RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 8, 2020

Today in Russia: COVID-19 deaths surpass 10,000; Gulag historian faces jailtime; On Ivan Safronov, ex-journalist now accused of espionage; Medvedev “awaits his toga;” Norilsk Nickel to challenge the $2 billion figure for its diesel spill; Russia to “reiprocate” against UK for Magnitsky sanctions; Mastercard CEO: Russia has one of the most advanced payment networks in Europe

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 7, 2020

Today in Russia: “The most fraudulent vote in Russia” lets Putin stay until 2036; Government demands $2 billion from Norilsk Nickel for spill; RFE/RL reporter found guilty of “justifying terrorism” but no jail time; Charges against former Kommersant journalist for treason; Lowest number of new cases since April 29; Putin not sure when Russians allowed back into EU; Torrent downloading off the charts during self-isolation period

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 30, 2020

Today in Russia: Russia and US among countries excluded from EU; Trump dismisses Russia bounty allegations; More heat records set in Siberia; Russia “reinforces foothold” in Libya; Turkey loses trust in Russia, shifts to US; US may purchase Turkey’s Russian missile system to ease relations; Russia not responding to IAEA over radiation concerns; India-China border issue won’t be allowed to hurt Russian relations

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 29, 2020

Today in Russia: Russia denies Afghanistan bounty payments while Trump denies knowing about it; EU extends Russia sanctions over Ukraine; Simplified e-visas to Russia starting 2021 – for some; Russian medical system unequipped for COVID-19; “The China-Russia-Iran arms alliance”; More environmental destruction found at Norilsk Nickel; Gref sees coming ruble appreciation against the dollar; Scandinavian radiation linked to Russian nuclear plant; Russian opposition flounders amid referendum

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 26, 2020

Today in Russia: Srebrennikov handed suspended sentence, seen as a legal victory; Russian mercenaries enter key Libyan oil field; Milder Nord Stream 2 sanctions announced by US Congress; Inside the clean up and cover-up in Norilsk; Dozhd TV head may now face fine for voting twice, despite doing it to demonstrate potential of fraud; Russia treats Mongolia like a satellite; Russia pulls out of UN; Sergei Khrushchev, son of Soviet leader, dies

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 25, 2020

Today in Russia: Belarus accuses Russia of election manipulation; Head of Dozhd TV says he could vote twice on referendum; Watchdog decries “manipulative” referendum process; All sorts of election malfunctions; US official: China and Russia on “road to dystopia” if they don’t extend Iran weapons ban; Tver bans all negative news?; Russia steals from US shale oil playbook, and may end oil import ban early; Tourists heading to space in 2023; Kremlin sees rainbow flag flying at US embassy as unlawful “propaganda of untraditional sexual minorities”; Kremlin vows to support Venezuela amid US “regime change” efforts

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 24, 2020

Today in Russia: WWII parade; 7176 new COVID-19 cases; IMF worsens Russia’s economic outlook; Chinese returning from Russia faking COVID-19 tests; Unseen photos of Putin’s daughters; Yandex “divorces” Uber, splits from Sberbank; Russia says US not offering short-term extension of START; 150k Eastern Ukraine residents will vote in referendum

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 23, 2020

Today in Russia: Putin declares COVID-19 under control; Putin announces tax increase for those making over 5 million rubles and other measures in address; Front-line health workers ordered to vote in referendum; Calvey diagnosed with cancer but kept under house arrest; Russia looks to defuse China-India tensions; Arms control talks between US and Russia held without China; Russia moving closer to Mongolia; Whelan won’t appeal, will angle for prisoner swap; Toy protesters not tolerated by Russian authorities, face investigation

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 22, 2020

Today in Russia: 7,600 new COVID-19 cases; US pressing China as nuclear talks resume; Putin might run again (but he’s not quite so sure despite changing constitution to do so); Anti-fascist activists jailed; Nordic militaries “rekindle” alliances as Russia encroaches; Trump loses fourth NSC Russia director; Mail.ru ready for Moscow Exchange listing; Police Lt Colonel suspected of passing secrets to Ukrainian intel service; Two reasons for Telegram unblocking; “The end of the road for Vedomosti”; Putin’s defense in the…National Interest?; The Kremlin on Bolton’s analysis; Budget carrier Pobeda denied state aid

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 18, 2020

Today in Russia: Russia unblocks Telegram; 489 medics have succumbed to COVID-19; Putin is not smiling; Forced voter registration in Moscow and fake voter accounts; Supreme Court rejects lawsuit against Putin; Moscow looks to Washington for help in Libya; Crimean sanctions extended one year by EU; Tax service fears capital flight if currency controls eased