Stories from Moscow · Russia

Restaurants in Russia are beginning to reject food delivery aggregators due to high commission rates that can reach 30%. Business owners are seeking ways to reduce their dependence on these platforms.

Police opened fire during a peaceful demonstration in Moscow, resulting in seven police fatalities. The incident occurred as police attempted to disperse the crowd. The source noted that police also engaged in internal disputes during the event.

An organized group attempted to embezzle over 30 million rubles through fraudulent locomotive repair contracts. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the group used forged documents to inflate the volume of completed work.

A commentator stated that the current regime faces threats that do not stem from upcoming elections. The source described the elections as a farce that authorities have long been able to manipulate. The speaker suggested that the end of the Putin regime is not dependent on these electoral processes. The commentator noted a wave of public dissatisfaction exists within the country. The Federation Council is considering a mechanism to issue automatic fines for products subject to mandatory labeling. The project was developed by Rospotrebnadzor. The proposed system includes an appeals function to allow businesses to contest errors. Current labeling systems are intended to block expired goods, but technical failures or intentional bypasses occur. The effectiveness of the new fines depends on the correct functioning of the labeling system and the speed of the appeals process.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the dates for Vladimir Putin's visit to China will be announced in a timely manner. The specific timing of the visit has not yet been disclosed. This follows previous statements by Putin regarding bilateral relations.

Alexander Gorelov of Rospotrebnadzor stated that certain respiratory viruses, including adenoviruses and enteroviruses, do not exhibit distinct seasonality. These viruses continue to circulate throughout the entire year.

The Federal Tax Service intends to inspect transfers between individuals to identify illegal entrepreneurial activity. Authorities may use frequent payments or transactions during working hours as red flags for investigation. This information was reported by RBK sources regarding the criteria for monitoring. A representative from Severstal stated that information should be addressed directly to the company when relevant. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Russian defense officials are taking the threat of attacks on Victory Day parades more seriously. He noted that parades present obvious targets due to the presence of military equipment, tanks, missiles, and high-ranking dignitaries in one location. A source reported that authorities will soon be able to see all transactions, even those held 'under the pillow'.

Approximately 30,000 sellers in Russia are ignoring prohibitions on the sale of expired products, according to data from Rospotrebnadzor. Russia has adopted a new GOST standard defining parameters for various retail trade formats. The standard includes classifications for hypermarkets and kiosk-style pickup points. The implementation aims to establish clear classifications for these retail sectors.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the upcoming review conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will contribute to global stability. Donald Trump praised the US Navy for its execution of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, describing the operation as highly effective. He characterized the potential negotiations as pursuing a document he does not like. President Trump described the Strait of Hormuz blockade as "genius" during a White House Oval Office news conference. The President did not provide a specific timeline for how long the blockade would be maintained. The US President described the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a 'smart and genius' plan to maintain American control over the waterway.

Nivestar director Natalya Kotlyar reported that anti-drone solutions from the Rosell holding company are being applied to most federal critical infrastructure objects. These protections are also being implemented at energy-forming enterprises within the Russian economy.