Russia

MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/: The growth of identified coronavirus cases in Russia is linked to the beginning of an epidemiological season in autumn and winter, head of Russia’s consumer watchdog Anna Popova told reporters Monday, adding that the situation is stable in general and no new restrictions will be required.

MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/: Russia maintains working dialogue with the on Belarus, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS Monday.

"We continue the dialogue on this issue in a working mode at the embassy level," the diplomat said.

There have been no bilateral contacts or visits between Russia and the US "that could be announced" yet, the Deputy Foreign Minister said.

MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/: Russia’s Armed Forces will pay particular attention to combating cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles during the Kavkaz (or Caucasus) 2020 military exercise that kicked off on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/: The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation abolished the Russia of the Future political party, founded by blogger Alexey Navalny, the court told TASS Monday.

"The Court has satisfied the Ministry of Justice’s request on abolishment of the Russia of the Future political party," the court press service said.

One year ago, the Ministry of Justice denied registration for the Russia of the Future political party, arguing that this name was already in use by another political organization.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny told Russia on Monday to hand over the clothes he was wearing when he fell into a coma last month and accused Moscow of withholding an important piece of evidence in his case.

The outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin said his clothes were taken away from him before he was flown to Germany for treatment from Siberia after he fell violently ill on a domestic flight.

Germany says tests in three countries have determined he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and the West has demanded an explanation from Russia.

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/: More than 60,000 people have applied to volunteer for the coronavirus vaccine trials in Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with Nedelya v Gorode program on Rossiya-1 TV channel.

"Over 60,000 people have signed up as volunteers, several thousand people have passed the required medical tests to be registered as potential candidates for carrying out the tests," Sobyanin said.

More than 700 people have been injected with the coronavirus vaccine and "all of them are feeling good," he said.

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/: Russia’s coronavirus spread rate on Sunday grew to 1.08 and in Moscow it climbed to 1.14, according to TASS estimates based on the anti-coronavirus crisis center’s data.

This is a record high figure for the country and the capital since May 8.

MOSCOW, September 15. /TASS/: Russia plans to send its own mission to Venus in addition to the planned joint mission with the USA "Venera-D," head of Russian space corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin told reporters on Tuesday during the HeliRussia-2020 exhibition.

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described the dialogue between the Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, as rather trust-based.

"This dialogue is rather trust-based and at the same time it is very substantive. That’s because both know well the details of bilateral relations," Peskov said in an interview with the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" on Rossiya-1 TV channel.

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/: Russia resumes passenger air service with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea and lift the entry ban for these country’s nationals on a reciprocal basis, the government’s press service said on Sunday citing a corresponding government resolution.

"Citizens of these states and holders of residence permits can enter Russia via airport checkpoints. Russians, in turn, can fly to any of these states unimpeded," it said.