rferl--2020-02-10--Kyiv Names Willow Tree After Soviet Rock Legend Viktor Tsoi

Kyiv City Council has granted a decades-old willow the status of a botanical monument in honor of Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi in the same neighborhood where he was filmed in a movie shot in Ukraine 's capital .
The approval bestowing the status on the 18-meter tall , 60-year-old tree was announced by the city 's Department of Ecology and Natural Resources over the weekend .
Its new status means construction , cutting , and even aesthetic trimming is prohibited on the tree , which has three trunks , each with a diameter of more than a half a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It stands near Lake Telbin in the city ’ s Dnipro district situated on the east bank of the Dnieper River , which bisects the city of 3.7 million people .
In July 1986 , just weeks after the Chernobyl nuclear accident , the musician , actor , and leader of the Kino rock group , appeared in the film The End of the Holidays , directed by Ukrainian director Serhiy Lysenko .
The movie weaves four plots , all of which are tied to Kino 's songs .
For the neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Tsoi Tree area is not just a green space , it is a unique monument of historical value that needs to be preserved , '' said Andriy Strannikov , one of the project 's two co-sponsors in the city council .
Tsoi and his group were extremely popular in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s .
His songs stand as symbols of the hope for freedom and political change .
Tsoi , who was of Korean-Russian origin , died in a car crash in the then-Soviet republic of Latvia on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In June 2018 , a monument was unveiled to Tsoi in Almaty , the largest city in Kazakhstan where the artist wrote many of the songs in his final album and which is the country where his father was born .
Tsoi considered St. Petersburg , Russia ’ s second-largest city , his base during the formidable years of his truncated career .

Kyiv City Council has granted a decades-old willow the status of a botanical monument in honor of Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi in the same neighborhood where he was filmed in a movie shot in Ukraine's capital.
The approval bestowing the status on the 18-meter tall, 60-year-old tree was announced by the city's Department of Ecology and Natural Resources over the weekend.
Its new status means construction, cutting, and even aesthetic trimming is prohibited on the tree, which has three trunks, each with a diameter of more than a half a meter, said department head Andriy Malyovaniy.
It stands near Lake Telbin in the city’s Dnipro district situated on the east bank of the Dnieper River, which bisects the city of 3.7 million people.
In July 1986, just weeks after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the musician, actor, and leader of the Kino rock group, appeared in the film The End of the Holidays, directed by Ukrainian director Serhiy Lysenko.
The movie weaves four plots, all of which are tied to Kino's songs.
For the neighborhood’s residents "and its guests, the Tsoi Tree area is not just a green space, it is a unique monument of historical value that needs to be preserved," said Andriy Strannikov, one of the project's two co-sponsors in the city council.
Tsoi and his group were extremely popular in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
His songs stand as symbols of the hope for freedom and political change.
Tsoi, who was of Korean-Russian origin, died in a car crash in the then-Soviet republic of Latvia on August 15, 1990, aged 28.
In June 2018, a monument was unveiled to Tsoi in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan where the artist wrote many of the songs in his final album and which is the country where his father was born.
Tsoi considered St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, his base during the formidable years of his truncated career.


rferl--2020-02-10--Early Vote Results Give Azerbaijani President Majority Needed For Power Shift

BAKU -- The ruling New Azerbaijan Party ( YAP ) is set to gain a majority of seats in the Caucasus country 's single-chamber parliament , following snap elections that observers say will allow President Ilham Aliyev to remove elites associated with his father in a consolidation of power through reforms .
YAP candidates won 64 of the 125 seats in parliament , the Central Election Commission ( CEC ) said early on February 10 after 87 percent of electoral precincts declared returns .
The CEC put the turnout at 47.81 percent , nearly eight percentage points less than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if it holds , is one less seat than the ruling party had in the outgoing parliament , the Milli Majlis , before the snap elections were called .
But nominally independent candidates , the vast majority of whom support YAP policies , took all but one of the rest of the seats in the February 9 elections , which were marred by apathy among voters and reports of irregularities such as multiple voting , interrupted video feeds at polling stations , and the hindrance and abuse of independent observers .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) and the Council of Europe expressed `` serious concerns regarding respect of fundamental rights and freedoms . ''
The observers cited `` significant procedural violations during counting and the tabulation , '' while restrictive legislation and the general political environment prevented genuine competition .
On election day , voting was `` assessed negatively in 7 % of polling stations observed , a statistically high figure which is indicative of serious procedural shortcomings , '' the statement said , adding that some observers reported cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boycotted by some opposition parties in protest over limitations on access to media and the right to peaceably assemble .
Since Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 , its elections have repeatedly been deemed as falling short of democratic standards by international observers .
The 58-year-old Aliyev , who has ruled Azerbaijan since shortly before his father 's death 17 years ago , called the election in December , nine months before it was formally due , amid public discontent over a slowing economy .
YAP said the composition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to carry out Aliyev ’ s `` reform '' program .
But instead of genuine reforms that might strengthen the country 's long-beleaguered opposition , opposition leaders and analysts say the president hopes to boost the government 's image by replacing discredited unpopular old elites with younger technocrats .
Mehman Aliyev , director of the independent Turan news agency , told RFE/RL that `` the only purpose was to put a number of candidates out of parliament and bring new ones in their place -- and nothing else . ''
Critics say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to ensure a line of succession that began with the president 's father , Heydar , a Soviet-era KGB leader and Politburo member who passed the presidency to his son shortly before his death .
Aliyev ’ s reform plan follows several high-profile changes in the government and his administration near the end of last year that included the appointment of 62-year-old economist Ali Asadov as prime minister .
`` This can be described as an effort at 'authoritarian modernization , ' ” at making public services more efficient within the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome for much of the public , but will it be enough ? ''
Thomas de Waal , a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe , specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region , said before the weekend vote .
`` Clearly , a generational overhaul is underway .
Does this also mean a big surge of reform in Azerbaijan ?
There are some reasons to be skeptical , '' he added , noting that the old guard may be swept aside only for a Baku-based business-political elite to take control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s hope for a change in the composition of parliament suggests Aliyev ’ s party may be trying to clear the way for Aliyev 's wife , First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva , to take over the presidency at a later date .
In fact , parliamentary powers are limited in Azerbaijan .
Most political power in the Caucasus country is concentrated in the hands of the presidency .
Aliyev -- who was reelected in 2008 , 2013 , and 2018 -- was able to consolidate his power through a 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-term presidential limit and a 2016 referendum that lengthened presidential terms to seven years .
However , Istanbul-based Azerbaijani political commentator and contributor to RFE/RL Arzu Geybullayeva said the latest election was seen as different from previous parliamentary votes because of the emergence of new `` genuine candidates '' who were running as independents or who joined forces under a new political bloc called Movement .
Movement , which was formed in December after the early elections were announced , brought together human rights activists , rights lawyers , election observers , bloggers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians .
Minor complaints were already trickling in within hours of the opening of polling stations on February 9 .
Some independent observers said they saw instances of carousel voting -- when people visit multiple polling stations -- and people casting multiple ballots at once .
One candidate reported seeing an ambulance ferrying voters to multiple polling stations .
One election monitor working for a candidate said he was beaten and thrown out out of a polling station he was attempting to observe .
Other election monitors said they were being prevented from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in certain locations .
The Institute for Democratic Initiatives shared several videos of people interfering with observers seeking to record at polling stations .
Cameras were being blocked at some of the 1,000 or so voting locations that had live video feeds .
One candidate , activist and blogger Bakhtiyar Hajiyev , told RFE/RL 's Azerbaijani Service that he was initially prevented from voting at a Baku polling station and was told he had n't registered properly .
But an election official later said access to the polling station was being limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote .
Meanwhile , apparent power outages cut the lights for more than half an hour at some polling stations in Suraxani and Hovsan , northeast of the capital .
Election officials registered 1,637 candidates .
A total of 19 political parties fielded 272 of the candidates .
They included 123 candidates from the ruling YAP , followed by 25 from the opposition Musavat party and 21 from the opposition Party of Hope ( UMID ) .
A total of 81 lawmakers , about two-thirds of the outgoing parliament , were seeking @ @

