rferl--2020-01-08--Ukrainian Plane Crashes In Iran, Killing All 176 People Aboard

A Ukrainian commercial airliner crashed on January 8 soon after taking off from Iran 's capital , Tehran , killing all 176 people on board , mostly Iranian nationals , but also Western and Ukrainian citizens .
Debris and smoldering parts from the Boeing 737-800NG belonging to Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) were strewn across a field southwest of the Iranian capital 's Imam Khomeini International Airport as rescue teams with face masks retrieved bodies .
The crash came just hours after Iran launched a ballistic-missile attack targeting two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces in retaliation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qasem Soleimani .
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear .
The 3-year-old aircraft was en route to Kyiv .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement that he had instructed the country 's prosecutor-general to open criminal proceedings over the crash .
Ukraine 's embassy in Tehran initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement .
An embassy official said Iranian authorities had asked it to rescind an earlier statement from Iran based on preliminary information .
Iranian TV said the crash was due to unspecified technical problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aviation official as saying the pilot did not declare an emergency .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko said 82 Iranian citizens were on board , as well as 63 Canadians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Germans , and three Britons .
Ukraine 's Security Council said 11 Ukrainians were also killed in the crash , including nine crew members .
Zelenskiy said the airworthiness of Ukraine 's entire civilian fleet will be tested .
`` My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking off his visit to Oman to return to Kyiv .
In a separate comment on Facebook , Zelenskiy also warned against speculation about the crash .
`` I ask everyone to keep from speculating and putting forth unconfirmed theories about the crash , '' he wrote .
UIA said the plane underwent its last technical maintenance on January 6 .
It also said all flights to Tehran have been suspended indefinitely .
The company said in a statement that most passengers were in transit and due to connect to other flights on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRIB said one of the plane 's two black boxes had been retrieved .
According to UIA ’ s website , the airline ’ s Flight PS752 was scheduled to depart Tehran at 5:15 a.m. local time and fly directly to Kyiv ’ s Boryspil International Airport .
U.S.-based Boeing said the company was aware of media reports of a plane crash in Iran and was gathering more information. Airline manufacturers usually assist in crash investigations , but such an effort could be affected in this case by U.S. sanctions reinstated after President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018 .
Iran 's semiofficial news agency Mehr quoted the head of the country 's civil aviation authority as saying Iran would not give the black box to Boeing .
The Boeing 737-800 is a common single-aisle , twin engine jetliner used for short- to medium-range flights .
Thousands of the planes are used by airlines around the world .
Introduced in the late 1990s , it is an older model than the Boeing 737 MAX , which has been grounded for nearly 10 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 737-800 aircraft have been involved in deadly crashes recently .
A FlyDubai 737-800 from Dubai crashed in 2016 while trying to land at Rostov-on-Don airport in Russia , killing 62 on board .
Another 737-800 flight from Dubai , operated by Air India Express , crashed in 2010 while attempting to land in Mangalore , India , killing more than 150 on board .
With reporting by AP , AFP , Reuters , Fars , and IRNA

A Ukrainian commercial airliner crashed on January 8 soon after taking off from Iran's capital, Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, mostly Iranian nationals, but also Western and Ukrainian citizens.
Debris and smoldering parts from the Boeing 737-800NG belonging to Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) were strewn across a field southwest of the Iranian capital's Imam Khomeini International Airport as rescue teams with face masks retrieved bodies.
The crash came just hours after Iran launched a ballistic-missile attack targeting two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Qasem Soleimani.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The 3-year-old aircraft was en route to Kyiv.
Ukrainian authorities said the victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians including all nine crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons, and three Germans.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement that he had instructed the country's prosecutor-general to open criminal proceedings over the crash.
Ukraine will send a team of experts to Iran later in the day to investigate the circumstances of the crash, the president said on Facebook.
"Our priority is to establish the truth and those responsible for this terrible catastrophe," Zelenskiy wrote.
Iran and Ukraine agreed "to coordinate further actions of our investigation groups closely to determine the cause of the terrible plane crash," according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko.
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will "work closely with its international partners to ensure that this crash is thoroughly investigated, and that Canadians' questions are answered."
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to offer Ukraine "all possible assistance...with any investigation into the cause of the crash."
Ukraine's embassy in Tehran initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement.
An embassy official said Iranian authorities had asked it to rescind an earlier statement from Iran based on preliminary information.
Iranian TV said the crash was due to unspecified technical problems, and Iranian media quoted a local aviation official as saying the pilot did not declare an emergency.
State media reported that the plane caught fire after crashing, but a video aired by the state broadcaster appeared to show the plane already on fire as it fell from the night sky.
Zelenskiy said the airworthiness of Ukraine's entire civilian fleet will be tested.
"My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew," Zelenskiy said, announcing that he was breaking off his visit to Oman to return to Kyiv.
In a separate comment on Facebook, Zelenskiy also warned against speculation about the crash.
"I ask everyone to keep from speculating and putting forth unconfirmed theories about the crash," he wrote.
UIA said the plane underwent its last technical maintenance on January 6. It also said all flights to Tehran have been suspended indefinitely. The company said in a statement that most passengers were in transit and due to connect to other flights on arrival in Ukraine.
The plane's two black boxes had been retrieved and are being investigated by Iranian aviation experts, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.
The public prosecutor's office in Tehran said the remains of all passengers had been brought to forensics experts.
Airline manufacturers usually assist in crash investigations, but such an effort could be affected in this case by U.S. sanctions reinstated after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018.
Iran's semiofficial news agency Mehr quoted the head of the country's civil aviation authority as saying Iran would not give the black boxes to Boeing.
The Boeing 737-800 is a common single-aisle, twin-engine jetliner used for short- to medium-range flights.
Thousands of the planes are used by airlines around the world.
Introduced in the late 1990s, it is an older model than the Boeing 737 MAX, which has been grounded for nearly 10 months following two deadly crashes.
A number of 737-800 aircraft have been involved in deadly crashes recently.
A FlyDubai 737-800 from Dubai crashed in 2016 while trying to land at Rostov-on-Don airport in Russia, killing 62 on board.
Another 737-800 flight from Dubai, operated by Air India Express, crashed in 2010 while attempting to land in Mangalore, India, killing more than 150 on board.
With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, Fars, dpa, and IRNA


rferl--2020-01-08--U.S. Airlines Banned From Flying Over Iraq, Iran After Missile Attack

All U.S.-registered carriers have been indefinitely banned from flying over Iraq , Iran , and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman following rocket attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq on January 8 .
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) issued a notice that prohibits “ U.S .
civil aviation operators from operating in the airspace over Iraq , Iran , and the waters of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman , ” it said in a statement .
`` The FAA will continue closely monitoring events in the Middle East . ''
The statement came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen ballistic missiles from its territory targeting at least two Iraqi military bases housing U.S.-led coalition personnel , the Pentagon said on January 8 .
The FAA said it issued the airspace ban `` due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East , which present an inadvertent risk to U.S. civil aviation operations . ''
“ All is well !
” President Donald Trump tweeted after the missile attacks .
“ Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now .
So far , so good !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ military anywhere in the world , by far !
I will be making a statement tomorrow morning [ January 8 ] .
”

