Russian Vaccination Crisis
Reuters reports that the developers of Sputnik V vaccine have repeatedly failed to provide data that regulators deem to be standard requirements of the drug approval process. According to Reuters, European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s review of the drug’s safety was delayed because a June 10 deadline to submit data on the vaccine's clinical trials was missed.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RFPI) denied these reports as attempts to prevent Sputnik V from getting an access to the European market. As usual, Russians referred to the attack of Western lobby.
Vaccination adventures of Russia strongly resemble tragicomedy. Failed delivery to Guatemala, incident with Slovakia, now this.
It’s not that Russian officials are usually lying, and RFPI’s Kirill Dmitriev, whose wife is a close friend of Putin’s daughter, is of course de-facto a very high-ranked official. It is the incompetence of the whole Russia public administration system.
They could fail to meet European requirements just because of their sheer incompetence. Reuter’s information perfectly explains why Putin and Russian state media promote Sputnik V out of all three Russian vaccines. Business as usual.
Reuters reports that the developers of Sputnik V vaccine have repeatedly failed to provide data that regulators deem to be standard requirements of the drug approval process. According to Reuters, European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s review of the drug’s safety was delayed because a June 10 deadline to submit data on the vaccine's clinical trials was missed.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RFPI) denied these reports as attempts to prevent Sputnik V from getting an access to the European market. As usual, Russians referred to the attack of Western lobby.
Vaccination adventures of Russia strongly resemble tragicomedy. Failed delivery to Guatemala, incident with Slovakia, now this.
It’s not that Russian officials are usually lying, and RFPI’s Kirill Dmitriev, whose wife is a close friend of Putin’s daughter, is of course de-facto a very high-ranked official. It is the incompetence of the whole Russia public administration system.
They could fail to meet European requirements just because of their sheer incompetence. Reuter’s information perfectly explains why Putin and Russian state media promote Sputnik V out of all three Russian vaccines. Business as usual.
The latest UNICEF report reflects the striking poverty in Russia. According to official sources, 9 mln Russians belong to the category of moderately of severely food insecure people.
The latest Rosstat (Federal Stat Agency) data, published yesterday, shows that 75% of Russian households fail to satisfy their basic needs.
Kremlin’s spokesman Peskov said that he cannot give any comment on this issue. Fairly so, because Russian public administration is about anything but the people.
What is Putin doing while Russians are literally surviving? Discussing Ukraine, glorifying Stalin’s approach to national policies and denying Ukranian and Belarusian identities the same way one German leader denied Austrian identity or Saddam Hussein denied Kuwaitis.
Those are the priorities of the regime.
The latest Rosstat (Federal Stat Agency) data, published yesterday, shows that 75% of Russian households fail to satisfy their basic needs.
Kremlin’s spokesman Peskov said that he cannot give any comment on this issue. Fairly so, because Russian public administration is about anything but the people.
What is Putin doing while Russians are literally surviving? Discussing Ukraine, glorifying Stalin’s approach to national policies and denying Ukranian and Belarusian identities the same way one German leader denied Austrian identity or Saddam Hussein denied Kuwaitis.
Those are the priorities of the regime.
Ukraine’s powerful Interior Minister Arsen Avakov resigned from his office. The case is quite obvious, and although Avakov resigned, he is not going anywhere. The interesting thing about his resignation is the enormous attention it drew in Russia.
Moscow’s Ukranian ressentiment is sometimes funny. “The Third Rome” is almost obsessed with Ukranian strongman. Russian telegram has been commenting on him non-stop.
Russian much ado is really about nothing. The whole excitement is the best showcase of Russia's provincial state of mind. It tries to be big dangerous, but is just a little vicious.
Moscow’s Ukranian ressentiment is sometimes funny. “The Third Rome” is almost obsessed with Ukranian strongman. Russian telegram has been commenting on him non-stop.
Russian much ado is really about nothing. The whole excitement is the best showcase of Russia's provincial state of mind. It tries to be big dangerous, but is just a little vicious.
