Current Time

Videos Show Forcible Detentions In Russia's COVID-19 Lockdown

Videos have emerged on social media that show Russian police forcibly detaining people for allegedly breaking laws imposed as part of efforts to restrict the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Lockdown laws in Moscow and other cities require residents to have electronic passes to travel by car or public transport.

Rotten Potatoes Replace School Lunches For Some Russian Kids

In Karelia and Nizhny Novgorod, parents are complaining about food packages given to their children in lockdown to replace school lunches. They say they are getting expired food and rotten potatoes.

'You're About To Give Up, But There's No Other Way': Moscow Doctors On COVID-19

Three Moscow doctors told Current Time about their experiences with COVID-19, describing how quickly patients can deteriorate and how testing is not always working.

Death Denied: How Belarus' Lukashenka Views The Coronavirus Pandemic

Belarus already has registered dozens of coronavirus deaths, but the country’s strongman leader, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, still asserts that there will not be a single one. In power for nearly 26 years, this former Soviet-era farm boss is accustomed to blazing his way through force of will. But with the country’s COVID-19 infections spiraling upward, critics charge that trying to dictate reality is no longer an effective response.

Kyrgyz Doctor Begs For Forgiveness After Criticizing Poor Equipment

A doctor in Kyrgyzstan was apparently forced to make a video retracting his earlier criticism of the protective equipment he was given. His about-face has sparked a wave of outrage.

'No Money', Little Hope: Russian Businesses, Workers Struggle To Ride Out Pandemic

Broken Promises: Russian Businesses Say State Aid Not Delivered

Small businesses in Russia say promised measures to cushion the blow of the coronavirus lockdown have not been delivered. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted on April 14 that the Russian economy would shrink by more than 5 percent this year, which many economists say could put millions out of work.

Ambulance Traffic Jams At Moscow Hospitals As COVID-19 Cases Surge

Ambulances have been forced to line up and wait for hours outside Moscow hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of suspected coronavirus patients. As Russia recorded its highest daily increase of patients, President Vladimir Putin conceded that the situation was getting worse every day.

Russian Media Targets U.S. Healthcare In COVID-19 Coverage

No Money, No Food: COVID-19 Hits Post-Soviet Poor

Across former Soviet countries, lockdowns due to the coronavirus are hitting the poor hardest. The many workers in the gray areas of the economies have been left destitute and even homeless, while some charities that might provide help are closing down.

Current Time Regains YouTube Access After Hacker Attack

Ukrainian City Digs Mass Graves For COVID-19 Victims

Caretakers of public cemeteries in Dnipro, a city in southeastern Ukraine, have been ordered to dig 600 graves and thousands of body bags have been preordered for potential coronavirus victims. Bulldozers could be seen working for days in several of Dnipro's cemeteries. City authorities told Current Time they wanted to be prepared in advance, but also to show residents that it's important to observe the mandatory quarantine. Nevertheless, many could be seen on April 3 in city parks and playgrounds without protective face masks.

Stranded Migrants Removed From Moscow Airport

Kyrgyzstan Slow To Bring Stranded Citizens Home From Russia

Kyrgyz migrant workers stranded at an airport in the Russian city of Novosibirsk resorted to desperate measures to highlight their struggle to get back home. About 200 Kyrgyz citizens had been camped out at Tolmachevo Airport since March 27, when both Kyrgyzstan and Russia canceled international flights in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Some of them went on a hunger strike after being forced to sleep on hard floors and seating.

Tajik Opera Singer Rallies Milan With Arias

In Italy and other European countries with strong opera roots, singing solo from an apartment balcony has become a way to share hope and inspire courage amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In Italy's Lombardy region, the center of its coronavirus struggle, Tajjik opera student Shohrukh Yunusov is doing just that.

Moscow Coronavirus Lockdown Takes Effect

There were still some vehicles and pedestrians on the streets of Moscow after a lockdown came into effect on March 30 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The city's 12 million residents are only allowed to leave their homes to buy food or medicines, get urgent medical treatment, walk the dog, or take out the trash.

Shortages Plague Russian Doctors Fighting COVID-19

Many Belarusians Call For Stronger COVID-19 Restrictions

Ride-Sharing And Home Workouts: Kharkiv Amid Coronavirus

After the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv closed its subway system due to the coronavirus, a service matching drivers with people who need a lift began to flourish -- apparently contradicting social distancing measures. Elsewhere in the city, other innovative means of dealing with the new situation of living in lockdown were also emerging.

Drone Footage Shows Rushed Construction Of Russian Hospital For COVID-19 Cases

A massive construction effort is under way in Golokhvastovo, 50 kilometers southwest of Moscow, to build a hospital for the treatment of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The site is expected to have 500 patient beds and separate dormitories to house a staff of 1,000. City officials say the hospital could open its doors within a month.