BAKU -- The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) is set to gain a majority of seats in the Caucasus country's single-chamber parliament, following snap elections that observers say will allow President Ilham Aliyev to remove elites associated with his father in a consolidation of power through reforms.
YAP candidates won 81 of the 125 seats in parliament, according to data provided by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on February 10 based on voting protocols from almost all polling stations.
The CEC put the turnout at 47.81 percent, nearly eight percentage points less than in the previous parliamentary elections.
The result, if it holds, gives the ruling party an increase of 16 seats from what it had in the outgoing parliament, the Milli Majlis, before the snap elections were called.
Pro-government parties and nominally independent candidates who support YAP policies took all the rest of the seats in the February 9 elections, which were marred by apathy among voters and reports of irregularities such as multiple voting, interrupted video feeds at polling stations, and the hindrance and abuse of independent observers.
In a preliminary report, monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe said "the restrictive legislation and political environment prevented genuine competition" in the elections, while "significant procedural violations during counting and the tabulation” were reported on voting day.
Voting was "assessed negatively" at 7 percent of polling stations observed, the report said, adding that the "statistically high figure" is indicative of "serious procedural shortcomings."
In a statement on February 10, the U.S. Embassy in Baku seconded the conclusions drawn by the OSCE report.
"The United States shares the observations and concerns of the OSCE ODIHR monitoring mission that the February 9 parliamentary elections transpired in a restrictive legislative and political environment that prevented genuine competition," the statement said.
"The elections were marked by limitations on the freedom of media and assembly. We were disappointed by significant procedural violations observed by ODIHR on Election Day, including ballot box stuffing, group voting, a disregard of reconciliation procedures, and limited transparency during vote counting," it said.
The ballot was boycotted by some opposition parties in protest over limitations on access to media and the right to peaceably assemble.
Since Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, its elections have repeatedly been deemed as falling short of democratic standards by international observers.
The 58-year-old Aliyev, who has ruled Azerbaijan since shortly before his father's death 17 years ago, called the election in December, nine months before it was formally due, amid public discontent over a slowing economy. YAP said the composition of the legislature needed to be changed in order to carry out Aliyev’s "reform" program.
But instead of genuine reforms that might strengthen the country's long-beleaguered opposition, opposition leaders and analysts say the president hopes to boost the government's image by replacing discredited unpopular old elites with younger technocrats.
Mehman Aliyev, director of the independent Turan news agency, told RFE/RL that "the only purpose was to put a number of candidates out of parliament and bring new ones in their place -- and nothing else."
Critics say Aliyev and his allies are seeking a way to ensure a line of succession that began with the president's father, Heydar, a Soviet-era KGB leader and Politburo member who passed the presidency to his son shortly before his death.
'Generational Overhaul'
Aliyev’s reform plan follows several high-profile changes in the government and his administration near the end of last year that included the appointment of 62-year-old economist Ali Asadov as prime minister.
"This can be described as an effort at 'authoritarian modernization,'” at making public services more efficient within the same strict authoritarian framework. That will be welcome for much of the public, but will it be enough?" Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, said before the weekend vote.
"Clearly, a generational overhaul is underway. Does this also mean a big surge of reform in Azerbaijan? There are some reasons to be skeptical," he added, noting that the old guard may be swept aside only for a Baku-based business-political elite to take control of the country instead.
Some critics say the party’s hope for a change in the composition of parliament suggests Aliyev’s party may be trying to clear the way for Aliyev's wife, First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, to take over the presidency at a later date.
In fact, parliamentary powers are limited in Azerbaijan. Most political power in the Caucasus country is concentrated in the hands of the presidency.
Aliyev -- who was reelected in 2008, 2013, and 2018 -- was able to consolidate his power through a 2009 referendum that abolished the country’s two-term presidential limit and a 2016 referendum that lengthened presidential terms to seven years.
Minor complaints were already trickling in within hours of the opening of polling stations on February 9.
Some independent observers said they saw instances of carousel voting -- when people visit multiple polling stations -- and people casting multiple ballots at once.
One candidate reported seeing an ambulance ferrying voters to multiple polling stations.
One election monitor working for a candidate said he was beaten and thrown out out of a polling station he was attempting to observe.
Other election monitors said they were being prevented from entering polling stations or were ordered to remain in certain locations. The Institute for Democratic Initiatives shared several videos of people interfering with observers seeking to record at polling stations.
Cameras were being blocked at some of the 1,000 or so voting locations that had live video feeds.
One candidate, activist and blogger Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that he was initially prevented from voting at a Baku polling station and was told he hadn't registered properly. But an election official later said access to the polling station was being limited ahead of President Aliyev's arrival there to vote.
Meanwhile, apparent power outages cut the lights for more than half an hour at some polling stations in Suraxani and Hovsan, northeast of the capital.
Election officials registered 1,637 candidates. A total of 19 political parties fielded 272 of the candidates. They included 123 candidates from the ruling YAP, followed by 25 from the opposition Musavat party and 21 from the opposition Party of Hope (UMID).
A total of 81 lawmakers, about two-thirds of the outgoing parliament, were seeking reelection.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-02-10--Hopes Of North Macedonia's Honeyland Dashed At Oscars, Still Makes Country Proud

Honeyland , a Macedonian film that tells a powerful story of survival and nature , has missed out on two Oscar awards for which it was nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in California .
It first lost in the documentary feature category to American Factory , the first movie released by Barack and Michelle Obama 's studio company .
Produced by Netflix , the film is about an Ohio auto-glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor and explores such issues as , workers ' rights , globalization , and automation .
Honeyland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov -- came to the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles riding high on the back of 30 international awards , including three of the honors at last year 's prestigious Sundance Film Festival .
Its subject , Hatidze Muratova , an unlikely Turkish-Macedonian traditional beekeeper , was also in attendance following a much-publicized dress-fitting in her country 's capital , Skopje .
Later in the evening , the movie lost out to Parasite in the international film category .
It 's a social satire directed by South Korea 's Bong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front-runner in the category and also won the award for best picture .
Still , Honeyland remains the first film to have been nominated for both the documentary and international feature-length film categories .
That achievement alone raised the movie-making profile of North Macedonia in the eyes of Metodija Koloski , president of the United Macedonian Diaspora organization in Washington .
`` Macedonia has a century-old filmmaking culture '' and its dual nominations are `` an example of that and only strengthens that heritage and spreads understanding of the huge potential of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a text message after the awards ceremony .
He called the beekeeper 's message in the film `` global , '' saying it emphasized the `` need to give back to the environment and nurture it and take care of it -- she is a winner in my heart and so many others , '' he said .

