Page 31 - RusRPTNov20

2.15 ​Politics - misc
Russia has been re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) following a four-year absence​, Moscow's mission to the UN in Geneva announced Wednesday. Comprising 47 member states elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term, the HRC is responsible for addressing human rights violations and promoting the human rights agenda across the globe. "We are back and ready for constructive cooperative work," the Russian Mission to the UN in Geneva's announcement said. Russia will fill one of the council's 15 vacant seats starting Jan. 1, 2021, after it received 158 votes of approval from UN member states.
The US State Department expanded its sanctions on Nord Stream 2 on October 20​. The new sanctions are broader in scope, applying to companies that provide services, facilities or funding for “upgrades or installation of equipment” for vessels working on Nord Stream 2. Though these are new provisions, the companies working on Nord Stream 2 have likely already implemented them. Since the sanctions implemented last year, which stopped Allseas S.A. from completing the project, we think there has been a general understanding that any vessel or company working on Nord Stream 2 could be subject to sanctions. We previously understood that the Akademik Cherskiy would work with the Fortuna barge to complete the construction of Nord Stream 2. Mezhregiontruboprovodstro, the leasee of the Fortuna, said it would not participate in the construction of Nord Stream 2 following the announcement of US sanctions, RBC reported on 5 August, leaving the Akademik Cherskiy to finish construction on its own. However, according to Gazeta.ru, the ship is only capable of laying pipe up to 32 inches in diameter, while the size of Nord Stream 2’s pipeline is 48 inches in diameter. We also note that the Akademik Cherskiy’s ownership changed to JSC Samara Thermal Power Foundation, likely in order to protect Gazprom and its affiliates from sanctions. The Akademik Cherskiy is currently located off the coast of Kaliningrad, where it could be testing its ability to lay pipe larger than 32 inches in diameter.
The United States in Ocotber rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the New START nuclear treaty for one year unconditionally​, countering that both nations must cap warheads during the period, ​The Moscow Times​ reported. “President Putin’s response today to extend New START without freezing nuclear warheads is a non-starter,” said Robert O’Brien, the national security advisor. O’Brien said the United States had already proposed a one-year extension to give time to negotiate beyond the treaty’s scheduled expiration in February — with the understanding that the world’s two biggest nuclear powers would freeze warhead work in the interim period. “This would have been a win for both sides, and we believed the Russians were willing to accept this proposal when I met with my counterpart
31 ​RUSSIA Country Report​ November 2020 www.intellinews.com