The Russian authorities have banned the investigative outlet Proekt Media as an “undesirable organization” and blacklisted its journalists as “foreign agents.”
Looks like the latest investigation of Proekt on the wealth of Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and his contacts with notorious Izmailovsky criminal group was too much for Kremlin, so it decided to act the only way it really can – to ban, to cancel, to blacklist.
Anti-corruption investigations pose a threat only to corrupted regimes. Journalism is indeed not a crime. Corruption is. Proekt Media, stay strong.
Looks like the latest investigation of Proekt on the wealth of Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and his contacts with notorious Izmailovsky criminal group was too much for Kremlin, so it decided to act the only way it really can – to ban, to cancel, to blacklist.
Anti-corruption investigations pose a threat only to corrupted regimes. Journalism is indeed not a crime. Corruption is. Proekt Media, stay strong.
Dreams of Anschluss
Vladimir Putin’s text on Russians, Ukranians and Belarusians being one Russian nation has been added to the Russian military’s curriculum on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s personal order.
Russia indeed resembles late Soviet Union. Its aging feudal rulers surely dream of Ukraine’s Anschluss, but Russia isn’t capable even of avoiding humiliations from Lukashenko.
Using Putin’s own words, “stupid and funny”.
Vladimir Putin’s text on Russians, Ukranians and Belarusians being one Russian nation has been added to the Russian military’s curriculum on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s personal order.
Russia indeed resembles late Soviet Union. Its aging feudal rulers surely dream of Ukraine’s Anschluss, but Russia isn’t capable even of avoiding humiliations from Lukashenko.
Using Putin’s own words, “stupid and funny”.
A brilliant piece of writing on Biden’s antitrust executive order which could change the track of American economy and welfare for years to come. It went largely unnoticed in Russia.
Biden looks for a fair competition in order to make economy more healthy and drive the prices down. Russia is moving the opposite way with its state oligarchs and unwillingness to raise wages and maintain some kind of social equality in the country.
It’s not clear whether Biden’s competition policy will be successful, but the way of thinking of his team is rather obvious. It strongly differs from Russian neo-feudalism.
Biden looks for a fair competition in order to make economy more healthy and drive the prices down. Russia is moving the opposite way with its state oligarchs and unwillingness to raise wages and maintain some kind of social equality in the country.
It’s not clear whether Biden’s competition policy will be successful, but the way of thinking of his team is rather obvious. It strongly differs from Russian neo-feudalism.
Russian Vaccination Crisis: Kirill Dmitriev
Moscow Times revealed a resale scheme of Sputnik V with Emirati royal middleman Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum being involved in it. Al-Maktoum resold the Russian vaccines to governments and private sector buyers at up to twice Russia’s official price.
The scheme would be impossible without the producer of Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund. Kirill Dmitriev and his management along with several Russian high-ranked officials got their shares of Emirati profits.
Dmitriev has very high-ranked contacts in Arab world. In 2013 RDIF and Dubai’s crown prince Mohammad Bin Zayed's Mubadala Company launched a $2 billion co-investment fund. Now Dmitriev is making money with other Emirati sheikh.
Everything in Russia is about money.
Moscow Times revealed a resale scheme of Sputnik V with Emirati royal middleman Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum being involved in it. Al-Maktoum resold the Russian vaccines to governments and private sector buyers at up to twice Russia’s official price.
The scheme would be impossible without the producer of Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund. Kirill Dmitriev and his management along with several Russian high-ranked officials got their shares of Emirati profits.
Dmitriev has very high-ranked contacts in Arab world. In 2013 RDIF and Dubai’s crown prince Mohammad Bin Zayed's Mubadala Company launched a $2 billion co-investment fund. Now Dmitriev is making money with other Emirati sheikh.
Everything in Russia is about money.
Kremlin should stop killing Russian regions. They are already dead.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has assigned supervisory responsibilities over Russia’s federal districts to his deputies. Each one of them will be responsible for one federal district.
Russian regions are already almost dead, but Kremlin keeps on working on centralizing an overcentralized country and creating new levels of bureaucracy for the regions. Coronavirus pandemic has been used to push this process further and completely destroy Russian federalism.
