Russiabot Newsletter 2 [06.26.2020]
DDoS attack targets online voting for referendum, India mulls buying T-14, and graduates are deprived of their festivities...thanks to COVID.
The Russiabot Newsletter
Friday, June 26th, 2020
Good evening.
Add to the list of ‘unfortunate cancellations due to COVID-19’ the end-of-year celebrations for graduates in Russia. The anticipated partying of the White Nights Festival is to be replaced by livestreamed broadcasts, as are many things it seems nowadays.
This is happening, of course, as the country enters into day 2 of voting on the proposed constitutional ammendments, which could expand Vladimir Putin’s presidential career by another 16 years (providing, of course, he continues to win elections…).
An event that draws millions to Saint Petersburg’s riverfront, will be exclusive to TV for 2020
Hope You Are Doing Well.
Here are your top stories, as reported by Russian media today:
1. Russian Central Election Commission Reports DDoS Attack in Second Day of Constitutional Referendum
2. India Looking to Procure Russian T-14 Armata Tank
3. Libyan Government of National Accord Confirms Arrival of Russian Aircraft, Troops, in Sirte
4. Prisoners’ Rights Nonprofit “Imprisoned Rus’” to Close After Court Battle
5. Russia’s school graduation festivities shift to online format due to COVID-19
1. Russian Central Election Commission Reports DDoS Attack in Second Day of Constitutional Referendum
Russia’s Central Election Commission reported a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on its electronic voting website, as the second day of voting on proposed constitutional amendments continued throughout the country. The website was launched to facilitate online voting options for individuals residing in the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod Regions (localities heavily impacted by COVID-19).
“I received a notification from a presently unidentified source that our website is experiencing a DDoS attack, with up to 240,000 queries made per second, but we are not experiencing any problems. If it’s happening at all. But, we received notification that – hey, guys—be careful, 240,000 queries per second could take down your site…everything is ok.”
—Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission Nikolai Bulayev, speaking during a meeting of the Information Center for All-Russia voting.
During a DDoS attack, rapid bulk queries are made on a webpage in order prompt a crash. Despite the attempted shutdown of the electronic voting website, no disruption in service was reported.
The Russian Federation is holding a country-wide referendum from June 25 to July 1st, with the option to approve or reject a series of constitutional amendments. The bulk of these changes could fundamentally alter parliamentary and presidential power, and “restart” the current President’s term count, ostensibly paving the path for Vladimir Putin to run for office for the next 16 years.
2/3rds of voters registered to cast their ballot electronically have reportedly made their selections, with 66.7% of Moscow residents reporting participation in the referendum thus far.
Although in its early stages, the referendum has not been without controversy. On June 25th, Pavel Lobkov, a journalist with TV Dozhd (“Rain”) conducted an ‘experiment’ to demonstrate the ability to vote twice in the referendum, having cast his ballot in person, and then a second time through the online portal (Lobkov resides in Moscow). Lobkov’s publication of his experience attracted the attention of the police –who questioned the journalist—and the Central Election Commission nullified Lobkov’s in-person ballot.
(Interfax, Dozhd, Novaya Gazeta, Vedomosti)
2. India Looking to Procure Russian T-14 Armata Tank
India is considering a procurement of up to 1700 next-generation T-14 Armata Main Battle Tanks manufactured by Uralvagonzavod.
The tank –first displayed at the 2015 Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow— is the Russian military industry’s proposed replacement for previous generation (although upgraded) T-72, T-80, and T-90 platforms. The tank includes modernized features including an ‘unmanned’ turret system, 125mm gun, advanced internal armoring, as well as the latest in radar technology.
As with many weapon systems billed as “next generation” in global defense industries, runaway costs and fiscal shortfalls impacted the Russian military’s anticipated procurement of 2,300 T-14s, with only 100 ‘test variants’ having been delivered as of 2020. Serial production and delivery of the T-14 to the Russian Armed Forces is expected to being in 2021.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed deployments of the Armata Tank to Syria in April 2020, and further indicated that preparations are being made to present an export variant of the T-14 main battle tank.
India previously expressed interest in the platform in 2018 as a candidate to replace the country’s aging T-72 main battle tanks.
3. Libyan Government of National Accord Confirms Arrival of Russian Aircraft, Troops, in Sirte.
The Libyan Government of National Accord –the internationally recognized, albeit one of many claimants to central authority in Libya—confirmed that 11 Russian military transport aircraft have entered the country. The Antonov and Ilyushin transport planes arrived in vicinity of Sirte, a city along the country’s Mediterranean coast, carrying both mercenaries and air-defense systems previously deployed to Syria.
The Libyan National Oil Corporation earlier reported that Russian mercenaries gained access to the country’s largest oil fields at Al-sharara.
In response to Russia’s growing involvement in the Libyan Civil War, French President Emmanuel Marcon held a teleconference with his Russian counterpart, agreeing to visit Russia by the end of the Summer to further discuss the developing situation in Northern Africa.
Libya has been in a state of varying degrees of civil conflict since the ousting of Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011. Current fighting is taking place between the Government of National Accord based out of Western Tripoli, and the Russia-backed Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar from the Eastern city of Tobruk.
4. Prisoners’ Rights Nonprofit “Imprisoned Rus’” to Close After Court Battle
The “Imprisoned Rus” (Rus’ Sidyashchaya) prisoners’ rights nonprofit is ceasing operations on June 26th, because of insurmountable expenses following a court battle with a former staff member.
Director Olga Romanova took to Facebook to announce the closure, citing an order by the Nevsky District Court (St. Petersburg) to pay 1.3 million rubles (~19k USD) to Dinar Idrisov, a former employee of the organization.
Romanova terminated Idrisov following reports that the activist demanded cash payments from clients for legal representation on behalf of the nonprofit, which goes against the group’s initiative to provide prisoners and their families with free legal support. Idrisov sued the organization, and his recent victory has left “Imprisoned Rus” with seized bank accounts, and a lack of resources to continue their work.
However, Romanova insists that the “Imprisoned Rus” will do its best to meet its current obligations, and will operate for the time being without a legal entity and accounts.
This is not the first time the organization –which calls for demilitarization of the Russian penitentiary system, and an increase in prisoner rehabilitation programs—has faced troubles. Federal authorities raided the nonprofit’s offices in 2017 over charges of embezzlement, prompting Olga Romanova to move to Berlin.
At the organization’s request, The Russian Minsitry of Justice labeled “Imprisoned Rus” as a Foreing Agent in 2018, due to their partial sponsorship by the European Comission.
(Kommersant, Lenta, Fontanka, Novaya Gazeta)
See Also: A great write-up of the work of Imprisoned Rus’ by Meduza (EN)
5. Russia’s school graduation festivities shift to online format due to COVID-19
For the first time in history, Russian students enjoyed graduation festivities from live-streamed platforms.
Due to the risk of infectious spread of COVID-19, the traditional end-of-term celebrations on June 27th will be replaced by a nationwide “Graduation-2020” event streamed by the Ministry of Enlightenment on the Vkontakte social media platform.
This will include events ranging from performances by individual students, live-streamed concerts, and the President’s traditional congradulatory message.
Similarly, The “White Nights” Festival held annually on the banks of the Neva River in Saint Petersburg will be transferred exclusively to a live television broadcast. This was a far cry from the millions of spectators who annually turn out to see the emblematic white-hulled ship brandishing its shockingly bright red canvas, take its voyage past recent graduates, as a symbol of romantic transition to adulthood, as inspired by the 1922 book by Alexander Grin, Scarlet Sails.