Honeyland, a Macedonian film that tells a powerful story of survival and nature, has missed out on two Oscar awards for which it was nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in California.
It first lost in the documentary feature category to American Factory, the first movie released by Barack and Michelle Obama's studio company.
Produced by Netflix, the film is about an Ohio auto-glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor and explores such issues as, workers' rights, globalization, and automation.
Honeyland and its creators from North Macedonia -- Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov -- came to the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles riding high on the back of 30 international awards, including three of the honors at last year's prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Its subject, Hatidze Muratova, an unlikely Turkish-Macedonian traditional beekeeper, was also in attendance following a much-publicized dress-fitting in her country's capital, Skopje.
Later in the evening, the movie lost out to Parasite in the international film category.
It's a social satire directed by South Korea's Bong Joon-ho, whose film was perceived as the front-runner in the category and also won the award for best picture.
Still, Honeyland remains the first film to have been nominated for both the documentary and international feature-length film categories.
That achievement alone raised the movie-making profile of North Macedonia in the eyes of Metodija Koloski, president of the United Macedonian Diaspora organization in Washington.
"Macedonia has a century-old filmmaking culture" and its dual nominations are "an example of that and only strengthens that heritage and spreads understanding of the huge potential of Macedonian cinematography," Koloski told RFE/RL in a text message after the awards ceremony.
He called the beekeeper's message in the film "global," saying it emphasized the "need to give back to the environment and nurture it and take care of it -- she is a winner in my heart and so many others," he said.


rferl--2020-02-10--China Virus Deaths Exceed 900 As Infected Ukrainian Taken Off Cruise Ship

The number of deaths on mainland China from a new coronavirus originating there increased to 908 , authorities announced on February 10 .
Ninety-seven new fatalities on February 9 were reported across the country , including 91 in Hubei province where the pathogen first emerged in December , the National Health Commission reported .
There are now 40,171 confirmed cases nationwide even as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said the epidemic appears to be stabilizing .
Outside of China , 24 countries have more than 300 confirmed cases of the respiratory virus , including one death , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China has come under public criticism for how it initially handled the epidemic , especially after a whistle-blowing doctor fell victim to the virus .
The doctor , 34 , died on February 7 after contracting the virus from a patient .
The government has implemented quarantine measures and placed whole cities on lockdowns to help prevent the spread of the infection .
Meanwhile , a Ukrainian national was removed from a cruise ship on February 9 after testing positive for the coronavirus .
The infected Ukrainian was taken off the quarantined Diamond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan and admitted to a local hospital in the country , according to the Ukrainian Health Ministry .
He is being kept in an isolated room for at least 14 days .
There were a total of 25 Ukrainians on board the liner .
TBS TV reported that 130 aboard the ship have tested positive , with all passengers told to stay inside their cabins to prevent further infection .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Ukrainian Service , AFP , Reuters , TBS , and AP

A former top FBI counterintelligence agent pleaded guilty to charges related to his work for notorious Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, changing his plea after federal prosecutors filed new, reduced charges of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on Russia by working for the billionaire industrialist.
The move by Charles McGonigal, made on August 15 before a federal judge in New York City, ends a prosecution that had stunned the FBI, where McGonigal had investigated Russian influence operations for years while climbing the bureau’s ranks.
The 55-year-old also still faces a separate set of foreign agent charges in Washington, D.C., related to work he did for Albanian officials.
McGonigal, who retired as head counterintelligence in the FBI's New York bureau in 2018, was originally indicted in January by a grand jury on more serious charges of money laundering and violating U.S. sanctions.
Prosecutors alleged that McGonigal and a former Russian diplomat with whom he was associated, were paid more than $200,000 to do work for Deripaska, a wealthy Russian metals tycoon who has long been seen as a Kremlin insider. Deripaska was hit with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018.
U.S. authorities said McGonigal was hired to dig up negative information on Vladimir Potanin, a rival oligarch to Deripaska. McGonigal and the former diplomat, Sergei Shestakov, also worked to try and get Deripaska removed from U.S. sanctions lists.
Shestakov has pleaded not guilty to the more serious charges than had been originally filed against McGonigal.
They "attempted to conceal Deripaska's involvement by, among other means, not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payment from Deripaska," the Justice Department said in a press release after McGonigal entered his plea.
McGonigal could receive up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in December.
The separate case filed in Washington, D.C., by federal prosecutors centers on work McGonigal allegedly did on behalf of a former Albanian intelligence officer, for which he was paid $225,000.
McGonigal also allegedly lied to the FBI about his contacts with foreign nationals and foreign travel while he was still employed by the bureau.
Deripaska also faces charges of violating U.S. sanctions through real estate deals and a complicated scheme under which he allegedly arranged for his girlfriend to travel to the United States to give birth to two of their children.


rferl--2020-02-10--Kazakhs Start Returning Home From Kyrgyzstan After Weekend's Ethnic Violence

More than 1,000 Kazakh nationals have crossed from Kyrgyzstan into neighboring Kazakhstan , following reports of interethnic clashes that erupted two days earlier in a cluster of five Kazakh villages , forcing many residents to flee .
Kyrgyz officials told RFE/RL that , after the ethnic violence erupted between Kazakhs and Dungans , a Muslim group of Chinese origin , in which 10 people died , border guards recorded approximately 4,500 entries from Kazakhstan .
RFE/RL could n't verify how many Kazakhs returning to their country had initially crossed into Kyrgyzstan as a result of the violence .
Thirty-four Kazakhs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8-9 , with 13 still receiving treatment .
An additional five Kazakhs remained under medical and psychological observation and were reported to be in stable condition .
Another 39 were reported to be still hospitalized in Kazakhstan as of February 9 , including three officials who sustained gunshot wounds .
Clashes started on February 7 in the Zhambyl region , located about 130 kilometers west of Kazakhstan 's commercial capital , Almaty , and prompted authorities in the district of Korday to declare a state of emergency .
Villagers reportedly attacked each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torched homes , overturned cars , and sent hundreds of people fleeing into nearby Kyrgyzstan .
While visiting the affected district on February 9 , Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbayev promised residents of the villages that their damaged homes would be rebuilt .
`` We ask you not to give in to provocation .
All the houses that were destroyed , we will restore them , we will help families , '' Saparbayev said .
`` Our experts are working to assess the damage .
Once again , we appeal to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who are now in Kyrgyzstan with their relatives -- they must return . ''
Kazakhstan ’ s deputy health minister , Kamalzhan Nadyrov , visited to Kyrgyzstan on February 9 to meet the injured in two hospitals , including one in the capital , Bishkek , after which eight hospitalized Kazakhs were transported to Almaty .
Most of the Kazakhs who entered the neighboring Central Asian country were women , children , and senior citizens , Kyrgyzstan 's border guard service said .
Residents in neighboring Kyrgyz villages reportedly greeted the fleeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an unscheduled televised appearance , President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev said he had ordered security agencies to prosecute those spreading hate speech and `` provocative rumors and disinformation . ''
Kazakh law enforcement deployed riot police to the area on February 8 , hours after the initial fighting .
By February 9 , authorities said they believed around 300 people had taken part in the mob violence and they had already launched criminal cases , including for suspected murder .
RFE/RL correspondents reported long lines of police , holding riot shields and truncheons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On February 8 , groups of mainly ethnic Dungans could be seen lining up along the Kyrgyz side of the border , while on the other side of the frontier , Dungan people handed out food and offered medical assistance to those coming across .
Footage circulating on social media late on February 7 showed young men , some armed with clubs , marching along the road of a village in the area with buildings on fire .
Many of the videos could not be independently verified .
At a news conference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Erlan Turghymbaev said 30 homes , 15 shops , and 20 cars had been damaged in Masanchi , and other villages in the region .