A polytechnic school in Russia’s Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.
The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.
The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.
Since then, RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.
“My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away,” Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. “He said to me on the phone, ‘Come and get me or I’ll die,’ so I picked him up immediately.”
Zhanna, who asked that her underage son’s name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.
The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.
“This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation,” Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. “[Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.”
The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.
Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.
“This was the last straw for me,” Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. “This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.”
RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.
Making Iranian Drones In Russia
The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.
According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.
Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.
After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.
So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.
In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.
WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.
The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.
The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.
Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education
Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.
Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.
In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the country’s military amid the war in Ukraine.
According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a “patriotic” character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.
Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a “patriotic” education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.
In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.
Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.
Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.
Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RL’s request for comment.
The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working “even if it's mom's birthday,” before ending his speech with, “Long live our great country.”
WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.
Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed “patriotic” enough.
According to Protokol and Razvorot’s investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised “world class” salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.
However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.
Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities


rferl--2020-01-08--Erdogan, Putin To Launch TurkStream Pipeline, Talk Regional Crises

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart , Vladimir Putin , are meeting in Istanbul to inaugurate a dual natural-gas line that will open up a new export route for Russian gas into Turkey and Europe .
Erdogan and Putin are also expected to discuss Syria and Libya , where the two countries support opposing sides , while addressing regional tensions in Iraq and Iran , which have escalated after the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander .
TurkStream is five years in the making at a cost of nearly $ 8 billion .
Spanning more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will carry 31.5 billion cubic meters ( bcm ) of Russian gas annually to Turkey ’ s western province , with half of the volume flowing further to the Balkans and Central Europe , including Bulgaria , Serbia , and Hungary .
It ’ s part of Russia ’ s long-term goal to reduce or end gas transit through Ukraine with alternate pipeline projects , such as Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 .
Both connect to Germany underwater but the near-completion of Nord Stream 2 has been delayed due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 200 bcm to Europe last year , has been supplying gas to the Balkans and Turkey overland though Ukraine , Moldova , and Romania .
That gas in the future will be rerouted through TurkStream , consisting of 930 kilometers of pipeline under the Black Sea .
Putin ’ s arrival in Turkey came after a visit to Syria , where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad .
`` The leaders heard military reports on development in various regions of the country , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have inaugurated a dual natural-gas pipeline that will open up a new export route for Russian gas into Turkey and Europe.
Putin joined Erdogan in Istanbul on January 8 for the official opening of the TurkStream pipeline -- a project that is part of Moscow's efforts to reduce shipments via Ukraine. The construction began in May 2017 and cost nearly $8 billion.
The pipeline was a sign of "interaction and cooperation for the benefit of our people and the people of all Europe, the whole world," Putin said at the inauguration ceremony.
Spanning more than 930 kilometers under the Black Sea, it will carry 31.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas annually to Turkey's western province, with half of the volume flowing further to the Balkans and Central Europe, including Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary.
The ceremony in Istanbul was also attended by the leaders of Serbia and Bulgaria.
Russia has already started European gas deliveries through the pipeline, Bulgarian gas operator Bulgartransgaz said on January 5. The pipeline terminal is near the Turkish village of Kiyikoy, some 20 kilometers from the Bulgarian border.
It’s part of Russia's long-term goal of reducing or ending gas transit through Ukraine with alternate pipeline projects, such as Nord Stream 1 and 2.
Both connect to Germany underwater but the near-completion of Nord Stream 2 has been delayed due to U.S. sanctions.
Russia, which exported nearly 200 bcm to Europe last year, has been supplying gas to the Balkans and Turkey overland though Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania.
Putin and Erdogan are also expected to discuss Syria and Libya, where the two countries support opposing sides, while addressing regional tensions in Iraq and Iran, which have escalated after the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander.
Putin came to Turkey straight from Syria, where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"The leaders heard military reports on development in various regions of the country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, TASS, and Interfax


rferl--2020-01-08--Iran Launches Missile Strikes At U.S. Troops In Iraq, Casualties Unclear

Iran has carried out a ballistic-missile attack against U.S. forces stationed in Iraq in retaliation for the killing last week of a prominent Iranian military commander .
Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq early on January 8 .
The U.S. military said at least two Iraqi facilities hosting U.S.-led coalition personnel were targeted in the overnight attack .
It is unclear if there have been any casualties .
Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) claimed responsibility for the attacks , Iranian state television and state news agencies reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in retaliation for the killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani , who died in a U.S. air strike last week in Baghdad .
The attack on the Ain Assad base , which hosts U.S. troops , was `` a total success by all accounts , '' the IRGC said .
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted shortly after the missile attacks : `` All is well ! ''
adding , `` So far , so good '' regarding casualties .
“ We are aware of the reports of attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a media pool report .
“ The president [ Donald Trump ] has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national-security team.
” Iranian state television claimed , without offering evidence , that the strikes killed “ at least 80 terrorist U.S soldiers ” and also damaged helicopters , drones , and other equipment at the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar Province and the Harir air base in Irbil .
The Iraqi military said 22 missiles were fired .
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a response to the U.S. killing of Soleimani was either imminent or under way , Abdul-Mahdi 's spokesman said in a statement .
Tehran told Abdul-Mahdi it would only target locations where U.S. forces were present but did not specify the locations , his spokesman said .
The Iraqi prime minister simultaneously received a call from the United States while missiles were falling on the Ain al-Assad and Harir air bases , the spokesman said .
Iran 's supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , said in a televised speech that the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' delivered to the United States .
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami told state television that should Washington retaliate , Iran would respond with `` proportional '' force .
`` We used short-range missiles ... .
I hope this will be a memorable lesson for America , '' Hatami said .
`` Iran 's response [ to any U.S. retaliation ] will be proportional to what America will do , '' he said , adding that Trump `` has turned the [ U.S. ] administration into a terrorist government . ''
Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air France and Germany 's Lufthansa , said on January 8 that they were rerouting flights to avoid airspace over Iraq and Iran , while the Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. carriers from the area .
The multiple attacks came hours after Soleimani was buried in his hometown on January 7 .
Iran ’ s military leaders and pro-Iranian factions in Iraq had vowed to avenge his death .
A day earlier in Washington , U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters that he anticipated Iran would retaliate for the death of Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or form . ''
`` We 're prepared for any contingency .
And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do , '' he warned .
Professor Stephen David of Johns Hopkins University told Voice of America that while Iran 's retaliation was n't unexpected , it was surprising that Tehran chose to launch the attack from its own territory and use ballistic missiles -- a weapon substantially more powerful than a rocket .
`` I think it was surprising that the attack was from Iran .
It was not at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was clear what the source of the attack was ; the fact they use ballistic missiles also was a bit of a surprise , something of an escalation . ''
With reporting by AP , TASS , Reuters , Al Jazeera , dpa , and AFP

