This Week in Russia: August 8, 2020

A summary of this week’s key news in Russia

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – August 4, 2020

Today in Russia: Novosibirsk as electoral testing ground; Clear cutting forests around Baikal to modernize railway?; Montenegro opens to Russian tourists; Database of referendum voters appears on darknet; New Great Game in Central Asia post-COVID?; Dagestan recount and Russia’s COVID numbers; Lowest number of COVID cases since April; Polish PM blasts Nord Stream 2; Former US Amb. John Tefft on the succession process in Russia

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – August 3, 2020

Today in Russia: Russian mercenaries in Belarus can’t keep their story straight; Russia says July oil output in line with OPEC+ deal; Trump didn’t believe Russia bounty reports in Afghanistan; Navalny doesn’t just have trouble with Putin, he can’t get along with the press, either; 5.3k new COVID-19 cases in Russia; Belarus presidential candidate Tsikhanouskaya opposes Russia integration; Poland imposes maximum fine against Nord Stream 2, days after Pompeo blasts the project in testimony; The hunt for $240 million in offshore bank bonds; Russia breaks off double taxation agreement with Cyprus; 1 million Moscow motorists’ data stolen by hackers; Russia plans to carry out mass vaccination in October

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 31, 2020

Today in Russia: EU sanctions for hacking; US ex-marine sentenced, could be part of prisoner swap; 5.5 thousand more COVID-19 cases; Russia reacts furiously to Belarus arrests, ambassador claims the men were en-route to third country; Nine deaths in Crimea minibus accident; Russia to allow people to identify themselves as elves and other fantastic creatures on census; Construction companies and their “Leninist” methods; Ex-press secretary for Prosecutor General’s office to join United Russia and help with campaigning

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

Today in Russia: Belarus-Russia relations in freefall as Wagner Group mercenaries found in Minsk; Belarus pre-election crackdown; Germany asks for Russia’s help to track down fugitive Wirecard exec; Russia and China catching up with US on hypersonic missiles; Putin’s ratings plummet as Khabarovsk protest enjoy widespread support across Russia; Ruble falls against the Euro to 86.23

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

Today in Russia: Deripaska says Russia’s fight against US sanctions lackluster; US again accuses Russia of COVID-19 disinformation; Kremlin insists Safronov case not related to journalism – despite demanding he reveal sources; The Kremlin explains the resignation of 11 health minister in the regions; “Alcolocks” may be coming to Russian vehicles; Rosneft and Norilsk Nickel find compromise over gas field and energy supply; Sberbank to acquire Rambler; Belarus says it found foreign mercenaries in Minsk

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 28, 2020

Today in Russia: 5,300 new COVID-19 cases as pandemic continues to rage; Cryptocurrency fraud; Jailed journalist Safronov put into quarantine for suspected COVID-19 infection; Putin and Erdogan discuss Armenia and Azerbaijan standoff; Degtyarev’s disastrous first week in Khabarovsk; US and Russia in new negotiating format in Vienna; New scooter scheme by Sberbank and Mail.ru; China overtakes Ukraine as Russia’s largest buyer of meat exports; Prosecutors might get back their right to initiate cases

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 27, 2020

Today in Russia: Germany rejects Trump proposal to let Russia back into G7; “Our American ‘Baidushka”; Ex-Vedomosti reporters launch new outlet; Spotify starts selling ads in Russia; New Khabarovsk governor says protests organized from abroad; Novaya Gazyeta digs up Furgal’s old rough and tumble business history; Kadyrov is really angry about being sanctioned by the US; US DoD says Wagner Group still up to no good in Libya

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

Today in Russia: Trump talks to Putin; Pompeo thinks Russia may help US vis a vis China, Russia not so sure; Putin says Russia-China relations reaching unprecedented heights; An interesting election race in Novosibirsk; Sexual harassment and #MeToo inside independent media outlets; Navalny uncovers more questionable riches by officials, this time by Far East envoy; Russia as mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia?; Mail.ru capitalized on the pandemic; UK and US say Russia launched “weapon” into space

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

Today in Russia: Russian news crew attacked by US federal forces in Portland; Gulag historian sentenced to prison; Turkey and Russia strike Libya deal; Russia’s strategic plan with Iran; First Arctic oil delivered to China; PM Mishustin reports to State Duma