More than 1,000 Kazakh nationals have crossed from Kyrgyzstan into neighboring Kazakhstan, following reports of interethnic clashes that erupted two days earlier in a cluster of five Kazakh villages, forcing many residents to flee.
Kyrgyz officials told RFE/RL that, after the ethnic violence erupted between Kazakhs and Dungans, a Muslim group of Chinese origin, in which 10 people died, border guards recorded approximately 4,500 entries from Kazakhstan.
RFE/RL couldn't verify how many Kazakhs returning to their country had initially crossed into Kyrgyzstan as a result of the violence.
Thirty-four Kazakhs were accepted into Kyrgyz hospitals on February 8-9, with 13 still receiving treatment. An additional five Kazakhs remained under medical and psychological observation and were reported to be in stable condition.
Another 39 were reported to be still hospitalized in Kazakhstan as of February 9, including three officials who sustained gunshot wounds.
Clashes started on February 7 in the Zhambyl region, located about 130 kilometers west of Kazakhstan's commercial capital, Almaty, and prompted authorities in the district of Korday to declare a state of emergency.
Villagers reportedly attacked each other in groups, and bands of men torched homes, overturned cars, and sent hundreds of people fleeing into nearby Kyrgyzstan.
While visiting the affected district on February 9, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev promised residents of the villages that their damaged homes would be rebuilt.
"We ask you not to give in to provocation. All the houses that were destroyed, we will restore them, we will help families," Saparbaev said. "Our experts are working to assess the damage. Once again, we appeal to everyone, tell your relatives who have left, who are now in Kyrgyzstan with their relatives -- they must return."
Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister, Kamalzhan Nadyrov, visited to Kyrgyzstan on February 9 to meet the injured in two hospitals, including one in the capital, Bishkek, after which eight hospitalized Kazakhs were transported to Almaty.
Most of the Kazakhs who entered the neighboring Central Asian country were women, children, and senior citizens, Kyrgyzstan's border guard service said.
Residents in neighboring Kyrgyz villages reportedly greeted the fleeing Kazakhs with hot meals and offered shelter.
In an unscheduled televised appearance, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev said he had ordered security agencies to prosecute those spreading hate speech and "provocative rumors and disinformation."
Kazakh law enforcement deployed riot police to the area on February 8, hours after the initial fighting.
By February 9, authorities said they believed around 300 people had taken part in the mob violence and they had already launched criminal cases, including for suspected murder.
RFE/RL correspondents reported long lines of police, holding riot shields and truncheons, along roads in the region.
On February 8, groups of mainly ethnic Dungans could be seen lining up along the Kyrgyz side of the border, while on the other side of the frontier, Dungan people handed out food and offered medical assistance to those coming across.
Footage circulating on social media late on February 7 showed young men, some armed with clubs, marching along the road of a village in the area with buildings on fire. Many of the videos could not be independently verified.
At a news conference in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev said 30 homes, 15 shops, and 20 cars had been damaged in Masanchi, and other villages in the region.


rferl--2020-02-09--Two Ukrainians Held In Bosnia On Suspicion Of Stealing $1.5 Million From Russia’s Sberbank ATMs

Two of three Ukrainian men suspected of stealing the equivalent of $ 1.51 million from automated-teller machines ( ATMs ) operated by a Russian state-owned bank in Bosnia-Herzegovina have been placed in pretrial detention for one month , local media reported over the weekend .
Dmytro Boyko and Oleksandr Zaytsev were arrested on February 2 in Bihac , a city of more than 56,000 inhabitants .
A third suspect , Yaroslav Tytarenko , is still at large and entered Hungary the next day , according to Bosnian police .
All three entered Bosnia via Serbia on January 31 and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Serbia as well , local police said .
Approximately $ 60,000 in local currency was found on the two apprehended suspects who solely targeted ATMs belonging to Sberbank , Russia 's largest lender .
Police said the arrested suspects were n't cooperating with authorities and did n't provide details of their actions , which saw them allegedly withdraw the money over a span of 53 hours .
The Russian state-owned bank told the Sarajevo Times that the remaining stolen money was still missing .
RFE/RL learned of the alleged theft last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sberbank ATMs .
Sberbank 's in-country network of ATMs is operating normally and money wasn ’ t stolen from any client accounts , Vedran Persic , director of communications and marketing at Sberbank BiH , told RFE/RL .
Computer-hacking tools were used to withdraw the money , Vahidan Djaltur , a permanent court expert on information and communications , told RFE/RL .
Based on reporting by the Sarajevo Times and Vijesti

Two of three Ukrainian men suspected of stealing the equivalent of $1.51 million from automated-teller machines (ATMs) operated by a Russian state-owned bank in Bosnia-Herzegovina have been placed in pretrial detention for one month, local media reported over the weekend.
Dmytro Boyko and Oleksandr Zaytsev were arrested on February 2 in Bihac, a city of more than 56,000 inhabitants.
A third suspect, Yaroslav Tytarenko, is still at large and entered Hungary the next day, according to Bosnian police.
All three entered Bosnia via Serbia on January 31 and were believed to have been residing in Montenegro and Serbia as well, local police said.
Approximately $60,000 in local currency was found on the two apprehended suspects who solely targeted ATMs belonging to Sberbank, Russia's largest lender.
Police said the arrested suspects weren't cooperating with authorities and didn't provide details of their actions, which saw them allegedly withdraw the money over a span of 53 hours.
The Russian state-owned bank told the Sarajevo Times that the remaining stolen money was still missing.
RFE/RL learned of the alleged theft last week after speaking to customers who tried using Sberbank ATMs.
Sberbank's in-country network of ATMs is operating normally and money wasn’t stolen from any client accounts, Vedran Persic, director of communications and marketing at Sberbank BiH, told RFE/RL.
Computer-hacking tools were used to withdraw the money, Vahidan Djaltur, a permanent court expert on information and communications, told RFE/RL.
Based on reporting by the Sarajevo Times and Vijesti


rferl--2020-02-09--Macedonians Await Oscars Verdict On Beekeeping Epic Honeyland

Two million proud Macedonians will be holding their collective breath overnight on February 9-10 as the makers of a honey-drenched tale of tradition clashing with modernity make Oscars history with their unprecedented dual nomination .
The film Honeyland and its creators from North Macedonia have already won 30 international awards -- including three of the honors at last year 's prestigious Sundance Film Festival in the United States .
But no film had ever been nominated for best film in both the documentary feature and international feature categories until Honeyland emerged on this year 's shortlists from the U.S. Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The winners will be announced in Hollywood 's most highly anticipated event , the Oscar ceremonies , broadcast from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on February 9 .
Filmmakers Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov reportedly were working on a conservation project when they met Hatidze Muratova , the unlikely Turkish-Macedonian traditional beekeeper at the center of the history-making documentary , in a remote region of their Balkan homeland .
Twenty-five-year-old Kotevska told RFE/RL 's Balkan Service that the environmental project , Honeyland , morphed into a powerful story of survival and nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week that Muratova was mobbed by adoring selfie hunters when she showed up for a dress fitting in North Macedonia 's capital , Skopje , before leaving for Hollywood and the Oscars ceremony .
`` People love her .
She has become a star , '' Georgiev said , according to AFP .
`` We have no option but to cope with it somehow . ''
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Balkan Service and AFP

Two million proud Macedonians will be holding their collective breath overnight on February 9-10 as the makers of a honey-drenched tale of tradition clashing with modernity make Oscars history with their unprecedented dual nomination.
The film Honeyland and its creators from North Macedonia have already won 30 international awards -- including three of the honors at last year's prestigious Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
But no film had ever been nominated for best film in both the documentary feature and international feature categories until Honeyland emerged on this year's shortlists from the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The winners will be announced in Hollywood's most highly anticipated event, the Oscar ceremonies, broadcast from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on February 9.
Filmmakers Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov reportedly were working on a conservation project when they met Hatidze Muratova, the unlikely Turkish-Macedonian traditional beekeeper at the center of the history-making documentary, in a remote region of their Balkan homeland.
Twenty-five-year-old Kotevska told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that the environmental project, Honeyland, morphed into a powerful story of survival and nature.
Honeyland producer Atanas Georgiev told AFP this week that Muratova was mobbed by adoring selfie hunters when she showed up for a dress fitting in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, before leaving for Hollywood and the Oscars ceremony.
"People love her. She has become a star," Georgiev said, according to AFP. "We have no option but to cope with it somehow."
With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service and AFP


rferl--2020-02-10--Crimean-Tatar TV Channel In Ukraine Blames Lack Of State Funding For Imminent Closure