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U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran "appears to be standing down" after the country carried out a ballistic-missile attack on air bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq, while his defense chief gave a fuller description of the scale of the attack.
In an address to the nation on January 8, Trump said that "no American or Iraqi lives were lost" in the strikes, "no Americans were harmed," and that the bases suffered "only minimal damage."
Iran says the attack on the Ain al-Asad Air Base and the Harir Air Base was in retaliation for the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Qasem Soleimani.
The Quds Force commander died in a U.S. air strike in Baghdad last week, triggering a major escalation in already deteriorating relations between Tehran and Washington.
World leaders condemned Iran's attack and urged an end to the escalating confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
The attack came hours after the 62-year-old Soleimani, who helped orchestrate Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations, was buried in his hometown on January 7.
It was described as the most direct assault by Iran on the United States since the seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
U.S. Defense Chief Mark Esper said that Iran launched at least 16 short-range ballistic missiles from at least three locations.
He added that the U.S. military remains "poised and ready" should further attacks occur and said that its forces have restored the necessary "level of deterrence" against Iran.
Just before midnight in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, two rockets fell inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, causing no casualties, the Iraqi military said. The U.S. and other embassies are based in the area, as well as the seat of Iraq's government.
Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq have vowed to avenge Soleimani's death.
Meanwhile, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the chamber would move forward with a resolution to "limit the president's military actions regarding Iran."
The resolution "will go to the Rules Committee this evening and will be brought to the floor tomorrow," Pelosi said in a statement, after concerns about the administration's strategy and decisions were not addressed in a briefing with lawmakers.
Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target U.S. personnel and bases.
But in his January 8 address, the president said, "The fact that we have this great military and equipment...does not mean we have to use it."
"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned," he added.
Washington would impose new financial and economic sanctions on Iran, Trump said, adding that they would remain until the country "changed its behavior."
Iran "must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism," he said.
"The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer. It will not be allowed to go forward," he continued.
Trump also said the United States was "ready to embrace peace with all who seek it."
Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq early on January 8.
AP quoted two U.S. officials as saying 10 of the missiles hit the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq's western province of Anbar and one targeted the Harir Air Base in Irbil in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region.
Four failed, according to the officials.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attack was "a slap in the face" delivered to the United States and called for an end to the U.S. presence in the Middle East.
And President Hassan Rohani said that Washington might have "cut off the arm" of Soleimani but America's "leg" in the region would be cut off in response.
The IRGC said the attack was "a total success by all accounts."
Iranian state television claimed, without offering evidence, that the strikes killed "at least 80 terrorist U.S soldiers" and also damaged helicopters, drones, and other equipment.
Iraq's military said there were "no victims among the Iraqi forces."
And a NATO official said that there were no casualties among the personnel on the alliance's training mission in Iraq.
In a statement, the country's presidency condemned the Iranian strikes, reiterating its rejection of breaches of Iraq's sovereignty.
President Barham Salih's office also said that Iraq "has previously declared its refusal to be a starting point for aggression against any country, and also refuses to be a source of threat to any of its neighbors."
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi received a verbal message from Iran telling him a response to the U.S. killing of Soleimani was either imminent or under way, Mahdi's spokesman earlier said in a statement.
Tehran told Abdul-Mahdi it would only target locations where U.S. forces were present but did not specify the locations, his spokesman said.
The Iraqi prime minister simultaneously received a call from the United States while missiles were falling on the Ain al-Asad and Harir air bases, the spokesman said.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Tehran to "refrain from further violence."
Later in the day, NATO said Stoltenberg had a phone call with Trump, who asked the secretary-general for the military alliance to "become more involved in the Middle East."
The two agreed that NATO "could contribute more to regional stability and the fight against international terrorism," a statement said.
Besides Iraq, NATO conducts training missions in Afghanistan. It is also a member of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned Iran's "reckless and dangerous" missile attacks and called for "urgent de-escalation" by Tehran and Washington.
France said that "the priority is more than ever for a de-escalation," while Germany called on Iran to end a "spiral" of conflict.
EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said, "It is in no one's interest to turn up the spiral of violence even further."
Following their meeting in Istanbul, the leaders of Russia and Turkey issued a joint statement saying that the "exchange of attacks and use of force by any party do not contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems in the Middle East."
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on all parties to "act with restraint as well as common sense and to prioritize diplomacy."
Separately, Erdogan said Turkey did not want the region to be "a stage for proxy wars."
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is to visit Iraq on January 9 as part of diplomatic efforts to "alleviate the escalated tension" in the region, his ministry said.
In a Twitter post, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also stressed the need to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and said he was sending his foreign minister to Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United States to meet with counterparts.
The UN mission in Iraq said the country "should not pay the price for external rivalries."
Meanwhile, the Syrian government expressed solidarity with Iran, saying Tehran had the right to defend itself "in the face of American threats and attacks."
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami told state television that should Washington retaliate, Iran would respond with "proportional" force.
"We used short-range missiles.... I hope this will be a memorable lesson for America," Hatami said.
"Iran's response [to any U.S. retaliation] will be proportional to what America will do," he said, adding that Trump "has turned the [U.S.] administration into a terrorist government."
Several major airlines, including Air France and Germany's Lufthansa, announced they were rerouting flights to avoid airspace over Iraq and Iran, while the Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. carriers from the area.
Iran's military leaders and pro-Iranian factions in Iraq had vowed to avenge his death.
Professor Stephen David of Johns Hopkins University told Voice of America that while Iran's retaliation wasn't unexpected, it was surprising that Tehran chose to launch the attack from its own territory and use ballistic missiles -- a weapon substantially more powerful than a rocket.
"I think it was surprising that the attack was from Iran. It was not at all deniable," David said. "It was clear what the source of the attack was; the fact they use ballistic missiles also was a bit of a surprise, something of an escalation."
With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and dpa


rferl--2020-01-07--Ukraine Was Sixth-Biggest Climber In Visa-Free Travel Gains Over Past Decade

The travel freedom of Ukrainian passport holders has doubled since 2010 , making Ukraine the world ’ s sixth-biggest climber @ @ @ @ @ past decade .
Ukrainians currently enjoy visa-free travel to 128 countries , placing their country @ @ @ @ @ in the latest edition of the yearly Henley Passport Index that was published on January @ @ @ @ @ in improved international access was a far-reaching political and economic pact with the European Union @ @ @ @ @ of 2014 .
Protests in Kyiv started in November 2013 when former President Viktor Yanukovych @ @ @ @ @ the EU in favor of warmer relations with Moscow .
Aside from the three EU @ @ @ @ @ , Lithuania , and Latvia , Ukraine leads the other former Soviet republics in terms @ @ @ @ @ Eight spots behind in 51st place is Russia , while Georgia occupies the 53rd spot @ @ @ @ @ passport power is published in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) @ @ @ @ @ 2006 .

The travel freedom of Ukrainian passport holders has doubled since 2010, making Ukraine the world’s sixth-biggest climber in the category over the past decade.
Ukrainians currently enjoy visa-free travel to 128 countries, placing their country 43rd among 199 countries featured in the latest edition of the yearly Henley Passport Index that was published on January 7.
Driving the rise in improved international access was a far-reaching political and economic pact with the European Union following the pro-democracy Maidan uprising of 2014.
Protests in Kyiv started in November 2013 when former President Viktor Yanukovych rejected an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of warmer relations with Moscow.
Aside from the three EU member Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, Ukraine leads the other former Soviet republics in terms of visa-free travel privileges.
Eight spots behind in 51st place is Russia, while Georgia occupies the 53rd spot.
The index of so-called passport power is published in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and was first released in 2006.


rferl--2020-01-07--Kosovar President's '48-Hour' Ultimatum Underscores Postelection Obstacles

