Russia

MOSCOW, Oct 8 (NNN-TASS) – Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, held phone talks with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, to discuss the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

“On the evening of Oct 7, Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu held talks by telephone with Armenian Defence Minister, David Tonoyan, and Azerbaijani Defence Minister, Zakir Hasanov,” it said.

“During the talks, the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed,” it added.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has not opened its own criminal investigation into wanted Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the interior ministry in Moscow said on Thursday.

Tsikhanouskaya was added to Russia’s wanted list through a mechanism outlined under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regional bloc, the ministry said in a statement on its website. Belarus, a traditional ally of Russia, is a member of the CIS.

MOSCOW/BISHKEK (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday that Kyrgyzstan had descended into chaos and that Moscow was obliged by a security treaty to prevent a total breakdown in the country, where rival groups have claimed power in post-election unrest.

The Central Asian nation, where Russia has an airbase, has been gripped by instability since parliamentary elections on Sunday which government critics and western monitors said were marred by vote-buying.

Protesters stormed government buildings on Tuesday and various groups have said they are in charge.

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/: The Kremlin wants the talks with the United States on extending the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) to be more fruitful, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, noting that there are no grounds for an upbeat mood now.

"Indeed, there are almost no grounds for optimism now. Deputy Foreign Minister [Sergei] Ryabkov is maintaining contacts with his US vis-a-vis. We want these contacts to be more fruitful. There are big reserves here," Peskov said.

MURMANSK, October 7. /TASS/: The crew of the improved Project 885M (Yasen-M) lead nuclear-powered submarine Kazan has wrapped up its next stage of trials in the White Sea, the Northern Fleet’s press office reported on Wednesday.

"The crew of the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan has completed the next stage of its trials in the White Sea and has arrived in Severodvinsk. In addition to the sea trials in the surface and submerged positions, the submariners practiced the elements of the second special task of the combat training course," the press office said in a statement.

NOVO-OGARYOVO, October 7. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin called Tsirkon hypersonic missile’s successful test a great event for the entire country.

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/: The Kremlin sees no need for new business support measures on the back of the coronavirus pandemic because the economy is functioning now, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"The situation is different now. Support measures were related to the actual shutdown of the economy. The economy is functioning now, all industries are working, and the situation is therefore different, although, certainly, it is very thoroughly monitored," the spokesperson said.

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/: The attempts to humiliate US President Donald Trump by accusing him of ties with Russia just play into Moscow’s hands and upgrade its status, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel on Wednesday.

"When someone is trying to humiliate or insult the incumbent head of state they anyway elevate you and me and talk about our incredible influence and might. To a certain degree, this plays into our hands," Putin said.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday that his country would return to talks with Armenia after the acute phase of military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region ends, Russian news agency TASS cited him as saying.

Aliyev, who spoke to Russian President Putin by phone, said in an interview with Russian state television that Turkey had the right to participate in mediation.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Time magazine that Armenia would agree to a ceasefire only if Turkey discontinued its engagement and mercenaries were withdrawn.

MOSCOW, October 6. /TASS/: The number of COVID-19 infections in Russia over the past 24 hours increased by 11,615, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Tuesday.

This is the highest growth since May 11. Then 11,656 cases were confirmed nationwide in one day which became the highest growth during the entire epidemic.

In all, during the epidemic 1,237,504 people have been infected in Russia. According to the crisis center, the daily growth remains at 0.9% for three days.