrying the attacks on her as unpatriotic and orchestrated from abroad.

Tereshkova has branded her critics unpatriotic.

“I don’t even want to talk about these people who don’t love the country,” she was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

Slideshow (2 Images)
First woman in space brought down to earth by anger over bid to prolong Putin rule

 

[Tuatha de Danaan]

TASS news Agency organized a project called 20 questions to Putin

Thank you youlik. I've just spent a quiet relaxing hour reading Putin's interviews. He talks on very serious subjects but with clarity and NO EXCITABILITY. Amazing.

 

[thorbiorn]

First woman in space brought down to earth by anger over bid to prolong Putin rule

Amazing that it would come from an old lady and then as if "but of course" both chambers backed it. In the beginning, when Vladimir Putin made their proposals, there were fears in the West this would happen, but that it would happen this way, probably few expected.

There is a great Youtube video which explains some issues regarding the history of the US, Ukraine, Israel and Russia:
Ukraine Crisis Explained. Is is an interview with Lee Stranahan who is cohost of a show Fault Lines found on "Fault Lines" - Listen to Radio Online Show - Garland Nixon & Lee Stranahan

 

[angelburst29]

Putin asks court if he can amend constitution to run again for president

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally asked the country's constitutional court if it is legal for him to change the constitution, the Kremlin said on Saturday, a move that could allow him to remain in power until 2036.

Russian court backs move to let Putin stay in power despite outcry from some

Russia's Constitutional Court on Monday ruled it was legal to change the country's constitution in a way that could allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036, less than a week after Putin publicly backed the idea.

Putin names Moscow mayor to run new working group to fight coronavirus: agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday ordered the creation of a special working group within the State Council to fight the spread of the coronavirus, RIA news agency reported.

Russia ramps up coronavirus controls, bans public events, closes schools

Russia on Monday stepped up efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus by banning major sporting events across the country and by shutting state schools and limited gatherings of people in the capital.

Moscow makes school attendance optional amid coronavirus outbreak
Moscow will make school attendance optional starting on Monday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, its mayor said on Saturday.

Russia recommends higher education switch to distance learning
Russia's ministry of science and higher education recommended higher educational institutions switch to distance learning from Monday, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday.

Russia closes land border with Poland and Norway to foreigners over coronavirus fears
The Russian government said on Saturday it was closing the country's land border with Poland and Norway to foreigners from midnight as a precautionary measure to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Russia bans entry of foreign nationals, stateless people from March 18 to May
Russia will ban the entry of foreign nationals and stateless people from March 18 to May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Monday.

Armenia and Russia to restrict passenger traffic for two weeks: Armenian PM
Armenia and Russia will restrict the transit of people between the countries for two weeks in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the press office of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Monday.

 

[thorbiorn]

Not in Russia per se, but it might nevertheless be beneficial:

US halts deployment & recalls troops from NATO’s biggest drill ‘Defender Europe 2020’ due to coronavirus threat

The Pentagon has announced it will drastically reduce the “size and scope” of its participation in the NATO ‘Defender Europe 2020’ exercise, stopping just short of calling quits on the much-touted drill set to run until May.

www.rt.com

Add to this that Serbia and Italy are getting Coronavirus help from China and not Europe speaks very loud for the changes taking place.

 

[angelburst29]

President Putin and Russia steadily move forward while the rest of the World is "locked-up"!

Russia's Putin orders April vote on constitutional changes despite coronavirus

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments, which would allow him to run again for president, on April 22, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, despite the spread of the coronavirus.

Putin is being protected from coronavirus around the clock, says Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is being protected from coronavirus around the clock, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, saying all Kremlin staff involved in his events schedule were undergoing mandatory testing for the virus.

Russian politician, writer Limonov dies at the age of 77 - Interfax

Eduard Limonov, a leader of the Other Russia opposition movement, writer, and Soviet dissident, died at the age of 77 in Moscow, Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing his political party.

Ecumenical Patriarchate orders churches to halt services until end-March

The spiritual head of Orthodox Christians worldwide has ordered churches to halt services and rites until the end of March in response to the spread of the coronavirus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate said.

Russia closes Lenin's tomb on Red Square amid coronavirus fears

Russia has closed Bolshevik revolutionary Vladimir Lenin's tomb on Moscow's Red Square to the public, the Kremlin guard service said on Wednesday, the latest Russian tourist attraction to shut down amid coronavirus fears.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'While MSM keeping the coronavirus narrative 'in good shape.'

Over 20 reconnaissance aircraft, four drones spotted near Russia’s borders

Russia’s air defense forces on duty prevented the violation of the state border

tass.com

19 MAR, 2020

 

[angelburst29]

Putin still standing tall in the face of adversaries.

Coronavirus forces Putin critics to scale back protests before big vote

Opponents of Vladimir Putin's plans to amend the constitution so that he can run for president again in 2024 said on Friday they had been forced to scale back protests this weekend due to coronavirus, but would press ahead with some demonstrations.

Kremlin says Putin does not need a coronavirus test as he has no symptoms

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been tested for the new coronavirus and does not need to undergo such a test because he is healthy and has no symptoms, the Kremlin said on Friday.

President Vladimir Putin's relative launches political party: Kommersant
March 20, 2020 - MOSCOW - 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 businesses and entrepreneurs.

His party would support the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party in parts of the country where it lacked seats, he said.

Like President Putin, Roman Putin, 42, is a former employee of Russia’s FSB security service. The Spark database of Russian companies shows he is the director of a firm called Putin Consulting Ltd.

Roman Putin said he had not discussed his political plans with the president, but did not anticipate problems.

“I have my own position and I intend to promote it through political processes,” he told Kommersant.

“... Even in America under Bush there were many Bushes - governors, senators. Members of the same family can even compete.”

He said he had no intention of competing with President Putin however who is in the process of trying to change the constitution to allow himself to run again in 2024.

“Our country needs a strong leader, especially in the situation of a global crisis,” said Roman Putin.

"There is no alternative to Vladimir Putin."

Russia starts testing coronavirus vaccine prototypes on animals
Russian scientists have begun testing prototypes of potential vaccines against the new coronavirus on animals in a laboratory in Siberia, Russia's consumer health regulator said on Friday.

Russia's Putin, China's Xi discuss coronavirus, agree medical cooperation: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the coronavirus by phone on Thursday and agreed to deepen cooperation on developing pharmaceuticals, the Kremlin said.

Trump's national security advisor to attend Russia's May 9 Victory Day parade

U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien will travel to Moscow to attend Russia's World War Two Victory Day celebrations in May, U.S. ambassador John Sullivan said on Thursday.

I don't know what is up with the European Union? They will use "any excuse" or pull one out of thin air - to demonize Russia! The saying, "Do as I say - not as - I do" comes to mind. The E.U.'s bullying tactics only point to their own weakness. They never back up their threats with factual documentation, no matter - what they claim.

Russia deploying coronavirus disinformation to sow panic in West, EU document says
Russian media have deployed a "significant disinformation campaign" against the West to worsen the impact of the coronavirus, generate panic and sow distrust, according to a European Union document seen by Reuters.