PRISTINA -- Kosovo 's presumed next prime minister has pushed back against a presidential deadline to force his leftist party to end a three-month postelection stalemate within `` 48 hours '' by nominating someone to head the next government .
Self-Determination ( Vetevendosje ) party leader Albin Kurti told RFE/RL on January 7 that President Hashim Thaci `` did n't mention any deadlines '' during a `` short consultative meeting that can not have legal effects . ''
The meeting `` lasted less than six minutes , '' Kurti added .
Kurti 's upstart party emerged with a plurality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset entrenched allies of Thaci , a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander , but still won just 29 seats in the 120-seat legislature .
Coalition talks with the second-placed finisher , the center-right opposition Democratic League ( LDK ) with 28 seats , reportedly stalled over government posts and a unified choice to defeat Thaci 's likely reelection bid in 2021 .
The failure to form a government and Thaci 's warning of a `` constitutional crisis '' highlight the political stakes in Europe 's newest state since voters signaled a possible end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the ranks of former independence fighters .
Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 states since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 , but continues to face diplomatic and institutional hurdles stemming from nonrecognition by Serbia , Russia , and a handful of European states .
Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with Serbia were derailed in 2018 by Pristina 's imposition of 100-percent tariffs on Serbian goods in response to Belgrade 's continued lobbying for countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo .
International hopes on restarting those talks -- potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearing other obstacles -- appear pinned on the next Kosovar government .
Thaci said in November that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on normalizing ties should continue `` without any conditionality . ''
After his January 6 meeting with Kurti , Thaci said via social media : `` I hope Mr. Kurti within 48 hours may be able to nominate a candidate for PM , since the people , the parliament , our allies are expecting him to do so . ''
`` He may seek further delay , but to great disappointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely unnecessary constitutional crisis , '' he added .
Kosovo 's constitution sets no specific time limit on proposing a prime ministerial candidate to parliament after elections , but says the president makes the proposal `` in consultation '' with the party or coalition that won a majority .
Thaci did not say what steps he was considering if no candidate was submitted within two days .
An official in Thaci 's office who requested anonymity told RFE/RL on January 7 that `` everyone acknowledges the urgency of forming the new government '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a political request . ''
Meanwhile , Self-Determination officials met to decide on a candidate for prime minister but adjourned saying they would try again the next day .
Kurti has described himself as `` a future prime minister , '' and many expect him to emerge in that post atop a coalition with the Democratic League or a minority government with initial Democratic League support .
But reports suggested that the election of a Self-Determination lawmaker as speaker when the new parliament convened on December 26 threatened the coalition talks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative of the country 's ethnic Serb minority , according to the constitution .
Thaci had invited Kurti on multiple occasions to meet to agree on a prime ministerial candidate and pave the way for a new government prior to their short face-to-face on January 6 .
Kurti released a video ahead of that meeting calling on the Democratic League to send the names of prospective cabinet members , saying , `` There is no more time to waste -- the time that is passing is not private and individual but state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by saying it was ready for talks with Self-Determination `` on the basis of trust and partnership . ''
Kosovo has Europe 's youngest population at an average age of 29 , and economic growth has averaged 4 percent over the past decade .
But it remains poor with high unemployment and an exodus of more than 200,000 people since it declared its independence .
Kosovars long complained of corruption and inefficiencies during more than a decade under governments led by the Democratic Party of Kosovo ( PDK ) , which placed third @ @ @ @ @

PRISTINA -- Kosovo's presumed next prime minister has pushed back against a presidential deadline to force his leftist party to end a three-month postelection stalemate within "48 hours" by nominating someone to head the next government.
Self-Determination (Vetevendosje) party leader Albin Kurti told RFE/RL on January 7 that President Hashim Thaci "didn't mention any deadlines" during a "short consultative meeting that cannot have legal effects."
The meeting "lasted less than six minutes," Kurti added.
Kurti's upstart party emerged with a plurality of 26 percent in the October election that upset entrenched allies of Thaci, a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, but still won just 29 seats in the 120-seat legislature.
Coalition talks with the second-placed finisher, the center-right opposition Democratic League (LDK) with 28 seats, reportedly stalled over government posts and a unified choice to defeat Thaci's likely reelection bid in 2021.
The failure to form a government and Thaci's warning of a "constitutional crisis" highlight the political stakes in Europe's newest state since voters signaled a possible end to more than a decade of leadership from the ranks of former independence fighters.
Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 states since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, but continues to face diplomatic and institutional hurdles stemming from nonrecognition by Serbia, Russia, and a handful of European states.
Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with Serbia were derailed in 2018 by Pristina's imposition of 100-percent tariffs on Serbian goods in response to Belgrade's continued lobbying for countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo.
International hopes on restarting those talks -- potentially leading to UN recognition for Kosovo and clearing other obstacles -- appear pinned on the next Kosovar government.
Thaci said in November that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on normalizing ties should continue "without any conditionality."
After his January 6 meeting with Kurti, Thaci said via social media: "I hope Mr. Kurti within 48 hours may be able to nominate a candidate for PM, since the people, the parliament, our allies are expecting him to do so."
"He may seek further delay, but to great disappointment of people of Kosovo & risk of completely unnecessary constitutional crisis," he added.


rferl--2020-01-07--Pakistani Military Jet Crashes, Two Pilots Killed

A Pakistani jet crashed during training on January 7 in the eastern Punjab Province , killing the two pilots , the military said .
The FT-7 jet trainer went down in an open area and caused no damage on the ground , the air force said in a statement .
It said a probe had been opened to determine the cause of the crash , which occurred close to the district of Mianwali , 300 kilometers from Lahore .
Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes , which are relatively common .
In October , a trainer aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gujranwala district .
Both pilots aboard the plane survived .
In July , 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi .
Pakistan 's air force has been on high alert since February , when Indian jets struck targets inside Pakistan .
The strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir .
At the time , Pakistan retaliated and shot down two Indian Air Force planes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
But tensions have continued to remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors .
Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over the Kashmir region , claimed by both sides since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 .
With reporting by AP and dawn.com

A Pakistani jet crashed during training on January 7 in the eastern Punjab Province, killing the two pilots, the military said.
The FT-7 jet trainer went down in an open area and caused no damage on the ground, the air force said in a statement.
It said a probe had been opened to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred close to the district of Mianwali, 300 kilometers from Lahore.
Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes, which are relatively common.
In October, a trainer aircraft crash-landed in a field near Wazirabad in Gujranwala district. Both pilots aboard the plane survived.
In July, 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Pakistan's air force has been on high alert since February, when Indian jets struck targets inside Pakistan.
The strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.
At the time, Pakistan retaliated and shot down two Indian Air Force planes. One Indian pilot was captured and later released. But tensions have continued to remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over the Kashmir region, claimed by both sides since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
With reporting by AP and dawn.com


rferl--2020-01-08--Belgrade Protesters Rally Against Montenegro's New Religion Law

BELGRADE -- Thousands of people have rallied through Serbia 's capital to protest against the alleged suppression of religious and other rights of Serbian minorities in neighboring countries .
The January 8 march to Belgrade 's St. Sava Church was led by Serbian Orthodox priests and was attended by right-wing groups , soccer fans , and others .
It was the third time protesters have taken to the streets in Belgrade against a controversial new law on religion that was adopted by Montenegro 's parliament last month .
Under the law , which took effect on January 8 , religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1918 .
That 's the year when predominantly Orthodox Christian Montenegro joined the Kingdom of Serbs , Croats , and Slovenes -- and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church was subsumed by the Serbian Orthodox Church , losing all of its property in the process .
The Serbian Orthodox Church , its supporters , and pro-Serbian opposition parties fear the law will enable the Montenegrin government to impound church property , though officials deny they intend to .
Serbia and Montenegro were part of a federation until 2006 , when Montenegro declared its independence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aspires to join the European Union .
With reporting by AP and Balkan Insight