Ukraine ’ s first and currently only television channel in the Crimean-Tatar language says it is on the brink of shutting down operations due to lack of government funding .
ATR hasn ’ t received $ 2 million that the government allocated for the channel in this year ’ s state budget , a statement by the channel says on February 10. https : //atr.ua/news/196034-atr-zablokirovali-finansirovanie-telekanal-na-grani-zakrytia The channel said it received $ 610,000 on its account on December 28 , but couldn ’ t access the money because banks were closed that day so it had to return the money as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 2 million that was allocated this year was transferred to ATR ’ s account , but the channel said the state treasury has blocked access to it .
In response , ATR has launched a fundraising campaign and is broadcasting from an empty studio without presenters and guests .
https : //www.facebook.com/atrchannel/videos/480350365993468/ ATR is a part of a media holding that is majority-owned by Lenur Islyamov and initially stopped broadcasting in the Crimea after occupying Russian authorities refused to issue a broadcasting license after annexing the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 in Kyiv via a satellite signal throughout Ukraine , including in Crimea , supported mostly with government money .
Islyamov said in a statement that without the channel , Ukraine will never get back Crimea .
“ We know who our focus group is .
We know it is the people who support us , those people who know about us and those who want to return to Crimea with us , ” the TV channel owner said .
“ Without us , we won ’ t be able to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being laid in the Crimea.
” Due to the financial shortfall , ATR has slashed 90 percent of its own programming , dismissed 45 percent its staff , reduced news broadcasts , and stopped broadcasting live , Islyamov said .
In addition to ATR , a children ’ s TV channel and a radio channel are part of the holding .
Separately in January , Ukraine ’ s public broadcaster shut down international broadcasting and closed its Crimean-Tatar , Arabic , and English-language departments .

Ukraine's first and currently only television channel in the Crimean Tatar language says it is on the brink of shutting down operations due to lack of government funding.
ATR hasn't received $2 million that the government allocated for the channel in this year's state budget, a statement by the channel said on February 10.
The channel said it received $610,000 on its account on December 28, but couldn't access the money because banks were closed that day so it had to return the money, as required by law.
A portion of the $2 million that was allocated this year was transferred to ATR's account, but the channel said the state treasury had blocked access to it.
In response, ATR has launched a fundraising campaign and is broadcasting from an empty studio without presenters and guests.
ATR is a part of a media holding that is majority-owned by Lenur Islyamov and initially stopped broadcasting in Crimea after the occupying Russian authorities refused to issue a broadcasting license after annexing the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014.
It resumed broadcasting on June 17, 2015 in Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea, supported mostly with government money.
Islyamov said in a statement that without the channel, Ukraine will never get back Crimea.
"We know who our focus group is. We know it is the people who support us, those people who know about us, and those who want to return to Crimea with us," he said. "Without us, we won't be able to return to Crimea. We are the bridge that is being laid to Crimea."
Due to the financial shortfall, ATR has slashed 90 percent of its own programming, dismissed 45 percent of its staff, reduced news broadcasts, and stopped broadcasting live, Islyamov said.
In addition to ATR, a children's TV channel and a radio channel are part of the holding.
Separately in January, Ukraine's public broadcaster shut down international broadcasting and closed its Crimean Tatar-, Arabic-, and English-language departments.


rferl--2020-02-10--U.S. Hopes EU Will Open Accession Talks With North Macedonia, Albania Next Month

The United States has high hopes that the European Union will begin accession talks next month with North Macedonia and Albania and considers the two countries ' EU path essential , the U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans told RFE/RL on February 10 .
France and the Netherlands halted the opening of membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania last year , sparking disappointment and concern in the Western Balkans as Russia and China vie for influence in the volatile region .
`` The immediate question on the agenda , the question at the European Council will be faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is whether to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania , '' U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Palmer said .
`` The United States very much hopes that the answer to that question is yes .
We think both countries qualify on the merits .
We think it 's an important signal to send to the region .
We think it 's essential that both North Macedonia and Albania have a clear European path and a European perspective . ''
Palmer , who was appointed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Russia making inroads into the region and what he said were attempts to undermine international backing for the year-old Macedonian-Greek deal that ended a 27-year dispute between the two neighbors and removed Athens ' opposition to its neighbor eventually joining NATO and the EU .
`` We are concerned about Russian intentions with respect to the Western Balkans , '' Palmer said .
`` I would also point to Russian efforts to undercut support for the Prespa Agreement between Skopje and Athens as another example of malign activity on the part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia `` prefers a Western Balkans that is fractious , that is divided against itself , that is suspicious , that has an element of chaos , an area where the Russians can turn the level of tension up and down like a rheostat to use as a wedge between the Western Balkans and the international community , and the Western community of nations . ''

The United States has high hopes that the European Union will begin accession talks next month with North Macedonia and Albania and considers the two countries' EU path essential, the U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans told RFE/RL on February 10.
France and the Netherlands halted the opening of membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania last year, sparking disappointment and concern in the Balkans as Russia and China vie for influence in the volatile region.
"The immediate question on the agenda, the question at the European Council will be faced with in the meeting in March, is whether to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania," U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Palmer said.
"The United States very much hopes that the answer to that question is yes. We think both countries qualify on the merits. We think it's an important signal to send to the region. We think it's essential that both North Macedonia and Albania have a clear European path and a European perspective."
Palmer, who was appointed to the job in August 2019, voiced concern about Russia making inroads into the region and what he said were attempts to undermine international backing for the year-old Macedonian-Greek deal that ended a 27-year dispute between the two neighbors and removed Athens' opposition to its neighbor eventually joining NATO and the EU.
"We are concerned about Russian intentions with respect to the Western Balkans," Palmer said. "I would also point to Russian efforts to undercut support for the Prespa Agreement between Skopje and Athens as another example of malign activity on the part of the Russian state."
He added that Russia "prefers a Western Balkans that is fractious, that is divided against itself, that is suspicious, that has an element of chaos, an area where the Russians can turn the level of tension up and down like a rheostat to use as a wedge between the Western Balkans and the international community, and the Western community of nations."


rferl--2020-02-10--Georgian Opposition Figure Sentenced To Three More Years In Prison

Georgia 's Supreme Court on February 10 sentenced opposition leader Gigi Ugulava to 3 years and 2 months in prison on charges of misusing public funds while he was mayor of the capital , Tbilisi .
This was Ugulava 's second conviction on similar charges , in a case the opposition says is politically motivated .
A number of criminal cases have been opened against leaders of the opposition after mass protests against tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili 's ruling Georgian Dream party and its government .
The protests that began in the summer of 2019 have resulted in several arrests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on abuse-of-power and corruption charges since Georgian Dream came to power in 2012 after defeating then-President Mikheil Saakashvili 's party in an election .
Ugulava , mayor of the capital from 2005-2013 , was first sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison in September 2015 for similar offenses but was freed in January 2017 after a court reduced his sentence .
In 2018 , Ugulava was sentenced again to 15 months in prison in the same case , but his sentence was considered to have been served .
The Supreme Court 's February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged misspending of funds , and the time he has already served will not count against it .
`` This is a shameful decision made by the Ivanishvili regime , '' Tina Bokuchava , a leader of the opposition United National Movement , told reporters .
Critics accuse Ivanishvili of running the country from behind the scenes .
Ugulava , one of the leaders of the European Georgian Party , said he had not pleaded guilty and the verdict was a `` legal farce . ''
`` The fact is that the path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he told reporters before going to prison .