As for now, Russia is everything but a federation. Regions have absolutely no place to make any economic or political moves with regard to local ways of life, interests and circumstances. They are completely stripped of responsibilities, resources and actual rights to elect governors.
To proceed with its current ways Kremlin must keep Russian regions poor and irrelevant. That’s the strategy.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has assigned supervisory responsibilities over Russia’s federal districts to his deputies. Each one of them will be responsible for one federal district.
Russian regions are already almost dead, but Kremlin keeps on working on centralizing an overcentralized country and creating new levels of bureaucracy for the regions. Coronavirus pandemic has been used to push this process further and completely destroy Russian federalism.
As for now, Russia is everything but a federation. Regions have absolutely no place to make any economic or political moves with regard to local ways of life, interests and circumstances. They are completely stripped of responsibilities, resources and actual rights to elect governors.
To proceed with its current ways Kremlin must keep Russian regions poor and irrelevant. That’s the strategy.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has published a list of military information that is off-limits to foreigners, including nearly every aspect of state space agency Roscosmos of Dmitry Rogozin.
Roskosmos has been plagued by enormous corruption for years, with billion dollars frauds and public scandals with Vostochny cosmodrom that seemed to be too much even for Russia. Nonetheless, Dmitry Rogozin hasn’t lost his job: he belongs to the group of people that cannot be touched no matter what.
Corruption in Roskosmos is officially under protection of FSB now.
Roskosmos has been plagued by enormous corruption for years, with billion dollars frauds and public scandals with Vostochny cosmodrom that seemed to be too much even for Russia. Nonetheless, Dmitry Rogozin hasn’t lost his job: he belongs to the group of people that cannot be touched no matter what.
Corruption in Roskosmos is officially under protection of FSB now.
Vladimir Putin has introduced to the State Duma a bill allowing top military officers to remain in their posts past the age of 70 in case they have the military rank of Marshal of the Russian Federation, General of the Army, or Admiral of the Fleet.
Sergei Shoigu is 66 now, so, first, this bill actually means that one day he will become the second Marshall of Russia in history. Second, it means that 68 years old Putin plans to rule Russia until he is alive.
Third, it means that Putin’s inner circle is becoming more and more tight. The aging President doesn’t trust anyone except for his long-time friends. It’s strange to assume that Russia with its decorated military tradition doesn’t have officers to fill in the position of Defense Minister other than Shoigu.
This move is welcome in the US, as it makes every Russian move predictable for years to come. Putin, Shoigu and other irreplaceable old men have been in office forever and are an open book for Washington.
Russia under these people is less and less dangerous every year.
Sergei Shoigu is 66 now, so, first, this bill actually means that one day he will become the second Marshall of Russia in history. Second, it means that 68 years old Putin plans to rule Russia until he is alive.
Third, it means that Putin’s inner circle is becoming more and more tight. The aging President doesn’t trust anyone except for his long-time friends. It’s strange to assume that Russia with its decorated military tradition doesn’t have officers to fill in the position of Defense Minister other than Shoigu.
This move is welcome in the US, as it makes every Russian move predictable for years to come. Putin, Shoigu and other irreplaceable old men have been in office forever and are an open book for Washington.
Russia under these people is less and less dangerous every year.
Russia in one picture.
At the picture in the left - The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the developer of Sputnik V vaccine.
At the picture in the right – the mansion of Alexei Safonov, traffic enforcement officer in Russian Stavropol province, who was arrested yesterday.
One more time, Safonov isn’t even close to being a member of Russian elite, he was only the head of regional traffic enforcement.
At the picture in the left - The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the developer of Sputnik V vaccine.
At the picture in the right – the mansion of Alexei Safonov, traffic enforcement officer in Russian Stavropol province, who was arrested yesterday.
One more time, Safonov isn’t even close to being a member of Russian elite, he was only the head of regional traffic enforcement.