BELGRADE -- Thousands of people have rallied through Serbia's capital to protest against the alleged suppression of religious and other rights of Serbian minorities in neighboring countries.
The January 8 march to Belgrade's St. Sava Church was led by Serbian Orthodox priests and was attended by right-wing groups, soccer fans, and others.
It was the third time protesters have taken to the streets in Belgrade against a controversial new law on religion that was adopted by Montenegro's parliament last month.
Under the law, which took effect on January 8, religious communities must prove property ownership from before 1918.
That's the year when predominantly Orthodox Christian Montenegro joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes -- and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church was subsumed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, losing all of its property in the process.
The Serbian Orthodox Church, its supporters, and pro-Serbian opposition parties fear the law will enable the Montenegrin government to impound church property, though officials deny they intend to.
Serbia and Montenegro were part of a federation until 2006, when Montenegro declared its independence.
Montenegro is the newest member of NATO and aspires to join the European Union.
With reporting by AP and Balkan Insight


rferl--2020-01-08--Russia, Turkey Call For Cease-Fire In Libya From January 12

The Russian and Turkish presidents have called for a cease-fire in the conflict in Libya where Moscow and Ankara are backing opposing sides .
After meeting in Istanbul on January 8 , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying they supported `` the necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground '' in the North African country .
The proposed truce would start from midnight on January 12 , according to the statement .
The move comes amid an offensive by rebel forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar to capture Libya 's capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of National Accord ( GNA ) is based .
Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 .
The country has two rival administrations , the UN-backed one in Tripoli and Haftar 's in the city of Tobruk .
The GNA is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar .
Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates , and others , including what is believed to be a force of Russian private military contractors .
`` The worsening situation in Libya is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's wider neighborhood , the entire Mediterranean region , as well as the African continent , triggering irregular migration , further spread of weapons , terrorism and other criminal activities including illicit trafficking , '' Putin and Erdogan said in their joint statement .
The Turkish president announced last week he had dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA .
Based on reporting by AFP and TASS

The Russian and Turkish presidents have called for a cease-fire in the conflict in Libya where Moscow and Ankara are backing opposing sides.
After meeting in Istanbul on January 8, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying they supported "the necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground" in the North African country.
The proposed truce would start from midnight on January 12, according to the statement.
The move comes amid an offensive by rebel forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar to capture Libya's capital, Tripoli, where the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) is based.
Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.
The country has two rival administrations, the UN-backed one in Tripoli and Haftar's in the city of Tobruk.
The GNA is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar.
Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates, and others, including what is believed to be a force of Russian private military contractors.
"The worsening situation in Libya is undermining the security and stability of Libya's wider neighborhood, the entire Mediterranean region, as well as the African continent, triggering irregular migration, further spread of weapons, terrorism and other criminal activities including illicit trafficking," Putin and Erdogan said in their joint statement.
The Turkish president announced last week he had dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA.
Based on reporting by AFP and TASS


rferl--2020-01-08--EU, Belarus Ink Visa Deals To Improve Mobility Of Citizens

BRUSSELS -- The European Union and Belarus have signed two agreements that will make it easier and cheaper for Belarusian citizens to enter most EU countries .
The visa-facilitation agreement and the readmission agreement inked in Brussels on January 8 represent `` an important step in EU-Belarus relations and pave the way for improved mobility of citizens , '' the European Council said in a statement .
Once the deals enter into force , the visa fee will be reduced to 35 euros ( $ 39 ) and the deadline for consulates to make a decision on a visa application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several categories of travelers such as journalists and students will also be able to get multiple-entry visas with longer validity .
Belarusians currently have to pay 60 euros ( $ 67 ) for a visa .
That price will be increased to 80 ( $ 89 ) euros in February , when the new EU visa code enters into force .
The two agreements are now heading to the European Parliament for consent , before the council , consisting of all EU member states , can formally conclude the ratification .
Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deals , which are expected to enter into force in June 2020 .
Visa facilitation is the first step before potentially granting the complete visa liberalization currently enjoyed by the citizens of Georgia , Moldova , and Ukraine .
It applies to all EU countries apart from Britain and Ireland , as well as non-EU states Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway , and Switzerland .

BRUSSELS -- The European Union and Belarus have signed two agreements that will make it easier and cheaper for Belarusian citizens to enter most EU countries.
The visa-facilitation agreement and the readmission agreement inked in Brussels on January 8 represent "an important step in EU-Belarus relations and pave the way for improved mobility of citizens," the European Council said in a statement.
Once the deals enter into force, the visa fee will be reduced to 35 euros ($39) and the deadline for consulates to make a decision on a visa application will be shortened, the statement said.
Several categories of travelers such as journalists and students will also be able to get multiple-entry visas with longer validity.
Belarusians currently have to pay 60 euros ($67) for a visa. That price will be increased to 80 ($89) euros in February, when the new EU visa code enters into force.
The two agreements are now heading to the European Parliament for consent, before the council, consisting of all EU member states, can formally conclude the ratification.
Belarus's National Assembly also has to ratify the deals, which are expected to enter into force in June 2020.
Visa facilitation is the first step before potentially granting the complete visa liberalization currently enjoyed by the citizens of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
It applies to all EU countries apart from Britain and Ireland, as well as non-EU states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.


rferl--2020-01-08--Two Afghan Pilots Killed In Military Helicopter Crash

KABUL -- Two Afghan Air Force pilots have been killed after their helicopter crashed in the western province of Farah @ @ @ @ @ .
The helicopter and its crew were delivering supplies to Afghan security forces when it @ @ @ @ @ due to a technical fault , the ministry said in a statement .
In a @ @ @ @ @ Ministry said a helicopter made an emergency landing in the eastern province of Paktia , @ @ @ @ @ a technical fault .
The ministry said nobody was hurt in the incident , but @ @ @ @ @ local police spokesman as saying that 10 people , including himself , were injured .

The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.
But Afghanistan’s hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.
Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.
Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.
Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tribal Influences
Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.
"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.
“Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes,” said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. “These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs.”
Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.
“Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance,” he said. “This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption.”
In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocates accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.
Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.
Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.
Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.
“The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Shari’a law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam,” said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.
He said that contrary to Taliban practices, “Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education.”
Historical Conflict
But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.
John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from India’s Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.
“The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda,” he said.
In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.
This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting women’s education and empowerment.
“This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education,” Butt said.
'Deep Ideological Conviction'
Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.
But he says the effort failed because “the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction” for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.
“They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population,” he said.
He argues that the ban on girls’ schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.
Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.
“This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of,” he said.
Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.
“I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims,” he says. “It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country.”
Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.
Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.
“If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests,” he wrote.


rferl--2020-01-08--Senior U.S. Diplomat Stresses Washington's Commitment To Cooperation With Central Asia

DUSHANBE -- A senior U.S. diplomat has urged Central Asian nations to deepen their cooperation to boost economic opportunities and strengthen security in the region .
Alice Wells , principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. State Department , told RFE/RL in a January 7 interview that Washington remains committed to working with Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , and Uzbekistan through the so-called C5+1 format .
`` I think there is a tremendous potential for C5 cooperation both within Central Asian countries but also with the United States and with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that `` more opportunities '' for such cooperation came after Shavkat Mirziyoev took over the region 's most populous country , Uzbekistan , in 2016 following the death of Islam Karimov , whose 25-year rule was mainly isolationist .
`` And we were actively seeking to take advantage of the opportunities to open borders and to [ engage with ] one another , '' Wells said , adding that `` there are also common counterterrorism concerns , particularly as countries of Central Asia are courageously taking up the challenge of bringing back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the two-day visit to the Tajik capital , Dushanbe , and more than a month after a State Department official said the United States had “ intensified ” its bilateral diplomatic engagements with the five Central Asian nations .
The increase in U.S. diplomatic contacts comes as China ’ s economic and political influence in Central Asia grows and it seeks to strong arm those nations to return asylum seekers from China 's northwestern region of Xinjiang , a major concern for the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington seeks to exit its 18-year war in Afghanistan , which also borders Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , and Xinjiang .
The post-Soviet countries of Central Asia , with mainly Muslim populations , have been implementing state programs to bring home citizens who had joined the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq .
`` We are committed to the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan .
We are committed to Afghanistan never be used as a platform for terrorism , whether it is against Tajikistan , against the United States , against our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Washington will continue to assist Tajikistan , which borders Afghanistan , with security-related matters .
According to the Tajik Foreign Ministry , the sides also discussed bilateral ties , security in Afghanistan and the region , and `` focused on the issue of the further strengthening of the guarding of the Tajik-Afghan border ... as well as terrorism , extremism , radicalism , and illegal drug trafficking . ''