Georgia's Supreme Court on February 10 sentenced opposition leader Gigi Ugulava to 3 years and 2 months in prison on charges of misusing public funds while he was mayor of the capital, Tbilisi.
This was Ugulava's second conviction on similar charges, in a case the opposition says is politically motivated.
A number of criminal cases have been opened against leaders of the opposition after mass protests against tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili's ruling Georgian Dream party and its government.
The protests that began in the summer of 2019 have resulted in several arrests.
Dozens of former officials have been arrested on abuse-of-power and corruption charges since Georgian Dream came to power in 2012 after defeating then-President Mikheil Saakashvili's party in an election.
Ugulava, mayor of the capital from 2005-2013, was first sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison in September 2015 for similar offenses but was freed in January 2017 after a court reduced his sentence.
In 2018, Ugulava was sentenced again to 15 months in prison in the same case, but his sentence was considered to have been served.
The Supreme Court's February 10 ruling regards a new case of alleged misspending of funds, and the time he has already served will not count against it.
"This is a shameful decision made by the Ivanishvili regime," Tina Bokuchava, a leader of the opposition United National Movement, told reporters.
Critics accuse Ivanishvili of running the country from behind the scenes.
Ugulava, one of the leaders of the European Georgian Party, said he had not pleaded guilty and the verdict was a "legal farce."
"The fact is that the path chosen by the opposition frightens Ivanishvili," he told reporters before going to prison.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-02-10--U.S. Envoy Urges Kosovo To Drop Tariffs On Serbian Goods ‘With No Reciprocity’

The U.S. special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo , Richard Grenell , has urged Kosovo to drop tariffs on Serbian goods without introducing measures of `` reciprocity '' in trade , politics , and economy , his press officer told RFE/RL ’ s Balkan Service .
“ The ambassador is pushing for them to drop the tariffs with no reciprocity .
So , Kosovo should drop the tariffs on Serbian goods , and not implement reciprocity .
So , no reciprocal measures .
Not just suspend the tariffs but drop them entirely , ” Dick Custin said in a February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who also serves as President Donald Trump ’ s U.S. ambassador to Germany , comes amid an international push for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations .
In reaction to Grenell 's call , Deputy Prime Minister Haki Abazi told RFE/RL that the government 's position is that Serbia must stop `` sabotaging '' Kosovo statehood .
`` Reciprocity is a set of measures applied in international relations and this is a pragmatic approach , while on the Serbian side a commitment and a statement of stopping the campaign against new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sabotaging Kosovo 's statehood are expected . ''
Kosovo , a former Serbian province , unilaterally declared independence in 2008 .
The move has been recognized by more than 110 countries but not by Serbia .
Both the European Union and United States have made reconciliation between the two countries a priority , saying it was key to economic development .
But dialogue is stalled in part over Pristina 's imposition of the 100-percent tariffs in 2018 .

The U.S. special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo, Richard Grenell, has urged Kosovo to drop tariffs on Serbian goods without introducing measures of "reciprocity" in trade, politics, and economy, his press officer told RFE/RL.
"The ambassador is pushing for them to drop the tariffs with no reciprocity. So, Kosovo should drop the tariffs on Serbian goods, and not implement reciprocity. So, no reciprocal measures. Not just suspend the tariffs but drop them entirely," Dick Custin said in a February 10 statement.
The call by Grenell, who also serves as U.S. President Donald Trump's ambassador to Germany, comes amid an international push for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations.
In reaction to Grenell's call, Deputy Prime Minister Haki Abazi told RFE/RL that the government's position was that Serbia must stop "sabotaging" Kosovo statehood.
"Reciprocity is a set of measures applied in international relations and this is a pragmatic approach, while on the Serbian side a commitment and a statement of stopping the campaign against new recognitions [of Kosovo's independence] and sabotaging Kosovo's statehood are expected."
Kosovo, a former Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence in 2008. The move has been recognized by more than 110 countries but not by Serbia.
Both the European Union and United States have made reconciliation between the two countries a priority, saying it was key to economic development. But dialogue is stalled in part over Pristina's imposition of the 100 percent tariffs in 2018.


rferl--2020-02-10--Iran Says U.S. Killing Of Soleimani Weakens Fight Against Islamic State

A high-ranking Iranian military commander who was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month had sought to bring stability to the Middle East , Iranian President Hassan Rohani said on February 10 .
`` Commander [ Qasem ] Soleimani was a man who was pursuing stability and calm in the region , '' Rohani said in a speech broadcast live on state television .
The United States killed Major General Soleimani , who headed Iran 's elite Quds Force , in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3 , saying that he was planning attacks on Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ American generals it would have been very , very easy for him , in Afghanistan , Iraq , and any other place .
He never did that , '' Rohani said .
Rohani 's comments were echoed by the head of Iran 's nuclear program , who said on February 10 that Soleimani 's killing by the United States has weakened the fight against the Islamic State ( IS ) militant group in the region .
Ali Akbar Salehi told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) in Vienna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. administration has not yet come to its senses in recognizing the realities on the ground.
” Salehi called Soleimani , who had a leading role in mobilizing Iraqi militias on the ground against IS , “ the most instrumental element in combating [ the group ] .
” In response to Soleimani 's killing , Iran launched missiles on two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. forces , without causing any fatalities .
Salehi said Tehran was prepared to launch more strikes .
“ Be it known as my country strongly retaliated once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back when necessary , ” he said .
The United States last month imposed additional sanctions on Salehi 's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and on Salehi himself , freezing any assets he had within U.S. jurisdiction .
In Vienna , U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said Tehran was still not offering the IAEA explanations regarding the discovery of uranium particles in a warehouse near Tehran .
“ We call on Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA in monitoring and inspecting Iran 's facilities , and in addressing all of the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With reporting by Reuters and AP

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--2020-02-10--Moscow Court Extends House Arrest Of American Investor Calvey

A Moscow court has extended the house arrest of U.S. investor Michael Calvey and his business partner , French national Philippe Delpal , until May 13 .
The Moscow City Court announced the ruling on February 10 , three days before a previous extension of the two men 's house arrest was set to expire .
The court also prolonged the house arrest for a Russian citizen , former Vostochny Bank CEO Aleksei Kordichev , until May 13 .
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russia-based private-equity group Baring Vostok were detained in Moscow in February last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank .
Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019 .
The arrests stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials , who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors .
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia .
It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $ 3.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early major investor in Yandex , Russia 's dominant search engine .
Calvey is one of two Americans currently facing potential trial in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless .
Paul Whelan , a former U.S. Marine , has been behind bars since December 28 , 2018 , when he was arrested on an espionage charge he denies .
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax

A Moscow court has extended the house arrest of U.S. investor Michael Calvey and his business partner, French national Philippe Delpal, until May 13.
The Moscow City Court announced the ruling on February 10, three days before a previous extension of the two men's house arrest was set to expire.
The court also prolonged the house arrest for a Russian citizen, former Vostochny Bank CEO Aleksei Kordichev, until May 13.
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russia-based private-equity group Baring Vostok were detained in Moscow in February last year and charged with financial fraud.
They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank. Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019.
The arrests stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials, who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors.
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia. It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $3.7 billion in assets. The company was an early major investor in Yandex, Russia's dominant search engine.
Calvey is one of two Americans currently facing potential trial in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, has been behind bars since December 28, 2018, when he was arrested on an espionage charge he denies.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-02-10--Russian Ministry's Controversial Order Restricting Scholars' Contacts With Foreigners Rescinded

MOSCOW -- A controversial order by Russia 's Ministry of Education and Science that restricted interaction between Russian scholars and their foreign counterparts last year has been rescinded .
Education and Science Minister Valery Falkov told reporters in Moscow on February 10 that the ministry `` is interested in cooperation [ with foreign scientists ] that will develop on the principles of open science , '' adding that the order in question is no longer valid .
He gave no further explanation as to why the order was annulled .
Media reports in August last year published excerpts of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Higher Education Minister Mikhail Kotyukov that ordered Russian scientists and scholars to give five days ' advance notice to ministry officials anytime they planbed on meeting a foreign colleague .
After such encounters , scientists were ordered to submit a report and a list of participants in the meetings .
Other rules implemented included a stipulation that if a meeting took place at a Russian scientific organization , at least two Russian scientists should be present , while foreigners , when visiting Russian scientific organizations , could only copy or record information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order sparked protests from Russian scholars , who said the move would further isolate the country in a key area of study and development .
The Russian Academy of Sciences ( RAS ) called it `` ridiculous , '' saying it ran contrary to the objectives of the national projects of science and education .
With reporting by Vedomosti and RIA Novosti