Russia will help Tajikistan build an outpost on the border with Afghanistan amidst Taliban offensive against official Kabul. The border with Tajikistan is already under full control of Taliban.
Russia has two major problems now. First, the Tajik-Afghan border is very lengthy, so it is practically difficult to maintain control over it, especially against swarming tactics. Second, the danger comes not only from Taliban.
Lost in all of this are terrorists from Islamic State and Al Qaeda that are also present in Afghanistan. Taliban seeks international legitimacy, so it will surely avoid any unnecessary trouble with Americans and international community. Which means that Afghanistan won’t be a haven for ISIS or Al Qaeda.
There won’t be any ISIS or Al Qaeda reboot in Afghanistan. Taliban will be pushing them out, so where do they have to go and how much will it cost Russia?
Russia has two major problems now. First, the Tajik-Afghan border is very lengthy, so it is practically difficult to maintain control over it, especially against swarming tactics. Second, the danger comes not only from Taliban.
Lost in all of this are terrorists from Islamic State and Al Qaeda that are also present in Afghanistan. Taliban seeks international legitimacy, so it will surely avoid any unnecessary trouble with Americans and international community. Which means that Afghanistan won’t be a haven for ISIS or Al Qaeda.
There won’t be any ISIS or Al Qaeda reboot in Afghanistan. Taliban will be pushing them out, so where do they have to go and how much will it cost Russia?
Russia has failed another Sputnik V vaccine delivery abroad, this time to Argentina.
According to Argentinian media, the country has found itself in a critical position because Russian Direct Investment Fund has failed to fulfill its delivery commitments. The government of Argentina has confirmed the media report.
Russia owes Argentina about 18mln doses of vaccine, most of them are the second-component doses. The vaccination rate in Argentina is very low because of the vaccine shortages. Argentina is on the verge of canceling the contract.
Buenos Aires gambled on Russia as a reliable partner and lost. At the same time, Kirill Dmitriev from RDIF and his associates are making money on shipping the vaccine to their Arab royal friends who resell it to the third countries.
You just cannot rely on declining Russia. Let’s see what shameful explanation Kremlin’s propagandists will invent this time though.
According to Argentinian media, the country has found itself in a critical position because Russian Direct Investment Fund has failed to fulfill its delivery commitments. The government of Argentina has confirmed the media report.
Russia owes Argentina about 18mln doses of vaccine, most of them are the second-component doses. The vaccination rate in Argentina is very low because of the vaccine shortages. Argentina is on the verge of canceling the contract.
Buenos Aires gambled on Russia as a reliable partner and lost. At the same time, Kirill Dmitriev from RDIF and his associates are making money on shipping the vaccine to their Arab royal friends who resell it to the third countries.
You just cannot rely on declining Russia. Let’s see what shameful explanation Kremlin’s propagandists will invent this time though.
Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov's comment on the failed delivery of Sputnik V to Argentina: no big deal, we are working on it.
For those who think that the US or anyone else are working on the destruction of Russia's reputation - no need to do it. You cannot destroy something that doesn't exist anymore.
For those who think that the US or anyone else are working on the destruction of Russia's reputation - no need to do it. You cannot destroy something that doesn't exist anymore.
Bank of Russia raised its key rate from 5.5% to 6.5% in the sharpest move since 2014. Russia struggles to target the inflation which went high above the expected level. Officially the inflation is 6.5%, but the prices for stable goods are rising substantially faster.
Vaccination is not the only area where Kremlin is failing hard.
Vaccination is not the only area where Kremlin is failing hard.
There is an understanding in Russia telegram about the Nordstream-2 deal being everything but a win for Russia. It basically won’t change anything. The US has the strong hand, the agreement with Germany is reached on American terms, at the verge of new Green Era Russia is more and more becoming a captive of its natural resources.
Gazprom’s Alexei Miller said today that transit of Russian gas across Ukraine could even go up. Chancellor Angela Merkel is leaving, the new chancellor could re-evaluate the situation, so the pipeline can be suspended almost at will.
We have written numerous times in our channel that Biden has a very strong foreign policy team.