DUSHANBE -- A senior U.S. diplomat has urged Central Asian nations to deepen their cooperation to boost economic opportunities and strengthen security in the region.
Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. State Department, told RFE/RL in a January 7 interview that Washington remains committed to working with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan through the so-called C5+1 format.
"I think there is a tremendous potential for C5 cooperation both within Central Asian countries but also with the United States and with the neighborhood," Wells said.
Wells noted that "more opportunities" for such cooperation came after Shavkat Mirziyoev took over the region's most populous country, Uzbekistan, in 2016 following the death of Islam Karimov, whose 25-year rule was mainly isolationist.
"And we were actively seeking to take advantage of the opportunities to open borders and to [engage with] one another," Wells said, adding that "there are also common counterterrorism concerns, particularly as countries of Central Asia are courageously taking up the challenge of bringing back foreign terrorist fighters."
Answering a question regarding Tajik Foreign Ministry's ongoing reluctance to grant full accreditation to correspondents from RFE/RL's Tajik Service in Dushanbe, locally known as Radio Ozodi, Wells said "we strongly believe that Radio Liberty [RFE/RL] reporters should receive accreditation...in a timely manner."
"We believe the role of independent media is critical in the development of any country... and particularly as Tajikistan goes into an election cycle with parliamentary and presidential elections [in 2020], having an active and open debates is particularly important," she added.
The Tajik Foreign Ministry on October 31 failed to fully grant the accreditation requests of 18 RFE/RL journalists and staff members whose credentials have been withheld by the ministry or were set to expire on November 1.
The ministry granted partial accreditation to seven journalists -- six for six months each and one for three months -- while continuing to withhold it from 11 others.
At a press conference with journalists prior to her interview with RFE/RL, Wells said that the issue of press freedom was among the issues she discussed with top Tajik officials.
"In my meetings today, I emphasized the importance of an independent media, including full accreditation for Radio Ozodi employees. It’s important that the Tajik people have access to independent media outlets such as Asia-Plus, Akhbor, and Radio Ozodi," Wells said.
Wells spoke at the end of the two-day visit to the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, and more than a month after a State Department official said the United States had "intensified" its bilateral diplomatic engagements with the five Central Asian nations.
The increase in U.S. diplomatic contacts comes as China’s economic and political influence in Central Asia grows and it seeks to strong arm those nations to return asylum seekers from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, a major concern for the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The greater interest also comes as Washington seeks to exit its 18-year war in Afghanistan, which also borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang.
The post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, with mainly Muslim populations, have been implementing state programs to bring home citizens who had joined the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq.
"We are committed to the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. We are committed to Afghanistan never be used as a platform for terrorism, whether it is against Tajikistan, against the United States, against our partners," Wells said, stressing that Washington will continue to assist Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan, with security-related matters.
According to the Tajik Foreign Ministry, the sides also discussed bilateral ties, security in Afghanistan and the region, and "focused on the issue of the further strengthening of the guarding of the Tajik-Afghan border...as well as terrorism, extremism, radicalism, and illegal drug trafficking."


rferl--2020-01-08--Erdogan, Putin Launch TurkStream Pipeline, Talk Regional Crises

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart , Vladimir Putin , have inaugurated a dual natural-gas pipeline that will open up a new export route for Russian gas into Turkey and Europe .
Putin joined Erdogan in Istanbul on January 8 for the official opening of the TurkStream pipeline -- a project that is part of Moscow 's efforts to reduce shipments via Ukraine .
The construction began in May 2017 and cost nearly $ 8 billion .
The pipeline was a sign of `` interaction and cooperation for the benefit of our people and the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Putin said at the inauguration ceremony .
Spanning more than 930 kilometers under the Black Sea , it will carry 31.5 billion cubic meters ( bcm ) of Russian gas annually to Turkey 's western province , with half of the volume flowing further to the Balkans and Central Europe , including Bulgaria , Serbia , and Hungary .
The ceremony in Istanbul was also attended by the leaders of Serbia and Bulgaria .
Russia has already started European gas deliveries through the pipeline , Bulgarian gas operator Bulgartransgaz said on January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Turkish village of Kiyikoy , some 20 kilometers from the Bulgarian border .
It ’ s part of Russia 's long-term goal of reducing or ending gas transit through Ukraine with alternate pipeline projects , such as Nord Stream 1 and 2 .
Both connect to Germany underwater but the near-completion of Nord Stream 2 has been delayed due to U.S. sanctions .
Russia , which exported nearly 200 bcm to Europe last year , has been supplying gas to the Balkans and Turkey overland though Ukraine , Moldova , and Romania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss Syria and Libya , where the two countries support opposing sides , while addressing regional tensions in Iraq and Iran , which have escalated after the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander .
Putin came to Turkey straight from Syria , where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad .
`` The leaders heard military reports on development in various regions of the country , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
With reporting by Reuters , AP , AFP , dpa , TASS , and Interfax


