Stories from Moscow · Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on law enforcement and intelligence services to suppress attempts at provocation during the election period. He stated that Kyiv's reliance on terror will not change outcomes or intimidate residents of new regions.

Russian prosecutors have opened a criminal case against Jane Schakomi regarding a social media post made one year ago. The post featured the numbers 86 and 47 arranged in seashells, which the Federal Prosecutor's Office interpreted as a veiled call to eliminate the U.S. President. Schakomi's defense team has rejected the allegations, citing First Amendment protections. The post was subsequently deleted by the user. Schakomi is citing the first amendment of the Constitution in her defense against the incitement charges. The source did not specify the exact content of the post. The Institute of Mass Information is tracking these cases. The situation presents risks for media workers.

Leaked audio recordings from early June last year allegedly link Mindich to the provision of loans to Kyiv. The leak, which surfaced online, reportedly dates back to early June of last year.

A factory for manufacturing items required for religious services opened near Moscow earlier this year. The facility is intended to serve the entire Russian Orthodox Church.

Russian authorities have reactivated public discussions regarding a draft law for the automotive industry. A new process for handling exceptions from the Central Bank's 'drop' list is scheduled to take effect on May 2. The system would record essential data including accidents and ownership changes in a digital format. Proponents suggest that electronic passports would be easier to update than traditional paper documents. The proposal aims to ensure that any recorded traffic accident is reflected in the vehicle's digital record. The system would track mileage to prevent fraudulent reporting on classified platforms, such as a vehicle's mileage being changed from 200,000 to 150,000 kilometers. The data would be relatively accessible to potential buyers without disclosing sensitive details.

The Soviet government is preparing a bill to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in education. A working group has proposed that students be required to disclose which parts of their work were completed using neural networks.

Russia is discussing the signing of memorandums with parties from the Persian Gulf, South Asia, and Africa to simplify cargo transportation via the North-South International Transport Corridor. The plan involves redistributing cargo flows to rail transport and accelerating customs control procedures. Russia's transport complex will transition to a high-readiness mode from April 30 to May 11 due to an expected increase in passenger traffic during the May holidays. Authorities in Moscow are working to ensure uninterrupted transport operations and passenger safety during the upcoming May holidays. Transport availability in northern regions is noted to be significantly higher than in areas of actual residence.

Leaked transcripts of conversations from early June last year show the Russian Defense Minister discussing a multi-million dollar drone production and bulletproof vest procurement agreement with a businessman.

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Europe should not build a dividing wall. Peskov expressed concern that the initiative for a drone wall might prove to be an illusion similar to the Maginot Line built by the French in the 1930s. He noted that German forces bypassed the Maginot Line via Belgium. Peskov suggested that a unified, well-thought-out defense system across Europe would be a different matter from a wall. The remarks were made in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions. The spokesperson characterized the situation as something they would prefer not to see. Gennady Magazinov, deputy head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, stated that the fuel situation in Russia is stable and fully secured.

The director of Provgen stated that Russian law allows digging up to 5 meters deep on private property without special licenses. Construction deeper than 5 meters requires coordination and permits from the local department of natural resources.