Gazprom’s Alexei Miller said today that transit of Russian gas across Ukraine could even go up. Chancellor Angela Merkel is leaving, the new chancellor could re-evaluate the situation, so the pipeline can be suspended almost at will.
We have written numerous times in our channel that Biden has a very strong foreign policy team.
The Biden administration is considering a new round of economic sanctions targeting Belarus shortly after a visit to Washington by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She didn't have a meeting with Biden, but met with his top foreign policy aides Jake Sullivan and Anthony Blinken.
It should be clear that sanctions against Belarus are sanctions against Moscow. Not only because Kremlin sided with Lukashenko in his violent repressions against its own people, but mostly because of Russian foreign policy.
Its core and essence is that Russia doesn't have any friends and has to buy Lukashenko's loyalty for a very high price. Belarusian economy isn't diversified, so the sanctions against its oil and potash sectors will be very painful for the regime.
Lukashenko will surely manage to get these billions of dollars from Moscow although he already costs Russia way too much. It is Kremlin's choice though, and Washington is ok with it.
It should be clear that sanctions against Belarus are sanctions against Moscow. Not only because Kremlin sided with Lukashenko in his violent repressions against its own people, but mostly because of Russian foreign policy.
Its core and essence is that Russia doesn't have any friends and has to buy Lukashenko's loyalty for a very high price. Belarusian economy isn't diversified, so the sanctions against its oil and potash sectors will be very painful for the regime.
Lukashenko will surely manage to get these billions of dollars from Moscow although he already costs Russia way too much. It is Kremlin's choice though, and Washington is ok with it.
Destroyed Legitimacy of the Nation
Great piece of writing on why the Russian president doesn't need the people of Russia for his legitimacy.
Putin lives in his own world like a medieval king whose right to reign indefinitely comes directly from God and cannot be challenged. He sees himself not as an elected president, but rather as a historic figure that cannot be judged by contemporaries.
This perfectly explains why Russia isn't a democracy but a neo-feudal regime without middle class. The Czar and, which is even more important, his feudals do not see the people as a source of their legitimacy. Therefore it is much more secure for them to depend only on Putin, so he has to be disconnected from reality for the benefit of Russian feudal lords.
Putin doesn't plan to go anywhere, but even if he wanted, he would be unable to leave. With destroyed legitimacy of the whole nation and declining demography Russia will be inevitably falling out of history.
Great piece of writing on why the Russian president doesn't need the people of Russia for his legitimacy.
Putin lives in his own world like a medieval king whose right to reign indefinitely comes directly from God and cannot be challenged. He sees himself not as an elected president, but rather as a historic figure that cannot be judged by contemporaries.
This perfectly explains why Russia isn't a democracy but a neo-feudal regime without middle class. The Czar and, which is even more important, his feudals do not see the people as a source of their legitimacy. Therefore it is much more secure for them to depend only on Putin, so he has to be disconnected from reality for the benefit of Russian feudal lords.
Putin doesn't plan to go anywhere, but even if he wanted, he would be unable to leave. With destroyed legitimacy of the whole nation and declining demography Russia will be inevitably falling out of history.
Russian Corruption: Madam Arbidol 2.0.
Regional governors in Russia would be stripped of the right to appoint their healthcare ministers amidst the pandemic. Kremlin keeps on killing Russian federalism and regions, but this time it is strictly business move.
According to the government's bill, regional healthcare ministers should be approved by the Federal Healthcare Ministry which is subordinated to the Deputy PM and former federal healthcare minister Tatiana Golikova.
Golikova is qualified to make money out of pandemic better than anyone else: along with her business partner Viktor Kharitonin she made a fortune during season flu while being a healthcare minister.
Golikova's ministry created a monopoly by making the whole country use Arbidol drug against respiratory viruses. The exclusive producer of Arbidol was Kharitonin. Sure enough, Golikova and her business associates couldn't waste another corruption opportunity provided by Covid.
Kharitonin's Pharmstandart company is one of the Sputnik V producers. The latest move with regional healthcare ministers is the last step in maintaining total control over the procurement in Russia's public healthcare.