rferl--2020-01-08--Trump Says Iran Appears To Be 'Standing Down' After Missile Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran `` appears to be standing down '' after the country carried out a ballistic-missile attack on air bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq , while his defense chief gave a fuller description of the scale of the attack .
In an address to the nation on January 8 , Trump said that `` no American or Iraqi lives were lost '' in the strikes , `` no Americans were harmed , '' and that the bases suffered `` only minimal damage . ''
Iran says the attack on the Ain al-Asad Air Base and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) Major General Qasem Soleimani .
The Quds Force commander died in a U.S. air strike in Baghdad last week , triggering a major escalation in already deteriorating relations between Tehran and Washington .
World leaders condemned Iran 's attack and urged an end to the escalating confrontation between Tehran and Washington .
The attack came hours after the 62-year-old Soleimani , who helped orchestrate Tehran 's overseas clandestine and military operations , was buried in his hometown on January 7 .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Iran on the United States since the seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 .
U.S. Defense Chief Mark Esper said that Iran launched at least 16 short-range ballistic missiles from at least three locations .
He added that U.S. military remains “ poised and ready ” should further attacks occur and said that its forces have restored the necessary “ level of deterrence ” on Iran .
Just before midnight in Iraq 's capital , Baghdad , two rockets fell inside the heavily fortified Green Zone , causing no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. and other embassies are based in the area , as well as the seat of Iraq 's government .
Pro-Iranian factions in the country have vowed to avenge Soleimani 's death .
Meanwhile , U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the chamber would move forward with a resolution to `` limit the president 's military actions regarding Iran . ''
The resolution `` will go to the Rules Committee this evening and will be brought to the floor tomorrow , '' Pelosi said in a statement , after concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not addressed in a briefing with lawmakers .
Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target U.S. personnel and bases .
But in his January 8 address , the president said , `` The fact that we have this great military and equipment ... does not mean we have to use it . ''
`` Iran appears to be standing down , which is a good thing for all parties concerned , '' he added .
Washington would impose new financial and economic sanctions on Iran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain until the country `` changed its behavior . ''
Iran `` must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism , '' he said .
`` The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime : Your campaign of terror , murder , mayhem will not be tolerated any longer .
It will not be allowed to go forward , '' he continued .
Trump also said the United States was `` ready to embrace peace with all who seek it . ''
Iranian state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at U.S. targets in Iraq early on January 8 .
AP quoted two U.S. officials as saying 10 of the missiles hit the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq 's western province of Anbar and one targeted the Harir Air Base in Irbil in Iraq 's semiautonomous Kurdish region .
Four failed , according to the officials .
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attack was `` a slap in the face '' delivered to the United States and called for an end to the U.S. presence in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington might have `` cut off the arm '' of Soleimani but America 's `` leg '' in the region would be cut off in response .
The IRGC said the attack was `` a total success by all accounts . ''
Iranian state television claimed , without offering evidence , that the strikes killed `` at least 80 terrorist U.S soldiers '' and also damaged helicopters , drones , and other equipment .
Iraq 's military said there were `` no victims among the Iraqi forces . ''
And a NATO official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the personnel on the alliance 's training mission in Iraq .
In a statement , the country 's presidency condemned the Iranian strikes , reiterating its rejection of breaches of Iraq 's sovereignty .
President Barham Salih 's office also said that Iraq `` has previously declared its refusal to be a starting point for aggression against any country , and also refuses to be a source of threat to any of its neighbors . ''
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi received a verbal message from Iran telling him a response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or under way , Mahdi 's spokesman earlier said in a statement .
Tehran told Abdul-Mahdi it would only target locations where U.S. forces were present but did not specify the locations , his spokesman said .
The Iraqi prime minister simultaneously received a call from the United States while missiles were falling on the Ain al-Asad and Harir air bases , the spokesman said .
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Tehran to `` refrain from further violence . ''
Later in the day , NATO said Stoltenberg had a phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the military alliance to `` become more involved in the Middle East . ''
The two agreed that NATO `` could contribute more to regional stability and the fight against international terrorism , '' a statement said .
Besides Iraq , NATO conducts training missions in Afghanistan .
It is also a member of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned Iran 's `` reckless and dangerous '' missile attacks and called for `` urgent de-escalation '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the priority is more than ever for a de-escalation , '' while Germany called on Iran to end a `` spiral '' of conflict .
EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said , `` It is in no one 's interest to turn up the spiral of violence even further . ''
Following their meeting in Istanbul , the leaders of Russia and Turkey issued a joint statement saying that the `` exchange of attacks and use of force by any party do not contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart , Recep Tayyip Erdogan , called on all parties to `` act with restraint as well as common sense and to prioritize diplomacy . ''
Separately , Erdogan said Turkey did not want the region to be `` a stage for proxy wars . ''
Turkey 's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is to visit Iraq on January 9 as part of diplomatic efforts to `` alleviate the escalated tension '' in the region , his ministry said .
In a Twitter post , Pakistani Prime Minister Imran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and said he was sending his foreign minister to Iran , Saudi Arabia , and United States to meet with counterparts .
The UN mission in Iraq said the country `` should not pay the price for external rivalries . ''
Meanwhile , the Syrian government expressed solidarity with Iran , saying Tehran had the right to defend itself `` in the face of American threats and attacks . ''
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami told state television that should Washington retaliate , Iran would respond with `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-range missiles ... .
I hope this will be a memorable lesson for America , '' Hatami said .
`` Iran 's response [ to any U.S. retaliation ] will be proportional to what America will do , '' he said , adding that Trump `` has turned the [ U.S. ] administration into a terrorist government . ''
Several major airlines , including Air France and Germany 's Lufthansa , announced they were rerouting flights to avoid airspace over Iraq and Iran , while the Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. carriers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pro-Iranian factions in Iraq had vowed to avenge his death .
Professor Stephen David of Johns Hopkins University told Voice of America that while Iran 's retaliation was n't unexpected , it was surprising that Tehran chose to launch the attack from its own territory and use ballistic missiles -- a weapon substantially more powerful than a rocket .
`` I think it was surprising that the attack was from Iran .
It was not at all deniable , '' David said .
`` It was clear what the source of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballistic missiles also was a bit of a surprise , something of an escalation . ''
With reporting by AFP , AP , Reuters , and dpa


rferl--2020-01-09--Ukrainian Police Detain Alleged Georgia-Born Russian Kingpin Known As Moskovsky

An alleged Russian organized crime kingpin has been arrested in Ukraine on suspicion of illegal border-crossing and planning to obtain @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Ukrainian police said on January 9 that the 57-year-old male , a @ @ @ @ @ who is nicknamed Kamo Moskovsky , had been crowned in 1983 as `` a thief @ @ @ @ @ title traditionally given among Russian-speaking criminal groups to kingpins .
According to the statement , @ @ @ @ @ 30 years in Russian prisons for various crimes .
He was most recently released from @ @ @ @ @ He was detained on January 5 and placed at an immigration center for six months @ @ @ @ @ possible deportation and a five-year ban on entering Ukraine is pending , the statement says @

An alleged Russian organized crime kingpin has been arrested in Ukraine on suspicion of illegal border-crossing and planning to obtain control over criminal groups in the country.
Ukrainian police said on January 9 that the 57-year-old male, a Russian citizen born in Georgia who is nicknamed Kamo Moskovsky, had been crowned in 1983 as "a thief by law," a title traditionally given among Russian-speaking criminal groups to kingpins.
According to the statement, Kamo Moskovsky has spent about 30 years in Russian prisons for various crimes. He was most recently released from incarceration in October 2019.
He was detained on January 5 and placed at an immigration center for six months while a decision on his possible deportation and a five-year ban on entering Ukraine is pending, the statement says.


rferl--2020-01-09--Kyrgyz Investigative Website Editor Attacked In Bishkek

BISHKEK -- The editor in chief of Kyrgyz investigative website FactCheck was attacked by unidentified assailants on January 9 , @ @ @ @ @ men attacked Bolot Temirov near the website 's office in Bishkek , beating him and @ @ @ @ @ phone , his colleagues said .
Paramedics gave Temirov emergency medical assistance at the scene @ @ @ @ @ officers to a police station to file a written complaint .
Temirov 's colleagues also @ @ @ @ @ were observed the previous day near the office while asking passers-by about the location of @ @ @ @ @ month , the FactCheck website was hacked along with the sites of several online news @ @ @ @ @ materials .
FactCheck mainly investigates corruption allegedly committed by officials .
Temirov 's site and @ @ @ @ @ Bellingcat have recently probed the fortune of the former deputy chief of Kyrgyz customs , @ @ @ @ @ relatives , who are at the center of a corruption scandal around the alleged funneling @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyzstan .

BISHKEK -- The editor in chief of Kyrgyz investigative website FactCheck was attacked by unidentified assailants on January 9, colleagues told RFE/RL.
Three men attacked Bolot Temirov near the website's office in Bishkek, beating him and robbing him of his mobile phone, his colleagues said.
Paramedics gave Temirov emergency medical assistance at the scene. He then accompanied police officers to a police station to file a written complaint.
Temirov's colleagues also said that several athletic-looking men were observed the previous day near the office while asking passers-by about the location of the FactCheck office.
Last month, the FactCheck website was hacked along with the sites of several online news resources that used FactCheck's materials.
FactCheck mainly investigates corruption allegedly committed by officials.
Temirov's site and the open source investigative organization Bellingcat have recently probed the fortune of the former deputy chief of Kyrgyz customs, Raimbek Matraimov, and his relatives, who are at the center of a corruption scandal around the alleged funneling some $1 billion from Kyrgyzstan.


rferl--2020-01-09--Ukrainians Mourn As Zelenskiy Calls For 'Patience' With Plane Crash Investigation

Ukraine observed a day of national mourning on January 9 as aviation authorities frantically searched for answers after the crash of a Ukrainian airliner southwest of Tehran that killed all 176 on board .
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the nation a day after the crash , saying the state was prepared to provide families who lost relatives in the accident `` with all the help they need '' and cautioned that the disaster was `` not a topic for social media hype , sensationalism or conspiracy theories . ''
The Boeing 737-800 en route to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Imam Khomeini airport with 63 Canadians , 82 Iranians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Germans , and three Britons on board , along with 11 Ukrainians , including nine crew .
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization said on January 9 that initial evidence gleaned from eye witnesses on the ground and in a passing aircraft showed that Ukrainian Airlines flight PS 752 was on fire and had turned back towards the airport before it crashed .
Uncertainty about the cause of the crash , which occurred hours after Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq , has prompted some speculation that the plane may have been attacked .
Ukrainian investigators , 45 of whom arrived in Tehran on January 9 , said that they were seeking to search debris at the crash site to help determine the cause , including the possibility that a missile attack or terrorism may be to blame .
`` Now our information space is filled with numerous theories and speculations about the tragedy .
It is clear that we all want to know the truth as soon as possible .
But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth .
We need to wait for at least the preliminary report of the investigation commission , '' Zelenskiy said .
“ We need patience , endurance and wisdom .
This scary story should teach all of us -- and every citizen of Ukraine and every world leader -- to appreciate human life , '' he added .
The crew flying the three-year-old plane , which had its last scheduled maintenance on January 6 , initially headed west to leave the airport zone , sent no distress signals , nor did they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian aviation authority .
Ukraine 's embassy in Tehran initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement .
Iranian state media had initially reported that the plane caught fire after crashing , but a video aired by the state broadcaster appeared to show the plane already on fire as it fell from the night sky .
However , five security sources -- three Americans , one European , and one Canadian -- who asked not to be named , told Reuters that the Western intelligence agencies ' initial assessment was that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not been brought down by a missile .
The Canadian security source added that there was evidence one of the jet 's engines overheated .
Iran and Ukraine have agreed `` to coordinate further actions of our investigation groups closely to determine the cause of the terrible plane crash , '' according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko .
Iran has said it will not give the plane ’ s so-called black box , which contains flight data and cockpit voice recorders , to either U.S. authorities or to representatives of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obliged to do so and under international aviation rules is expected to be the lead investigator , while Ukraine , as the country where the plane was registered , would participate .
While the United States is home to one of the world ’ s top laboratories for studying black boxes after crashes , analysts say others located in Britain and France are also often called on to help investigations .
Meanwhile , Canada said it intended to play a key role in the investigation despite not having direct diplomatic relations with Tehran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference in Ottawa that 138 of the 176 people on board the flight from Tehran to Kyiv had onward connections to Canada .
Many were members of Canada ’ s large Iranian community , mainly from the Edmonton area .
Trudeau said that `` Canada is one of a handful of countries with a high degree of expertise when it comes to these sorts of accidents and , therefore , we have much to contribute . ''
`` I am confident that in our engagement both through our allies and directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are a substantive contributor to this investigation , '' he told reporters .
The Canadian leader said Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne would call his Iranian counterpart , Mohammad Javad Zarif , to stress the need for a full investigation into the tragedy .
Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012 , and Italy normally acts as a proxy for communication between Ottawa and Tehran .
Trudeau also stressed the need to refrain from speculation on possible reasons for the accident .
`` Obviously we are very , very early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous to speculate on possible causes , '' he said .
With reporting by AP , AFP , Reuters , Fars , dpa , IRNA , and RFE/RL ’ s Radio Farda

Ukraine observed a day of national mourning on January 9 as aviation authorities frantically searched for answers after the crash of a Ukrainian airliner southwest of Tehran that killed all 176 on board.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the nation a day after the crash, saying the state was prepared to provide families who lost relatives in the accident "with all the help they need" and cautioned that the disaster was "not a topic for social media hype, sensationalism or conspiracy theories."
The Boeing 737-800 en route to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off on January 8 from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport with 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons on board, along with 11 Ukrainians, including nine crew.
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization said on January 9 that initial evidence gleaned from eye witnesses on the ground and in a passing aircraft showed that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS 752 was on fire and had turned back towards the airport before it crashed.
Uncertainty about the cause of the crash, which occurred hours after Iran launched missile attacks on U.S.-led forces in Iraq, has prompted some speculation that the plane may have been attacked.
Ukrainian investigators, 45 of whom arrived in Tehran on January 9, said that they were seeking to search debris at the crash site to help determine the cause, including the possibility that a missile attack or terrorism may be to blame.
"Now our information space is filled with numerous theories and speculations about the tragedy. It is clear that we all want to know the truth as soon as possible. But in such cases, speed can interfere with the truth. We need to wait for at least the preliminary report of the investigation commission," Zelenskiy said.
“We need patience, endurance and wisdom. This scary story should teach all of us -- and every citizen of Ukraine and every world leader -- to appreciate human life," he added.
The crew flying the three-year-old plane, which had its last scheduled maintenance on January 6, initially headed west to leave the airport zone, sent no distress signals, nor did they contact ground control, according to the Iranian aviation authority.
Ukraine's embassy in Tehran initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement.
Iranian state media had initially reported that the plane caught fire after crashing, but a video aired by the state broadcaster appeared to show the plane already on fire as it fell from the night sky.
However, five security sources -- three Americans, one European, and one Canadian -- who asked not to be named, told Reuters that the Western intelligence agencies' initial assessment was that the plane had encountered a technical malfunction and had not been brought down by a missile.
The Canadian security source added that there was evidence one of the jet's engines overheated.
Iran and Ukraine have agreed "to coordinate further actions of our investigation groups closely to determine the cause of the terrible plane crash," according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko.
Iran has said it will not give the plane’s so-called black box, which contains flight data and cockpit voice recorders, to either U.S. authorities or to representatives of American plane maker Boeing.
Tehran is not obliged to do so and under international aviation rules is expected to be the lead investigator, while Ukraine, as the country where the plane was registered, would participate.
While the United States is home to one of the world’s top laboratories for studying black boxes after crashes, analysts say others located in Britain and France are also often called on to help investigations.
Meanwhile, Canada said it intended to play a key role in the investigation despite not having direct diplomatic relations with Tehran.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa that 138 of the 176 people on board the flight from Tehran to Kyiv had onward connections to Canada. Many were members of Canada’s large Iranian community, mainly from the Edmonton area.
Trudeau said that "Canada is one of a handful of countries with a high degree of expertise when it comes to these sorts of accidents and, therefore, we have much to contribute."
"I am confident that in our engagement both through our allies and directly, we are going to make sure that we are a substantive contributor to this investigation," he told reporters.
The Canadian leader said Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne would call his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to stress the need for a full investigation into the tragedy.
Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, and Italy normally acts as a proxy for communication between Ottawa and Tehran.
Trudeau also stressed the need to refrain from speculation on possible reasons for the accident.
"Obviously we are very, very early days on the investigation. It's dangerous to speculate on possible causes," he said.
With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, Fars, dpa, and IRNA