MOSCOW -- A controversial order by Russia's Ministry of Education and Science that restricted interaction between Russian scholars and their foreign counterparts last year has been rescinded.
Education and Science Minister Valery Falkov told reporters in Moscow on February 10 that the ministry "is interested in cooperation [with foreign scientists] that will develop on the principles of open science," adding that the order in question is no longer valid.
He gave no further explanation as to why the order was annulled.
Media reports in August last year published excerpts of a document signed months earlier by then Science and Higher Education Minister Mikhail Kotyukov that ordered Russian scientists and scholars to give five days' advance notice to ministry officials anytime they planbed on meeting a foreign colleague.
After such encounters, scientists were ordered to submit a report and a list of participants in the meetings.
Other rules implemented included a stipulation that if a meeting took place at a Russian scientific organization, at least two Russian scientists should be present, while foreigners, when visiting Russian scientific organizations, could only copy or record information under rules of international treaties.
The order sparked protests from Russian scholars, who said the move would further isolate the country in a key area of study and development.
The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) called it "ridiculous," saying it ran contrary to the objectives of the national projects of science and education.
With reporting by Vedomosti and RIA Novosti


rferl--2020-02-10--Turkish Troops Killed In Attack In Northwest Syria

Turkey says five of its soldiers have been killed and five others wounded as a result of shelling by Syrian government forces in Syria 's northern province of Idlib .
The Defense Ministry said on February 10 that Turkish artillery immediately responded to the attack , destroying targets .
A war monitor reported that six Turkish soldiers were killed and seven were wounded when Syrian government forces shelled the Taftanaz air base .
Four Syrian rebels were also killed , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said .
The clashes come as a Russian delegation arrived in the Turkish capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions in Idlib , the last rebel stronghold in Syria .
A Russia-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's forces in Idlib and the neighboring Aleppo Province has displaced nearly 700,000 people since December , according to the UN .
Russia and Ankara , which supports rebel groups in Syria , have agreed to work toward de-escalating the fighting in Idlib and creating a demilitarized zone , but the fighting has continued .
Eight Turkish military and civilian personnel and 13 Syrian soldiers were reported killed in an exchange of fire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by AP and AFP


rferl--2020-02-10--Russian Court Jails Seven 'Network' Activists On Terrorism Charges

PENZA , Russia -- A court in the Russian city of Penza has sentenced seven activists from a group known as `` Set ' '' ( the Network ) to prison terms of between six years and 18 years on terrorism charges that opposition figures have denounced .
On February 10 , the Privolzhsky district court found the men , aged between 23 and 30 years , guilty of being members of a terrorist group .
Some of the defendants were also found guilty of possessing illegal weapons and explosives , and attempted illegal drug sales .
The group members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Security Service ( FSB ) accusing them of creating a terrorist group with cells in Moscow , St. Petersburg , Penza , and Omsk , as well as In neighboring Belarus .
Investigators said the group planned to organize a series of explosions in Russia during the presidential election and the World Cup soccer tournament in 2018 `` to destabilize the situation '' in the country and to organize an armed mutiny .
Rights activists have said the case was fabricated .
Some of the activists claimed that they were tortured while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected the claims .
Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny described the sentences as `` horrific '' in a post on Twitter , saying testimony about an `` imaginary terrorist organisation '' was `` beaten out using torture . ''
`` Any minister in the Russian government is 10 times more of a criminal and a threat to society than these guys , '' he added .
The court called Dmitry Pchelintsev and Ilya Shaursky the group 's leaders and sentenced them to penalties of 18 years and 16 years in prison , respectively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maksim Ivankin to 13 years , Mikhail Kulov to 10 years , and Vasily Kuksov to 9 years in prison .
Arman Sagynbaev received six years in prison .
Before the sentences , Amnesty International called the terror charges `` a figment of the Russian security services ' imagination that was fabricated in an attempt to silence these activists . ''
The London-based human rights watchdog called the case `` the latest politically-motivated abuse of the justice system to target young people . ''
Two other activists initially arrested in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made deals with the investigators and testified against the others .
Shishkin received 3 1/2 years in prison in January 2019 , while the case against Zorin was closed in September 2018 .

PENZA, Russia -- A court in the Russian city of Penza has sentenced seven activists from a group known as "Set" (Network) to prison terms of between six and 18 years on terrorism charges that opposition figures have denounced as fabricated and "horrific."
On February 10, the Privolzhsky district court found the men, aged between 23 and 30 years, guilty of being members of a terrorist group.
Some of the defendants were also found guilty of possessing illegal weapons and explosives, and attempted illegal drug sales.
The group members were arrested in October 2017 with the Federal Security Service (FSB) accusing them of creating a terrorist group with cells in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Penza, and Omsk, as well as In neighboring Belarus.
Investigators said the group planned to organize a series of explosions in Russia during the presidential election and the World Cup soccer tournament in 2018 "to destabilize the situation" in the country and to organize an armed mutiny.
Rights activists have said the case was fabricated. Some of the activists claimed that they were tortured while in custody, but the Investigative Committee rejected the claims.
Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny described the sentences as "horrific" in a post on Twitter, saying testimony about an "imaginary terrorist organization" was "beaten out using torture."
"Any minister in the Russian government is 10 times more of a criminal and a threat to society than these guys," he added.
The court called Dmitry Pchelintsev and Ilya Shaursky the group's leaders and sentenced them to penalties of 18 years and 16 years in prison, respectively.
Andrei Chernov was sentenced to 14 years, Maksim Ivankin to 13 years, Mikhail Kulov to 10 years, and Vasily Kuksov to 9 years in prison.
Arman Sagynbaev received six years in prison.
Before the sentences, Amnesty International called the terror charges "a figment of the Russian security services' imagination that was fabricated in an attempt to silence these activists."
The London-based human rights watchdog called the case "the latest politically motivated abuse of the justice system to target young people."
Two other activists initially arrested in the case, Igor Shishkin and Yegor Zorin, made deals with the investigators and testified against the others.
Shishkin received 3 1/2 years in prison in January 2019, while the case against Zorin was closed in September 2018.


rferl--2020-02-10--Kazakh President Replaces Regional Governor Following Deadly Ethnic Clashes