Nobody knows how many people will die because Kremlin thinks it knows healthcare problems in the Far East or Siberia better than local governors, but who cares. We are witnessing Russian corruption and oppression of the regions at its finest.
Regional governors in Russia would be stripped of the right to appoint their healthcare ministers amidst the pandemic. Kremlin keeps on killing Russian federalism and regions, but this time it is strictly business move.
According to the government's bill, regional healthcare ministers should be approved by the Federal Healthcare Ministry which is subordinated to the Deputy PM and former federal healthcare minister Tatiana Golikova.
Golikova is qualified to make money out of pandemic better than anyone else: along with her business partner Viktor Kharitonin she made a fortune during season flu while being a healthcare minister.
Golikova's ministry created a monopoly by making the whole country use Arbidol drug against respiratory viruses. The exclusive producer of Arbidol was Kharitonin. Sure enough, Golikova and her business associates couldn't waste another corruption opportunity provided by Covid.
Kharitonin's Pharmstandart company is one of the Sputnik V producers. The latest move with regional healthcare ministers is the last step in maintaining total control over the procurement in Russia's public healthcare.
Nobody knows how many people will die because Kremlin thinks it knows healthcare problems in the Far East or Siberia better than local governors, but who cares. We are witnessing Russian corruption and oppression of the regions at its finest.
Putin in Wonderland
Vladimir Putin said today that prices in Russia have risen insignificantly above the projected inflation.
Putin's words come shortly after the Bank of Russia was forced to rise its key rate by 1% in an effort to target inflation which actually has hit double digits.
Rising prices along with enormous poverty are the biggest problem for Russians, and Vladimir Putin as a genius and the best leader ever has introduced a new strategy of solving it. If you cannot deal with the problem, just ignore it or call it insignificant.
Russians will hopefully find a way to feed themselves and won't distract Putin from serious matters like writing new articles or throwing military parades. The man has become ignorant.
Vladimir Putin said today that prices in Russia have risen insignificantly above the projected inflation.
Putin's words come shortly after the Bank of Russia was forced to rise its key rate by 1% in an effort to target inflation which actually has hit double digits.
Rising prices along with enormous poverty are the biggest problem for Russians, and Vladimir Putin as a genius and the best leader ever has introduced a new strategy of solving it. If you cannot deal with the problem, just ignore it or call it insignificant.
Russians will hopefully find a way to feed themselves and won't distract Putin from serious matters like writing new articles or throwing military parades. The man has become ignorant.
"Putin is sitting on top of an economy that has nuclear weapons and oil wells and nothing else. Nothing else. Their economy is — what? — the eighth smallest in the world".
"He knows that you’re better than his team, and it bothers the hell out of him".
Joe Biden made some remarks about Russia and his junior partner Vladimir Putin at the office of the National Intelligence Director. Kremlin reacted immediately, with Dmitry Peskov saying that Biden doesn't have a clear picture of what modern Russia is.
Peskov might have a point here: Biden believes poverty of people is a problem, while Putin doesn't. Biden works in a competitive environment, while Putin doesn't.
The fact of the matter is that Biden, who is all about personal relationships, doesn't respect Putin neither as a president, nor as a man.
Biden's second point hardly needs any explanation, one must be delusional not to see the crisis of Russian intelligence with its regular scandals.
"He knows that you’re better than his team, and it bothers the hell out of him".
Joe Biden made some remarks about Russia and his junior partner Vladimir Putin at the office of the National Intelligence Director. Kremlin reacted immediately, with Dmitry Peskov saying that Biden doesn't have a clear picture of what modern Russia is.
Peskov might have a point here: Biden believes poverty of people is a problem, while Putin doesn't. Biden works in a competitive environment, while Putin doesn't.
The fact of the matter is that Biden, who is all about personal relationships, doesn't respect Putin neither as a president, nor as a man.
Biden's second point hardly needs any explanation, one must be delusional not to see the crisis of Russian intelligence with its regular scandals.