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has sacked the governor of the southern Zhambyl region following deadly ethnic clashes in the area over the weekend .
Toqaev 's press service said on February 10 that the president issued decrees to relieve Asqar Myrzakhmetov from his duties and was appointing Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev in his place .
The announcement comes after 10 people were killed in the violence that erupted between local Kazakhs and ethnic Dungans , a Muslim group of Chinese origin , in the region 's villages of Masanchi , Sortobe , Auqatty , and Bulan-Batyr last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including two police officers , while more than 30 houses , 15 commercial buildings , and 23 vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the battles .
Earlier , on February 10 , Toqaev ordered Myrzakhmetov to sack the Zhambyl region 's deputy governor for social issues , Slushash Qurmanbekova , and the governor of the Qordai district , Bolatbek Baitole , where the deadly clashes took place .
Toqaev also ordered Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev to sack regional police chief Arman Orazaliev and the Qordai district police chief Azamat Aiqymbekov .
Kazakh Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 that the violence was sparked by a conflict on a highway after men in two cars brawled following a traffic disagreement .
Kalaichidi added that the brawl was recorded and placed on social media networks which led to the wider clashes in which firearms were used .
Kalaichidi also said that police detained a man suspected of placing the video on the Internet and adding `` misleading '' statements that sparked the ethnic conflict .
Thousands of people fled villages where the violence erupted , ending up in the neighboring Kyrgyz Chui @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dungans in Central Asia traditionally reside .
On February 8 , groups of mainly ethnic Dungans could be seen lining up along the Kyrgyz side of the border , while on the other side of the border , Dungan people handed out food and offered medical assistance to those arriving .
Kyrgyz officials told RFE/RL that some 4,500 Kazakh citizens , mainly Dungans , entered the country in the wake of the clashes last week .
Kazakh officials said on February 9 that over 1,000 of them had returned to Kazakhstan following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Minister Alikhan Smailov said on February 10 that the government will provide the families of those killed in the clashes with financial support and fully restore destroyed and damaged houses .
Police have launched probes into the murders and the organization of the groups who clashed .
A specially created government commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev is working in the Qordai district on the case .
The Kazakh government has been positioning the country as an example of interethnic civility for years , though local ethnic conflicts have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independence following the Soviet Union 's collapse in 1991 .
However , it is the first ethnic clash of such scale in Kazakhstan that involves ethnic Dungans .
Dungans , also known as Hui , are Sunni Muslims who speak a dialect of Mandarin with many words and phrases borrowed from Arabic , Persian , and Turkic .
Their ancestors came to Central Asia , which was then part of the Russian empire , in the late-19th century after the Chinese government ’ s violent crackdown on the Dungan Revolt of 1862–1877 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Soviet Union is about 120,000 , most of whom reside in Kyrgyzstan 's northern region of Chui and the neighboring Kazakh region of Zhambyl .
With reporting by Tengrinews , RFE/RL 's Kazakh and Kyrgyz services

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has sacked the governor of the southern Zhambyl region following deadly ethnic clashes in the area over the weekend.
Toqaev's press service said on February 10 that the president issued decrees to relieve Asqar Myrzakhmetov from his duties and was appointing Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev in his place.
The announcement comes after 10 people were killed in the violence that erupted between local Kazakhs and ethnic Dungans, a Muslim group of Chinese origin, in the region's villages of Masanchi, Sortobe, Auqatty, and Bulan-Batyr last week.
Dozens were also injured, including two police officers, while more than 30 houses, 15 commercial buildings, and 23 vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the battles.
Earlier, on February 10, Toqaev ordered Myrzakhmetov to sack the Zhambyl region's deputy governor for social issues, Slushash Qurmanbekova, and the governor of the Qordai district, Bolatbek Baitole, where the deadly clashes took place.
Toqaev also ordered Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev to sack regional police chief Arman Orazaliev and the Qordai district police chief Azamat Aiqymbekov.
Kazakh Deputy Interior Minister Aleksei Kalaichidi said on February 9 that the violence was sparked by a conflict on a highway after men in two cars brawled following a traffic disagreement.
Kalaichidi added that the brawl was recorded and placed on social media networks which led to the wider clashes in which firearms were used. Kalaichidi also said that police detained a man suspected of placing the video on the Internet and adding "misleading" statements that sparked the ethnic conflict.
Thousands of people fled villages where the violence erupted, ending up in the neighboring Kyrgyz Chui region, where the majority of ethnic Dungans in Central Asia traditionally reside.
On February 8, groups of mainly ethnic Dungans could be seen lining up along the Kyrgyz side of the border, while on the other side of the border, Dungan people handed out food and offered medical assistance to those arriving.
Kyrgyz officials told RFE/RL that some 4,500 Kazakh citizens, mainly Dungans, entered the country in the wake of the clashes last week.
Kazakh officials said on February 9 that over 1,000 of them had returned to Kazakhstan following a call from the Kazakh government.
Deputy Finance Minister Alikhan Smailov said on February 10 that the government will provide the families of those killed in the clashes with financial support and fully restore destroyed and damaged houses.
Police have launched probes into the murders and the organization of the groups who clashed. A specially created government commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev is working in the Qordai district on the case.
The Kazakh government has been positioning the country as an example of interethnic civility for years, though local ethnic conflicts have been reported in the country since it gained independence following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
However, it is the first ethnic clash of such scale in Kazakhstan that involves ethnic Dungans.
Dungans, also known as Hui, are Sunni Muslims who speak a dialect of Mandarin with many words and phrases borrowed from Arabic, Persian, and Turkic. Their ancestors came to Central Asia, which was then part of the Russian empire, in the late-19th century after the Chinese government’s violent crackdown on the Dungan Revolt of 1862–1877.
The number of Dungans living in the former Soviet Union is about 120,000, most of whom reside in Kyrgyzstan's northern region of Chui and the neighboring Kazakh region of Zhambyl.
With reporting by Tengrinews, RFE/RL's Kazakh and Kyrgyz services


rferl--2020-02-11--Ukrainian President Fires Chief Of Staff, Appoints Aide Who Met With Giuliani

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed the chief of his administration , Andriy Bohdan , and replaced him with Andriy Yermak , an aide whose name has been linked to U.S. President Donald Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudolph Giuliani .
The presidential decrees on relieving Bohdan from his duties and appointing Yermak were signed on February 11 and placed on the presidential website .
Evidence and testimony gathered during Trump 's recent impeachment hearing shows Giuliani met with Yermak to `` strongly '' urge an investigation Trump wanted of Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son 's ties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House of Representatives impeached Trump in December for his alleged corruption involving the demands for the investigation , only the third such hearing against a president in the country 's history .
The Senate later acquitted him on the impeachment charges .
Bohdan 's appointment to the post in May last year , after Zelenskiy won the presidential election , sparked controversy as Bohdan used to be a lawyer for powerful tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy , who returned to Kyiv days ahead of Zelenskiy 's inauguration after two years of self-imposed exile in Geneva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , Petro Poroshenko , the government had nationalized PrivatBank , which Kolomoyskiy once co-owned , and accused him of stealing $ 5.5 billion at a time when the war-torn country was being propped up by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , the United States , and the European Union .
Many said at the time that Kolomoyskiy returned to influence Zelenskiy 's policies via Bohdan .
Kolomoyskiy 's 1+1 television channel also aired Zelenskiy 's comedy shows when he was an actor and supported his presidential bid with glowing wall-to-wall @ @ @ @ @

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed the chief of his administration, Andriy Bohdan, and replaced him with Andriy Yermak, an aide whose name has been linked to U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani.
The presidential decrees on relieving Bohdan from his duties and appointing Yermak were signed on February 11 and placed on the presidential website.
Evidence and testimony gathered during Trump's recent impeachment hearing shows Giuliani met with Yermak to "strongly" urge an investigation Trump wanted of Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son's ties to Ukrainian energy firm Burisma.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives impeached Trump in December for his alleged corruption involving the demands for the investigation, only the third such hearing against a president in the country's history.
The Senate later acquitted him on the impeachment charges.
Bohdan's appointment to the post in May last year, after Zelenskiy won the presidential election, sparked controversy as Bohdan used to be a lawyer for powerful tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy, who returned to Kyiv days ahead of Zelenskiy's inauguration after two years of self-imposed exile in Geneva and Tel Aviv.
Kolomoyskiy had left Ukraine to avoid criminal charges.
Under the previous president, Petro Poroshenko, the government had nationalized PrivatBank, which Kolomoyskiy once co-owned, and accused him of stealing $5.5 billion at a time when the war-torn country was being propped up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States, and the European Union.
Many said at the time that Kolomoyskiy returned to influence Zelenskiy's policies via Bohdan.
Kolomoyskiy's 1+1 television channel also aired Zelenskiy's comedy shows when he was an actor and supported his presidential bid with glowing wall-to-wall coverage during the campaign.